Elizabeth sat in shock, feeling frozen to the spot. "Are you sure?" she asked tentatively. "Maybe it was a false positive…"

Faith shook her head. "I took the test four different times, Elizabeth, hoping at least one of them would show a negative result. They were all positive. I have an appointment later today to confirm it, but I already know what they're going to tell me." She looked up with a deep sigh. "I've been railing at God for the past hour, asking why He allowed this to happen." She gave an indignant sniff. "He hasn't answered yet."

Elizabeth knew now wasn't the time for platitudes. She simply put her arm around Faith, pulling her close. Faith's mouth began to tremble, and she started crying. "Why did this happen to me, Elizabeth?"

It wasn't often Elizabeth felt at a total loss for something to say, but now was one of those times. "I don't know," she whispered, tears filling her own eyes. "I honestly don't know."

They cried together for a long while. Finally, Faith grew quiet and still. Eventually she let out a long, shuddering breath. "What am I going to do?" she whispered, her head on Elizabeth's shoulder.

"I don't know," Elizabeth said again. "But you know what I do know?"

Faith sniffed, wiping her eyes. "What?"

"I know that you have the support of all your friends. I know that we will do whatever we can to help you. I know that you are not going to be alone in this. We will be there for you." Elizabeth looked her friend in the eye. "And we will go through this with you. Whatever that looks like."

Faith's throat worked, but a small smile appeared on her face. "I know you will be," she said softly. "And that's the one thing that's keeping me from despair."

They lapsed into silence again. Several minutes ticked by. Faith looked up at the crucifix and bit her lip. "I guess I'm going to have to figure out what to do about this baby. I've never been one to think I could ever give up a child for adoption, but I just don't know if I can keep the baby. It would be a constant reminder of what happened."

"That is true," Elizabeth said quietly.

"But then if I did give the baby up, I'd wonder every day what was happening in his or her life and wonder if I made the right decision or not." She sighed. "How in the world am I going to decide?"

Elizabeth took Faith's hand. "You don't have to make any decisions today, Faith. You don't even have to make any decisions for a while. This baby won't be born for about seven months. You have time. There's no rush." She gave her a sympathetic smile. "And it's never a good idea to make a decision at the height of emotion. You are most definitely in a heightened emotional state right now."

"You think?" Faith said with a little smirk. Elizabeth felt hope that Faith was able to use some humor even in her confusion and angst.

Smiling gently, Elizabeth nodded. "Take some time to think things through." Her expression became more serious. "Does Carson know yet?"

Tears filled Faith's eyes again, but this time they didn't fall. "No," she said. "I didn't have the courage to tell him my suspicions." She sighed deeply. "We're supposed to get married next month, and I'm pregnant." She groaned. "You know what people are going to think, right? That this is Carson's baby." She buried her face in her hands. "I hate that his reputation is going to get dragged through the mud along with mine. I don't care what people think of me, but I don't like the thought of them thinking less of Carson."

Elizabeth grunted. "Last I checked, judging others was still a sin."

Faith absently covered her stomach with her hands, protectively holding on to her child without realizing it. "That it is, but people do it all the time. And the logical conclusion to me being pregnant is that my fiance is the father. No one knows what happened to me. It's not like I broadcast the fact that I was raped." She sighed. "I know Carson loves me, but potentially having to take on another man's child? A child conceived the way this one was? I wouldn't blame him if he decided to break our engagement."

"That will never happen."

Elizabeth and Faith turned in unison to see Carson standing beside their pew with Fr. Frank. Faith gave a little cry and stood, launching herself into his arms. Carson held her tightly, stroking her hair. "I would never leave you, Faith," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her head. "Never. Especially not when things get rough."

"You know?" she asked, tears falling down her cheeks as she looked up at him.

He nodded, tenderly kissing her tears away. "I know. I heard the last part of your conversation with Elizabeth. I was meeting with Fr. Frank, and as we finished I thought I saw you in here. I caught the last part of what you said. And I want you to know something." He framed her face in his hands. "Whatever you decide to do, I will support you. If you decide you want to give the baby up for adoption, I will support that and help you through it. If you decide you want to keep the baby, I will be a father to him or her. I'm here for you, Faith. Always."

Faith swallowed, a look of disbelief on her face. "You would be willing to raise this child as your own if I keep it?"

Carson nodded. "Absolutely. This baby is a part of you, Faith, and you are a part of me. That makes us all connected. And if people want to think I'm the baby's father, let them think that. For all intents and purposes, I will be the baby's father if you decide to keep it." He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, then pulled her close to his chest. "I love you, Faith. Nothing's ever going to change that."

Tears continued to fall from Faith's eyes, but she was smiling as her cheek rested against Carson's chest. "I love you too. More than you could possibly know."

Elizabeth's hands were over her heart, tears filling her own eyes. The display of true love before her was deeply moving, and she knew that Faith was going to be okay. Carson's love would see her through, as would the love and support of all her friends.

The road ahead wouldn't be easy. But Elizabeth had a feeling everything was going to work out in the end.


Nathan glanced at the clock for the hundredth time, trying not to worry. Elizabeth was late, and neither he nor Colleen could get a hold of her on her cell phone. Nathan fidgeted in bed, earning him a reprimand from his sister. "Lay still, Nathan. We don't need you hurting yourself because you're anxious."

"How am I supposed to stay still?" Nathan asked, letting out a long breath. "Elizabeth is rarely late, and when she is, she calls to let me know." He tried to breathe, memories of Elizabeth being kidnapped hijacking his brain. "She has to be okay, Colleen. She has to be!"

Colleen put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure she's fine, Nathan. She probably just got held up talking to someone. You know she doesn't answer her phone when that happens, and she might have lost track of time."

"Or she fell on her hike, and no one has found her yet," Nathan returned, feeling panic starting to rise. Before he could say anything else, they heard the sound of a car door slamming in the driveway. Nathan half rose before Colleen pushed him back onto the bed. "I'll go see if that's her. Promise me you'll stay put."

Nathan nodded anxiously, and Colleen disappeared into the living room. Nathan heard the door open, and relief flooded him as he heard Elizabeth's voice. He could hear them talking together, their voices muffled by the distance from the living room to the bedroom. Colleen called out a goodbye to him, and within moments Elizabeth appeared in the doorway. She looked tired, and without a word she slid into the bed with Nathan, pressing as close to him as she could without hurting him. She rested a hand lightly on his chest and sighed, burying her face in his shoulder.

"What is it?" he asked, his relief turning once again to concern. "What happened?"

Elizabeth slowly pulled her head back, resting it on the pillow next to his. It took her several moments to answer. "Faith is pregnant," she said finally.

Nathan felt like he'd been sucker punched. "Wyatt?"

Elizabeth nodded.

Nathan ran a hand over his face, groaning. "Poor Faith! This is the last thing she needed." He sighed, then looked at Elizabeth. "How was she doing?"

"Not well when I first came across her, but by the time I left she was doing better. I'd even say she was slightly hopeful." She sighed, but this time it sounded happy to Nathan. "You should have seen how Carson reacted, Nathan. It was beautiful to watch. The news had to have been a gut punch for him, but he reassured Faith of his love and even said he would help her raise the baby if she decides to keep it. That made all the difference for her. Their love is something amazing to behold." She paused. "I think they're going to be okay."

Seeing Elizabeth calm about the situation helped to calm Nathan's mind as well. "Carson is a good man, and Faith is a good woman." He frowned. "It pains me to know that they're going to be subjected to gossip and judgmentalism, though. And from people who should know better at that."

Elizabeth nodded, pursing her lips. "That bothers me too. I mentioned it to Fr. Frank while we were at the church, and he put his hands on his hips and said if anyone had the audacity to act judgemental toward Carson and Faith, he would need to give a rousing homily on 'judge not, lest you be judged.'"

Nathan chuckled. "He would, too. Good. I'm glad to hear that."

They lay there next to each other for a while, each deep in thought. Nathan longed to draw Elizabeth into his arms, but knew they weren't at that place in the healing process yet. Instead, he contented himself with the knowledge that the next weeks would see him getting stronger, and that they would eventually be able to hold each other again the way they wanted to.

Elizabeth must have read his thoughts, because she propped herself up on an elbow and leaned over him carefully, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips. They had been avoiding passionate kisses, sticking instead to gentle, tender kisses. Normally, Elizabeth didn't linger, but right now she didn't seem inclined to stop. Nathan reached one hand up, placing it against the back of her head and pressing her a little closer. Elizabeth sighed against his lips, then drew back. She smiled at him, then rested back against the pillow again. "I love you," she said, her hand tracing gentle circles on his chest.

"I love you too," Nathan said, brushing a strand of hair back from her forehead. "Have I ever told you that I'm the most fortunate man alive? I have the world's most wonderful wife."

Elizabeth chuckled. "We haven't been married long enough for you to make that determination," she teased, her eyes twinkling.

Nathan smiled at her. "We may not have been married all that long, but I know your heart and soul, Elizabeth Grant. And I can say without a doubt that you coming into my life was the greatest blessing I've ever received."

He could see her blinking back tears, though she smiled at him. "You're making me cry."

Nathan looked at her tenderly. "Those are good tears, sweetheart."

She chuckled. "If you say so, love." She snuggled close to him. "I should probably get dinner ready."

"Maybe," Nathan said, not wanting the moment to end. "But I'd be happy staying here beside you for a few more minutes."

Elizabeth smiled, reaching up to trail her fingers softly down his cheek. "So would I."