(Ed Sheeran – Small Bump)

"I can't just ctrl-alt-delete this" Mac murmured as she slumped down on the bench outside planned parenthood with Parker taking the seat silently beside her.

Two urine samples and a blood test later, and it was confirmed.

Dick Casablancas was going to be her baby daddy.

The outcome of that first night together she'd been worried about for a month now, was a reality, and ever since the nursing practitioner had confirmed the test, scheduled her for an ultrasound at a local free clinic then handed her a box of pre-natal vitamins and a bunch of family planning pamphlets the world had felt like she was hearing everything from underwater.

Was she going to have to drop out of college? Did her parents even have insurance for this?

She was at Hearst on a Turing and Kane Technology and Engineering Scholarship.

Would her professor revoke it if they thought she couldn't keep up with her classes?

Oh God… how was she going to tell her parents? What if those screwed up photographers Veronica had told her about sent pictures of her leaving the Neptune student clinic with Parker?

She glanced around nervously, she couldn't see anything suspicious, but then again, she knew how well Veronica could fly under the radar during a stake-out, so that didn't fill her with much confidence.

It wasn't the first time they'd been here.

She'd been with Parker after the hospital to the Neptune health clinic for STD testing and to collect the morning after pill after the Sheriffs department liaisons and Heart officials had conducted their forensic exam and rape kit the morning of her attack.

She was pregnant… with Dick's baby… and the thought had been giving her heart contractions.

She wasn't sure about it, it already felt like her brain was going to go nuclear.

That pink positive sign was nailed into her thoughts like a crucifix.

Holy Hell.. what was she going to do?

Parker wouldn't take long in confirming their suspicions to Piz and Wallace, and she couldn't expect Logan to keep it from his roommate forever, especially after he'd already proposed to Veronica, she had no leverage.

The list of people who knew except Dick was getting bigger by the day, and her Maybe Baby, was now a 100% certain as finding sugar in can of coca cola.

"I am amazed you are holding it together. I know I gave you crap about the safe sex talk, but we are past that now… and Oh god the hormones… The peeing 4 times an hour… the nausea? The child handling class just seemed like a good idea." Parker said, leafing through the pamphlets and suddenly Mac had to laugh at the very suggestion of Dick attending the pre-birth classes with her. "Look, Mac" Parker said turning to face her and grabbing her hand. "I know it's scary right now. I mean… Finding clothing that fits right is never easy, but its even more difficult when you're nine months pregnant! But I'm going to be here for you, like you were here for me… whatever you decide okay?" she told her earnestly.

Mac knew what she meant, several of those pamphlets contained advice on counselling services, and a discreet costing of a more permanent solution. She couldn't even entertain that option right now, her mind was still reeling, but she appreciated the sentiment. Parker was still wearing a wig after her assault, so she was careful when she wrapped her arms around the taller blond, grateful for the support.

"I don't know what I'm going to do" Mac admitted.

"You know one thing… you have options and there's no need to rush anything. Veronica and I will come with you to the ultrasound. Take the time to figure out what it is you want to do. Nothing has to change right now, even if it does feel like the sky is falling. So go to class, do your laundry and You can be all Papa Don't Preach or sleep on it until you know what feels right" Parker advised her.

"He doesn't know yet" Mac said quietly, recalling that conversation about how Dick told her he didn't want to marry her when she'd confronted him about Veronica's engagement ring she had mistaken for a surprise from him.

Should she tell him? He was an irresponsible frat boy, one who'd had several fines from campus security for public indecency and pranks.

It wasn't like she could keep it from him forever... over the next 6 months, it was going to become very obvious, he could be easily distracted by breasts, but there was no way he wasn't going to notice the gentle swell of her stomach.

Even now she could recognize those little flutters, like bubbles inside, the ache in her breasts telling her she was full of life.

Who was she kidding? She knew how he was going to react.

Fuck…. She'd started this thing with him while she was still dating Bronson!

What if Dick thought he wasn't even the father?

He'd already had one possible pregnancy this year, hadn't there been an arrest a few months ago when some girl had slipped her roommate a pill that aborted her foetus? Dick had been on the initial list of potential fathers... and that girl wasn't the one who he'd divorced a few months ago after he'd taken off to Vegas.

Neptune's Sheriff department was tearing apart Dean Odell's final hours.

Veronica was off talking to students from Lilith house about egging Dean Odell's office the night of his murder, canvassing for witnesses after her father had discovered information during an interview with the Dean's wife about her affair with Professor Landry.

Forensics was still attempting to link the bloodied clothing found with Weevils body in the incinerator to Professor Landry, and a prescription refill had been linked to the Dean's wife. Toxicology showed heavy traces of Xanax and alcohol in his system. Trying to corroborate his wife's statement about the timing of eggs on a window seemed a bit of a stretch, and possibly unnecessary for the timeline. Although Mac guessed it was her friends coping technique to throw herself into every possible lead of the investigation that had resulted in the murders of both Dean Odell and their classmate Weevil Navarro.

Weevil.. Dealing with Weevils death less than 6 months after losing Cassidy was a lot to deal with.

They hadn't even released his body to his family yet.

Goodbye cruel world. Perhaps throwing herself into a little cyber sleuthing would take her mind off the things she couldn't face right now. She had been trying to figure out how she felt about dating her deceased boyfriend's brother, let alone having the guy as her baby daddy.

Sheriff Mars had asked Mac to review the electronic evidence embedded in the Hearst I.T. department, to try and link up who had requested the removal of Dean Odell's hard-drives after his alleged suicide. Parker had mentioned something about heading into the pharmacy to get shampoo and a few feminine hygiene items for back at the dorms.

Dick: Grabbing snacks with Logan, but would rather be eating you *winky face*

Mac wiped away frustrated tears and shot Parker off a text about heading to the computer labs to look over the swipe-card logs for Veronica.

At least there she would feel productive… she grimaced, feeling the bottle of multi-vitamins rattle in her hands.