Few weeks passed by, and Joan with Luke and Patrick went several times together to Church, of course only in time Patrick could. But everybody took him into company beautifully, and everything just perfectly fits, in Luke and Joan's plan.

Although, Patrick was still very unsatisfying in bed, so Joan was glad when he went away, and she spend her whole day and night with her son. It was beautiful, how Luke was taking care of her, and was pampering her just because of slightly growing bump.

And though he wasn't father of the child, he was talking or reading to the bump, which made Joan's heart melt.

Last past days she felt like wrapped in cotton, both her boys behaving nicely to her…she could even imagine her life with both Luke and Patrick like this, having the baby, and everything would be perfectly covered. But the worst part of the plan was inching close.

It was already tenth week of Joan's pregnancy, and she was waiting in the living room, sitting on sofa, and wearing slightly freer blouse, because her bump wasn't itty bitty anymore, but it was slowly-slightly-growing, and she couldn't have sex with Patrick because he would get know before she might tell him. It was already two days without sex with him, so no wonder he was so eager to take off his work today, leaving it on other doctor, and leaving to Joan.

Her palm on her slight belly, smile on her face. Luke was today on the interview for his part-time job. And she was proud of him. Now waiting for Patrick, until finally the bell rang. She almost jumped up from the sofa, and went to main doors.

,,Hi darling,'' she greeted him, letting him step inside the house and close behind him. Wide smile on his face, when he kissed her.

,,Hi love, I couldn't wait for you. Where is Luke ?'' Patrick petted her cheek, smiling at her.

,,He's on that interview for library assistant-''

,,-Already ? And when he may come ?'' his kisses were moving further down her neck, making her eyes flutter.

Oh why does he have to have always so good start, but so bad ending ?

,,Long in the afternoon,'' Joan swallowed thickly her desire, because she needed to finally tell to Patrick about her pregnancy, and she needed to tell him now.

Joan took his hands stopping him, when he was about to grope gently her sides, he looked at her confusedly, with slight smile.

,,Something happened ?'' he chuckled.

,,Well, yes. I need to talk to you, love,'' she smiled, leading him into living room and down on the couch, sitting herself beside him.

,,I'm all ears,'' Patrick smiled, leaning for another kiss, but Joan stopped him again.

,,This is very serious situation,'' she nodded, never stopping smiling.

,,Alright,'' Patrick nodded understanding.

,,We talked about moving together, and living together, sure ?''

,,Sure-''

,,-Good. And we talked about Luke, and for time for each other, but we forgot on something…''

,,On what love ?'' Patrick shook with his head.

,,Patrick…love…I am-'' Joan took a deep breath, looking in his eyes ,,-pregnant.''

She was surprised by his reaction, because he smiled and kissed her forehead, but she didn't know what may come. And what he had in store for her was far worse than all her expectations of all possible reactions.

He muttered to her forehead with a smile ,,And have you thought about an abortion ?''

Joan's face stiffened, her smile completely faded, and in her throat start forming a big lump, disallowing her to speak, her mouth fell open as she listened to what followed.

Patrick leaned back looking at her slightly parted lips, but like he didn't cared he was smiling continuing ,,I have a very good friend doctor, who is specialist on abortions, and he might do it for us two for free since he's mine very good friend. He lives in neighboring city, and he is very pleasant man, master of his specialization on abortions-''

,,-The only thing I heard from all of it, is An Abortion…'' that terrible word repeating in her mind like stuck gramophone record. ,,Patrick you don't want a child ?'' she looked at him, not believing his words.

,,I am not prepared to be father, and…think about it, Luke is already nineteen-''

,,-Twenty !'' Joan nearly yelped, Patrick quickly nodded.

,,See, he is old enough to be a brother, and I am also not the youngest one to have a child, I thought we will live together just as it is now. Why shall we let it spoil by some embryo ?''

Spoil ? Old ? Embryo ? Abortion ? NEVER !

,,It's a baby, it's a bay –and it's our baby for your information, and I wouldn't let you just take it like that ! What do you think of me ? That I could ruin yet unborn life ? I am not a monster to not let it even take its first breath ! It's a Lord's children, he created life and you want me to kill it ? NO ! And stop saying that awful word in front of it !'' Joan start harshly throwing her thought out at astonished Patrick.

Right mommy, don't let that man take me from you…I am yours ! Not his ! He has no right to do that !

,,Joan, it can't feel, neither hear yet, and I can't believe you'll let that unborn parasite to ruin our beautiful together life !'' he almost yelled at her.

Why he's calling me like that ? I don't like it ! And make him stop shouting ! I feel sick !

Joan suddenly felt her stomach making a flip, and she wanted to throw up, but she tried to hold it.

,,I don't know, why you were so incompetent to make sure you are well-secured from these things, before you start fucking with me !''

Let him stop, mommy, let him stop !

,,Inc-incompetent ?! These things ?'' Joan panted from fit, her eyes full of fury. ,,I thought you love me ?!''

,,Yes I do, I do love you, but I do not love that embryo you're carrying-and I want you to be wise !'' Patrick screamed, pointing at her stomach, as she all of a sudden caught her slight bump and with her other hand her mouth.

I don't like him !

Joan's stomach making flip again and when Patrick opened his mouth in another insult, she let it all out, and right onto his clean jacket and pants.

Covering her mouth again, but it was too late when he glared at her.

,,Control your sickness, your emotions and yourself !'' he yelled, and it was the last straw. She stood up, not believing she had a second of pity for him and his vomited clothes, she grappled at his sleeve by his shoulder, draggling him through his protests to the main doors, opening them ,yet she managed to wipe her dirty hand against his sleeve, before she pushed him outside.

,,And never speak to me again !'' she slammed the doors, not waiting for any kind of answer.

She leaned her back against the main doors, sliding down and breaking into harsh crying and sobbing, from all what just happened.

She expected he would not be completely happy, but to convincing her to miscarry her baby. After all what she's been through with him. He wanted her just for sex, that was it. And he would let her baby, to be never born ! To never see the light of day ! She could not do that ! Never !

Joan crawled on her knees to the living room, due her fit collapsing beside the couch, diving in her tears, in her anger, and her fear.

Luke came as Joan said, later that afternoon. When he opened the door, he had smile on his face. He knew that it was big day not only for him, but also Joan was about to tell Patrick.

,,Mom, where are yo-'' he looked into living room, seeing Joan on the floor, probably senseless, he swiftly threw away his bag, and kneeled beside her, supporting her body, and trying to wake her. ,,Mom ! Mom ! Can you hear me ?''

Shaking gently with her shoulders , he saw her lids moving in few second. He breathed out his worries, and hugged her to him ,,Oh, mother, do not ever do that to me again ! You scared me !''

When he let her blink up at him, she sniffed ,,Lukie…''

,,What happened to you ?'' he worried asked, slowly sitting her up.

,,That BASTARD !'' she yelled, not caring of cursing or being loud. She fisted Luke checkered shirt, and sobbed into his chest.

,,He hurt you ?! What had he done to you ? I will hurt him !''

,,No ! No, don't do that…I don't want to hear from him…never !''

,,What happened ? Did you tell him ?''

Joan only nodded sobbing to his chest.

,,And what did he say to you ?''

,,If I considered an abortion,'' she gritted her teeth during that word, her stomach making flip afterwards again, but this time she was determined not to vomit.

,,No…I hope you said 'NO' ?'' Luke shook with his head, hugging his mother gently closer to him.

,,Sure I said 'NO', but he start yelling at me, and insulting me, of being incompetent, and being too dramatic and so I threw up at him, and send him to hell…oh Luke I was scared. I was scared and disappointed, and…sick, and confused,'' Joan scooted, crying to his chest.

,,Shh-it's good now. I'm here for you and I am not leaving you. Shh-now everything will be well. And at least we get rid of him, just as we wanted remember ? Maybe bit more drastically, but he had it coming ! And you didn't deserve such behaving from him…you are right-shhh-he's a bastard ! We don't need him ! Why should we ? We have each other and the baby…right ?'' Luke soothed, rocking with Joan in his arms gently, to make her calm, and she slowly stopped sobbing completely.

,,Ye-hh-yes,'' she looked in his eyes, finally smiling at him. ,,I lo-hh-love you my bo-hh-boy…we can m-make it by our o-hh-own,'' she yet panted few times due sobbing, but she was smiling, caressing her bump.

,,Sure we can, and we will,'' Luke kissed the top of her hair, comforting her.

,,How was your interview, after all ? Did you get that job ?'' she looked up, and he brushed her tears away from below her eyelids.

,,Yes I get that job, but if you want me to cancel it, because you would be alone here-''

,,No…have your job, I'm proud of you, very proud,'' she smiled kissing him.

,,Alright, are you hungry ?''

,,No..I'm tired,'' she sniffed, leaning against his chest.

,,Then let's go to bed, and I am already used to wake up with you in the middle of the night, so we can eat later,'' Luke gently raised her in his arms, and carried her upstairs and in bed.

Pressing a soft sweet kiss to her forehead, like he was just healing her ticking thoughts, she smiled, but when he wanted to go away, she grabbed his sleeve.

,,Where are you going ?'' she whimpered.

,,I was about to go in the shower-''

,,-Stay with me, please,'' Joan looked up in his blue eyes.

After all she had very tough day, and he should not disappoint her at last. He smiled, nodding, kicking off his shoes, he laid himself beside her, letting her to rest against him, she yet sniffed, before her breathing calmed down, and-fisting her hand on his shirt, to be sure he was still there-she succumbed to his chest, and his heartbeat, falling asleep, after such a long, and busy day. And maybe the most dreadful fit of her life yet.

Luke smiled, hugging her in his embrace, and combing softly her hair, to let her feel yet more comfortable in his arms, he kissed her hair again.

I will show to that fucking-idiot, how he shall insult my mother, I won't let her be humiliated like this ! She didn't deserved that ! She gave him her time, and half her body, and the only thing he says to her is 'abortion' ….just wait for me boy !