"You're pregnant Kiara."

No. No. That can't be it. Surely. Surely Kiara's mom's words can't be true. Kiara didn't even think about that. It has to be food poisoning otherwise Kiara doesn't know what she will do. Numbness fills Kiara all at once as she feels glad that she is on the ground and has nowhere to fall. Being sick in front of her stuck-up mother is one thing, but for her to think that Kiara is pregnant? Kiara doesn't know how to react.

Those words revolve around her head as she forces herself to stand from the cold floor. Kiara avoids her mother's judging eyes as she steadies herself on her two feet. Anna hasn't seen Kiara properly in years. Years. Anna no longer knows Kiara so how can she just come here and drop those words to her? It doesn't make any sense. "Kiara." Anna's words echo the room that will not stop spinning. Because Kiara can't be pregnant. She just can't be pregnant. She can't do that to herself and she definitely cannot do that to JJ.

"I have to go." Kiara dizzily gets out before falling out of the bathroom.

The roaring party is now lit up in the darkness of the sky. Lights drape down the walls as Kiara makes her way into the garden where all of the guests are gathered. Kiara has to close her eyes to adjust to the new strobe lights that is doing nothing for Kiara's sudden need to be sick all over again. But she forces herself to hold it back.

Because she can't be pregnant.

Kiara's head is turning with the lights and the loud music making her feel drunk as she stumbles to where her two Pogues are stood. JJ and the other fucking Pogue that blurted out her secret to her mother. However, Kiara has a sudden urge to make her way as far away from this party as she can before someone else insinuates something that will make Kiara spiral. "Kie I am so sorry." She hears Pope sincerely say but it's no longer what is making her emotions stumble over one another.

"Can we go home?" Kiara ignores Pope's apology as she looks straight at JJ. The party holds so much gossip about her friends and the Camerons that she cannot afford her name to fill the Kook's mouths as well.

"Yeah, of course." His eyes are full of concern but Kiara can't tell him what her mother said. She can't even play with that idea. No. No. It can't be true.

The drive home is silent. She can feel JJ's eyes on her but Kiara can't bring herself to look back at him. Instead, Kiara stares out of the window and watches how Outer Banks changes, only feeling comfortable when they make their way over the line that separates the Kooks and the Pogues. Kooks bring trouble. The only difference with tonight is that it is trouble that Kiara could never have expected. "Kie." JJ's voice remains soft and Kiara knows that he is concerned. But she can't look at him.

"I'm just not feeling well." Kiara whispers out.

A ringing noise cancels out the sound of JJ asking Kiara question as she makes her way into the chateau, not waiting for the confused JJ to walk with her. She doesn't stop in the living area where John B and Sarah are huddled around a laptop watching a movie. The ringing only gets louder the further she makes her way down the corridor to the bedroom. She knows they are all looking at her. Looking at her probably trying to work out what is going on. But Kiara can't work it out for herself let alone tell her friends what is going on.

What would they say if they knew what could possibly be going on with Kiara? Pope pretty much freaked out by just finding out that JJ had proposed. The universe cannot do this to her; they can't make her pregnant when the last few months has uncontrollably spiralled leaving Kiara full of questions. Never in Kiara's entire life has her mother been right. Not about Kiara's friends. Not about Kiara's future. Definitely not about Kiara herself. This. This can't be something that Anna Carrera has right.

Burying her head into the pillow, Kiara still can't shake her mother's words. 'You're pregnant Kiara.' With her head scrunched against the pillow, Kiara remains still when she senses JJ walk into the bedroom. It's something that she cannot face. She cannot face the possibility of her mother's words because it's not something that she ever thought about- especially when she got with JJ. So, she cowers out in turning to JJ when he falls down onto the bed next to her. "What's going on Kie?" He pretty much breathes out but Kiara can't find her words. She cries further into the pillow as her response. Coward. Kiara remains a fucking coward.

They stay silent in the dark room as JJ rubs the small of her back, Kiara melting into his touch instantly. Kiara's cries calm down the longer he is here with her. Almost enough for Kiara to look up at him but she still can't find a way to push through the nerves. Paws hitting the hard floor stop Kiara's tears entirely as she feels Brownie nudging her arm. "Brownie." JJ blows out. But Kiara ignores it and moves slightly to let Brownie jump into the bed. His eyes look into Kiara's eyes as if he knows what is exactly on her mind. Brownie just lets out a small whimper before cuddling up under Kiara's chin. His warmth mixed with JJ's light touches drift Kiara into a calming sleep.

…

You're pregnant Kiara.

Anger. Stubbornness. Unavoidable vomiting.

I was just the same.

The waves crash back and forth whilst Kiara watches from the shore. Waves are giants, threatening to move closer and closer until they can reach her. It won't take long for the waves to get too close and take her away completely. Every time a new wave hits the shore, Anna's words echo around the beach. Her judging Kiara every step of the way gets louder and louder as more waves hit the shore.

You're pregnant Kiara.

When Kiara moves away from the beach, Anna's words surround her with every gust of wind. Anna's words where she judges her friends over and over again as she listens to the gossip within the Kooks become the whooshes of wind.

Endless second-handed insults fill the emptiness around Kiara.

Even when Kiara returns to the chateau, the silence is replaced with buzzing mixed with her mother's voice. The buzzing keeps getting louder and louder whilst her mother's insults turn to being about JJ and his dad.

JJ is just like his dad.

You're pregnant Kiara.

I only judge by what I have seen.

You're pregnant Kiara.

You're pregnant Kiara.

Kiara.

When Kiara opens her eyes, Anna's voice drips back into silence as Kiara remembers where she is. Darkness continues to pour from the outside into the space of the bedroom where Kiara is lying beside Brownie and JJ. JJ's eyes remain closed and Kiara can't help but smile as Brownie and JJ's snores become one. Her own words echo through her mind 'JJ is nothing like that monster.' JJ could never be anything like his father and his openness to both Kiara and Brownie cements her view.

The sudden thud in her stomach brings back the dream. The dream that was filled by her mother's spiteful words. Whilst the ringing gets louder, Kiara knows that she can't hide it forever. Kiara climbs out of bed, trying her hardest not to wake the light sleeper that is JJ. When JJ doesn't move, Kiara smiles at herself at how she is getting better at not making a sound.

Her legs tremble as she moves into the corridor before wondering exactly what her plan is. Fortunately, the living area is empty with no sign of Pope anywhere. She can't let any of the boys know, terrified of how they would react when Kiara can't even control herself. It's why Kiara finds herself moving silently into the room opposite hers where she sees John B and Sarah hugging into each other. They look like they come from every romantic movie ever to be made. How they intertwine and won't let go throughout the entire night. Star-crossed lovers that fight through the darkness to find each other. It's the reason she finds herself waking up the new girl Pogue.

With Sarah loving her gossip, she had once let out that she had to take a pregnancy test when she was in the Bahamas. Sarah thought that she might be pregnant even though she wasn't. When she moves to Sarah, Kiara gently shoves Sarah to wake only her. The Pogues can't know. They can't know anything. "Kie?" Sarah groans out, waking up slowly.

"I need your help." Kiara just pleads before watching as Sarah nods.

They make their way into the porch before Kiara begins to pace back and forth, finally feeling safe away from the Pogue boys finding out. "Kie, what's wrong?" Sarah asks obviously feeling concerned for the pacing girl.

"I need you to tell me that story about that time you thought you were pregnant." Kiara manages to burst out without taking a break to breathe. She just needs to get it out.

"Well, it's not much to tell other than what I've already said."
"Please Sarah." Kiara cuts in.

"It was Christmas when we just forgot to use a condom and then a couple of days later, I realised I was late." She states plainly. "You know, Kie. Just normal cues to being pregnant." Normal cues. Huh. "Thankfully, when I took the test it came back negative otherwise, I would be completely different right now."

"How many did you take?"
"It's a really weird time to have a gossip session Kie. And anyways, I thought you hated the gossip."

"I…" Kiara freezes up with the sudden realisation that she does not know what to say. She should have planned something before pulling Sarah out of bed. "I think… maybe can we… can you make John B take the boys away from the chateau tomorrow?"

"Why?"
"Please Sarah. Please just get them to stay away from the chateau tomorrow." It comes out as a snap accidentally. But the urgent need to talk freely to Sarah about this comes first.

"Okay, Kie. Sure." Sarah speaks unconvincingly.

…

Kiara likes to think of herself as an optimist. Someone that can see the good in a very bad situation. But Kiara is having a hard time working out how to find the light in this tunnel. It's something that Kiara doesn't want to even think about. But she has to. Because if she doesn't go and find out if her own mother's words are true, Kiara can feel herself spontaneously combusting.

The boys are kicked out to go fishing really early in the morning where they take Brownie with them. Kiara overhears Sarah whisper to John B "just stay away from the chateau today" before the boys take off. A thudding heart feels like it is going to explode as Kiara and Sarah are left alone in the empty chateau. The room feels heavy as Kiara feels Sarah's concerned eyes turn to her.

Now or never.

"I need you to get me a pregnancy test, Sarah." Kiara puts bluntly as her eyes remain glued to the floor. She knows what's coming. Questions. Question after question from Sarah- the girl that loves to gossip.

"Kie." Kiara hears Sarah breathe out. "you're p…"

"Don't say it" Kiara quickly cuts her off. "I don't know what's going on and I just need to rule some shit out, okay?"
"Have you told JJ?"
"I'm not pregnant, Sarah!" Kiara practically yells before cringing straight away. "I can't be pregnant, Sarah."

"But what if you are?" It's then that Kiara looks up to Sarah. Sarah remains sat in her seat but her eyes have changed to worry as she looks back at Kiara.

"Well I just need that pregnancy test to know now don't I."

Pregnancy is a big step. A step in which Kiara never felt like she was going to take. Then boom. That step has been taken for her, or it may have been taken for her at least. Kiara knows that she should never have gone to that fucking party. She knows she's not pregnant because she can't be. But then her mother tries to say that she is. Kiara has no chance of controlling herself after that. The dreaded party becomes her nightmare. A nightmare that will keep happening until she finds out for certain.

"He is a lot better than he was a few years ago Kie. You should tell him." Of course, Sarah isn't finished with this conversation.

"I'm just being stupid Sarah! It's just my hormones or something but I just have to know, okay?"
"Kie…"

"It isn't me, Sarah. I can't be the first one to get married let alone pregnant!" Kiara hardly hears her words before they come spitting out.

"Hold on…"

"Sarah…"

"You're getting married?" Her face turns from worry to excitement. Sarah has always loved weddings. It actually shocks Kiara that when Sarah and John B came back from the Bahamas that Sarah wasn't wearing a wedding ring and calling herself Mrs Routledge. "Oh my god Kie. Shit. You're getting married to JJ Maybank! And you may be having his kid? This is literally a movie story line."
"Okay whatever you say Sarah." Kiara scoffs before rolling her eyes. JJ and Kiara? A movie storyline? Yeah right. The most that they could ever be is the side relationship to the main relationship that is Sarah and John B.

"We should go wedding dress shopping." Kiara becomes frazzled at Sarah's words.

Wedding dress shopping? Only moments ago, the two girls were worrying about the chance that Kiara may be pregnant and now all of a sudden, it's all about playing dress up for a wedding that may never happen if she is pregnant. "Don't you think there's a bigger issue at hand here?" Kiara snaps out.

"Oh please. Ten seconds ago, you were saying that you're overreacting about this whole pregnancy thing. The wedding is definite."
"I wouldn't say that Sarah. It is still JJ."

"The wedding is definite Kie. Now come on, we're going shopping."

With that, Sarah grabs Kiara's arm and pulls her out of the chateau. Wedding dress shopping. Another thing that Kiara never imagined doing. But here she is being swooped away to go looking at wedding dresses all whilst avoiding the anxiety that may in fact be pregnancy.

No. There's no pregnancy to worry about because there is no pregnancy.

…

JJ is bad when it comes to guessing cues. He likes to think that he has gotten better at recognising them whilst he's been with Kiara. But then he looks back and sees how he didn't recognise when Kiara wanted him to not leave because she was in love with him, he didn't recognise when Kiara wanted to marry him and right now, he doesn't recognise when there is something obviously going on with Kiara.

Being kicked out of the bedroom when Kiara went down with food poisoning should have been JJ's first clue that something was up.

Being shunned at Kiara's birthday party by the birthday girl herself should have been JJ's second clue.

Kiara not talking to JJ that entire night should have made JJ see that something was up.

But the newest clue is the first one where JJ seems to notice that everything is not alright. Being roped into a boy day as far away from the chateau (read: Kiara) as possible is where JJ notices things. His mind starts to wander to the other clues that he should have seen. Kiara remaining distant from him and all of the other Pogues and then eventually snapping at them for just staying at the chateau evidently showed that something was up. Maybe these clues are all pointing at the same thing.

The fact that Kiara no longer wants to be with him.

One of the biggest clues pointing to this fact is that whilst JJ seems to be in the dog house with Kiara, their actual physical dog seems to be all in which Kiara is okay with. Hey, listen to him. JJ is jealous of a fucking dog.

But the fact that JJ is here with their dog brings some light and hope to JJ. Kiara must still trust JJ with Brownie otherwise she would have forced JJ out of the chateau and kept the pup with her. They could have easily ran away leaving JJ behind. No. JJ knows that Kiara would never do that. She gets so scared when she thinks that JJ is about to leave that there can't be a chance for her to leave him with no word.

It all goes down to one decision then. Kiara is probably going to break up with JJ and then leave or make JJ leave.

So, like any confused man, he pretends like his entire world isn't spiralling as he plays catch with Brownie along the dock whilst John B and Pope fish. JJ has complained three times since they got to the dock that he is cold. John B shuts JJ down each time, telling him to play with Brownie to warm himself up. JJ isn't as much of an idiot as the others may believe. He knows that they are just keeping him away from the chateau. It's probably just so Kiara can talk to Sarah about how to let JJ go without there being any tears involved.

Whilst JJ plays with Brownie, he can feel John B's eyes watching him. Maybe John B knows about Kiara's plan as well. No. If this is going to be his last day, JJ wants to enjoy himself. "Brownie!" JJ calls after the pup that has decided to sniff around the old, wooden planks of the dock. It still amazes JJ how this dog has been in their lives for more than five years. This dog is only four months younger than when the gold mission all went to hell. JJ likes to believe that if they had a sniffer dog back then, finding the gold would have been a hell lot easier.

"Dude I really am sorry about what happened last night." Pope eventually looks up from his fishing pole as JJ throws the ball once more for Brownie. Kiara's birthday party had been a bad decision. Whilst JJ and Kiara spent the entire night avoiding Anna Carrera, it all blew up in their faces anyways. JJ knows that there probably would be some new gossip in their Kook's gossip newspapers by the morning. News moves fast through Outer Banks. Especially when it has anything to do with the kids from the cut. A Maybank in particular.

"What happened last night?" John B obliviously asks, another Pogues that JJ just stupidly forgot to tell about the proposal.

"I told Pope that I proposed to Kie and then he blurted it out to her mother."

"Shit." John B mutters, before patting Pope on the back. "You really do have a way with words, Pope."

"Kiara's mad at me, isn't she?" Pope cries out.
"I don't really know saying that I think she is mad at me." An awkward laugh releases from JJ.

"Shit. How the hell is Kiara still our friend?"

John B's words make JJ freeze and look towards him full of confusion. John B hasn't said a word about the proposal. Hell, Pope almost had a mini breakdown when he found out. "Are you really not going to mention the part where I said I proposed to Kie?"
"No offence JJ but you have always been the reckless one." A smirk forms on John B's face. "It just doesn't surprise me that you asked her."
"She said yes though." Pope shouts out, obviously just as surprised as the night before.

"Kie's always been daring. Still doesn't surprise me." John B just shrugs.

Seriously? Is John B really insinuating that JJ and Kiara's relationship makes sense? JJ himself isn't even sure he fully understands the relationship. "Well not to burst any of your bubbles, but I think Kie's going to dump me."

"There's no way."
"That's not happening JJ." Both of them are quick with their replies. But JJ remains sceptical. Why else would Kiara be acting so strange around JJ?

Silence fills the dock as John B and Pope go back to fishing whilst JJ sits down with the tired Brownie and watches them. Fishing on the dock is covered with memories of the three of them fishing and bragging about who was better at fishing. Every time, John B won that battle whilst JJ only really ever managed to catch the one all whilst Pope caught a rock. JJ can't help but see how much the three of them have grown from these memories. Because every memory of fishing is planted with the memory of drinking the day away or getting high without talking about anything serious like marriage or breakups and definitely nothing to do with love. Now, the three same boys are here fishing whilst talking about their futures all whilst JJ is looking after a dog that he shares with a fiancée. Fuck. JJ has actually grown up.

"Who's going to be your best man?" Pope asks at one point. Both of the boys look at JJ whilst waiting for an answer that JJ can only laugh at. He could never choose between his Pogues.

"Brownie of course."

"Shut up." John B mutters out.

"Brownie is the best of us all." JJ jokes, fussing the half-asleep pup in which is by his side.

"Best pup in the world." Pope joins in the joke, fussing Brownie until his tail starts to move.

"He really did save you, didn't he?" John B breathes out.

"Yeah." JJ nods.

Brownie really did save him.

…

All a perfect romance story needs are two people that are destined from the start (even if they don't notice it straight away), an arc (how the relationship builds and then is almost broken before building once more) and something that is worthy of happily ever after.

As soon as Sarah found out about JJ and Kiara, she knew that they were the perfect romance story. How the two friends came together in a time of need before being thrown into life itself as they work through their differences to look after a hurt puppy. Romance blossoms when they realise that they are meant to be all for them to finally make the move from friends to dating and then all the way to engaged.

That is why Sarah makes it her mission to race Kiara down to the mall to have a look at wedding dresses. Sarah likes to believe that it won't be long until John B plucks up enough courage to ask her. But whilst she waits for her happily ever after, Sarah can enjoy making sure that Kiara's happily ever after is perfect. Finding a perfect wedding dress will really help the occasion.

Wedding dresses are full of elegance. The white creating an image of purity- even if neither Kiara nor Sarah are pure any more. The necklines remain so unique that it's like finding the perfect dress that can only be special to the person wearing it. The use of a veil to re-introduce the bride to waiting, loved up groom as if the veil is re-introducing them to the future itself. Wedding dresses have their own language as if they can only speak to the bride in which they have been made for. Sarah likes to think that she can speak the same language to help the Pogue girl choose the perfect dress for the Pogue boy.

Sarah smiles at the sight of the wedding dresses before turning to the bride herself. Kiara remains pale as she looks at the wedding dress wall. "Beautiful dresses, aren't they?"

"Sarah."

"Just try some on and I promise that you will feel so much better." Wedding dress shopping is always an easy fix to stress and anxiety. With Kiara stressing about if she is pregnant, Sarah knows that she needs to help her best friend, just like Kiara would do. "You don't have to buy anything Kie."

"I just don't know…"

"Relax and pick a dress. Forget about the entire pregnancy scare and just try on some beautiful dresses."

It makes sense why Kiara may be so scared about this pregnancy thing. For if Kiara is pregnant, none of these dresses will fit by the time she begins to show. Having a pregnancy scare herself, Sarah knows that Kiara must be feeling a range of emotions from pure terror all the way to the feeling that maybe it will be worth it. Kiara may say that she has never thought about having kids but Sarah doesn't believe that for a second. Kiara and JJ care for Brownie in such a parenting way that Sarah can't help but smile thinking that it may happen to them completely. By having Brownie, JJ and Kiara are already like three steps ahead of John B and Sarah when it comes to looking towards the future.

Kiara does end up picking out a wedding dress to try on. A dress in which Sarah would never pick out for the stubborn bride but Kiara just snaps and tells Sarah that it is the dress that she wants to try on. When Kiara returns wearing the wedding dress, Sarah smiles about how right she was. The dress doesn't fit Kiara to begin with. "Okay I tried on the fucking wedding dress now can we just go home?" Kiara's temper has been growing ever since they took step in the mall.

"Kie this is to calm you down. You needed to get away from that chateau."

With the word chateau, Sarah watches as Kiara quickly turns as white as a ghost before stuttering forward and fiddling with her loose curls. "I'm going to throw up." And Sarah sees the worry all at once in Kiara's eyes before they run towards the toilets, Kiara still wearing the hideous wedding dress.

They make it just in time for Kiara to heave into the toilet whilst Sarah holds her hair back. When Kiara mentioned the pregnancy scare, Sarah just presumed it was like her own. A missed period after not using a condom. It's only now as she looks at her best friend that she sees how serious this situation is. Kiara remains with her head in the toilet as Sarah just ties Kiara's hair up before standing straight. "You stay here Kie. I'll get the pregnancy test." A subtle nod of Kiara's head is all that Sarah needs.

Sarah makes her way through the mall quickly because her best friend needs her.

She needs help to find out if Kiara is pregnant.

…

It's all embarrassing. Kiara keeps her head in the toilet as she leans completely on the floor with the wedding dress creating a pool around her. Embarrassment revolves around Kiara all over again. Because here she is twenty-three years old, sat in a bathroom of a wedding dress shop whilst wearing a wedding dress crying because it's that time of the day again where Kiara loses all control of her emotions. Anger. Sadness. Sudden need to vomit. Kiara feels hopeless with her lack of control to even understand herself.

A pregnancy test will at least answer her questions.

The embarrassment is not only for this moment in time however. Because if Kiara finds out that she is pregnant, Kiara has to live with the fact that she doesn't even remember when she got pregnant. They never forget to use a condom. The condom never breaks. Nothing makes sense and it's only embarrassing that she can't even understand basic sex education.

But embarrassment is trumped by guilt. Because the question that keeps revolving around her head is: What will JJ think? His mother killed herself. His father beat his own son. JJ blames himself for everything that happened to his parents all whilst he worries that he will become his own father. What if Kiara is pregnant? Will it push JJ over the edge all over again as the memories of his father are all bought back into the open? JJ is only just getting better. Only just finding a way to fight away his demons but Kiara can't help but worry about how a baby could bring those demons back. JJ is nothing like his parents. Kiara will remind him that every day if she needs to. But if she is pregnant, what if the words just simply are not enough?

When Sarah returns with the pregnancy tests, Kiara's heart beat speeds up. This is it. Time to find out everything. "I took five when I had my scare." Sarah advices as Kiara steps back into the cubicle. If Sarah took five, Kiara needs to take six all to make sure that whatever the answer is, it's pretty much certain. If even one of them is different to the others, Kiara will look for a seventh opinion.

Peeing on a stick is a lot harder than the movies make it out to be. She needs real precision and accuracy to make sure that she does it right. Kiara can't be that stupid girl in which ends up in the hospital for finding a way to mess up taking a pregnancy test.

Kiara's heart beats faster when she stands next to Sarah after changing out of the wedding dress and waiting for the pregnancy tests to be ready to look at. Whilst Kiara is normally not someone that needs to be touched, she finds herself being really thankful that Sarah is here to hold her hand. Kiara wonders if she is hurting Sarah but Sarah makes no noise of pain. She is just there for Kiara. "I'm sorry I made you come wedding dress shopping." Sarah speaks whilst they are waiting. Kiara's emotions play with her as she lets out a giggle.

"At least I know what dress to not go for."

"Yeah that's true." Kiara watches as Sarah smiles. "Just know Kie. If these tests are positive, you'll have your Pogues and me and Brownie by your side every step of the way no matter what path you decide to go down."

"You and Brownie are Pogues."
"Not like you and your boys though."

Pogues for life.

The timer on Sarah's phone goes off to indicate that the tests are ready. Kiara lets a tear drop before stepping closer to where they are laid out on the sink. She feels her entire life flash in front of her eyes as she looks down and shakes to pick up the first test.

Positive… Positive… Positive.

All six of the tests read positive. Fuck. For the first time in Kiara's life, her mother is right. Kiara is pregnant. The ringing returns as she looks at the mess of herself in the mirror. Her face is all blotchy whilst her hair remains in a messy bun in which Sarah had thrown up. But Kiara can't see the messiness in which is normally herself. All she can see is her pregnant self. Pregnant. "Kie, it's okay." Kiara thinks she hears Sarah speak but it's too late.

Kiara runs out of the wedding shop and doesn't stop running until her legs feel like they are going to give way. Kiara Carrera is pregnant with JJ Maybank's kid. They have done it all the wrong way. It's not supposed to go like this. Kiara's story is meant to be about herself getting married to JJ and then deciding to maybe possibly have children one day.

Running, Kiara finds herself at the Wreck. A sudden rush guides Kiara straight into the restaurant with the sudden need to see her parents. She needs them now. Like she has never needed anyone before.

Luckily, Anna is stood by the door to the kitchen as Kiara makes her way in. Without thinking or listening to her mother, Kiara throws herself into Anna's arms and lets her sobs take over. Her mother is right about everything and it breaks Kiara. Whilst still in the hug, Anna strokes at her hair before softly speaking. "Kiara."
"I took a test." Kiara steps back before looking around the empty room of the Wreck. "I'm…' She still can't bring herself to say those words.

"It's okay Kiara. Everything is going to be okay."
"No it's not! It's not meant to be like this! I'm not meant to be like this."
"Kiara…"
"He's going to leave mom. He's going to leave and it's all my fault."

"Now." Anna ends up grabbing Kiara by the shoulders and shaking her lightly. "You know that's not true Kiara. It's just your emotions talking for you. Have you told him yet?" All Kiara can do is shake her head through the waterfall of tears. "That's step one Kiara."

"I don't know what to do."

"Well Kiara welcome to life. Life doesn't go to any plan or any format like we all wish it would. There is a way for you to look past this pregnancy and write it off but I don't think you have it in you Kiara."

Abortion. It crosses Kiara's mind. A way out if JJ needs it. "You need to tell JJ." It's the reaction that Kiara is afraid of. How will JJ react once Kiara ruins his entire future? Nothing makes sense to Kiara let alone what she can think about JJ. She knows that JJ is a great person that cares about everything and everyone. Just the mere sight of him with Brownie makes Kiara know that JJ would be amazing at everything. But Kiara can't help but wonder if abortion could be the best thing for them all.

It isn't until Kiara walks out of the Wreck that Kiara knows that she can't go through with abortion even with how tempting it is. She can't help but watch a young family as they pull their boat out of the dock. Kiara even has to do a double take when she notices that the father is a Kook back from Kiara's Kook year. His family are all smiling whilst they pull the boat out into the marsh. The kid looks to be only four maybe five but it's their smiles that makes Kiara sigh with delight. She may have never thought about having kids, but plans never seem to go Kiara's way in the first place.

She knows that she can't turn her back on her own kid. No matter what life ends up throwing their way.

…

When Kiara returns to the chateau, she just lays down on the pull-out thinking over what she needs to say to JJ. She almost laughs just at the thought of telling him. This isn't normally something that Kiara thinks about planning. The 'I'm pregnant and it's yours' speech. But she knows Sarah and her mother are right. Whatever the decision with the baby is, they must be in it together.

Kiara and JJ against the world all over again.

She tenses as soon as she hears voices on the porch. All three boys. Her Pogues and the little barking pup that came into their lives so unexpectedly. She remembers the day she told JJ that she found the pup. Kiara remembers JJ telling her that she can't save everyone. It's only now that Kiara thinks he was only really talking about himself. Kiara likes to believe that they have come a long way since that day five years ago.

Laughter erupts the place when the three Pogues jump into the chateau. Kiara sits slightly and makes sure to look only at JJ. Even when Brownie tries to jump on her, Kiara's eyes stay on him. The boy that she's about to change forever. "We should…" Kiara hears Pope and John B awkwardly mutter before they make their way back out of the chateau. Kiara cringes at how she just scared them away as she lays her head back down.

With her eyes closed, Kiara senses JJ as the bed moves with him sitting down. She looks over to him. JJ remains looking down at Brownie who seems to be enjoying a nice fuss. "I'm guessing you want to talk." His voice is dark. Maybe he has already guessed it.

"Yeah, I do." Kiara looks back to the ceiling to avoid the uneasiness feeling that surrounds them.

"Look Kie. If you're breaking up with me, just say it. I'm sorry for anything I did and I know that something has been going on and I don't want you to think that you're stuck with me. So just break up with me, I will try not to cry."
"What?" Kiara shoots up to sit next to JJ.

"I know you're getting sick of me."

"No, I'm not." It makes JJ release a pained laugh.

"You've been ignoring me Kie. I get it. I promise and I'm sorry."

"Stop fucking apologising JJ!" Kiara grabs his face to make sure he is looking at her. "I'm not breaking up with you, you idiot."

"Oh." His words return to being soft.

"Then what's been going on Kie?"

"I'm the one that should be apologising to you. I didn't mean to ignore you, okay? It's just I've been a little snappy and out of control lately."
"Yeah." He admits making Kiara roll her eyes playfully.

"But it's not because of you."

Shock spreads all over JJ making Kiara feel like the worst human being ever. Her actions made him feel like he wasn't good enough whilst it's Kiara that's not good enough for him. "I'm sorry JJ."

"Kie, you can tell me." She trusts him completely as she tries to bring herself to say it. But just by looking into his eyes, Kiara cowers out and lays back down onto the pull-out. Hesitation is massive as she tries again.

"I'm…" A sudden urge to be sick all over again brushes over Kiara. But Kiara keeps it down and looks back to the ceiling as she finds confidence deep in herself. "I'm pregnant, JJ."

Kiara doesn't need to look at JJ to know that he has been frozen by her words. Pregnant is a big step. "I'm really sorry JJ. I… I don't know what to do." Tears splatter her eyes as she remains staring at the rotting ceiling above her. She can't bring herself to move and see his reaction. He probably hates her. JJ probably wants to run. And Kiara wouldn't blame him.

But he doesn't run. She hears him take a deep breath before laying down next to Kiara. It's only then that Kiara turns her head to face him. "We're all okay, Kie." A smile appears on his face whilst Kiara expected a snarl. "And we'll work this out together."
"JJ…"

"Whatever we decide to do, we'll do it together." And Kiara believes his words. Relief floods Kiara as she moves closer to rest her forehead against JJ's forehead whilst still laying on the comfort of the pull-out. "What are you thinking about doing?" Kiara hasn't really thought about herself in this situation. But now she is forced to.

"Maybe we could keep it."

"Then we'll keep it." JJ repeats instantly making Kiara lean forward and kiss JJ before her out of control emotions can say anything else.

Because they're going to do it. And even if Kiara felt scared before. Here in this moment with JJ, she knows that they can take on anything. It's them against the world forever. "We're really doing this?" Kiara sobs against his lips as she feels a smile grow on his lips.

"We're really doing this, Kie."

And he sounds confident.