AN: Thank you to all those who have been kind enough to leave reviews. I appreciate it very much.

Chapter 4

As luck would have it, Henry and Elizabeth graduated the same day. Henry spent a week flipping out, worried that she would graduate before he did and he'd have to figure out how to go to her and make up his finals. Dodging that bullet, he now just had to convince his parents to let him go to wherever it was that Elizabeth was having the abortion, without telling them that's what he was doing.

There wasn't a clinic in Wilmington, Delaware, where she went to school, so Elizabeth ended up making an appointment for the Monday after graduation at a clinic in Philadelphia. She had to go a preliminary appointment on Monday and then wait the 24 hour period before she could have the abortion. She went ahead and scheduled the appointment to have the abortion on Tuesday.

It seemed like since this whole nightmare began there were certain benchmarks that she thought would make her feel better, but was wrong every time. She thought that finally having a plan and making the appointment would help, but her anxiety was higher than ever. Luckily it was only two more weeks and it would be over. She clung to that.

Henry sat down with Evelyn the day that Elizabeth called with information about the appointment. The whole thing still made him ill, but he had made his case and ultimately it was her choice. Just because he didn't agree, didn't mean he would leave her to deal with the fallout alone. "Mom, I'm going to ask you something. It's going to seem somewhat off the wall, but you know how I told you about the girl I met?" Evelyn nodded. "She's alone and she's doing something in a couple weeks that she really shouldn't be alone for. I'd like to drive to Philadelphia to stay with her for a few days."

Evelyn leaned back in her chair and studied Henry. "I don't know that I think that is a good idea. You don't know her very well. And she wants you to come to Philadelphia."

"Actually she said she didn't need anyone, but she does Mom and she just doesn't know it yet. I can't explain it all, but I really need to be there," Henry didn't want to elaborate, and he wasn't sure what he would do if she pressed him.

"When?"

"The Tuesday after graduation. I'm already off that week anyway and it would probably just be Tuesday and Wednesday, and maybe Thursday. I'm not sure. She might throw me out before then."

"How do I know there won't be any, how shall I say it, shenanigans, with this girl?"

"Well, Mom, you don't know, other than I promise there won't be. I will only be there to make sure she's okay. I know it's a big ask, but I try to be a good friend and this is something that I feel I need to do. Please?"

"It's fine with me. But, I suppose you want me to sell this to your father?"

Henry grinned. "If you'd do that, you'd be the best." He winked at her and she laughed.

"I already am the best!"

"You are Mom. You are the best." Henry hugged her and left the kitchen both lighter and heavier than he'd been in weeks. He'd managed to get to Philadelphia without outing the two of them, but the reason he was going left him heartbroken. He trudged up to his room. Only two more weeks.

Henry graduated with honors on the second Sunday in May. Everyone was congratulating him and he knew this should be a happy day, but he just couldn't enjoy it, not knowing what was going on with Elizabeth. They'd talked a few days prior and Elizabeth spoke a little about her situation-her great-aunt being elderly and not in the best of health and her brother, Will, leaving for Colorado. He stood in his living room, surrounded by his family and a few friends and all he could think about was Elizabeth, and how hard it would be to have only himself to rely on. Henry considered himself pretty self reliant, but he still went to his parents for so many things, even just advice about what he should do. He felt bad knowing she was alone.

As soon as most of his family left, Henry snuck off to call Elizabeth. He wasn't sure if he would be able to reach her. But, someone immediately picked up and went to get her. He heard running steps, "Hello?" she asked, breathlessly.

"Hey there! Happy graduation," he said.

"Oh, hi Henry. Thanks." She didn't bother trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

"I know I'm not on the top of your list of people to talk to, but you could feign a little enthusiasm," Henry teased.

"I'm sorry. I was just hoping for a call from someone else, that's all. I do appreciate that you took the time from your day to call me. It's nice to know that someone cares. Thank you," she said. Henry could tell that she was sad. It felt kind of dumb. He didn't really know her, but just talking to her over the past few weeks, he was surprised that he cared as much as he did. She would have the abortion, he'd make sure she was fine and then he'd come home and probably never see her again. It made him feel so empty and he hated that. He changed the subject.

"Will didn't call?" he asked.

"No, but he's probably still on the road or setting up his space. It's okay," she said softly, trying to mask the hurt.

"It's not and you should tell him that you need more," Henry told her.

"I take care of him, not the other way around," Elizabeth stated matter of factly.

"But who takes care of you?" Henry wanted to know.

"I don't need anyone." Henry hung his head. He thought she did, but he didn't argue. He finalized arrangements for Tuesday. She gave him the address of the clinic and had already found a motel nearby that she planned on staying at Monday night and would just stay through Tuesday. If she was feeling okay, she was going back to Virginia for a few days to visit her aunt Joan and then decide what she was doing for the summer. He said his goodbyes and told her that he would be there at 10:00, in time for her appointment.

Elizabeth's grades had fallen in the last quarter of the year, but luckily her third quarter grades were so high that she still maintained As for her semester grades, which was what counted for her GPA. She still graduated valedictorian, which was important for her in her quest to make her parents proud of her. It hurt that she had no one there, but everyone was so involved in their own things that it went unnoticed. The only bright spot in her day was the few minutes she talked to Henry on the phone. She returned to her room and packed her meager belongings into two suitcases and a backpack and as soon as it was dark, she walked to the bus station to catch a late bus to Philadelphia.

Elizabeth slept very little on the long bus ride and even less once she finally made it to the motel. She had a preliminary exam first thing Monday morning. Yes, she was pregnant and she was healthy enough to have the procedure. Once back at the motel, Elizabeth turned on the TV and stared at it, but wasn't paying any attention. Her thoughts were on Henry and how mad he would be when he arrived and found that she'd already had the abortion. She told him 10:00 when it was really at 8:30, but she couldn't take the chance on him showing up and begging her to change her mind. It was a lot easier to stay strong and state her case over the phone. She didn't know that she would be able to be as convicted if she were standing face to face with him.

That perplexed her. All of her reasons were valid: people would judge her, she wouldn't be able to go to college and get a decent job, she would lose her scholarship, she would have no support. It wasn't like her to be so wishy-washy once she'd made up her mind. She finally pointed the remote at the TV and when the picture vanished, she pulled the covers over her head and waited for the next day to come.

She was up before the sun the next morning, her stomach in knots. Elizabeth hadn't had any morning sickness in a week now, and she was actually feeling human again. She knew it was just nerves. She showered and stood in front of the mirror hung on the back of the bathroom door. She was a few days shy of sixteen weeks, almost four months. She had a tiny bump now that made wearing her uniform skirt uncomfortable. She unintentionally placed her hand there. Elizabeth wondered if it would go away and her flat stomach would return or if she would always carry the reminder. Shaking her head, she got dressed and ate a granola bar and headed out toward the clinic.

Elizabeth arrived at 8:15, where she was greeted warmly and signed in. She was called back and asked several questions about whether or not she knew what she was doing. Of course she did. The granola bar churned in her stomach. After being told she would be called in a few minutes, she returned to the waiting room. Elizabeth sat with her head down, staring into her lap. A few other people came in. She couldn't help but wonder if they were there for the same reason. She didn't make eye contact. It seemed like she was waiting forever. Having not slept well the past several weeks, exhaustion overtook her and she dozed off.

"Lizzie, what on Earth did you do?" Suzanne Adams asked. Eight year old Lizzie stood next to her mother's prize rose bushes, which were completely stripped of their beautiful flowers. Lizzie held the garden scissors in her hand.

Tears sprang to her eyes. "I just wanted to make you a bouquet of roses, for your dresser, because they're pretty like you." With that she dropped the scissors and started sobbing with her face hidden in her hands.

She felt herself being lowered into her mother's lap and Suzanne wrapping her arms around her devastated self. "Lizzie girl, you will do things in your life that don't turn out like you think they will. That happens to everyone. What sets some people apart is how they deal with it when it happens. You always have a choice in how you handle things. No matter what happens in your life Lizzie, your dad and I will always love you. Things will work out like they are supposed to."

"Adams." Elizabeth's head snapped up and looked at the young brunette in light blue scrubs, a surgical mask hanging from one ear. "I can take you back now." She gave Elizabeth a kind smile. Elizabeth stood and took two steps toward the woman. She stopped and looked around at the three other women in the waiting room. One looked younger than her and was sitting beside a middle aged woman that Elizabeth guessed might be her mother, although the two looked nothing alike. The third woman had her head tilted down resting on her hand. Elizabeth could tell she was quite a bit older than her, maybe 30. In that moment, she wondered what brought people to this place. What made them make this decision? Why was she here? The weight of that question forced her back, and she actually took a step back. "Miss Adams, are you alright? They're ready for you."

She held her finger up to the woman. "Just a minute," she mumbled. "I have to think." Why am I here? There was a voice deep within her that spoke up. I am here because I'm afraid. Afraid of how people will treat me. Afraid of their judgments. Afraid that I will lose what I've worked so hard for. Afraid that no one would ever want to be with someone who already has a child. Afraid that I won't ever be as good a mother as my mother was to me. She looked at the nurse. "I can't do this. I'm not here for the right reasons. I have to go."

Elizabeth turned on her heel and walked out the door. The warm, humid air hit her in the face and she squinted her eyes against the sun. She let out a shuddering breath. What did I just do? I took control. I am going to act, not react.

"Elizabeth!" Henry called, jogging up the sidewalk. He glanced down at his watch. It was almost 9:30. She turned and faced him just as he stepped close. He was caught off guard when she threw her arms around his neck and cried. "What's going on?" She didn't answer, but clung to him, her tears wetting the front of his t-shirt. He just held her. When her crying slowed, he started to enter the building, but she caught his hand and pulled him back.

Confusion sat in the lines across Henry's forehead. "My appointment was at 8:30. I didn't want to have to argue with you before going in."

Henry dropped his head. "I said I would support you even if I didn't agree with you. I didn't come to try and convince you otherwise. It's done then?"

"It's barely started." She paused, taking him in. He looked like he hadn't slept. She probably looked the same. "I couldn't do it Henry. I just walked out."

Henry couldn't believe his ears. "So, you're not going to-" he started, but Elizabeth interrupted him.

"I don't think so. It's not off the table, but I need a few days to really think about every option and not base it on my fears." There was more she wanted to say, but Henry swept her into a hug of his own.

"What are your plans? Do you have to go back to Virginia?" She shook her head. "Then come home with me. We'll work it out together."

"I can't just invade your home Henry. Your parents will hate me as it is. I'm not living there," Elizabeth protested.

"My mom will be fine after the shock wears off and she'll keep my dad in line. I swear. I have 2 sisters and a brother. We'll figure out a place for you to stay. Things will work out like they're supposed to."

Elizabeth's mouth dropped open as she remembered her mother's words from her dream and she relented. "We have to stop by the motel to get my things. Then we can go." Henry put his arm across her shoulders and kissed the top of her head as they walked back to his car. For the first time in a couple months, she could breathe. Nothing was solved, the problem still existed, but she was taking charge of the situation and she wasn't doing it alone.