Early Spring: 2009:

Ages of the kids: Maggie - 17, Beth - 13, Joel - 9, Luke and Daniel - 7 , Noah - 5

Maggie was really upset about Allan being gone. He had joined the Marines a year ago, and hadn't seen him in 2 months since he was home on leave. She was out for a drive with her mama. Maggie turned off the car after pulling over into the local ice cream shop, and sighed. She had been dating Allan Taylor for a few years now, officially, they had been friends since the dance. "I kind of did something really stupid…."

Meredith shifted in her seat. "Who did you get into a fight with.." She was assuming Maggie got into a fight at school.

Maggie just looked down and sighed. "Allan...and I." She bit her lip. "We uhmm…have been...sleeping…. together."

Meredith sat their for a minute, and looked over at her. "Oh Maggie…"

"I know mama… I know…" Maggie said looking down. "We use a condom.. Plus I'm on birth control.."

"Have you two been active long?" Meredith sighed softly.

"Yeah..but.." Maggie said softly. "Mama...I'm….late." She looked up at her with tears in her eyes.

"Oh honey." Meredith placed a hand on her back and rubbed her back and pulled her in for a hug.

Maggie sniffed and hugged her. "I'm sorry mama." She said pressing her forehead against hers.

"We all make mistakes. At least you told me honey." Meredith said hugging her more. "Lets drive to town. I'll go into the store and get a box of pregnancy tests."

Maggie nodded calming down, and started driving after a few minutes.

Meredith laid her head back and closed her eyes. "It will be okay. How late are you honey?"

"Okay mama." Maggie said pulling up to the small store. "Two months..it's been that long.. Since, you know." She sighed. Meredith nodded, went inside and got a box and came out. She drove off with Maggie and when they got home. They went inside. "Beth, can you take your brothers outside to run around for a bit and play with the dogs?"

"Sure mama." Beth smiled and grabbed her brothers and ran off outside with them.

"Thank you honey." Meredith said kissing her forehead and watching her, smiling.

Heshel watched Beth take off with the boys. "Everything okay?"

Maggie sat down next to Meredith. "Daddy…" She looked over at him. "I uhn…...I'm late."

Hershel sat there for a minute. "Late….for what." He said leaning forward, he knew for what just couldn't bring himself to sat it. "Whom have you been seeing?" He frowned.

"Daddy!" Maggie snapped, and then looking down, she felt like she was 10 again, getting scolded for something she did. "Daddy….you know for what…"

Hershel sat back and rubbed his face. "How long?" He sighed.

"Close to two month's.." Maggie replied looking down.

"So… when Allan was home during this last visit." Hershel sighed rubbing his head. "Margaret.."

"I know daddy." Maggie, bit her lip and got up and went into the bathroom with the box of tests.

Meredith sighed sitting back.

"Knew she shouldn't have gone on birth control.." Hershel sighed.

"Bear, she would of probably gone out and gotten it anyway, or proceeded to sleep with him without it." Meredith sighed looking at him. "She's smart for letting us know, and for being on it anyway."

"A lot of good that did." He huffed.

"Hershel." Meredith frowned, getting up she went to go check on her. "Maggie?"

Maggie opened the door, she was sitting on the toilet seat, playing with her locket that Meredith gave her.

Meredith looked up in the medicine cabinet and saw the old prescription for Maggie when she had strep throat. "Maggie… were you taking this with your birth control?"

Maggie looked at it and nodded.

Meredith sighed. "Alright honey. It'll be okay… If you can't read the test, bring it out." She said leaving the bathroom.

"She was on a antibiotic during that time, Bear." She said sitting down.

"Fantastic." He sighed laying his head back, rubbing his temples.

"It'll be okay, Bear.."

"I hope so Dove… Being 17 and pregnant is no picnic.." He said it without realizing it.

"I know." Meredith sighed sitting back.

"I'm sorry." Hershel frowned sitting up and holding her. "I'm sorry I've been taking digs at that and you since she told us."

"It's okay." Meredith sighed.

"No it isn't." He shook his head. "I'm really sorry. It wont happen again." He held his head against hers. Meredith nodded and kissed him pressing her head against his.

"It's okay." She breathed softly, and smiled a bit.

Maggie came out and handed the test to Meredith.

Meredith sat up and looked at it. "Its… Negative honey."

Maggie bit her lip and smiled slightly and cried.

Meredith pulled her in for a hug, "If you're still late in a month, take another." Maggie nodded as she hugged Hershel also. She went to leave.

"Wait a minute." Hershel said sighing. "Come here."

Maggie turned around and walked back over.

"I'm not thrilled you and Allan have chosen to do this.. However, I've been told I can't stop you.." He looked at Meredith. She nodded. Then turned back to Maggie." You need to think about what just happened, and when - if you two decide to continue doing that. Use a second form of protection." He sighed. "You are a big sister, and need to lead by example for Beth.."

"I will daddy." Maggie nodded. "I'm sorry I disappointed you.."

"Honey." Hershel sighed holding her hand. "You are just growing up. This was going to happen eventually." He looked at Meredith. "We've all done things in our lives - that we rushed into.. But, you're doing better at it now. Just continue making the right choices." He rubbed her back. "You are never a disappointment." He smiled slightly.

"Okay daddy." Maggie wiped her eyes.

Hershel stood up, wiped her cheek and hugged her. "I love you Maggie."

Maggie wrapped her arms around him. "I love you too daddy."