As the final bell of the day rang, Sean could feel knots forming in his stomache as he pulled himself up and out of his seat in Mr. Simpsons class. He wasn't as sure of himself about everything, as he had been before. He let out a sigh before shaking his head a bit and grabbing up his books. He walked out of the class ignoring the call from Mr. Simpson.

He turned the corner of the hallway, seeing his locker. He spead his pace a bit, clutching his books a little looser in is grip. He needed to get going he knew that. He brushed a few strands of hair from his face and then opened the locker as he approached it. Swinging the door to it open, he almost missed the note that was hanging out of the door of it. He tossed his books in and snatched at the letter. Feeling ihe paper land between his middle and pointer finger. He closed them and snatched it from the door.

He opened the not reading it quickly, mumbling to himself as he did. McDonalds, he was to meet them at McDonalds. And not the one near this side of town either, but the one across town. He had said he didn't want anyone to know yet. Not till they had gotten everything situated. But McDonalds was a good ways away. He shoved the note in his pocket, hearing the sound of heals clacking against the ground behind him, knowing it was Emma.

"whats that?" god she had seen him. He turned around keeping his hand in the pocket he had shoved the note in securely. She couldn't find out. "It's nothing." He said with a convincing smile. He leaned foward and kissed her passionately, but made it as quick as he possibly could. "But I've got to get going, I've got stuff to do." he gave her an 'I'm sorry' smile, kissing her nose and then turning heading off down the hallway. "Eight o'clock!" Emma yelled after him. Sean just nodded, "Eight O'clock infront of the cinema."

He heard her sigh, he ignored it as he walked out of the school. Pushing the swinging glass door out infront of him. He looked around, spotting his car infront of the school, she sighed and walk towards it. He walked 0122

\00000000000around to the drivers side. He had to go home and change clothes before he went anywhere. Plus, he had to gain back some of his ne1

rve. Just a tiny bit!

He kept driving till he saw the turn off for his road, He looked down at himself. He didn't look that bad. And she had already seen him once today, he didn't want to seem as if he was trying to impress anyone. He kept driving straight, instead of turnling off. He was sure he had a clean shirt somewhere in the car that he could use. He removed one hand from the wheel to cut on the raido, flipping through stations landing on one that played nothing but old 90's.

He removed his hand and brought it back to the wheel, it was a good twenty minutes to the McDonalds she had told him to meet her at, and it would be an all to short trip. He knew that, he was dreading that. Hearing Alanis Morissette's 'One hand in my pocket"' come on the radio he laughed a bit. He remembered that song from when he was younger, he had loved it then. That was the good times at Wasaga Beach, before everything happened. Before he ever came near Degrassi, when Joey was still his best friend.

He loved the song, but he hated remembering those times. One thing Joey had made clear before coming to Degrassi for him, was that there would be no chance of the two of them rekindling anything. He didn't want that anyways; he was happy with Emma, he couldn't lose her again.

He got to the stoplight, looking both ways he made the right turn. It was legal. He saw the McDonals Arch sticking up over the next hill, he cut down the radio and sighed a bit. He'd be there early he was sure of that. Very early. But atleast he'd be there ontime for sure. He pulled into the parking lot slowly, finding a parking space and stopping. He'd wait here for her, he didn't want to go in and seem desperate as he sat there and watched out the window waiting for someone.

He sat back in his seat, and switched off looking out of his rearview, and side mirrors. Watching closely for any sign of Joey and Derek, watching for any sign of one of the only good things he had left in his life, coming back. He laid his head against the headrest and closed his eyes. Letting Everything slip back to him, Everything that he was still hiding from the one he loved.

Sean Sat Impatiently in the lobby of the Wasaga Beach Memorial Hospital. He lent his head back staring up at the ceiling, praying that everything went ok. He was fifteen, and scared out of his mind. His best friend, never girlfriend, boarderline bedroom buddy, was in labor with his son. And his girlfriend, who he had cheated on with his best friend, was sitting back at home, thinking everything was fine.

He tapped his feet before lifting his head back up to look ahead of him. Watching the swinging doors, waiting to see someone, anyone he knew come out, and tell him that he could go back. He ran his hands through his short curly hair. He was still questiong whether this was really happening or if it was all just some kind of dream, some pigment of his imagination gone way too far. He blinked a few times before getting up to go outside and have a cigarette. A habbit he didn't do much, but from time to time had no choice but to. Something had to calm his nerves.

He stepped outside the hospital doors, lighting a cigarette and then taking a long hard puff off of it. He rubbed his eyes and then looked around sleepily, god how long had he been here, she had went into labor early that morning, and it had now already been dark for a few hours. He knew she was already in the delivery half of it. He had been in there when they told her to start pushing which had been probably an hour or so ago now. But why was it taking this long?!

He heard the sound of the sliding doors open and turned his head, Lora, Joeys Mother was standing there. "Sean..." she said softly with a smile. "You can come see your Son now." She had a comforting smile on her face. Sean knew that she knew he wouldn't be around long. He had to go back to Degrassi, he couldn't stay In Wasaga Beach. They all knew that. Infact. He'd be leaving in the morning to return.

Sean dropped the cigarette on the ground and nodded walking towards her. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder as she walked him into the hospital, and towards the maternity floor. Taking a few turns and two elevator rides. They arrived infront of Joeys door. "You ready?" she asked softly with a smile. Sean nodded, reaching foward and holding onto the door knob as he turned it. Pushing the door open, seeing Joey laying in the bed holding what appeared to only be a bundle of blankets.

Joey looked to the door and smiled. "Sean..."

"Sean!...Sean!" Sean opened his eyes at the sound of someone knocking on his window. He looked over to see Joey standing there, with the handle bars of a stroller visable abover the bottom of his window. He smiled and pushed the door open slowly, watching her back the stroller up. He got out of the car, turning around and smiling down at Derek in the stroller, with his curly dark hair, and chocolate brown eyes.

"Hey Big boy." he said squatting down infront of the stroller, watching Derek smile as he saw the familiar face of who he now knew as his dad infront of him. Sean reached out and tickled the little boys stomache a bit. "How ya been buddy?" he asked not expecting a real answer of course. He saw Derek point down to the nike shoe that was on his foot and then heard " Ooo." followed by Nike. Sean smiled and then looked up at Joey, he had seen her at school today, but hadn't really spoke to her.

He rose back up to a standing position before asking. "How was the trip out here?" He was trying to make small talk for now. He didn't want to get into all the serious stuff yet. "It was fine, I'm not staying out here forever though." she said seriously. She moved and leaned against the side of his car. Standing beside him. "I can't Sean, I'll stay until you make sure you can handle him. But after that I'm gone." she hated saying that. But she had never really wanted Derek to begin with. Sure she didn't mind it. But Joey was far from being anything near the motherly type. Far from being the wife type, she was a free spirit, and she wanted to stay that way.

Sean looked down at the little boy and then back up at Joey, "I've got a little place I'm renting now, it's not much though, just an apartment." he explained to her. Trying to somehow make her feel a little better about leaving Derek with him. "I got a job working with Emma's mom at a beauty shop. I just answer phones and sweep up and stuff." he added feeling rather stupid for admitting he worked at a place like that. "Can I..." he pointed towards Derek, wanting to know if he could hold him.

Joey starred at him for a second before coming back to reality. "Oh yeah... " she said as she waved her hand in agreement towards the strolller. "Go ahead." she said. Sean smiled and then reached down to the stroller unbuckling the baby and then taking him out. He hoisted the baby up onto his hips and held him close to his chest. Watching the baby with his cup tightly secured in one hand. Fool with Seans hair in the other.

"When do you want him?" Joey asked, in a what almost seemed rushed tone. She waited for her answer as she stepped over to the car parked beside Seans, which was hers, and took out a diaper bag. Opening the backseat to Seans car and tossing it in. Sean looked at her a bit shocked. He hadn't told Emma yet, he hadn't told anybody yet. Besides Craig, who was now gone off the face of the earth, and Jimmy. Who he had finally managed to get back on speaking terms with.

"Sean you have to start sometime. I've had him for two years without your help except for the whole six months you where in Wasaga. It's your turn now." She said it blankly, and what she said brought Sean to a cold realization that he didn't really like all that well. "I'm staying till the end of the year. But then Im gone. And He's not coming back with me."

Sean looked down at the little boy in his arms, blocking out whatever it was that Joey was still muttering in the background. He was starring up at Sean now, with his cup in his mouth. Looking at Sean with a gleam of happiness in his smile. "Alright," Sean said softly. "I'll take him."