Disclaimer:I do not own Degrassi

Chapter 2

Her thin arms grab me as she jumps up and wraps her legs around my torso, throwing me slightly off balance. With Emma, it feels as if I've just walked into a hurricane when I come to visit her. Hurricane Emma...yes that's the perfect way to describe her. Her soft lips descend upon mine, kissing me as if it's the last time she'll ever see me. I feel her small hand reach up and grab a fistful of my hair, and then she's gone before I even realize what happened. My old black hat is perched on top of her head and she's standing in front of me with a triumphant smile on her face.

Disbelieving I reach up and pat my own head to feel only hair. "Hey!" I yell at her, reaching out to snatch my hat back, but she's already off again. She barrels into Sean, giving him a small peck on the cheek and then she moves on to Manny who isn't quite prepared for what Emma has in mind. The two girls went sprawling into the grass, Emma on top of Manny. Alex, Sean and I were all doubled over laughing, but the laughter stopped abruptly when Emma leaned down and planted a kiss right on Manny's lips with a loud smack. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets and Sean let out a low whistle.

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about," Sean snickered. Emma lifted her head, a wide grin on her beautiful face and looked at all of us innocently.

"I just missed my best friend," she said joyously.

"I missed you, too, Em, but kind of can't breath right now," Manny said in a strained voice.

"What? Why?" Emma asked, her voice confused and it was all I could do not to laugh. Manny gave her an exasperated look and shoved the blond off of her.

"Because you were on top of me lame brain," the tiny brunette shot out as she stood up from the grass.

"Oh, right," my girlfriend lets out, looking as if she'd finally learned the answer to some incredibly hard math problem.

"The blond hair is seriously shining through right now, cause girl," Alex smirks, shooting Emma a 'duh' look. Emma just smiles at her sheepishly.

"Hi Alex," she says shyly, looking a bit unsure of herself. For whatever reason unknown to me, Emma's always been a little insecure around Alex.

"No hug for me? Seriously, I'm hurt," Alex says sarcastically, but Emma blushed a deep crimson and awkwardly steps forward, giving Alex a small hug. The older girl lets out a surprised laugh and hugs Emma back. When she pulled away Alex crouched down and put a hand on Emma's abdomen, rubbing it in small circles. I thought Manny was going to faint as she watched the gentle expression on Alex's face.

"And don't think I forgot about you darlin'. How are you doing, little one? Aunt Alex came just to visit you," she said softly.

"Aunt Alex?" Emma snorts. Then her eyes get huge and she lets out a soft, "oh." Just as Alex snatches her hand away as if Emma was on fire.

"What?" I ask, suddenly worried, rushing over to Emma's side.

"What is it?"

"She kicked again," the petite blond breathed in awe.

"The baby kicked? Is that good? That's a good thing right?" I asked quickly. Emma let out a soft laugh and nodded yes. I fell to my knees, pressing my cheek against her abdomen.

"C'mon baby, just once more. Kick for daddy," I whisper, brushing my cheek softly against Emma. And there it was, a soft thump against my face.

"Holy shit!" I yell out, jumping up and spinning Emma around.

"He kicked! Did you feel that? That was so cool!" I yelled happily, the goofy grin back on my face.

"Okay, are we in an alternate universe or something?" Sean says, rolling his eyes.

"Huh? Why?" I ask stupidly. Manny and Alex both break out laughing as Emma gives me an indulgent smile.

"You. You're acting...human," Sean whispers out, eyes wide, then he doubles over laughing.

"So what? A guy's not allowed to be happy now?" I mutter, shoving my hands into my jean pockets.

"Of course you are sweetie," Emma says softly, leaning forward and kissing me gently.

"It's weird, how much he's changed," I say softly, watching Emma and Jay from a distance. The grin on my best friend's face makes a surge of happiness swell inside of me. I've missed that smile. He put it back on her face. I can't forget that he was the one to take it away, though.

"Yeah, but he's still the same," Alex says thoughtfully, turning to look at me with serious eyes. I glance at Sean out of the corner of my eye and he just shrugs his shoulders, picking at the grass.

"I don't know..." I trail off. I want him to have changed. I want Emma to stay happy. I don't want her to fall back into the deep dark hole she'd been in. I don't think she could survive it a second time.

"Just give it time," the other girl says bitterly. I sigh, softly, looking over at Sean once more with worry in my dark eyes. She's right. Jay's being good to her now, but for how long would it last?

"I know what you're thinking, Manny, and I've wondered it myself. But...I don't know. No offense Lexi, but I've never seen him this way with anyone before," Sean finally speaks up. I smile at him softly, knowing how hard this must be for him. He's always loved Emma and he came back here for her. He'd come back too late though, I don't know...the more I think about it the more I wonder if him not even leaving would have made a difference anyways.

"I know that Sean. I know that he loves her, I'm not an idiot. It's just...Jay...well he's Jay. No one just changes over night like that," I say gently.

"Manny, think about it. Since I was back even, I saw a change in him. He tried to hide it, ya' know. But the mean Jay was gone, replaced by someone a little softer. Don't you dare tell him I said that, though, he'd kick my ass. He only started being a total jack ass again when he cut shit off with Em," Sean reminded me. I thought it over, like he told me, and I realized he was right. He and Emma had still traded insults over the last two years, but...they hadn't been as biting as they'd been in the past. He'd even been in school more than he normally would have been and I'd noticed that he hadn't spent nearly as much time in the principle's office as was him custom.

"You're probably right, Cameron," Alex said with a thoughtful look in her eyes.

"But I'd still watch out if I were you two."

"So the doctor said everything's okay with the baby?" Jay asked me worriedly. I squeezed his hand a little tighter, my own fear rising up inside of me.

"Yeah. The doc said that she's healthy as a horse. I'm glad...I'm glad I didn't cause any..." my voice trailed off as tears began to gather in my eyes. When I think of what could have happened to her...

"Hey, don't beat yourself up over it, green peace. The baby's fine and that's all that matters," he said gently, turning to face me and pulling me against him. I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent, letting him comfort me. I miss him so much when he's not here. It's like a part of me is gone when I'm not with him.

"Now, no more tears while I'm here okay?" He says sternly, pulling away from me and walking over to an empty bench. I sit down beside him and lean my head against his shoulder.

"No more tears," I agree, nodding my head.

"Um, I need to talk to you about something, Emma," Jay says nervously. My brows furrow together in concern and I look up at him with a question in my eyes.

"What is it?"

"I haven't told my parents about the baby. I just...I think maybe we should do it together," he says softly. A feelings of panic rises up inside of me and my hand start to shake.

"I-I don't think I can. Jay, please," I plead with him. I can't do that. I can't be there when he tells them. I can't have my first time meeting them be in that moment.

"Look, we don't have to tell them right away, okay? You'll meet them first and then we'll tell them. I just, there's something you should know about my parents," he says looking away from me. I see a sadness in his eyes and I wonder what it is that can be so bad. I don't say anything, waiting for him to elaborate. I'm afraid that if I talk he won't tell me. A silent battle crosses his face before he breathes in heavily and then turns to look at me with a pained expression.

"They don't really...well they don't really give a shit about me, Em. I doubt they'll even care that I got you pregnant. They'll probably just freak out about what kind of image it will project about them. Dammit. When I told them you were my girlfriend this morning they didn't even know that Alex and I had broken up over two fucking years ago," he let out angrily. Compassion swirled around inside of me and reached out and touched his arm softly.

"I'm sure that's not true, Jay. They must care about you, they're your parents," I tell him softly.

"No, Emma. Not everyone's home life is hunky dory. They really don't care," he says and the way he says it I can see that he's telling the truth; at least what he believes to be the truth. My heart aches for him then.

"They love me because they have to, because I'm their kid. They don't know me, though, they don't want to," he said so matter of factly that I couldn't think of anything to say. I just stared at him, my heart breaking for the sad faced boy beside me.

"I know you, Jay, and I love you," I tell him, smiling at him gently. I reach over and put my arms around him, giving him what little comfort I can.

"I don't know how I went all those months with out you, Emma. You're my everything," he whispers, burying his face into my shoulder. A tear slips down my cheek and falls into his unruly golden brown locks. I don't cry for myself this time. This time I cry for him.