Christmas break had never been such a pain in the ass for Allison. Going into her fourth month, she had finally started showing a little bit of belly growth, and therefore her clothes were getting tighter. Most would think Christmas was a time where Allison could get these new clothes, possibly as gifts from parents. However, Danny and Marty were away for Christmas, so on Christmas day, Allison gave herself the gift of sleeping in. She could go shopping as she got bigger. Bender wouldn't be stopping by on Christmas. He had to deal with his own family. Bender promised he'd stop by for a few minutes if he could get his dad to chug enough eggnog and pass out.

Being 4 months pregnant wasn't as bad as Allison had initially thought. It was just for the first trimester Allison felt like crap. Dr. Wilson said that Allison had been gaining a decent enough amount of weight for the pregnancy to go smoother (she was still only 17, which would still likely bring complications). Allison couldn't fit into most of her skirts anymore. She stuck to her oversized sweaters and baggy jeans (some she snitched from Marty, who was at least 3 sizes bigger than Allison). She always looked like a farmer…but that wasn't much of a downgrade from reclusive Satanist. Anyways, Allison didn't care. As far as feeling went, Allison was feeling a lot less sick and a lot more hungry. She and Bender went out at least 3 times a week for dinner, and she'd had so much takeout that she'd probably eaten the foods of every country in Europe and Asia available at least once. Allison knew she had to start eating healthier, so she got herself some fresh fruits and salads and stashed them where Danny and Marty wouldn't find them, in the back of the fridge.

The day after Christmas, Brian showed up on Allison's doorstep unexpectedly. His parents had sprung him from their tight grip and he immediately thought of her. Allison sighed to herself. Maybe it'd be better of if this baby was Brian's! Brian refused to think, speak, or even mention Andy in passing. Allison had the feeling that Brian was struggling to remain neutral when, in fact, Andy had become his enemy too. Okay, so it wasn't like Andy was "the enemy" to the three remaining marauders of The Breakfast Club, but his irresponsibility in never returning Allison's message had really pissed Bender, Brian, and Allison, and all three vowed to keep him out of their minds at the risk of possibly setting something on fire in a fit of rage. Allison agreed. She found getting rid of Andy like going on a diet. After the two-week hump, he wasn't missed.

For the rest of the week they had off, Allison, Bender, and Brian hung out as a trio. Bender and Allison introduced Brian to the guys at the auto shop. On Wednesday that week, Bender slept in late, so Allison decided to show Brian the space above the garage, still not occupied by anyone. Brian seemed to like it up there.

"It seems like it'd make a nice place for a bachelor pad or a yoga studio," Brian remarked. Allison sighed and nodded, touching one of the huge windows and looking out over the street. Looking down below, watching people go by bundled up in the cold just gave Allison an interestingly good feeling. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something about winter made her feel alive.

"I haven't told John yet, but I spoke with his cousin Ernie the other day," Allison said, smiling. "He thinks we're going apartment-scouting for me soon, but Ernie's letting me move in up here, rent free!"

Brian grinned. "Oh Allison, that's so great!" Brian took Allison in his arms and embraced her. "I'd break out the champagne, but…"

"…that's okay." Allison sighed again, woefully. It was funny how it'd been tougher for her to give up her vodka than it was giving up the father of her child. Brian looked around the room.

"It's only one room, but I'm sure some walls can be built. Some of the men downstairs must know how to make walls. Some plumbing work will need to be done, along with covering up some of the windows, so you can have some privacy at night. It's a nice big space, Allison. Perfect for two!" Brian analyzed. His father was an architect, and Brian had inherited Ralph Johnson's knack for building and analyzing buildings.

"I had a feeling from the first day that this was destined to be my home at some point," Allison said. During her spare time, in between juggling school, Bender, parents, and pregnancy, Allison had found a few old books of her beloved grandmother's in storage, and it appeared Grandma Flora was very into reading about Hare Krishna, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, and various pagan religions. Allison sat down to thumb through them, and she found herself swept up in to the theories of peace, Nirvana, fate, and the threefold rule. Allison adopted for herself some of her favorite ideas. Interestingly, she felt better. She knew Danny would probably burn her for looking at them (Flora was her maternal grandmother), but what did she care?

"It's ideal too, considering its rent free and inflation is through the roof nowadays, thank you president Reagan!" Brian sighed. Allison laughed at the face he made.

"Do yourself a favor, Brian. Get rich off medicine and not politics! We don't need a nuclear war starting!"

Brian shook his head. "Oh no, I don't plan to even get rich! Besides, if Operation Darth Vader—"

"—Star Wars," corrected Allison.

"If Operation Star Wars doesn't keep us from war, nothing will!" Brian said. Allison laughed. Casual talks like this with Brian and Bender were the reason Allison was alive right now. Allison didn't want Brian to leave, either.

"So, do you know a sex yet for the baby?" Brian asked Allison after a silent moment. Allison shook her head.

"I'm leaving it a surprise," Allison said. Brian shook his head disapprovingly.

"Not a good economic move. How will you know what to buy?"

"Brian, I don't think a baby will care if it's a boy living in a pink room!" Allison said, rolling her eyes. Brian threw up his hands in surrender.

"Fine! But if he grows up like me—"

"—YOU lived in a pink room?"

"My parents wanted a girl so much they put me in dresses until I went off to school," Brian joked. "No, but a few people assume that I'm a, well, you know…"

"…gay? Really?" Allison asked. Brian turned red and nodded. Allison shook her head.

"Brian, if there's one thing I'm learning from been a teen mom, it's that no one's opinion matters but your own. People at school think I'm a whore, but every day I see girls like Claire in the girls' bathroom talking about skipping periods and getting abortions while puffing away at cigarettes. It's because I'm not mainstream, I stand out. But Brian, you can't let people get to you. You have John and me," Allison advised. Brian smiled and licked his front tooth while looking at the ground.

"So, how's Claire and Mr. Dickface?" he asked. Allison bit her lip and tried to hold back a laugh.

"Broken up," she answered. It was true. Claire caught Dickface with one of her friends, and they were over and done. Allison knew it would happen. She noticed Claire giving sad looks to Bender again, bit Bender, while being completely aware, chose to ignore her. Allison thought he was right. Claire had her chance, and she blew it on a whim. No second chances were applicable here. Allison was proud of Bender for keeping his head and not letting Claire fall back into his arms. She couldn't possible expect after all the hell that she would be welcomed back with open arms.

Brian looked almost sad to hear it. Allison dropped her shoulders. "She had to face reality, Brian. I know you liked her as a friend," she said.

"The times really are changing, aren't they?" asked Brian.

"Yes, Bri, they really are," Allison nodded.

Allison turned her head when she suddenly heard footstep in the stairwell. Bender appeared in the doorway in a second, looking incredibly pissed off. Allison turned red. What happened?

"John, what's wrong?" asked Bender. He stomped into the room with his giant rain boots, making a huge ruckus that drowned out the drilling and other working sounds below in the garage.

"My GED results," he muttered.

Allison swallowed a lump in her throat. "Failed?" she asked.

"Passed. Flying colors," he said, wiping the pissed look on his face. Allison almost wanted to collapse. "I'm done with high school!"

"JO-OHN! Don't DO that to me!" Allison punched Bender in the arm, who was smiling pridefully now. Brian came up to Bender too.

"Great job!" he said.

"Thanks Bri!" he said. Allison caught her breath and gave Bender a hug. "Why are you guys up here?"

Allison licked the corner of her lip. "It's all arranged, John. Ernie said I can live here rent-free!" she announced. Bender's smile grew even wider.

"You're kidding!" he said, laughing. "Ern's such a dipshit!" he joked. Allison rolled her eyes.

"Can't you just call each other something family-oriented for once?" she asked.

"Hey, in the Bender family, that IS family-oriented!"

Everyone laughed.

"Let's do lunch you guys!" Bender proposed. "Somewhere nice! Brian's treat!"

"Now, wait just a minute!" Brian said, joking. Allison smiled and laughed heartily. Never had a simple laugh felt so good.

For once, she felt like part of a family.

Andy paced the wooden floor of his brother's room, anxious and worried. His older brother Adam sat on his bed tossing a football between his hands. A set of keys lied beside Adam. He'd locked himself and Andy in the room.

"You have to," said Adam.

"I…I can't," replied Andy, staring at the phone on Adam's desk.

"I'll give you the atomic wedgie of your life and hang you on the front door for all of the greater Kenosha area to see," Adam said. "I know you're not listening to your fuck-up brother, but it's not even debatable. You HAVE to call the girl," Adam said.

"I don't think she'd appreciate it," Andy said.

"No, you don't think, period," said Adam. "You knock up and girl and you don't even call her back? Andy, you've changed, man. You come here and turn into a pimp and now you won't even acknowledge the girl you once loved?" Adam said.

"Well, you've changed too, Adam!" said Andy defensively. "You're suddenly Mr. Touchy-Feely—"

"—thank my therapist for that," said Adam, taking a sip of cola from the can on the floor beside him. "I'll hold you hostage in here forever if you don't pick up the phone, call her, and let her know you're coming home."

"Who said anything about going home? Dad—"

"—has to realize you're not 12 anymore. You can drive! Take my fucking car! I'm NOT letting you dump the girl in the trash for something as faggy as a wrestling scholarship!"

Faggy? God, what was it with everyone thinking wrestling was a gay sport?

"I can't. I'm just too nervous…"

"I really should have pissed before putting you on lockdown. I didn't think it'd take this long!"

"Oh shut it off, Adam! You have no idea how nerve-wracking this is!" Andy said, gripping his forehead. Adam stood up and grabbed Andy's shoulder.

"Fine, I'll make a deal. Call her, and you can choose whether to go back or not. Don't worry about George. I can deal with him. But you need to promise to think long and hard about going back," Adam bargained. Andy nodded. That was much fairer than his previous bargain with George. Andy stared at the white phone for a moment, and then suddenly lunged at it, picking it up and dialing Allison's number.

Three rings, then an answering machine message played…

"This is Danny and Marty Reynolds. Leave a message at the tone and we'll try to get back to you as soon as we can…"

Andy grunted. Answering machines were not his friends at the moment. He took a deep breath and sighed before leaving the message.

"Allison? This is…Andy. I…got your message. Please call me back and tell me if you need me there," Andy said before feeling a shot of nerves hit him and hanging the phone up hard. Adam shook his head.

"You are such a fag," Adam moaned. "But, rules is rules," he said, tossing the keys at Andy, who unlocked the door and quickly retreated to his own room. He dug through his endless drawers and cabinets for something. He took it out and fell onto his bed, panting heavily and staring at the small bottle in his hand.

Allison's hand lotion.

Andy had done it. He made the call. He expressed coming back into his old girlfriend's life. It was a thought he had in his mind since the day she gave him the message that she was having his baby. Andy realized that he wanted Allison back for real, and that he'd been such a dipshit.

He just had the subtle feeling Allison didn't want him back.