"Smithy's

"Smithy's?" Honey said in complete shock; she carried on "What that Smithy, wham bam thank you mam Smithy?"

"Yeah, thanks for that Honey" Kerry replied as she stared into the abyss of her glass.

Feeling awkward Yvonne looked round at Smithy who was still perched in the same position as he was five minutes ago but instead getting more restless by the second.

"Does he know?" Yvonne asked

"Yeah, hence why he has been acting like a complete pillock."

"When did you tell him?" Honey asked, beginning to appear more understanding as she saw Kerry try and mask her tears

"The other night. He told me that he wanted to make a go of things with Kezia and he wasn't ready for a baby."

"Well, from what I saw in the briefing today, things could be over between them two pretty soon" Honey added.

"Well it doesn't matter now, he made his decision and it didn't involve me or the baby. Its his choice" For once Kerry was tired of fighting, instead she just slowly gave up.

….

"Kezia, I've been standing here for fifteen minutes like a total prat, where the hell are ya?...Well you could've let me know, cheers" Smithy moaned as he spoke to Kezia. Hanging up he ordered a beer, his first of many.

….

"Does anyone want another drink?" Yvonne asked as she ventured up to the bar

"I'm fine thanks" Kerry replied. "In fact I might go home, I'm pretty tired."

"Kerry" Smithy called out while shoving his phone in his pocket hastily

"Smithy, whatever you say I don't want to hear it" Kerry replied, brushing off the hand that found itself attached to her side.

"Please Kerry, I need to explain" Smithy took a deep breath in as Kerry faced him, staring into his green eyes with a confident yet harsh gaze. "I've acted without thinking and probably hurt you more than I care to think about. I understand if you don't give a toss but please let me explain why I've acted like a complete tosser to you"

"Why should I Smithy. I gave you a chance, I wanted you to take that chance, but you didn't and now I'm learning to cope on my own. That's just how it is"

"Please Kerry" Smithy was pleading with sincerity more than Kerry had ever seen, and this was why she thought it best he let her give the explanation he so wanted to.

"Ok Smithy, I'll let you come back and chat but you can't stay late, I'm tired"

Smithy simply nodded in agreement and followed Kerry down the route he knew so well.

When they arrived at kerrys, Smithy acted like it was a place he had never set foot in before. Instead of imbedding himself deeply in the sofa watchly Kerry's every move with a lustful gaze like yesteryear, he simply stood awkwardly in the middle of the lounge, palms sweating as he rubbed them against the front of his blue baggy jeans.

Kerry looked at Smithy with a quizzical gaze as she handed him the coffee she has been making,

"You know you can sit down"

kerry watched Smithy intently as he chose a seat to sit in. She felt a pang of pain in her heart as she watched him sit in the armchair in the corner of the room, the place where so many of their drunken fumbles ended up, neither of them able to wait long enough to reach the bedroom.

"I don't know how to say what i want to say or what to say so I'm just gonna' say everything" Smithy declared, Kerry went to acknowledge this but he carried on.

"When you told me i was pregnant i panicked i didn't know what to do or what to say but i shouldn't have used my relationship with Kezia as an excuse. I told you i couldn't do the baby thing as me and Kezia were gonna make a go of it. Well i was lying, she wanted to make a go of it but i only ever wanted a bit of fun i didn't want a relationship. The reason i backed out is because i'm scared. I've failed every relationship i've ever been in or attempted, i haven't got the first clue about kids or babies and i can't see myself being a good dad"

Smithy's sincerity brought a cloudy mist over Kerry's bright eyes,

"I wish you told me this rather than lying to me Smithy. Everything you said applies to me too, if my relationships were successful i wouldn't be sitting here now pregnant by a one night stand, i don't know much about babies or whether id be a good mum but what i do know is that i will love this baby more than anything in the world, it didn't ask to be created but its my responsibility, our responsibility to care for it"

"I know, and that's why, if you'll still let me have a chance to be its dad"