So I wasn't going to post this until tonight, but seeing as I now have plans for tonight and I am bored right now waiting to go to lunch, I decided to post it now. :)

Someone asked a really good question about Spencer's mom. I'm sorry if anyone was a little confused. At this point, Spencer's mom is not in Bennington yet. Spencer plans to have her moved there after he turns 18. And I haven't had him writing letters, cuz in the show, I always understood it that he started writing them after she is in Bennington. Cuz he tells Garcia he writes her every day so that he won't feel guitly about not visiting her.

But anyway, as Spencer's 18th birthday is coming up soon (I have decided to use Gubler's birthday as Spencer's too), Spencer will visit his mom, with Derek of course.

The end of this chapter has Spencer's gift to Derek. XD And I think the reveal of the Bet will be in the next chapter.

Derek and Spencer left two days after Christmas. Derek had to return for work and Spencer was anxious to begin studying for his new classes. That night, they were able to find a less sketchy hotel, but Spencer shyly asked if Derek could still request a single.

They slept in late the next morning, lazily laying around, enjoying the end of their trip. After they loaded up the car, Derek found a nice café for them to have a late breakfast. Spencer still eyed Derek's coffee jealously, but didn't say anything, knowing they had a long drive ahead of them and Derek would need the caffeine.

The ride was spent talking, Derek groaning about classes starting in a couple weeks, Spencer practically bouncing in his seat at the thought of resuming learning. Spencer explained to Derek what appointments he'd have to attend in the near future and Derek promised he would go with, taking off work and missing class if he had to.

By the time they made it back home, it was late evening. Derek walked Spencer to his apartment door, kissing him as Spencer fumbled to pull his keys from his pocket. Spencer giggled and pushed Derek towards the stairs as one of his older neighbors huffed past them down the hall. Derek walked backwards, smiling, until Spencer blushed and turned, unlocking his door.

Derek returned to his car, thoughts of his trip with Spencer swirling through his head for the ten minute drive. He locked his car, slinging his bag onto his shoulder and heading into the building. The elevator made the short trip to the fourth floor, and Derek let himself into his apartment.

The phone was ringing insistently and Derek dropped his bag by the door, walking over to the machine. He smiled as he saw the number and quickly answered.

"Hey, pretty boy, miss-" He trailed off at the sobbing and unintelligible, rushed sentences streaming through the speaker. "Spencer, slow down, I can't understand-" Harsh sobs rang in his ear. "-Just stay there, I'll be right over."

….

Spencer flung the door open at the first knock, throwing himself into Derek's arms and sobbing into his chest. He allowed Derek to lead them into the apartment to the couch, not loosening his grip as they sat down, Derek holding him in his lap. Dark hands ran through soft brown locks and down his narrow back, matching the soothing words falling from Derek's lips. He held Spencer until he'd cried himself out and was curled in his lap, hiccoughing softly.

"What happened, Spencer?" asked Derek quietly.

Spencer slowly sat up, eyes and cheeks red and puffy from crying. "Ethan's gone," he whispered, stray tear rolling down his face. "He left a note. He's gone to New Orleans, decided a month ago he didn't want to be here anymore." Spencer's shoulders shook as he held back more sobs. "He never said anything. He just left a note."

Derek pulled him to his chest again as the tears returned. He knew Ethan was the first really close friend Spencer had ever had. He was the first person Spencer had met who could keep up with him intellectually, and he had treated Spencer as an equal, even with the few year age difference.

"Why does everyone leave me?" asked Spencer, his voice trembling.

"'Cause they're moronic jackasses," snarled Derek, mentally slapping himself as Spencer flinched at his tone. He carefully pushed Spencer back enough to look in his eyes. "I don't know how anyone could leave someone as sweet and wonderful as you," he said, voice gentle.

"Please don't leave me," whispered Spencer.

"I won't," promised Derek as Spencer leaned heavily against him. They fell into a silence, Derek's hand sliding into Spencer's shirt to trace patterns on the warm skin of his back.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," said Spencer sadly, after a few minutes.

"What do you mean?" asked Derek softly.

"I can't afford this apartment on my own. Ethan was paying more of the rent than I was. I-I wanted to pay half," he added quickly. "But he wanted me to save my money for my m-mom."

"Pretty boy-"

"And now I'll have to find a n-new roommate or-"

"Hey, listen-"

"-Or I'll have to f-find another job or I'll have to wait even longer to send mom to the-"

"Spencer!"

Spencer trailed off, glancing up at Derek with sad eyes.

Derek smiled at him gently. "I have an idea."

Spencer gave a small nod to show he was listening.

"Why don't you move in with me," said Derek.

Spencer's eyes widened. "What?"

"Yeah," nodded Derek. "I have plenty of space, there's even a spare room if you wanted your own bedroom. It's closer to campus than your apartment, so travel wouldn't be a problem."

"H-How much is rent?" asked Spencer.

"Don't worry about rent. It's very decent and I have no problem paying it."

Spencer began to shake his head. "No, Derek-"

"Please, Spencer, let me help you," pleaded Derek. "I'm not comfortable with you finding some stranger for a roommate. What if they're some psycho? And a second job would stress you out, and that wouldn't be good for you and the baby. And if you move in with me, you could save more money to help your mom. You can help pay for our groceries if that makes you feel better," added Derek as Spencer went to interrupt again. "This way I would be right there if you needed anything."

Spencer stared at him, mind racing, and Derek stared back, face hopeful. Spencer opened and closed his mouth several times before he gulped and slowly nodded. "Okay."

Derek's face brightened. "Yeah?"

Spencer nodded again.

"Man, this is gonna be great," said Derek happily, hugging Spencer tightly.

Spencer couldn't stop the smile that crossed his lips.

….

The next day, Spencer was moved in with Derek. Derek had called his friends and they had come and helped pack and move his things to Derek's apartment. Spencer had been nervous at first, wondering what Derek's friends would think of him. But they had accepted him right into the group. Spencer wasn't sure if Derek had told them to or if they did because Derek liked him, but in any case, it was nice to be around older, jock-like boys and not be bullied for once.

The next month went great. They spent the last couple weeks of break with Derek at work at a local gym and Spencer reading his textbooks for the next semester. On New Year's Eve, they had cuddled on the couch, waiting to watch the ball drop. Derek had kissed Spencer on the stroke of midnight, and then had to explain to the surprised genius why he did (seriously, how could a kid so smart not know some of these well-known things?). Classes had resumed, Spencer launching into his work load with enthusiasm, Derek with great reluctance and much grumbling. Spencer also returned to his job at the campus library.

Spencer met Derek's neighbor, a fellow student named Elizabeth ("Please, call me Liz," she'd said). Even though Liz was only a few year older than Spencer, she had taken it upon herself to mother him. she dropped by the apartment constantly to see how he was doing, and when Spencer had felt comfortable enough to tell her about his pregnancy, she started to bring a plate of chocolate chip cookies every visit.

Derek joined Spencer at his next doctor appointment, the nurses cooing as Derek held his hand and ran his finger through his honey-brown curls. Spencer had been given a good report, the baby developing as expected. The only concern the doctor had was Spencer getting his weight up some. Derek had promised he'd work on that, and from that day on, Spencer was served large amounts of Derek's delicious cooking. Not that he complained.

…

Derek was out for a night with his friends, Spencer having insisted he would be fine alone for one evening and that Derek needed to spend some time with his friends. Derek couldn't deny he had been neglecting them a bit, spending most of his free time with Spencer. Which his friends understood. Much as they teased Derek, they could see how much this kid had come to mean to him. They had been a bit disbelieving at first when Derek, with Spencer's permission, had told them about the baby. But after they realized he wasn't joking, it only strengthened their resolve to protect Derek's boy and unborn child.

Derek had enjoyed going to a basketball game with his friends, but he still left early to go home. Letting himself into the apartment, he smiled at the sight of Spencer's books stacked around the living room. Derek's many shelves had not been enough to hold them all.

"Derek?" called Spencer.

Derek followed his voice to their bedroom; Spencer had decided he didn't want to sleep in the spare room. He stopped in the doorway, staring at Spencer who was stretched out on the bed, dressed in pajamas, a thick book on the covers beside him.

Spencer smiled at him, holding out a hand. "Come here. I have something to show you."

"Oh, yeah?" Derek crossed the room, sitting on the edge of the bed. Spencer grabbed one of his hands, sliding it up his pajama shirt to settle on his stomach. Derek's eyes widened as he felt the small bump.

Spencer's smile grew. "I noticed it while I was showering earlier," he said. "It's still subtle, but…" He trailed off as Derek reached out with his other hand and undid the buttons on the bottom of his shirt and pushed the fabric aside.

He stared down at Spencer's slightly rounded stomach, running his hand over it gently. "Spencer, this is amazing," he breathed. He glanced up to see Spencer staring at him with tears welling in his eyes, despite the smile still on his face. "Oh, pretty boy." He laid down beside him, kissing him gently, hand never leaving his stomach.

Spencer rested his head on Derek's shoulder, pale hand resting over his dark one as he drifted off to sleep.

Awww! Yes?

I'm sorry if anyone wanted Ethan to stay around, but I don't like him. He seriously creeps me out for some reason. So sorry, but he had to go (was my plan all along).

Thank you for the birthday wishes. XD They made me happy. If I give you a little teaser about the Bet revelation, will you write fantastic reviews? Here it is: Derek gets slapped (but not by Spencer).

Review! :)