After Andy stormed out Mary fell into a fitful night's sleep. It was all coming back to her. All the memories she had spent the last fifteen years trying to put behind her. She tossed and turned trying to get comfortable.

"No, Nick, I don't want to." She pushed him away

"Come one, Baby, you love me, don't you?" He said kissing her neck

"You know I do." She responded

"Then show me." His hand started pulling down her bikini bottom and she gave in

They made love on a blanket in the sand by the lake with only the moonlight to illuminate their bodies writhing together...

Mary woke up and looked at the clock 2:15. She changed positions and tried to go back to sleep

"Mom, dad, I'm pregnant."

"Oh, sweetheart." Dottie embraced her frightened daughter

"Who is it, Mary?" Walter asked angrily

Mary looked up, "Nick."

"You need to tell him. He needs to do the right thing."

Mary knocked on the door of Nick's parents house and waited for what seemed an eternity

"Mary, uh, what are you doing here?" He asked nervously

"We need to talk Nick." She said

"Nicky, who is it?" A female voice called

"Uh nobody, Jess, go on out to the pool" He turned back to Mary

Mary was stunned, "Another girl?" She asked, "You jerk!" She turned to walk away

He followed her out into the driveway, "Hey, we never said we were exclusive. I mean, I'm going to law school in the fall. I just can't be tied down."

"Well, think again." She said, "I'm pregnant."

"You're what?" He asked

"Congratulations, Daddy." She said sarcastically

"OH no, you're not pinning this on me. You little tramp." He sneered

"Tramp?" Mary cried, "Damn you, I was a virgin before I slept with you."

"You expect me to believe that."

"It's true." She said through her tears, "Whether you like it or not, you're going to be a father."

"No, I'm not." He insisted, "If this kid really is mine, I'm going to law school. I can't be changing diapers and wiping runny noses. You're just going to have to deal with this yourself." He turned away and walked back into the house slamming the door

A WEEK LATER

Mary and Lexi had spent a little time together getting to know each other. Lexi's parents were not too thrilled with what happened but now that it had, there wasn't much they could do. They spent the weekend shopping, talking and just hanging out. It was a start at least. Lexi continued to work at the station but they had kept things to themselves to allow some time to get to know each other before telling anyone else. Mary had called Andy and asked him not to say anything. He agreed but gave no indication his feelings had changed. She missed him terribly and hoped time would help. He avoided the newsroom as much as he could but there was no denying the tension when he walked in. Her parents were on a cruise and weren't due back for a week so she would tell them when they returned. In the meantime, she decided to tell the two people closest to her in the newsroom, Murray and Lou. It wouldn't be easy but she had to start somewhere. She knocked on Lou's door hesitantly.

"Come in." He mumbled

She walked in and closed the door behind her, "Mr. Grant, can I talk to you for a minute?"

He looked up from the budget report and could tell something was weighing on her, "Sure, what's on your mind?"

She sat across from him nervously twisting the ring on her hand, "It's rather personal but it has and impact on the newsroom."

He thought for a moment, "I see." He said, "Let me guess, you and Ted have been having an affair, it's over and you want me to fire him?"

Mary smiled, "No, that's not it."

"Damn, I really needed a pick me up today." He said, "Okay, no jokes, what is it?"

"It's about Lexi." She began

"Yeah, she's a sharp kid." He acknowledged, "Seems to pick up stuff very quickly, like she inherited a knack for it."

"Well, in a way she did." Mary said

"Mary, I have a terrible hangover so I am in no mood for cute." He said, "Just spit it out."

She exhaled heavily, "Mr. Grant, when I was in college I had a baby and gave her up for adoption." She paused gaging his reaction, "That child was Lexi."

Lou's mouth was agape, "Lexi is your daughter?" He couldn't believe it

"Yes, she is." Mary affirmed, "I didn't know until about a week ago. She found the adoption papers and remembered Bess mentioning me."

"Well, Mary, I know it must have been hard for you to do what you did and to tell me about it. " He said, "If there is anything I can do let me know. What do her parents think?"

"They weren't happy about what she did but they're coming around." She said, "I just hope Andy does, too."

Lou nodded, "Ah, so that's why it's been like Antarctica with you two lately? He's upset?"

Mary nodded, "Yes, he felt like I should have told him sooner even if Lexi weren't in the picture." She explained, "He asked me to marry him and I told him about her and he got very angry and stormed out."

"I'm sorry, Mary." Lou offered, "He probably just needs time to deal with it."

"I hope so." She said sadly, "I love him very much."

"Just give it time." He told her

She got up to leave, "Thank you Mr. Grant."

She walked out his office to find Lexi there as usual for work. She was telling Murray about an article she was supposed to write for her class and he was giving her some tips.

"Hi, Lex." Mary said casually, "How was school?" She sat at her desk

"I was just telling Murray about this article I have to write. I'm really nervous." She admitted

"You'll do fine." Mary assured her, "Charlie asked me to have you help him with camera set up when you got here."

"Okay, I'll come back after and get those files organized if you want." She offered

"That would be great." Mary smiled as she watched her walk out of the newsroom

"Great kid, isn't she?" Murray asked

Mary turned to him, "Murray, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it, Mare?" He asked

"It's about Lexi." She began, "I…listen, could we go talk in the film room?"

"Sure, Mare." He said and they got up and went into the film room and locked the door

"Murray, you know you're one of my dearest friends, don't you?" She asked

"Yeah, of course I do." He assured her, 'Mary, what's wrong?"

"I need to confide in you and it's something that is very hard for me to say." She explained

"Mare, we've always told each other practically everything." He reminded her

"Yeah, well, nothing like this." She said pausing to collect her thoughts, " When I was in college I got pregnant and gave up a child for adoption, a little girl."

"Pregnant?" Murray repeated, "That must have been so hard for you."

"It was, very hard." She said, "But I have since found the child I gave up."

"You found her? How?" He asked still stunned at the revelation

"She came to work here." Mary said

"Lexi is your daughter?"

"Yes, she is." Mary confirmed, "She actually found me."

"Are you okay with this?" He asked

"Well, we're trying to figure things out." She explained, "I just wanted you to know but I don't necessarily want it all over the newsroom."

"I won't say anything, I promise." He assured her, "I think we better get out of her or they'll start to think we're fooling around."

LATER THAT EVENING

Mary had taken a hot bath and was reading a book when there was a knock at the door. Before Rhoda moved to New York she wouldn't even have to ask who it was. She really needed Rhoda right now and felt like she couldn't tell her this over the phone.

"Who is it?" She asked

"It's me, Aunt Mary." Bess called from the hallway

"Oh, come on in." She said

Bess came in and shut the door behind her, "I hope I'm not bothering you."

"No not at all." Mary assured her, "I was just reading. Would you like something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine." She replied, "Aunt Mary, can I talk to you?"

"Sure, you can always talk to me."

Bess looked down for a moment, "I talked to Lexi today."

"Ah, she told you, didn't she?" Mary surmised

Bess looked up, "She's really your daughter?"

"Yes, she is Bess." Mary told her, "What else did she tell you?"

"Just that you felt like you couldn't take care of her so you gave her up."

"Darling, I really don't feel comfortable going into detail about this with you." Mary explained

"I understand." She told her getting up to leave. She walked toward the door then turned back, "Aunt Mary?"

"Yes, Dear."

"Lexi thinks you're pretty terrific."