A couple of weeks later it was time again for the Tedi awards. It had been a rather successful night for WJM this year. Mary had won an award for a documentary she produced on nursing home abuse and Sue Ann had won for her Happy Homemaker show. But the big win was Murray, his first for news writing. Unfortunately Ted did not win and he was sulking plenty. Everyone had gathered at Mary and Andy's afterward for a celebration.

"Murray, if anyone deserved an award, it as you. It's a long time coming." Lou said pour himself a scotch at the bar

"Thanks, Lou. I still can't get over it." Murray said taking a seat on the couch

"Honey, I am so proud of you." Marie said, "I can't wait to tell the children."

Mary came in from the kitchen with a tray of hors d'oeuvres, "Here we are, a little something to snack on."

"They look wonderful Mary." Georgette said

"Yeah, yeah, great Mary." Ted mumbled

"Come on, Ted, cheer up. It's not the end of the world, you did win last year." Lou reminded him

"Honey, you want anything to drink?" Andy asked rubbing her back

"Actually I would love a ginger ale." She said, "And if you all don't mind I'm going to slip off these shoes and put on something a little more comfortable. I'll be right back." She walked down the hall to the bedroom

"Hey, Andy how's she doing, really?" Lou asked

"Oh, she's fine, you know, the usual stuff that goes along with pregnancy."

"No, I mean about Lexi." Lou explained.

"Better, I suppose, Lexi showed up a couple of weeks ago with her date for the prom. Mary's concerned about her lying to her parents. But she couldn't hide how happy she was to see her."

Just then the doorbell rang, "Who could that be? You're all here and it's after eleven." Andy said walking over and opening it. He found Lexi and Brian on the other side, "Lexi?"

"I'm sorry, Andy but I didn't know where else to go." Her eyes were red and puffy from crying

"Well, uh, come in." He opened the door and they stepped inside

Mary came down the hall having changed into a blouse and pants, "Lexi, what are you doing here?"

She looked into the living room and back to Mary, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have interrupted your party." She turned to leave but Mary stopped her

"Hey, it's okay." She noticed her eyes, "What happened?"

She threw her arms around Mary and started sobbing, "Well, honey, what is it?"

"Her parents told her they have to move again." Brian spoke up

Lexi pulled back, "My dad is getting transferred again. We have to leave as soon as I finish school."

"Uh, I think we should all get going." Lou suggested

"Yeah, it's getting late anyway." Murray said heading to the door with Marie, "See you Monday, Mare."

Everyone said their good nights and Mary led them into the living room, "Lexi, I know you're upset but it's not the end of the world."

"Mary, I only have one more year of school and I'll have to start over somewhere. I'll lose all my friends here. I mean it's hard enough with Bess going away to college but I'll have to leave them all… and Brian." She said looking at him

"Do your parents know where you are?" Mary asked

"I just ran out of the house when they told me. I was so upset." She bit her lower lip just like Mary did when she was upset

"Well, you need to call them and tell them. We'll take you home. I think we need to talk, all of us." Mary suggested

Lexi wiped her eyes, "Okay."

"You can use the phone in the kitchen if you want." Mary offered

Lexi nodded and got up heading to the kitchen

"Honey, maybe we should just let Brian take her home." Andy had a bad feeling about the whole thing

"No, she came to see me for a reason. This is getting out of hand." Mary said

Lexi came back into the living room, "I called them."

Mary stood up, "Alright, let's get you home."

They headed to the door and Brian took Lexi's hand, "Call me later, okay." He said kissing her sweetly on the cheek

They pulled up to Lexi's house and they followed her into the house. Her parents were standing in the living room obviously worried sick. They immediately embraced her.

"I should have known you would have something to do with this." Paul said looking over at Mary noticing her rounded abdomen, "Shouldn't you be concentrating on your own child instead of interfering with ours."

"Hey, wait just a minute…"Andy began forcefully

Mary put her hand on his arm, "Andy, it's okay."

"No, Honey, it's not." Andy said turning to Paul, "My wife didn't ask for any of this. Lexi found her and wanted to know her. All Mary has done is try to answer her questions and let Lexi call the shots where a relationship is concerned."

"Lexi doesn't know what she wants." Susan said, "We're her parents and she'll live by our rules."

"Mom, just stop it." Lexi said, "Why don't you understand? I'm trying to learn about myself and where I came from and it's my decision. I'm not a kid anymore."

"Lexi, ever since you found her your schoolwork has suffered and you hardly spend time here or with your friends." Susan said

"Mom, I was a little caught up in helping with her wedding then and I'm making straight A's now." Lexi explained

"Would you be if you were still spending time with her?" Paul asked then turned to Mary again, "And as for you, you seemed more than willing to monopolize her time."

"Paul, I didn't spend that much time with her. We saw each other at work and sometimes for shopping and girls night with Bess. I wasn't going to turn my back on her again, if she wanted to spend time with me."

"How do you think it made us feel for her to go behind our backs when she found out who you were?" Susan asked, "We've raised her, loved her. She didn't need you."

"But Susan, don't you see, she did." Mary explained, "She needed to know why she was given up. She needed to her questions answered."

"Well, it doesn't matter now because we're moving. So that puts an end to this." Paul said

"Dad, I don't want to move. I only have one year of school left and I want to stay here." Lexi said

"Lexi, I know it may not seem fair but that's the way it is."

"I'm not going." Lexi said defiantly

"Now Lexi, don't be ridiculous." Susan said, "You're going with us."

"I want to stay here." Lexi said

"Oh and where would you stay?" Paul asked

"I want to stay with Mary." Lexi said out of the blue

Paul's anger was about to reach a new level, "You put her up to this before you got here, didn't you."

"Paul, I didn't say anything to her except that we would take her home." Mary was almost too stunned to speak. She turned to Lexi, "Honey, what made you think you could stay with us?"

"Mary, please. It's just for one year and I could even help with the baby when it's born. I don't want to leave."

"Honey, I know you don't but you can't stay with us. You have to go with your parents. I'm sorry but that's just how it is."

"What if they said it's okay?" Lexi asked

"Absolutely not, that's nonsense. Lexi, you are going with us and that's final." Paul ordered

Lexi looked at Mary tears pooling in her eyes, "Please, Mary."

Mary looked at her then to her parents and in a split second made a decision she hoped she wouldn't regret, "Lexi, it wouldn't work. Andy and I are having a baby and we don't need a teenager around complicating things. Now I'm sorry but we don't want you living with us. Please understand."

She burst into tears, "I understand alright. You didn't want me then and you don't want me now!" She cried and ran out of the room up the stairs to her bedroom, the slam of the door reverberating throughout the house

Without a word Mary turned and walked past Andy to the door. He followed behind.

It suddenly dawned on Susan what Mary had just done, "Mary…"

She turned back tears in her eyes, "Don't think for a minute I meant any of that. I would take her in a heartbeat. But I would rather she leave her hating me than hating you for not letting her stay."