Disclaimer: I own only my ideas, no Degrassi characters.

"I need to talk to you."

Jay gave Manny a worried look, but followed her to his kitchen table, where the two say across from each other. This was something serious. After Emma's latest news, he wasn't sure he was ready for anything else too heavy. God, if you make her pregnant too, I'm seriously gonna be pissed!

"I know that this whole wedding thing has sort of snowballed out of control. I also suspect that you're a little less than into the planning."

"Me?" Jay lied. "Babe, I am totally into this. I just think you and your mother are better equipped to find the right ideas. I completely trust you to plan an awesome day."

Please let her buy this bullshit, because if I have to go along to one more meeting about flowers that I've never heard of before or china patterns that castrate straight men, I'm gonna puke!

Manny gave Jay a sideways look, but he was concentrating on something off in the distance. She hated how he was lately, and suspected that their upcoming nuptials were the cause of his moodiness. She wanted to say something about how aloof he'd gotten in the last few months, but had learnt early on that Jay Hogart would not be pushed into talking about his feelings. With Jay, you just had to wait it out and Manny intended to do just that.

"Anyway, I have something to discuss with you. But this has to stay between us, okay?" she asked. When he gave a concerned nod of his head and a curious expression formed on his face, she continued. "Emma is pregnant."

Jay tried to act surprised when he was really thinking, No shit. "Nelson? No way!"

Manny nodded. "Yes. And she's all alone. The loser who knocked her up refuses to be a part of the baby's life."

Jay felt angry. Was that the spin Emma was going to put on this? "How do you know that?" he asked sharply.

"Well Emma's trying to act like she doesn't want him around, but who would want to do this alone?"

"Well Emma's not exactly the dependent type. Maybe she gave the guy no choice," Jay offered, teeth tightly clenched.

Manny sighed heavily. "Right. I'm sure the guy was like, Oh hey. That wasn't just a one-night stand. Sure, I'd love to be a father for your baby and a crutch for you. Please. Guys are not like that! At least none that I know."

Jay coughed. "What am I?"

Manny smiled and grabbed his hand across the table. "All guys except for you, babe."

Jay smiled weakly. Maybe now was the time. Maybe now he should confess and let Manny know the whole ugly truth. Maybe she'd respect him for wanting to stand by Emma. Yeah, and maybe a million dollars and a Playboy playmate will fall out of the air and into your lap! Earth to Jay! Manny will use a dull knife to slice off your genitals and Emma will never talk to you again.

"So anyway," Manny continued, realizing that Jay was quickly losing focus. "I have a huge favour to ask of you."

"Ask away," Jay said casually.

"I want to postpone the wedding planning," she blurted.

Jay fought the urge to smile. It's working! Manny actually wants to postpone the wedding! Maybe that million and playmate aren't that far-fetched!

"I know you're probably wondering why. Emma is the only person I want to stand beside me on my wedding day. (Except for you, of course.) I can't even begin to plan a wedding without my best friend. But everything has to be about Emma right now. She's just recovering from anorexia and now with all the stress of being pregnant and alone? I'm really worried about her and I want to be there for her as much as I can be. Please say that you understand?"

Jay had been worried for the same reason. He thought of how weak Emma could be when she allowed herself to let down those defences. He also knew that she worked hard to keep things inside and that's what caused her to develop her eating disorder. The thought of Emma starving herself made him so scared. But he also trusted Emma to do nothing but the best for their baby. Their baby. Jay actually liked the way that sounded. Stay focused, idiot! Manny is looking at you so say something. Remember, don't give anything away!

"So we put the wedding stuff on hold. For a bit. Emma needs you."

Manny got up from her seat and went to sit on Jay's lap. She kissed his lips lightly. "She needs us. I think now that Sean's gone and Spinner probably won't hang around for too much longer, Emma needs a male friend. Normally that would have been JT." Manny paused. JT's passing was still fresh in everyone's mind. "I think you'll be more of an influence than you realize."

"Nelson's not exactly my biggest fan," Jay reminded. And I think I've been enough of an influence on her!

"She will be. You just have to show her what a great guy you can be. And in that comes favour number two."

Manny was now straddling Jay's lap. Whatever she was going to ask him, she had brought out the big guns. Manny had a habit of using her body when she really wanted something. Normally Jay was like putty in Manny's very capable hands, but lately...

"Emma needs a partner for her prenatal classes."

Jay stared at Manny. "Me? You want me to be Emma's partner?"

"All of the other women will have husbands or boyfriends with them. It would be embarrassing for Emma to be the only single girl there. Snake volunteered to take her, but that would just be creepy. No one wants their father in the room when they're talking about breastfeeding and stuff. I think you'd be wonderful!"

"I think you've lost your mind," Jay said, his sarcasm biting. He removed Manny from his lap, got up, and began to pace the small length of his kitchen. "What makes you think I'd want to be there talking about that stuff?"

Manny's face fell. She stood in front of Jay her small stature still somewhat intimidating to Jay. "Emma is all alone. She's scared and all she's trying to do is convince everyone around her that she's fine. Imagine how she'll feel walking into that class with her step father? People will look at her like she's some young girl with no brain who's messed up her life. She'll be judged. It'll hurt her."

"Stop!" Jay yelled. "Okay! Tell Emma that I'm in, but only if she's okay with it."

Manny smiled and threw herself into Jay's waiting arms. He lifted her up until she had wrapped both legs around his waist. They shared a kiss, but even Manny sensed that something was missing. Maybe she had gone overboard this time. Then again, their last few sexual experiences had been lacking their usual passion. Something was definitely up with Jay.

"Are you okay?" Manny asked, pulling her lips from his.

Jay knew he wasn't his usual self lately. He just hoped Manny couldn't tell. Whenever they were alone together, he thought of Emma and that small closet. He thought of how it felt when he first entered her. He imagined her smell, her taste, her beautiful body pressed closely to his. He thought of the way she closed her eyes and bit into her bottom lip just before she came. She had ruined him. Because no matter how hard he tried, Manny was no Emma.