seriously56: You bring up a very good point! As I was writing this I kind of pushed the nursery off to the side, because I forgot she not only got day care for free but she got paid as well! I might change that up a little in this story, because the job search is going to be a struggle for her. But, the day care will definitely play a role later on! To summarize: She works at the nursery for free day care for John, but does not get paid for it (in this version).

Thanks to everyone for the reviews! They always make me want to update faster! :D

I do not own Secret Life of the American Teenager.

Chapter 4:

Ricky followed Amy closely up the stairs to the apartment, worried she might fall at any second. His hand found the small of her back and rested their until they were safely in their home. She collapsed onto the couch with a sigh. "I hate hospitals," she muttered, flipping her hair back with a natural flick of her wrist.

Ricky chuckled and dropped down next to her on the sofa. "Good. That should be reason enough for you not to return," he said, laying his arm across her shoulders and pulling her in, careful not to bump her cast.

"Yeah," Amy replied quietly. Ricky looked over at her curiously.

"Are you feeling okay? Is your arm hurting?"

"My arm is feeling fine," she murmered, pressing her face into his neck. He let his head rest on hers and they stayed like that for a long while. "Everything is going to be fine."

Ricky was holding onto her one minute and the next she was jumping out of his reach and rushing to the bathroom. He quickly followed. She was bent over the toilet, her hair brushed off to the side.

"Amy?" he entered the room and knelt next to her. "Are you sure you're okay?"

She nodded slowly. "Yeah, I've just never been one for pain killers," she replied, seconds later looking directly into the toilet bowl once again. Ricky gently pulled her hair back with one hand, while the other squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

Grace tightened her grip on the piece of paper enough to rip it partially. She released it completely and took a step back. The words boldly printed across it visible even from the floor. 'Keeping it a secret makes you an accessory. There's no backing out now.'

There was a shuffling from behind the front door and Grace quickly snatched up the letter, stuffing it into her pocket before the door opened.

"Grace, sweetheart, what are you doing outside?" Kathleen, he mother asked, opening the door wide enough for her daughter to slip in.

"I was just checking the mail," she muttered. Rushing past her mother and up the stairs. Not stopping until she reached her room.

Grace pulled out her phone, her fingers instinctively dialing Amy's number. She snapped the phone shut at the last second and looked down at her shaking hands. Then, there was a knock at her door. "It's me," Jack called.

Grace didn't feel like talking to him. She couldn't. She wouldn't. Maybe if she just stayed quiet long enough he would leave. Then, the door opened.

"You okay? You seemed rather upset a few moments ago," Jack said. Coming to sit beside her on the bed, comfortable in doing so without an invitation.

"Can I ask you something?" Grace looked at him with her big blue eyes.

"Of course," Jack replied with a smile grateful of trust.

"If you witnessed something horrible, and didn't tell anyone. That doesn't necessarily make you a bad person, does it?"

"I guess that depends on the horrible thing you witnessed," Jack said carefully. "Why?"

She came close. She did. Grace wanted more than anything to tell Jack what she saw and just get it off her shoulders. Lessen some of the weight at least. But, she couldn't. She was an accessory. The note was right. She was just as horrid a person as the driver who hit Amy. "No, reason." She replied vacantly.

Adrian thrust the car keys at Ben. "Fine. You take care of it then."

Ben glared at her. "You have no right to yell at me! You destroyed our baby's room without so much as mentioning it to me! You got rid of every last piece of her existence!"

"I'm not the crazy one, here!" Adrian shrieked. "I just want a divorce. I want everything to go back to the way it was before."

"Well, I can't erase the past!" Ben shouted.

"And I can't accept the present!" Adrian refuted. She sighed and rubbed her forehead wearily. "I don't hate you, Ben. But, I don't trust you. And the only way I can let this go is if you do a favor for me in return."

Ben looked to her desperately. "Anything."

A sinister smile crossed her face, "You're going to help me get Ricky back."

"Amy," Ricky began, lifting up an envelope. "I got into Ulysses S. Grant Community College! That's only a thirty minute drive from here!"

Amy dropped the bagel she was eating. "Community College? Don't you want to go to a University?"

"Nah," Ricky responded. "Not when my girlfriend is constantly breaking," he joked, playfully nudging her good arm.

Amy moved away from him. "Ricky, you are smart enough to get into Stanford! You are certainly not settling for community college."

Ricky closed the space between them. "It would be utterly stupid for me to pass up the opportunity of you." He kissed her lightly on the lips. "And as you said earlier, I'm smart enough." He winked at her and turned away.

"Ricky, I can't let you do this. You have to do what's right for you."

Ricky shook his head, "No Amy, I have to do what's right for us."

Amy threw her good arm in the air. "We're not even married. And you are too young to pass up the opportunity of going to a good school, getting a good job, and having a real college experience."

Ricky clasped both of her shoulders. "Stop it. Just stop pretending that you don't want me here."

"I want you here. Hell, I need you here. But, I also need you to be happy."

He pushed a strand of hair from her face. "And what makes you think I'm not happy?" He pulled her into his arms and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist, leaning down to kiss him, as he carried her into their room.

They fell together onto the bed, her smooth arms lightly holding him to her, and his muscular arms on either side of her, holding her together. "I love you," he murmered in her ear. His lips crazing from her forehead to her neck. "And I've never been happier."

It was the first time those three words escaped his mouth. And it was the first time her ears listened with such happiness. Happiness soon poisoned with guilt. Tears formed in her eyes, and she pulled away. "Are you okay?"

Amy just shook her head. "Where's John?"

Ricky rubbed his hand casually up and down her arm, "I already told you, he's staying with my parents. I'm going to go pick him up this afternoon." Amy didn't respond, and he looked over at her concerned. "What's wrong?"

Her milk chocolate eyes were wet with worry. "Why would they do that? Why would someone want to hit me? What did I do?"

Ricky lightly pressed his lips to her temple. "You did nothing, Amy." Ricky reassured. "It was a freak accident. The police said that whoever was driving must have been severely incapacitated."

"My car is an SUV, Ricky," she said. "It takes a good amount of momentum to dent it as badly as it was. They were aiming for me. Whoever it was hates me."

Ricky pulled her to him and tightened his arms around her. "You're safe now."

Amy shook her head, tears dripping down her cheeks. "Why does he hate me?"

Ricky's eyes widened and he held her away from him so he could see her face clearly. "He?"