Chapter 4

Author's Note: Hey everyone! Glad to see people wanting an update! Well here it is! Hope you guys like it. No this is most definitely not a Madison/Ephram fic, so… sorry to the Madison/Ephram fans who are reading this fic.

Andy was chatting happily with Delia as he wiped down the little island in the middle of the kitchen when he heard a worried shout from Ephram coming from outdoors.

"Ephram, what is it?" He wasted no time tossing down the dish rag and heading out to find out what was wrong with Ephram; Delia right behind him.

When he reached the wide opened door, his gaze quickly caught on the thing Ephram's gaze had been locked on. The baby, who was covered up with a little blanket, was now kicking it's little feet, looking at them all.

"What the-" He looked over at Ephram, who was just as confused as he was at the moment.

"Dad? Is that a baby?" Delia asked from the doorway.

Andy remained silent, instead walking over to the car seat. "What are you doing out here, little guy?" he asked the infant as he lifted the car seat up. "Let's get him inside." Ephram nodded, following his father inside.

Once inside, Andy set the car seat down on top of the table and lowered the seat handle. How long had he been out there for? Hopefully not too long, although since Andy hadn't been out at all that day, he honestly couldn't say. More importantly, why would someone leave a small baby on his front porch?

"Why would someone leave their baby on our front porch?" Ephram asked, mirroring Andy's thoughts.

"I don't know," he said honestly. He reached in and picked the baby up, wanting to check the child out and see if he or she was okay. Upon seeing the child, he could tell he wasn't that old; around six months or so. Didn't the child's mother-or father- know it was dangerous to simply leave a baby that age out on someone's porch? Again his mind went back to the question of why would someone even leave their child with him?

"There's a note in here," Ephram said. Andy held the child close to him as he looked over at his son. Sure enough, Ephram picked up a note that had been on the side of the carrier, between the baby and the side.

"Let me see that," Andy said quickly, hoping his questions would be answered in this note. Perhaps there was a number or a name that could help him out? Ephram stood there, looking confused as ever, as Andy held the baby and held the note at the same time.

He felt all the color in his face drain as he read the letter.

Dear Ephram,

I'm so sorry to have to do this but I had no other choice. I can no longer care for him as I had hoped. I'm so sorry to have to tell you this way but he may or may not be your son. He's is either yours or Jay's. I found out I was pregnant not long after we broke up. I had him January 18th, making him six months old. I thought I could take care of him myself but I can no longer financially support him, nor do I have the time required to raise a child.

Please find out which one of you is the father; I know your father can arrange the proper testing to do this. If the baby is yours and you cannot take responsibility for him, I have already signed adoption papers, which can be found on the side pocket of the diaper bag.

I hope you understand why I am doing this and will someday forgive me. Madison

Slowly Andy looked up at Ephram. This had to be a bad dream. He must not have woken up yet this morning. He glanced back down at the paper, wishing he had misread.

"Dad?" Ephram asked after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence. "What's it say?" he asked. Andy thought back to the day Madison had come into his office. He knew she was upset about something; if only he had tried harder to get it out of her…

Ephram walked over closer to his father. "Dad?"

Andy finally managed to focus. "Ephram… I…" he began. He looked back down at the baby, who was busy sucking on a pacifier. Could he really be holding his grandson? The thought alone dizzied Andy. How could Ephram, his eighteen year old son, who was getting ready to leave for college, possibly be a father? He looked up at Ephram, wanting to say something, but unsure of what to say.

Not wanting to wait any longer or an answer, Ephram grabbed the note from his father's hand and quickly began reading it. His eyes widened shortly after he began reading the note. His gaze quickly looked up at his father, as if to get a confirmation on what he was reading.

"Ephram…" he said, unsure of what to say or do, feeling just as shocked as he was sure Ephram was feeling at that moment.

"Dad, what's going on you guys are scaring me," Delia said from the side of him. He had forgotten she was even in to room, he was so shocked and taken of guard. He looked down at her.

"Delia, honey, why don't you go next door and play with Sam." Andy didn't think it was a good idea for Delia to be around right now, not while there were too many questions.

"But-"

"Delia, please," Andy said quickly. Delia didn't try and argue anymore, and instead, disappeared out the door muttering something to herself as she went.

"This is some sort of joke," Ephram said as soon as they heard the sound of the front door closing. "I-I-I mean, this-this is impossible! We-we used protection!" he exclaimed, his head spinning. He looked at his father once more. His gaze then fell down to the baby in his father's arms. The baby in question that could be in fact, his.

"We don't know anything yet, Ephram," Andy reminded him. "If what Madison says in this letter is true, you may not even be the father."

Ephram suddenly felt like he needed to sit down. He sat down in the chair he had been sitting in a few moments ago. "Oh my god," he said as he buried his face in his hands. There were simply too many things singing around in his head; how could Madison have cheated on him with Jay? When exactly did this happen? He and Madison hadn't even been 'together' that often. And when they were, they always- Oh no! The sudden memory hit him like lightening; there had been one time that the condom had broken. They hadn't given it much worry, but what if- he looked up at the baby once more- what if they had created a child that night?

The baby began to squirm in Andy's arms, obviously tired of being held in that one place. Andy carefully transferred him to his other arm and slowly began rocking side to side in hopes to calm the fussing baby.

"When can we get a paternity test done?" Ephram asked after a few more moments of silence.

"Well my office is equipped with the things needed to perform one-" Andy began.

"Great, let's go," Ephram said quickly, wanting to get this over with. He looked up at the baby once more, than quickly averted his gaze. No. he couldn't bring himself to look at the baby just yet.

"But once the test is done, I would need to send it to a lab," Andy continued, making sure Ephram knew exactly what the test was and how it was done. Ephram eased back down into the chair.

"How long will it take to know, once it's been sent there?" he asked.

"Depends. It can go from two weeks to two months depending on how busy they are." The room fell silent once more. The baby began to squirm once more, reminding Andy he needed to do something. Ephram threaded his fingers through his hair, trying to sort this all out in his head. He hadn't even been up for an hour yet. This was simply too much for him to comprehend all at once.

Sensing his son's confusion, Andy made the decision. "You look in the diaper bag while I go call the office." Ephram simply nodded before Andy went off to find the phone.

Ephram looked over at the plain colored diaper bag that sat on the floor for a few moments before grabbing it and putting it up on the table. Twenty minutes ago, he was sitting there, debating whether or not to hang out with Bright or Amy this afternoon; now he was going through a diaper bag belonging to his possible son. His and Madison's son.

Inside the diaper bag was at least five sets of clothes, diapers, wipes, a few soft toys, and a single bottle. He then felt around in the side pocket where sure enough, his hand found papers. Already knowing what they were, Ephram pulled the papers out and began reading over them. Sure enough, Madison had signed adoption papers. In fact, as he skimmed through the papers, it looked as if everything was taken care of. All they needed was to find out which one fathered the baby; Ephram or Jay.

Among the papers was a copy of the child's birth certificate. He glanced at that as well, although not much was filled out. Madison's name as well as the birth information was filled out, but the boxes such as 'Name of father' and all of the father's information was left blank. Even he baby's name was left blank and a sudden wave of anger coursed through Ephram. How could not even name her child, let alone leave him on someone's doorstep?

Just then, Andy returned in the kitchen with the baby. "Why don't you go get dressed. Edna made sure the things we need are there; we can do the test in ten minutes or so."

"Okay," he said as he got up from the table. He passed his father, and his gaze fell onto the baby once more.

Feeling a wave on uncertainty, Ephram continued on his way out of the kitchen and up to his room. The sooner they got the results in, the better.