Chapter 8

Author's Note: Here's the next chapter. Thanks everyone for still keeping up with this fic, and reminding me when too much time has passed between updates! Let me know what you think, suggestions are always welcome!

The following day, Andy decided to take the next two days off in order to stay home with the baby, not wanting to shove the baby at Ephram right off, and risk him totally backing away from it all. After those two days off, he was planning on going back to work, leaving Ephram to take care of the baby. By then he hoped Ephram would want to try and take care of him.

He had grabbed Delia after breakfast and after calling Nina, asking her to come over and watch the baby, the two of them went in early to the store, hoping they'd sidestep a lot of people bound to go there later in the day to shop as well. Madison had packed a few things for the baby, but he was certain they wouldn't last long.

"So who's baby is this, anyways?" Delia asked, walking alongside the cart as they slowly walked through the isles in search of the items Andy was sure they'd need for the coming days.

"Well sweetheart, were not sure yet," he said simply, not sure of what to tell her just yet. It wasn't fair to keep secrets from her when he and Ephram knew; since moving to Everwood he had wanted to keep an open relationship with both of his kids, minimizing secrets all ways around. But this time, he was sure he could make an exception.

"I don't get it. Why did someone leave him at our house?" They continued walking. "Maybe we know his parents!" Delia said, the idea striking her.

"I don't know," Andy said, wanting to steer his daughter off the topic. "I think we need some-"

"And… how long is he going to be staying with us, anyways?" she asked.

"Look, Delia," Andy stopped the cart. "I know it's a little confusing and a bit awkward at the house right now," he said, his voice soft and patient, "but there's not much I can tell you. I have just as many questions as I'm sure you have. Until we know more answers, the baby is going to stay with us, and we're going to take care of him. Is that okay?"

Delia stood there for a minute. "I can help take care of him, right?"

Andy smiled in relief. "Sure sweetheart."

Delia smiled. "Sweet!" Her attention then turned to the different brands of diapers surrounding them back and front. "So which ones should we get?"

Andy's gaze traveled past over a dozen brands, feeling out of his league in this already. "Good question."

Back at the Brown house, Ephram sat in front of the piano, playing away on it. Somewhere along the line, playing the piano had turned into an activity he did to help calm him, whether he was stressed about school, his dad, or even if he and Amy were fighting.

His fingers danced along the white and black keys, producing a heavenly sound all around him. For as long as he could remember, he had always played very well on the keyboard; it was simply something that came to him naturally. His mother had encouraged it early on, never afraid to compliment him and being right there at his side. Even now, he could almost feel her sitting beside him.

He lost concentration and missed a note, causing him to stop playing. When it came to the piano, he was a perfectionist. Even messing up on the tiniest note bugged him to no end, causing him to start the piece over from the beginning. Music had always been a constant certainty in his life; something he knew would always be there no matter what. Now he sat there, pushing himself to stay focused on the notes displayed on the page on front of him and not on the issue at hand.

Whether he wanted to admit it or not, there was a possibility that he and Madison had created a child. A child that now depended on him for survival. Madison had given birth to him and she still couldn't manage to care for him; what made her think he knew any what to do than she did? He angrily pushed down on the keys as his mind continued wandering away from the music. He had woken up that morning, climbed downstairs, careful to avoid his father and the baby, and headed to where he was now, feeling as if that was the only safe place at the moment. He stopped playing, giving up on trying to keep the troubling thoughts at bay and focus on playing.

Swinging his long legs around to the other side of the piano bench, Ephram sat there, gazing around the room. This was his life. No traces of babies or anything like that in sight. His family, Amy and the piano. He could barely manage his own life without screwing up a good thousand times a day; how in the world would he be able to make decisions for another life? He had never really pictured having children; being a father. It just seemed so far off into the future. Not it seemed like the future had jumped the gun and was now right there in front of him.

He heard the door inside shut, letting him know his father was back with Delia and the baby. They had left right after breakfast; Andy had explained he needed to go pick up some things for the baby. He had even invited Ephram. But he had turned down the offer, wanting nothing more than to play his heart out on the piano. To escape from reality for even just a little while, where there was no baby that could be his, no worries, nothing. Just the music.

He turned back around and began playing once more, feeling the need to start up again. He had no one to talk to- to vent to- about any of this, accept his father; playing the piano right then felt like he was getting some of it off of his chest. As if he was confiding in a close friend of his.

He closed his eyes, letting his fingers guide themselves across the keyboard as he let himself be lost on the music. Maybe, just maybe, if he stayed like that, the problems facing him inside the house would simply disappear…

A little while later, Ephram's empty stomach had protested to the max, forcing Ephram back inside in search of something to eat for breakfast. He took one last look around his studio, feeling a sense of loss. Sighing, Ephram shut everything off and headed inside.

He was surprised when he walked through the back kitchen door, only to find Nina inside with the baby. Funny, he had forgotten she had been there. His father had poked him head into the garage and told him before leaving, but he hadn't been paying much attention.

"Hey Ephram," Nina said, a smile on her face, looking up from the baby.

"Hey," he said back. "My dad and Delia aren't back yet?" he asked, making sure he stood far enough away from the baby.

Nina shook her head. "They should be back anytime though. Why you need something?"

"No, that's okay. I was just wondering," he explained. The room fell silent, except for the happy noises the baby was making each time Nina tickled his belly or made a silly face at him. Ephram simply stood there, feeling a bit awkward.

"He's a great baby. Very happy," she commented, looking up at Ephram.

"I guess. I mean, I haven't really played with him or anything like that…." he trailed off, feeling ashamed for just about ignoring the baby, pretending he didn't exist.

"Ephram," Nina said, her voice soothing and comforting in a motherly way. "Your father explained to me what's going on. I am so sorry that you have to go through this. I can't even imagine what it must be like." She shifted the baby closer to her body so that he wouldn't squirm out of her hands as she spoke to Ephram. "And… I know your father will be there for you no matter what happens, and no matter what you decide, but I want you to know that I'm here for you too." She paused; their gazes locked. "I know I'm not your mother, but I still care a great deal for you, your sister and your father. I just wanted you to know that if you ever need anything, I'm just next door. I want you to remember that, okay?"

Ephram looked down, then back up at her, unsure of what to say or do. True, she wasn't his mother, but she had done her best to help care for their family since he day they had moved there; she had become a great friend to his father, and almost like a surrogate mother to both himself and Delia.

"Okay. Ah, thanks Nina," he said truly meaning it. "And not just for saying that, but for everything." Nina smiled at him and Ephram returned the smile.

"Well I-I'm going to go search in the kitchen for something to eat. You want something?" he asked.

Nina shook her head. "No thanks."

"Okay." He looked over at Nina, his gaze quickly shifting down to the baby, then back up at her before disappearing into the kitchen to begin his search for something to eat.