Zoey walks into the house, and the first thing she notices is the look on Jackie's face.
"What happened?"
"We ran out of toilet paper," she stretches the truth.
"That made you cry?"
She shakes her head, gripping her son, tightly, "No. I had to go to the store to get more."
"So, that made you cry?"
"I saw Cruz," she explains.
"Oh. How did that go?"
"He followed me home. It went even worse than I imagined it would."
"You'll figure it out."
"Please take him."
Zoey nods, as Jackie places the sleeping baby in her arms.
"He was so angry."
"Jackie what did you expect? You never told him that you were pregnant. You had a baby, his baby, and you didn't even call him."
"He is my baby."
"I know."
"I should go talk to him," she realizes.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Not entirely," she admits.
"Then why are you?"
"I am being selfish. I don't want to share him with anyone else."
"I don't think that you are being selfish," Zoey argues.
"Despite whatever I might think about Mike Cruz the simple fact is that he is the sperm donor."
"Explain to me once more time why you didn't want him to know."
"He is angry, all of the time. He is like a parasite sucking life from everyone he meets. We and I are like fire and gasoline. We bring out the worst in each other. I just didn't want that for Caleb. I just wanted him to have a normal childhood."
"I know."
Jackie shakes her head, "But any chance of that went out the window on the day of his conception. Kids should have two parents, even if they aren't together."
"Do you really believe that?"
"I believe that I am getting a second chance, maybe he should too."
"Why are you really doing this?"
"Because I feel guilty. I feel guilty all of the damn time. I didn't know that I was pregnant, for far longer than is acceptable. I am a nurse, I have two other kids, I should have known. When I found out I just kept thinking that I didn't want him. And when I decided that I did, I decided that I just wanted him for myself. I didn't want to share. And now, he is here, and I feel guilty, because I was trying to deny him the chance to know his father. I already cheated him out of having him there the day that he was born, or the day he came home from the hospital. I don't like the idea of having to share him with anyone, but what choice do I have?"
"Guilt sucks."
"This all just makes me want a bottle of pills. And, then I look at him, and I feel guilty for even having the thought."
"Go talk to Cruz."
She knocks on the door of his apartment. He pulls the door open, staring at her in confusion.
"What are you doing here?"
"Can I come in?" she asks calmly.
He nods, and steps aside. He closes the door behind her. "Jackie, what are you doing here? Where is the baby?"
"He's with Zoey."
"I can't imagine after the discussion that we had earlier that you would want to leave him."
"I didn't want to leave him."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"You were right. We need to talk."
"I don't even know his name," he points out.
"Caleb Malachi."
"Peyton?" he assumes.
She simply nods.
"I didn't mean to get so angry, I just couldn't believe you would do something like that."
"I know."
"When I saw you today with him, I didn't want to believe it was true. I didn't want to believe that any of it was possible. When you said he was yours, my heart skipped a beat. I didn't think it was possible."
"You weren't the only one."
"What do you mean?"
"I never thought for one minute that I would get pregnant. I thought that ship had long since sailed. You should have seen the look on my face the day that I found out."
He nearly smiles, "I would have liked that."
"I know that you are angry. You have every right to be."
"Why did you hide it from me?"
"Mike we are not good for each other. We are co-dependant, and we bring out terrible qualities in each other."
"That is why we were so good together."
"I know that I should have told you."
"Yeah, damn right you should have."
"I was just scared," she boldly admits.
"Of what?"
"I was scared something would go wrong. I was afraid that I wouldn't love him," she tears up, "I was afraid that I wouldn't want him. Then, when I realized that I already wanted him, and that I already loved him, before he was even born..."
"You were afraid that I would try to take him from you?"
"I will be the first to admit that I have never been mother of the year. He is my second chance, and I just wanted him for myself."
"Jackie everyone makes mistakes."
"If you wanted to take him from me, I probably couldn't stop you."
"Jackie I was never parent of the year, either," he reminds her.
"I am not good at sharing."
"I know."
"I am not good at sharing anything. I am terrible at sharing my emotions. I don't even like sharing ink pens. How am I supposed to share him? How am I supposed to share my son?"
He shrugs, "I don't know."
"He is a surprise that I never would have asked for. I didn't want another child."
"But he's here, and obviously you chose to keep him."
"Yeah."
"Jackie I am not going to try to take him from you."
"You're not?"
"I would like to see him, and be part of his life."
"Of course."
"But like you said we bring out the worst in each other. Are you going to let me see him, that is the question."
"You can see him whenever you want."
"I just can't take him out of your possession, right?"
"Definitely not right now."
"Then when?"
"Maybe when he goes to preschool," she nearly smirks.