Note: Cate's on the pill now. Laverne suggested it and she told Baze she thought it was a good idea. I wasn't going to write her actually going to the doctor. I thought it would be boring and anticlimactic. That said, this chapter is kind of short and boring, but I'm setting some stuff up. Thanks for all the reviews =)

Cate couldn't believe it. Not only had she gotten the internship of her dreams, but the popular quarterback who didn't even used to know she was alive had just told her he loved her as well. She felt giddily happy. She was getting everything she wanted. For once in her life.

She set Lux down in her crib. She leaned on the crib, gazing lovingly at her daughter. She knew Baze would never have given her a second thought if it hadn't been for Lux. Lux was the reason she and Baze were together. Lux was the reason she was this happy.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me," Cate murmured.

When Lux drifted off to sleep, Cate picked up the stack of college acceptance letters and course catalogues that had accumulated on her desk. She'd been putting off making a decision for a lot of reasons. Baze had been one. She wanted to be with him. Even though he told her not to factor him into her decision, that they'd make it work, she couldn't not factor him in. He was part of her life and part of her decision.

Lux was also a big part of her life and part of her decision. If she and Baze stayed in Portland, his parents could continue to help with Lux. Cate didn't want to stay in Portland. She was really leaning toward Oregon State University, which was almost two hours away from Portland. She'd been feeling like that even before she found out her boss at the radio station had gone there, too.

Cate also didn't want to take advantage of Baze's parents. They'd already done so much. But Cate knew there was no way she would be able to handle Lux without their help. She would have had to drop out so she could stay home and take care of Lux. There was no way she could afford childcare.

She wouldn't be able to afford anything Lux needed, Cate knew. And Lux needed a lot. Clothes, diapers, formula just to name a few. Cate couldn't believe how much baby clothes cost. Lux was only able to wear the clothes for a few months before she outgrew them.

Cate wanted to take care of herself and Lux. She was used to taking care of herself. She'd had to be. Laverne was usually too drunk to do much for Cate. Cate hated relying on John for money for Lux and Ellen for childcare. She didn't want to need their help.

But when Cate thought realistically about everything she would have to pay for next year, she knew there was just no way she could do it on her own. She'd received scholarships that would cover most of her tuition because she was such a good student, but there were so many other costs to consider. An apartment, books, groceries. And that was just for her.

Cate desperately needed money, but in order to have time to get a job she would have to leave Lux with Ellen even more than she already was. It was a catch-22. It seemed impossible to end her dependence on Baze's parents.

Cate glanced down at the pro-con list she'd made comparing various colleges. Oregon State had won by a landslide when it came to academics. She sighed wistfully. The cons made her choice clear. She would have to stay in Portland. Whether she liked it or not.

Portland State wasn't as good a school as Oregon State, but at least Cate would still be getting a degree. Most teen moms didn't, she knew. When had she become a statistic?

Abby knocked on the door lightly and then flopped down on Cate's bed. "What are you doing?"

Cate held up the college brochure. "Trying to decide what I'm gonna do with the rest of my life."

"And?" Abby asked.

"I think I'm gonna go to Portland State," Cate replied.

Abby made a face. "When you got into Oregon State? Why?"

Cate tried to think of a way to explain that didn't sound like she was blaming Lux for holding her back, but couldn't. She sighed. "This sounds awful. I love Lux. I do," Cate said emphatically. "But, it's just, she's a lot of work. Oregon State is too far away for Baze's mom to watch her when I'm in class."

"It doesn't sound awful. It's honest. Anyone can see how much you love Lux. Kids are a lot of work even when you're not in high school. I would never be able to do it," Abby said.

"Let's hope you won't have to," Cate said pointedly.

Abby rolled her eyes. "Is Baze staying in Portland, too?"

"Yeah. Probably," Cate replied.

"Would you live at home? Or would you guys live together?" Abby asked curiously.

Cate shrugged. "I don't know. I don't want to be here. With Mom." She rolled her eyes. "But apartments are expensive."

Abby nodded. "Have you met Mom's new boyfriend?"

"No," Cate replied. "Have you?"

Abby shook her head. "She's already saying she could see herself marrying him."

"She could see herself marrying anyone over eighteen with testosterone," Cate said dryly.

Abby smirked. "I hope he doesn't move in."

"He's not gonna move in. They haven't even been dating that long," Cate pointed out.

"Tell Mom that," Abby retorted.

Cate smiled sympathetically at Abby. At least she could leave in the fall if she wanted to. Abby was stuck there with their mom and whatever creep she was shacking up with for another three years.

Cate did not want to live at home next year. She didn't even want to live there now. Much less when she was supposed to be away at college. She'd already lived through five of Laverne's so-called marriages and even more boyfriends. She just wanted to get out of there. She didn't want Lux to grow up like she had. She wanted better for Lux.

This house wasn't better. It was toxic. Laverne's drinking problem was bad enough on its own. And her mom's choice in men left a lot to be desired.

Cate's internship would only be in the mornings and sometimes at events in the evenings. She could get a part-time job that summer. Maybe she could even get her old job back at Paula's. She'd really liked working at the clothing store. She wondered how much she could make during the summer.

Ellen wouldn't really be watching Lux any more than she had been. Once school was out, work would be the only time Cate needed to leave Lux with Ellen. And Baze would be more available, too.

Cate would still have to stay in Portland so that Ellen was close enough to babysit, but at least she wouldn't be at home. She just needed to make enough to afford an apartment.