A/N: Wow, the reaction to this fic has been awesome - thanx so much to all who reviewed. So, how will Veronica react to the news that a) Mac is pregnant and b) the father is Dick? To find out, please read on!

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 2

The invitation had been immediately made and accepted in the space of a minute. Veronica so wanted to be there for Mac but flying back to Neptune would mean her FBI internship was ruined and that would only damage any future career she craved in the field. Instead she made the suggestion that her friend come visit her. Maybe it wasn't strictly within the rules to have Mac share her room, but she was a friend in need and that over-ruled just about everything else.

Plane ticket duly booked, Mac had told her parents she was off to visit Veronica but left out the main reason why. Mr and Mrs Mackenzie waved her off with a smile, not a hint of suspicion in their features or tone. They believed the things their daughter told them, she had never given them a reason to think she was anything but their precious, sensible, straight-laced little Cindy. If they knew the reality of this situation, Mac couldn't even bear to think about how they would react.

Veronica seemed to have taken it well, as much as anybody could take the news that their best friend who had always seemed so sensible was now pregnant, aged nineteen. Their phone conversation had been brief at best, not because Veronica wouldn't spend the time, but because Mac said she'd rather explain in person, just as soon as she was given the offer to go stay in Virginia for a while.

Now here they were, sat together on the bed Veronica was calling her own for the Summer. Mac had never expected to be on this side of this particular conversation, but it was unavoidable apparently.

"I have to say I was a little stunned" said Veronica from the other end of the bed, "I'm gonna assume it's Max's baby..." she stopped when her friend looked away as if she were ashamed, and yet she couldn't find another reasonable explanation for what had happened here, "Mac, I know you pretty well. You're not the type of person to just sleep with some random guy" she shook her head, "Oh my God, did someone...?" she began to ask, face registering shock and horror that scared Mac into speaking at last.

"No" she said immediately, shaking her head, "No, nothing like that, I swear" she said definitely, allowing Veronica a sigh of relief before she continued, "but y'know you're wrong about me, Veronica" Mac said sadly, pushing her hair out of her face and forcing back tears that formed too easily, "I am stupid" she admitted, feeling terrible all over again, knowing she had to say the words out loud that she'd been hiding all this time from everyone.

"Tell me what happened, Mac" the blonde urged her, moving closer and putting a hand on her shoulder, "I want to help" she promised, true as anything she'd ever said to her.

With a sniff and a positive nod of her head, Mac began her explanation of what had happened, how she'd ended up here, pregnant and alone.

"It was the anniversary of when Cassidy..." she began, unable to look at Veronica, knowing as she did just how much her friend had suffered that night too, "I just, I felt so awful and alone and..."

"And you found comfort?" Veronica figured she knew where this story was headed and a guilty pain stabbed at her insides.

She ought to have been there for her friend when she needed her, even by phone from here at the FBI would've been something, but Veronica had chosen to hide from the day that caused her pain too. Cassidy caused a lot of trauma, and those he hurt should've brought comfort to each other on the anniversary of his death. Instead, Veronica had been miles away, trying to forget whilst Mac suffered alone, at least that's what she assumed...

"I was drunk, and he made me feel so good" the tearful girl explained, "I knows it's all so cliché but it's true" she said, as she wiped her face dry with the backs of her hands, only to have fresh tears take their place a moment later.

"Do you know who he is?" asked Veronica, mindful not to make her friend anymore upset but knowing this had to be the next question asked and answered.

Still, Veronica wasn't sure if the nod of Mac's head was a good or a bad sign. Some random guy getting her pregnant might be easier in a way, leaving all the decisions to her alone, but Mac might need the support of another, later if not now. All kids should have two parents if they could anyway...

"It's Dick"

The thoughts that rattled through Veronica's mind were cut off abruptly by those two words. Part of her wondered if she'd heard wrong but the look on Mac's face suggested otherwise as she looked at her.

"Dick Casablancas?" she gaped, wondering how in the name of all that was holy her smart and sensible best friend had ended up having sex with such an idiot.

"Please don't, Veronica" her friend frowned, hating the way she was being looked at right now, "I know how stupid I was" she said, trying to keep from crying anymore but finding it near impossible still.

More big fat tears rolled down her cheeks as she sobbed for her own stupidity and what had come out of it. Veronica felt terrible. She knew she shouldn't judge Mac, after all, she'd made a whole heap of dumb decisions herself, she was just so taken aback by the confession. These were perhaps the last two people in the world she'd ever considered getting it together in any possible way, and now they were going to be parents to the same child.

"Oh, come on, Mac" she said, putting her arms around her and hugging her tight as she cried on her shoulder, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so loud and judgmental" she apologised, "I just... I guess I'm surprised, actually shocked, if I'm honest"

"I so didn't plan for this to happen" said Mac, through sniffles and sobs, "It was... he showed up outside the hotel" she explained, "We were both upset over Cassidy so we went for a drink, or forty" she said, putting her hand to her head as she thought about it and realised all over again what a fool she'd been, "I don't know, Veronica, in a alcohol-haze it seemed like a good idea, a great idea even" she said, blowing her nose on yet another tissue from the box, "Give Dick his due, the man knows what he's doing with his hands and..."

"No, please" that particular part of the explanation was cut off in an instant by Veronica's stern words and the cutting motion of her hand, "I so don't need to hear what comes after 'and'" she said, hoping she wouldn't cause offence but knowing she couldn't handle hearing the intimate details of the liaison between her computer geek friend and the surfer dude.

"Sorry" the brunette blushed slightly and even almost smiled as she realised just what exactly she was about to tell, becoming serious again in an instant as she went on with her explanation of what had occurred that night and after, "In the morning he was gone. I knew I should be mad at him, but honestly I was glad I didn't have to face him after... what we did" she explained, "I barely saw him after that, on purpose actually, then I realised it had been a while since my last period and..." her voice wavered once again as she got to the part that upset her the most.

"And now we know why" her friend filled in as the poor girl collapsed into tears once again, accepting another hug she desperately needed.

Her family were never going to understand this, Mac knew that for sure, and she couldn't find a way in her head to tell Dick what had happened. The first person she thought of to run to was Veronica Mars, but even her best friend couldn't fix the situation this time. Nobody could undo what had been done, not in a way Mac could live with, and now she had to face the consequences of her stupid actions.

"I don't know how to deal with this, Veronica" she admitted tearfully, "It was never a plan, I never even considered it, I... I just don't know where to go from here" she cried, huge heaving sobs that Veronica knew had to be let out if they were ever going to move forward.

There were a hundred things she could say right now, but none seemed really right and she easily found a reason to not say each and every one. Lost for anything else to do or say, Veronica held her friend close, rubbing her back and bringing as much comfort as she possibly could in such a situation.

"I'm here for you" she said softly, knowing that she could at least allow Mac to believe in those words, "I promise, I'll always be here for you"

Days passed, quickly or slowly, Mac couldn't tell. Each one came and went, leaving her as confused as she ever had been in her life. Veronica was an angel, as good as her word and better when it came to being there for her. This past week, of course she had to attend at the FBI but every spare moment she had she was there to talk, to offer hugs, ice-cream, wads of tissue, and her own brands of both sympathy and advice.

Unfortunately, every option laid out before her fast became a no go for Mac and the baby growing inside her.

Abortion was impossible. She wouldn't have an animal be killed for the sake of her eating it, she certainly couldn't let a human life be wiped out like it never existed. Besides, no matter how much this baby was a part of Dick it was also a part of her. Whatever else happened, she and this unborn child were connected both literally and figuratively, and she was not going to pretend otherwise.

Adoption was the next suggestion that Veronica came up with and Mac could see the merits, but it was too easily quashed when the memory of finding out her real parents were strangers to her hit home with a vengeance. She couldn't do that to a baby, have them get to his or her teenage years and discover he or she wasn't who they always thought. Besides, it would mean living in the world knowing there was a kid out there that ought to be with her, and yet had no idea she existed. Mac couldn't stand it.

That left only one road to take, having this baby and raising it herself, most likely alone since she couldn't imagine for one second that Dick was going to want to help. As for her parents, well, there was a chance that in time they would come to understand that their daughter was still a decent person who deserved their love and support, though Mac couldn't imagine it was going to come easy to them somehow.

Putting a hand to her head, Mac closed her eyes and wished the world away. Her brain ached from all the thinking, over and over the same things that got no more solved no matter how long she thought on them. Unfortunately, one part of this whole debacle had to be dealt with and that couldn't happen here in Virginia. She could make the decision to keep her baby, she could plan ways to help her parents understand her situation and be cool with it eventually. The unknown variable still existed, and his name was Dick Casablancas.

Veronica kept dropping him into conversation in what Mac guessed her friend thought was a subtle way. He needed to be told, they both agreed on that, it was the right thing to do for everybody's sake. The trouble was, Mac just couldn't imagine the conversation and the more she tried to, the more sick she felt. She and Dick had avoided each other quite deliberately since their single night of passion a little over a month ago. They passed by each other in the street, caught sight of each other across the grocery store, and barely acknowledged the fact each other existed. Such they might have always continued, if not for baby making three.

"First I have to come to terms with the baby thing" Mac decided right there and then, "Then I'll deal with the Dick thing" she told herself softly, one hand still at her head, the other having gone absently to her stomach which as yet showed no signs of growth so early on in her pregnancy.

A few more days was all she needed, then things would be better. She'd be ready to head back home to Neptune, face her folks, face Dick. This is what she tried to tell herself, but it wasn't necessarily true.

To Be Continued...