Look at me, two whole chapters in one week.

Disclaimer: I do not own Switched at Birth, or any of its characters.

A light knocking woke me what felt like minutes later, but when I opened my eyes, light attacked me through the windows. I quickly shoved a pillow over my head and groaned out a, "What?" The knock came again, and it occurred to me that in a house of a deaf family, they can't hear my crankiness. I got up and tossed the pillow to the ground, dragging my feet to the door and opening it.

Though still deaf, Daphne wasn't who I expected to see. 'Emmett texted me. Why aren't you answering any of your calls?'

"Because I don't want to deal with anyone."

'Kathryn kicked John out.'

"Yeah. She told me."

'Then why did you stay here?'

"Because I didn't see the texts until I was already in bed. Why are you here?"

'Because I'm worried about you! After everything that happened, I was worried. Sue me.'

Guilt pushed me back to sit on the bed, and I sighed before looking up again.

"Does anyone else know I'm here?"

'Mom and Kathryn are downstairs. Talking to Melody.'

"Ok. I'll be down in a little bit."

'Wait. You and Emmett... What's going on?'

"I... I don't know. We've been talking and... And I think we're going to try to keep the baby. Try to raise it, somehow. But I don't know about us. We'll have to just wait and see."

'Ok. Ok.' She nodded and turned away, going back downstairs. I went to the bathroom and grimaced at my reflection, trying to make myself look more presentable. With that accomplished, and a quick change of clothes, I made my way downstairs to face the music.

They all-both of my moms, Daphne, Emmett, and Melody-sat around the table, a mix of signing and speaking. I was able to watch for a minute until Emmett turned his head and smiled, waving me forward. I slowly made my way into the room and took the only available seat, between Emmett and Daphne. I couldn't help but grin, knowing they had positioned themselves as a buffer between me and the parents.

My mom was the first to launch into her questions. "Bay, honey, are you ok? What happened? I know about the fight and your father was saying something about it too but I didn't know how bad it was until I saw that text. I'm so sorry, honey. I don't know where he is, but he isn't at home, so it's safe for you to come back whenever you like, ok?"

Once her torrent had finished, Regina was seconds on her heels. "And if you don't feel comfortable there, there's always our place, and it's close enough that you can see your mom whenever you want. And Angelo is getting an apartment, so there's him, too. Whatever you choose, we're ok with that."

'Or if you want to stay here so you can be near Emmett, we can work out all the sleeping arrangements.'

Tears had been slowly coming to my eyes with every word, but Melody's input had been too much. The tears fell, and wiping them away did no good. They were replaced too quickly. From what little I could see, Emmett looked startled, but the parents-all the women who seem to have taken me under my wing to call me a daughter, even Melody-smiled. They understood. They'd been pregnant before.

Melody signed something, and I hope it wasn't to me, because I couldn't say what it was.

Hormones were really horrible things. I thought I had known to the extent of how horrible they were, but I don't think any amount of PMS could have prepared me for this. I don't cry. I'm not a crier. That's not how my hormones work. Well, that wasn't how they worked. Now it seems that the smallest amount of kindness could set me off. What sense did that make? None. No sense.

I'm not sure what had happened around me while I was in my head, yelling at my hormones, but the tears inevitably stopped and I looked around. They had moved on, talking intensely about... well, about something.

"-house would have the most room," Mom was saying.

"Well, yeah, but my place has more of a family vibe." Regina's hands moved with her comment.

'The father lives here.' Melody put in.

"He can stay with us! We have plenty of room."

I looked to Daphne, eyes wide.

'They're fighting over where you should stay that would be best for the baby.'

'Shouldn't I choose?'

'You would think.'

I grinned slightly, taking another look around. "Um, guys?" They all stopped, turning to me. "I appreciate it. All of it. But I think I'm just going to go home. Back to my room."

They all smiled, and Mom had a triumphant gleam to her eyes, as if it was her masterful debating that had won the battle. I let her believe it. "I'm going to go grab my things." I left, and while I was searching for everything I had tossed from my bag, there was a light knock on the doorframe. I turned, looking to where Emmett stood, his arms crossed and his shoulder propped against the wall.

"Yeah?"

'Is this you wanting to go home, or you wanting to get away?'

I was silent as I pondered that. As much as getting away from Emmett was a good idea, that hadn't crossed my mind in the decision making. As soon as I had heard that John was gone, there really wasn't another choice to be made. That was it. I got to go back home.

So I shook my head. "I just want to go home."

'You're not going to try to shut me out?'

"Not this time."

We stood in silence for a couple minutes, just staring at each other.

'Thank you.'

I frowned. "For what?"

'I know I messed up. But thank you for not pushing me away. For telling me about the appointment. Just... thank you.'

"You really shouldn't be thanking me."

'I know. If not for Daphne. I need to thank her, too. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't thank you.'

I bit my lip slightly and slung my bag over my shoulder. "Well... you're welcome."

Making my way past him, I went back downstairs and outside. Daphne followed, and I assume the others had to be close behind. Getting into my car, I tossed my bag in the back as the door opened. Daphne climbed in.

Before I started the car, I turned to her. "Thank you."

She smiled slightly. "You're welcome."

"You don't know what I'm thanking you for."

"For telling Emmett. So that you could call him to go pick you up. So that you didn't have to find a hotel last night. So that you don't have to do anything alone. Not that you had to do it alone before. But having Emmett helps."

I started the car and laughed. "Fine, you do know what I'm thanking you for."

She shook her head as I started my way back home. "Once someone knows you, Bay, it's not hard to figure out how your mind works."

I'm starting to decide it's a deaf thing. Or maybe I am just that easily read.