Matthew had been taking refuge with Yekaterina. He felt slightly sorry for occupying all her time when she might've had other plans. But he needed her right now. She was almost like a mother to him. Not that he'd know what having a mother was like. He'd only had a papa, and he had started to doubt in his teenage years whether his papa would even be the type to bring home a mama. He'd decided not when he noticed the amount of time his papa spent "out with his guy friends."

Yekaterina didn't fully mind mothering Matthew. He didn't need it often, but now was definitely one of those times. Her best friend was pregnant, scared, in love, and dreadfully confused. He had every right to be confused, too. The man who had gotten him pregnant was one he barely knew, but had fallen in love with anyway, and he also didn't know if he meant anything to him. He was worried about only being a piece of ass. Or maybe just the factory for a child only one of them was sure he wanted. Matthew was afraid of being alone having this baby, and also afraid that right after, he'd be dropped like a hot pan and ignored, his only real purpose having been fulfilled.

Matthew had his head on Kat's shoulder, and was telling her all about his fears. For now she just patted his back gently and let him get it all out.

"And I think he's still sleeping with his ex... He could be... He's p-plenty insatiable around me... If I wasn't there he could... I should've asked him all this before falling in love. *sob* What if the whole time he's been sleeping around? I don't w-wanna be pregnant... I don't want a baby... I'm s-scared... What if I have the baby and something goes wrong? The doctor said it'd be okay just as long as I got to the hospital as soon as the baby s-started coming... But what if one of us gets hurt? What if Berwald bails on me for his ex and I'm raising his child all on my own..? I can't afford to not have a job.. And I can't afford babysitters for that long either... I.. Kat, I don't know what to do. *sob* I w-want the baby now... I want to see how beautiful his baby's gonna be, an' I want to hold it, and dress it, and take care of it all the time, but I can't afford to parent all by myself! And-"

"Mattie, hush." She put her hand over his mouth. "I know you're scared, but now all you're doing is worrying. Think about what you know, and not what you don't, okay?"

"Like what...?"

"Well, you know you've got me to rely on. And your dad would come down and babysit free if you needed it. I know he seems kinda sleazy, but he raised you alright. And even if Berwald leaves, he'll have to pay child support."

Matthew sniffled. "I wasn't thinking about that..."

"It's not the end of the world, Mattie. Besides, the way you describe how he was talking to his ex, it doesn't seem like he loves him still..."

"But what if he does..? What if I'm not the only one? What if he's been sleeping around and now I have herpes as well as a baby..?" Matthew was worrying again.

"I said hush, Mattie. What if dinosaurs decided to come to life and wear top hats and monocles and sit around sipping tea with that British guy?"

Matthew giggled shakily. It was funny even if he was sad. "I guess that they'd be good company for the unicorn he mutters about..."

"That's it," Kat smiled. "There's the Matthew I know and love."

He sat up and wiped his eyes. "Sorry I kinda dissolved on you. I'm okay now."

"It's alright." She patted his back.

"I've been whining about my love life to someone who's single. That's kind of a mean thing to d-"

"But I'm not single." Yekaterina blurted out. Then she blushed.

"Hey, you didn't tell me about this!" Matthew smiled and perked up. "Come on, spill. Who are they?"

"N-no, I don't wanna say. You'll think it's gross, Matt."

"It's a girl, isn't it? That's not gross, it's just fine."

Kat was blushing the color of a strawberry now. "It's not that... I mean, it is a girl, but it's which girl.. It's complicated."

"Love is always complicated. Come on, you can trust me, Kat. I always knew something was going on when you 'spent time with your sister.'"

Yekaterina froze, her eyes open wide. "Y-you knew I was sleeping with Natalia...?"

It was Matthew's turn to freeze, mostly out of confusion. "Wait, you were actually spending time with your sister? I thought that was the excuse you made when you had a hot date."

"Well, yes and no. It was both..." She looked scared, and tears were welling up in her eyes. "Please don't tell anyone..."

"You love your sister as more than a sister, don't you?"

She nodded, starting to cry. "Don't tell anyone, please. They don't understand.."

"Don't cry, Kat... It's okay. Love happens. You can't choose the person. If they happen to be someone close to you, you can't help it anymore than I could help falling in love with a man I don't really know... It's okay..."

"You mean it, Matt? You don't think I'm disgusting?"

"Of course not. You're just you."

Kay smiled. "See? People surprise you all the time..."

"They do, don't they?" Matthew smiled back, "I think I'm gonna give Berwald a chance to explain, at least. He's a good guy..."

"He loves you, Matt. You don't hold someone close for hours if you don't. I can tell he loves you... A lot."

"You really think..?"

"I do."

Hours later, Matthew and Yekaterina had nearly forgotten they had problems. They were on her bed, giggling like high school girls at a sleepover about something. Matthew couldn't really remember what. But it was fun.

Kat stopped laughing after a while because her sides were starting to hurt. "Hey, Matt?" She asked, grinning still. "What would you do for love?"

"You mean, like, to get someone to love me?"

"No, like if someone who you loved needed you to do it. If they asked you."

"I'd probably quit my job for love."

"That's the only thing you're willing to do for love? Geez, you're cold."

"I'd do other things too! I'd... Hmm... I'd prolly give up part of my liver. Maybe a kidney too. If they needed it and I loved them, I'd definitely do that."

"Yeah? Keep going."

"Well... Okay. I'd give them money. And I'd sleep with someone I'd barely met, already did that. And I'd... Hmm... I'd go into prostitution if they asked me."

"Seriously?!" Kat laughed. "You'd be a hooker for love? Geez, you are desperate!"

"Am not! I wouldn't have a shotgun wedding for love."

"So, you'll sell your ass, but you won't wear a ring?" Kat raised her eyebrows.

"Well, if you put it that way it sounds bad. What would -you- do for love?"

"Oh, gosh, lots of stuff. If she asked me, I'd probably kill someone."

"You wouldn't be able to, you big softy."

"Hey, no boob jokes."

"Wha-? Oh! I didn't mean it like that." Matthew was giggling again.

"I know, I'm teasing." She smiled back. "Anyway, I'd elope, and I'd run away from home, and I'd live in Siberia, and I'd have run ins with the mafia. And... Hmm... I'd give up sex for the rest of my life."

"If someone loved you, wouldn't they be sleeping with you?"

"Love doesn't always equal sex, my slutty little friend."

"I take offense!" Matthew grinned, "I'm not little."

Kat pushed him playfully, still laughing. "You're silly."

They calmed down after fifteen minutes and were just laying on the bed, smiling softly.

"Hey, Matt...?"

"Yeah, Kat?"

"Are you going to make up with Berwald?"

"Yeah, I think I'm ready to now."

"What if he -was- cheating...?"

"Well... I s'pose it'll depend on if he's sorry, and if he's going to do it again..."

"I hope he wasn't."

"Me too."

"If you need me to sic my little brother on someone, just let me know."

Matthew smiled at her, "Thanks, Kat."

"No problem. That damned Swede had better treat my Matthew right."

"Your Matthew?"

"My Matthew. I own you. Like a puppy."

"Ah, nice to know."

A few more quiet minutes passed.

"Kat?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna go see him now. I... I miss his arms..."

"I hope it goes well."

"I think it will. We love each other. So, so much..."

"I know, Mattie. I know."

-x-

It may continue.