"Ash I can't believe you're gonna be gone all weekend", I moan out sadly. "What am I gonna do without you?"

I'm sitting up in Cappie's bed, still under the covers, just wearing one of his t shirts and my underwear. I hadn't even bothered to walk the short distance back to ZBZ to get my stuff last night.

Cappie was in the shower so I decided to call Ash to say goodbye to her since I knew she'd probably be getting in her car and driving home in the next hour or so.

"Well you seem to be doing fine with Cappie…", Ash scoffs. "I didn't even hear from you last night! It was just radio silence after your appointment… so I knew you must've been with him".

"Hey! I could've been busy studying… with Katherine. Or helping out at the house", I shrug innocently as I twirl my blonde hair around my finger.

"Yeah but you weren't, were you?", She scoffs knowingly.

"No… you're right. We… we hungout after the appointment since it was… really emotional Ash, seeing and hearing it", I explain, a smile making it way onto my face whether I really liked it or not when I thought about yesterday.

"Oh god…. You're totally in his bed right now, aren't you?!", Ash says in a judging voice, but I can hear the playfulness in her tone too. When I fail to say anything I hear her gasp. "Oh my god! You are! Casey Cartwright, shacking up with the guy that got you pregnant for the weekend while you lie to your parents about why you can't come home! You are so bad!"

"Ash!", I groan and then let out a laugh. "It's not like that it's just…."

"So you're not sleeping with him then?", She speaks when I trail off.

"Well um… we sleep in the same bed sometimes, you know that…", I shrug.

"Not what I meant and you know it missy!", Ash keeps pressing me.

"Okay fine!", I speak quietly into the phone and let out a laugh, finally just admitting it. "We… hooked up last night… but it's not a regular thing, it just kind of happened".

"Oh my god! You are bad!", Ash gasps again. "Well… at least he can't get you any more pregnant".

"Yeah that's kinda what I said too", I say with a giggle. "So… you don't think I'm making a huge mistake Ash?"

I bite my lip then, bracing myself for Ashleigh's judgment.

"Well I don't think it's any use for you to try to stay away from him", Ash scoffs. "Since… that clearly hasn't worked out for you guys… like ever".

"Yeah I know", I sigh.

"Not to mention… you're gonna really need his help in the next few months", Ash says. "Actually probably more like the next few years. So at least you guys are getting along. Which is way more than I could say back in the Spring when you guys broke up… Cinco De Mayo anyone?"

Me and Ash giggle over the phone then as I groan just thinking about that party at the KT house wherein which me and Cappie pretty publicly got into it. I knew I probably shouldn't have gone to a KT party knowing he was there but everyone was going… and I even if I didn't want to admit it I had kind of wanted to see him, even if I couldn't talk to him.

"Yeah I know, but that… that was the tequila talking!", I defend myself.

"Case you yelled at him and told him that he ruined your relationship because he wouldn't grow up and then you threw your drink at him", Ash laughs.

"Oh c'mon! It wasn't just me being crazy! Don't you remember what prompted me to yell at him? I was talking to that guy, Calvin's friend from class, and Cappie came over and told him he had to leave because it was a Greek system only party", I defend myself. "Which was stupid anyways, because I obviously wasn't even interested in him, I was just trying to make Cappie jealous!"

"Well it obviously worked", Ashleigh laughs. "And… because you were drunk and mad you also gave him a good talking to about how he couldn't just dump you on your birthday and then get mad when you talk to other guys".

"Yeah…", I sigh, thinking to that night back in May.

"But Case, you guys made up when you came back here to Cyprus and now you're pregnant with his baby… and… you guys haven't fought like that since you've been back here for law school. Not to mention he's graduating next month now so…", Ash trails off.

"So what are you saying?", I question.

"I guess I'm just wondering why you guys don't just get back together then? If there's no roadblocks in front of you now. Because you told me that if it weren't for your differences about you going to law school and him not wanting to leave CRU that you would want to be with him forever", Ashleigh speaks trepidatiously.

"Yeah but… I said that like 6 months ago Ash", I shrug.

"Yeah and what's changed?", Ash laughs slightly. "You obviously still love him and you're still sleeping with him. And that's not even mentioning the fact that you guys are having a baby together now. The way I see it you can't get much more together than the two of you are".

I don't say anything then, I just take in her words, what she's saying hitting me pretty hard right now.

"Case… what's holding you back? Because obviously it's something. It's me, you can tell me", Ashleigh speaks softly.

"I just… I don't want to get back together and do all this really serious stuff, like moving in together, having him graduate for me and this baby, become a real couple again, just because I happened to get pregnant", I finally just speak honestly, almost feeling like I'm going to cry when I reach the end of my run on sentence.

"Aw Case…", I hear Ash's voice go up, like she's feeling bad for me.

"It's fine Ash, really", I try to downplay the way I feel, waving it off. But I feel a single tear fall down my face nonetheless. I usually wasn't one to cry much but lately everything had been making me really emotional. Hell, I'd almost cried during sex with Cappie last night.

"It's not true, what you're thinking Case. Cappie has always wanted to be with you since the moment he saw you. I would know because I was there that night and just about every other night of your relationship", Ash laughs slightly and I smile. "I have witnessed your guys' entire relationship and that guy could not want to be with you any more Case. Pregnant or not".

"Okay", I nod meekly. "I just… I think about us like 5 or 10 years from now and I don't want us to look back at this and think that we just got back together because that's what you do when you get pregnant with someone. And there's a really good chance that he'll… he'll resent me and the baby and the fact that he's gonna have to change his whole life for us. You know how Cappie is Ash, he likes his life the way it is. And I already have tried to change him in our relationship… I don't want to do that again".

I sigh out then.

"I get it", Ashleigh agrees with me. "I know you're trying to be extra cautious because it's not just you now".

"Exactly", I nod. "I love him, I can't really help that. And I know that he loves me. But I don't want this baby to have a bad childhood because me and him keep breaking up... because we can't make it work as a couple".

"You don't think you guys work as a couple?", Ash refutes. "But… you just said you guys love each other, you've told me before that he's the only guy that you've slept with where you actually… you know… arrive at your destination".

We both laugh then, Ash making me laugh even when I want to cry.

"Hey that's a secret though, okay?! Don't tell anyone else", I laugh.

"I won't, you know that", Ashleigh giggles. "I know it's hard Case… I'm sorry there isn't a clearer answer".

"Well… I think the answer is just to be around each other", I shrug. "Since we both aren't great at staying away from the other. And we're gonna need to be around each other a lot for the baby… I told him last night that we should be friends with benefits".

I admit this to Ash cautiously since I knew she'd probably think I was crazy.

"You doing friends with benefits? I just… don't really see you as a friends with benefits kind of girl Case", Ash seems to be disapproving of the idea like I thought she would.

"Well I would never do it with anyone else but… I don't know… it kind of makes sense with us. I don't want to go back to being nothing, and being strictly friends has never worked either, so maybe this is the smart thing to do", I shrug.

"Okay Case", She seems to accept this. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt".

"Cappie wouldn't hurt me or the baby Ash", I assure her. "That's… that's kind of the only thing I know for sure in this whole pregnancy, the one thing that makes me a little less panicked about the entire thing".

"I wasn't talking about you or the baby Case", Ash states blatantly and I realize what shes implying; that the only one who'd get hurt in all this would be Cappie.

And I hope she knew that the last thing I would ever want to do is hurt Cappie. Especially when I knew I'd already hurt him so much over the years. Dating Evan when we all came back sophomore year, avoiding him and looking at him like he was just a womanizing frat guy, hooking up with him a few times that night in junior year and then acting like it meant absolutely nothing the next morning. The list could probably go on and on. I'd realized how badly I'd hurt him at the end of the world party last year when he turned me down because he didn't want to get hurt again. And lo and behold…. both of us did get hurt again by each other again, whether we meant to or not.

"I don't want to go through what happened on spring break again Ash", I sigh. "I can't do it again and I don't think he could either. And especially not when we're going to have a newborn baby we have to raise together".

"I get it, it's normal to be scared… but this time last year, this exact time last year actually, when you and Cappie got back together on Thanksgiving… didn't you both kind of know that you were getting into something with the real possibility that it would only just come to an end at the end of the school year?", Ashleigh reminds me and of course she's right. I hate the fact that she's right.

"Yeah...", I croak out.

"And what did you tell me when I asked why you were ignoring the fact that by the end of the year you might have to break up?", Ash says.

"I said that even just a few months with the person that I actually am in love with would be better than none at all", I say, remembering what I had told her last year.

"Exactly", Ash speaks strongly.

"And those months were worth it Ash", I say, realizing it myself as we talk, me sort of having an unexpected epiphany right now. "If I hadn't gone against logic then… then I wouldn't have known how in love with someone I could be".

I can't help but smile a bit now. Of course I had fallen in love with Cappie in freshman year. And then I'd never really stopped, I just told myself that being with him wasn't what was good for me, wasn't smart. So I suppose I let it go dormant for awhile, the way I loved him. But it was always there. And at the beginning of senior year I couldn't seem to push it down anymore like I had been doing for so long.

Then we got back together a year ago and our relationship was even stronger than the first time. I'd fallen even further in love with him. Even more than I had thought I could ever love anyone. I mean why else would I swear off any other guys after we'd broken up on spring break? Our breakup completed crushed me. I'd never in my life felt heartbreak like that. Even months later I had absolutely no interest in even entertaining the possibility of a date with another guy. Ironically that was sort of the reason I was pregnant right now… because I went off my birth control because I knew I didn't want to have sex with anyone else for the indeterminable future.

The door to Cappie's bedroom opens then, startling me as I jump slightly.

"Hey", Cappie grins, walking in with wet hair and a towel around his waist.

I can't help the way my eyes look up and down his body. His chiseled chest and muscular arms, his hair wet and slicked back.

If I wasn't in the middle of trying to decipher what the hell I was going to do about a relationship with him and trying to still parent this baby with him, I probably would hang up on Ash right here and now and pull him over to me, rip that towel off.

"What?", He laughs and I realize I've been staring too long, my mouth hanging open a bit.

"Case?", Ash is still on the phone, reminding me that I'm currently way too in my head, ignoring both Ash and Cappie talking to me. "Helllllooooo?"

"Oh sorry Ash, I'm still here. Um… Cappie just walked back in", I stutter a bit, speaking quickly.

I look to see Cappie nodding and realizing I'm talking on the phone to Ash.

"Oh…", Ash speaks awkwardly. "Hey Cap!"

I hear her yell out into the phone, her loud voice kind of hurting my ears as I laugh and pull my phone away from my ear.

"Put me on speaker!", I hear Ash's voice, so I do as she says.

"Hey Ashleigh", Cap laughs. "You're not gonna tell me I suck again right? Because if so I'm gonna get déjà vu".

I hear Ash laugh on the phone as I join in.

"No", Ash groans playfully. "Don't worry, I'm not going to ream you out… you've actually been treating my best friend pretty good which you should be since she's pregnant with your kid".

Ash speaks matter of fact, making me and Cappie share a look as we smirk at each other.

"Which is also why I'm going to remind you that our girl needs real food this weekend, okay? None of that gross turkey flavoured bourbon you guys traditionally have, and more than just chips or candy. She's eating for her and your baby now so make sure she has an actual Thanksgiving meal", Ash instructs him seriously.

"Ash I think I can take care of myself", I roll my eyes playfully, laughing.

"No I totally get it Ashleigh, don't worry. I'll make sure she has every Thanksgiving food you can think of", Cap scoffs.

"Except for candied yams, those majorly gross me out", I give a grossed out face to an amused Cappie as he nods.

"Alright everything but yams then, on it", Cappie laughs.

"Okay well have a good Thanksgiving you guys!", Ash laughs.

"You too", Cappie returns the sentiment with a smile.

"Bye Casey! Don't get any more pregnant alright? We don't need twins", She jokes.

"Yeah don't worry", I roll my eyes. "I won't. Bye Ash, love you!"

"Love you too! Bye!", Ashleigh calls out and then we both hang up.

"That's nice, looks like Ash is actually coming around to me", Cappie smirks, grabbing another towel from his bathroom to dry his hair more.

"She likes you Cap", I give him a look, smiling. "Trust me. She just… she just was the one who saw me really depressed and at rock bottom last year when we broke up so… I think she's cautious about trusting you and trusting a relationship between us".

I explain this to him as he looks like he's thinking hard.

"Case… is that… is that the way you feel too? Is that the reason you don't want to get fully back together? Because you're being cautious not to get hurt again?", He looks at me seriously now.

"Well…", I shrug, not really wanting to feel this vulnerable. "Yeah I guess a little bit Cap".

I feel my green eyes go big as I look up at him, me still sitting up in his bed, leaning against his headboard. He stands in front of me, I think finally piecing some of this together, about why I'm so scared.

"It's more than just a little bit, isn't it?", He confirms with me, looking serious, and a little hurt too. Hurt because he thinks that I think I can't trust him again in that way.

Cappie comes to sit on the edge of the bed close to me then, still just in his towel. His incredibly ocean blue eyes and toned upper body is making it a little hard to have a serious conversation about feelings right now. Not when my thoughts are running wild elsewhere… elsewhere further down my body.

But nonetheless, if he was looking at me this seriously right now, this genuinely, then he probably wants to assure me that the whole spring break thing won't happen again.

I avert my gaze from him, just giving a small shrug instead of answering. Because I think we both knew the answer at this point.

Yes, yes I was scared to get hurt again. Not when I was supposed to be focusing on how to be a good mom to this baby that I never thought I would be having at 22.

"I'm not gonna do anything to hurt you or our baby Case", He takes his hand to grab mine in his, looking at me softly as his thumb runs up and down my hand. "I promise okay? I won't let you down, I don't ever want to do anything to mess this up again".

"I know you won't ever hurt me or the baby Cap, I know that", I nod, looking down from his gaze now because I didn't want to cry. I wanted this weekend to be fun, I didn't want to get emotional over us. But yet here I was, a tear escaping from my right eye.

"Then why are you scared?", He looks confused.

"I don't know… I just… I know you're a good guy and I love you Cappie", I assure him and he can't help but smile a bit at me telling him I love him, probably because he'd been yearning to hear it come out of my mouth for years. And even if it came with a baby and a lot more commitment rather than just an easy breezy college relationship, he seemed to be up for it. "But sometimes you can't really avoid hurting someone… and our history seems to just repeat itself. One of us always gets hurt, usually both. So why would this time be any different if we became serious again?"

"But we… we don't have anything in the way now Case. I'm graduating, we're both in the same city…", He says like I shouldn't have any reason to worry. "What happened 6 months ago won't happen again".

"But there's more than just that Cap", I sigh.

He looks at me to continue.

"I'm just scared that down the line you're going to regret this. You think you want this with me and the baby now, but Cappie your whole life is going to change and… we both know that your lifestyle is a big part of who you are. I don't… I don't want you to resent me or this baby for making you have to change", I finally explain to him.

"Case", Cappie groans slightly, squeezing my hand. "I wish you'd just told me you felt this way earlier, because I can one hundred percent assure you it's not going to happen, I'm never going to resent you or the baby. Even before you got pregnant I was really trying hard to change. Before we even slept together on homecoming I had already declared a major, hadn't missed a single class this whole semester, was trying way more with my grades, trying more with the house… already planning to graduate at the end of the year".

"Really?", I croak out, my voice cracking a bit.

"Yeah", He nods, giving me a smile as he continues to hold my hand. "So I'm only moving up graduating by a few months. And… there's no better reason to do so than for you and for it, I promise".

"Okay", I can't help but let the sides of my lips turn up into a content smile. "I just… don't want you to have to totally change who you are and regret… putting me and the baby first over your life here because… you love it so much".

"That's true, I do love it here at KT and I have loved the lifestyle that I've lived over the past 4 years. The drinking, the weed, the girls, doing whatever I want whenever I want. But it… it already was starting to get a little old even this time last year Case. That's why things didn't work out with Lana. Because it's not what I want, it's not what I need", he explains to me, looking deeply into my eyes. "I need you Case, I want you".

With him confirming this to me, him holding onto my hand, staring deep into my eyes, I can't help but feel my heart beat hard in my chest.

"I need you too", I speak quietly, just admitting it finally. "I haven't wanted to say so, because… because I wanted to show people, and myself, that I could have this baby on my own, could do this without being in a relationship but… I do need you Cappie".

"Well you have me, you always will", He nods, smiling big, and I can tell he's now spotted a tear falling down my cheek. "Here, don't cry".

He wipes my tear away with his thumb.

"I know, I don't know why I'm crying", I laugh at myself as I roll my eyes slightly.

"It's okay, everything's gonna be okay", He nods, running his hand up and down my knee now, and I nod, really thankful for him.

"Okay Cap", I nod, sighing of relief as I smile, really happy with his response to my worries.

"And Case you've gotta stop thinking that it's just you and the baby, and then me being optional", He says, holding my hand tightly. "This isn't just your responsibility, it's my baby too, I have to change for it. It's me and you and the baby together okay? Not just you".

"Okay…", I smile. "Sorry I just… I don't know, I guess it's just whatever it is that makes moms feel close to their baby but… I'm already starting to feel it for ours Cap. And I guess it just feels different because it's with me all the time and I feel protective over it. But I promise that you'll be just as involved as me… I know you're his or her's other parent".

"Yeah, I know it's not growing inside me", Cappie says and we both scoff. "But I feel a lot for it too… mostly because it's part you and that is like… the coolest thing ever, another you".

"Cap…", I pucker my lip out slightly, unable to help how I literally feel my heart swell in my body, looking at him with so much love.

He smiles so genuinely at me then, I think really happy that we've so spontaneously had this talk. Then he leans in to kiss me softly, gently, as I start to kiss back. Until I pull away, realizing something.

"Wait Cap", I pull away from his lips as he looks confused. "I haven't even brushed my teeth yet".

I put my hand over my mouth. He'd gone to use the washroom first while I was in here talking to Ash. It was still only 9 o'clock in the morning.

"Don't care", Cappie shakes his head, his face completely lighting up, his glacier blue eyes smiling with the rest of his smirking expression.

He really doesn't because not a second later and his lips find mine again, kissing me a little harder this time. I almost yelp out in surprise before I sink into it, moaning against his lips as I take my hands to run through the back of his cocoa colored tufts of hair.

"I've wanted to take this towel off since you walked in the room in it", I whisper against his cheek near his ear when we part from kissing.

He moves back from me to look at my face, raising his eyebrows in response, surprised I think.

"Naughty girl…", he laughs, licking his lips as he jokes around with me.

He moves fully onto the bed now to lay over me as I let my head fall back against the pillow. He pulls down the covers a bit which I'm under so he can run his hands up my bare thighs to where my panties are.

"Mmm… Cappie wait", I pull away, starting to feel kind of sick to my stomach.

"What? Are you okay?", He moves back from me, looking worriedly at me.

"Yeah I think so…", I feel my stomach churn then. "I just feel kinda sick all of a sudden".

"Morning sickness again?", He confirms with and I just nod, holding onto my stomach, feeling too sick to say much.

"Yeah one sec", I get up quickly, rushing to the washroom to get to my knees, throwing up into the toilet as I feel his hands on me. He's pulling my hair back in his hands for me until I eventually stop throwing up, leaning back on my heels instead as he runs his hands up and down my back soothingly.

"Ugh", I let out in a sigh, my hand on my temple. "I thought maybe my morning sickness was getting better but I guess not".

"Yeah I guess some days are worse than others", He says and I look back to see him frowning.

He helps me up then, back to the bed, and then goes to fill a cup with some water from the tap of his ensuite washroom.

"Here you go", He passes it to me and then sits beside me on the edge of his bed, hand on my back.

"Thanks", I smile at him. "Sorry… that kinda ruined things".

I laugh awkwardly then as Cappie joins in.

"Hey don't worry, I just want you to feel okay", He looks at me seriously.

I nod up and down, my lips pursed as I struggle to stifle in a slight smile. Even though I was feeling terrible I still felt lucky that he was being so sweet to me.

"Well… in the span of ten minutes you've cried…", Cappie thinks to himself jokingly, using his fingers to count things off. "You've thrown up, and you've had horny thoughts about the incredibly charming father of your baby".

I give him a glare then, the two of us joking around.

"I'd say you're definitely pregnant", He laughs, knowing that those are all symptoms.

"Yeah you're right", I laugh. "I can't wait till the first trimester is over and then maybe… I won't be so sick and maybe not so emotional either".

I groan as I feel his hand run up and down my back.

"But… hopefully the naughty thoughts won't stop", He grins and I just give him a look, swatting at his arm as I laugh.

He leans in to kiss me once more, surprising me.

"Cap!", I laugh when we part. "I just threw up".

"I don't care", he shrugs, just grinning his usual grin.

"Okay well…", I bite down on my lip. "When we get home tonight, when I am hopefully not as nauseas… and when my oral hygiene is better…"

We both laugh.

"Then I want to show you how much you mean to me", I smile, moving in close to him to quickly kiss his cheek.

"Mmm", He nods, giving me a joking grin. "Something to look forward to".

I remembered that he'd used that same phrase back in August.

"You said that same thing when you came through my window at my old room in ZBZ to finally have a talk with me. When you'd asked if we had another shot and I said maybe…", I give him a grin.

"Yeah you're right", He thinks this over, nodding. "Who knew that this was the something to look forward to".

His gaze moves down to my belly now.

"You don't have to say that", I shake my head. "I know this isn't really what either one of us wanted".

I look at him seriously now.

"Yeah I know it's not", he nods. "And I know that we're still getting used to it but… we're here together… and the baby's healthy, you're healthy. Maybe it's not so bad".

"It's not bad at all actually Cap", I say, surprising myself. "Which… is crazy that I'm even saying that aloud".

He smiles at me, nodding.

"So…", I give him a smug smile then, knowing I'm about to annoy him. "When are we going to go to that History of Fashion Museum that you promised me?"

I give him a seductive smile then, leaning into him as he breaks out into a laugh.

"Crap, you remember that from yesterday?", He grimaces jokingly.

"Yep!", I giggle, holding onto his arm. "Don't think you can worm your way out of it because you promised! You said something along the lines of me growing the baby so I get to choose the activity!"

"Yeah but… I was in a post sex haze when I said I'd go", Cappie groans but I can tell he's smirking, joking around with me.

"Well…", I make my eyes into a doe eyed look, moving my hands down his bare chest. I can see the way he's reacting to me, smirking. "If you take me there then when we get home…. you can be in another post sex haze".

Cappie gasps jokingly, smiling.

"So I'll be able to touch your boobs again?", He puts his finger on his lip jokingly as I giggle at him.

"Yes and I'll even take you bra shopping with me after the fashion museum if you want!", I smile.

"Okay I'm definitely in then", He says immediately.

"Yeah I thought you would be", I give him a knowing look, giggling. "I'm gonna get ready then!"

I get up excitedly, seeing the way he watches me happily, I think really excited that we're going to spend the day together, that things are actually progressing between us like this.


"Okay so what do you think about this one?", I come out to show Cappie.

We're now in a shop in downtown Cyprus that me, Ash and Rebecca often shopped at. This store is also where I had caught Cappie shopping for lingerie for me on Valentine's Day, where I'd caved and just bought a red set to surprise him with as my Valentine's Day gift to him.

We'd come here after getting back from the short drive into Cincinnati to go to the museum, which Cappie actually didn't seem to hate as much as I think he thought he would.

"Mmm did I mention that this is so much more fun than the fashion museum. There just wasn't enough cleavage in the 1940s. And don't even get me started on the 1800s", Cappie comments with a smirk, sitting in a chair outside the changing room stall I was in.

I cross my arms, giving him a playful glare.

"Do you think this looks okay?", I move to look in the large mirror, turning around to look at how the bra fits. Luckily no one else was in the fitting rooms area right now.

I was wearing stretchy black pants and tall brown boots right now, and trying on a pink lacey bra in a size bigger than my usual size.

"Do I think it looks okay?", Cappie scoffs sarcastically. "Does the Mona Lisa look okay? Does the Eiffel Tower look okay? Is beer not the greatest drink ever invented?!"

"Okay, got it", I turn around to giggle, blushing at him.

"Seriously, there hasn't been a bad one so far Case", Cappie smiles.

"Okay", I can't help but smile sheepishly. "I think maybe I'll get two matching sets, that should be enough as long as they've stopped growing".

I gesture to my boobs.

"Well we can definitely come here back if they do", Cappie grins devilishly.

"I'm kind of conflicted Cap… they have nursing bras here and they're on the list of things that you should pick up when you're pregnant but… maybe I shouldn't at 9 weeks, just in case", I sigh.

"Just in case?", He gives me a confused look.

"Yeah just in case anything happens with the baby", I shrug. "Since at under 12 weeks you can still be in danger of a miscarriage and then I've bought one for nothing".

"I think you worry too much sometimes Case", Cappie looks at me sympathetically. "I don't think anything's gonna happen with the baby. Just yesterday it looked totally fine, the doctor said so herself".

"Okay", I sigh then, giving him a smile and laughing slightly.

"What?", Cappie scoffs in confusion.

"Nothing, just… your ability to be so totally relaxed about everything", I put my hands on my hips. "But it's… it's actually exactly what I need right now Cap, so thank you".

"Yeah of course, my no worries attitude is actually coming in hand for once", He smirks and I watch his eyes travel down from my face to my boobs, eyes bulging out of his head. "So uh… you wanna join the fitting room mile high club or…?"

"Cap!", I groan, turning around to go back to the fitting room.

"What? It's not like there's anyone here", I hear him laugh behind me and I just turn around to give him a playful glare, going back into the change room.

As I take the new bra off and get back changed into my bra and top, I can't help but smile to myself though.

"You can take it off me when we get home Cap", I speak sort of quietly, smiling to myself.

"The only thing is there's that party tonight unfortunately", I hear him sigh.

I open up the changeroom door then, coming out with the bras and matching panties in hand, my purse slung over my shoulder.

"I'm still trying to get used to you not being happy that there's a KT party tonight", I laugh.

"It's just that you and me won't get any alone time with a house full of people", he sighs.

"Well we could just go back to ZBZ then?", I shrug. "Although… Rebecca's home. But she might go to the KT party, she texted me about it earlier. So… we could have privacy there".

I move towards him to pull him up from his sitting position, giving him a seductive grin.

"Mmm, I like your thinking", He licks his lips, standing up straight now, a lot taller than me.

I give him a smirk and then walk out into the main part of the store again, looking around for the nursing bras.

"Oh these ones are great, I used them when I breastfed my son", One of the saleswomen comes up to me and Cappie, she looks to be in maybe her mid thirties or early forties.

"Oh really?", I look up to give her a smile. "I don't know much about how they work, but I read online these ones with the flaps are good".

"Yeah they're really functional", She nods. "Are you pregnant?"

"Oh yeah I am, it's for me", I laugh slightly, it still feeling weird to me.

"Aw congratulations! You must be pretty early on still?", She confirms, looking at me.

"Yeah I'm only 9 weeks, I'm just… kind of a planner, thought I may as well get one while I'm here", I laugh slightly.

"Well I can ring you up whenever you like, let me know if you need any help with sizing", She says. "And congratulations again you two".

"Thanks", Cappie nods.

I pick up my size in the nursing bra, picking a nude colored one, holding it up to look at it.

"Why does it have those removable flappy things?", Cappie asks, curious.

"So that when you're breastfeeding you can easily open it up for the baby to get to your nipple", I say like it's obvious.

"Mmm, I haven't gotten to that chapter yet", Cappie nods. "Looking forward to it".

I turn to look at him, giving him a death glare.

"What?", He laughs, honestly I think just liking annoying me sometimes.

"Cap when the baby's here you're going to have to share my boobs with it", I give him a joking look.

"I hadn't thought of that…", He looks off into the distance in dismay, joking around. "And of course since it has my DNA it'll definitely like your boobs... and he or she will probably be cuter than me, harder to say no to".

He sighs then, playing along, and I can't help but giggle.

"You're crazy", I shake my head at him, but I'm smiling like mad as I do. "Thank god this store is almost empty, I don't know if I can bring you here next time".

"Nooo", Cappie whines, following me as I make my way to the cash. "C'mon I promise, I'll behave".

I turn to look at him, seeing him put both his hands in the air like he's under arrest.

I just giggle at him, knowing that he loves making me laugh, loves getting a rise out of me.

I buy the three things, thanking the saleswomen and then leaving with Cappie in tow. Luckily they had a buy two get one free deal, so I got a bit of a sale with the two sets and the one nursing bra.

And then me and Cappie are out onto the main street of the downtown again.

"Hey you wanna go to that bakery that's a few stores down? You love the cherry danishes there", Cappie gives me a smile.

"Mmm yeah that sounds really good", I practically drool. "Let's go!"

He nods with a smile and we walk down the street together, me holding my bag from the store in one hand, my other trying to resist the familiar urge to grab onto his.

When we get into the bakery Cappie goes up to the counter while I find a table for us to sit at. I'd been here a few times. Certainly not as many times as we all frequented Doblers or the coffee carts on campus or The Espresso Farm, but Rusty's apartment complex was fairly close to here and I'd stopped by one day and liked it.

I find us a table with two comfy chairs by the window and settle in.

But unfortunately once I'm sitting down I look at the table in front of me, seeing someone who I really hadn't expected to see today. Actually, more like really hadn't wanted to see today, or any other day for that matter if I was being honest.

I see him first, Evan, looking down at his textbook, tapping his pen against the table. He's alone, studying here I guess. I can't help but feel a bit bad for him I guess… he truly had not a single soul on campus to spend Thanksgiving with. Even though he was a complete ass to me I always seemed to be prone to seeing the good in him… even if I shouldn't.

He spots me then, looking up, and my I feel my body jolt, kind of panicking that he's now seen me staring at him.

We lock eyes then but are interrupted by Cappie walking over to me, passing me a plate with a danish and a water.

"Here you go", He smiles and I can't help but think how cute he looks right now, handsome too, him bringing me my food was making me smile. "I'm just gonna go back and get mine".

He gestures off to the counter and I nod, still feeling really nervous as I give him a slightly panicked look. He just looks at me with confusion and then goes back over to the counter.

"Casey", Evan nods at me cordially when Cappie walks away.

"Hey Evan", I nod awkwardly.

He gets up then, moving to the chair that's closer to my table.

Cappie walks back then, spotting us.

"Oh so this is why you looked at me like you were gonna throw up", Cappie gives a kind of disgusted look to Evan. "Evangeline... happy Thanksgiving. You know they have these really great single serve turkey dinners in the freezer food section at the grocery store, thank me later".

"Cap", I give him a look.

"I'm sorry Case but this guy was kind of a total jerk to you", Cappie looks annoyed with him.

"And to you", I add, then looking over to Evan with my arms crossed, hoping maybe he'll apologize to us.

Evan just rolls his eyes and then let's out an exasperated sigh.

"What? So you guys are like together now? Moving to the suburbs to raise your baby?", Evan bitterly snides.

"No", I simply say. "We're just… spending the day together".

"You really ditched your family for him Case?", Evan raises his eyebrow at me as if Cappie isn't standing right here.

"No, I'm gonna see them on Christmas", I cross my arms, taking my turn to glare at him.

"Well you should be taking this weekend to study, that's what I'm doing", Evan boasts.

"Yeah well… when you don't have anyone in your life other than your textbook…", Cappie mumbles with a scoff.

"I heard about your party", Evan turns to look at Cappie. "Sounds… childish".

"Thanks", Cappie nods with a smirk, not letting Evan get to him. "It's actually more Beaver's party. You know Beaver right? The guy who slept with your girlfriend. So many guys have slept with your girlfriends now that I can see why you've seemed to decide to just trade in your your romantic conquests for books. You just need a couple cats and you're set Lamebers".

"Guys", I groan.

"So…", Evan looks like he's gritting his teeth. "How's your baby?"

"Good", I nod, not really wanting to discuss this with him at all.

Evan looks me up and down as I sit uncomfortably.

"Well you don't look pregnant so… looks like you can hide it in shame a little longer", Evan says.

"You're being really immature Evan", I give him a sad look, because honestly I didn't want to fight with him. I wanted him and me and Cappie to just get along like we once did.

"Yeah and we're not hiding it, we're telling our friends this weekend so that's not really the insult you think it is. Casey doesn't have anything to be ashamed of", Cappie backs me up.

"Well I hope you guys live happily ever after", Evan stands up, gathering his stuff. "I'm gonna go".

"Aw so soon?", Cappie frowns sarcastically.

"Have a good Thanksgiving", Evan just rolls his eyes, speaking in a monotone voice, then gives me a look before he turns to leave.

I don't really know what to say and he's already walking away so I land on nothing.

Cappie sits down across from me, letting out a deep sigh.

"Well that was a nice warm and friendly Thanksgiving reunion", Cappie shakes his head with a scoff.

"Yeah tell me about it", I groan and finally dig into my danish now. "I know one thing I'm not thankful for is Evan's attitude".

"He's just such an ass. I can't believe I was ever friends with him again last year", Cappie shakes his head in disbelief as he sips his coffee in a takeout coffee cup.

"I know and I feel like I've given him so many chances too!", I let out a huff between bites. "I forgave him for cheating on me, for lying and scheming, for what he did to you guys before Christmas break last year".

"I know right, you've given him lots of chances to be decent to you Case, and it makes me really mad that he's treating you like crap while you're pregnant. It's the worst thing he's done yet in my books", I can truly tell Cappie's mad. This was much different than his usual laidback, joking demeanour.

"I know", I sigh with a frown.

"Lets just not let it ruin our day", Cappie puts his hand on my knee, giving me a smile, making me smile too.

"Yeah you're right Cap. This has been such a fun day with you and we shouldn't let Evan ruin it", I nod.

"Exactly, he's just being a douche, probably because he has no one anymore", Cappie nods. "But… that's his own fault".

"True", I agree. "All of us have been open to being friend with him, we were all nice to him at Calvin's birthday party, he had Rebecca, and he still ruined it".

"Exactly. He's the one that should be ashamed about that Case, not you", Cappie speaks to me seriously.

"Yeah", I nod. "I'm… I'm not embarrassed about people knowing now Cap. I think because the baby means something to me now that I've gotten used to it. So I don't really care if people are gonna judge me and you".

Cappie gives me a genuine smile then, looking like he loves that I've gotten to this point now. Sophomore and junior year me basically put my reputation and image above anything else in my life. Above my brother, my friends, my family…. above Cappie. So not caring about people talking about me being unexpectedly pregnant was a big step for me, I knew it meant I was growing up, that my priorities had changed.

Because my main priority now was the baby, not what people were going to say behind me and Cappie's backs.

"I'm really proud of you Case", Cappie smiles.

"Thanks... well… living at the KT house half the time is bringing probably it out in me", I laugh. "I'll be happy when the brothers know actually, then we don't have to lie to everyone and I think they'll be supportive".

"Definitely", Cappie nods. "Well, I got a text from Rusty when I was in line, asking when I was coming back since apparently him and Spidey are having some trouble with barbecuing the turkey".

Cappie gives me a grimace and I can't help but giggle, thinking about my little brother.

"Yeah, give Rusty a sciencey problem and he's your guy, but using a barbecue…", I giggle. "Over the summer my dad tried to show him how to grill steaks and it did not go well".

The two of us laugh then.

"Yeah I better get back and see if we can salvage it for the party", Cappie says with grin. "You want anything else or are you ready to go?"

"No I'm good to go", I nod. "I'm kind of tired, I want to relax for a bit anyway".

"Alright sounds like a plan", Cappie smiles and the two of us get up. I'm leading the way, moving to open the door to get out onto the street again, but not before Cappie quickly intervenes, opening it for me.

I look over at him to give him a look, smirking and hoping that my expression is letting him know that trying to open every single door for me is major overkill.

"I'm pregnant Cap, not elderly", I cross my arms but walk out as he directs me to anyways. "But… thanks".

"You're welcome. See, I'm trying to show all my best sides so that you have no choice but to succumb to your love for me and let me be your boyfriend again", He says as I look over at him, his devilish grin on his face.

"Well… you're off to a good start Cap", I sigh.

"Really?", He smiles excitedly, the two of us walking to his jeep. "Even with all my boob jokes earlier?"

"Yes even with those", I laugh. "But uh…"

I trail off as we reach his car, him opening the door for me as I give him a glare, hoping this doesn't last that long and that I'll have my independence back. Even if it is kind of nice.

"The only thing is Cap…", I say as I get into the car, always having to climb up high into his seats, his car being a bit of a piece of junk. But I knew how much he loved it, he got it freshman year when we were together. "There's nowhere for a car seat in here".

Cappie takes in my words, pursing his lips as he nods, looking around the interior of his car.

"Crap… I guess we can't just like… have the baby sit on your lap?", I can tell he's joking.

I give him a raise of my eyebrows.

"Okay well… this car is kind of my baby but…", Cappie sighs as he rolls his eyes back. "I suppose I'm gonna have an actual real life baby soon that I probably should be able to transport around".

"Yeah…", I nod with a laugh. "Don't worry about it too much right now though Cap, we'll figure out out. We have my car too of course".

"Okay", Cappie nods, closing the door and going around to the driver's side.

Just the fact that he was willing to think about getting a different car was enough. I could tell he was actually serious about this entire thing.

"Okay so back to KT", Cappie nods, turning the car on.

"Mmm hmm", I smile. "And then… maybe my room at ZBZ… because I probably should put those new bra and panty sets to use".

I speak seriously, but underneath it I'm joking and I know he can tell, him looking over at me to grin.

"Yeah you should probably get your moneys worth out of them", He plays along. "It would be the smart thing to do".

"Exactly", I can't help but giggle a bit now. "And I might need some help getting them off too, since I'm just so uncoordinated".

I sigh jokingly then to his amusement.

"Well I suppose I could have time to do that tonight", He shrugs, licking his lips as I watch him look straight forward, driving.

"Perfect", I smile matter of fact as I can't help the smile not leaving on my lips, looking out the window as we pass through the streets in town.

A few moments later I feel Cappie's hand on my thigh, something he often did when we were in a car together. It's taking me back to freshman year before I had a car so Cappie drove us everywhere, hand resting contently on my thigh as he drove.

The thought makes me heart warm, thinking about how much we'd both grown up, how we had been just casually talking about our baby all day. Our baby that was actually real.