Series: Scenes From an Italian Restaurant

Title: Never, Never

Author: Carla

Email: cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

Rating: R for thematic content

Pairing: Lily/Josh, Josh/SD, Lily/Josh/SD as relevant to the story. Nic/Carmen Sam/OFC are not as relevant to the story.

Disclaimers: Series title taken from Billy Joel's excellent song of the same. This chapter and its title were inspired by Cat Stevens' haunting song The Wind. The lyrics can be found below. Both these songs and any others referenced or used throughout this series are used without permission but much gratitude. I do not own Popular the suits at Touchstone Television do and they know who they are. I barely own the clothes on my back so if you must sue you will get nada, zilch, bupkiss you get the picture.

Archiving: My stuff, such as it is, can be found at http://www.realmoftheshadow.com. All others please ask.

Feedback: All feedback the good the bad and the ugly may be sent to me directly at cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

A/N: Once again my thanks to Alan H. whose feedback once again helped shape this fic thanks to him the term `unwanted pregnancy' kept floating through my head. This story takes place approximately 6-8 weeks after the events of Goodbye Makes the Journey Harder Still. Those of you who remember the last day of school first semester junior year as described in First Noel (Chapter 31) might have seen this coming.

"I should tell him right? He has a right to know after all it is his baby too. What if he tries to convince me to keep it?"

"Then you stand up for whatever choice you make. Look nobody says you have to `raise' this baby, nobody says you have to even `have' the baby"

"Maybe the tests were wrong I mean I should go to a doctor just to be sure don't you think? You'll go with right?"

"Of course we will…here drink this it will help you calm down it's herbal no caffeine."

"Thanks could I have some honey?"

"Sure"

"I mean I'm sure the tests are right. And let's face facts six of the damn things can't all be wrong can they?"

"Here's the honey" Tory placed a plastic squeeze bear of honey on the coffee table.

"Did you guys ever fill one of these plastic bears with colored sands? You know at the school carnival or some street festival or something like that. I did once I wonder whatever happened to it?"

"I'm sure your mom has it somewhere. That's the sort of thing they always keep"

"Mine never did" the room's third occupant finally spoke up. "Of course if I'd done one in a Jack Daniels bottle she might have kept that or maybe not…more likely she would have opened it looking for booze and gotten pissed off when she found out it was sand."

"Anyway back to Lily and her situation"

"Tory's right Lil whatever you decide we'll stand by you. You know that whatever Nic and I can do whatever you need just let us know."

"Thanks guys. I don't know what I would do without you two."

"So have you made an appointment at the doctor's yet?"

"I'm going to Planned Parenthood on Thursday. I know you have to work Carmen but…"

"No problem. I'll get someone to cover for me"

"I'll pick you both up from school then and the three of us can go together alright?"

"Thanks Tory"

"That's what us big sisters are for you know"

"One question Lily"

"Shoot"

"Who's the father?"

"I don't know. Guess it depends on how far along I am. Anything more than six weeks and it's either Josh or SD. I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to that whole ordeal and now of course…"

"Now of course that you and Josh aren't together"

"Please don't remind me"

"Sorry"

"You know it's not that we broke up that's so upsetting its that I asked him so many times if he wanted to be with Sugar and he always said "No"; that's what gets to me you know? The only reason I ever slept with both of them was that he was so afraid of what he really wanted, he was so unhappy…I just wanted him to be happy and I thought that having that experience would help answer his questions maybe get things settled for him and he would be happy finally." Lily snorted and then added bitterly "Of course he's `HAPPY' now isn't he?"

"You do realize that you don't ever have to tell either one anything. You could always have an abortion or just try hiding it. By the time the baby is born he should be at school. You said he was going to Western Washington University right?"

"Uh-huh they both are"

"That's what a thousand or so miles away not to mention a couple of states right?"

"Yeah"

"So neither one of them ever has to know. Graduation is in two weeks Lily by the time the summer is over you'll just be starting to show and they'll both be gone."

"And so will you Carmen…I'm going to miss you; you and your girlfriend. Hey maybe I'll come visit you before the blessed event."

"You could always just stay with us. You and the baby we have enough room God knows. Why on earth Nicole's mother insisted on such a huge house is beyond me."

"That's sweet of you to offer but it's not necessary. I start at The Swedish Institute in September besides when Marcy graduates Tor here is going to need a new roomie aren't you Tor?"

"That's right"" Tory smiled at Lily the warmth and affection she felt for the younger woman evident on her face. (( And who knows maybe baby will make three. ))

Josh Ford opened his locker to find that someone had stuffed a hand written note in through the vents. It read ` We need to talk. Meet me at Figaro's at 5:00 tonight and bring SD with you. Lily.'

"Hey J-man what you got there bro?"

"Hi SD um it's a note, from Lily she wants us to meet her at Figaro's at 5:00 tonight. She says we need to talk."

"Did she say what about?"

"Nah"

"You don't suppose she's?" Sugar made a rubbing motion on his stomach.

"Oh God please no. I mean we were always pretty careful about that except maybe once or twice."

"And that first time with me"

"And that first time with you…Oh God that's got to be it." Josh slammed the door to his locker and then punched it. "God DAMMIT I don't need this if she thinks…"

"Hey Josh…Joshie calm down. It could be nothing she could just have some things she wants to get off her chest and nothing more."

"Yeah but what if its not. I am not marrying her and playing `Daddy' no way man I can't" Josh shrugged and shook his head "I just can't"

"Hi Lily"

"Hi you two sit down sit down"

"Thanks" Josh sat opposite Lily in the booth and Sugar sat next to him.

"Hi Lily you're looking good"

"Thanks Sugar"

The trio sat in silence speaking only when the waitress came to take their orders.

"Thanks for coming"

"Why the note you could have just asked"

"Chicken I guess. I mean what if you said `No' and all" Lily looked down at the table and then nervously started rearranging the sugar packets in the little holder on the table. "Anyway thanks for coming. Both of you that is."

"Sure"

"Sure"

The waitress placed their orders on the table and left.

"Anyway I um …I" Lily cleared her throat "I have some things I wanted to say to you both. First off I'm still a little pissed off at you, Josh…I deserved better than that you know. I'm happy for you two and I can see how happy you make each other how much you enjoy each other but I deserved to find that out differently. Walking in on you two after you swore to me that you were not having a relationship with Sugar, SWORE to me Josh, you looked me dead in the eye and lied to me about the whole thing when I asked you. Why? For the life of me I can't figure out why because after all; Josh the only way you were able to even admit what you wanted was because I put it on a platter for you. I invited SD into `our' bed because I knew it was what you wanted even if you didn't."

"I know tha…"

"I'm not done yet." Josh's mouth snapped shut and Lily continued "Which leads me to the second reason we're here."

"You're pregnant right?"

Lily smirked and shook her head ruefully "You got it in one Sugar"

"Oh God I knew it. Whose is it?"

"Well `Duh' you know Brooke was right about you you're not the sharpest tack in the box. But thanks for implying that I've slept with more of the football team than just the two of you."

"I didn't mean it like that Lily. I know you're not like that okay?"

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have jumped down you're throat like that. But to answer your question we won't know until after the baby is born."

"You're gonna keep it?" SD asked.

"I don't know"

"You could get an abortion or give it up for adoption"

"Thank you Josh I am well aware of my options but it's nice to know that you'll be a man and step up to the plate and do the right thing."

"What do you want from me? I'm not going to marry you. I'm going to WSU, I'm playing football and I'm getting as far from this place as I can. If you want to keep it fine we can have the test done when it's born and if it's mine I'll take care of it financially but that's as far as I am willing to go. I don't want to be a father. Not now."

"If it's mine Lily I'll take care of you and the baby too. I can transfer schools and be closer to you and the baby. Get a job and all."

"Thank you Sugar" the petite Latina patted the linebacker's beefy paw. "Look I don't expect either one of you to marry me or give up your lives. I just thought you should know that one of you is going to have a son or a daughter and well I do expect that when you're done with school and working at real jobs you'll do the adult thing. The responsible thing."

"How far along are you?"

"Ten weeks"

"What about school?"

"Well the first semester of the program is all class room work so I should be fine. I'll have to take a semester leave of absence when the baby is born though. I'm going to live with Tory after Marcy graduates and goes to Europe with Sam. Tory's going to be my Lamaze coach and this way she'll be right there when it's time and everything."

"And after?"

"Well like Hilary said: "It takes a village""

"Huh"

"Hilary Clinton, President Clinton's wife" Lily prodded.

"Dude don't you watch the news she was always going on about how it takes a village to raise a child" Sugar elbowed Josh and then looked at Lily "So when's your next baby doctor appointment. Can I go?"

"How can you be so excited about this Sugar don't you see what going to happen?"

"What's going to happen dude is one of us is going to be a daddy. Do you even know how awesome that is? How amazing that is how could you not want to be involved in that? We're going to be daddies."

"I. AM. NOT. GOING. TO. BE. A. DADDY. Get that idea right out of your head, both of you. At best I am a sperm donor and a check once a month."

"I can see that you two have some things to talk about…"

"If that's what you want to be your part in it to be then fine but if it's mine then I want to be there I want to be `Daddy' and until then until we know for sure I'm gonna act like it."

"So I'll just be going"

"No don't go Lily"

"No Sugar I think it might be best if I go now. You call me later and we'll talk okay. Josh" The sandy haired football player looked at Lily for the first time since she had broken the news to them "I hope you get everything you want and deserve."