the story of your life;

Whitney gently patted Kassie's shoulder, taking a deep breath as they stared at the office ahead. "Hey, before we go in there I need you to listen to me, okay? No matter what we find out in there, everything is going to be okay. We'll figure it out." She squeezed her best friend's hand before climbing out of the passenger seat and shutting the door, following Kassie into the building.

--

Alex reached for his phone, frowning slightly when he saw that it was Rian who called him. He normally heard from Kassie by that point. By now, he was worried that he did something wrong. "Hey, man, what's going on?" He asked once he answered the phone.

"Well Whitney and Kassie went to a doctors appointment and left me at home with Charley. Figured I would check in and make sure everything was alright with you. After Kassie left last night you seemed pretty distracted." Rian explained, watching as Charley attempted to pull herself onto the couch.

He stood, holding the phone with his shoulder as he picked Charley up, helping her onto the couch. This time yesterday he was on his way to the store, and now here he was - a father. It still felt so surreal, he could barely believe it.

---

Kassie stopped before opening the door, her eyes on Whitney as she spoke. Before long she would know for sure if she and Alex were about to become parents and, while she was terrified, she also felt a small bit of hope. If she were to ever have kids, she'd want them with Alex. She just wished the circumstances were different.

She lead Whitney into the office, signing herself in before taking a seat to wait for the nurse. She barely had a moment to herself before the nurse was calling her back, and her eyes met with Whitney's. This was it - do or die.

Alex vaguely remembered Kassie mentioning something about a doctor's appointment, so he didn't worry about that too much. "Yeah, it was just an off day. I had a migraine from hell, but I didn't want to be rude and kick anyone out. I took a pill after Jack finally fucking left and just slept until about twenty minutes ago." He smiled slightly when Rian mentioned Charley. "Dad's first time watching the baby by himself, huh? That's what's up."

--

Whitney sat patiently waiting with Kassie, looking up from her phone when the nurse called her back. "Let's go, kiddo." When the two stood up, Whitney gave Kassie a hug before following her back. How's my little munchkin? Oh, and my baby of course. <3 The purple haired beauty fired off a text to Rian. This was the longest she'd been away from Charley since her birth, so she was a bit anxious.

Kassie chewed on the inside of her lip as she watched her doctor type away. The nurse had led her back into the room and already gotten a per sample, now it was just the waiting as they tested the sample. "So, depending on the results I assume you know who the father is?" The doctor questioned. Kassie nodded "Well were going to have to do an ultrasound, but it looks like we have a positive on the urine analysis."

---

"Yea, it was a last minute thing... but what about Jack what's going on with him. I get why he's so hostile towards Whit but he has a major attitude with you too." Rian questioned, pulling his phone away from his ear and putting it on speaker so he could text Whitney back. We are doing great, Charley is exploring my couch currently. How isKass? Everything going okay?

Whitney nodded her head, listening as the nurse spoke to Kass. "Would you be comfortable with them doing a blood test? That's how I found out for sure with Charley." She whispered, looking down when she saw Rian texted her back. My little nugget, I miss her so much <3 <3 <3 <3 Kass is doing fine. You know how she is with doctors, though.

--

Alex sighed softly. "He was getting snippy with me because I was defending her. I told him he had to act like an adult and at least be pleasant to her in my house, and he was not having it." Whitney and Alex had been friends for ages-- Alex was the one who'd introduced her to Rian.

"A blood test can work, but it would take about 30 minutes to get the results. Its up to you Ms. Dawson, the positive on the urine sample gives us enough for an ultrasound but the blood test will have the same effect." The nurse explained. Kassie looked down at the floor, her heart racing. She was pregnant. She was pregnant with Alex's baby. She felt like she was going to throw up. Finally looking up at Whitney, she sighed. "Let's just... let's do the ultra sound. I don't think I can handle anymore waiting. Besides if the blood test comes up positive then they'll have to do an ultrasound anyway.:

---

Rian grinned at the text, sending her a heart emoji back and a picture of Charley pulling pillows off the couch. "I don't know what else he expected. Like I understand where he's coming from but she's the mother of my child and the love of my life. I'm not gonna shut her out - and the only reason we even met was because of you. Of course you'd be on her side."

Whitney nodded her head, glancing over at Kassie. She rested a gentle hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "Okay, Kass." She whispered before glancing down at the picture of Charley that Rian had sent her. Ahh, my little monster is so beautiful, I can't stand it. I love you both so much.

--

"Exactly. Even if you two weren't together, you two have a bond because of Charley. I love Jack, that's my best friend in the world, but he acts like a child sometimes." Alex spoke. He bit his bottom lip, remembering the argument the two had.

We Love you too. Now go be with Kass, she clearly wanted you there for q reason :* Rian grinned, typing up his response and hitting send before replying to one of his three best friends. "No offense man, but you both act like children sometimes. Besides, I understand where he's coming from - what I don't get is what he said to you to get you so mad, it had to be after we left cause he was pretty chill before that." Rian stated, thinking about what the two could have possibly fought about.

---

Kassie shivered as the technician spread the cold gel across her stomach. Whitney sat directly beside her and she couldn't help but avoid the technician and look directly at Whitney. "Alright, you see this here?" The technician started, causing her to look over at the tiny screen "This is the gestational sac, and this right here," she paused looking up at me as she pointed it out "is your fetus. Congratulations Ms. Dawson, you are measuring at six weeks and 4 days pregnant."

Whitney couldn’t help but smile. She remembered what it was like to be in Kassie’s shoes. Even though she was scared out of her mind, as soon as she laid eyes on the little spec that was going to be Charley she fell in love. “Oh, look at the little peanut!” She spoke, giving Kassie’s hand a squeens.

—

Alex shook his head, quickly coming up with something on the fly. “He kept pushing it. He called her a cunt another four or five times, and you know I hate that word. I told him to chill and we just blew up at each other. His heart’s in the right place, but for god’s sake he’s going about everything the wrong way.”

Kassie could have sworn her heart had stopped beating. Her eyes never left the screen and her jaw had dropped, but the moment Whitney spoke the shock wore off and she couldn't help but feel nothing but love for the little dot on the screen. This was her baby.... a life that she and the man she was head over heels in love with created. "Thays... thats my baby." It was as if in an instant, all the fear had washed away and been replaced with joy, though it wasn't going to be long lasting - She had to tell Alex she was pregnant... and then they had to tell Rian. The ultrasound technician printed out two images of the ultrasound, four copies in total, and wiped off the goo so Kassie could get dressed again.

---

"Ah. Makes sense. Well I'm gonna talk to you later man. The girls are probably on the way home and Whitney and I are going out to baby-proof my place." Rian stated, grinning down at Charley as she climbed across the couch and sat in his lap, looking up at him with big eyes. "Oh hey, let me know if You see any for sale signs - I feel bad that Kassie has to give up her room for Charley and I wanna help her pay for a new place."

Whitney took the ultrasounds from the nurse, holding onto them while Kassie put her clothes on. “Are you going to go talk to Alex while Rian and I are out?” She asked, handing Kass her purse and the ultrasound pictures once she was dressed. Whitney led the way out of the doctor’s office and back to the car, climbing into her seat. “Or are you going to tell him tonight?”

—

Alex nodded his head. “Yeah, I’ll let you know for sure. Tell them I said hey. Bye.” He hung up the phone before firing off another text to Kass, telling her to call him as soon as possible, he was worried. Alex knew Jack was right— they had to fess up and tell the truth to Rian sooner rather than later.

Kassie bit down on the inside of her lip, taking the pictures and sliding them into her purse. She followed silently to the car, slipping into her seat before turning her head towards her best friend. "Honestly, I'm probably going to drop you off and go straight to Alex... I've been pretty distant since last night and I know he's freaking out." She stated, starting the car. "But Whitney... thank you." She finished, before turning to silence the rest of the car ride.

---

"Will do. Later man." Rian bid his goodbyes before ending the call. Ironically enough the girls were pulling into the driveway as he stood, Charley in his arms, moving to the kitchen to get his little girl a drink. He couldn't help but wonder why Kassie had to go to the doctor so urgently, but he shook it off.

"You're welcome, Kassie. You're my best friend." Whitney sat quietly in the passenger seat as they headed back toward's Rian's house, hopping out once they pulled into the driveway. "Good luck, sweetie. Love you." She gave Charley's shoulder a squeeze before heading inside and into the kitchen where she heard Charley's baby babble. "Well hello, my angel! Mommy's home! Were you good for daddy?" Whitney kissed Charley's cheeks before standing up on her tip toes and giving Rian a kiss. "Hey, you. Kass said she'll be back later. She's going to hang out with my mom for a bit." She spoke when she noticed Rian's quizzical look.

--

Alex sighed to himself, getting up from the couch so he could take a shower. That normally cleared his head when he had too much going on. Anyone who could possibly want to come over had a key, so he didn't have to worry about unlocking the front door. He frowned when he entered his bedroom and saw the shirt that Kassie had been wearing the previous night laying on the floor. This had been the longest they'd gone during their relationship without some sort of contact, and it was starting to worry him.

--cause screw the button

"Thanks love, I'll call you later." Kassie smiled at Whitney as she left, waving a quick goodbye to her brothers quizzical store out the window before pulling out of the driveway and heading in the familiar direction of Alex's house. Her mind was racing as she thought about how he would react. She was sure he'd be happy, just as happy as she was that they had created a life together... but before it got to that he had to go through the fear of telling everyone the truth - the realization that they'd have to tell Rian. It didnt take long to reach his home and as she walked through the front door she heard the familiar sound of the shower. Kassie set her purse and keys down, slipped off her shoes, and moved towards the couch to wait for him to get out of the shower.

---

Rian handed Charley the tiny sippy cup that had been in the diaper bag Whitney had left, filled with the juice he had bought on the way home the night before, then stood in the window and watched, curiousity etched on his face as Whitney got out of the car and Kassie waved goodbye to the both of them, pulling out of his driveway. "Hey babe." Rian smiled, opening his mouth to question where his sister had gone, only to be beaten to the chase by Whitney. "Okay, well then are you ready to baby proof my place?" He questioned, grabbing his car keys.

Whitney nodded her head. "Yeah, let's go." She spoke, grabbing the diaper bag and slinging it over her shoulder before leading the way out to Rian's car. The purple haired beauty unlocked the car so Rian could get Charley situated in her carseat, smiling and snapping a picture as he did so. She wanted to get as many pictures of the two as possible. "We can go through her baby book when we get back home," Whitney offered as she climbed into the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt. "That way you can see how she looked when she was teeny teeny." As if by muscle memory, Whitney put her hand on the center console for Rian to hold.

--

Alex hopped out of the shower about five or so minutes later. He'd heard someone come in, and assumed it was Jack coming over to apologize for being an asswipe the previous day. He changed into a pair of sweatpants and one of his t-shirts from his old clothing line before heading downstairs. His face lit up when he saw it was Kassie, not Jack, sitting on his couch. "Hey, gorgeous." Alex spoke, not able to contain the grin on his face as he ran into the living room and jumped on the couch. He tipped Kassie's chin up and gave her a kiss, breaking away only when necessary. "Babe, is everything okay?" Alex asked when they pulled apart. He noticed the look on her face, and it scared him a little.

Kassie was staring at her feet, chewing on her lip as she often did when she was nervous. The water stopped and a few minutes later she heard the familiar voice of her boyfriend as he hopped onto the couch next to her. "Hey Lex..." She forced a smile as she looked up at him, returning the kiss as best she could. Her mind was going a mile a minute and her heart felt like it was going to blow out of her chest. He pulled away, concern etched on his face as he expressed it to her. "We... uhm... we need to talk." She trailed off, turning her body towards his.

---

Rian smiled as she snapped the photo of the pair, nodding his head as he moved to his spot up front. "I'd like that... I'd like to see her first year." His hand moved instintavly towards hers on the center console, putting the car in reverse and then drive as he backed out of the driveway and began down the road , before interlocking their fingers. "So where should we start?"

"Baby's R Us will have just about everything that we need." Whitney spoke, racking her brains for where she'd gone shopping when she was pregnant with Charley. "I actually found a gift card in my stuff yesterday. I called and it still has about a hundred dollars on it." She mused. Brown eyes flicked up to the rear view mirror, and she beamed when she saw Charley gnawing on her hand and babbling to herself. "We're good on the little cabinet locker things, cause I still have a ton of those. But we for sure need those plug stoppers."

--

Alex felt like he was going to throw up. "Babe, is everything okay? You can tell me anything, you know this." Clammy hands reached out to hold Kassie's, and he gave them a squeeze. He bit his bottom lip, looking Kassie in the eye. She looked terrified, and that worried him to no end. Alex brought Kassie's hands up and he gave them each a gentle kiss before taking a deep breath, preparing for what she was about to say.

"Sounds good to me." Rian smiled, glancing over at Whitney briefly before moving his eyes to the rearview mirror to check on Charley before finally returning them to the road a moment later. "What about a crib. I don't want to take the one your mom has at her place in case she ever babysits. And ill need a carseat for my car since I don't wanna steal yours. And I have a lot of square tables... should be get the corner buffer thingys? Oh and a play pen." He started listing everything he had thought of the night before, even though he was sure she had most of that already."

---

"Do you remember about a month and a half ago... Jack had that party and we got drunk and snuck off to have sex. You remember we dodnt have protection but we decided to do it anyway because we are idiots." Kassie took a deep breath before speaking again. She knew she was rambling, and she was sure he had already figured out where she was going with this. "Alex I'm.... I'm pregnant." She closed her eyes and looked away, afraid of how he'd react.

Whitney nodded her head, compiling a little list in the note section on her phone. "Yeah, we definitely need to get a crib, and a second carseat. And that's a definite yes for those buffers. The ones I bought got lost while I was moving-- and she's clumsy just like me." She laughed. "I have the pack and play over at my mom's still, but I can always grab another one. They're pretty decently priced. Oh, and I want to get a second high chair so I don't have to lug the one at mom's back and forth."

--

If it were possible to feel all of the emotions at once, Alex was experiencing it. Happy tears were welling up in his eyes and fear was growing in the pit of his stomach. He'd created a child with the love of his life and they were going to be parents. But on the other hand, they now had to come clean about everything. And soon. Alex was also terrified beyond fucking belief-- he was going to be a FATHER, for god's sake. "Oh-oh my god, babe..." He smiled softly before bending down to give her another kiss. "Everything is going to be okay. I'll take care of all of this."