Life's Too Short- Part Twenty-Six

Not mine, don't sue, but please, please, please review! (Oh, come on.... Well, I thought it was cute.)

“You’re…”

“Pregnant.”

“Pregnant. Baby pregnant?” Simon was in shock. Kaylee bit her lip and nodded.

“We’re gonna have a kid, Simon.” She paused, then started to speak again, then stopped, then started again. “Are you- is it- can we be okay? I mean, a… it’s a big deal. Can we raise a little one?” Expressionless, Simon turned to face his girlfriend. He stared at her for a moment, eyes unreadable. Then, in a flat voice, he spoke.

“I guess I can’t call you ‘baby’ anymore. The title would be contested.” She blinked, taken aback. Then, catching sight of his stern lips quirking stubbornly, Kaylee began to smile. Simon gave in and a slow, awed grin spread across his face. “You’re pregnant,” he said again, and this time the shock was replaced by wonder. “We’re going to be parents.” She nodded, giving a hiccupy laugh. Simon grabbed her and kissed her, hands cradling her face. Suddenly, he drew back.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“You know what this means, don’t you?” Kaylee’s smile slipped.

“What?”

“I’m a well-bred boy, Kaylee,” Simon said, looking away with a cough. “Was raised by a rich family. We followed all the rules of society. Well, until I turned fugitive. But up until then, I was an upstanding citizen. Always did the right thing.” Growing more and more worried with each word, Kaylee grabbed Simon’s hand and clung tight.

“What are you saying, sweetie?”

“The society I grew up in would never accept an unmarried woman having a child. I can’t let down the expectations of everyone I knew.” He was frowning, and slowly pulled his hand from hers. “I love you, and I love our child, Kaylee, but… I just can’t do this.” Simon got up and went to a bag in the corner. Kaylee was breathing hard, the tears readying again. Simon took a deep breath. “There are only two options. Leaving is the other one, and I couldn’t live without you in my life,” he continued matter-of-fa