Fifteen.

Rylie's POV

After four months, the morning sickness has started to fade and I'm actually getting to enjoy this pregnancy now. I've ran a thousand different scenarios through my mind, and I haven't been able to take action on any of them.

Do I tell Max?

Do I keep this to myself and enjoy it the best I can, avoiding the horrible reaction I know he'll have?

Do I let him know, but tell him that he doesn't have to worry about it, because I'm doing this on my own?

I think half of my worries come from a conversation we had way back whenever we were first getting to know each other. He dropped the comment that he didn't plan on having kids in the future, and even though I knew that was what I always wanted someday, I didn't let it bother me. I couldn't stay away from Max if I tried. This is another thing I think about often.. Every day I wonder how I manage to not make my way back to Pittsburgh and into his arms. I certainly think about it all the time, and as much as I try to tell myself I don't, I miss him enormously. And then I get a glimpse of myself, at the way my stomach as now started to protrude, and I end up like I always do. Crying.

These are happy tears though. As ironic as it is, Max has given me the one thing I've always wanted; a family. I've came to terms with the fact that he won't be a part of that, and as much as that hurts, I've started to accept it.

That will never change the fact that I miss him like crazy.. but then again I don't know if I could take being rejected again, and just for the simple fact that I'm carrying his child. For some reason, I can just see him not even letting me explain, and well.. that would be more than I could take.

Max's POV

"Things have changed," Jodi says while getting up and walking into the kitchen, dismissing herself from me like she has for who knows how long now. Anytime I bring it up, she finds some way to distract me until I've forgotten what I was talking about and take part in whatever new conversation has been brought up. Not this time.

Normally, Jordan would pull me away from her, telling me that she won't cave in, but I know that today is different. He feels it too, which is why he sits motionless on the couch, not trying to stop me from chasing after her like he normally would. As I walk by him, he gives me an encouraging smile, but then turns his attention back to the Hawks game. And even though Jodi hasn't told him yet, I know she's warming up to me. I've always felt she liked me a tad better than blondie anyways.

"How?" I ask when I finally get into the kitchen. She sighs before turning toward me.

"You don't know what you're dealing with," she replies coolly. I know by the defiant look on her face that this is suppose to be some sort of warning, but just like most warnings that are thrown at me, I ignore it just like all the rest.

"Then let me find that out for myself," I counter, moving closer to her. "Just tell me where she is so I can find out what I'm dealing with." She sighs again, and I know I'm getting closer to what I want.

"She would kill me if I told you where she is.." she says while once again turning away from me. I see Jordan enter the room, and I hate using the big guy, but I know that he'll forgive me later.

"What if Jordan abruptly left. He didn't tell you where he was going, and he didn't give you an explanation or any reason for his sudden decision, and he didn't give you a chance to talk him out of it?" I ask. Automatically, I feel a gut wrenching stare coming from Jordan, but I don't even look at him. Jodi whips her head around, her very one stare focusing on Jordan. He looks around the room innocently, almost as if to say 'how the hell did I get brought into this?'.

"If Jordan ever did such a thing, he would never walk again properly, and he sure as hell wouldn't be playing hockey anymore," she continues, getting closer to Jordan with each threat. She gets so close that the big man actually gets up from leaning against the counter and starts to back away a little.

"I would never," he confesses while raising his arms up in surrender, fear written on his face. It's quite the site to see, and I'd probably be laughing if this wasn't exactly how I wanted things to go.

"Good," she answers simply before pulling down on the collar of his shirt until he's at her level so she can place a kiss on his cheek. She lets go and turns around to face me again and I swear I can see relief pass over his face before he shifts his weight to one leg and crosses his arms against his chest, giving me a 'Go to hell' look just for good measure.

"And if I knew where he went, wouldn't you want me to tell you so you could chase after him?" She looks at me, biting her lip nervously. She shifts her gaze down to the floor before rocking back and forth on her tip toes, very much like Rylie use to do.

"And what if he were pregnant?" she says quietly, still not looking me in the eyes. I cock my head to the side before looking over at Jordan who sighs at this hypothetical situation and how he was once again brought into it before leaving the room. Jodi comes up and pats me on the shoulder before leaving the room as well. Pregnant..?