"Hayden?" Kristen asked in a nervous tone.
Hayden's eyes snapped to her's, "I'm sorry....what did you just say?"
Kristen closed her eyes, not wanting to repeat it....not wanting to go through the agony of watching the look of shock and confusion come over his face.
"I said that I'm pregnant," Kristen said, taking a deep breath and exhaling.
Hayden just sat there, knowing full well that reality had set in and hit him square in the face.
"What? How?" Hayden couldn't think of full sentences to show his confusion at the scope of the situation. "We were careful."
"Apparently, something happened....we weren't as careful as we had thought," Kristen replied.
Hayden just sat back, running his hand nervously through his hair and scratched his neck, deep in thought.
Kristen watched his face for some sort of evidence of what he was thinking. She couldn't tell what was going through his mind at this point--
"How long? I mean, when did you find out?" Hayden asked suddenly.
"A couple of weeks ago - my period was late and late turned to non-existant..." Kristen trailed off. "....but its been confirmed by my doctor, so its true."
"...and before you even have a doubt in your mind," Kristen began slowly. "...there is no question that the baby is your's."
"What?" Hayden looked up at her quickly, "I never said...."
"You don't have to," Kristen said. "It's a natural question considering I had a boyfriend when you and I slept together....but the truth is, he and I hadn't been intimate for several weeks before you came back and it never happened after...you know."
"Listen, Kristen. I never accused you of anything," Hayden said, looking her in the eye.
"I know...I just thought that it was something that needed to be said...so there were no doubts in your mind," Kristen said. "I have always wanted to be honest with you...and I'm certainly not going to stop now."
Hayden nodded -- he had complete confidence in the fact that she was such an honest person...she was never the type to try and put one over on someone...she wouldn't have told him about the baby unless she was truly sure.
"So, Kaylen said that you and Mark broke up," Hayden said carefully.
"Yes," Kristen said. "After that night....when Mark came back, I told him everything."
Hayden watched her carefully, listening.
"He had been angry at first, of course....but then he had wanted to talk things out and stay together," Kristen stated. "...but I knew that I couldn't stay with him....not after everything that had happened. I had hurt him and it wouldn't be fair for either of us."
"I found out about the baby right after he and I broke up....but he doesn't know....no one knows," Kristen said.
"Yeah, Kaylen was pretty curious what you wanted to talk to me about," Hayden commented.
"I didn't want to tell anyone...I thought you had a right to be the first to know," Kristen said. "This is your child too."
Those last words were what got him -- 'your child too-'....'his child.' There was going to be a child in this world that was his...and much sooner than he'd ever expected.
"Well, I want you to know....anything you need, you and the baby....I'll take care of it," Hayden said.
"I don't want your money, Hayden," Kristen said. "I plan to work right up until the baby is born."
Hayden looked at her in surprise. "So, this explains why you quit school and all."
"It would be too much to try to handle all at once," Kristen said. "This is going to be scary enough -- working to set up a foundation for this baby...I didn't need to try to go to school, work and prepare for the baby all at the same time."
Hayden reached out to touch her arm, "...don't be scared...you're never going to be alone in this."
Kristen smiled, tears welling up in her eyes. "Thank you."
Hayden stood up and walked to her. He leaned down and enveloped her into a hug.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry this has complicated your life," Kristen said crying into her shoulder. "...but I needed to at least tell you the truth."
"It's okay....shh," Hayden hugged her back, calming her sobbing. "I would've been angry if you hadn't told me....this is something I needed to know about....something I want to know about."
Kristen pulled away and looked at him. "So, what do we do now?"
"I guess the next thing expectant parents always do...." Hayden said taking a deep breath. "Tell our families."