I had some help

Thirty-five

Alex and Michael arrived at the venue, the hustle and bustle of the crew setting up for the night's performance surrounding them. The excitement in the air was palpable, but Alex felt a knot in her stomach, still reeling from the previous day's events.

As they walked in, Michael glanced at Alex, trying to gauge her mood. "You okay?" He asked softly.

Alex nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Just haven't seen him today."

Michael smiled reassuringly. "It'll be ok."

They made their way backstage, where the rest of the band and crew were preparing. Morgan was tuning his guitar, his focus intense. He looked up when he saw Alex and Michael, his expression a mix of relief and apprehension.

"Hey." Morgan said, his voice hesitant.

"Hey." Alex replied, offering a small smile. "Good luck tonight."

"Thanks." Morgan said, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer before he turned back to his guitar.

Michael gave Morgan a pat on the back. "Let's put on a great show tonight, man."

The rest of the evening went by in a blur of soundchecks and final preparations. Alex found a quiet spot near the side of the stage, where she could watch the performance without being in the thick of the crowd. She felt a mix of emotions-pride for the band, sadness over her complicated feelings for Morgan, and a sense of uncertainty about the future.

The lights dimmed, and the crowd erupted in cheers as the band took the stage. Morgan stepped up to the mic, his voice strong and clear as he started the first song. Alex watched him, her heart aching. Despite everything, she couldn't deny the connection they had.

As the night went on, Alex found herself getting lost in the music. It was a welcome distraction from her thoughts. The band played their hearts out, and the audience responded with enthusiasm, creating an electric atmosphere.

When the show ended, Alex felt a little lighter. The music had done its job, if only temporarily, of lifting her spirits. She made her way backstage, where the band was basking in the afterglow of a successful performance.

Morgan approached her, wiping sweat from his forehead. "How'd we do?" He asked with a hopeful smile.

"You were amazing." Alex said sincerely. "You always are."

Morgan's smile widened, but there was still a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Thanks, Alex. That means a lot."

"I really am sorry, Alex. I never meant for this to happen." Morgan said with a sigh, his voice heavy with regret.

"I know." Alex replied, her gaze dropping to her feet, the weight of their conversation pressing down on her.

"I hope you know I regret it. I'll always regret it." Morgan said, his eyes fixed on Alex, searching for any sign of forgiveness.

Alex took a deep breath and looked back at him. "Morgan, you shouldn't regret your child. Regret the situation, but promise me you'll help and love that child."

Morgan nodded, his expression earnest. "I promise, Alex. I'll do right by them. I just wish things had turned out differently between us."

Alex gave him a small, sad smile. "Me too, Morgan. But we can't change the past. We can only try to move forward."

As they stood there, the noise of the post-show activity surrounding them, there was a sense of fragile understanding between them. It wasn't a resolution, but it was a start.

"I'm sorry too, Morgan." Alex said, her voice trembling.

Morgan looked at her, confused. "Sorry for what?" He asked, not sure what she meant.

"For not being able to give you a child. I couldn't then, and I probably can't now." Alex said, tears streaming down her face.

Morgan immediately pulled her into a hug. "Alex, don't talk like that. I loved you then, and I love you now, child or not."

Alex continued to cry into his shoulder. "I feel useless. I could tell you wanted it. I lost it. I lost another baby too. Two years ago, with Bailey. I was pregnant. We went to our checkup, and there was no heartbeat." She confessed, collapsing further into Morgan's embrace.

Morgan held her tightly, his own eyes welling up. "Alex, I'm so sorry. But you are not useless. You have so much to give, and none of this is your fault. I just want you to be happy and healthy. We'll get through this together." Alex nodded into his chest, feeling a mix of relief and sorrow.

Katie stood in her bathroom, staring at the positive pregnancy test in her hand. Her initial shock quickly turned into a wide grin. She couldn't believe it-this was her ticket.

She sat down on the edge of her bathtub, thinking about how she was going to tell Morgan. They had broken up a while ago, but this could change everything.

Katie picked up her phone and dialed her best friend, Sara.

"Hey, guess what?" Katie said, unable to contain her excitement.

"What? You sound like you just won the lottery." Sara replied, laughing.

"I might as well have," Katie said, giggling. "I'm pregnant."

There was a pause on the other end. "Wait, what? With Morgan's baby?" Sara finally asked.

"Yep." Katie said, the grin never leaving her face. "I knew that night would come back to bite him. Now he's going to have to be in my life, whether he likes it or not."

Sara was silent for a moment before speaking. "Katie, are you happy about this? I mean, are you ready to be a mom?"

Katie shrugged, even though Sara couldn't see her. "I'm not thinking that far ahead. All I know is, Morgan's going to have to support us. He owes me that much."

"Wow, Katie." Sara said, sounding unsure. "I hope this works out for you."

"It will," Katie said confidently. "I'm going to make sure of it."

She hung up the phone and looked at herself in the mirror, placing a hand on her stomach. This baby was her future, her security. And she was going to use it to get everything she ever wanted.

(A/n: this is exaggerated, I don't know her reaction and I hope it wasn't this.)