"From This Day Forward (Part 3 to One Night Stand)"

"August 2019"

Serena & Brian never brought up the awkwardness of their first night together. Brian wanted to be upfront & open with Serena, but he always got choked up every chance he had to ask her. Meanwhile Serena decided to sweep the whole issue under the rug. She didn't want to seem shallow in her thoughts or come off as uninterested in Brian. Because the truth was, she was grateful for Brian. She was grateful that he waited for her. She was grateful that after all this time that she still had a chance with him. Above all, she was grateful that he accepted her & Miranda into his life.

Brian wanted to ask Serena out to try again. He wanted to make the night special for her. He had been looking up recipes to cook & planning a romantic evening for just the two of them. Maybe Serena was just tired like she had claimed to be. After school on Friday, Brian asked Serena to spend the night with him.

Serena: Brian, I don't know what to say.
Brian: Say "yes".
Serena: I want to, but... I just can't.
Brian: I see... Any particular reason why you can't?
Serena: Brian, I just can't.
Brian: There's got to be a reason though.
Serena: I know this sounds lame, but it's just that Grandma is against the whole sleep over thing.
Brian: What? When Summer was with Dylan, she slept over all the time.
Serena: Well, Summer didn't have a 5 month old waiting for her at home.

Brian slung his backpack over his shoulder & slipped his hands in his pocket. He suddenly felt guilty for trying to get Serena all to himself.

Brian: You're right. You're a mother first.

Serena placed her hand on Brian's arm.

Serena: I'm sorry, Brian.
Brian: No, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to take you away from Miranda. That's the last thing I want to do. But I need you too.

Serena kissed Brian & thanked him for his patience.

In Virginia while George & Nat's guests were enjoying the party downstairs, Nat & Krystal were upstairs pacing in front of the bathroom door. Summer was inside the bathroom. She was taking her time. What if she was pregnant? Her mind started thinking of what she'd do if she was. But what if the test comes out negative? She wasn't ready for any of it. She decided to just take the test. She carefully followed the box's instructions & then set the test on top of a tissue on the counter by the sink. She slowly opened the door & found Nat & Krystal waiting for her. She motioned first them to come inside the bathroom with her.

Summer: The box says to wait for 2 minutes.

They all crowded the small bathroom & locked the door behind them. Nat held Summer & sat on the side of the bathtub. Krystal stood by the sink hovering over the test. They were at a loss for words so they all waited in silence. Those two minutes seemed to last for forever. Summer's phone set off an alarm notifying them of the end of the two minute countdown. Krystal was closest to the test. She looked over at Summer. Summer was still in Nat's arms. Nat could feel that Summer's body was slightly shaking.

Krystal: You ready?
Nat: Honey, you've got to calm down.

Summer took a deep breath & stood up.

Summer: I'm ready.

Krystal held up the test in one hand & then she lifted up the box to read the instructions. She noticed numbers on the box. The numbers read a date. It was the test's expiration date which read, "August 2019".

Nat: What are the results, K?
Krystal: I'm sorry.
Summer: What's wrong?
Krystal: The test is expired.