Restored Together

22

Kristina and Molly strolled together through the park. Molly was on top of the pregnancy paroling while others weren't there to do so. She made sure Kristina was feeling okay and asked about her well-being at the slight sight of discomfort. When they got to sit down at a bench, Kristina saw a familiar face from the distance.

"Is that Jackson?" Molly asked as she followed her sister's eyes.

"Looks like he's working out with Cameron." Kristina confirmed as she saw them stretching by the empty field. "Apparently he's been training him at the gym. Looks like they've gotten close." She told her sister as she observed the way her ex interacted with the teen.

"Do you think he's going to make a good father?" Molly asked her sister who continued to watch her ex.

"I don't know. I haven't told him yet." Kristina replied, she saw how well his relationship was with Cameron. By the looks of it, she could see potential in him stepping up to the plate.

"When are you going to do that?" Molly questioned her.

"I- I don't know." Kristina answered shaking her head. "I'm with Valerie now and we're happy- I'm happy." She rambled as her eyes fell back on him. "I feel like he's going to try to get back together with me." Kristina stated honestly, "He broke my heart and Valerie's been helping put it back together. I don't want to throw it away for what might work out with him."

"I'm happy if you're happy."

As Jackson and Cameron finished their workout, they went separate ways as Cameron had to go. Jackson finished with a walk in the park before running into Kristina and Molly.

"Kristina, Molly." Jackson acknowledged the sisters as he stopped in his tracks. He was concerned about Kristina after hearing about the explosion at Charlie's Pub. He had called and texted her but she didn't return them.

"Jackson! How are you?" Molly greeted him politely.

"Good." Jackson nodded, "just finishing a workout."

"Yeah! Looks like you put Cameron to work." Molly laughed lightly.

"Kristina, how're you doing?" Jackson asked directly, carefully scanning her figure. She seemed healthy. "Since the explosion at the pub?"

"I'm okay. It was really no big deal." Kristina responded with a shrug.

"Kristina!" Molly chirped. "Thanks to Jason, he got her out of there just in time." Molly added, hinting at her sister to elaborate more to her ex.

"I'm really glad you're okay." Jackson told her with a nod. "I'll see y'all around." He stated. Molly gave her sister a persisting look as Jackson began to walk away.

"Jackson, wait!" Kristina said catching up to him. "There's actually something I need to talk to you about."

"Sure, what's up?" Jackson nodded, looking into her eyes he could sense there was something pressing.

"Not now. Are you able to come over to the penthouse later this evening?" She asked him.

"Yes, of course." He agreed.

Later that evening, Jackson cleaned up the gym before closing. He had Kristina on his mind all day, wondering what it was that she needed to talk to him about. After his shift, he made his way to the penthouse. Taking a deep breathe, he knocked on the door.

"Hi." Kristina greeted him as she opened the door. "Come in."

"Hi." Jackson greeted as he stepped inside. "Is everything alright?" He asked her as she walked past him towards the couch.

"I'm pregnant." Kristina blurted out, turning back towards him. She wasn't sure how to put it into words so she just simply said it.

"You're pregnant?" He asked her in disbelief, meeting her gaze as his eyes shifted to her stomach.

"A little over 8 weeks." She confirmed. "I found out after the explosion at the pub. The baby and I are healthy."

"Wow." Jackson uttered as he processed the information. "Thank God you both are okay."

"I want to keep this baby, Jackson." She told him as she placed a hand on her stomach. "I'm not expecting anything from you but you have the right to know."

"I want to help you." Jackson told her, looking into her eyes. His heart still ached as he felt the heavy guilt and pressure from ending their relationship. "Whatever it is, I will be there for you and this baby." He told her taking a step closer, he placed his hand gently on top of hers that rest on her stomach.

"Jackson..." She whispered.

"I want this- I want you. I've never stopped wanting you, Kristina." Jackson assured her, sweeping a strand of hair behind her ear.

"This-" she stated stepping out of his embrace, "this doesn't change what happened."

"I know." Jackson nodded in agreement. "I know it doesn't. I want to do this right, Kristina. I want to do right by you and our baby." He pleaded stepping closer.

"We're not together, Jackson. I'm with Valerie now and she's agreed to support me and the baby." Kristina told him defensively. "The best way you can help me is by respecting my no. You can choose to be involved in this baby's life or not. But it's one or the other. I don't want inconsistency."

"I want to be as involved as I can." He pleaded.

"Okay." Kristina nodded, "I will contact you when I have my next doctor's appointment."

The next morning Jackson couldn't stop thinking about Kristina and her pregnancy. He had no idea how to go about this. To help clear his head and get some advice, he headed to Pentonville to give his friend a visit.

"Hi." Sam greeted her friend with a smile as she saw who her visitor was.

"Hey, how are you?" Jackson asked her, scanning her features she looked like she was actually doing okay.

"I'm okay, remaining optimistic." She told him honestly. "How's the real world out in Port Charles?" She asked him, wondering if he was aware of the information her sister shared with her.

"It's full of surprises, that's for sure." Jackson admitted, looking into his friend's eyes. He could tell she already knew what he was about to say. "Kristina's pregnant."

"Yeah." Sam nodded, seeing the array of emotion on his face. "How're you feeling about it?" She asked him, curious to know his thoughts.

"I-" Jackson took a moment before speaking. "I'm scared but also excited." He admitted, letting out a deep breathe. "I don't know. I never really thought I'd ever be a father- or at least that I'd want to be."

"Do you want this baby? Or do you want to get back together with Kristina?" Sam asked him, wondering if his heart was in the right place.

"Yes to both." He told her honestly. "I want to be with her and she knows that. But she's moving on with Valerie, I'm just going to have to accept that."

"I think you should focus on this baby." Sam instructed him. "It's okay to be scared and excited at the same time. That's to be expected. I mean, imagine how Kristina feels."

"Yeah," he nodded in agreement. "I want to help her in anyway that I can. I just wish we were doing this together, as a couple."

"Kristina needs stability, Jackson. And so far, Valerie has been that for her." Sam explained, "What she needs from you is the peace of mind knowing you're going to cooperate. That you're going to stay out of trouble and show up."