“I’m…I we’re gonna be daddies?” he whispered. “So I take it that means you will be going through with the pregnancy.” Dr. Glover asked. Justin paused. “I-I well I’m not sure what Alex will want to do…we hadn’t planned on kids any time soon…” he trailed off. Dr. Glover gave a small smile. “Well you still have some time to decide, we can go ahead and send you over to the hospital and get an ultrasound done by the male specialist there, see how far along you are, then move from there ok?” Justin nodded as he got up taking the pamphlets the doctor was holding out. An hour later and he was lying back on another exam table. Cold greenish gel spread over his abdomen making him suck in a quick breath at the contact. “Relax a little Justin, I know it’s cold but it’ll warm up a bit” Dr. Masterson said. She was a nice woman, who was apparently the specialist in the hospital on male pregnancy cases like his. “Well it looks like you’re about a month and a half along now Justin” she smiled as she pointed to where the ‘baby’ was on the small monitor. A few minutes later she wiped the gel from his stomach and put away the machine. “I can only guess how many questions you must have, and how overwhelming this must be right now.” “You really have no idea,” Justin breathed. “I know you’re young Justin but the decision is up to you weather you keep this baby or not. You have options,” she stated. Justin shook his head fiercely. “No. The only option I have is to take care of my baby.” “Well then let me give you a run through of the next few weeks. You’re in your first trimester. You’ll notice morning sickness which I take it you’ve already had the pleasure” she grinned. “Oh yea that joy has already been given” he smirked. “You’ll also notice some weight gain as the baby grows. You’ll need to watch your diet, cut out the caffeine, alcohol, drink lots of fluids, eat healthy meals; make sure you’re comfortable…looser clothing, comfortable shoes, cut down on swelling a lot. Keep stress to a minimum it’s a no-no, yoga is good to keep your body in good condition and helps you relax to.” She informed. *** Justin pulled into the driveway shutting off the car. Pulling out the bags of food he’d picked up at the store he headed inside. It would be a few hours yet till Alex came home so Justin decided to take a hot shower to relax and then do some serious thinking. After his shower Justin settled in on the bed with the pamphlets turning on a cartoon to drown out the silence. I know that Alex doesn’t want kids, at least not now, if ever. He sighed thinking. So that leaves me with one choice. I’m keeping the baby…I couldn’t get an abortion there’s no way…Adoption…I don’t think so…I couldn’t have some stranger raising my baby. Clearing up the pamphlets he tucked them into a drawer that he knew Alex wouldn’t go into. Moving into the kitchen he set about making spaghetti for dinner. I need to make some plans…if worse comes to worse I need something to fall back on. In his heart Justin wanted to believe that the love he and Alex had could surpass this latest development but he knew better. He’d gotten comfortable with Alex over the last year and now it was time to fend for himself, and his baby. He had to be prepared in case Alex turned on him the way his parents did. He wouldn’t be so helpless this time. Once dinner was done he put the spaghetti in a covered ceramic dish and set on low to keep warm turning on the oven for the garlic bread. Going into the office he pulled out a drawer from the desk that held his important papers. Reaching into a folder he’d tucked away to forget he laid the brochures for the colleges on the desk. He’d been all set to go out of state to school but with his parents suddenly refusing to help him through school he’d had to stay in state where things would be cheaper. Opening his laptop he logged onto the Internet to his AOL account and went to the school website. Glancing over the newer information for the Communications, Business, and Music schools writing down some phone numbers and budget information he clicked on another link for alternative housing. After an hour on the computer he sat back in the gray office chair looking over the things he’d written down. Glancing at the clock he realized it was almost 5 and Alex would be home soon. He quickly logged off, cleared up the papers he’d taken out of the desk, and written on, tucking them back into the back of the drawer. *** “Justin! I’m home” the call came through the house. Justin walked out of the bedroom and down the hall. “Hey Alex” he said kissing his boyfriend on the cheek. “Hey, did you make dinner yet?” “Yea I made spaghetti and garlic bread.” “Aww that’s too bad then, I brought home some food from this place that opened up near work. Indian food.” Justin’s small smile dropped. “Oh, well I thought that you wanted me to cook…. I” ”Well we’ll just have your food another night then, its not a big deal” Alex said in an exasperated tone. “Uh yea… its fine.” Justin said as they both moved into the kitchen. Justin went around and pulled out some Tupperware to put the spaghetti in and then put the garlic bread in another. They sat at the table as Alex opened the boxes of food. Justin glanced in each unsure. Alex sat across from him dishing out his own plate. “Well go on and try it” he insisted. Justin swallowed as the smell of the spices drifted towards him. Digging out some of the rice, a bit of the meat in one container he brought his fork up and took a bite grimacing. “Damn it Justin, just eat the damn food. You act like it’s completely disgusting!” Alex exclaimed watching Justin. Justin’s heart jumped. Gritting his teeth he forced himself to eat more. Halfway through Alex was done eating, cleared his plate and left the kitchen not saying a word. Justin sat back closing his eyes. Things between them had been a bit rocky lately, Alex under pressure with his job and school, but with the pregnancy weighing on his hormones he couldn’t take it as easily as he used to. That night Justin slept in the spare bedroom as Alex was angry that he hadn’t done the laundry that he’d asked him to, so the pants and dress shirt he’d wanted to wear the next day were still dirty.