PART 1 -- Knocked-up
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Miley stood in the bathroom staring at the pill container in her hands. She recalled when she first started birth control, right after she and Charlie began dating. Their sex life went from zero to sixty in record time and Miley remembered fearing the prospect of becoming pregnant in high school. Back then, when she fantasized about becoming a mother, Miley imagined being married to a rich and successful guy. She had expected to be living in a big house with a white picket fence and everything else that represented the 'American Dream' before thinking of children.
But as time passed those things meant less and less. She had Charlie; he was all Miley needed.
She and Charlie had initially agreed to wait before getting married, presumably until after college, though Miley knew better. Charlie said he wanted to wait for her father's blessing, but Miley thought he was being too old-fashioned. The truth was the two of them could marry whenever they wanted. A few hours at the county courthouse may not have been a high school fantasy made true, but that's all it took to apply for a marriage license and stand before a judge.
The issue of marriage wasn't standing in the way of having a baby, Miley knew.
Money was a potential problem. She and Charlie lived comfortably in the near-campus apartment her father paid for, but if they had a baby Miley would want to raise it in a better environment. Charlie had recently signed a publishing deal with Marvel Comics that could potentially become very lucrative, but there were no promises that the deal would pay enough for them to start a family on their own. It all depended on how well Brian and Charlie's comic book sold. But even if that fell through, Miley was confident her father would step up. Jack would probably make Charlie start working for him, but Miley knew she could count on dad to provide his baby girl with whatever she needed.
Money wasn't a big enough reason to deter Miley either.
Her decision made, she opened one of the plastic dispensers on her pill container. Miley held the birth-control pill between thumb and forefinger, regarding it for a moment before dropping it into the toilet. She repeated the act until her container was empty. Miley wanted a family with the man she loved; she saw no reason to wait any longer.
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"What is taking Miley so long?" Brian complained. "I have to take a piss."
"You shouldn't drink so much coffee," Charlie commented distractedly as he looked over Brian's artwork for the second issue of 'Captain Darkness'. The two boys worked together at Charlie and Miley's apartment every weekday, trying to finish a six-issue deadline by December. It was October, and their first two issues were nearly finished.
"Whatever, dude. Miley should be at school, not tying up your bathroom all morning. When did she start skipping classes, anyway?"
"Cut her some slack, Miley's been going through a lot lately. Her mom went all psychotic on us and we're going through some personal stuff."
Brian glanced, "Personal stuff? Is everything all right between you two?"
"Yeah," Charlie assured him. He didn't want to tell Brian about his and Miley's baby discussion until there was more to tell, "It's no big deal."
The bathroom door opened before Brian could press for more details, "Finally!"
Miley watched Brian hurry past her; she looked to Charlie, "You taught him not to pee on the seat, right?"
"Don't worry," Charlie joked, "he's house-trained."
Miley padded towards Charlie and crawled into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I didn't take my birth-control pill this morning."
Charlie exhaled slowly, "So we're really going through with this, huh?"
"If you're having second thoughts...?"
"No," Charlie shook his head. "It's just kind of a big deal, you know? I'm nervous, but excited too."
Miley understood completely, "Yeah, I feel the same way. But Charlie, I want you to be sure."
"I am," Charlie promised. "So, uh, how long before you're... you know, ready?"
Miley shrugged, "I dunno. As soon as I start ovulating, I suppose. I didn't really pay too much attention during our high school Health class."
Charlie grinned, "And here I thought human sexuality was your specialty."
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Stacy's favorite song was playing on the radio as she drove home from campus. She had the volume cranked up and was singing along, tapping her hands on the steering wheel as she pulled into her parent's driveway. It wasn't until Stacy turned the key off and climbed out of the car that she noticed someone sitting on the front step.
"Sam? Is that you?"
Sam was sitting on the front steps with her face buried in her palms. She lifted her tear-filled gaze when Stacy approached and offered a feeble greeting, "Hi."
"Um..." Stacy was at a loss, "what's going on, Sam? Why are you sitting on my porch crying?"
"I'm sorry," Sam sobbed. "I didn't know who else to talk to."
"Okay?" Stacy hesitantly set her bag down and sat next to Sam, "Care to tell me why you're so upset?"
Sam glanced aside with a sniffle and wiped her nose with the back of a hand, "I can see why Brian chose you over me."
Stacy hid her wince. She hardly knew Sam. In fact, the closest thing they'd ever had to a conversation with each other was when Stacy punched her in Miami. She had no idea why Sam would show up wanting to talk about Brian. Didn't Sam have any other friends?
"You're so beautiful," Sam continued. "And you've got a body like a magazine cover."
"Thanks," Stacy offered. "But, um, I really don't think it was a beauty contest or anything. Brian and I have known each other for a long time; we have a lot of history... you were up against all that."
Sam shyly wiped at the tears on her cheek, "Yeah, he told me about your pregnancy and stuff. Was it hard to make your decision? About the abortion, I mean?"
Stacy's eyes widened at the blunt question, "Wow. Um, look Sam, no offense or anything... but I barely know you and that's really personal."
"I'm sorry," Sam kept wiping her cheeks but more tears kept falling. "I don't even know what I'm doing here. I shouldn't have come."
"Listen," Stacy tried, "you're going to be okay. I know how tough it is when you break up with someone you really like, but there are lots of guys out there. I'm sure you're going to find someone who makes you really happy."
"Maybe," Sam cried. "But how many of them will be the father of my child?"
Stacy blinked, "What?"
"I'm pregnant," Sam sobbed. "And Brian's the father."
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Brian bumped Charlie's fist, "I'm outta here; I'm supposed to pick up Stace in an hour for dinner."
"Have fun," Charlie told him. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Brian called out, "Bye, Miley!"
Miley's voice came from the bedroom, "Bye, sweetie! Love you! Say hi to Stace!"
Charlie closed the door after Brian and worked the lock. He took a moment to stretch before wandering towards the bedroom. He found Miley sitting at her desk reading a thick magazine.
"Charlie," Miley seemed to sense his nearness, "did you know, according to Cosmo, that the average age of first-time mothers in the United States is twenty-five?"
Charlie joked, "Oh yeah? What's the average age in India?"
"Be serious, Charlie." Miley looked up from her magazine with worry in her eyes, "I'm only twenty!"
Charlie could only laugh.
"Charlie!" Miley whined. "It isn't funny."