Mary, Mary .06

"For the benefit of Tom and Mary
Before our guests arrive
If they haven't found out already
It's gonna blow their minds
Will they find the strength to find
The will to testify?
That for the benefit of Tom and Mary
There's something we can't hide anymore."

-"Tom and Mary" Ben Folds

**

"Care to run that by me again?" Tom said, hoping his brain wasn't mishearing what Mary just told him. "You're...pregnant? How is that possible?"

"At the party...did you wear a condom?" She asked, even though she knew what his answer would be.

"I...I don't remember. I...think so."

"No, you didn't Tom. Because you're the only person I've had sex with in...at least a year. It has to be yours."

"I...Mare, I'm sorry." He said, for lack of anything else to say to the girl he impregnated. "What...what are you going to do?"

They began to walk out of the emergency room, not wanting to discuss the pregnancy in a room full of strangers. They were silent all the way from the waiting room to the car, they simply sat in silence, Tom not even bothering to start the car up.

"What do you mean what am I going to do? What are we going to do?"

"Mare, it's your decision, no matter what I will support you. If you want to get an abortion, that's fine and if you want to keep it, then I'll be in it's life. No matter what you decide...I'm here."

"Tom, you can't act like this is all my decision. It's our baby, our responsibility and our decision."

"Well, how are we supposed to decide this Mare? It's not...an easy decision."

"Don't you think I know that? I mean...last night I was just upset because I couldn't stop throwing up. Now I have a person inside of me. I'm...supposed to be going to school in a few months. Am I supposed to give up college?"

"You know you don't have to. You could get rid of this, we could go take care of it today and never talk about it again."

"But what if I do and then decide that I wanted it? What if I feel terribly because I killed someone? I could never live it down..."

"Then...maybe you just made your decision."

She looked at him, her glossed, teary eyes blinked back tears as she looked into the eyes of the man who she knew would follow her to the end of the world. She knew in that moment that he would always care for her, and their child that she now carried. She knew that he was right.

"I'm keeping it." She said and he leaned down and kissed her, resting a hand on her stomach.

"No" he whispered into her ear and he could feel her tense, "we're keeping it." He kissed her again and started the car.

"When do you want to tell our parents?" he asked as they drove back towards her house.

"Now." She said and Tom's breath was caught in his throat.

"Are you sure Mare?"

"Tom, I'm only going to get more pregnant, why wait?"

"Don't you want to...I don't know...let it settle in a little more?"

"Don't be a baby Tom. The sooner we tell them, the easier it will be for us. They're going to be pissed, but they'll be pissed whether we tell them today or in a few months when I start to show. Let's just bite the bullet and do it. We're technically adults, what is the worse they can do?"

"Kick us out"

"Tom" She took his hand in her own and rubbed the back of it with her thumb, "Just breathe. I'll do all the talking if you want. Don't worry."

He pulled into Mary's driveway and they walked hand in hand into the house, Mary clutching the small white bag of prenatal vitamins in her hand and holding onto Tom's hand for dear life. She unlocked the door and pushed it open, taking a deep breath before calling to her parents.

"Mom? Dad?"

She heard footsteps and looked up to see her parents coming down the stairs. "Mom, Dad, we have something to tell you, can we go to the living room for a sec?" She ask in the calmest voice she could muster.

"Of course sweetie" Her mom said in a somewhat quizzical voice and they all walked into the living room, her parents sitting together on one couch and Tom and Mary sitting facing them on the loveseat.

"Mom...Dad...we're..."

"You're getting married!" Her mother exclaimed, jumping up and hugging Mary close. "Congratulations!"

"Mom! Mom! Stop!" Mary exclaimed, making her mom take a few steps back. "We're not getting married. I'm...pregnant. We're having a baby."

The room fell silent, no one daring to speak or move.

"Then...you are planning on getting married then, right?" her mom asked after the silence was too awkward to bear.

"Um...no. We...weren't planning on it" She said and at that moment she had never seen her parents look more disappointed in her.

"It's not uncommon that people have babies without being married, if we do get married, we will. But not because of the baby" Tom said, speaking for both of them.

"Well, we're proud of you for doing the right thing and keeping it" He mother said softly, "We're here for you. And Tom, thank you for staying by her."

Tom nodded and stood up, helping Mary to her feet, he looked back at Mary's parents and smiled a slight smile, "We have to go and tell my parents now. Thank you for being so understanding."

Her parents said nothing, simply responding with slight nods as the pair left the room.