(Tw : Discussions of abortion)

So it was now clear. Mabel was pregnant thirteen year old with a child from an awful man. And there was nothing she could, or wanted, do about it. The doctor scheduled the weekly appointments to keep on checking on the girl, just to make sure it would go smoothly. They all hoped it'd go without too many issues, due how just how young the mother was.

Few days after learning truth about her situation, Mabel found herself easing herself by writing in a new notebook. With days on going, it quickly turned into a pregnancy journal for her. She'd write in it every other day, to tell what she learned and her feelings throughout the expecting period. With it on her side, the girl seemed to start understand her condition better. More so, it looked like Mabel started to come around the idea of having a baby. Or being a mother.

But it also seemed that not everyone liked this idea as much...

About a week later, when Shermie was out to visit Ross. Him and Mabel would usually go together, but that day, Filbrick and Caryn wanted her to stay home to discuss something.

Mabel was in the kitchen with her parents. Caryn still had the same sorrowful look, she'd be giving her daughter for this entire time, since they found out about... the baby. Filbrick caught his wife's look, when he turned his sight to Mabel.

"Mabel, Caryn..." He started, getting the girl's attention. "I'd like both of you to sign this."

Mabel looked infront of her, as she saw some papers infront of herself. The top of the page said "Agreement of disclosure", so that caught her attention. On the bottom were also signatures of her father.

Mabel reached for the papers, catching her hand with Caryn's. The older woman chuckled softly, letting her daughter take it first. Mabel smiled back to her mother, before turning back to the paper.

From first line, she could see it was about going under some medical procedure. Mabel could understand that, because she had her parents sign up similar ones to get the needed shots at the beginning of school year. She did wonder, what this one was about through.

It was about third paragraph on very bottom of the list, before Mabel let out a soft gasp. The girl's eyes shrunk in fear, as she could feel her body starting to shake. She dropped the paper, trying to get it as far as possible from it.

No... no, no, no! The girl thought to herself, while looking at her father. "Dad... please... tell me, you're joking about this..."

"I would never joke about it, Mabel. This isn't a joking matter." Filbrick said.

He seemed to be saying other stuff, but Mabel didn't care, as her arms were making their way around her frame in protective manner. Making a shield for it. For the baby inside of her.

"I found a person, who'd be able to do it for us."

"Dad... we... how? When?"

"I've got just enough money for it. Will need to drive to next town, sure... but it's good you're still homeschooled, so nobody will question your absence..."

"No... Please... what about..?"

"Sherman will stay with Ross for now. We'll be gone for few days, so you pack some spare clothes."

Mabel just moved away, trying to hold back the tears. She didn't want it. The idea of something like this happening to her... to her baby.

"We'll keep this under wraps easily. You're still too early along... if anyone will ask, we can say you had a miscarriage." The man looked away from Mabel. "We'll be leaving tomorrow morning. You go, pack yo-"

"No!"

The room fell quiet. All eyes were on Mabel, the fear on her face now changed to anger. One her hand clutched into a fist and other still kept a shield for her child.

Filbrick slowly raised his eyebrow, crossing his arms at the girl. "What was that?"

"I said no, Dad!" Mabel said, getting from the chair, her eyes focused on her father's stone face. "I am not getting this! I'm not going to let any questionable people touch a single hair on their head!"

With that, Mabel ran off to her room, locking the door after herself. Filbrick called after the girl, but no reply followed. Caryn looked between her husband and the door to her daughter's room, before sighing.

"Filbrick..."

The man looked back to her.

"I think we need to talk..." The woman said.

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Mabel was sitting in her room, her journal sitting on her laps, as she was writing down the latest "incident" in it. She was drawing her father on side, as another tear dropped off her face, landing on the page, before she was able to catch or wipe it away.

The girl sighed, holding her book to her chest, looking away into the window. An idea crawled into her head, but she shook it off nearly instantly. It was a bad idea...

But that will help me keep them... Mabel thought to herself, sighing, before strocking her stomach again. "Don't worry, sweetheart... Mommy's got this... I'll protect you..."

"Mabel?" A voice called from the door, making the girl gasp.

"Ma?"

Caryn walked into the room, coming to sit next to her daughter. "I cut you some apples. Thought you might still be hungry... not to mention you're..." She looked away, sighing.

She still couldn't accept it. Sure, Caryn herself had her Sherman a lot earlier than most women would have their little ones... but she was still older than Mabel back then... seeing her little girl going through whole experience at only thirteen years...

Mabel nodded, smiling to Caryn and took the plate.

"Thanks, Mom..." She said softly, but nothing else left her.

Silence hanged over the two of them for few minutes, as Caryn sat next to her daughter, rubbing her side. Mabel was finally getting more comfortable with being touched now, which couldn't give her any more relief. With how Mabel was (and how this situation can cause to mental and physical condition) it would be problematic, if she was still afraid of physical contact.

And still, a single question flew around Caryn's mind, as she watched Mabel eating her apple. She waited for her to finish, before a light sigh left her.

Now or never.

"Do you want to keep it?"

Mabel's eyes flew to her mother in surprise. Then her face saddened, as she turned down to her stomach, now cradled in her arms.

"I... I want it... her... him?" Mabel seemed to struggle with how to call the child. And yet, it was expected, taking that medical procedure still couldn't tell the gender of a baby.

The girl sighed.

"I want them to live... I don't want it to be over, before they even get to this world..." She laid her head on Caryn's shoulder. "I don't want them taken out of me... Not if I can help it! "

"Even with how... their father is?" Caryn asked, rasing an eyebrow, ter a fond smile played it's way on her face.

Mabel slightly shivered at the mention of the man, but she composed herself right away. "Yes. It's not their fault their... father is a bad person... they shouldn't pay for his mistakes..."

Caryn looked at the floor and then at Mabel, before giving her a light smile. "Don't worry..." She put her hand on the girl's shoulder "I'm sure we'll figure something out about this..."

Mabel's eyes widened yet again, before looking up her mother. Then she smiled again, "Thank you, Ma..."

"Hey..." Caryn kneeled down to the girl, placing hands on her shoulders, wiping away the tears, Mabel didn't notice before. "That's what I'm here for, right?"

And then two small arms wrapped around Caryn, who brought the girl closer into the hug, kissing top of her forehead.

The young girl needed it. She was through so much, and she was only thirteen. Mabel needed all the comfort, she could get.

But then, like if was called for, a rougher voice came from another side...

"Mabel?"

Mabel gasped softly, pushing away from Caryn to look up Filbrick. The man just looked at the two, not saying anything.

But the answer was a long sleeved shirt, probably a size or two too big for Mabel, thrown at her.

Mabel seemed to be confused, as she looked over the sweater. It was quite simple, with purple, red and blue stripes, but something in it attracted the girl right away.

And still...

Why? Why was Filbrick giving it to her?

"You want to keep that kid, so clothes like that will help you hide, when your body will start to show up." Filbrick said simply. "We'll try to keep this under wraps as best as we can. We'll think about what to do with the kid, closer to time of it's birth. You're still homeschooled, so that will be easier to hide. I talked to the doctor, who helped us back, when we had Sherman, they agreed to keep an eye on you until then too."

Mabel's eyes widened. She was speechless.

Filbrick Elmore Pines. The hard man, the whole neighborhood knew not to mess with. The strict man, hardened by war... one, who's been against her having her baby... was letting Mabel keep them?!

"P... Pa..?" A tear ran down her face, before she smiled, frowning with determined face, saluting to her father. "Yes, sir!"

Filbrick just nodded with a hum. "Good."

And then he left. Caryn looked at the door with a small smile, before turning to Mabel.

"I think I'll go too. I'm sure you have a lot on your mind right now..."

Mabel nodded, grabbing her journal and a pencil, before beginning to write something. Caryn watched her for another moment, before following her husband.

Filbrick was on the kitchen, talking over the phone with, from what it seemed, the person, who promised to "help" Mabel with her situation. When he was done, the woman wrapped her arms around his neck. Filbrick looked back at Caryn, before sighing.

"I'm still not happy with this..." He said.

"But you're still letting her have this child..." Caryn smiled, before kissing her husband's cheek. "You've got a soft spot for her, don't you?"

Filbrick sighed. "She's... she's so much like you... I don't want to be like... Vincent..."

Caryn frowned at the name. It was her own father. She hasn't spoken to him for so long... not since she found out she was having Sherman. It wasn't a happy day, as she was put on the choice. Either she got rid of the child... or she could never appear home again.

The woman shook her head. There was no reason to mess with the past... there was a family, she was needed in.

"You won't be..." Caryn said softly. "You're better than him... you... know when to stop..." She smiled. "I love you..."

Filbrick looked back, before a light smile crossed his face. "Love you too, Caryn..." He kissed her.

There was no need of her father in this house. Or anyone of their past, to be honestly.

The Pines family was happy, where they all were now. With a husband and wife, rising two beautiful children and now, through earlier than expected, they would be getting an adorable little grandson or granddaughter.

Through the hardships, they were too stubborn to let the bad things stop them. They knew, they could, and would, push through everything and be stronger.

It was just a matter of time, when the waterstones to pass and they'd get to the peaceful life.