After a night that felt like it could stretch on forever, Marcus and Mary finally parted ways, the weight of their time together lingering between them. They had shared more than just the warmth of their bodies—they had shared something deeper, something that neither of them could yet name. As they exited the hotel, the cool night air brushed against their skin, pulling them back into reality.Marcus, still feeling the heat of the evening, ran a hand through his hair and glanced at Mary. Her smile was soft but tinged with something else, a mixture of happiness and uncertainty. She seemed just as lost in the moment as he was."You okay?" Marcus asked, his voice low, as they walked to their separate cars.Mary nodded, though there was a slight hesitation in her gaze. "Yeah... I just—this feels like a dream. Like, I've always imagined something like this, but now that it's real, it feels different."Marcus nodded, his chest tight. He felt it too—the quiet intensity of the night, the unspoken connection, the joy of being with her, but also a creeping sense of something they weren't yet ready to face. They both knew things weren't as simple as they seemed, but for tonight, they had allowed themselves to feel everything."Maybe tomorrow we can talk about all of this," Marcus said quietly, his heart pounding. "I don't want to mess this up."Mary smiled faintly, her eyes meeting his. "I don't want to mess it up either," she whispered before giving him a soft hug. "Goodnight, Marcus.""Goodnight, Mary," he replied, his voice thick with emotion.They parted ways, each heading home with a sense of happiness and sorrow tangled together. The excitement of the night swirled in their minds, but so did the realization that what they shared was just the beginning of something far more complicated than they had ever anticipated. And as they drove home, the weight of what had happened felt both beautiful and daunting.After Marcus dropped Mary off at her house, he couldn't help but glance at her one last time as she walked to her door. Her smile lingered in his mind, the warmth of the evening still fresh on his skin. As he drove back to his house, the streets felt emptier, quieter, as if the world was holding its breath after such an eventful night.He pulled into his driveway and was immediately greeted by the harsh glare of the porch light. He sighed, knowing what was coming. As soon as he entered the house, he was met by his father, Marcus Sr., who was already waiting in the kitchen. The faint smell of alcohol on his breath was enough to make Marcus wince, though it didn't surprise him. His father's drinking had been a constant presence, though it had been less of an issue when Marcus was younger."Where the hell have you been?" Marcus Sr. grumbled, his face stern, though there was a slight slur in his voice. "It's past midnight, son. You think I don't notice when you're out that late?"Marcus paused, his chest tightening. He had always respected his father, even if his father's discipline sometimes felt like a burden. But tonight, he didn't want to fight. He wanted to hold on to the happiness he felt from his time with Mary."I was with someone special," Marcus said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, but firm enough for his father to hear.His father's eyes narrowed, the sharpness in his gaze not completely gone despite his inebriated state. "Someone special, huh?" He let out a low chuckle, though it wasn't one of amusement. "You better be careful, Marcus. The world's full of distractions, and not all of them are good for you."Marcus clenched his fists but held his ground. "I know what I'm doing, Dad. I'm not a kid anymore."There was a long silence as Marcus Sr. stared at him, his expression unreadable. Finally, he let out a sigh, rubbing his forehead as though he had a headache. "Just don't forget who you are and where you come from. Life's not a fairy tale.""I won't," Marcus replied, though the words felt hollow. He didn't want to be reminded of the hard truths his father constantly laid at his feet. Tonight had been a glimpse of something better, something that felt real.With a resigned grunt, Marcus Sr. turned and stumbled away, muttering to himself as he went upstairs. Marcus stood still for a moment, the weight of his father's words sinking in. He had no intention of forgetting his roots, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something in his life was changing.A few weeks had passed, and for Marcus and Mary, it felt as if they were living in a dream they never wanted to wake up from. The days seemed brighter, more meaningful, and each time they were together, the world around them faded away.Their love, unspoken but undeniable, was a quiet secret that only the two of them shared. Every touch, every laugh, every lingering look held a depth that neither of them had anticipated. It was a quiet kind of bliss, but they both reveled in it, as if it were the only thing that made sense in a world that often seemed chaotic and unpredictable.At school, Mary's friends couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in her. She was glowing in a way they hadn't seen before, and the excitement in her eyes was undeniable. It wasn't hard to guess what had happened.One afternoon, as the girls sat in the cafeteria, Mary absentmindedly stirred her drink, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Her best friend, Chloe, leaned in, a playful smirk on her face as she observed the subtle shift in her friend's demeanor."Look at you," Chloe teased, nudging Mary's shoulder. "The girl is in love."Mary's cheeks flushed, and she immediately glanced down, her heart racing at the mention of Marcus. She had never been one to openly talk about her feelings, but there was no denying the truth now. Her friends knew her too well."I... I don't know what you're talking about," Mary stammered, trying to hide her embarrassment with a half-hearted laugh. "It's just... Marcus is special, that's all."Chloe and the other girls exchanged knowing looks, their smiles growing wider."Oh please," Chloe said with a dramatic roll of her eyes. "We can see it. You're practically glowing whenever you talk about him. Just admit it already—you're in love."Mary hesitated for a moment, feeling the warmth of her feelings for Marcus flood her chest. It was true. She had never felt this way about anyone before. But admitting it out loud made it all feel so real, so permanent."I think I might be," Mary whispered, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "But don't tell him. I want to keep it just for us, for now."Her friends giggled, exchanging amused glances. Chloe leaned back in her chair, a knowing smile on her face. "We won't spill the beans, promise. But don't let him get away, Mary. It's rare to find someone who makes you feel this alive."Mary's smile deepened, and her thoughts drifted back to Marcus. She couldn't imagine a life without him, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt right. The dream they were living felt like it could last forever.A few days later, Mary told Marcus something that felt like it had the power to change everything. They were sitting in his room, where they often went to talk or just be alone together. The air was warm, but there was an unsettling weight in her voice as she turned to him, her expression serious for the first time in weeks."Marcus, there's something I need to tell you," she began, her hands nervously fiddling with the strap of her bag.He glanced at her, sensing the shift in her mood. "What is it? You look kind of... off."Mary took a deep breath, her eyes meeting his with an intensity that made his heart skip a beat. "I'm pregnant."For a moment, time seemed to stop. Marcus stared at her, the words echoing in his mind like they didn't belong. Pregnant? It didn't make sense. His brain struggled to process what she had just said. He laughed, nervously, unsure if she was joking. "You're... kidding, right? This is some kind of joke?"Mary raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Oh, you think I'm joking? After that night, even a granny would get pregnant, dummy."Marcus blinked a few times, trying to make sense of the situation. His heart pounded in his chest, and a flood of emotions hit him all at once. He was excited—there was a part of him that wanted this, that wanted a future with Mary, with their child. But the reality of it felt overwhelming. High school was almost over. They had their whole lives ahead of them, and this news... it wasn't something he had prepared for. He was barely old enough to take care of himself, let alone a child.The room fell silent, thick with the weight of the words that hung between them. Marcus stood, his chest tight, eyes fixed on the ground as if looking for an escape from the storm brewing in his mind. Mary's hands trembled slightly as she crossed her arms, her eyes burning with hurt. This was the first time they had argued, the first time their perfect connection had cracked, and neither of them knew how to fix it."I just don't know if I'm ready for this," Marcus finally spoke, his voice low and filled with frustration. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions inside him. "I'm not prepared, Mary. High school's almost over, we're still so young, and now there's this... this baby. I'm not ready to be a father. I don't even know how to be the man you need me to be."Mary's expression softened, but the hurt in her eyes didn't disappear. She took a step closer to him, her voice trembling but strong. "Why do you keep saying that, Marcus? Why does everything feel like it's about to fall apart just because we're having a baby? We've always faced things together, but now you're acting like we're alone in this.""I'm not saying I'm leaving you, Mary," Marcus shot back, his frustration growing. "I'm not saying I don't want the baby—I do. But I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to handle the pressure of being everything for you and the baby when I'm barely holding it together myself."The words hit Mary like a blow to the chest. She hadn't expected him to feel so lost, so unprepared. She took a shaky breath, her voice quieter now, but still full of conviction. "I'm scared too, Marcus. I don't know how we're going to do this, but I know we can't face it if you keep pushing me away. If you keep running from it. I need you to stand with me, not to shut me out."Marcus stared at her, guilt gnawing at his insides. He could see the pain in her eyes, the disappointment. He'd never wanted to hurt her, and yet, here they were. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat."I don't want to lose you, Mary," he whispered finally, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I just... I need time to figure it out. I want to be the father you deserve, the man you deserve. But I don't know if I can be that guy right now."Mary stood still for a long moment, letting his words sink in. Then, she shook her head softly, her eyes never leaving his. "I'm not asking for you to have everything figured out," she said, her voice steady but filled with raw emotion. "I'm just asking you to be here with me. To face this together. We'll figure it out—just not by pretending it's all okay when it's not."Her words echoed in the quiet room. They lingered between them, a call to action, a plea for him to come back to her, to fight for what they had. Marcus swallowed hard, his chest heavy with the weight of everything he felt but couldn't say."I'm sorry," he said at last, stepping toward her, his voice breaking. "I should have understood how you feel. I shouldn't have made this about my own fear."Mary's eyes softened slightly, the anger in them fading to something more vulnerable. She took a step forward, closing the space between them. Her hand reached out tentatively, brushing his arm. "We're in this together, Marcus. Just promise me you won't give up on us. Promise me you'll try."His heart clenched in his chest as he looked into her eyes—eyes filled with hope and fear, just like his own. He took her hand, holding it gently in his. "I promise," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll try. I'll be here for you, for us."There was a long pause, the tension of the argument slowly melting away as they stood in the silence, their hands intertwined. And then, Marcus did something he hadn't expected to do. He let out a nervous laugh, the sound breaking the quiet."You know, I've been thinking... if it's a girl... I want to name her Jane," he said, his voice filled with warmth despite the earlier heaviness.Mary raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "No, Mr. Papa. You don't get to choose the name after all this. I'm the mama, I get to choose." She paused, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "And I want a boy. I've already decided—his name will be Jase."Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. "Jase? What kind of name is that?"Mary's smile widened, a hint of teasing in her voice. "It means 'Lord is salvation.'" She leaned in, adding, "So, what do you think of that, Mr. Papa?"He laughed again, the tension finally breaking as he reached for her, pulling her into a tight hug. "I think I can live with it. As long as you let me keep Jane in mind for the future."Mary smiled against his chest, her arms wrapping around him as they stood there, feeling the warmth of each other's embrace. "We'll see, Mr. Papa. We'll see."And in that moment, despite all the uncertainty ahead, they both knew one thing: no matter what happened, they'd face it together. Mary left after a few hours.Now, Marcus sat on the edge of the bed, his hands gripping the fabric of his jeans as his mind raced with conflicting thoughts. The quiet hum of the room felt suffocating, a sharp contrast to the storm brewing inside him. What if he couldn't do it? What if he wasn't enough for Mary, for the baby? He had never felt this kind of pressure before, the kind that made his chest tighten with anxiety every time he thought about the future.The dreams he had—the ones that had always been clear and filled with purpose—now felt distant and out of reach. He had envisioned a life with Mary, sure, but he had never factored in the weight of responsibility, of needing to be a perfect partner, a perfect father. What if he couldn't live up to the expectations? What if, one day, they looked at him and saw a failure, a man who had crumbled under the pressure? He could already hear the whispers, the doubts creeping in, gnawing at his confidence. The thought of not being the man Mary needed him to be terrified him.Then there was the baby. The idea of a tiny life depending on him was enough to send him spiraling. Could he protect it? Provide for it? Every choice he made from this point forward felt monumental, and the fear of making the wrong ones paralyzed him. He couldn't help but imagine the worst-case scenarios: an accident, a mistake that would scar them all, that would ruin everything. What if he wasn't ready to be a father, and the child grew up with a broken family, with a father who had never really known how to hold things together?Marcus squeezed his eyes shut, trying to silence the racing thoughts. He could feel his grip on control slipping, but he didn't know how to stop it. His mind kept cycling through scenarios he couldn't fix, decisions he couldn't undo. Every time he tried to picture a happy future, it felt tainted by the fear that it could all fall apart at any moment. He wasn't sure how to find peace in that uncertainty, or if he even could.Meanwhile Mary was a woman of many layers—strong yet gentle, confident but with a vulnerability that few people saw. From the outside, she might have appeared to have it all: the beauty, the privilege, the perfect life that others envied. Her smile was bright enough to light up a room, and her presence could command attention without her saying a word. But behind that smile, there was more than just the daughter of a powerful politician. She was someone who had always been expected to be perfect, to meet the expectations of the world around her, yet in the quiet moments, she often wondered if anyone saw her for who she truly was.Mary's strength was never born from her family's wealth or status; it was rooted in her resilience. Growing up under the shadow of her father's career, she had learned early on to keep up appearances and wear the mask of composure. But beneath that mask, there was a girl who wanted something more—someone who needed to be loved for herself, not for the connections her family provided. Her heart had always belonged to Marcus, even if she hadn't fully realized it until recently. He was the one constant in her life, the one person who never tried to change her, who saw her as more than just the image she projected to the world.Despite all the privileges her life afforded her, Mary was no stranger to feeling isolated. Her father's demanding career often kept him distant, and her mother's expectations of success were ever-present. Though she had everything most people could dream of, she often felt like she was living in a world where no one truly understood her. It was in Marcus that she found her anchor, someone who didn't care about the politics or the status—he just cared about her. That was why, when they argued about the future, her voice had trembled with raw emotion. She feared losing him, but more than that, she feared losing herself in the whirlwind of expectations that came with being a Locke.But as much as she longed for the simplicity of their past, Mary was no stranger to the weight of responsibility. She knew what it meant to make difficult decisions, to fight for what mattered most. Her resolve, though often hidden, was as fierce as any warrior's. And despite her fear of the unknown, she was determined to face it head-on—with Marcus by her side, if he was willing to be there. She couldn't control everything, but she could control how she loved, and that was something she would give him, even if it meant navigating the darkness of their future together.