Theresa didn't know what to do. She was going to vomit if she had to ride a bus or a tram home, but Aunt Elisabeth was doing some shopping and hadn't been able to go with her to her appointment at the hospital.

Yes.

She was still pregnant.

That's what the doctor had said.

And then she'd also said something else.

"Everything looks good."

Everything looked good? How the heck could everything look good?! Well, sure, if you were an obstetrician trying to make some money then everything looked great!
But not if you were 17, due to graduate in another year, and the baby's...ahem... sperm donor raped you after sneaking in the back way while you were cleaning up before closing time at your crummy waitress job. Then everything looked absolutely horrifying.

And yet...she loved it. It was weird, but she did. This little being inside her, just two months along, could potentially give her back all the love she'd lost three years ago when her parents passed away. It might even make up for her worrying that Uncle James didn't like her. And that's when Theresa knew she would never give up her precious baby. Not even if things were scary right now.

But back to the present. How was she going to get home? No one except Aunt Elisabeth and Uncle James knew she was pregnant, and Uncle James wasn't due home until Friday evening.

When she was dressed and ready to go, she shook the doctor's hand.

"Thanks. I'll see myself out. "

Back in the hospital waiting area, Theresa pulled out her cell phone. She looked through her list of contacts, but none of them seemed like someone she could trust with the secret that she carried. Not even her best friend, Leah Peters. Not yet.

That is, until she got to the bottom. Her cell phone listed contacts by first name, not last.

Wilhelmina Anders

She and Will had been friends ever since Theresa could remember, even though Will was quite a bit older. Their parents had been friends with both her parents and Uncle James while growing up, and Will still visited Theresa and Aunt Elisabeth as often as she could.

She took a deep breath, hand on her stomach. Could she really trust Will with this? What if she was mad at her? Of course, she would have told Will had she been seeing someone, but this was different.

At the thought of riding the bus home, however, Theresa once again went a little green. She decided in that instant that Will was close enough to family that she had to know the bad stuff, too.

She breathed in again, through her nose, and out through her mouth.

Then she pressed the call button.

"Will? It's Theresa. Can you come get me? It's kind of important. I'm at the hospital...."

“Wonderful, ladies!” Wilhelmina exclaimed with joy as she watched her teen students practice synchronized grand jetes across the floor. Their perfect timing to the music left her in awe. Not an arm was out of place, no one fell or faltered. It was an improvement from the week before, which was a disaster. The fact that they were so obviously practicing outside of class was enough to make her forget about the minor things.

She didn’t hear the door open over the loud classical music blaring. Will felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see the receptionist with the phone in her hand.

“Continue.” She announced simply as she left the room. She shut the behind her and lifted the phone to her ear. While she expected to hear the sound of her younger brother’s voice, or her mother’s, she heard another. Theresa was like family. The Richardson’s were long time family friends, so Theresa was something like a little sister. She was as high priority as her own brother, Cameron.

Theresa was calling her from the hospital, and once she heard the word ‘hospital,’ there was no need for any explanation or for her to say anything more. She was on her way. Will was able to get someone to finish the remainder of her ongoing class and cancel the rest for the day in a matter of minutes. After she changed, she was in her car and off to the hospital.

Her driving was normally erratic, but it was even more so because she was worried. Mentally she was kicking herself for not asking what happened because her mind was coming up with the worst scenarios. Anything could have happened to her, anything. She tried to clear her head and focus on just making it to the hospital in one piece.

Will parked outside and entered the building. Immediately walked to the front desk and was directed to Theresa’s room. Needing no escort, she found her way on her own with ease. Driving may not have been her forte but directions were a cinch. She slowed her pace as she came up on her room.

“Theresa?” She called. The worry in her tone was all too apparent, even though she did her best to appear calm. “Are you all right? What happened?” She asked, moving closer to examine her. To her, she looked fine, but she knew there had to be something.

"Will..." Theresa felt about to cry. "I'm so glad to see you. The way I feel right now I'm going to barf if I have to take the bus home. Aunt Elisabeth was out to get groceries and couldn't come with me..."

Well, that was all the truth, but now here was the hard part.

'Will, I have something to tell you. I don't want you to be angry, 'cause there's no easy way to say it, or else I'd have told you sooner. But I'm pregnant. Two months on the dot. And I'd have told you if I were seeing someone, but that's the thing, I wasn't. He raped me. A customer at the restaurant."

She didn't want to cry, but the tears were slipping out now. "Uncle James and Aunt Elisabeth are the only ones that know. I figured you should too. It's just you three. I haven't even told my school chums yet, because, well, what's one supposed to say?" She pulled a tissue from the pocket of her jeans and wiped her eyes, or at least tried to, while she waited for Will to process what she'd just said.

“Oh,” Will said with a sigh of relief. It was good to hear that she was just feeling slightly ill. She looked back up to Theresa, whose eyes were glazed over with tears. Clearly there was something more. With the way her words trailed off, she could tell that there was something more she had to say. Will simply waited, knowing that she’d continue once she gathered herself.

As she began, Will tried to look as neutral as possible. Because she didn’t know what the issue was, she couldn’t promise that she wouldn’t be angry. She would, however, listen to her every word. She heard that she was pregnant, that she didn’t know the father, and that she was raped. All of it was just so overwhelmingly heartbreaking. It both angered her and saddened her. Wilhelmina moved to a seat and sat down slowly.

Here she was focusing on her own feelings and she hadn’t thought about how amplified those feelings must have been for her.

“Don’t worry about your friends at school. You don’t need to explain anything to anyone, you hear me?“ She instantly realized that her voice was much to firm for what the situation called for. “Did you report any of this to the police? Or did Elisabeth and James?” She shook her head softly. That was the wrong thing to ask. She felt like she wasn’t doing the best job at saying the right thing. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m not upset at you, but I am upset for you. Do you know what I mean?” She buried her face in her palms and exhaled.

"Yeah, I reported it. I told my boss, too. But he wouldn't ban him." That's when Theresa started to really cry and not be able to stop. And Will wasn't exactly helping at present, going on and on in a very firm voice.

“Look, I’m sorry. I’m not upset at you, but I am upset for you. Do you know what I mean?”

" Yeah..." Theresa sniffled. "Well I'm glad someone is, instead of being angry. Uncle James is angry. He says he wants to find that guy and kill him. "

She grew quiet, but the tears still came.
" He...was the last customer...of the day.., " she said between breaths," and when I was closing up, he sneaked in the back way. He came at me from behind and knocked me down, pinning me to the ground. And lifted my uniform, and...it happened so fast. It happened so fast," she said again. "I wouldn't have even been able to tell you when it happened, exactly, if it weren't for the pain. I thought I was going to rip in half. And even after... even after it was all over and I told the police, and called my boss... he wouldn't ban him, he wouldn't!" Her tears were angry ones now.

"He said he was a good customer and a regular and all, and I still have to work there! Because if I don't how am I ever going to have enough money? And I can't go to college with a baby, I can't! My life is ruined!"

But when Theresa was finally calmed down, she smiled. It was odd in her situation, but she did. "My life is ruined," she said quietly, again, "but I love it. I can't help loving it. It's not the baby's fault. It might be the best thing that's happened to me in three years."

“Well, he’s certainly not the only one who wants to kill him,” she muttered, finally lifting her head from her palms. It was both unbelievable and saddening that such a thing was allow to even happen. Will felt like she had to do something. For some reason, she felt like no one was doing enough for her. Sure, Elisabeth and James were going to support her, but what about the justice? What about putting away the sick freak that did this to her?

Sniffling snapped her out of her fury induced trans. Will looked over to see Theresa crying and immediately softened her expression so that it was easier for her to continue. However, the more she went on, the less sympathetic she looked. Will was more than furious to hear that her boss wouldn’t even ban the customer. She was enraged. If her blue eyes could turn red with fire they would have.

“Are you fucking serious?! If your boss isn’t going to at least ban him then he could fucking give you a damn raise!”

The alternative didn’t even sound right coming out of her mouth, but it was the very least the man could do. He was putting not only her life in danger, but her unborn child as well. Will took a deep breath. Her silence allowed her to hear footsteps outside. She turned sharply to see several nurses gathering at the door. Even though they were probably checking to see if everything was all right, Will couldn’t help but to be irritated. Still, she took the hint and lowered her voice. Will took a breath and went on.

“Sorry . . . I’m just mad, and furious, and extremely proud of you for being so strong.” She smiled. “You’ve got the right outlook on this, and although I want nothing more than to avenge you, I will let you handle it. I’m here for you . . . Always.” Will moved by her bed and took her hand. “Promise me, if you need help you ask. If you need anything at all, you ask. Promise?”

"I don't care if I ever see him again, to be honest. I mean, I'd rather not, you know? The thought of being in the same room with him, even for court..." She couldn't go on, and for just a second, Theresa swore her heart stopped from the fear of it.

“Promise me, if you need help you ask. If you need anything at all, you ask. Promise?”

"I promise." Theresa wiped her eyes again. "I'm scared, you know? I mean, when Uncle James isn't home, it's just me and Aunt Elisabeth, and I think she's gone a little nuts. I mean...you ought to see the new security system she put in, and even with that, she's..." Theresa shook her head. "Don't get me wrong, she understands that it wasn't my fault, but I think she thinks that something will happen to her now, too. I feel like she thinks that when she gets out of the house is the only time she gets any peace, any chance to forget it for awhile. But when she's out of the house, that means I'm alone, like today. And I can't be alone 7 months from now. That would frighten me beyond words."

Wilhelmina understood when Theresa told her she didn’t want to see that man again. To her, it just seemed more likely that she wouldn’t see him again if he was behind bars. It was her decision, and Will respected that.

She nodded when Theresa gave her, her word that she would ask when she needed something. Hearing that put her at ease, but only a little. Even hearing that they’d installed a security system did very little to provide some kind of relief-- especially after learning that Elisabeth was so terrified. Theresa’s entire situation was disheartening, and it seemingly had a ripple effect on the others around her. Hell, even Will felt like she needed some kind of security system. It was like no one was truly ever safe, no matter what new trinkets they had.

“Well, you don’t have to be alone. You’ve got me and Cam,” she laughed at her mention of her brother. “He’ll certainly make sure nothing happens to you, plus he’s entertaining. My door is always open to you and your little one.”

“So, do you need a ride home, or is anyone at your place? We can go to my apartment if not. I can drop you back home when someone gets there.”

"She would have called me if she were home," said Theresa. "I don't want to be there right now anyway. Maybe if you told your mum and dad... they might be able to do something. At least they might check up on her sometimes. The house... it's like a jail to her. But worse, it's a jail that she insists on being in. Because I'm there. I mean, I can handle a baby...I love it already, and I'll learn. I can even handle not going to college, and maybe never, though it seems a shame to waste my good grades. And I can handle Uncle James not talking to me... he barely says a word since... it happened. But she can't handle anything, it seems like. She's not the take-charge woman she was when my parents died. And it's all because of this!" Now Theresa was angry again.

"Sorry," she said after a minute. "I just feel like...since Aunt Elisabeth is infertile, and since my parents died, and Uncle James is away so often, that everything is my responsibility now, since this happened. That it's my responsibility to make sure she's all right. But it shouldn't be, should it? My baby should be my only responsibility right now. That and finding a job where I don't have to worry about seeing... him. Anyway, let's go. I feel like I need a nap after all of this."

Wilhelmina agreed with her suggestion about involving her own parents. Both James and Elisabeth were very close family friends, and it didn’t make any sense for them to go through such a tough and troubling time on their own. Her mother adored Elisabeth, and she’d be more than willing to be a pillar of strength if she needed one. “I’ll let them both know.”

She reached into her purse, digging around for her keys while she listened as Theresa went on. At the sound of her voice getting rough and angry, she paused. She did have a valid point. Getting James and Elisabeth a support system would be a top priority. Theresa needed to be their focus. “You’re right. It’s actually very selfish of them to be harping on their own feelings and leaving you alone. I doubt, and hope, this isn’t a permanent thing.” Will got a hold of her keys and pulled them out. “Maybe, in time, they’ll get over it--” she stopped herself, realizing she might not have sounded very sympathetic. “Maybe, in time, they’ll get better.” She corrected.

“Let’s go. You hungry?”

That was crazy of her, asking a pregnant woman if she was hungry. She may not have been, but in that case she still sounded crazy. Today was not Will’s day to be eloquent with words.

"A little hungry," Theresa admitted. "Mostly, though, all I feel is tired. Just...tired. Tired from carrying this secret around for 2 months by myself, not knowing how to tell you. It wears one out. And...what do you think Cam will do?" Theresa asked. She’d just die if he got mad. She couldn’t handle that right now.

Theresa picked up her purse and smoothed her hair so she'd look presentable when they left. “Did I ever tell you I love you, Will?” she asked her. “Because I do, you know.”

“I understand. Carrying around that kind of secret gets heavy,” she said. She didn’t know how it really felt. She never had a secret that she was afraid to tell, not one as major as that anyways. Will could imagine how difficult it was, though. She moved toward the door, pausing at the mention of Cameron and how he would take the news.

He was going to flip, she just knew it. As far as maturity went Wilhelmina was years beyond him, but when it came to ferociousness Cameron definitely trumped her on that. In most cases he ended up protecting her, which was odd because she was the oldest.

“Umm, maybe it would be a good idea if I spoke to him first. You know he’s going to flip, I’m not even going to try to sugar coat it. At least if I tell him, he’ll be half calm about it when he sees you.” Will couldn’t really be sure about that last bit. If Theresa though Will was mad, she hadn’t seen anything yet. “Yeah, that’d be best.” She nodded.

She smiled as she watched Theresa try to gather herself as they walked through the halls of the hospital. Those nurses would probably be gossiping when they left, and they were probably glad they were leaving. Will practically blew a head gasket in there. She was much calmer now though, they both were. It felt good.

“ I know you love me.” She smirked. “I love you, too.” She said, taking a hand and teasing Theresa’s hair after she’d fixed it.

"You're gonna be the best auntie ever, you know that? My baby will probably be more spoiled by you and Cam than by anyone else. Except... I wish Mum and Dad were here. That's what scares me the most. Having the baby without them. What if I'm not a good mum?" That worried her. More than anything in the world. Especially since she didn't personally know a lot of people with babies. Oh well. She took a deep breath and followed Will out to her car. She should really at least try to eat something....

Suddenly, she stopped. "When you tell Cam... make sure to tell him that it wasn't my fault, OK? Before he gets too hopping mad."

Will laughed when she told her she was going to be a great aunt-- not great, the best! She felt excited . . . Although her situation was horrible and completely unfair, something good was going to come out of it. Will was glad of it, too. Theresa got to come away from her terrible experience with something good. “I really hope so,” she smiled, knowing for sure she’d do her best to supply that child with what ever its little heart desired.

“Your baby will be spoiled, though, you can bet on that. I think once Cameron gets over the entire thing, he’ll see the bright side too. You’ll be a great mother, Theresa. It takes a lot to do what you’re doing.” By ‘do what you’re doing,’ she meant having the baby of her rapist and loving it regardless of who it came from and how it got there. “You’re seeing the bigger picture, and that’s a quality every mother should have.”

She unlocked the doors and pulled the driver side door open. As Theresa began speaking, she felt her heart sink. “Not your fault? Theresa, do you think what happened to you is your fault? That’s absurd. If Cam gets upset or angry about anything it’s not going to be that. No one asks for what happened to you. It wouldn’t be rape in that case.” She said, easing into her seat.

"I don't think it's my fault exactly," she said. "I certainly did my best to fight it. But if I hadn't been there...in the dark... alone...closing up..." She gulped. "Wrong place, wrong time, what can I say? Maybe my boss shouldn't have left me alone to close up. And if it hadn’t happened at all Aunt Elisabeth wouldn’t be so frightened and Uncle James wouldn’t be off to the pubs every chance he got. It's not my fault but it's certainly because of what happened to me.”

“That’s not your fault in the slightest, love. A young girl shouldn’t be closing up by herself-- and your boss is an ass for allowing you.” She told her as she started the car. “The rest isn’t even your fault, though I can see why you think so in this matter. Your aunt and uncle are being selfish, focusing on their own feelings. My parents should be able to straighten them out.” She said, planning already to call her mother and father up to sort things out.

Her mother especially wouldn’t allow Elisabeth to carry on the way she was. Wilhelmina was a spitting image of her mother, and if Will wouldn’t stand for her actions, her mother certainly wouldn’t either. There was just no way.

“C’mon now. I’ll make you and baby lunch at my place.” She smiled.

OoC|| We can end the thread if you like. That is, if you don't have more! :)

(OOC: nope don't have more.)