The next few months for us were a whirlwind at school with exams and labs. We barely had time for one another let alone our classes and studying. Chloe began wearing baggy clothes and just looking plain horrible. I tried to catch up with her a time or two after class but I was always detained for one reason or another. I even emailed her at night regularly.

One night while I was studying alone I realized I was short a book on anatomy. We had this test on the renal system tomorrow and I really needed to read up on that part in the book. So I called Chloe and asked her if she had the book with her. She did and without me asking I just showed up at her place. I was kind of late and she was ready for bed in the nighty I had given her for christmas. I was stunned with what I saw.

"Chloe are you pregnant?" I asked in complete shock. She looked at the ground not really wanting to look at me at all.
"Yes."

"When were you going to tell me?" I asked proud and hurt at the same time.
"Never. I have worked too hard for what I have right now, Drake. My grades must be maintained so that I get the scholarships. This is my mistake and as soon as its born I'm giving it up for adoption. My parents don't even know about it. I want to keep it that way." Chloe burst upset and angry because she had been trying so hard to keep her pregnancy from everyone.

I reached over and felt the baby moving inside of her.

"This is our baby is it not? I want this, Chloe. I want to be a father and to help you. Don't put the baby up for adoption. I'll raise it and keep your secret for you. Please don't take this away from me." Drake broke down. He pulled Chloe into his arms kissing her like he hadn't been able to all these months.

In the middle of the night on June 3, I recieved the phone call from Chloe. She was in labor and crying for me. I went to her dorm after getting dressed quickly in what I had draped across the chair. I wiped the sleep from my eyes as I ran to her place. She paced and screamed in my ear as the pain ever increased. I told her I thought it was time to go to the birthing center just outside of town. I called a cab and we were on our way.
We arrived and the midwife checked her in. Chloe had made it just in time. She was already a good eight centimeters dilated. It wouldn't be long. My panic began to set in as the moment was ever nearer. Chloe finally sat on the bed and with the Midwife's instruction began to push the baby out. I was horrified as I watched the baby's head stretch her skin and emerge. Her screams echoed in my head with her pain. Then he was born beautiful and perfect. Our son James, arrived 7am on June 4. Chloe was exhausted as was I. He was eight pounds 3 oz and
21" long. He was a big boy. I could see why she struggled with him.

After several hours in the center and getting a clean bill of health for both of them we went back to my dorm. Chloe and I changed clothes as our friends came to see our son.

I couldn't be prouder of them both. I stepped headlong into the daddy role. I fed him, burped, bathed and changed him. Chloe helped when she could.

She thanked me for keeping James. She really didn't want to give him up after she saw him. She was just trying to think of what was best for them both. I just smiled not wanting to reflect on the past when we had such a wonderful future to look forward too.
James grew quickly, it was now the end of our Sophomore year at school. I hadn't gone home since that first christmas with Chloe. I always came up with an excuse not to go. I still didn't tell my dad that I was a father. I was afraid he would mention it to Chloe's dad who frequently ran into him in the city.

Chloe came over to speak with me just as summer break was starting. She pulled me to the side. "Drake, I can't do this anymore. My transfer has been accepted to Pleasantville University. I am leaving today. I'll keep in touch regularly. Send me pictures of James as much as you can. I love you both. Goodbye." Chloe said tearfully.

She walked over to James picking him up holding him as she bid her farewells to him.

Chloe walked out of our lives that day as she stepped into her cab. I wanted to hold her and keep her there but I remembered what Vivian had told me once. Sometimes the things you love the most must be let go, if they are meant to be it will return to you. I just pray that someday we were meant to be for my hearts sake.
James and I got on well in our new lives without Chloe. It was the beginning of my Senior year and James was now five. I took a break during my Junior year to work and be with James. I decided to change my look a bit I shaved and let my hair grow out a little. I wanted to look more fatherly then before. I think the look worked.


I still lived on campus take minor classes in the evenings twice a week to keep from being asked to leave. I met Abigale Thorne and we hit it off well.
She adored James but he didn't like her. I proposed To Abigale during a drunken stupor at a dorm party that we had attended while a nanny was with James.
Abigale and I had our moments, but that is all they were was moments. I still thought of Chloe all the time even to the point of calling her and talking for hours with her just as we used too. She even began popping over to see James. I admit this made my heart beat faster. I still had her engagement ring safely hidden away in my jewelry box lining. Our relationship, started to burn warmly all over again.

I began holding her and kissing her as I used to. Chloe didn't mind it one bit she even teased me about in front of James. One day, while James was at school Chloe stopped over and of course we had our proper moments that turned very heated. We eventually ended up in my bed all afternoon. It was during one of our moments that we were not alone. Abigale had walked in on us.

Call me crazy but in a way I was relieved that she had. I was looking for a way to break it off with her and this was perfect.

We argued back and forth for a bit then I broke it off with her. She was even more furious then.


On her way out the door she spied my bear, THE BEAR, and she stole it. She ran out of the house slamming doors and all. I was heartbroken I had to find her and get my bear back.


I had to think of a way to get that bear back. Looking back now there was something strangely familiar in her eyes. Yes they were the same as mine and my father's she was of our kind. I wonder if she was working for my grandfather.
Graduation was quickly approaching and I finally had my life somewhat the way I wanted it. I was dating Chloe again slowly this time. She had already graduated the year before as we were supposed to but since my break I was lagging a year.
I decided to soak in the hottub for a couple of hours while James played with a couple of his other friends whose parents decided to have them while in school as well. I was glad I wasn't the only insane student. I happened to glance in his direction and noticed the broad back of a man speaking with him that I hadn't recognised. I quickly got out of the hottub on alarm mode.

As I approached them, I heard the words being spoken.
"Where do you live?" Spoke the man. James smiled big pointing to the dorm door that was Drake's.
"I live here with my daddy, Drake. You know you look alot like my daddy, only with longer hair." James said. I paused knowing exactly who was standing there.
I had recieved the email from Kaleb about a month ago telling me that he was transferring into my college to continue his Junior year. Now, my secret was blown. Kaleb knows about my son.

I gave him a big hug. We stepped back as Kaleb began to rant at me. "Why didn't you tell the family you had a son Drake. Don't you think Dad and Vivian would have liked to know? If you won't tell them then I will!" Kaleb yelled at me, upsetting James.

"Kaleb, you must understand, I had my reasons for keeping James a secret. Chloe didn't want her parents to find out she had a child out of wedlock. You know how strict they are. So I agreed for her sake and to keep her from giving him up for adoption. I don't regret that decision. Please your my brother surely you are not going to hold this against me." Drake said trying to calm his brother.

"Fine but tell dad. He has a right to know." Kaleb said as he hugged me.

I hadn't realized that telling Dad would come sooner then I had expected. Apparently that night Kaleb had called dad and they were staying in town for my graduation.
"You really should pop in on Drake and see what he has been up to lately. I think you'll discover a rather big surprise." Kaleb told Devon that evening.

I was relaxing running over the day's plans for graduation in my head. When a knock came at my door.

I had an oh Shit moment the gang was all there standing in front of me and my son behind me.
"Hi Vivian, dad." I said awkwardly.
I stepped out and at that blessed moment James burst onto the scene seeing the twins wanting to play.

The shock on their faces was contageous.
"Who is this?"Vivian broke her stance first.

"My son James. Chloe and my son." I said. My father looked at him as James just began to talk and carry on regular conversation with him.

"A son with Chloe? Why the secrets Drake?" Dad asked a little hurt.

"To protect Chloe. She had asked me not to let her parents know. So in order to prevent any mishaps I had to keep it from you also. I'm sorry dad but I didn't want her giving James up for adoption. That was her other decision." I told him.
Dad turned to James who was intently watching us. He bent over and gave him a big hug. "I would have kept your secret son. But I understand, I just have a great deal of time to make up with my grandson."

He turned back to me and gave me a hug too. "Thank you for James. He is beautiful."

I went in the house and prepared for my graduation.

