Chapter 49

Claudia grips onto his hand tightly, afraid that it's going to disappear if she doesn't hang on. She places her other hand on his face, brushing her thumb against his cheek. It feels familiar and foreign at the same time. Even when he is sleeping like this, he is still so warm. More tears spill.

"I have to tell you, I need to tell you, I don't know how to do this. How are you always so good at talking? I need your help," She blubbers. She lays her head down on his chest. Speeches were never her strong suit. She feels a gentle squeeze. He is still here. He brings his other hand up to her head, playing with her curls, twirling them around his finger.

"Slow down, C." Hearing his voice makes her cry harder. She was so scared that he wasn't going to come back, that he was going to leave her all alone. He scoops her tiny frame onto his lap. He continues playing with her hair but removes his hand from hers to rub her back. "Shh, shh. It's okay C. I'm here. I'm still here. I will always be here."

"I missed you so much," she manages to get a few words out between sobs. Foster just smiles and kisses her forehead. They sit like that for a while. C on Foster's lap, snuggled into his broad chest. His strong arms wrap around her, holding her in place, reminding her of his presence. C tilts her head up. Her tears have dried. She can see him now.

"Are you ready now C?" He looks down at her, she looks so much tinier than before. Seeing her so weak like this breaks his heart. She nods and lays her head back down on his chest.

"I know what happened at prom. Julia played the video and Julia forced herself onto you. I'm sorry for running away, it was just really hard to see you with someone else." He kisses the top of her head, breathing her in, waiting for her to continue. "About what you said at the dance months ago, I know I've said it before but I love you too. I know that what we have is different. We might do everything in the wrong order, but that's just how we are. We aren't normal. If we were, we would both have way more friends," she sputters these few sentences out.

Foster chuckles. She's right. "Foster, I don't think you know this, and I just found out not to long ago too," she makes herself as small as possible before completing her thought, afraid of how this might change things, "I-I'm pregnant."

Foster's ice-blue eyes widen but then they return to their usual size. He places his hand under her chin, turning her face towards him like he has so many times before. "Are you serious C?" She can hear the excitement in his tone and can see it on his face. She relaxes. She nods. "There is a baby in here," he places his hand on her stomach trying to feel any sign of life. C giggles.

"You dork, it's probably only the size of a plum right now, you aren't really going to be able to feel it." He rubs the back of his neck and smiles sheepishly, embarrassed about his lack of understanding when it comes to pregnancy.

"That doesn't matter, it's still there. I can feel it, I'm a psychic remember. I know what my baby is thinking," Foster pretends.

"Oh really? Well, what exactly are they thinking right now?" Foster pulls her face closer to his. His lips meet hers and they share a tender kiss. He pulls away to answer her.

"Duh, the baby is thinking about how cool his dad is."

"How do you even know it's a boy?"

"Just trust me, I know these things." Foster smirks in an all-knowing way.

"Whatever," she huffs. Already annoyed with him after him only being awake for less than five minutes. She pushes all of her weight on top of him. "You need to lay down."

Once he is down, she snuggles into his chest and closes her eyes. That forest smell that she loves surrounds her and warmth covers her. She didn't realize just how cold it was until she was right here, just like this. He pulls the blanket over them both and they doze off together.

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Sylvia manages to call Dawn and explain the situation, She curses herself for taking so long before speaking with her friend. Dawn freaks out on the other end of the line. Sylvia takes it all in, knowing that Dawn is just worried for her boy. Any parent would react in the same way.

After the screaming has died down, Dawn asks how Claudia is handling everything. Sylvia sighs and breaks the news to Dawn about her upcoming grandparenthood. Dawn freaks out again, this time less angry and more excited.

"Do you think I can speak with him?" Dawn asks once she has completely calmed a second time.

"I'm not sure if he is awake. They said he might be in a coma for a long time. The doctor's said you can't be sure about these things." Sylvia grimaces thinking about the chance of Foster not waking at all.

"Can you at least go check?" Dawn pleads.

"Yeah, I'll go check." Sylvia enters the room as quietly as she can, not wanting to disturb the teens. She walks down the rows of beds, stopping just before she reaches the end. She sees C on top of Foster, babbling through tears about everything that's happened. Sylvia turns around and walks back out the doors into the hallway.

"He's up . . . but I will have him call you back later. He is getting an earful from my daughter." Sylvia snorts and Dawn agrees to call her son later when he is less busy. If Sylvia's hair weren't already gray, she swears these kids would have given her a head full of silver this past week alone.