Later that night, JJ went out on the porch to talk to Mike. The sun was going down as he sat across from him on a patio chair. They sat in silence for a moment.

"Mike-" JJ started.
"She's scared you know," Mike cut him off and JJ grew interested. "she's afraid you might feel bad if you knew the truth"

JJ paused to think. He looked down and traced the patterns of the furniture with his finger.

"So, what really happened then?" JJ asked. Mike looked at him and rolled his bottom lip through his teeth as he debated whether or not to tell him.

"I... was there with her, when she took the first test" Mike said. "She was.. so scared when it came back positive. Scared of what her parents would say, scared to be a mom, scared to tell your father" Mike went on.

JJ sat uncomfortable in the chair. This was one of the most gut flipping conversations he could possibly have with another person.

"They had been off and on for months at the time. But they never could seem to make it work." Mike said in a reminiscent manner. "Well, she told me she was going to tell Luke about the baby one night. She went over there and, of course, I was waiting for her in my car outside his house. Just in case."

JJ listened with pain as he felt where the story was leading up to.

"She came back out crying, saying that she needed another test in order to prove it to him" Mike explained with distaste towards his father. "So we went to the store and I bought her another test."

There was a pause in room. Mike adjusted his body and prepared himself.

"I was there.. when she came back with the bruises and the cuts all over her body" Mike finally revealed. JJ took a deep breath as he spoke. He briefly looked away as he tried to swallow back his anger. His leg now anxiously bouncing. "And- I know that's upsetting to hear, JJ. But we both want you to know that.. what your father did- we don't hold that against you."

JJ nodded, unable to speak.

"We know that you can't control the shitty things your father did before you were born." Mike explained calmly "we understand that you're not like him."

"Guess I get why you guys hated me so much in the beginning then" JJ got out

"Right" mike chuckled maturely as he examined the boy in front of him

"After that, we got her another test, just to make sure. Luckily it came back negative again" Mike continued . "And, we stopped talking to him after that."

JJ rubbed his face as he took a minute to process everything

"Of course we've had to speak to him from time to time when we run into him and all, but- for the most part, that was the end of our 'friendship' with your dad"

"Y'all were friends?" JJ asked, just a little surprised

"Oh yeah" Mike remembered "we all used to be really close. Just about every guy in the OBX wanted Anna too" Mike smiled a little

"But you got her" JJ smiled, relating it to his situation with Kie

Mike nodded and smiled, letting out a soft chuckle.

"You know" Mike started. His tone bringing the vibe down and getting more serious. "When I first found out that Natasha was pregnant-"

"You knew my mom?!" JJ asked, accidentally cutting him off.

"Oh yeah" Mike said, joyfully.  "she was a bit younger than us, but we all still hung out"

JJ had never talked to anyone other than his dad about his mother before. He virtually knew nothing about her.

"She was a wonderful girl, JJ. Truly" Mike said, sincerely. "And when she got pregnant with you, she had told me and Anna that she planned to get full custody. She just needed to get her financial situation right. She said her parents told her to get married to Luke, but she wanted better for you."

JJ had never listened so carefully to a conversation in his life.

"Luke tried and tried to get her to move in with him, but she refused. She was very strong-minded in that way. Just like you" Mike smiled. "Once you were born she started working a lot just to afford rent in some busted up motel. We tried to offer her help..money. But she would never take it. She'd always say 'I don't need your pity money. I got it all under control'" Mike chuckled as he remembered.

"Funny" JJ scoffed "My dad always told me she'd beg him for money any chance that she got"

Mike shook his head

"Absolutely not" Mike chuckled "she wouldn't take help from no one."

JJ smiled at the thought of having some sort of good in his blood.

"But.. when she died" Mike said. His tone getting serious again "I always knew you'd have a hard life, JJ. She was the only one fighting for you, and your dad.. after she died he kinda just disappeared for a little while. He stopped hanging out with his normal group of friends, and the only time I'd ever see him was when he'd go to the gas station for beer."

JJ looked down, vaguely remembering how bad it was in the beginning. The conversation brought back old memories. His dad was destroyed after loosing her. His earliest memories of his father was him moping around the house all day, doing nothing for months.

"My dad told me she was an alcoholic.." JJ started. "Was that true?"

"No" Mike scoffed "she hardly ever touched that stuff. And when she did, she did not hold it very well"

"So then was she actually drunk when she got in the wreck?" JJ asked, feeling more and more betrayed by his dad every second

"Well I wasn't there. There's no way of me really knowing, but I'd say it's very unlikely.. especially with you in the car." Mike explained. "Like I said.. she hardly touched that stuff"

JJ leaned back in the chair. Somehow his finger found its way to his mouth and he started nervously biting his nail a little.

"Do you.. remember much about your mother?" Mike asked carefully

JJ shrugged

"No" he shook his head "I mean, I remember the wreck..obviously. But, other than that..nah"

"You should go through some of our old photo albums" Mike suggested "I know we have pictures of her in there somewhere. I'll bring them down later tonight. You and Kiara can look through them."

"Thanks" JJ smiled "really"

{thanks for readddinnnggggg!! What do you think???? Love you alllll!!! Okay byeeeeeeeee}