* in this story story the pogues are 18 and almost done with high school. when they get back to OBX they graduate high school a week later *

Kie's POV:

So after JJ saved me from Kitty Hawk, we sort of hooked up on the plane to South America. However, by the time we were on our way home so much had happened with our friends that we decided not to tell them about us. We thought it was best just to remain friends.

We got back home and my parents had me on lockdown, thankfully, I left for college in a month and I would never have to live with them again. JJ and I acted like nothing had happened. We all graduated high school and I left immediately for college because I couldn't stand being around my parents any longer.

I was going to college in South Carolina, so not super far away. I was excited for a fresh start, however, I missed my friends like crazy. I missed JJ the most. He always gave me this sense of safety and comfort, especially when he rescued me from Kitty Hawk.

I craved that same comfort from him now that I was living in a college dorm. We never went on our surf trip and I kinda wish we would have. Instead, I went to college early to get away from the Outer Banks, to get away from my parents. But going in the surf trip would have done the same thing and I would have been with JJ.

The first month of school was okay, but I started getting kinda sick. My roommate and I were pretty close and she asked if I was pregnant. I didn't think that was possible until I remembered our trip to El Dorado. I went to the store and bought a pregnancy test.

I took it in my dorm bathroom as I anxiously waited for the results. I facetimed Sarah and she immediately knew something was wrong. I told her that I might be pregnant and she just assumed it was from some college guy here. I flipped the test over and it was positive. I was pregnant. Sarah promised not to tell anyone. I wasn't ready to let the pogues know. I wasn't ready to tell JJ.

JJ's POV:

Life in the Outer Banks was definitely different now. John B and Sarah were living in the condo that Ward left her. I ended up getting some of the gold money to save my houses. Yeah, it was a piece of shit but it's all I had and we haven't cashed out on the all the gold yet. We only had whatever John B smuggled in his backpack and most of that was going to rebuild the Chateau.

Pope went to college on his scholarship and Cleo followed him out there. Those two were always together and it was kinda cute. I was just glad Pope found someone he likes and got over Kie. Damn, I missed her so much. I finally was able to tell her I loved her and then we kissed. She made the first move which she never did with John B or Pope. So that must have meant something. But it all ended pretty quick. I think we were both just scared.

Kie had been in South Carolina now for a few months going to school. She just wanted to be away from her parents. Today, I was hanging out with John B at his fancy condo on Figure Eight. He was leaving to go pick up lunch quick and I was left alone with Sarah.

Sarah and I have gotten closer. She's kind of like a sister to me now. I overheard her talking on the phone to someone. I heard her say things like, "Morning sickness sounds like hell", "It will all be worth it when the baby is here", "I'm going to come visit you this weekend"

Once she was off the phone she came to hang out with me. I looked at her and asked, "You okay?"

"Yeah, just a lot going on"

"What do you mean?" I asked wanting to know more details

She looked at me and said, "You can't tell anyone because Kie will literally murder me"

My heart was racing. I felt like I could throw up. My mind started racing and imagining these awful situations. I always made a point to protect Kie and now something might have happened and I wasn't there to stop it.

"She's pregnant" Sarah said in almost a whisper

That is so not what I was expecting to hear. It made my blood boil. She was pregnant. How could she let that happen? She just started school. Who was she with that got her pregnant. I had so many questions. Sarah didn't seem too shocked so she must have already known.

"Wow, that's crazy. Kie's going to be a mom. Do her parents know?"

"No, she doesn't want them to know. She didn't want me to tell anyone. I just feel bad because she's doing this all alone"

"So the dad isn't in the picture?"

"Guess not, it's been four months and she's never mentioned him" Sarah casually said and my brain froze

Four months ago was when we were in El Dorado. We had sex on the plane. Was she pregnant with my baby? Why didn't she tell me if it was? I know why, because she finally realized I'm not good enough for her. She probably thinks I'll end up just like my dad. I was stopped from my thoughts when Sarah said, "JJ"

"What? Sorry"

"You totally just zoned out" She informed me as she looked at me with a look of concern

"Are you okay? Your face is ghost white"

"I think Kie might be pregnant with my baby.... When I saved her from Kitty Hawk we kinda confessed our feelings and we kissed. On the plane we were on a bit of an adrenaline rush and we kinda had sex...."

"WHAT?! Why didn't you guys tell us?"

"You and John B were going through a lot and Pope and I kinda got into it about Kie and we just decided it was best to stay friends"

"No, that's stupid. You've been in love with her forever and she makes you happy so you need to tell her. I appreciate your concern for me and John B, but seeing you two together would make me so happy. She deserves the best, I want her to be happy and you make her so happy"

Wow. Sarah thought I was good enough for Kie and that was coming from a former kook. Maybe she was right. She looked at me and said, "I'm going to talk to Kie and tell her I'm coming to visit this weekend but you're going to show up, not me"

"She probably doesn't want to see me. If she did, she would have called"

"She's probably just scared. A baby is a big deal and she hasn't even processed it herself. You're going to South Carolina to get your baby momma"

"Sarah, the baby might not even be mine"

"It is, Kie doesn't do random hookups. She did once during her kook year and she regretted it for months" Sarah said telling me more about the situation

It was decided, I was leaving for South Carolina tomorrow and Sarah was letting me borrow her car since it was either that or taking my new bike on a long road trip. She kept this between us and I anxiously drive Sarah's volvo to Kie's colllege. This was a huge upgrade from the twinkie.

After a long drive, I pulled into the campus and Sarah told me she texted Kie. Kie still thought Sarah was the one coming. I parked outside her dorm room and Sarah said Kie was coming out. A few minutes later, she was coming out of the building and walking towards Sarah's car. I got out of the car and she stopped walking. She looked at me and tears started streaming down her face. She ran towards me and hugged me.

Her hugs meant everything to me and that's saying something because I hated being hugged and touched by anyone else. She was crying in my arms and I just knew that it was my baby.

"I love you, both of you so much" I said putting one of my hands on her stomach

She looked up and asked, "Did Sarah tell you?"

I explained how I found out and Kie wasn't mad. She was actually kinda happy because she was so stressed about telling me. Kie had a few weeks left before finals and was so worried about school and the baby.

She brought me up to her dorm room and her roommate was away for the weekend. She told me everything about the pregnancy and she looked even more beautiful with her small bump. She caught me looking and I said, "Being pregnant make you look even hotter"

"I feel fat and I'm not even that big yet"

"You're beautiful, growing our tiny human" I said kissing her like it was the most natural thing in the world

We haven't kissed since the plane to El Dorado. We broke apart and she was smiling. We were still only inches apart and she said, "I love you too, we both do"

I kissed her again and I was just so happy. I never thought I'd be happy about getting a girl pregnant, but Kie wasn't any girl. This was us starting our family. We got to be the parents we wanted to be. We wouldn't be anything like our parents. We got to it our way and I was kinda excited for this new adventure. I was also scared as shit to be a dad because I had such a shitty father growing up. Kie must have read my mind because she whispered, "You're nothing like him. Don't ever worry about that"

I spent the whole weekend with Kie and she decided that she was dropping out and moving back home after this semester. A few weeks later, John B and I were helping Kie move out and we told him about the baby.

Kie moved back and she was living with me. I was super motivated and got the house cleaned up and we went baby shopping. We were careful to make sure we didn't run into her parents. She didn't trust them and I sure as hell didn't want to see Mike after I took his daughter out of that camp.

Pope and Cleo were home for Christmas and Cleo was excited about the baby and Pope gave us a lecture. Of course, he did. It's Pope. But he was pretty excited to be an uncle, which was cool. Everyone also  commented about how they couldn't believe I was the first to have a baby but then John B said, "Honestly, I'm shocked this didn't happen sooner. I'm just glad it was with Kie and not some rando"

"Me too" I said kissing Kie

The next few months of her pregnancy were flying by. Mike and Anna found out as people on the island talked. Mainly talked shit about me being the father and they couldn't believe a kook would have a baby with me. Kie didn't want to see her parents and I supported that decision.

Watching Kie give birth was a life changing experience. I forever will be in debt to her for pushing our child out of her body. Once we got somewhat used to being parents, Kie and I wanted to go on our surf trip. We were just going to go as a family of three. We packed our bags on the charter boat that I brought and we headed out into the ocean for our own adventure.

Our first stop was going to be in Yucatán. I've always wanted to go there. We docked the boat and brought our little girl to the beach for the first time. Was this surf trip going to be complicated with a baby? Yes. But it was so worth it. Kie took our three month old daughter out into the water. Kie was only ankle deep as she dripped her little toes in which resulted in the cutest baby smile. I couldn't help but notice Kie and our little girl were wearing matching bikini's. They were the cutest mother-daughter duo out there.

Kie and our daughter were little best friends. Our little one was getting all the love, support, attention, and experiences that Kie and I never had. I walked over to my girls and I hugged Kie and whispered, "Having a baby with you is the best thing that's ever happened to me"

She looked at me and gave me a kiss. It's crazy because a year ago if you told me that I would have found El Dorado, been dating Kie, and have a daughter with Kie, I would have thought you were crazy. Now, I can't imagine my life being any different.

I'd give up the gold in a heartbeat for my family. They mean everything to me. I've never felt more love in my life before. It's funny, most people think having a baby young ruins your life but they're wrong. Having a baby just made my life, our life so much better. My girls were my everything.