Andrew hummed the chorus to Gangsta's Paradise as he washed his hands. He knocked a bottle of Molly's hair product off the vanity and it clattered into the bin. He dried his hands and went to to dig the bottle out. It had sunk to the bottom of the bin, crushing layers of tissues. As he pulled the bottle out and moved to replace it on the vanity, something caught his eye. A white plastic handle stuck up between crumpled tissues. He reached in and picked it up, his heart racing as he saw the brand name in blue lettering on the side.

Clearblue.

It was a pregnancy test. His stomach dropped to his feet when he saw the result.

Pregnant.

He leaned against the vanity heavily as the word on the tiny digital screen looked up at him. His heart stopped for a solid ten seconds and if Clementine hadn't licked his finger tips, he'd have forgotten to breathe. He pulled his hand back from the dog's mouth and dropped the test stick on the vanity.

"Fuck," he whispered, gasping for air.

He looked in the bin again to see if he could tell how long the test was in there. The test didn't say how far along Molly was.

Breathe, he told himself. He gripped the edge of the vanity so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His chest was tight. Bin day is tomorrow, so it can't be any older than six days, he thought.

Taking several deep breaths, he forced his fingers through his hair roughly, hoping to ground himself a bit. Molly was pregnant.

She hasn't told me yet, he realized. Why?

She wasn't the type to do one of those cute announcements he'd seen his friends' wives and girlfriends do. Hell, she wasn't even the type to want a baby to begin with.

For a brief moment, an image of a child running along Greystones Beach laughing and shouting as he did as a child lit up his mind's eye. It had Molly's smile and his eyes. He felt a twinge in his heart at the thought.

She hasn't told you because she doesn't intend on telling you, his mind told him.

He shook his head. Molly would never keep something like this from him. She'd never just make a decision about something like this without him. Would she?

Doubt crept into his mind and he pushed off the vanity, moving through the bedroom with Clementine at his heels. She took the stairs behind him, her collar jingling quietly. Andrew headed to Molly's office, knowing she didn't have class that day. He stopped outside the office, trying to compose himself. Clementine sat next to him, looking up with her big brown eyes and her ears peeled back against her head.

Breathe, he reminded himself. She hasn't done anything wrong yet. Maybe she's planning on telling you. Maybe she wants to confirm it with her doctor first.

He knocked and waited a second before entering. Molly was sat at her desk, several textbooks open in front of her. She looked up as she closed a book and stood.

"Hey," she said cheerfully. "I can't talk long. I've got to go to an appointment."

"How long have you known?" he asked, point-blank.

She froze, looking at him in confusion. "How - how long have I known what?" she asked.

He closed the gap between them slightly. "How long have you known?" he asked again, slower this time.

She narrowed her eyes, still unsure. "Andrew, I don't know what you're talking about."

"How far along are you?" he asked finally. "I saw the test. Don't lie to me."

Her face fell. There was no point in acting now. She'd first suspected it when her period didn't come the week she took off from her birth control. When she'd gone back and checked the package, the numbers were off and three pills were left. The stress of final exams had kept her so occupied that she'd missed them.

"I - I guess six weeks," she said softly.

"You've known for six weeks or that's how far along you are?" he asked, his voice hard.

"I'm six weeks along," she replied stiffly. "I found out on Sunday night. I confirmed it with a doctor on Monday. They booked the termination for this afternoon."

Andrew's mouth fell open in disbelief. He deflated and looked back at her. "You've known you were pregnant for five days and you didn't bother to tell me?" he asked. "And you made a decision about it without even talking to me?"

He saw the walls go up around her so clearly, he could have sworn he heard the rumble of stone.

"What is there to discuss, Andrew? Its my choice," she replied, crossing her arms. "I thought you were all about women's rights and pro-choice? Or is that just something you say to the media?"

He recoiled as though he'd been slapped. He knew she was pushing him to get a rise, but he ignored it. "You know I would support your decision. Do not insult me by suggesting otherwise," he said, keeping his tone level. "I still have a right to know."

"You know now," she said, an edge growing in her voice. "Do you support my decision?"

The image of their child running along the beach, shrieking with joy flashed through his mind. He would have been lying if he didn't feel a sudden urge to have that image be real.

"I'd at least like the opportunity to talk about it before you go through with it," he said carefully, aware that the wrong word would send her running.

She scoffed. "What is there to talk about? I don't want kids, Andrew. Plain and simple. If you do want them, then you're with the wrong person."

Her words stung and the image popped like a balloon.

"I'm late to my appointment," she said, walking around her desk.

"Molly! That's it, then? You're just going to do it? Without me even being there?" Andrew asked, following her through the house.

"Its three pills, Andrew. Hardly something that requires an escort," she sighed, pulling her coat on.

"Will you just wait?!" he asked, tugging his own coat on and following her into the rain. "Please!"

Molly turned to face him in front of her car. "What for? My mind is made up."

"Molly, can we at least talk? Please. Don't do this!" he exclaimed.

"I need to go," she replied, opening the driver's door.

Andrew slammed it shut, blocking her from opening it again. The rain stung as it hit his face and blurred his glasses. "Please," he begged.

She stared at him in anger. "Move," she spat.

He bit his lip and stepped back, hanging his head. He was dangerously close to scaring her, and he knew it. She slammed the car door so hard after she got in, he thought the window would break.

Molly looked at him in the rearview mirror as she drove down the driveway. He stood in the rain, looking like an abandoned dog, until the gate closed after her. A miniscule pang of guilt stabbed at her heart as she watched him stand in the downpour, despondent.

Stop it. You need to do this, she told herself. A baby would destroy your career right now. It would probably destroy your relationship, too. He'd get to go off and tour for months on end and you'd be stuck at home, making all the sacrifices for the thing. Its better this way.

The clinic was in Bray and traffic was fairly rough because of the rain. As she inched along, she remembered the sinking feeling that turned her blood to ice as she read the results on the test. The panic that gripped her for several minutes as she sat on the bathroom floor at three in the morning after a late night of studying, Andrew sleeping quietly in the bedroom. Then the serenity that followed once she settled on a plan.

No, there would be no baby for her and Andrew. A baby would mean she'd have to settle for a shitty job that limited the hours she could work. It meant little to no advancement in her career and being 'mommy' tracked as soon as she was free to work. This was a hill she was willing to die on. She didn't know how to be a mother. She didn't want to struggle to find out. It was better that way.

The car in front of her stopped suddenly and Molly had to slam on the brakes. There was the screech of tires as she skidded several feet, stopping just shy of the other car's rear end. She gasped for breath as she gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles. Her heart was pounding and she took several deep breaths. The car began to move again and she shook her head to clear it, focusing on the drive ahead of her.

Back at the house, Andrew was still standing in the rain, soaked through. He was feeling...he didn't know what. Betrayal? Or maybe anger? No, devastated. That was it. He stood in the rain as devastation overtook him while he watched the love of his life drive off to terminate her pregnancy. Was she still the love of his life after this? His brain was going so fast that everything felt like it was standing still.

Science told him that it was just a bundle of cells, that it was not able to survive on its own, that it was just as likely to disappear in a flood of blood spontaneously as it was to fully develop into a human being. But still, the possibility of it all was what haunted him the most. The possibility that he and Molly could be joined by something other than a ring and a promise uttered in a whisper was a powerful one.

The jingle of Clementine's collar drew his attention and he looked over his shoulder to see the dog standing in the kitchen doorway. She peered into the rain, tilting her head at him. He sighed and walked back inside, peeling his socks off at the door and leaving them on the tile. He shut the door, hung his coat back up, and went to the pantry. After cracking the cap off, he downed half of a beer before coming up for air. Andrew's clothes were soaked through, but he didn't notice.

Betrayal.

It was a strong word, but it fit. Molly had a habit of withholding information from him and he'd had enough. This was the final straw. She didn't even intend on telling him about it. He could overlook the fact that she wanted an abortion - it wasn't the right time for the two of them to be having kids. But he couldn't overlook the fact that she hadn't told him, that she planned to just terminate the pregnancy without ever telling him it existed.

Molly parked in the parking lot in front of the clinic, her nerves still on edge from her near-collision on the road. The clinic shared a parking lot with a shopping center and she watched as a mother followed her child as he jumped into puddles, giggling wildly with each splash. When they'd passed out of her line of vision, she got out and dashed to the lobby of the clinic.

"Hello," the nurse at the reception desk said as Molly shook the rain from her coat. "Do you have an appointment?"

Molly nodded and approached the desk. "With Dr. Mallon," she said.

"Sign in and I'll let her know you're here," the nurse said with a smile. "Fill this out whilst you wait."

Molly signed in and took the clipboard from the nurse. She sat in a corner of the waiting area and began filling out the form with her personal details. A consent form was underneath it and she paused. A nurse appeared and called a name. A woman in the row in front of her stood up with difficulty, cradling her large belly. Molly watched as she waddled toward the nurse grinning broadly. Her hand came to her stomach instinctively and she took a steadying breath.

No. That can't be you, she reminded herself, returning to the forms in front of her.

When she was finished, she walked the clipboard back up to the receptionist.

"Thanks, love," she smiled. "It'll be a couple minutes." Molly nodded and sat back down, her palms starting to sweat.

Andrew was staring at his empty beer bottle, still sitting at the kitchen table in his wet clothes. Clementine was at his feet, watching him silently. Rain continued, pattering against the windows. His mind had finally stopped spinning and now it had reached a level of calm. Too calm, to be exact. He looked at his phone and winced when he saw the background photo of Molly and Clementine.

How do you come back from this? He asked himself. How could I forgive her for this? How could she have thought this would be okay?

His mum had been right when she'd told him to be realistic with their relationship. Molly was too ambitious for him. Her career would always come first. He and his wants would always be second. The idyllic little bubble he'd been living in since she'd moved in had exploded, leaving a mess on everything he loved so dearly. And the worst part was that he couldn't blame anyone but himself.

Molly had been clear about who she was and the goals she had for herself from the very beginning of their relationship, way back when they'd met that summer. She was clear about her plan for herself when they'd reconnected the year beforehand. And she was explicit in her desires and concerns when she'd agreed to move to Ireland to be with him. No, this feeling of betrayal was entirely on him. He should have known better than to think a promise and a ring would change any of that.

He sighed heavily and stood, his muscles crying out after sitting still for so long. The shower and a clean set of clothes called his name.

"Ms. Stanley," Dr. Mallon said, closing the door after her. "Nice to see you again."

"Hello," Molly replied. Her heart was racing and her palms were sweating.

"So you are in today to begin the process of a medical abortion, yes?" Dr. Mallon read. "I have to hear you verbally confirm all of this information."

"Oh - uh, yes," Molly answered, rubbing her palms on her jeans.

"Even though you were certified for the abortion on Monday, I am required to perform another ultrasound to confirm you are still under twelve weeks," Dr. Mallon explained. "So if you could please lay back."

Molly shifted on the exam table, the paper sheet and hospital gown crinkling underneath her. The fluorescent lights hummed as she looked up at the ceiling. She bit her lip as she tried to think of anything other than the hard plastic wand Dr. Mallon was lubing up near her hips.

"And open your knees and relax," the doctor instructed, wheeling her stool closer. She lifted the paper sheet to Molly's knees and moved the wand between her legs.

Molly looked away from the monitor as an image appeared. She didn't want to see it. It was an inconvenience, nothing more. She steeled herself against any other thoughts and waited as the doctor took measurements and wrote notes.

"I've detected a heartbeat. Would you like to hear it?" Dr. Mallon asked.

Molly shook her head. "Do I have to?" she asked, turning her head to look at the doctor.

"Not if you don't want to," the older woman replied, continuing the scan.

Molly shook her head again. A song came on the radio and she recognized the opening notes. Her heart stopped and she tensed up.

I couldn't utter my love when it counted

"I just love this song," Dr. Mallon remarked. "Its so beautiful."

Molly felt a cold sweat break out on her back and she bit her lip and dug her finger nails into her palms to focus herself. The universe has a sense of humor, she'd at least admit that. The image of Andrew standing in the rain behind her flashed in her mind and she inhaled sharply, blinking rapidly. The pain on his face made her heart ache.

"Did he write it for you?" Dr. Mallon asked, drawing Molly's attention back.

"What?" Molly asked, sure that she hadn't heard correctly.

"Did you have any questions?" the doctor asked.

Molly blinked, hearing the question correctly this time. "Oh - uh, no."

Dr. Mallon put the wand away and motioned for Molly to sit up. "Everything I see tells me you are six weeks along, even. I will go fetch the medication and you can get dressed. There are towels in the corner if you need to clean up."

Dr. Mallon left the room and Molly let out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She avoided looking at the scan on the machine, focusing instead on getting dressed as quickly as possible. A knock came at the door a moment later and Dr. Mallon walked in.

"Now, I have two medications here," the doctor started. "This one, you will take first. Its mifeprestone. It stops the hormone that allows the pregnancy to continue. Once you take this, you can't reverse the termination." She handed Molly a paper cup and a plastic bottle of apple juice. A small pill rattled inside the cup. "This is the second part - misoprostol. There are two tablets that you'll put each one between your gum and cheek and let them dissolve fully. This will cause cramping and bleeding as the uterus expels the pregnancy. You will take this twenty-four hours after the first one, at home."

Molly looked at the pill in the cup and paused, unsure. It should have been an easy thing, popping the pill in her mouth and chasing it with a sip of water. But something held her back. The anguish and desperation in Andrew's voice as he begged her to stop, to give him a chance to process her decision. She swallowed thickly and looked over at the grainy ultrasound image.

Doubt crept in.

Andrew was sitting in the studio, staring at his guitars. Since the party he had been writing like a fiend, staying up late and focusing almost entirely on the music. Now it just seemed stupid. What the fuck did he think he was playing at, acting like making music was actually important? He bit his lip, flexing his fingers on his left hand.

Clementine was chewing on a bone, her gnawing noises the only sound in the house. He thought back to the day they'd gone to meet her. Despite her hesitation, Molly warmed to her instantly. After a home visit, Clementine was theirs. He chuckled wryly, remembering how happy he was that they were actually doing something that felt like creating a life together. She'd been pregnant even then, but it didn't matter. It wasn't even that he wanted a kid; he always figured if it happened, great, if not it was no great loss. He had his music and kids made touring difficult anyways.

The kitchen door opened and Clementine jumped up and trotted out of the room. He sighed and stood up, moving slowly toward the kitchen. Time to face the music. He walked to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of whiskey, taking his time as he heard Molly putting her things away behind him. After several sips, he turned around. Molly was sitting at the kitchen table, watching him.

He surveyed her in silence for a full minute before he spoke. His voice broke through the tension in the air. "I'm done, Molly," he said, hardly believing the words coming out of his mouth. "I'm done doing this with you. I'm done rolling over and begging just to get a smile from you." He scoffed and walked around the island. "Yes, Molly. Whatever you want, Molly. Just look at me, Molly. Smile at me, Molly. I'll sell my fucking soul just to get you to look at me, Molly," he sneered her name each time he said it. "I have given you everything - every fucking thing from my body - and you can't even give me the courtesy of telling me you're pregnant before you run off and end it?"

He paced several steps, draining his drink. She sat in silence.

"All you ever do is fucking run, Molly. Anytime anything gets hard, you run," he continued. "I cannot...I can't spend my time wondering when you're running next." He ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head. "I can't do it, Molly. I know you don't want to wear the ring. I know you don't love me as much as I love you. I know things aren't equal between us. Its like you think I'll just take whatever you'll throw at me and I'll be happy about it. I can't do it anymore." He turned and looked at her, a weight lifted off his shoulders.

His words hung between them like a dense fog. She cleared her throat and produced a small photo from her pocket.

"I didn't go through with it," she said softly. She slid the picture across the table. "Are you still interested in talking?"

His hardened heart cracked and the anger he'd built up against her softened. Andrew took two timid steps toward her and picked up the photo. It was a grainy black and white image and he couldn't tell what he was looking at exactly. He looked back at her, still hurt.

"That's not an apology, Molly," he said simply.

"I know," she replied. "And I know that I run. I know I fucked up by not telling you in the first place, but I was scared. I was scared that I'd lose everything I've worked so hard for. I saw this pregnancy as an obstacle, as something I needed to clear from my path. The easiest way to do that was to terminate it."

"But you didn't," he said simply.

"No," she blinked, looking away from him. "I didn't. I realized I owed you the chance to talk about it. Because its not just about me." She looked back at him. "So can we talk about it?"

Andrew took a steadying breath and pulled out a chair opposite her at the table. He wanted a barrier between them. It made it easier for him to stay angry with her. When she was satisfied he was settled, she spoke in a shaky voice.

"I want the abortion because I don't see how a baby would be beneficial right now. Or at all," she said. "I am finishing up my degree. I need to sit the solicitor's exam. I need to establish myself here. I can't do that easily with a baby."

"I know. But you're not alone in this," he stated. "I can take all the time I need to be with you and the baby. I don't have to tour again for a while. The label aren't pressuring me. I'm happy to be a stay-at-home dad. We are more than fine financially. You could take all the time you needed to establish yourself." He steepled his fingers. "If my maths are correct, you would probably have the baby before you could sit the solicitors' exam to get certified. So, you wouldn't be out of commission for long. You could go right back to work, no problem. And I'd be here."

He was right. The biggest issues she had were easily negotiable. She'd graduate before she really started showing. She was already planning on taking a couple months after finishing her degree to prepare for the transfer exam. She'd deliver before the next expected test date.

"Its not just that," she said. "We'd be responsible for a baby, Andrew. Its not like we could just put it back on a shelf when we got bored of it. I'm not...I'm not ready for that. I don't think I'll ever be."

He sighed and looked at her. "Is anyone ever ready, Molly?" he asked carefully. "I'm not."

"Then why are we even having this conversation?" she asked with a sigh. "You don't want it."

"I said I wasn't ready, not that I didn't want it," Andrew corrected her. "There is a big difference."

Molly bit her lip. "I don't understand why you aren't freaking out a bit."

"I'm not upset about you being pregnant. I'm upset because you kept me out of the entire decision," he explained. He twisted his empty glass on the table. "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about having a kid once or twice since we got back together," he admitted without looking at her. "This seems like it was meant to happen, honestly. I just...I don't want you to assume everything will be terrible just because you're worried about your career."

She shifted in her seat, considering his words. Again, he was right. There was something else bothering her though, deep down in her roots.

"I don't know how to be a mom, Andrew," she whispered, staring at her fingers in her lap.

"You think I know how to be a dad?" he asked. "Its kind of something you learn as you go, Molly."

"What if I'm bad like my mom?" she asked, suddenly breaking into sobs. The emotion of the day caught up to her and she couldn't keep it in any longer.

Andrew felt his heart break as she cried, but he forced himself to ignore the urge to run to her. She'd betrayed him on a core level; he had to have some boundaries. She couldn't just fall to tears and expect him to dash to her side before the first tear drop hit the ground. Not anymore. He dug his finger nails into his palms to keep from moving, the pain enough to dull the voice screaming for him to comfort her.

"What if I...I don't know anything but how I was raised," she sobbed. "I ca-can't do that t-to a baby!" she exclaimed. Andrew dug his nails in harder. "I'll fuck it up!" she sobbed harder. "I can't d-do this, An-drew."

He was sure he'd draw blood. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, but it wasn't from his nails; holding himself back physically hurt. She was openly sobbing now. Every nerve in his heart was telling him to go to her. She was sobbing so hard, he thought she'd hyperventilate.

Fuck it, he thought, standing and walking around the table. "Molly," he said, taking her hands in his and kneeling in front of her. "Breathe. Put your head down between your legs. Come on."

He helped her lean over and put her head between her knees, stroking her hair. She sobbed for several seconds and he sat in front of her. He resisted the urge to take her in his arms.

"I'm so sorry I did this without you," she whispered between hiccups after her sobs slowed. "I should have told you the second I found out." She gasped for air. "I was sitting in the exam room for an hour after they brought the pills in. I really thought I could go through with it."

Clementine padded over and licked Molly's face softly, making her smile in spite of her hysteria.

"Why didn't you?" he asked, scratching the dog under her leather collar.

She sniffled and sat up, her breathing slowly returning to normal. "Your fucking song came on while she was examining me," she said, wiping her eyes. Her mascara had run and he resisted the urge to reach up and wipe it away. "Fucking Shrike," she mumbled, sniffling again.

Andrew bit back a smile. Once again, he'd pulled her back to him with that fucking song. He looked at the floor, still petting Clementine. "So you're six weeks?" he asked.

Molly sniffled again. "Yes. I can get an abortion up to twelve weeks."

"I know," he answered. He swallowed and spoke again. "Do you think you'll change your mind? Maybe not get it?"

She looked past him out of the large windows. Night had fallen. "I don't know why I should."

"That's...us. Its you and me and we created it, Molly," he answered, gesturing to her stomach.

"But you're done," she said, still looking out the window. "So why should I keep it?"

He inhaled sharply and sat down, crossing his long legs. His words had cut Molly to the core and she genuinely thought he was serious, that she'd ruined everything like she always did. She never asked him to be like that. She never asked him to give so much. And yet, here he was blaming her for what he chose to do.

"I was - am angry with you, Molly," he said slowly. "I have forgiven a lot of things, but this...this was a leap too far. I can't..." he sighed. "It's going to take some time." He looked up at her. "It'll take some time, but I'm still all-in. I think we could do this. We could be a family."

She looked back at him, wiping her nose. "I'm scared, Andrew."

"I know," he said, stroking her hand. His finger rubbed over the ring. "I'm scared, too. But we could do this. We could have walks on the beach with the baby. Sunday dinners at my parents' house and the baby is the focus. Christmas mornings - like real Christmas mornings with all the excitement. All the shit families do together."

He painted a rosy picture, though she knew it would be filled with just as many struggles as victories. A family. Her family. Where she actually belonged and wasn't treated like an outsider. Still, a seed of doubt had been planted in the deep recesses of her mind. And it was growing.

After a second of silence, Molly spoke again. "Okay."

He blinked. "Okay, what? Okay as in...?"

"As in we're having a baby," she replied.

He chuckled in disbelief, running his hands across his face as he moved to sit in the chair next to her. "Ehm...you - you're six weeks, right?" She nodded, wiping at her eyes. "So that means you conceived around Christmas?"

Molly nodded. "I think at that party. I forgot to take my pill for a few days because of my final exams. I must have missed enough pills that I wasn't protected anymore." She scoffed. "Clearly."

He smiled. He was going to be a father. The elation of that fact was almost enough to eclipse the hurt and betrayal he felt at Molly's action. Almost.

"Can we...can we wait to tell people, though?" she asked. "Its still early."

"What about my parents? And Jon?" he suggested. "They'll get suspicious when you suddenly stop drinking or can't eat certain things. They can keep a secret." He saw her hesitation. "Molly, come on. We've had to keep so many things a secret recently. I'm tired of secrets. They're going to be grandparents. We should tell them. And maybe Mum could actually help you with a thing or two. She's done this twice, you know. And I think it would be nice for you to have her involved since...since your own mum isn't in the picture." He leaned he elbow on the table and rested his chin on his palm as he looked over at her.

"Fine. But no one else knows," she agreed after a moment. "Not Alex. I'm not even going to tell Oscar. At least not for another few weeks."

Andrew nodded. "Fair enough." She stood and pulled him to his feet. He pulled away when she tried to hug him. "I meant what I said, Molly. I need some time. This was a lot."

She blinked back new tears as he pressed a kiss into her forehead.

"This doesn't mean I don't love you or I've changed my mind. It means I need some time to process, okay?" he explained. "Can you give me that?" She nodded silently. "I'm going to sleep in the guest room tonight. Keep Clemmie with you."

Molly nodded and took a shaky breath. "I really am sorry. I...I know I need help. I'll work on it. I promise."

"I hope so," he said, forcing a smile. He felt his stomach rolling suddenly as she looked at him.

Andrew walked calmly up the stairs to the guest room closest to their bedroom and shut the door after himself before rushing into the bathroom and vomiting into the toilet. Even walking away from her and leaving her like that made him physically sick.

***

A few days later, he and Molly were sitting opposite his parents, Jon, and Chrissy at Balfes in the city. It was his parents' anniversary and he was  treating them all to a night out.

"Order anything you want, I mean it," Andrew said.

His normally-frugal parents balked slightly at the menus in front of them. "Are you sure?" his father asked.

"Yes! Its a celebration, right? Get whatever you want," Andrew insisted, winking at Molly.

He found her hand under the crisp white table cloth and squeezed it. A giddiness had taken over him during the day and it was all he could do not to blurt out their news to every person he interacted with.

"Molly, are you enjoying your new courses?" Chrissy asked.

"They're going well," Molly replied, sipping her water.

A waiter passed by carrying a tray of food for a nearby table and the smell made her stomach roll. It seemed almost overnight her sense of smell had heightened and she found that the scent of cooked meat made her stomach roll. A waiter appeared to take their order and Molly studied the menu for something that wouldn't make her vomit, settling on a salad.

"You look a little green, Molly. Everything alright?" John asked, handing his menu back to the waiter.

"Tell them, Mol. It'll mean a lot fewer questions," Andrew said softly near her ear.

She hesitated. Telling people meant it was real. But what else could she do with five pairs of eyes looking at her expectantly. She bit her lip and picked at a cuticle on her thumb.

"I - uh - we're...pregnant. I'm pregnant," she stammered out.

Raine's hands flew to her mouth and the other three people looked on in surprise.

"Oh my God!" Raine exclaimed, pushing away from the table and rushing over to hug her. "You beautiful, wonderful girl! I am so happy for you!" She kissed Andrew on the top of his head. "I'm gonna be a granny, John. We're going to be grandparents!"

Molly felt a sudden rush of emotion at the older woman's maternal actions and she started blinking back tears.

"Oh, honey! I'm sorry!" Raine apologized, returning to Molly. "I didn't mean to upset you!"

"Its not you," Andrew explained, wrapping his arm around Molly's narrow shoulders. "She started crying at a dog food commercial this morning."

"It was an old dog!" Molly sobbed. "He couldn't chew the hard kibbles!"

"Okay, calm down," he replied, rubbing her arm. "Relax. People are going to think you're our hostage or something," he chuckled.

"This is great news, Molly. When are you due?" John asked with a broad smile.

"Mid-September, I think," Molly replied, sniffling and wiping at tears.

"Aren't you sitting the QLTT in November?" Chrissy asked.

Molly nodded. "I should have plenty of time to study. Andrew's already decided he's going to stay home until the baby's born and then the whole first year afterward."

Jon blinked. "But that'll mean you're not releasing new music for...five years or something. Is that really what you want?"

Andrew shrugged. "This is more important," he said, stroking Molly's far ear gently.

"This is exciting!" Raine said, surprising everyone by letting out a giggle. "I'm sorry, its just I've been waiting for this for a long time. Anything you need, Molly, you let us know. I mean it - anything, anytime, anywhere."

Molly smiled, her emotions leveling off. "Thank you. But please, don't make a big deal out of this," she said. She hated the attention on the pregnancy. "Its still really early and we haven't even had our first official scan yet."

Raine nodded, sobering. "Of course, of course. I'm just so excited and happy for you two. Parenthood is a magical thing."

"I don't have to tell you how important it is that this stays a secret until we say otherwise," Andrew said, picking up his beer. "We don't want to tell anyone else until things are further along."

Raine nodded and made a zipping motion over her lips. "Not a word. I got it."

***

R/HOZIERFANS

U/FROMEDEN1990 POSTED: Andy was out with his parents yesterday. He and Molly were papped coming out of Balfe's in Dublin with his parents and Jon and what I'm assuming is Jon's girlfriend or whatever. They all look so happy and good!

U/HOZIESSHOES POSTED: Holy. Fuck. Is that an engagement ring on Molly's hand?

U/LEPRECHAUNFARTS POSTED: Its a little bit blurry and the angle's off, but it could be. It doesn't look like a diamond though.

U/HOZIESSHOES POSTED: You don't have to have a diamond engagement ring. If it is an engagement ring, I'm so happy for them. They've been through a lot lately.

U/SILICAGEL POSTED: I'm surprised they're still together, honestly. I thought for sure they'd have broken up after all the crap they went through. I wouldn't have been able to handle that pressure and attention. I wonder if she or Andrew have seen what his fans have said about her.

The outright racism in this fandom against Molly is disgusting. I thought for sure that seeing her pepper sprayed would have made her more sympathetic for fans. I am so shocked at all the negativity toward Molly.

U/LEPRECHAUNFARTS POSTED: For the most part, the press here has left Molly alone since Christmas. I think the press realized that constantly targeting a solicitor was a terrible idea.

U/FROMEDEN1990 POSTED: I'm surprised he proposed to her. I always figured Andrew hated the idea of marriage.

U/DADDYLONGLEGS POSTED: She probably convinced him to do it. Andy would never get married. Molly probably convinced him so she could get all the benefits of being with a famous musician. I don't see her continuing to work after this. Typical.

U/HOZIESSHOES POSTED: Hold up. Molly has had a very successful career on her own. She's done some fantastic work for lots of people who needed help. Don't insult her by claiming she's just using Andrew. She's accomplished on her own and doesn't need Andy for anything.

U/DADDYLONGLEGS POSTED: She has a history of associating with famous people! She's friends with Oscar Llewellyn, of the Llewellyn Group. His family is worth over $100 billion. They have properties all over the world. Oscar went to all the best schools and associates with the upper echelon of the upper echelon.

Before that, she was working Hollywood parties. I wouldn't be surprised if she was fucking her way through.

U/SILICAGEL POSTED: Its an insult to Andy to suggest that he'd be fooled like that. Its also an insult to Molly and super misogynistic. She's highly educated. You can't pass the bar exam if you're not. Stop treating her like she's a dumb bimbo. We don't know their relationship. We don't know what things are like for them.