Liberty van Zandt opened the door to her house one Friday afternoon. JT Yorke followed her into the empty living room. They sat down on the couch and Liberty sighed.

"It's been a month, you know," Liberty breathed. JT simply nodded. "I got a call from the adoptive parents. They're gonna bring Sammy here next week to visit." JT looked in Liberty's eyes and said, "I'll be here."

"You know, ten years from now, this would have been the best news I'd ever gotten. Better than getting in to University of Toronto, or a job at some Fortune 500 company, even. How great is it to start a family! But not now, not in high school. Do you think we made a mistake JT?" Her voice grew tentative and soft.

"Only if loving you is a mistake," JT answered, kissing Liberty's forehead. "We couldn't raise a child, Lib. You've got so much ahead of you. You know what I did. Obviously I couldn't handle it." JT thought back to his suicide attempt and shuddered. He knew now that was not a good choice. How could he have even thought to leave Liberty alone with a child - their child?

"You're right, JT. We did the right thing, I think." She sighed. JT hugged her and for the first time, she felt at peace with what she had done.

"I wish it had worked, though. I wish we could have moved into that apartment." JT grew contemplative. "Or you could have just moved into my house. I'm sure my grandma would have kept Sammy so we didn't have to quit school." "I wish that, too, JT. But as for right now, we have the whole house." Liberty grinned. "I see where you're going with this. Are you sure about that?" JT loved Liberty more than anything, but he wanted to put the hell of the last nine months behind him. "JT, that's not going to happen again, if you're worried about it," She could tell JT was scared she'd get pregnant again. "My mom put me on the pill. She thinks I'm a whore." Liberty sighed. "I guess it's good in a way. Preventative measures."

The two headed into Liberty's room. She grabbed JT and kissed him hard, causing him to fall onto her bed. Pulling off his shirt, she ran her fingers down his chest. Suddenly, though, she stopped.

"Libby? We don't have to do this," JT assured her, fearing she would get upset. "No, JT, it's just that...I'm...different." She said solemnly. JT looked puzzled. "I mean, I had a kid, JT." She laughed wearily. "And I love you just the same." He convinced Liberty, removing her shirt and caressing her stretch marks. "I wish I could have gone through it instead of you," JT mused. "Then again, I crashed my car, sold drugs, and overdosed on oxycontin, so I guess I couldn't have done it. I'm not half as strong as you."

Moments later, Liberty pulled away from JT. "What were you thinking, selling drugs?" She didn't say it condescendingly, but questions like that are less than pleasant even coming from Mr. Rogers. "Libby, for God's sake! I'm trying to make love to you and you want to lecture me NOW?" He was obviously joking, but she could tell he wasn't in the mood to talk about all his mistakes. "What are you laughing about, JT? That was one screwed up thing to do!" She grew a little sterner. JT rolled his eyes and sighed heavily.

"Libby, I did it for you. I wanted to keep the baby. I wanted us to live together. I didn't want some couple who's moving to Seattle to have Sammy. I thought it'd be like we were independent. I know how much you like being independent." He laughed. Liberty gave a small smile. "I thought it'd be like we were..."JT trailed off. Liberty looked puzzled. "Like we were what?" He breathed deeply. "Like we were married." Liberty smiled. "Would you even want that? Someday, I mean?" She was exploding inside, and trying to keep her cool. "Yeah, Libby. I love you. And I think I would." He answered finally. "Shut up and kiss me!" Liberty laughed, knowing that, although things may never be the same, maybe it was best that way.