You keep quiet for now.

You fought the impulse to ask him however. As difficult as it was. Getting the impression that he was probably a little too tired from his journey for anything like that anyway. As well as perhaps a little bit too self conscious now about his body now. Evident from the way he kept hunching and covering up his belly. Like he didn't want you to see it. Perhaps out of embarrassment. You were also, admittedly, a little worried that as it had been so long since you'd last done any sort of fooling around, perhaps he wouldn't be comfortable doing that kind of thing anymore. Maybe the argument you'd had, and the jealousy you'd shown towards Alex and those other guys, had put him off. Though you sincerely hoped this wasn't actually the case. It having been had enough lasting this long without any kind of sexual encounter between you. You didn't know what would do if he completely cut you off (although with the baby, that did kind of look likely).

It was weird to think about you supposed, that he had been your first. That your best friend had taken your virginity. Randall being, apart from that one encounter with Allison, the only woman you'd ever slept with. After 17 years of nothing, it was suddenly "Wham-bam, thank-you-ma'm!" Regular to semi-regular sex with the woman of your dreams. There being no way you could go back to how things were before. Randall's body being like crack-cocaine. The more you saw of it, the more you had to have. Even now. Even with that bump pushing out of his stomach and those unflattering sweatshirt and sweatpants on. You're attraction had not wained in the slightest.

"Anyway," he then said with a sigh. Pulling his eyes away from his momentous melons. "Enough about me. What's all been going on here? What have I been missing?"

Unfortunately you didn't really have much to tell him. Not like he had to tell you. Reiterating how boring things had been, and how big a stick his replacement, Mr. Garrick had up his ass. Feeling that it was only fair then to share with him the fact that him being pregnant was now one of the top rumors circulating in school. A few ass-hats even taken credit for having knocked him up.

"Figures," he replied. Not appearing the least bit surprised. "Oh well, at least now I know what I'm walking into."

"Yeah." An entire school full of both students and teachers ready to pounce on him as soon as he walked through the doors with his belly on display. Imagining that he was gonna have to field an endless array of questions, as well as be made fun of teased about on a regular basis. If you were him, you definitely wouldn't be looking forward to going back. Though he had apparently already told Principle Johnson, before he left, as well as his head of department. So hopefully, in his absence, they might have assisted with damage control, so that it wouldn't be quite so bad when he walks back into class tomorrow

"What about Gretchen?" he then asked. Much to your surprise. "Hows uh, hows things going with her? You made any progress there yet?"

You hadn't. Having not actually spoken to her much at all these last few weeks. Pretty sure that your chances there were pretty much dead in the water. Explaining to him that "I kind of snubbed her a little too hard back when we first out you were... you know." Indicating towards his stomach. "So I guess that's the end of that." Not that you ever really felt like you actually had a chance with her. Nor where you entirely sure you'd wanted one either...

"Shit. Sorry to hear that, dude," Randall responded. Offering his condolences. This being one of the few times that he hadn't made some snippy remark or comment when it came to her.

"That's okay. I don't think it would have worked out anyway. She was way too cool for me." Jokingly adding, "I need someone much lamer in my life. You for example."

"Oh thanks. Way to kick a woman when he's down," he laughed. Rubbing his hands across his belly. "...And fat!"

This also causing you to chuckle, as your eyes returned to his cute little bump. Not entirely sure if he was being self-deprecating on purpose or not. Almost telling him that he wasn't... that he looked good. Real good.

"Anyway, wanna help me shift all this stuff into the spare room?" he said, giving one of the boxes full of toys a little kick with his foot."Otherwise I'm gonna be tripping over these things all night."

"Sure," you told him. Happy to help. Spending the next half hour or so carrying them all through, before sitting down for a while to watch TV. Having, in the process, pretty much grabbed every single box out of Randall's grasp. Not sure he should be lifting heavy stuff like that in his condition. Which at the time, it was abundantly clear he didn't really appreciate. "I'm pregnant, Tim, not an invalid! I can still carry a box, you know," he had told you. Obviously feeling a little patronized by your over zealousness to help. To which you could only apologize. Having zero experience when it came to being around a pregnant woman (discounting your mom when you were really, really young), so not really knowing when to help and when to not. Watching Randall walking around with that round belly pushing out from his sweater, making you feel strangely protective of him for some reason. As if he was now suddenly some delicate little flower. Which he clearly wasn't. Still being just the same old Randall inside.

You didn't stay too much longer after that. What with Randall needing to prepare for school the next day. As well as being (just as you'd suspected) tired from his drive. So, saying good night, you got on your bike and headed for home. Having been given his permission to tell your family that he was pregnant. Much preferring that your mom especially, hear it from you, rather than him. Knowing fine well that was gonna be an extremely long and involved conversation that he didn't really want to have right now. Needing a day or two at least to decompress before he could face her.

"She's WHAT!?" your mother shrieked, once you had told her. Looking for a moment like she was going to spontaneously combust from the shock.

"She's pregnant," you repeated. Sitting in the kitchen now with both her and your dad."Nearly six months gone. She wanted me to tell you guys first."

"Six months!?" she repeated. "Buh-but... but how? How could this have happened?"

Explaining everything to them then. How Miss. Card had been pregnant before the accident, and how the doctors had missed it, your parents were naturally rather blown away (much like you had been on hearing this news). Bombarding you with question after question. Most of which you honestly didn't know how answer.

"And is he... I mean, is Laura planning on keeping it?" your mom inquired. This having been the first time in months that she'd referred to Randall as a 'he'. Even if it was just a slip of the tongue.

"She doesn't know yet. But her parents... Miss. Card's parents, they said they'd be more than willing to look after it for him."

"Well that makes sense, I suppose," she said. Echoing your own thoughts on the subject. Asking then about Randall's own parents. If he had told either of them.

As far as you were aware he hadn't. Randall having not mentioned them in a long, long time, so you sincerely doubted that he would have. After all, they'd been quick enough to wash their hands of him when he'd woken up with his brain inside another person's body. Him now having that other person's child wasn't exactly going to go down any better. Even if, technically, it was now his child too.

Speaking up finally (having remained rather quiet while your mother repeated how "crazy" this all was), your father placed a hand on your shoulder and said, "Don't worry, son. We'll still be here to help Laura in anyway she needs." Turning then towards your mom. "Won't we, sweetheart?"

"Of course," your mother readily agreed. "She's going to need all of our support more than ever now." Standing up from the kitchen table and reaching for the phone. "In fact, I should probably call her right now. Make sure she's oka -"

"I wouldn't!" you cried. Stopping her quickly in her tracks. Remembering what Randall had told you before you'd left, about needing a few days. "She's had a long day, and has other things to worry about right now. Like facing going back to school tomorrow. Better if you leave her to get in touch with you."

"But..."

"Tim's right, Jen," your father said. Having your back. "Lets give her some space for a while, okay?"

Reluctantly, your mother agreed (though you could tell it was killing her having to just sit on something like this). Fortunately they both seemed a lot calmer about it than you would have thought. Being surprised of course, as well as completely furious with the doctors, but you guessed after witnessing their son's best friend becoming a woman, the two of them could take just about anything now.

And so, after a long talk, in which your mom tried to figure out all the things she could do to help, you finally hit the hay. Realizing of course, that the two of you finding out that he was pregnant had just been the beginning. Everyone else knowing... well, that was a whole other ball game. Hoping that he wouldn't become too overwhelmed. Especially at school. Recalling how it had been hard enough walking through the corridors with a hickey, back when you were still going out with Allison. A pregnant belly being infinitely worse.