Damn, almost a month later...

I'm so incredibly sorry! School started already, as you know, and I was also writing a new story; Love, Riley, an Love, Rosie/Where Rainbows End (movie+book) Riarkle AU. Just published, so make sure to check that out!

As always, please let me know what you think about this chapter!

And don't worry, more coming soon, I'm not even close to finishing this story!

Special thanks to my patience readers, I srsly love you guys!

It was late, already 9 or 10 o'clock. But they all waited on each other with dinner. Normally, this would be fun. They would tell each other about their day, Zay would crack some jokes, Farkle would tell something nobody understands, Lucas would tell about the absolutely crazy pet-stories from the clinic and Riley and Maya would complain about everything.

This was not like that kind of day. The minute Riley and Zay came in, Farkle told them everything about Nico. And so the heating discussion begin.

"Maya, I seriously don't think this is a very smart idea', Farkle begged.

"Farkle, this is Peanut's father we're speaking off!"', Zay said. "He has some rights to see and raise his child. And yes, he left them and is a complete jerk, but that doesn't change the fact that Peanut deserves to have a father." He aggressively pointed his fork at Farkle.

"In all defense', Riley started. "Nico seriously hurt Maya. He cheated, is irresponsible, a drunk and hasn't got a steady job!"

"What a surprise! Riley is on Farkle's side on this!"

"Hey, just because he's my boyfriend, doesn't mean I don't have an opinion of my own! And Peanut does need a father, but he doesn't need a stupid ass drunk excuse of a father. Not to mention, he already hurt Maya. He could do it again."

Lucas, who hasn't said anything all evening, suddenly looked up, with no emotion, but right at Maya.

Maya didn't look up. She was already sick of this conversation. She was sick of the choices she had. OR give Peanut up for adoption and never ever see her son again. OR let Peanut grow up in a broken family, one week with his mother and auntie and her boyfriend, one week with his slut of a father and his girlfriend-of-the-week. She also could say that she was going to raise Peanut all by herself... No. Not going to happen. Maya is too stubborn for that. She just... Needs more time. But the deadline is coming closer.

She wished she had another option. An exit. That she could just-

"Maya', Lucas said in a deep concerned tone, which interrupted her thoughts, "Did Nico hurt you physically?"

Maya felt all eyes on her. This, the 'tough' girl being hurt, was a very sensitive subject for them. And Maya never liked it.

Maya was somehow always causing drama, while Maya hated drama. This whole, pregnancy thing was causing so much drama, she could write a whole story about it.

Maya took a deep breath. Thinking about it without really imagining it. She didn't wanted to, of course.

"One time. When he was drunk, I tried to guide him to bed, but he pushed me and I fell. That's all. Really!" It was quiet for a little while, meaning that her friends bought the lie. "But really, guys, I appreciate the concern, but I'm doing what's best for Peanut. And everybody makes mistakes. So, let's just give him a chance, see where it goes."

"As long as you don't start to date him again!'. Farkle said strict.

"Absolutely not! If that happens, you can slap me, and take Peanut for yourself."

"Deal', Riley said a little bit to quick, and made everyone laugh.

Maya laughed with her friends, but she didn't really felt really good.

Maybe it was morning sickness, maybe it was just tiredness, maybe it was just the idea of a horrible man, whom she finally had let go, got back into her life like that and changed it for his own benefit. Again.

"I'm going to lay down', she whispered. She quickly stood up and walked over to her bedroom.

"But you barely touched your food', Farkle said, but Maya ignored it and closed the door of her bedroom.

She just wanted to be by herself. Thinking, about every scenario.

If I raise Peanut alone, I won't have enough time to spend with him. The first few years I will have to take him to daycare every single day for the next 4 years, and after that I will have to take him to school the next 16 years, until I send him off to college.

I will have to make money for both. Forever. On a middle school teacher salary.

If I allow to let Nico in his life, Peanut will have to transfer every weekend. He will be raised, knowing that his parents are never coming together and maybe even that love doesn't exist? He will be exposed to the lifestyle of his father, aka drugs, alcohol and sex. I know Nico. He won't be discrete about it.

But the real question. Does Nico earn it to be a father?

If I give Peanut up for adoption, I'll always have to live with the fact that my baby is walking on this world. My baby who I never get to see anymore. Who OR will think that his adoption parents are his real parents OR who will hate me. But on the other side, I could find a very nice home with a stable family for Peanut. Peanut will have a great life, in a regular neighborhood, and two parents who need a child will be pleased.

Such a tough choices.

First let's see if Nico will actually show up.

It was hours later when she realized she'd fallen asleep.

Not until someone knocked on her door.

"Come in', she said sleepy.

It was Riley who entered.

"Hey, Peaches. I just wanted to see if you were okay."

Riley sat behind next to her on the couch besi. "I know you've been through a lot. And I want to help. In any way I can."

"I know you do', Maya said.

God, she loved her so much. Literately the only person who knew when she needed her, how she needed her and always gonna be there when she needs her.

"Right now, you can give me some advise. What would you do?"

Riley looked at her best friend, thought long and hard, and opened her mouth.

"I wouldn't give him a chance. He is a total dick and honestly, he doesn't deserve this from you. He is asking to much from you, and I'm afraid that he will take advantage of that."

Maya put her head on Riley's shoulder. "I know. He's the kind of person who would do that. It's so funny. Half a year ago, I would say that Nico and my relationship was perfect. He loved me and I loved him. But now I see that Nico treated me very bad. He always made me clean up stuff, cook diner and breakfast. Made me do the groceries. And he made me do it on this sweet, lovely way. Like softly whisper it in my ears. He always took money from me, at least $200-$300 a month. I don't know what he did with the money. Maybe blow it away on booze, hookers or gambling. He would get drunk three time a week. And not the funny, giggly, I pee in the closet kind of drunk. More like the, angry, aggressive kind of drunk. Aggressive to me, to his sister, to his friends. And what did I? I cleaned up his mess, paid for the damage in the bar, tickets to the police. I hid our bruises, replaced the vases and the lamps. I told nobody, because nobody needed to know. Not even you... I'm sorry, Riles."