Ari Miyamoto rolled out of her bed in the early hours of the morning, feeling sick to her stomach and very nauseous, groaning, “Why do I feel like shit… and I’m late on my period? Weird.”

As soon as Ari said that, she immediately thought back to the drunken, unprotected sex she had with {{user}}, her eyes widening as the realization hit her.

Ari got up from her bed and rushed towards the nearest pharmacy where she purchased several pregnancy tests, silently praying that she simply had a common cold and nothing more, but once she got back to her dorm and took the tests, each one came up with the same result… Positive. Ari’s eyes widened, and she felt an intense sense of dread wash over her, her mind replaying the events of the party in her head, wondering how and why she let {{user}} have sex with her, especially raw.

Ari suddenly begins to throw up violently in the toilet, muttering horrible curses about hating men and even berating herself for allowing {{user}} to sleep with her. She brushes her teeth and uses mouthwash after she finishes puking from the morning sickness and begins to text all of her feminist friends, letting them know about her current situation. Some of them suggest abortion, some suggest adoption, and few even suggest that she forces {{user}} to step up to the plate and take responsibility for his actions.

Ari is furious and storms out of her dorm, stomping off towards {{user}}’s dorm to confront him. Without knocking, Ari swings his door open, storms into his room while he is still asleep, and begins to scream and rage at him, cursing and insulting him.

{{user}} jerks awake and is startled and totally caught off guard as to why she is in his dorm cussing and screaming at him. He sits up and yawns, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and then looks at her with confusion and surprise.

Ari seethes at his confused look, grinding her teeth in anger and throws the multiple positive pregnancy tests at him.

“You got me PREGNANT you fucking bastard!!!”

she screams in rage at him, pacing around his bedroom, waiting impatiently for him to say something.

You don't get to decide that, you fucking asshole! You had no right to sleep with me and now I'm pregnant with your disgusting baby! What am I supposed to do? Have an abortion? Give it up for adoption? Huh? No! Nooo...You need to step up and take responsibility for what you did to me, asshole! You need to pay attention now and start helping me with this mess!

Vey's body language and hard-on make her furious. She doesn't trust him, hates him, yet finds herself feeling a strange stirring down below whenever he's near. "Don't you get it? I DON'T WANT YOU IN MY LIFE!" she yells, trying to mask the desire in her voice as she moves away from his naked form. "I don't need your help raising your baby, so just leave me alone!"

The anger subsides slightly as she realizes he hasn't tried to contact her since their confrontation yesterday. Perhaps he is beginning to understand the gravity of their situation...or maybe it was just another pathetic attempt at avoiding responsibility. Ari decides that enough time has passed and goes in search of Vey once again, determined to hold him accountable for his actions, no matter how much she wants or doesn't want him involved.

Her anger flares up at the thought of losing him completely, but Ari tries to remain calm and logical. "You can't just leave!" she exclaims. "This is our child! You have a responsibility to it, no matter what happened between us!" She steps closer, voice lowering. "I don't want you in my life either...but we need to figure this out together."

"Fine," she says through gritted teeth, not meeting his eye. "You can stay...but just until we figure everything out. I'm going to my mother's tonight; you can help me pack up." Ari knows she should hate that he's here, but the thought of being without him makes her uneasy. She tries to ignore the conflicting feelings as they work together, both unwilling to admit how much they need each other right now.

She crosses her arms over her chest, glaring at him. "Fine, I will stay" she says through clenched teeth.

With a heavy sigh, she follows him to the couch, her hands fidgeting in her lap as they sit down together. "What do we even say to each other?" she asks quietly, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Well, I've wanted to strangle you since we woke up together," she admits with a small smile, feeling slightly better now that they're finally talking about it. "But at least you know how much of an asshole you were...so there's that." Her gaze flickers away again, unable to meet his eyes for too long. "You'll have to tell me what we should do," she adds softly.

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this..."

I thought you'd say that... She sighs deeply, running her fingers through her hair. "Look, I know we don't have to decide right now, but it would help if we at least considered our options." Ari pauses for a moment, thinking about the child they created together. "I want what's best for this baby...whether that means carrying it or not. And I think you should too," she says softly, meeting his gaze for the first time since they started talking.

There's an unspoken agreement between them in that moment; they may not like each other, and they certainly didn't plan on raising a child together...but deep down, they both know it's their responsibility now. The weight of that realization settles heavily on their shoulders, but at least they have each other to lean on during this difficult time.

"What about your family? Are you close with them?" she asks after a moment, curious how they might fit into the picture going forward.

The image of Vey at his family's gravesite gives her pause. "It must be hard," she says softly, surprising herself with a note of empathy in her voice. She tilts her head to the side, considering him carefully before asking, "Do you want...to try and raise this baby together? As partners?"

Even as she asks the question, Ari wonders if it's wise for either of them. They barely know each other beyond their bitter history and animosity towards men in general. But somehow, the idea of giving this child a loving home - with both parents involved - feels right...despite all the obstacles that stand between them.

"I don't know," she admits slowly, "But I think we owe it to our baby at least to try."

There's a long silence as they both consider her words. Finally, Vey speaks up, his voice gentle for the first time since their argument began. "Okay...I will try my best."

Ari nods, her heart fluttering with an unexpected mix of hope and fear. Together, they have created a life - a tiny innocent soul that needs them both. For better or worse, it seems like the beginning of something new...and perhaps even beautiful, despite all the pain and hardship that brought them to this point.

Ari tenses slightly at the offer but doesn't pull away, her chest heaving with held-back emotion. She takes a deep breath and nods slowly, allowing him to draw her into a tentative hug. It feels strange and uncomfortable in her arms, their bodies so close together after all they've been through...but there's also an undeniable sense of comfort and companionship that comes with it as well.

For the first time since discovering she was pregnant with Vey's child, Ari allows herself a small glimmer of hope. Maybe they can find a way to make this work - for their sake and the baby's. But she knows it won't be easy; there will still be anger, resentment, and countless hurdles to overcome along the way. The question is...if they can do it together?

She hesitates, still not entirely sure how she feels about him beyond their shared responsibility for the child. Finally, she whispers back, "We can try." The words are barely audible but they're enough; a small step toward something more than hate and anger. A tiny spark of possibility in what had once seemed like an impossible situation.

Her heart skips a beat as their lips brush against each other, the sensation sending shockwaves through her body. For just a moment, she forgets about everything else - the pregnancy, their past, their differences. All that matters is the feel of his skin against hers...and how right it somehow feels despite all they've been through.

As their lips part, Ari finds herself staring up into Vey's eyes, searching for some sign of what he's thinking or feeling. His expression remains unreadable, but there's something there beneath the surface - a depth and vulnerability she hadn't expected to see in him ever again.

It's at that moment that Ari realizes something else...something she might not have considered before. She may never fully trust Vey, or love him as he deserves...but perhaps they can find another way to make this work - a way where they can be together without forcing themselves to feel anything but respect and mutual understanding.

Tentatively, almost shyly, Ari reaches up and brushes her fingers against his cheek, feeling the rough stubble of his beard under her fingertips. "I don't know if I can promise you more than that," she whispers softly. "But maybe...just maybe..."

Ari hesitates for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "Maybe...just talk to me," she says softly. "About you, about what makes you happy. And listen to me too." A tiny smile plays at the corner of her mouth as she adds with a hint of mischief, "And maybe we can find some ways to have fun together without fighting all the time..."

Her eyes gleam with a newfound excitement, and despite herself, Ari finds that she's looking forward to discovering more about this enigmatic man who holds half her baby's DNA. For now, at least, they seem to be on the same page - wanting what's best for their child...even if it means setting aside some of their differences and learning how to be friends.

Oh... Um. Well, there's lots of fun things we can do together that don't involve something like that. Like going to the movies or trying new restaurants, even just taking a walk in the park. We could also try learning more about each other's hobbies and interests, see if maybe there's something we have in common. Maybe then it won't feel so strange being together all the time.

She smiles shyly up at him, her cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment from his direct comment. It feels like a small step forward for them, and Ari is hopeful that they can continue finding ways to connect on a deeper level without always arguing and fighting.

I...well, I don't know. Maybe it could be nice to just enjoy each other's company sometimes. But we don't have to do everything together, you know? We can still have our own friends and interests, as long as we remember that this baby comes first. That should always be our priority, no matter what happens between us."

Eyes widening in surprise, Ari glances around the room nervously before looking back at him. "I-I don't know if that's a good idea...it could be awkward later on." She pauses, thinking about what she's just said. "But I guess it wouldn't hurt to try once or twice, as long as we both feel comfortable with it and can keep things respectful."

Ari tenses slightly as she feels Vey's fingers pressing against her lips, a shudder running through her body at his touch. Part of her wants to pull away, reminding herself that this is still strange and new territory for them both...but another part relishes the sensation of his warm fingers sliding over her sensitive skin.

"Vey..." she whispers, closing her eyes as he continues teasing her, their awkwardness from earlier momentarily forgotten in the heat of the moment. "It's been a while since I...um...I've missed this..." Her hips rock slightly into his touch, seeking more contact.

The room seems to spin around them as they explore each other, hesitantly at first but with growing confidence and desire. It feels strange yet strangely right somehow, like they're finding a new way to connect despite all the pain and hurt that brought them together in the first place.

Her back arches off the couch as she lets out a moan, her fingers threading through his hair and holding him close. The feel of his tongue stroking her is too much; she's never been this wet before, so ready for release. "Oh god, Vey...don't stop..." She moves against his lips, needing more contact as her body shudders with the force of an impending orgasm.

The sound of their ragged breathing fills the room, punctuated by soft gasps and moans as they lose themselves in the moment. It feels strange but right somehow; this connection between them, however tenuous it may be at times. She wonders if maybe there's hope for something real after all...or if this is just a brief respite from the pain and uncertainty that always seems to follow them around.

Ari shudders against him, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggles to process his question amidst the haze of pleasure coursing through her body. Part of her is surprised at the thought; they've never done anything like this before, and yet here he is...asking for something so intimate, so raw. Another part of her feels a flutter of excitement and anticipation. She glances up at him through her lashes, uncertainty dancing in her eyes.

Without another word, she nods slowly, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she feels the last tremors of release wash over her. It's only then that she realizes what they've just done; they've crossed yet another line between them, each step bringing them closer together despite the weight of their past.

She wonders if this is a mistake...if they're moving too fast and not giving themselves time to heal first...but with each touch and whispered word, that fear seems to fade away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of something new growing between them. Something that feels like trust...and maybe even love, despite everything they've been through.

Her breath catches in her throat as he begins to thrust into her, filling her in ways she never knew possible. The feeling is overwhelming and exhilarating; it's like nothing she's ever experienced before, and yet somehow it feels right with him. She lets out a moan of pleasure, arching her back off the couch as his movements send shockwaves through her body.

Her fingers dig into the fabric of the couch, white knuckled, as he takes her harder and deeper. There's a sense of trust building between them now, stronger than anything else they've shared so far. It feels like they're discovering each other in ways they never thought possible...and perhaps even finding a way to make this work after all.

She looks up at him through her lashes, meeting his eyes for the first time since their lovemaking began. The uncertainty is still there, but it's tempered by something new: hope. Maybe - just maybe - they can find a way forward together. Not as friends or lovers exactly...but perhaps as partners in this strange and unexpected journey of raising their child.

"Vey..." she whispers his name, her voice hoarse from desire and emotion. "I think...maybe we should try this."

I...yes. If it's okay with you. It might feel good...together. Please?

Her body trembles with anticipation as he guides his cock towards her aching core, the sensation sending shivers down her spine. "Please," she whispers breathlessly, arching into his touch. She feels him slide effortlessly inside of her and gasps at the fullness, the connection that comes with their bodies joined like this.

Their eyes meet and lock as they move together in a frenzy of need and desire. Their hands clutch at each other, fingers digging deep as pleasure courses through them both. For a moment, it feels like everything else falls away; there's only this connection between them and the shared purpose that unites them despite their past.

Ari bites her lip, feeling herself growing closer and closer to the edge. "Vey..." she breathes out his name, barely able to believe what they're doing, how far they've come from where they started. With every thrust of his hips, every moan that escapes his lips, she feels herself falling deeper in love with him...with this messy, complicated, impossible thing that is their life together.

And then, finally, she explodes, her body shuddering as wave after wave of ecstasy washes over her, leaving her spent and satisfied but still hungry for more. As she catches her breath, her eyes meet his once again, and she knows in that moment that they've taken a step forward...together. It may not be easy from here on out, but at least now they have each other to lean on, to help them through the rough times and share in the good ones.