Lesson Learned.

Part Final.

She had never liked the cold but now she truly hated it. January had brought true cold weather that seemed to reach inside her and take hold whenever she ventured outside.

:Ok if I ever do this again make sure to get knocked up in the winter so I don’t have to be pregnant in the cold again.: Daria thought as her sister and mother helped her back into the house after her now daily doctor appointment. :Just come on already. I don’t think I can take this for two more weeks.: She thought as the cold hit her stomach.

It was the end of the month and everyone was guessing and betting on when the baby would arrive but she was sure her father would win. He had bet on the baby coming on whatever day was the coldest and had the most traffic on the road.

Quinn and Helen helped her up the stairs as she had refused to give up her room. The padding and bars were now absent replaced with flat gray color paint and various items for after the baby was born.

“I just wanted to get some fries.” Daria complained as Quinn teased her about the stops she had requested on the way home.

“Four times.” Quinn laughed.

“The baby likes French fries.” Daria defended herself.

“I’m sure it does.” Her mother responded in a condescending voice.

“Oh we’re just teasing you. Didn’t I go out last night and get you some nachos and butterscotch syrup.” Quinn grinned.

“Just don’t remind me of that when I’m not pregnant ok. It was so good but the thought of it is really gross.” Daria groaned as she settled onto her bed.

:This really sucks. I can’t even sit up for more than a few minutes. C’mon kid hurry up.: Daria thought at her stomach as she let Quinn take off her shoes.

“Any idea for a name yet?” Quinn said after their mother left the room.

“Michael if it’s a boy and Shannon if it’s a girl.” Daria replied. “I don’t know about middle names yet but I’m thinking about Rayne either way.” She blushed.

“Michael Rayne Morgendorffer or Shannon Rayne Morgendorffer, those are both really nice names. Much better than Bob.” Quinn smiled.

“You don’t think it’s a little hippie.” Daria said nervously.

Quinn thought for a few moments and shrugged. “We come from hippie so I guess it doesn’t affect me. At least it’s not moonbeam or something.”

“Ok.” Daria said before pulling her little sister into a hug.

“You take a nap because I have to study for a huge test tomorrow.” Quinn grinned as she escaped from her sister’s hormone driven niceness.

Quinn answered the door and sighed.  She looked at the young man standing there and stepped to the side and waved him in.

“Another gawker. Come in and see the pregnant girl.” Quinn said harshly.

“Sorry.” He said flatly.

“Lurman right. Well at least you lasted longer than the rest of the family.” Quinn replied.

“Ok. Daria asked me to come over. Is it a bad time?” Lurman said.

“If she asked you no, if you came over to see the whale woman then yes.” Quinn sighed.

“She called me.” Lurman responded.

Helen Morgendorffer walked down the stairs and spotted the two.  “Matthew, how nice of you to come by.” She said politely.

“Who?” Quinn looked between the two.

“Everyone calls me Lurman.” Matthew Lurman answered.

“Daria is upstairs.” Helen answered. “Don’t mind Quinn she’s a little overprotective of her sister these days.”

“I guess if you call it the little canyon.” Lurman replied.

“Go on up.” Quinn groaned.

Lurman started up the stairs quickly, he heard Quinn speaking to her mother as he topped the stairs.

“Is every member of the family going to come by to stare at her?” Quinn said tensely.

“Quinn be nice.” Helen answered. 

Quinn carried up Daria’s lunch and forced a smile on her face for the guest she knew was still visiting. She didn’t bother to knock as she walked in. The tray hit the floor at what awaited her.

Daria was sitting on the bed with Lurman next to her and his hands were on her bare stomach and they were leaning toward each other with foreheads touching.

“Oh god.” Quinn gasped and quickly closed the door.

“Great.” Lurman sighed.

“Hi Quinn.” Daria said cheerfully.

Quinn was in a state of panic. “Ok, nobody needs to know this. I understand why you needed to keep it a big secret now. We can tell everyone the father died and that he was older.”

“It’s ok Quinn.” Daria smirked.

“This is not the Jerry Springer show, this is not ok. He’s our cousin or something.” Quinn ranted.

“Even better. Any drain cleaner around here?” Lurman replied.

“Shut up.” Daria said with a smile and she turned back to Quinn.

“I won’t tell anyone and it’ll be ok.” Quinn promised.

“Quinn.” Daria started.

“Ok first thing is to create a fake guy and history.” Quinn was rambling.

“Quinn.” Daria tried again.

“Can he be a pilot?” Lurman asked hopefully.

“Sure whatever.” Quinn almost growled.

“Quinn.” Daria said louder this time.

“What?” Quinn snapped. “I’m trying to come up with a cover for this and please stop holding hands.”

“It’s ok Quinn.” Daria sighed.

“It’s not ok.” Quinn said shaking her head.

“He’s not OUR cousin. He’s Brian’s cousin.” Daria said and watched the information sink in.

“What?” Quinn said hopefully.

“I’m not your cousin.” Lurman answered.

“Oh thank god.” Quinn said and she slid to the floor looking faint.

“You better not pass out. I can barely even get out of this bed to go pee right now.” Daria warned.

“I’m fine.” Quinn assured her. She then turned toward Lurman. “So you are the father right?”

He hesitated for a few seconds before deciding to not include a sarcastic answer. “Yes.”

“Ok, then you need to tell me how you plan on taking care of my sister and the baby.” Quinn demanded.

“Um, I don’t know yet.” He stuttered.

“We haven’t discussed that yet. Please don’t pressure him yet.” Daria spoke quickly.

“Well it’s too late for a formal wedding but I bet Mom can get a justice of the peace here to do the ceremony real quick or you could just wait till after the baby is born.” Quinn said thinking out loud.

“What!” Lurman said looking animated for the first time.

“We aren’t getting married.” Daria said firmly.

“Why not?” Quinn said harshly.

“We aren’t together like that. We’re just friends.” Daria answered.

“Excuse me.” Quinn said pointing toward her sister’s stomach. “That doesn’t scream just friends.”

“I told you about that.” Daria sighed and rubbed her stomach gently.

“But.” Quinn said looking between the two.

“We’re going to stay friends and he’s going to try to help take care of the baby.” Daria smiled gently.

“I told my folks and while they aren’t happy they’re going to help me break one of my trusts to give to Daria and the baby.” Lurman stated.

“But you are perfect for each other.” Quinn shook her head as she spoke.

“Like repels like. We make good friends and maybe a bit more but not together.” Daria sighed.

“Show him the nighty.” Quinn cried out confused.

“Maybe some other time.” Daria chuckled.

“What nighty?” Lurman asked confused himself now.

“I’ll show you some other time if we ever … you know change our minds.” Daria blushed.

“Oh.” He blushed as understanding set in.

“Wait till Mom finds out.” Quinn said suddenly panicked and nervous.

Quinn and Lurman helped Daria back down the stairs and got her settle into what Quinn had taken to calling station two.

“I always watch educational shows.” Daria defended herself.

“Who’s developing your film? A look at your local photomart.” Quinn repeated from a show Daria watched the day before.

“Just get Mom.” Daria groaned.

Helen entered the living room behind Quinn and nodded her head at Daria and Lurman.

“Ok I’m ready to tell you who the father is.” Daria declared.

“Good. Matthew’s family is loaded and we can clean them out.” Helen said with an angry face.

“MOM!” Daria exclaimed.

“I’m kidding. So when is the wedding?” Helen asked looking serious still.

“Ummm.” Lurman stumbled.

“Never.” Daria answered. “We aren’t involved like that.”

“So he gets my daughter pregnant and then wants to be friends, is that it?” Helen glared at the young man.

“No, I showed up and took advantage of him because Tom wasn’t home for me to take advantage of and got myself pregnant.” Daria answered. “I, me Daria was the one who caused this not him. Now he does want to be involved with the baby and try to do his part but he goes to school on the other side of the country at the moment but that’s ok.”

“Do your parents know?” Helen demanded looking at Lurman.

“I told them about two weeks after Daria told me.” Lurman sighed. “I’m breaking a trust from my great uncle and having it put on Daria and the baby. It should help with some of the expenses.” He said hopefully.

“That’s a start.” Helen sighed.

“So NO lawsuits.” Daria said forcefully.

“I’m sure we can do this and remain … friendly.” Helen smiled causing Lurman to start sweating and Quinn to gulp. Daria didn’t seem to notice.

“I think it’s great. Now I can get settled in on spoiling my niece or nephew rotten.” Quinn declared.

“Just a little rotten.” Helen smiled. “I wish you would let us know if it was a boy or girl.”

“She wouldn’t tell me either.” Lurman offered.

“I have to admit I’m really looking forward to meeting my grandbaby.” Helen smiled.

“Daria?” Quinn said looking at her sister who was holding her stomach with both hands and breathing quickly.

Helen only took a second to understand what was happening.

“Quinn grab the bag, Matthew go start my Explorer.” Helen barked tossing her keys at him.

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOh my God.” Daria cried out.

“She’s having the baby so move.” Helen ordered.

“What do I do?” He asked.

“GO START MY EXPLORER! Quinn GET the damn bag.” Helen shouted.

“No get a knife … cut me open.” Daria cried out before screaming in pain as another contraction hit her.

“It’s going to be fine sweetie.” Helen said lifting her off the couch.

“I’m getting drugs right.” Daria cried as the pain released.

“Lots of them. All you want.” Helen assured her.

Quinn spent the car ride on the phone; she called their father on the way to the hospital and was informed he would be there in minutes.

“Call Jane.” Daria begged.

“I called her first. She’s on the way down.” Quinn promised.

“Still want to have three.” Daria said gasping for breath.

“I think two will be enough now.” Quinn shuddered as she ran a damp towel over her sister’s forehead.

“Or maybe I could just adopt.” Quinn shuddered again as her sister screamed.

Jane Lane arrived 8 hours after getting the call and ran through the hospital for twenty minutes before stopping to get directions. She found her friend peacefully nursing the baby under the watchful and instructive care of a nurse.

“Now don’t force him. If he’s hungry he’ll eat.” The nurse was telling her.

“He’s perfect.” Daria swooned staring into the baby’s eyes.

“Of course he is.” Jane said as she walked in.

Helen and Quinn both waved from where they were crashed out on chairs and Jane moved next to the bed.

“Meet my little boy.” Daria said turning her arm to give Jane a good view of the baby.

“Hi little fellow.” Jane smiled.

“Dad and Lurman are out getting cigars and such to hand out to people.” Daria grinned.

“Lurman?” Jane said puzzled.

“The baby’s father.” Daria sighed.

“Oh so I get to meet the guy that knocked you up. I’m going to enjoy torturing him.” Jane snickered.

“Too late. Mom here already reduced him to a stuttering wimp in seconds.” Quinn said from her chair.

“So what’s his name?” Jane demanded nicely.

“Michael Rayne Morgendorffer.” Daria answered.

“Oh cruel hippie fate. He does look sort of like a Michael.” Jane said tilting her head slightly.

The baby closed its eyes and drifted to sleep.

“Oh ya that’s a Morgendorffer alright.” Jane smirked.