Max walked with his head down and his hands in his pockets. He was almost shaking. He let out a large breath and kept walking. He had no idea where he was going but he needed to clear his head. He, Max Phillip Evans was going to be a father! He was so stupid, how could he be a fearless leader of a whole other world and couldn't even be smart enough to use protection. He didn't need this! He was only seventeen! He groaned out loud. He looked up at the house he stopped in front of.

He knocked on Alex's door. He was probably out with Isabel, maybe it was best if he didn't tell anyone. He turned away from the door just as Alex opened it.

Alex looked at Max's bent head and knew that he wasn't going anywhere today. "What's up?"

Max lifted his eyes and watched as Alex walked inside the house leaving him to follow. Just stepping over the doorway was a big decision, but he didn't know what else to do and he knew he could trust Alex. He followed Alex into his room and sank to the floor in the corner of the room. He didn't even know how to tell Alex, when he couldn't even come to terms with it himself.

Alex glanced at Max slouched in the corner of his room. He sighed, not knowing if he wanted to know what happened. When did Max become the master of drama? "What's wrong?"

Max put his heads in his hands. "Something happened, and...and now nothing is going to be the same." His voice shook slightly and he lifted his head.

Alex's eyes were glued to Max. He hated it when he was so cryptic. "What are you talking about Max?"

"Maria's pregnant."

Alex's eyes slowly grew and he opened his mouth to respond but no sound came out. He gulped. Oh God! For once Alex had no idea what to say. He was stunned. He stood up and rubbed his hands over his face. He hated to think it but ever since Max and Micheal had come into Maria's life she had never been the same. Especially after the whole debacle with Max; and now she was pregnant! Pregnant at seventeen! She must be having a hell of a time dealing with this.

"Are you sure?" Alex sighed already knowing the answer but not ruling out the possibility.

Max nodded. He didn't know whether or not to look up, in case he encountered Alex's fist. He couldn't believe that he was going to have a baby. God! What was everyone gonna say? Especially Liz and Micheal! He groaned.

Alex heard Max groan and instead of feeling sympathy for him he was angered by it. "What the hell were you thinking Maxwell? Why the hell didn't you use protection, you know better than that!"

Max stood up from his position and stood by the windowsill. " I know, I was stupid...but it wasn't like we planned it, we were friends and then all of a sudden..." Max clenched his fists in frustration.

Alex sat on his bed and looked up at the ceiling taking a deep breath. "How...how's Maria doing?"

Max continued to stare out the window. "I didn't ask. She was just gonna leave."

Alex looked up in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Max turned around and sat atop the windowsill. "I had gone to visit her, not knowing about...anyways we had just finished talking when Tess tells me that Maria's pregnant." He stared blindly at the wall in front of him. "The worst thing about it was, was that she was probably going to pass it off as Micheal's."

Alex stared at Max in disbelief. How could Max be so insensitive? "So what did you do, yell at her?"

Max looked at Alex surprised by Alex's sarcastic voice. "Well, I was upset and she lied to me..."

Alex laughed harshly. "Of course Max, the girl just found out she's pregnant at seventeen with her best friend's boyfriend. To top that, her mother is probably going to be really upset because that's exactly what happened to her when she had Maria. It also happened to be when Maria's dad walked out on her and her mom."

Alex looked at Max's surprised face. "God! Max, how could you be so insensitive to her feelings, you are not the only one going through this you know. I mean she's probably scared to death and all your thinking about is yourself."

Max looked down at his shoes. It was true he had been a bastard. All he'd been thinking about was what he was going to do. He groaned inwardly. "I've been a jerk, Alex."

Alex's mouth turned up at one corner. Finally! "You know you'd think after all that time you guys spent together being friends you'd know her better..."

"I know, I know, It's just different now."

Alex looked at Max, really looked at him. He saw how tired and just how confused Max really was. He walked over to him and put his hand on his shoulder. " Max, I know I don't have any knowledge of what you're going through but I think you should talk to Maria and straighten things out."

Alex sighed. "I don't want to make things worse but, you guys have to decide what to tell everyone, 'cause unfortunately you can't keep this one a secret for very long."

Max stared unseeingly at Alex trying to process what he had just heard. God! This was such a mess. But Alex was right, Maria and he needed to straighten everything out and he was worrried about Maria. He headed for the ,around to look at Alex.

"Thanks, I don't know what to say. I..."

Alex smiled sadly. "Don't mention it, I just hoped it helped."

Max nodded and walked out the door.

Alex lay back on his bed and muttered to himself. 'Cause God knows you'll need it Maxwell.

TBC