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Sometimes the Hardest Thing and the Right Thing are the Same ; for <user site="livejournal.com" user

One encounter.

One decision to go out, a few drinks, and a very attractive, very flirty guy wearing down her defenses led to his apartment. His bed. And a night full of things Maddie thought she'd never be doing. And now, months later, it's obvious that one of those decisions hadn't been the right one.

She sits in his office, having told the receptionist that it was urgent to see him, and she waits. She fidgets with her fingers, looks around nervously, and considers bolting. But after months of searching with no luck whatsoever, she caught a news story one morning, getting ready for class. And there he was: Tyler Green. The father of her soon to be born baby.

Yeah, it's probably a good idea to at least let him know. Even if she's scared to death of his reaction. This was the right thing to do, right?

...

Right?

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Tyler didn't remember everyone he had ever had sex with. He hardly remembered half, and of those he probably wouldn't get both a first and last name. He definitely didn't have phone numbers. When he was told on his way back into the office on a very easy going Wednesday, he was told that there was a young lady in there for him. Wouldn't have been the first time that was code for him getting laid at work. He gave his receptionist a grin, since the woman was old enough to be his mother and acted more like a mother than a secretary. Might have been one of the only women on the planet he respected.

When he walked in and saw her though, he remembered. Not all of it, and definitely not a lot, but enough. He knew who she was, he remembered her name, and he knew it had been a while. He had a small smirk on his lips, wondering if she remembered him as he walked around to his side of the desk. "Why do I have a strange feeling you're not here to report some Wall Street fraud?"

It's easy for Maddie to remember, considering she's only ever been with three people. Two, well before she'd ever met Tyler. So there was no doubt in her mind, and really, no possible way that anyone else was the father of this baby. She feels awful that she's waited so long to come by, but it was incredibly difficult to find him when she'd never even gotten more than a first name.

How lucky that she'd caught that interview when she had, otherwise she probably would have given up. She waits what feels like forever, and then she catches sight of him, for the first time in months, and she fumbles as she stands, pulling her shirt down and over the top of her rather obvious belly.

"Um. No - no, I'm not here for that."

Oh shit. THIS. This right here was the one thing he had to figure every guy feared. That one face that looked familiar as a one night stand...attached to one hell of a beach ball under her clothing. That shit didn't bother Tyler so much, though, mostly because he hadn't ever managed to have sex without a condom. He wore them like it was his religion.

His smirk stayed in place as he went to take a seat behind his desk, not completely forgetting his manners as he fired off a quick text to Gloria, the older secretary, to bring a bottle of water for the random woman she had let into his office.

"Definitely don't think I handle adoption or paternity. If you need someone, I can give you a card."

Ah. She'd feared that exact expression. At least he hasn't told her to leave - maybe she can actually get the words out that she'd practiced so many times in her head, and in front of her mirror at home. Maddie'd been careful, too, she'd been on birth control at the time, and they had used a condom - for most of the encounters that night. Somewhere along the lines, something had failed. And once she'd found out she was pregnant, well, there was no other option for her other than keeping it. She just ... wanted to let him know. That's all.

"That's - um ... that's not why I'm here. Do you remember me at all?"

Oh fuck it all. Here it comes, he was sure of it. He watched her carefully and tried to decide what this was. He made a living, a very good living, in reading people better than they were currently reading themselves. Then again, most of the time, he wasn't personally involved and it clouded his judgement. Shit.

A moment had passed before he snapped himself out of it and he was sitting back up in his chair. Yeah, he remembered her. She had been awkward and he hadn't been sure she was old enough to drink. "Maddie," he replied, giving a small shrug once he had. "But I can't see how that one would matter, since I definitely remember quite a bit of latex rubber."

A small breath escapes her lips and she nods. Yes, she'd been awkward - she's always awkward, but it hadn't been enough to keep him from talking her into going home with him. She went, happily. And did quite a few things she never thought she would do, happily. And later, started getting sick, very unhappily. And when she'd taken the trip to the doctor, after three positive tests ... yes, she was not at all happy for a long time afterwards. But there's not much she could do about it now.

"Yes, there was. And somewhere along the line, one failed. And so did my birth control. I know you probably think that I'm here for money ... o - or something like that, but I'm not. I'm not that kind of person. I just wanted ... well, I thought that you should know. That's all."

Tyler watched her.more carefully at that, just staring for a moment. When he decided she was serious, he reached into his drawer and pulled out one of the many cards he kept stacked there. "Paternity test," he said, passing the card across the desk to her. "Tell Gloria to make an appointment on your way out and i'll be there. I'll even pay for it." Yes, he was being an ass, but no...he didn't quite believe her. He watched her another moment and his eyes drifted for a moment from hers to her stomach. Another glance up at her and he just fucking knew it. She was telling the truth. Fuck.

She doesn't argue the point - it's better than straight out being told that she's a liar. Because if there is anything that she isn't, it's that. Proving it by taking a paternity test is not a problem in the slightest. She takes the card, and offers a nod, and stands there, not entirely sure of what to do next. Should she just leave? Or stay? Or ... she sighs, and runs a hand through her hair. "Of course. Do you want - I don't know, my phone number or something? Address? I mean, I don't expect anything .. "

All in all, at least he wasn't just tossing her out the door and calling her a liar. His mind was just fucking blown, and he wasn't sure how to handle that. He watched her for a moment before he shrugged. "If there's a reason for me to have it, I'll get it at the appointment you set up with Gloria." He wasn't trying to be a dick, he was just trying to get her out of his office fast enough that he could break into the scotch kept in his lower drawer and faceplant into the desk. Fuck life.

He watched her for another moment before he reached to straighten his tie and shifted some papers on his desk. "See you then."

He's not, and she's grateful that she got to say what she needed to say. She nods, and takes a step backward, and then another. No reason to stay. She'll make the appointment, and go home, and study some more for finals, and try to decide what she's going to do over the summer. After all, by the time next semester starts, if she's at home in Wisconsin, she'll be so pregnant, she won't be able to fly back. Decisions.

"Alright. I - I am sorry for all of this. I never intended it to happen. I just - yeah."

And with that, she'll make her way out of the office, and to the secretary to make that appointment, face flaming red at the pity she can clearly see in her eyes.

Gloria felt bad for the girl, but she had probably seen it coming with what she knew about Tyler. Unlike the rest of the staff, though, she knew about a lot of the charity work he often took home on the weekends. He didn't think he was some secret good guy, he was an insomniac and it kept his mind busy. She helped settle on a date and time for Maddie to go get the test before promising that Tyler would be showing up. She also passed Maddie one of her cards in case she needed anything.

The next week, Tyler took off of work early to head to the appointment he had been dreading for a week. He knew exactly when it was, though he had looked like a kid going off to detention when Gloria came in to tell him it was time to go on Friday afternoon. This was going to suck, no two ways about it.

He sat in the office in his suit and tie still, feet tapping a little nervously against the ugly linoleum floor as he waited for Maddie to get there. He was early, Tyler was always early to avoid being late, but this time it was because he was incredibly freaked out.

Maddie hasn't yet felt the need to call - not Tyler, not Gloria. She's okay, really, and her roommates are helping her whenever she needs it, although she's sure that once the baby arrives, she'll need to find a new place to live, she'd hate to bother them from their studies, and an infant around would definitely do that. For the moment, she's not worried, though. She's still got a few months to go.

The day of the appointment comes, and she Is nervous - not at the thought of taking it, because she knows what the outcome is going to be, but of seeing Tyler again. The last time hadn't ended with him looking too well, and the last thing she wants to do is make his life difficult. He seems to really want to know, though, and she'll grant him at least that.

She catches sight of him from down the hallway, and actually is surprised to see him there. She doesn't say anything until she's closer. "Hey ... "

Tyler stood up when he saw her coming and pushed the door open to walk in first after a quick hello, though he continued holding it for her behind him. He didn't know what his part in this whole visit was going to be, aside from a cheek swab he knew he would give, but he was going to remain calm and collected until he was given a reason to do otherwise. He fucking hated that he believed this girl for some reason.

When she went up to check in, he stayed back though he had already been in to make sure they wouldn't be kept waiting once she did get there. He was making sure this went as smoothly and as quickly as possible. He waited back with his arms crossed over his chest before looking to see if he was supposed to follow her or if she even wanted him to.

Well. That wasn't so bad - the greeting was at least somewhat pleasant, even if that's all the words they exchange from the time she makes her way to his side, until she's checked in and waiting, sitting a few chairs away, tapping her foot anxiously. There's nothing to worry about, it should be a quick and easy thing, but still. Just the fact that he's here with her is enough to set her nerves on edge.

When she's called in, he pauses, and she turns around, gesturing for Tyler to come along, too. Might as well, right?

Oh fuck. She wanted him to come. Fuck it. He followed along as though he had planned to the entire time and followed her to the room, just to stand anxiously near the corner while she got changed into the gown. He pulled his phone from his pocket and started typing away, sending Gloria no fewer than four emails about checking on things that were unimportant at the office.

When he finally took a seat, his foot was tapping lightly against the floor again. "Alright, so you're 18 right? At least?" he questioned, because he knew she had to be...she had been in that damn bar. But fuck if he hadn't had a fake ID. This could have been bad, though he assumed he had nothing to worry about in that respect.

It's a little nerve-wracking, to be honest, but Maddie has been going to doctor's appointments almost just like this for months at this point, so this should be no big deal. It's just that usually, she's alone. Or her roommate Jamie is with her. This was strange and unusual, and a little bit uncomfortable. She supposes, though, that when Tyler is proven to be the father, if he decides to stick around, he might come to more.

She manages a short little chuckle, and nods. "I'm twenty-one. Nothing to worry about there." She's never been a liar, and she's not really the type to actually go out a lot and drink. That night had been a change of pace, a mutual friend's birthday. Guess it turned out quite differently than she'd expected.

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