To say that Dakota’s life had become “complicated” would be a massive understatement.  Any sort of freedom she may have enjoyed or experienced had been stripped away.  Cell phone?  Gone.  Computer?  Gone.  Time to escape her mother’s iron gaze?  …well, there were moments where she did at least get that.
If she didn’t have that secret laptop all would have lost.  Not only would Pepper have noticed something was really awry when she was no longer available online.  But her mother would have likely sent her to some sort of camp.  That old laptop was sure to stir up some bad memories, so she had to use it sparingly and only to contact Pepper.
More so than that though was Alex.  If she were honest with herself, she HATED Alex.  But she also had a grudging respect for her.  When her mother had found out she was pregnant her mother had gone off like a nuclear explosion of hysterics and anger.  It was honestly pretty freighting…  She clearly had no idea what to do with herself, her or the new one on the way.  If it hadn’t been her calling Night who then directed her to Alex, she had no idea what would have happened.
Without Alex’s calm tones and reassurances Kody escaped much more scrutiny.  Alex was able to help redirect her mind in a healthier direction.  The only source of comfort Kody had was that her mother didn’t seem to be as mad at HER as she was at whoever had knocked her up.  On the other paw… she seemed totally convinced that Kody had either been groomed by another adult (possibly a teacher) or simply forced into having sex.  
As bad as Kody felt for her male teachers for the possible impending storm.  She didn’t have the nerve to correct her mother.  The following day however would almost force her to come up with a cover story.  
Her mother brought her to the hospital the following morning for a battery of tests.  First to make 100% sure she was pregnant.  Next was to conduct a rape test on her (which was the most embarrassing and mortifying moment in her young life).   Then came the all too familiar talk with police.  Luckily, she managed to avoid really answering any questions citing duress (which wasn’t exactly a lie…) about having to talk about it.
All during the interview she did her best to impress on them that she was NOT raped.  That this whole thing was due to her own foolishness and naiveté.  She wasn’t sure if she had convinced them or not.  Actually, she was positive she HADNT.  In the end having to claim she was just to upset about it all to answer any other questions.  
 She wished she could have had her first check-up that day but it was only a quick physical.  A real check-up would be conducted at a later date.  She also silently told herself the next check-up she had would be WITHOUT her mother in the room.  
She had memories from years ago of her mother hovering.  NOW it was ten times worse and you’d have thought she was halfway to a miscarriage!  That, and it was really awkward watching her mother obviously trying not to cry when she saw her clearly developing belly.  Luckily the visit was short and she didn’t need to endure much.  But it was a troubling sign of the times to come.
True to her fears her mother rarely gave her a moment to herself from the moment they got home.  She felt like she was in a quassia punishment bubble.   The door to her room?  Removed.  Computer privileges?  Monitored.  Cell phone?  Gone.  Worse yet she heard her mother over the phone a day later asking about home school options!
Every thing she had happening her mother claimed was for her protection.  How her DOOR being removed kept her safer was beyond her…  And her mother sure didn’t seem to have a good answer for that either…  All Kody could hope for was to discuss things with Alex and maybe get SOMETHINGS relaxed.
It was about a week after the “big reveal” that her first meeting with Alex as about to take place.  By this time Kody was on her last rope.  Kody had managed through sneaking out her father’s old laptop to keep Pepper from freaking out.  She felt bad about keeping the Snow Leopard out of the loop but didn’t want to deal with her smothering her either.  Plus… she wasn’t even sure Pepper would still want to be fried after this.
The ride over to the office was an awkward one.  The last few days Kody had kept herself as far from her mother as she could.  She had taken off a lot of work lately to stay near Kody.  Not wanting to leave her alone anywhere.  It had taken all of her inner strength to not just run away.  Maybe to Theo….  But what a way to out the poor guy.
Upon arrival to the office Kody was immediately ushered into the office.  Sitting down Kody busied herself by looking around at the eclectic collection of posters, and knickknacks.  It was a riot of colors and… STUFF that Kody had no idea how anyone other than a scatterbrained fur could ever feel comfortable in there.  While getting lost in the clutter of the office Alex finally comes in distracting her from it all.
“Good morning, Dakota.”  Alex greets her cheerfully.
“Morning.”  She mumbles back.
“Well, I guess it’s closer to the Afternoon being 11am and all.  But that’s fine.”  Alex replies casually.  Ignoring the sulkiness of Kody’s voice.
Alex sat down across from her and let out a sigh giving her a long careful look.  Kody herself remained silent.  The silence between the girls seemed to stretch on longer and longer.  Kody began to feel even more annoyed.  Were they really going to just remain silent the WHOLE time?
“Kody.  I know you don’t want to talk.  I know you feel like this is not necessary.  But you really DO need to open up.”  Alex says softly.
Kody averts her eyes not meeting Alex’s icy blue eyes.  She didn’t want to discuss this.  She didn’t know why.  But she knew for a fact it would be bad.
“For example.  After being sexually abused by your father you STILL seek affection from adult furs.”  Alex continues on.
“I-its not like that!”  Kody snaps.  Suddenly feeling angry.
Alex doesn’t flinch.  She keeps her eyes straight at Kody’s.  Impassionate, cold, calculating.
“It’s not?  Then what is it?”  Alex asks simply.
“I-it just isn’t.”  Kody growls.
“But, most of the time while in the streams you sought out the attention of the older furs.”  Alex responds.
“I-I did not!”  Kody snaps again, her ears flat and defiant.  
“Oh, did you not know those were adults?  None of them sent explicit images to you?”
“Th-!  That was…!  I-I was only responding to my FANS!  Kody manages to get out.  
Her cheeks were warm and she felt more flustered than ever before.  Up until then not a single shrink had gotten confrontational with her.  They all were kind, and “understanding”.  “Sympathetic” they would say.  She hated it, but she was starting to wish that is what was going on.
“Dakota.  I WATCHED your streams.  Plenty of obviously younger furs “hollered” at you.  I know you shared images with adults.  I don’t even need to look at your chat history to figure that out.  Their comments, your responses.  ALL of it paints a pretty clear picture.  On top of the fact that all those students and adults that show up to my mixers I never once heard any of the furs your own age talk about images you sent them.”
“M-maybe you just didn’t invite the right guys over my own age.”  Kody points out irritably.
“How do you know?  I bet you don’t even know yourself who all you’ve sent your own photos to.”  Alex replies.
“FUCK YOU!”  Kody snarls.
Alex and Kody sat is shocked silence for a moment.  Both shocked by the hostility in her voice.  But the more she thought about it the more justified she felt.  HOW DARE SHE says something like that!?  What did that have ANYTHING to do with the situation!?
“Keep your claws in Kody.”  Alex says soothingly after a moment.  “That was insensitive.  But the question remains.  DO you know?”
“I-it doesn’t matte if I know or not.”  Kody retorts.
“But it DOES Kody.  This could be far more damaging than you can imagine!  These photos could surface later on in your life.  Furs have lost their JOBS over photos like those!  Worse yet, years down the road you may find a nice young man you want to marry.  What if he saw those photos and wanted to be around you simply because he thought you were easy?  What if he finds out about them and thought the same and calls everything off?  You need to STOP sooner than later!  And we haven’t even really delved into the reasons WHY you’re posting them!”
“FINE!  I’ll stop posting nudes!  Happy now!?”  Kody growls.
“No.  I’m not.”  Alex rolls her eyes.
“Well WHY!?  I said I wouldn’t!  Point taken!  Can I go now?”  Kody asks obstinately.
“Kody.  We are NOT leaving until we discuss the REAL reason you’re here.”  Alex cuts back with a growl.
“Then WHY am I here!?”  Kody asks, her voice raising.
“Because you are 13 and pregnant!”  Alex snarls.
“S-so what?  This sort of thing happens all the time!  There are PLENTY of young mothers out there!”  Kody retorts angerly, refusing to acknowledge the point.
“So that’s it then?  That is ALL you aspire to be??  A “young mother”?  That’s the life you want for yourself?  To be a statistic?”  Alex asks angerly.
“Y-you make it sound like I can’t be successful as a single mother!”  Kody replies offended.
“That is totally BESIDE the point!”  Alex groans.  “The problem is you are 13 and with child!  A CHILD WITH CHILD!  THAT IS THE PROBLEM!”
“I KNOW!”  Kody shouts back.  “But nothing is going to change that!  I’m pregnant!  That’s it!  WHY are you trying to make this into a bigger deal than it already is!
Both girls sat there glaring at each other for a long while.  Kody refusing to back down and Alex not willing to give an inch either.  As both girls kept staring each other down, tails lashing, the tension kept mounting.    
“That is because, it IS a big deal, Dakota.”  Alex finally breaks the silence with an even voice.  “This is exactly what I was worried was going to happen for a long time now.  But I never pushed you.  Hoping if I gave you the room you wanted it would all work out.  But that didn’t happen, and now it’s finally happened.
I know you don’t want to talk about it, but the root cause of your promiscuity lays in your past.  With your father.  If I keep giving you more rope, you’ll keep hanging yourself with it.  I CANNOT stand by anymore and let you ruin your life any farther.  If I don’t step in now you may end up with another child or worse, dead.  I cannot protect you when you’re an adult.  But dammit I’ll do whatever I have to while you’re still a cub!”
Kody sat in a mutinous silence after Alex finished.  Not willing to look her in the eyes she looked ANYWHERE else she could.  The seconds dragged on to minutes.  Still, she refused to speak.  She was NOT going to talk about this.
“Oh Kody.”  Alex lets out a defeated sigh.  “What are we going to do with you?  You can’t keep hiding from your problems.  Sooner or later, you WILL have to face your past.  Our session is over for today.  You can send your mom in now.  But don’t you think this is over.  I am not going to walk on egg shells around you anymore.”
Kody’s only reply was to glare at her before sullenly walking out of the room.  She had had half a mind to lie to her mother and claim they could go.  But her mother had apparently heard their yelling and was waiting anxiously nearby.  Before she could ask what happened Alex poked her head out and ordered Kody to go to the waiting room and sit before inviting her mother into the office.
While her mother and Alex has their discussion Kody sat in the dank office brooding.  Alex had normally never been so pushy or confrontational.  Normally she would make soft probes into her life if they met online or whatever.  This was the first time she had ever really pushed her.  The flat-out assault and shaken her, and she knew from her words the next time she would be put through the ringer again.
The ride home was just a quiet but somehow worse.  She could tell her mother was looking at her from time to time.  Never asking her anything or even talking.  As happy as she was for that she also was starting to hate it.  Didn’t her mother have ANYTHING to say about what went down today?  From the length of time, they spent (which was over 30 min) they have to have discussed it.
When they finally got home Kody was about to head to her doorless room before her mother calls out to her.
“Dakota.  We need to talk.”
“About what happened today?”  Kody asks with a slight edge.
“Please.  Just sit-down Dakota.  And try to keep your claws sheathed.”  Her mother replies wearily. 
Kody nods tersely and makes a turn into the den before stopping.  She instead walks the other way and takes a seat at the kitchen table.  Her mother follows her slowly and pulls up a chair opposite to her and lets out a long and stressed sigh.
“SO.  One thing I wanted to discuss with Alex today was home schooling…  I didn’t want you have to deal with things at school.  I can’t imagine the drama you would have to put up with from other girls or boys.  But she told me to not worry about that until you were farther along.  She thinks you need to be able to talk to your own peers.  Specifically, Pepper.”
Kody was about to complain about the whole homeschool idea but was happy to hear that it was going to be at least postponed.  However, the idea of telling Pepper this sort of thing still seemed like a terrible idea.  The last thing she needed was Pepper to be molly coddling her too!
“I’m guessing you haven’t told her yet?”  her mother asks with a shrewd look.
“W-why bother her with my drama?” Kody asks defensively.
“Oh Dakota…”  Her mother sighs rubbing her temples.  “This is another thing we discussed.”
“What. That I keep things from others?”
“No.  This.”  She replies, holding her paw in her direction.  “This wall, this wall you have ALWAYS put up!  Even back then, you were a statue.  You’ve never opened up.  Not once.  To ANYONE.”
“What’s there to “open up” about?”  Kody asks irritably.
“Sweetie…  I am having the WORST case of déjà vu right now.  This is JUST like after I found out that your father was… was touching you!”  Her mother forces herself to say, looking worn.   “The police, the doctors, NONE of them could get you to open up about ANYTHING!  Sweetie!  You were the victim then!  Just like you are now!”
Kody felt the fur on the nap of her neck rise.  Anger welled up and she bit back the angry retort she wanted to say.  Struggling to control herself she makes herself respond calmly.
“M-mom, I was not raped, ok?  I just… don’t want to tell you who the father is.”  She manages to get out evenly.
“Ok, fine.  But that still doesn’t address the reason WHY you are having sex at ALL at your age!?”  Her mother replies sounding annoyed herself now.
“L-lots of furs my age has a sexual life.”  Kody responds trying to sound like this was totally normal.
“Dakota, this is NOT normal!  PLEASE don’t try to pass this off as nothing to be worried about!”  Her mother snaps.  “Most cubs your age are not pregnant!  And even less were abused the way you were!”
“WHY do you keep bringing that up!?”  Kody finally snaps back.  Getting more and more angry at her bringing it up.
“Honey, I don’t have to be a phycologist to see this as being connected!”  Her mother pleads with her.
“Well, its NOT.  Ok?  So, you can stop bringing it up!”  She insists stubbornly.  
“Dakota… Its OK to admit you are still hurt.  Its ok to admit you have some lingering memories or problems.  I am still dealing with trust issues even now.  And I wasn’t even the one being abused.  If you can’t discuss whatever is bothering you with me, PLEASE open up to SOMEONE.  ANYONE.  Alex, Pepper.  A school nurse.  But PLEASE don’t keep it inside.”
With that she tries to reach out to Kody’s paw but she retracts it away.  She can see the look of hurt in her mother’s eye but ignored it.  After a moment she sighed and continued.
“Tomorrow you are going back to school.  You are to check in with the nurse when you get to school, during lunch and before you leave.  The Shade family will pick you up from school for me and take you to their place whenever I have a long night.  When you are at school, I’ll allow you to have your phone but it will all be locked.  You will only be able to make phone calls to numbers I’ve approved.  Please get a night bag ready, I won’t be back tomorrow night.  I have to pick up as many hours as I can.”  And with that her mother stood up and walked away looking for all the world that she was double her age.
As much as Kody had honestly been looking forward to finally going back to school it wasn’t nearly as nice as she had imagined it would be.  Seems word had spread pretty fast that she had gotten knocked up.  At least that had been the rumor someone had spread.  
Seems that her weight gain had not gone unnoticed. After her being gone for a week and a half everyone assumed she MUST have become pregnant and had been pulled out of school.  So, imagine their surprise when Kody padded into the classroom after checking in with the school nurse.
Kody had no idea about the rumors around the whole school yet, but the hushed reaction to her coming in tipped her off that something wasn’t quite right…  Taking her normal seat in the back of the classroom she did her best to ignore the obvious stares of her peers.  Luckily, she didn’t have to wait long for the one fur she desperately wanted to see to come into the class room.
Upon noticing Kody, Pepper made a beeline for her.  Once the snow leopard had got to her side she wrapped her arms around her neck, nearly choking her as she purred loudly.
“OHMYGOSHKODY!  I was so worried about you!  Your messages were so cryptic and so far apart!” she gasps out.
“P-Pep!  If you don’t let go of my neck, you’ll never see me again!”  She manages to choke out.
“OH!  I’m SO sorry Kody!”  Pepper gasps letting her go finally.
“If that’s you happy to see me, I’d hate to see you angry to see me.”  Kody chuckles rubbing her neck.
“I’m really sorry!”  Pepper replies sheepishly.   A second later her face becomes serious and she lowers her voice.  “Kody, I need to tell you something.”
What that was became immediately obvious when a very loud stage whisper is heard nearby. 
“With a belly like that she MUST be eating for two”
A hush is heard around the room as the statement drops like a block of lead.  Kody scans around the room from where she heard the remark but all students were doing their very best to avoid eye contact.  However, a suspicious group of girls nearby looked like they were doing their best to keep from laughing.  
Kody flattens her ears as she glares their way.  She could tell by their actions that whoever the ring leader was of the group was responsible.  But without knowing who she couldn’t really respond.  Trying to shrug it off it was surprisingly Pepper who came to her defense.
“Did you say something, Jessica?”  Pepper asks loudly and dangerously.
The whole class was now watching.  Most were plainly shocked Pepper of any fur would make such a bold challenge.  Others just wanted to watch the ensuing fight.  Kody however just wanted to disappear.
Jessica, a pretty and snooty looking bear glances up from her seat and stares Pepper down.
“My bad, maybe she just wants you to feel better about your own weight problems.”  She replies with a smirk.
The sound of a chair clattering down rings out in the silent room.  Kody was up on her paws, tail fluffed and lashing angerly and had taken a few steps before her mind caught up with her.  Kody wasn’t sure what she was about to do but it was suddenly interrupted by an adult voice.
“What on EARTH is going on here!?  What are you two doing?”
Glancing over at the door, their homeroom teacher, Mr. Edward, a Cheetah was glaring at her.  It was only then that she realized that Pepper too was no longer where she had remembered her.  Stealing a glance at Jessica she can tell the bear was totally shook up by both of the girls plainly hostile reactions.
“It’s nothing.”  Pepper is surprisingly again the first to say something.
“Good, now sit down.  BOTH of you.”  Mr. Edward growls.  “And Miss Dakota I would like to see you after this Period.  
The rest of the class period luckily was totally silent.  From time-to-time Kody would glance over at Jessica to see what she was doing.  But she seemingly had learned her lesion.  Maybe it was less about Kody and more about Pepper’s reaction that really shocked her.  Even Kody was surprised by her reaction.  
Finally, the class ended and everyone filed out.  Kody glanced at Pepper who looked as though she wanted to stay there too but was shooed out by the teacher.  As Kody finally got all her things up Mr. Edward walks up to her.
“Me and your other teachers have all been informed of your unique situation.  That being said, I do not intend on treating you any differently when it comes to interruptions in my class.”  He says sternly.
“She started it.”  Kody replies huffily.
“In the future if you are dealing with bullies, please inform a teacher instead of beating up on them with you friends.”  Mr. Edwards says wryly.  
“Yes sir.”  Kody sighs.
“Ok.  You may go.  PLEASE, if you are being treated poorly tell a teacher.”  He sighs before letting her go.  With that Kody escaped from first period and hurried off to her next class.  
Pepper was already waiting for her and had a chair in the back of the class saved for her.  As Kody slipped into her seat Pepper lets out an annoyed growl.
“Jessica has been acting that way since you didn’t come back to school last week.”  Pepper snorts.
“Yeah, well some furs are just going to talk, aren’t they?”  Kody replies, noting that the subject of their conversation walked in just then with her usual gang.
This time Jessica makes sure to steer clear of Pepper and Kody.  Seemingly finished stirring the pot for then.  Hopefully for good, or at least in front of them.  Kody had expected some attempted bullying, but not so soon.  Least of all for Pepper to react that way to it.  She must have had to endure hearing all the nasty rumors…  And all this time she could have heard straight from her and never did.
Nothing else of note really happened, for the rest of the day.  Pepper remained fairly quiet for the whole day.  Even during lunch, the two girls remained fairly quiet.  Kody had expected Pepper to have attacked her for all sorts of details.  But worryingly she didn’t have much to say it seemed.
One perk for her pregnancy was in the form of a ride home each day.  At least she assumed it would be.  Night, Peppers dad was waiting for them in the pick-up zone when both girls got outside.  Both girls quickly ran to where he was and got in, both girls glad the school day was over.
“Good afternoon, ladies.  Good to see you again Kody.”
“Hey daddy.”
“Hey Mister Shade.”
“Have a good day at school?  Anything happen?”  Mr. Shade asks conversationally.
Kody exchanges a look with Pepper, neither girl not wishing to talk about the incident with the bitchy bear.  Plus, Kody was getting tired of nosey adults.  Last thing she wanted was her mother to be told she was bullied on the first day.
“Nothing.  It was a good day.”  Kody replies.  
“Good to hear!  Your mom will be pulling a lot of hours this weekend Kody, so you will be spending the weekend here.  Your things are already at our place.”
“Oh cool.  Thanks for having me then.”
Once they arrived at home Kody and Pepper both went up to her bedroom and started to work on the small mountain of work Kody had missed.  Luckily no major tests were missed but a few big ones WERE coming up.  Meaning to make sure her grades remained good she would need to make it all up.
Luckily for her Pepper was a very studious student.  She managed to help Kody work through the majority of her stack of homework before dinner.  The only thing to mire the dinner was the fact that Pepper’s little brother kept stealing glances at her the whole time.  She could tell he was trying to be sneaky about it but was failing pretty badly.  If it had been anyone else, she might have found it funny.
Luckily the awkward meal was over soon enough and she could get away from the prying eyes of Kyle.  She did get a bit of a giggle as she hear his mother admonish him for staring so much.  Clearly, he wasn’t nearly as smooth as he thought he had been in hiding what he was doing.
Once safely back in Peppers room she sunk down onto her makeshift nest on the floor.  Pepper came in after them a few moments later with a towel.
“Hey Kody, do you want to take a bath with me?  Mom says we can use the tub in their room.”  Pepper asks tossing the towel onto the cougar.
“H-hey!  Oh, sure thing Pep.  Let me get my change of clothes!”
Both girls gather their things up and crossed the hall to the master bedroom.  Peppers parent’s room was very reminiscent of Alex’s office.  The walls had various paintings and art from all over the world he had clearly bought while over-seas.  Some things she wondered how Peppers mother felt he had on display…
The bathroom however was clearly decorated by her mother.  Flowers were in pots, all the linens matched.  A big area bathroom rug was in the center of the large clean space.  Right in front of the large jacuzzi bathtub as a matter of fact.  Which as luck would have it, was nearly full.
“I see where you went before you came to the bedroom Pep.”  Kody comments dipping her paw digit into the hot water.
“That.  And getting mom to agree.”  She said cheerfully.
As both girls undressed Kody suddenly started to feel a bit uncomfortable.  She had bathed with Pepper too many times to count.  But somehow, now that she was pregnant, it felt really strange.  Kody could tell Pepper was stealing glances much like her bother had been.  Thankfully not nearly as obvious about it, but still noticeable.
“Kody… Level with me.  Are you pregnant?”  
Both girls, turned to face each other.  Peppers eyes locked onto Kody’s own.  It was less of a question and a bit more of a demand Kody felt.  But she reminded herself that until recently she had not told Pepper anything.  Even at school, she was very likely defending her absent friend.  Only to have her show up in a way that essentially proved it was all true.
“Yes, its true.”  Kody sighed.
“Was it someone from livefurs?”  Pepper asks.
“No… no one from there.”  Kody replies rolling her eyes.
The two girls remained silent for a minute.  Pepper now allowed herself to glance down at the round belly.  She stares for a few more seconds before sighing and simply hugs Kody.
“You should have told me from the start you fluff.”  She mutters.
“I… I wasn’t sure.”  Kody responds, wrapping her arms around Pepper.
“Please stop lying to me Kody.”  She replies squeezing her harder.  “Those rumors started way before you finally went MIA.  It was only whispered jokingly, I did my best to shut them up, trying to convince myself you just were letting yourself go a bit.”
“O-oh…”  Kody starts.  She honestly had no idea it had been a rumor for so long.
“Whatever is going on, TELL me.  Ok?  I know I’m a goody two shoes. But I’ve been keeping your secrets for a long time.  Don’t insult me by not being willing to trust me with something important!” She pleads, grasping the cougars’ arms and staring right into her eyes.
This was partially why she hadn’t wanted to.  She knew Pepper could be very emotional.  But she was right, up until then she had been as staunch a friend as you could ask for.   Keeping all her secrets, seemingly not rolling even now about her antics on LiveFur’s.
“Yeah, I know Pep…  I just didn’t want to worry you.”  She sighs.
“Liar.”  She sniffs with a little giggle.  “You just didn’t want me to lecture you.”  She playfully scolds.
“You caught me.” Kody chuckles.
“Ahem!  Why are you standing around naked?  Let’s get in!  Hope that belly of yours doesn’t make the water overflow!”
The little shots by the snow leopard were pretty shocking but very much welcome as opposed to her crying all day long.  Both girls get into the water and Pepper immediately starts making a fuss over her.  She could tell it was partially an act, but also something she really wanted to do.
“Lay back, I want to wash your fur.  It’s been so long since we got to do this together.  Why did we ever stop?”  Pepper asks, while running the shampoo into Kody’s hair.
“Mm, because we got older?”  Kody purrs out, enjoying the pampering immensely.  
“Hmph, well let’s not do it all the time.  This way it remains special and you don’t get so used to this you forget how to bathe yourself.”  She teases.
After the washing up both girls would have liked to stay in longer. But her mother knocked on the door and told them they needed to be out soon.  After drying off and getting into their bedtime things the girls bid Peppers parents a good night and got into bed.
Kody had tried to sleep on the floor but Pepper had insisted they sleep together on her bed.
“NO!  You are NOT sleeping on the floor.  You need support for the baby, otherwise your back will get messed up!”  She scolds.
“Oh my god Pep.  You sound like a cranky old midwife.”  Kody grouses as she climbs into bed.
“Oh hush.  This is mainly because I want to cuddle with you tonight.”  Pepper giggles.
“Your uh… kind of touchy tonight, aren’t you?”  Kody points out.
Pepper presses close and squeezes her gently.
“I just missed you, and this is all I can do to not worry too much.  Uhm… this is also kind of weird to ask.  But…”  She stammers out a bit moving away.  “Do you mind if I feel your belly?”
“Why?”  Is all Kody can ask.
“It doesn’t seem real.  I have to feel it.”  She insists.
“Uhm…. Well, you can take it from me Pep that its real.  But since your so… pushy… sure, go ahead.”  Kody replies, a little weirded out.
Pepper gently slips her shirt up and stares at her growing belly.  It wasn’t so big yet, but the size and shape was such that now anyone seeing it could have no doubt.  Pepper reaches out and gently runs her fingers through her belly fur.  Kody squirms a bit, a blush reaching her cheeks.
“W-watch it Pep.  K-kinda sensitive.”
“Oh!  I’m sorry!  But… wow.”
“Its just a belly Pep.”  Kody chuckles.
“No, its not.”  Pepper replies seriously.
She takes a few more moments to rub her belly some before finally giving Kody space.
“Satisfied?”  Kody asks playfully.
“I guess.  So, who IS the father?”  Pepper asks after the two get comfortable.
“Uh, you wouldn’t know him.”  Kody replies casually.
“Its an adult.  Isn’t it?”  Pepper asks after a short pause.
Kody doesn’t reply.  Pepper knew her too well, and she had already promised to not lie.  So, keeping quiet was the best she could do.  The sigh from Pepper told her she understood.
“Hey… may I use you phone tomorrow?  To call him?”  Kody asks slowly.
“WHAT?”  Pepper asks, sitting up to stare at her.
“Pep… he needs to be kept informed you know.  Being the father and all.”  Kody says quietly.
“But… I-I don’t know.  That’s a bit much.  He could be just…”
“Pep.  I’ve already spoken to him once right after I was totally sure that I was pregnant.  I know you feel like he isn’t trust worthy.  But… I just know he can be.”  Kody says to Pepper, willing her to understand.  
She hadn’t thought of him in a whole week.  And that bothered her a lot for some reason.  She felt it was really important to keep him informed.  Partially because she wanted to, and also because he represented at least ONE adult who wanted her to keep her unborn cub.
“…. I’ll think about it.” Was all she said after a long pause.
Figuring that was just going to be the end of it she rolls over and spoons up to Pepper.  Pepper was a softy, so she probably would give in.  And if not, she could always just steal her phone and a few moments alone to call.