Chapter Text
Catra stared down at the two lines on the test and then quickly glanced at the other little stick that read the word ‘Pregnant’. She swallowed hard and did her best to compose herself. She got her dream job in Bright Moon and had hit the celebration drinks particularly hard, and now almost two months later, she was faced with the consequences.
This couldn’t be happening to her. Not now, not when she had finally achieved her goal.
At the moment all she could see was her dreams going up in smoke. She was definitely pregnant and it was really crappy timing.
So Catra got into her car and she started driving. She wasn’t even sure where she was heading at first, she just needed to put some space between her and that test. It’s not like it would change the results if she was in a different state, but Catra kept driving.
Near midnight, she finally found herself pulling up a long gravel road. She spotted some familiar horses in the pasture, just barely able to make them out in the moonlight. The porch light was on, which wasn’t surprising since her best friend was known to keep a light on.
Adora’s house had become a sort of home away from the chaos of the city for Catra. Adora had let her stay on more than one occasion and never really asked any questions.
Walking to the door, she hesitated unsure if she should knock. Adora wasn’t expecting her and it was pretty late. Catra froze with her hand curled in a fist, debating back and forth. Catra didn’t want to burden Adora, but she also didn’t know where else to go. Adora had always been her tdor north, her conscious so to speak.
Catra was starting to overthink, and just as she was about to turn back around and head back to her car, the door to Adora’s house opened. A very ruffled and sleepy Adora opened the door. She was wearing shorts, a white tank-top, and her glasses.
“Catra?” Adora asked, her voice thick with sleep.
Almost instantly Catra surged forward and threw her arms around Adora’s waist, hugging her tightly. She melted into her chest, just sobbing openly. She felt stupid for being so emotional, but she couldn’t help it.
Adora wrapped her arms around Catra, and just held her. She gently rubbed her best friend’s back, trying to console her. “What’s going on Catra? Are you alright?”
“I am pregnant Dor,” Catra whispered, sobbing harder. “I didn’t know where to go, or what to do.” She wasn’t even sure if she could handle being a mom. She didn’t want to screw up her future child’s life.
Of all the things that Adora had expected Catra to say, her being pregnant wasn’t one of them. The older girl tried to take the information in stride, and then stepped back but kept a hold of Catra’s hand.
“Why don’t you come inside. I’ll make you some tea and we can talk.” Adora offered. She knew Catra probably needed some sleep, the blonde looked like she had been driving for hours.
“Yeah, that sounds good to me,” Catra said following Adora into her home.
----
Adora had been in love with Catra for as long as she could remember. It was impossible to not fall in love with her. Catra was funny, she had a heart of gold, and even when she was being immature there was something about her, that Adora couldn’t look away from, particularly her heterochromatic eyes. Catra had captivated her and captured her heart.
Adora of course had never brought up those feelings to Catra. She had kept those feeling to herself, burying them. The idea of screwing up their friendship hadn’t been something she was willing to entertain.
Dating other people had helped and there had been a few that Adora had felt connections with, but they never really lasted all that long. They weren’t Catra, and it wasn’t fair to be with them when she couldn’t give them all of her heart.
For better or worse, Catra was her twin flame and Adora couldn’t get rid of that. Now her best friend was pregnant and looked like a lost soul on her doorstep. Adora hadn’t even hesitated, if Catra needed her, it was her duty as a best friend to try and be there.
She ushered Catra into the kitchen and got to work trying to make the other some tea. “You been driving all day?” Adora asked, in a way of making conversation. Her back was to Catra, but she didn’t need to see her, to know the question made Catra flinch.
“A couple of hours.” There was a slight pause, as Catra looked at the clock on Adora’s kitchen wall. “Okay like six hours, I guess.”
Adora gave a soft hum. “Well, I am glad you’re here.”
“How did you know I was here, I didn’t even knock.” Catra pointed out.
Adora chuckled despite herself. “Well, I have motion sensors on my front gate, and on my door. I recognized your car. You have a key, why didn’t you let yourself in?”
“I guess I thought you might be mad if I just showed up out of nowhere,” Catra confessed. She hadn’t even been planning on showing up at Adora’s, she had just been trying to clear her head.
Adora turned and brought her the tea, taking the seat across from Catra. “You can always let yourself in. I love you and you’re always welcome here.”
Catra took the tea, running her thumb around the rim. “Thanks, Dora,” Catra said quietly, unable to make eye contact. God, she felt like such a fat mess.
Adora studied her for a long moment, just letting a silence settle between them. She had always been particularly good at reading Catra, and she could tell that the brunette was trying to process everything.
Catra was starting to squirm in her seat, clearly anxious and Adora reached out to place a hand over Catra’s. Almost immediately Catra turned her hand palm up, letting Adora lace their fingers together.
“So you’re pregnant?” Adora asked after a little bit. She didn’t force Catra to make eye contact, instead, she focused on running her thumb over Catra’s knuckles, using the gentle touch to try and ground Catra.
Catra let out a heavy sigh, her posture deflating a little. “Yeah, I took a couple of different tests today.”
“Does the father know?” Adora asked.
Catra shook her head, finally meeting Adora’s gaze with a pained expression. “I don’t know who the father is.”
Adora blinked a couple of times, stunned by her words. She hadn’t been aware that Catra was dating anybody, but then again they had been on different schedules. She couldn’t really fault Catra for needing and enjoying somebody else’s company. As far as Adora knew, Catra wasn’t even aware of her feelings.
“Don’t judge Dora,” Catra said, starting to pull her hand away. She had taken Adora’s silence as a sort of rejection.
Adora tightened her grip on Catra’s hand and shook her head. “I am not judging you Catra. Not about this. I may think your diet should include less fast food, but I wouldn’t judge you about that sort of thing.” Adora said quietly.
Catra chewed on the inside of her cheek and then relaxed. “I am sorry, I’m not trying to be all defensive Dora.”
“You’re allowed to feel Catra. You’re allowed to be scared, nervous, whatever.” Adora gently squeezed Catra’s hand again. “Okay, so what do you want to do?”
Catra sighed. “I don’t know. You’re the first person I told.”
She felt like she was freaking out on the inside. She didn’t know if she should keep the baby or if the best option was to let the child go into a more stable and loving home. There were so many factors and things going through her mind and it felt overwhelming.
“I didn’t know who else to go to Dora. I just started driving, trying to clear my head and I ended up here.” Catra added, sounding small and uncertain.
Adora could feel her heart squeeze, clenching painfully in her chest. “Well, you know I’ve got you. I always will. You and your baby are always welcome here.” Adora assured her.
Adora was confident that if Catra asked anything of her, she wouldn’t have the heart to deny it. She let her eyes roam Catra’s frame, which looked the same as ever, and tried to imagine what Catra would look like once she began to show.
“I don’t know if I am strong enough to be a single mom Dora. I don’t even know if I am cut out to be a mom. Netossa, Spinnerella, Mermista, they’re all amazing mothers. I mean look at Sparkles, I never thought she’d have a kid, but Angle is the most loved kid I’ve ever seen.” Catra wasn’t sure if she could measure up to them.
The brunette hadn’t had the best life growing up. She had Shadow Weaver for a mother afterall, there had been really tough times. She didn’t want to subject her kid to that.
“I finally got what I wanted. I am a and now I feel like I’ll have to give it up.” Catra said quietly. She felt like she was going to be forced to pick between the baby and her career. She didn’t have a support system as Glimmer or Mermista did.
Adora just listened, letting Catra ramble and try to get it out. She waited until Catra finally stopped talking and then scooted her chair around to sit by her best friend.
“Catra, I need you to really hear what I am about to say. You are not going to have to do this alone. If you choose to have this baby, then we’ll figure it out together. My mom always said it takes a village to raise a baby, and you’re lucky enough to have a squad.” Adora said firmly. She hadn’t exactly pictured herself as a parent, but she was willing to help Catra.
Catra stared back at her stunned, once more trying to process everything. It felt like a hurricane was going through her mind, making it hard to focus. “What are you saying, Dora?”
Adora placed a hand on Catra’s cheek, cupping it and gently forcing eye contact now. “I am saying that I am going to help you raise your baby. If you want me to, I’ll go with you to your doctor’s appointments, I’ll be the one by your side during the birthing classes. I’ll step up.”
“You’d do that?” Catra had always known Adora to be a selfless kind of person. Adora was giving and compassionate, she was Catra’s best friend for a reason. “You’d really want to co-parent this baby with me? Don’t you want to think about it first? I mean this is a lot to sign up for, I don’t even know if I’m fully ready to handle this.”
Squaring her shoulders, Adora gave a solemn nod. “I’d do just about anything for you Catra. We’ve been through a lot together, and if you want my help, you have it.”
Catra could feel tears starting to well up in her eyes again. “I think they’re gonna ask questions if I say you’re the father.” She joked through her tears.
Adora snorted softly. “Yeah well, stranger things have happened. I love you Catra, and no matter what comes our way, if you’re on this journey then I am right there with you. No matter what you decide.”
Catra moved to sit in her best friend’s lap, just needing to hold on to her for a while. She felt like things weren’t as scary when Adora was holding her. “Squad squad?”
Adora nodded and kissed her temple. “Until the end Catra.” She knew the gravity of the situation would hit her at some point, but for now, taking care of Catra and her… their child was the priority. They’d figure out the rest of the details later.