A Baby Story (AU, ?C Teen) *Need Kyle, Isabel, Michael*

[M]

~*TESS*~

I wake up in the dark living room and for a moment I can't remember where I am or why I'm here. Then the events of the afternoon come flooding back and I'm overwhelmed. All of a sudden though I realise I'm not alone. I reach out with my mind, all senses on alert, in full defense mode.

Then I relax.

'Hi Kyle. I was waiting for you but I must have fallen asleep'

Kyle's sheepish face comes into view over the back of the sofa and I can't help but smile at him.

[isabelle]

*MAX*

As I’m driving home, I just have to go by the Crashdown. It really is on the way, but I know that’s not the reason. If it were, I’d just drive right past, but I don’t. Looking up, I notice that the lights are still on in Liz’s window. She’s still awake, which isn’t too surprising, I guess. I pull the jeep over and park at the curb where I have a view down the alley where I once serenaded her with a Mariachi band. I turn off the engine and just sit there.

Then I notice someone climbing out of Liz’s window and coming down the fire escape. I’m so surprised, that I don’t even move for a moment. In the next moment, I realize it’s Kyle and immediately start to feel jealous. I try to ignore the feeling. I saw him head that way earlier, but that was before he came home and was talking with Tess and his dad and me. Now he’s gone back? Back to Liz’s room? Twice in one evening?

No, I think, tightening my grip on the steering wheel. I was wanting her to find some comfort and if she’s getting it from Kyle, that’s a good thing. Right? Somehow, my heart isn’t quite convinced but I know I have to accept this. Liz’s happiness is what’s important. And anything that can help her find that is something that I need for her to have.

Shakily, I grab the gear shift in order to start up the car, but Kyle has already seen me. He’s making a bee-line to the jeep. He stands there glaring at me and I say nothing.

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

After Kyle’s gone, I start to replay his last statement in my head. We’re going to get through this…you just have to work at it… It’s not as simple as he makes it sound though…none of this is… I sigh, going over to the window briefly and looking out before returning to my bed and flopping down, burying my head in the pillow. I know that Kyle was trying to help…I know that he’s just trying to be a friend, but nothing is going to help right at this moment in time…well nothing except Max coming and telling me he still loves me… I know that it’s not going to happen…and even if it did I should tell him where to go…but in my heart I know that I’d take him back in an instant… I’d never ask him to abandon his child…Tess’ child…but if the two of them decided that they weren’t going to be together, and Max came and asked me if I would still be with him…? Well, I know there would never be any question of what I would say… I love Max…I always will… Would I be willing to accept the baby…to accept that it’s part of his life…to even accept that if I was with Max it would be part of my life to some extent? - Yes, I think I could… Could I accept the fact that he would come first as far as Max was concerned…? – Yes… The fact is that if Max wants me, even after what has happened…all he needs to do is tell me… I know that I sound so weak…but I can’t help it…besides, I turned Max away by making him think I slept with Kyle…I started all this…

[FallenMagic]

M, could you wait on the conversation with Kyle and Tess for a while. I just want to finish off this scene with Kyle and Max and then i'll get Kyle to go to talk to Tess.

~* Kyle *~

I wouldn't have noticed Max if I hadn't looked across the street. But htere he was, sitting in his car, no doubt hoping to go up to Liz. For some reason that makes me angry.

How can he expect to go to her after what he did to her? How can he even think that she's want to see him? Before I know it, I'm making a bee-line towards the car. He looks as if he wants to bolt but I get there before he can make a move.

"What they hell are you doing here, Evans?" I snarl at him, the nager rolling off me in waves.

[isabelle]

*MAX*

I'm not surprised that Kyle is angry at me. I am surprised at the intensity, but I guess I shouldn't be. Even if he didn't sleep with her, as I suspect he didn't, she's still a friend and she's been hurt. By me. I'm so angry at myself. So sorry for the pain I've caused her. So jealous of him, being with her.

"Nothing," I tell Kyle when he asks what I'm doing there, trying not to sound defensive. "I'm just heading home."

I can’t believe this look in his eyes. It’s almost like back when he was still dating Liz after I first healed her and he was angry because he thought I was trying to take her away from him. I had wanted to, at the time, but I wasn’t trying because I never thought it would happen, although it did.

But this is different now. I’m not trying to steal her. I told her how much I loved her, how much I still needed her, but it didn’t matter. She hates me now, and she has a right. If Kyle wants Liz again, I can’t stop him. And I won’t. I swear I won’t. I want her to be happy. If Kyle is going to do that, then I have to try to want that for her, too. But it’s so hard.

[FallenMagic]

~* Kyle *~

Going home? Does he really expect me to believe that? It's like sophomore year all over again. Back when I was dating Liz and I'd find Max hanging around.

Back then it was jealousy that made me protective of Liz, but this time around it's friendship. Liz and I never really good at the dating thing. I think we're better friends than we were boyfriend/girlffirend. And it's because I care about her so much that I'm willing to do anything to keep her from getting hurt. Even if it means keeping Max away from Liz.

But what about Tess? A voice in my head asks me. Max will be around Tess constantly now, especially if he's away from Liz. Can you handle that? Can you choose? Liz or Tess?

Furiosuly pushing the thought away, I glare at Max. "You keep away from her, you hear me Evans." I warn him, my voice low. "You've done enough!"

Without waiting for an answer, I storm away. I'm not in the mood for a fight. I don't think that Liz would appreciate me hitting Max. And also maybe because I don't know whether I'm angry at Max for what he did to Liz or to Tess or both.

Still fuming at Max, I walk up the street to my house. Seeing the light open inside, I stop. I know Tess is awake and probably waiting for me. I don't know why that makes me nervous. I can talk to her, can't I?

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I push open the door. Walking in to the den, I see Tess sleeping on the sofa. The anger and tension drains out of me as I watch her sleep. The light is hitting her hair and face, and the effect has me wanting to reach out and touch her. She looks so beautiful and peaceful.

Why couldn't she be mine? I wonder with an ache deep in me. I watch her sleeping, losing all track of time. Without realizing it, I walk inside slightly, thinking I'd tuck the blanket around her to make her comfortable. But my movement has her stirring and she opens her deep blue eyes and looks at me for a moment hazily.

I see her tense but then relax as a smile spread across her face when she sees me.

"Hi Kyle. I was waiting for you but I must have fallen asleep" She says.

I feel my breath catch at the sight of her smile being directed at me. I feel a bit embaressed at being caught staring at her. I scratch my ear, using it to avoid her gaze as I come in and sit down next to her.

"I didn't mean to wake you." I tell her. "I just came home and saw you alseep here and thought I'd tuck you in...and I'm rambling..." I trail off. "What are you doing sitting out here anyway?" I ask.

[isabelle]

*MAX*

Kyle glares at me and growls out, "You keep away from her, you hear me Evans. You've done enough!"

“Cut it out, Kyle,” I tell him, as he turns to walk away. “You won, alright? She doesn’t want me anymore.” Angrily, I turn on the engine and shove it into gear. I take my foot off the brake and move it to the gas.

I speed away, hoping that he never hurts her like I did. She deserves better. She was right. The things she told me that night she came through my window. She deserves a human boyfriend. A normal life. Not someone who's going to put her in danger. Someone who doesn't even understand who he really is or what's going to happen.

I've wanted her for so long. I've loved her so much. I've tried to convince myself that those things don't matter, but they do. I can't keep doing that to her.

'Keep away from her,' Kyle said. He told me that before, a year and a half ago. I should have listened to him then. This time I will. I have a new future now and it no longer includes Liz Parker. Instead, it's Tess and a baby that I didn't plan and I'm not yet ready for. But I'll have to find a way to be ready. For him and for Tess. She needs me now.

I somehow manage to get home and I park the car on the street. I look up, noticing that Isabel's light is on. Not surprising since she did say she wanted to talk when I got back. I'm not really sure I'm up for it right now, concidering how hard this night has been so far. But she did seem a little less than completely hostile when we parted.

I head upstairs and lightly tap on her door. "Isabel? I'm back."

[M]

~*TESS*~

I giggle at Kyle's obvious chagrine.

'I was waiting for you, I wanted to talk to you. Where- is Liz ok?'

Realising my mistake halfway through my sentence I attempt to correct it, but it hurts when I see the protective look in Kyle's eyes.

you have no claim on him. If he wants to comfort Liz that is his business. you have to let it- let him go.

I try to smile at him but I know it doesn't reach my eyes, a fact that is made even more apparent by him moving closer to me and unconciously putting an arm around me. I lean in and feel a little better by his solid warmth. I want to see his face though so I pull away again and look up into his eyes. He seems lost in thought.

'Kyle? Are you ok?'

[FallenMagic]

~* Kyle *~

There's a change in her eyes even as she smiles that has me reaching for her. I can't help it. Even after all the hurt I've been put through, I can't deny that a part of me still wants to protect her, keep hersafe and happy.

I wonder if Max will make her happy. I muse sadly. Then I shake my head in disgst. Get over it, Valenti. It's too late.

"Kyle, are you okay?" Tess asks.

I look at her and smile. "Yeah...I was just thinking." I pause, glancing down at the floor before looking back up at her, making sure to keep my voice light. "What have you and Max decided...about the baby? How will you guys pull this off?"

Though it hurts to ask, I need her to know that I'm here for her. And the only way I can do that is to accept what is and not dwell on what I want with Tess.

[M]

~*TESS*~

I'm confused at first at Kyles question. What does he mean? Then I think of Jim's words earlier. I sit up quickly and pull away from Kyle.

'Are you saying that after talking to Liz you agree with your dad? How can you say that? How could you even think it? What did Liz say? This baby is part of me now. Its not something I planned, but I will deal with it, we will deal with it. I don't know how exactly but we can manage.'

My words come out so fast I can barely understand myself and I move to the other end of the couch, hugging myself tighter in the blanket around me. I just look at Kyle, he looks surprised and then as stricken as I feel.Then he stands up and moves restlessly to the window with his back to me. I wish I could see his face to understand what he is thinking.