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

[FallenMagic]

~* Kyle *~

For a second I don't follow what she's saying. I don't understandwhat she is talking about and then a thought hits me.

No...It couldn't be! I think in shock. Dad would never ask that of her...would he?

I need to tell her that that's not what I meant at all. I would never ask such a thing of her. But before I can tell her so, she's moved arcoss the couch, wrapping her arms around herself.

Unsure what to do, I get up and walk to the window, running an agitaed hand through my hair. We sure are in one mess.

Sighing, I turn back to Tess. "Tess..." I begin. But then, instead of just saying anything I go to her and wrap my arms around her. She seems to stiffen in suprise before she relaxes slightly.

"Tess...that's not what I meant." I tell her, keeping her close to me. "Believe me. I would never..." I trail off, pulling back slightly to press a soft kiss on her forehead. "I know what baby means to you, no matter what the circumstances. You're not in this alone. Not by a long shot. I'm here."

The urge to kiss her to calm her ripes through me but I push it back as I smile at her. "You'll never be alone." I sit back now, looking at her carefully. "What I meant was, what about school? Will you guys...live together?"

The thought of Tess and Max living together makes me blind qith jealousy but I have to remember that if that'swhat Tess wants, that's something I'll have to live with. But that doesn't stop me from praying that the answer is no.

[M]

~*TESS*~

As Kyle speaks I am surprised.
'I guess I don't really know Kyle. I haven't thought about it. We haven't even told Max's parents yet. I guess I just sort of thought things would mostly stay the same, just with an extra person. I kinda thought it would be funny seeing you and Jim changing diapers and doing midnight feedings.'
This thought makes me smile again and as I do I look up into Kyle's eyes. There is something in their depths that makes me catch my breath.

I want to look away, but I'm mesmerised. 'I mean- you wouldn't mind sharing your room with two other people, right? I'm sure we wouldn't be too demanding' My voice sounds breathless, even to my own ears.

Kyle's grip around my upper arm tightens almost painfully. 'Kyle? It was a joke'. 'Mostly' I add under my breath.

The whole time I'm speaking he seems to be raking my face with his gaze, searching for something.

'Kyle I can't imagine living anywhere but here, but if you want me to go I will. I don't think I'd move in with the Evans though, I guess I'd maybe get my own place like Michael.'

[FallenMagic]

~* Kyle *~

All the while she;s going on about Max and the baby, all I can think of is how badly I want to kiss her, hold her. I want to know if she loves Max, trully loves him but I can't find myself asking. All I want to do is kiss her so she'd forget all about him. I would have kissed her too if Tess's words hadn't caught me.

I tighten my hold on her arm, almost in panic as I blurt out, "No!"

Her eyes widen in surprise as I shake my head. "No, you're not getting your own place. Not when you're pregant. And how could you even think I'd have a problem with you staying here? Or dad for that matter?" I loosen my hold on her when I realize that I might be hurting her.

"I'll be more that willing to change diapers just as long as you're the one to give him orher a bath." I tease.

[M]

~*TESS*~

'And there I was looking forward to seeing you up to your arms in suds!' I tease back.

I laugh at the thought and as I look up again I see that same thing in his eyes that made me catch my breath before.

We are quiet for a moment, just looking at each other and then Kyle's gaze drops to my mouth.
I know if we sit here any longer things may get dangerous and I still have no idea what I'm thinking or what I want.

I hug him around the middle and snuggle into his shoulder with my head down, not dangerous I tell myself, even as I think about what it would be like to kiss Kyle.
'Thanks Kyle, you've been so good all day, with everything. I don't know what I'd do without you. When he's born you have to teach him all about sports and things. Guy stuff- you know?'

I feel his large hand stroking my hair and I want to stay there forever- safe and warm and loved. I snuggle a little closer.

'Kyle? Do you mind if we just watch TV or something? I'm not sure I'm ready to go to bed yet'

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

I don’t really know how long I’ve been lying here… Maybe it’s not that long since Kyle left but it seems like an age. I’ve been trying to block it out, but my head just keeps going over and over what Max said…

"I'm so sorry. I wish it never happened, Liz. I wish it so much."

He does, I know that he’s not lying about that… Max will stick by Tess because he’s not the sort of person to just walk out and ignore his responsibilities…not the sort of person to refuse to face up to the consequences of his actions…

“I know you won’t believe me. And you’ll believe me even less in a few minutes, but I swear to you it’s true. I love you, Liz.”

“You’ve always been the one I’ve wanted. And you always will be”

I can hear his word in my head, I can hear him pleading with me and as much as I try to block them out I just can’t. As much as I want to hate him, as much as I want to be able to say that I’m over him and get on with my life, I know that I can’t… Max is the one for me…I’ve known that for so long and somehow I just know that it’s not going to change…ever…

So he insists that he still loves me too…and in my heart, despite what I said to him, I know that he was telling the truth… The question that still needs to be answered is whether or not we can have any future though…

"I love you, Liz. I wanted you to be my destiny. I wanted that so much."

Does that mean that he’s given up…? I sigh and roll over on the bed. My eyes fall on the phone that stands on my bedside table and suddenly, without thinking about it, I’m picking up the receiver and dialling that number I know so well. I have to know…I need to talk to him… The phone starts ringing on the other end but before there’s a chance for it to be picked up I suddenly choke, dropping the receiver back down and staring at it. I just can’t go through with it…

[FallenMagic]

~* Kyle *~

She wants me to teach him that? Wouldn't she want Max, the father, too? I'm so suprised and immensly pleased that for a moment I'm silent. Then I place a light kiss on her forehead. That's only what I'll allow myself because I don't know if I'll be able to handle anything closer to her mouth.

Even then though I can't help imagining kissing her.

"I'd love that." I tell her, holding her close, just enjoying the feel of her. "But not too late okay. You and the little guy both need their rest."

[isabelle]

*MAX*

I knock again. "Isabel? Are you there?" But there's still no answer. Maybe she's not back yet. Maybe she's in the bathroom or something.

After a quick trip to my room, I make a note for her and tape it to her door. When she gets back, she'll know I'm in and can come to talk, if she still wants to. Hopefully she and Michael aren't getting themselves worked up into a "Max is an idiot" conversation. I don't need the two of them to tell me that.

I head back to my room and flop down on my bed. After a few minutes, I think to kick off my shoes, although no other action seems to be called for yet. I stare at the ceiling. My mind filled with so many things, but mostly it's Liz.

I'm going to be a father. That concept is something miraculous. And scary and a bit overwhelming. I'm going to be sharing my life with Tess. Having a family with her. A life together. Maybe even eventually returning to Antar to be a king, with Tess as my queen. How amazing is all that? It’s a remarkable and mind-boggling future coming my way.

Why then do I feel so … empty?

I need Liz. I need Isabel and Michael and the others. It’s going to be so hard to do this alone.

Suddenly, I’m knocked out of my direction-less thoughts by the ring of the phone. Startled, it takes me a moment to respond. I sit up and grab the phone on the second ring but when I get it to my ear, there’s nobody there.

[M]

~*TESS*~

Kyle kisses me softly on the forehead and I know everything is going to be all right. I don't know how, but I know it will be fine.

I snuggle closer into Kyle's broad, warm chest and feel myself drifting off to sleep again, safe and comfortable in his arms.



OOC- I'm ready to start tomorrow if you guys are?

[M]

~*TESS*~

As dawn steals across the floor I open my eyes with effort and try to remember where I am. Soon after realising the heavy weight across my middle is Kyle's arm, I recall falling asleep to the late late movie on the sofa with Kyle. Soon after that all the events of the previous days come rushing back and I wish I could go back to sleep and forget it all.
I decide to get a glass of water from the kitchen and after disentangling myself from Kyle's limbs I make my way there as quietly as possible.

I walk to the sink and I'm filling a glass with water when I become aware of the aroma of coffee. I turn quickly and see Jim sitting at the kitchen table watching me quietly.

I gasp and drop the glass of water. It shatters and makes a huge mess

'I- You startled me'

I move to clean up the glass and he stops me with a wave

'I'm sorry Tess, I didn't mean to. I was just thinking about everything'

'What were you thinking?'

'I was thinking that you are the daughter I never had, and I love you, but please, be careful with my son because I love him more then my own life'

'I-I don't understand'

'I saw you sleeping in the living room'

'We fell asleep watching the late movie.'

'I know, I also know that he-'

He doesn't finish his sentence and I turn to see Kyle standing just behind me, rubbing his eyes and pushing his tousled hair out of his eyes
He motions to the glass on the floor 'The glass woke me and you were gone' he says in way of explanation.

'I'll get you guys some coffee' Jim says and moves to the pot. 'Why don't you guys go and get dressed and I'll clean up the glass, you shouldn't be in here with bare feet.' He looks me directly in the eyes 'you could get hurt without meaning to'

I shiver lightly, not understanding, but disturbed anyway. 'Ok Jim'

I walk out into the hall with Kyle right behind me 'Do you want the first shower?'

[isabelle]

*MAX*

Morning comes and I never did see Isabel. I hope she hasn't decided she's still mad at me, afterall. Not that it would be too surprising, but I just don't want to have to deal with it if I can avoid it. It'll be hard enough having to see Liz in school today. We're still lab partners. Come to think of it, she'll probably get the teacher to switch her with someone-else by the time class starts.

She called last night and hung up before I answered. I saw it on the caller ID, but I didn't call her back. If she wanted to talk to me, she'd have stayed on the line. Besides I know what she was going to say. She said it all last night. "I don't believe you when you say you love me. Just… just get out Max… Please just go… Just stop hurting me so much…”

She's right. All I've done is hurt her and complicate her life. She deserves better. She does. She told me a few months ago that she doesn't want to die for me, and she shouldn't. She should be happy. I have to let her go.

Oh, and I get to tell Mom and Dad about the whole thing tonight, too. That sounds fun. Not.

I go through the motions of getting showered and dressed but I feel like a zombie, not fully alive. I run into Isabel in the hallway as I'm heading down for breakfast.

"Morning," I tell her.

"Hey, Max," she says breezing into her room. "I'll be down in a bit." She disappears leaving me no clue as to how she's feeling about this mess today. Shrugging, I continue downstairs and find Mom and Dad at the breakfast table.

"Good morning," I tell them and I feel myself tensing up. Mom smiles and offers me oatmeal. Dad takes a sip of coffee, nodding at me over his newspaper. "Um Dad. Are you going to be working late today?"

"I don't think so. Why?" he asks.

"Just wanted to know when you'll be around. About six-thirty, then?" I say, starting my breakfast.

"About that. Is there something I should know about?" Dad asks, putting his paper down to look at me.

My nervousness increases tenfold under his gaze. "Well, yeah. There is, actually. But I want to talk about it tonight," I say, hoping he'll let it go. Of course, that seems to be too much to ask.

"Wanna give me a hint?" he says. "I know it can't be report cards. That's still a month away."

Mom's eyes widen at Dad's suggestion. "Of course it's not that. Max is an honor student."

Dad gives me a strange look at that. "Barely. His grades aren't nearly as good as they were two years ago."

"The courses are harder," Mom defends me.

"I'm not sure it's the courses that are harder," Dad says, still staring at me. "It might have something more to do with the time he's spending with Liz Parker and his other new friends."

Now I just want the Earth to open up and swallow me. I can't even think about Liz right now. This is so not the way I want to do this.

"It's good for him to have friends," Mom says again, as if I'm not even there. "He was always such a solitary child. Except for Isabel and Michael Guerin."

"Please stop," I beg them. "It's not my grades. I just need to talk to you tonight. Okay? Just - just let it go until then. I can't do this now." I get up and leave the table, although I hadn't taken more than two bites of my breakfast. How am I going to do this? How am I ever going to explain? At least Sheriff Valenti knew about Tess and the whole tortured story. I grab my bookbag and bolt out the door without even thinking about Isabel until I get to the jeep. I should wait for her. I should but I can't. Dad will give her a ride. I just have to get away.

My hand shakes as I put the key in the ignition and start the car. In a moment I'm driving away. It'll be far too early to be at school and I certainly can't stop at the Crashdown. I guess I'll just have to hang around at school. Or maybe I'll take a little drive to kill some time.