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

[isabelle]

*MAX*

Tess asks about the morning sickness, but she's not really listening. She's too scared. I pull her close and she folds herself into my arms/

I hold Tess, stroking her hair and waiting for her to calm, because I don't know what else to do. I want to make it better for her, but all I can do is share her uncertainty and fear. To be there for her. I promised her before that we'd find a way through this and I have to believe that. There will be a way. It won't be easy, but there will be a way.

She pulls back, asking me what we're going to do. I give her a little smile brushing her hair back. "We'll have to take it one step at a time," I tell her. "We'll start with my parents and figure out where to go after that."

I pull her close again, carressing her arm. "As for the morning sickness, as the name implies, it could happen every morning. Hopefully less often than that. At least, that's how it works with humans. It looks like it's the same for us so far." I give her a crooked grin. "I can probably help if I'm nearby, but I don't think I can stop it from coming. We'll get some books on human pregnancy and hope the rest follows suit, as well."

For the moment, I've forgotten entirely that Isabel is still there. It's just me and Tess, kneeling on the floor of the girls' room. I pull her close again and kiss her on the forehead, wishing for answers. Wishing I knew anything about what was coming or how it's all going to work. I just have to find a way to keep her, and my baby, safe. Not just from physical complications, but also from the FBI. I close my eyes against that dark future. I have to do this, somehow.

[M]

~*TESS*~

As I see Max smile at me I begin to calm. He re-assures me that we will face all this together and I believe him. I trust that I am safe with him, that he will protect me, and our baby. He kisses me lightly on the forehead and I feel a warmth wash over me.

'I think I'm ready to go to class now. I really do feel better'

As he helps me to my feet, and I look into his eyes I can see how scared he is too.
The fact that he is worried, about me and our baby, makes me feel loved, and that he would reassure me anyway speaks to how wonderful a man he is becoming and how great a father he will be.

'Maybe we could get some of those books this afternoon before we talk to your parents?'

We are at the door to the hall and he reaches around me to unseal it- I hadn't even realised he had- and I look back to see his face as he answers, hoping to really know what he needs from me. I want to support him as much as he is me, and I don't feel like I know him well enough to do that yet. I know Liz probably would find all of this easy. She would know what to do for him, and all about pregnancy, and how to maintain her grades and work schedule at the same time. All of a sudden I feel inadequate and insecure and I reach for his hand for comfort and to help myself remember that he is going to be with me through all of it. That he has accepted his role and that while he may not feel about me the way he does about her, in time he may.

[isabelle]

*MAX*

"Sure," I tell Tess when she asks about getting some books. "We'll have plenty of time for that." Maybe going over the books a little will help give me something else to think about besides the disaster that's bound to occur when we tell my parents.

After unsealing the door, I step out into the hallway, my arm still around Tess's waist. I look around quickly, hoping that nobody notices me coming out of the girls' toilet. I needn't have worried. The halls are nearly empty as nearly everyone's in class. Kyle has moved away from the door and is now leaning against a locker on the other side of the hallway near the door to a classroom. He looks up as we exit and I give him a slight nod to let him know that Tess is okay.

We're going to be late for class, but I keep holding onto Tess, feeling that she still needs me to. I realize suddenly that I hadn't even thought of Liz in the last five minutes. Tess was the one who needed me and I was able to think about her. I try to take it as a good sign. Liz hates me, with good reason, and my future is with Tess. I do love Tess, although I'm not in love with her like I still am with Liz. Sometimes, I dont think I'll be able to keep on breathing without Liz, but I'll have to find a way. For the baby, and for Tess, I'll have to find a way.

"Where's your first class?" I ask Tess, ashamed to realize I don't even know. Liz's schedule I have memorized. And even Michael's and Isabel's, but aside from the classes we share, I don't know where Tess will be. "I'll walk you there, first."

[KatnotKath]

OOC: hope this is ok for everyone, I know I haven't been around much but my internet access at the moment is practically none existant. Hope this is ok, I had posted before RF went down but it was lost so I thought I'd try adding some to it to try and make it fit in. If anyone wants me to change something all you have to is tell me.

~LIz~

Walking through the corridor towards my locker I can’t really believe how much has changed since I did this very same thing yesterday. Although maybe they didn’t appear it at first, things were so much simpler then… My determination to talk to Max is waning at the moment…part of me thinks I would be just as well to avoid him but unfortunately that’s not exactly possible…we do have bio later in the day, the class in which we’re lab partners… I don’t know how I’m going to get through that… Stopping in front of my locker, I fumble with the combination for a moment before finally managing to get the door open. From inside, I grab a textbook I’m gonna need for my first lesson and as I do so, my eye is caught by a small photo that’s hiding in the back. It’s the picture of me and Max that I used to have taped inside the door… When we broke up I couldn’t bare to remove it completely and instead I stood it at the back of the locker, mostly hidden by the books which stand in front. Reaching out, I pull it out and my mind begins to wander, wondering, not for the first time, what my life would have been like in the original timeline… Over and over I’ve wondered if there was another way…some other time at which things could have been changed…preferably after Max and I were married…and not by breaking us up… I didn’t want to go to Vagas with the others…I didn’t want to go because I knew that I’d be thinking about what I gave up and I wasn’t wrong… I allow myself to dream for a moment about the possibility that Max and I will end up together, but I’m reminded of the huge obstacles which stand in the way as Tess suddenly comes running past, dashing for the bathroom. Kyle’s running after her and after she disappears inside he waits by the door, presumably wanting to check that she’s alright. I’m guessing that he’s a little worried and I’m about to push my personal dislike of Tess to one side and offer to go in after her and check if she’s ok (cos I’m allowed in the girl’s toilet unlike Kyle of course), but then someone else appears…Max…and I completely freeze. The slight problem of the fact that he’s a guy doesn’t seem to trouble him and he goes right on in after her. Any thought of me talking to him at the moment has completely disappeared and I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t be welcome even if I did try and follow them. In the end I decide not to bother and slowly begin to walk away again, heading back down the corridor the way that I came. I’m not sure that I can face school at the moment and without thinking about it much, I begin to run, not stopping as I reach the door but continuing on, out of the building and further to the gate… I don’t stop running until I’m half way up the road from the school, at which time I collapse against a tree, trying to block out the image of Max and Tess kissing at the end of our prom not so long ago…

[StormWolfstone]

~*Isabel*~


All through the little comfort session and all, I simply smiled and once again returned to checking my make-up and hair, deciding that they needed this moment. I don't want to interrupt their moment, yet in another way I do. I can't help but think that there is so much else that could be said and done. I remember a time when I didn't like Liz at all, but I also remembered when her grandmother had gone into the hospital and she had needed Max. I had told him that he should be there with her. In this current situation, I wasn't certain who needed my brother more, Liz or Tess.

I knew though, no matter whether it was said allowed or not, that my brother needed Liz, just as much as he needed to be a part of the babies life. This was either going to break Max or make him. I just hoped he would make the best decision for all of them. With a sigh, I watched as they started to head out and decided that I would wait and catch Max sometime during the day to talk to him about everything. I knew that lately, I hadn't exactly been there for my brother with the death of Alex causing me to be stuck in my own world, but now I wanted to be.

After a moment, I walked out as well and started toward my first class, totally lost in my own thoughts at the moment, so much so that I nearly walked past my classroom. With a shake of my head I turned and walked into the class, glancing around before going to my seat. I needed to get my mind off of things and back where it belonged otherwise this was going to be a very long day. Especially if I didn't stop thinking of Alex, now that the memories had decided to once again converge on me.

[M]

I borrowed Max for a minute, hope it's ok!

~*TESS*~

We walk into the emptied hallway, Max's arm around my waist. Kyle is across the hall and all of a sudden the comforting feeling lessens. He was leaning against the lockers but as we exit the bathroom he looks up. I look at him and our eyes lock and hold. I can see the hurt in them, that Max helped me, that it's Max's arm around me. I feel so torn. I don't know what to do.

Kyle's eye search mine, darker than their usual brilliant blue, and I feel naked, exposed to the fact that for several moments I forgot about him. I forgot about our conversation this morning, forgot that last night I fell asleep with his arm around me, forgot that I asked him to teach my child to throw a ball, forgot how I feel about him.

Max is saying something to me but I can't respond, caught in the web of Kyle's eyes and my own mixed feelings. I shake my head to clear it and turn towards Max

'I'm sorry, what did you say Max?'

'I said I'd walk you to your first class, where is it?' He hugs me a little tighter as if he believes my confusion is due to still feeling ill.

'I think I should probably talk to Kyle, he's probably worried. I didn't even really say anything, I just ran off.' I give a wobbly smile. 'Crazy girl hormones already, huh? Do you mind? I'm sure he'll walk me to class, make sure I get there ok.'

[isabelle]

*MAX*

I'm a bit confused as Tess refuses my offer. I thought we'd really connected in there. Made a real start on future the two of us are bound together for. But she wants to walk with Kyle.

"Sure," I say slowly, releasing her. "Go ahead."

I'm sure she did run off on him, although it had nothing to do with hormones, just the morning sickness. But I'm not going to forbid her to hang out with Kyle. They live together, at least for now. Just because we're together, and we're having a child together, it doesn't mean she has to be at my hip every second.

She steps away, leaving my arms empty. Liz is gone; she's with Kyle. And now Tess is going off with him, too. I bite my lip and wonder why I'm feeling so strange. It's almost like I'm ... jealous. But not of him and Liz, but him and Tess. All this time, she's been telling me that the two of us belong together, but she goes to comfort him, leaving me alone.

[M]

~*TESS*~

'Sure' he says 'go ahead'

I step away from him and the side that had been leaning against him is suddenly cold. As I reach Kyle I look back once more but Max is staring at the ground. He looks upset and his lip is white where he is biting it.

'Hi' I say shyly as I step towards Kyle. I'm afraid he will feel differently about supporting me when he realises how difficult it might be. 'How are you?'

[FallenMagic]

~* Kyle *~

While I'm standing outside the girls' bathroom waiting for Tess, I wonder what I'm doing waiting here anyway. Max is in there with her, she'll be fine. But even them I hesitate to leave, mooving to stand against the lockers instead.

I can't help remember our talk last night. I had promised her I'd be there for her so I'm not about to leave now. When the door finally opens, I tense, expecting to see Tess but what I didn't expect was to see Max and Tess arm in arm. I freeze at the sight, feeling some part in me break.

Tess looks up at that moment and catches my eye. We stareat each other and for a moment I think she can see all the hurt and the jealousy and anger I'm feeling. I know I have no right to feel all this but...I do. I stare at her, trying to understand what she sees in Max, why she feels she needs him and not me. How could she forget last night?

Tess looks away and says something to Max before heading over to me. She smiles shyly and says, "Hi. How are you."

I have to laugh at the question. Grinning I ask, "Should I be asking you that?"

[M]

~* TESS*~

Kyle smiles broadly at me as I stand before him waiting for an answer. His whole face lights up and I can't help but smile back.

'Should I be asking you that?' He says with a laugh.

I shrug lightly and look at the ground, embarrassed about my earlier display. I know I couldn't help it but I still hate being a bother.

'I'm ok. It will probably happen again though. Max and I are going to get some books after school before we talk to his parents.'
I pause at the flash of pain on his face at the mention of Max, but plough ahead.

'Isabel was in there, she said she would go with us. That's good right? I mean, last night she was so upset, but I think she is a little more ok with it now.'
It's hard, y'know? Not everyone has as supportive a family as I do.'

As I say the last part I reach to take his hand again. As his warm fingers enclose mine I feel safe again, and scared and confused. I just need to get through today. Thats all. One step at a time.

'So, Class?' I inquire.