UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

What If..

(Lexi's POV)

I glance at the alarm clock which reads 5:45 a.m.

Cooper had left the house a half hour ago to help continue barricading and training people. He's such a good guy, and Jasper takes after him greatly.

I'm just about to go back to sleep when a loud growl escapes my stomach. Not again. I hop out of bed and sprint to the bathroom immediately, spilling my guts into the toilet bowl.

What is going on with me? Hopefully Cooper finds a chance to ask Carlos about expired rations..

I trot into the kitchen and fill up a glass of water, hoping it will ease my stomach. I flicker on the light and decide to look at a few expiration dates.

I grab the basket of rations Carlos had left us for the week. Almost every item present was supposed to expire in the year 2027 and beyond that.

So what's wrong with me? Now that I think about it, it wouldn't make sense that the rations are the reason I'm getting sick. After all, we're all eating the rations. Wouldn't we all be throwing up?

I continue to brainstorm before I hear someone enter the kitchen.

"Why're you awake?" Noah asks while yawning. I shrug. "Got sick again. Now I'm just checking the expiration dates to the rations."

Noah just nods and takes a sip from a glass of water. The sight of him makes me remember something Cooper had brought up. "Noah?"

"Yeah?" He sets down his glass. "Cooper said something happened with you. Something Jasper had mentioned and... he won't tell me what. He just said to ask you."

"Oh." He plays with his hands a bit. "Yeah, well I—"

"Listen. If it's alcohol, I don't care. Drugs on the other hand, no. Or if you stole something, I also don't really care. I mean we're in an apocalypse after all. Just be careful."

Noah looks at me for a beat longer than usual and let's out a sigh. "Actually..." He trails off.

"I don't know why I'm hesitating. I mean, you of all people wouldn't be mad. I'm just awkward about it and—"

Noah continues to ramble on and on before it clicks in my brain. "Oh."

Noah stops his ranting and stands there, quiet as a mouse. A gasp exits my mouth. "You and Jasper—"

"Shh." He waves his arms around rapidly. "Yes. And don't be mad that I waited to tell you. It... happened the night of your engagement. I don't know... the atmosphere was just so nice and then you and Cooper made it all happy with your proposal. It just felt... right."

"I'm not mad, Noah. That's great." I grin widely. "Was he—"

"Nope. Not happening." He immediately turns around before colliding with a bystander.

"Oh, hey." He mumbles at a tired looking Jasper. Jasper just smiles and pulls him into a side hug. "Hey. What are we talking about?"

Noah gives me a panicky look before I bring up my original concern from tonight.

Before I know it, I'm explaining to Noah and Jasper how it doesn't make sense that I'm getting sick from the rations and all that.

"Well... there is another reason you could be getting sick." He rubs the back of his neck. I quirk up an eyebrow. "And what would that be..?"

He gets a little awkward. "Well... it's probably an option you don't want to hear but..."

"Just spit it out." I say annoyed.

Noah just groans. "Is there any possibility that you may be... I don't know.. pregnant?" My eyes widen in shock but before I can protest, Jasper cuts me off with a scream.

"Pregnant?!" He tiredly yells. Noah nudges him and but and Jasper huffs a sorry.

"I-I'm not pregnant.. I can't be.. right?" I mumble unsure. Noah shrugs. "Only you and Cooper would know."

I give them a confused look. Noah pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "Are you guys safe when you have sex?" He groans. The awkwardness is killing us both.

"Noah! You can't just ask me that! I'm your sister!" I shout with a red face. Jasper just looks dumbfounded at both of us and decides to stay quiet. "It's just a yes or no question." He huffs.

I roll my eyes a bit awkwardly. "Sometimes." I finally state. "Well... then you have a 50/50 chance of being pregnant."

"B-But I can't be pregnant! I mean.. we're in a fucking zombie apocalypse! How the fuck do you raise a child in this shit?! I already have a bad enough time looking after you two! I'm barely an adult! How the hell-"

"Lexi! Calm down, holy shit." Noah interrupts. "You don't even know if you're pregnant. It's getting chillier out so maybe you just have a cold or something."

I relax a bit at those words. "Lexi... you should talk to Cooper about this though. He can help you through whatever it is." Noah finishes.

I just nod. "Now, we're going back to sleep and so are you. We'll see you in four hours."

Jasper and Noah zip back into their room and I'm alone in the kitchen again with my thoughts.

(Cooper's POV)

After helping barricade for about an hour, I take a break with Carlos next to me. I guess now's a hell of a good time to ask him about Lexi and the rations.

"Hey, Lexi's been getting real sick lately. She thinks maybe it has to do with expired rations.." Carlos just gives me a confused look. "Nope, that's impossible. We check the expiration dates on every single ration we give out."

"Are you sure? I don't know what else could be happening with her. I hope she's not like.. dying or anything."

"Well, she's probably fine. It's just a cold or something. Unless you up and got her pregnant, then it's no big deal." He chuckles.

I laugh along as he walks away. My grin turns straight and I put on a thinking face. "Wait.. is that.. could that.." I continue to mumble to myself.

I stand up quickly. "Carlos, I need to run home for a bit but I'll be back." I didn't even give him a chance to respond before I zip down the pavement.

I make it back to the house in minutes or less and notice that the kitchen light is on through the window. I open the door and see Lexi sitting in the kitchen looking a little stressed.

"Hey.. why are you awake?" I ask and rush over to her. Probably got sick again. "Do you think my sickness is really because of the rations?" She worries, not even answering my question.

Is she.. thinking what I'm thinking?

"Why do you ask?" I take a seat on a stool next to her. "I'm really worried Cooper... worried that I may be.."

My eyes widen a bit..

"P-Pregnant."

I nod in understanding. "I was uh... actually rushing home just now to.. talk to you about that."

She gives me a nervous smile. "And if I am?" She inquires. I lean forward and embrace her tightly. "Then I'll help you through it all. We're safe behind these walls, and we'll be at our safest in about a month. You have nothing to worry about."

She pulls away and huffs nervously. "How are we going to be able to tell?" I shrug. "I could run into a town and grab you a few pregnancy tests from a pharmacy."

Lexi gives me the most wholehearted smile I've ever seen. "I love you, Cooper." I smile back. "I love you too. I'm going to head back out and work but I'm glad we talked about this. I can ask Carlos about running into town after a bit more work."

Lexi nods and gives me a meaningful kiss, waving me goodbye. I step out of the house a little nervous, but also the most in live I've ever been.

A/N- COOPER AND LEXI ARE SO CHEESY LMAO BUT I LUV THEM🥺🥺