Time Changes

Part Twenty Two

Peter looked at her, broken and sad and knew he was doing the right thing, he’d rearranged everything in his diary to get three days free to travel to her, and now he was relieved that she really DID need him.

Reaching out he took her hand, “I’ve worked it all out Lex, once we’ve both finished what we’re doing, me in Australia, you here, we’ll go back to Geneva. Healthcare is amazing there! You’ll be well looked after. And no one need know any different!”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced her, “you don’t want Luiz?” He breathed a huge sigh of relief when she shook her head, “I want us to be together, this baby doesn’t change that. OK?”

Lex felt the air leave her chest in a whoosh, “you don’t care?” When he shook his head she stepped backwards, “it would never look like you!”

He laughed, “who cares! It would look like you, that’s all that matters.”

Peter stepped towards her and she gasped, then fell into his arms, a safe, happy and wonderful place. She could feel his lips on the top of his head, murmuring words as she broke down in a snotty, tearful mess.

When she finally stopped crying, she realised that they were in the lounge somehow, “I must look a mess!”

He shrugged, “you’re always beautiful.” Then he reached out and wiped the tears from her eyes with his thumbs, “I’m quite liking the vulnerable Alexis...she doesn’t bite as much!”

She offered a watery smile, then pulled back, “I need to wash my face...”

In the bathroom she shut the door and leaned back against it, heart racing, he wanted her regardless. She was amazed, suddenly her life wasn’t over. As she made for the sink to splash cold water on her panda eyes, she spotted the windowsill and the stick that a few moments had been the centre of her universe. The wobbly legs and heart sink were back, he may want her, but this baby wasn’t the best way of them trying again. Wasn’t the greatest start to a relationship, bringing up another man’s baby.

Knock-knock-knock

The sound startled her.

“What are you doing? You’ve been in there ages!”

Lex opened the door in silence and looked at Peter.

“What is it? You look whiter than when I arrived!”

She bit her lip wanting to stop the tears, she looked at the window sill and sighed, Peter followed her eyes, “what is that?” He stepped closer, “is that a test?” When she nodded he shook his head, “you haven’t done a test yet? Bloody idiot!” The last part was hissed under his breath. “What are we looking for here?”

“One blue line negative, two blue lines positive!” She said almost robotically as she watched him step towards the windowsill and pick up the stick she’d left there what seemed like an hour ago.

He looked at it for a moment, then looked at her, “So two lines?”

She felt a tear well, “is positive.”

He grinned, “well it’s extremely lucky that this only shows ONE line!” He held it out for his inspection, then tossed it over his shoulder before scooping her up in his arms and swinging her around.

The tears truly fell now; Alexis clung to Peter, never knowing relief as she did now. Suddenly there wasn’t a dark cloud over the future; suddenly it was the two of them and the friendship that had only supplemented the passion between them.