I snuggled deeper under the covers as I turned onto my side. The weather was already starting to change. I could feel the cool air in the mornings and in the evenings. One of these days it’s going to be winter. I was about to fall asleep again when lips brushed against my forehead. My brow furrowed as they continued lower until they reach my lips. My eyes snapped open. Stephen’s face was hovering a few inches from mine.

“Morning sleeping beauty,” he said softly. “Patrick is here to check up on things.”

“Damn.”

He chuckled as he straightened. Giving me a wink he placed a cup of coffee on the nightstand. Then without a word he walked out of my room. I stayed in bed for a few more minutes until I remembered Sam. The clock stated that it was already past eight and Sam never slept past eight. Throwing on some clothes, I almost ran down the hall. Her room was empty. With a beating heart I raced down the hall. My steps flattered when I reached the kitchen. The scene that greeted me was unusual– something I never thought I’d ever see. Stephen sat at the table with Sam on his lap. He was feeding her some of her porridge. I had to clutch the wall when my body swayed. He said something to her which made her smile up at him. Tears filled my eyes. He would make such a good father.

“You okay?”

My eyes snapped to Patrick. I nodded as I blinked away the tears. I even managed a smile as I walked further into the kitchen. The smell of eggs made me scrunch my nose up. It’s the one smell that I couldn’t take. It made me want to puke my guts out. 

“Sam has been up since six,” Stephen said softly. “I didn’t want to wake you.”

I clutched the back of the chair in a death grip. My head was spinning.

“You should have,” I forced past my dry lips.

Stephen looked up at me. “You went to bed after midnight. You deserve to sleep in. Are you okay?”

I nodded. My breathing sped up as the temperature started to rise. Stephen was saying something but it felt like I was underwater. The room was tilting dangerous. I clutched the chair tighter but it didn’t help.

“Breathe baby.”

I sucked in air. It still felt like I was going to be sick, but the room had stopped spinning. When the dizziness and the panic faded, I realized I was sitting on the chair with my head between my legs. Fingers were massaging the sides of my neck.

“I’m okay,” I whispered.

The hand at the back of my neck moved to cup my cheek. I slowly looked up. Stephen was kneeling on the floor in front of me. His eyes caught mine briefly before trailing over my face.
“Alia.”

“I’m okay.” I covered his hand with mine. “I’m okay.”

“You just fainted,” Patrick stated.

He was standing close to us with Sam in his arms. His brows were furrowed and his eyes filled with concern. My eyes dropped to Sam and then back to Stephen.

“I didn’t see her in her room and I just panicked,” I lied.

I couldn’t look at either of them.

“Get her something to eat.”

With pursed lips Stephen got up and walked over to the stove. I leaned back in the chair. Letting out a breath I glanced around. Patrick caught my eyes. The longer he stared the more uncomfortable I got. He was still frowning at me but something in his eyes told me that he knew it was a lie.

“Here,” Stephen muttered as he placed a plate in front of me. “Coffee or tea?”

“Tea please.” I risked a glance down at the plate.

A relieved breath parted my lips when I found no eggs on the plate. There was only some bacon and two slices of toast.

“She didn’t eat much last night.” I glanced up to find Stephen watching Patrick. “She was so focused on studying that I had to force her to eat and the get some sleep.”

I nodded at him as I forced a smile onto my lips. “CAT isn’t my strongest subject and you know that. I have to pay extra attention.”

“That doesn’t mean you need to neglect your health. Getting A's isn’t all that matter Alia.”

“It does to me!”

“Why?” he questioned.

“It just is for me,” I muttered.

My eyes dropped to my plate as I started eating. He didn’t need an explanation. Neither of them did. I was doing this for me. The silence felt uncomfortable. Every time I glanced up both of them would be watching me. I finished my plate in record time.

“Alia?” I looked at Patrick. “If something was wrong you would tell me right? You know I’m always here to help you, don’t you?”

I nodded. “I know. If something was wrong then I’d tell you.”

“Good.” Patrick stood and walked over to me. He handed Sam over before kissing my cheek. “I will stop by again before I head home.” 

“Okay.”

“l’ll walk you out,” Stephen said before following him out of the kitchen.

Sam’s had closed around the necklace on my neck. She tugged on it suddenly.

“You can’t play with that princess,” I said as I pulled her and away. “Let’s get you cleaned and then we’ll find some of your toys.”

She gurgled then made baby noises as she stared up at me. I smiled at her. Having a baby wouldn’t be so bad. I’d love him or her no matter what. Stephen stood in the doorway. I froze as our eyes locked. He was watching me with a strange expression. Swallowing, he straightened. Stephen walked pass me and started clearing the plates.

I watched him for a few more seconds before walking out of the kitchen. Giving Sam a bath wasn’t an easy task. The more I tried to wash her the more she splashed. By the time I finally finished, the floor and my clothes were soaked. I changed her into some cute clothes before grabbing her pacifier and teddy bear. I found Stephen in the living room. He glanced up at I entered but only for a second before his eyes dropped to my chest.

“Are you trying to kill me baby?” he groaned. “You can’t walk around with a wet t-shirt and expect me to keep my hands to myself.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I couldn’t help it. Shaking the dirty thoughts away, I walked to the play area mom created for Sam. I lowered her in to the play pen then handed her the teddy bear. Her attention was instantly captured by her toys. I turned my head as I straightened. Stephen was staring at my ass with his phone forgotten. My lips twitched when he quickly glanced away. Giving Sam one last glance to make sure she was okay, I made my way towards him.

“Will you watch her for a few minutes? I’m just going to change and clean the bathroom.”

Panic filled his eyes. I saw it before he managed to compose himself. I frowned. “I don’t know a thing about look after babies Alia.”

“It’s not so hard. Just make sure she doesn’t choke or get hurt. I won’t be long.”

I walked away before he could do or say anything. Before heading to the bathroom I grabbed the pregnancy test from my closet. I cleaned the bathroom and then took the test. My hands were shaking too badly to read the instructions on the pamphlet. A knock on the door made me jump. I winced as the test clattered to the floor.

“Alia?” The handle rattled. “Why is the door locked?”

Panic gripped me which made it impossible to utter a word. I scooped the test from the floor and glanced around. My eyes fell on the cabinet. Without really thinking about it I opened it the pushed the tests beneath a few towels.

“Alia? Open the door!”

“I-In a minute,” I yelled. “I’m on the toilet.”

“Kate is here.”

“O-okay. Thank you.”

I walked down the hall with my head held high. Secretly I was hoping that I looked like my normal self, and not like I was about to have a heart attack. By the look on Stephen’s face I was doing a pretty good job.

“Where’s Kate?”

He glanced back down at his phone. “In your room.”

“Oh, cool.” I nodded. An awkward silence fell between us.

“I have to go pick up some things at the office,” he said as he stood. “I’ll be back before she leaves.”

“No problem.” Sam started crying. I walked over to her and picked her up. With her in my arms I turned to face Stephen.

“Can you pick up something to eat? Pizza or Chinese is fine. I'll get the money.”

His hand caught my arm before I could walk away. I looked up at him in question. Without saying anything he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me against him.

“I have money. Plus I think you need something other than oily food. I’m worried about you baby.” He stroked my cheek with his finger. “You don’t look healthy.”

“I’m fine,” I smiled up at him, “and I’ll be fine as long as you don’t make me eat rabbit food.”

Stephen chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it. It doesn’t taste bad either. You just need the right ingredients.”

“Mmm,” I hummed. Giving him a small smile I pressed my hand against his lower stomach. “Is that what you eat to stay so fit?”

I loved how he reacted to my touch, even if it was something so simple. His hand closed over mine and then moved it lower.

“Nah baby, it’s just some special exercises that give me this body,” he said with confidence.

I groaned, dropping my forehead against his chest. “You’re  impossible.”

“Only with you baby,” he whispered. “Will you be okay? Are you feeling okay?”

“Oh Alia’s fine!” Kate suddenly appeared. “She’s just worried because she missed her period. That’s all.”

The little colour that had filled my cheeks instantly drained from my face again. Stephen had tensed against me. Why the hell did she say that? I pulled away from him to glare at Kate, but she had disappeared again. My eyes darted to Stephen. His face was emotionless.

“It’s just because of the stress,” I muttered. “My period has never really been regular.”

“I should get going,” he said softly.

I nodded but he was already out the door. Second later his car pulled out of the driveway. I listened until I was sure he had left before walking down the hall again.

“Did you do the test?”

I debated on lying to her but gave her a nod instead. If the test were positive I would need my best friend’s support.

“Let’s see it. Where is it?”

“Under the towels.” I shifted Sam to my other arm as Kate pulled out the test.

“Holy shit Alia,” she exclaimed.

I felt dread fill me as I stepped towards her on shaky legs. Without saying anything else she turned towards me. I took the test from her and stared down at it.
Both of them were positive.