**Just a forewarning this chapter is about a page or less-ish shorter thank my normal chapter lengths and it has a major cliffhanger. When I write my chapters I let it progress naturally and just go where the writing takes me, but I'm not the type of author to add unnecessary fluff to a chapter to reach a certain length after what I want to happen happens in a chapter.

So, if you're an impatient reader then I would recommend you wait to read this update until next week!**

Tansy's POV

I was speechless. I didn't know what the hell to say. Actually, yes I do.

"Are you out of your goddamn mind?!" I hissed quietly as to not wake Calla up. His features grew stony as he crossed his arms over his chest, clearly pissed with my reaction to his confession.

"Oh my God, you're actually serious right now." I said with a laugh of disbelief.

"Of course I'm fucking serious, why would I say it if I wasn't?" He growled back defensively.

"You don't love me." I stated soundly, not accepted what he said for even a second.

"Don't tell me what I do and don't feel!" He shot back, his voice raising an octave.

"I will when you're fucking wrong, Tanner! You don't love me! If you loved me I wouldn't have to be sitting here arguing with you about whether you did or not! I would be able to tell that you loved me just by your actions. I would be able to tell by the things you did for me and the way you spoke to me." I whispered, all the fight in my body leaving me. It seemed wrong to stand here arguing with a man about something I so desperately wanted to be true, but I knew wasn't. I just can't do it.

"I don't know what you want from me, Tansy. I didn't grow up like you did. At least you had a parent. I barely even had a mother. If she was home, she was usually doped up. My big brother was the only person I had looking out for me, but he had to leave when I needed him the most. I wasn't shown love or affection. Ever. And now, I don't know how to." He retorted back, a haunted look in his eyes. I tried swallowing the reply on the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn't.

"Oh go fuck off with your pity party elsewhere, will you? You're not the only one with daddy issues, sweetheart. My dad left because my my mom wouldn't take him back after cheating on her. I overheard the entire Goddamn fight they had where she begged him to stay for my sake and you know what he said? Huh? He said that if she wouldn't have him then he had nothing worthwhile keeping him here. The next morning, his things were gone. I was five years old. You know what that does to a girls confidence? It ruins it! It makes you feel like you are the smallest most insignificant thing in the world!" I screamed, unable to keep my voice down with everything I was feeling.

"But guess what, Tanner? I bottled all that shit up and I let myself drink away my sorrows every once in a while, but I never let it affect how I treat those that I love. I don't intentionally do things that I know will cause them pain and suffering or make them rethink their own self-worth because that's not what you do when you love someone." I growled back before quickly wiping away the tears that had made their way down my cheeks.

He stood silent in front of me, clearly unsure of what to say back to my little rant. He and I both knew I was right. A wave of exhaustion swept over my body and I just wanted to sleep and forget about everything.

"We can discuss this later, I'm absolutely exhausted." I mumbled before turning to make my way to the guest bedroom.

"Where are you going?" Tanner asked just as my hand had made contact with the doorknob.

"To bed?" I said, confusion lacing my tone.

"Lay with me." He insisted, his eyes doing all the begging for him. My heart had already said yes before he even finished his sentence, by my brain said no just as fast.

"Tanner, that's not a good idea..." I trailed off.

"Since when did either of us start making sensible decisions when it comes to each other?" He asked. Damn he's got me there.

I sighed deeply while thinking about it. I wasn't going to lie and say that sleeping in the same bed as his warm body as he spooned me didn't sound fucking amazing, but I also knew that it would only complicate things that we haven't worked out yet.

"I won't try anything, I just want to lay with you." He insisted, wearing my defense down even further. Giving one last final huff, I conceded.

"Fine, but the second your hand goes lower that my stomach or my back I'm gone." I warned. He smiled that half-smile of his that warmed my insides and made my body turn into goo before he strode across the room and pulled me into his arms.

"Deal. But I can't control what my hands do while I'm asleep." He shot back. I couldn't help the giggle that bubbled from my chest thinking of the time he'd accidentally woke me up in the middle of the night with his hand down my pants stroking my sex all the while still asleep. I chose to ignore the comment and climbed into bed, my body immediately succumbing to sleep the second his arm wound around my waist.

**

The next morning, I awoke bright and early feeling refreshed and good. I moved to carefully slide from the bed, but the second I got even an inch away Tanner's strong arm twitched and pulled me back against his chest. He unconsciously snuggled his nose into the crook on my neck before releasing a deep sigh of content. I waited a few minutes quietly before attempting my escape once again. Thankfully, this time I was quick enough that his reflexes couldn't pull me back again. I watched carefully as his eyebrows furrowed with displeasure and he released an annoyed grunt before rolling onto his other side and cuddling further into the bed.

I let out a breath of relief before leaving the bedroom and checking on Calla. Surprisingly enough, she was still fast asleep in her bed. Maybe she's finally learning the sanctity that is sleep.

Deciding to be nice and surprise them both, I quietly pulled everything out that I needed and began cooking breakfast. While I was waiting for everything to heat up, I called my doctor's office and made an appointment for later in the afternoon.

I had just pulled everything off the heat when Calla wandered into the kitchen blurry-eyed while her blankie I'd made her drug on the ground behind her.

"Good morning, baby." I murmured softly with a smile. She released a big yawn before stumbling towards me and wrapping her arms around my leg. She glanced up at me curiously before giving me a sleepy smile that made my heart stop. I set down my spatula and reached down to hoist her up onto my waist. She leaned her head against my shoulder and closed her eyes, seeming to basically fall right back to sleep in my arms.

I carefully swayed back and forth, knowing she liked the subtle motion, while I continued to pull out plates and silverware. I turned around to make my way to Tanner's room to wake him up to eat, but I gasped and felt my heart stop momentarily when I saw him already standing a little ways away, just watching.

"Jesus you scared me." I hissed. He had a dark look in his eyes that I couldn't quite decipher as he looked back and forth between Calla and I. Choosing to ignore it, I started to lightly pat Calla's back in order to gently wake her up.

"Honey, breakfast is ready." I whispered against her ear as she started to stir once again. I set her down before ushering her towards the table where I proceeded to make her a small plate of food with some milk.

"I made breakfast." I dumbly explained to Tanner as he continued to watch me from the same spot I'd found him in. He just nodded without saying a word. He came to stand by me while making a plate. I furrowed my brows when he sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on his toast after buttering it, knowing he wasn't a fan.

My confused expression quickly turned to shock when he handed the plate over to me and gestured his head towards the table. I opened and closed my mouth a few times like a fish out of water before clearing my throat and taking a seat next to Calla. Well that's new...

"What are we doing today?" Calla asked, the sleepiness almost gone from her voice.

"Well, I have a doctor's appointment today, but after that we can go to the park or the museum or something?" I suggested.

"Park!" She yelled, throwing her syrup covered hands up in the air. I giggled and glanced at Tanner, expecting him to come up with an excuse as to not come with us, but to my surprise he remained silent and only sent me a brief half smile. Tanner helped me clean up the mess from breakfast before I headed out to my appointment after promising Calla I'd be back in time for the park.

Sitting in the waiting room, I got a splitting headache from the child sitting in the seat next to me screaming his head off. On one hand, I felt bad for him, but on the other I just wanted the little turd to shut up. I nearly cried when the nurse finally called my name to take me back.

"How are you doing today, Miss Nicole?" She asked politely.

"I'm alright." I answered, though I really wanted to say my body is swollen because I'm about to get my period, I have a fucking yeast infection, and my head feels like it's going to explode! Thanks for asking!

She took all my vitals before getting my symptoms written down and telling me the doctor would be right in before leaving. I rubbed my hands over my face roughly before checking my emails. I only responded to a few before my gynecologist walked in.

"Tansy, dear! How are you doing? It's been a while!" The older woman exclaimed. I winced as my headache reared its fat head up at her volume, but I didn't say anything.

"I've been better." I responded, trying to be as nice as possible.

"So the nurse tells me you think you have a yeast infection?" She asked.

"Yeah. It's the same symptoms I had the last time. White discharge and all that. It doesn't itch this time, though." I explained simply to which she nodded.

"Alright. Well let's just get some general information put into the chart and then we'll take a urine sample and see what's going on." She said. "When was your last period?" She questioned.

"A little over a month ago. I'm due to get my next one any day now, but it's never the same each month." I said. She nodded, knowing what I was talking about while typing away before clicking a few times and standing back up.

"Alright. Here's a sample cup. You know the drill. Bathroom is down the hall, just come back in here and leave the door cracked when you're finished." She said with a smile before leaving. I did as instructed, the whole process only taking about five minutes. It took a little longer than I thought it was going to for them to run the sample, causing me to grow impatient.

"Sorry we kept you waiting dear." Dr. Anderson murmured when she stepped back into the room. I just smiled and waved her apology away as she plopped herself down onto her stool. She swiveled so that she was facing me before crossing her legs and setting her hands on her knee.

"Well, Tansy, you don't have yeast infection." She started out, causing me to furrow my brows with confusion. "I did, however, notice that your levels of HCG in your urine were exponentially high." She continued, a serious look on her face.

"O-kay...?" I trailed off, not having a single clue what the hell HCG was.

"HCG is short for human chorionic gonadotropin. It's the hormone a woman's placenta secretes after implantation of an egg. Honey, you're pregnant..."