The sight of Joel walking away from Alex triggered a response. After the conversation she just had with her mother she did not want to be alone. She followed Joel to the elavator and watched him wait for it to arrive. Gathering some courage to talk to the man who may very well be the father of her baby she finally spoke just as the elevator arrived.

"Joel, stop. I was hoping to talk to you", she said.

"Sure Alex what's wrong? Is it the baby?", he asked.

"No, I wanted to talk about us. I know I said nothing on the night of the award when you asked to the baby's father, and just now speaking to my mother, I realized that if I want to be a good parent to my child I am going to need help. More that the help Shahir is offering. More than my friends. I am going to need something more. And this is not just about me. My baby needs a father and I will never be able to live with myself if I deprived him of his father simply because I was confused and terrified of the idea of being with the wrong person".

"Alex, I know I am not the best person to say this but if you give me the chance to be that person I promise to do my very best. I may not be great at it from the get go but I will be a man our child can look up to and you can love."

"So, Joel Goran do you want to be the father of my child?"

"Alex, yes! Of course I want to. I want to more than anything I have ever wanted. But are you sure cause there will be no going back you know. I don't want to just be this baby's father I want to be with you. I want us to be family".

"I want that too Joel and I want it with you" said Alex with tear running down her face.

"Then let's get out of here. I have a surprise for you" said Joel.

As he wrapped his arm around Alex's shoulder and she wrapped her around his waist. They got their stuff and made it to Joel's car. They sat in a companionable silence throughout the journey to her flat. The one she once shared with Charlie. She knew she would have to tell Charlie of her decision. She knew he would not be happy about it but right now she wanted to be happy for herself and she felt like the truly deserves it.

Now almost months after she had woken up from her short coma she suddenly understood why she had decided to get back with Joel. He had changed. He was no longer the immature man she had fallen in love with so hopelessly while at med school. He was still flawed. He would always be. That was the beauty of Joel. But she knew he wanted this. Their relationship and this baby. And right now it was all that mattered.

As they arrived at her flat, she invited him upstairs for a cup of coffee. As she walks into the flat, she looks at Joel.

"Joel,We still have so much to talk about, so much to sort out and so much to do for this baby."

"I know Alex. But you and I have had a long day and right now I just want to take all the time in the world to savor the fact that you want me in your life. You want me to be there for my child. Words cannot describe how I feel right now because its so overwhelming."

"Well, the sooner you get over savoring this moment the sooner we can start to plan for the arrival of our baby. Speaking of which Joel there is something you should know."

"What is it?"

"I did not want to know myself but during my ultrasound Dr. Katz let it slip that we're going to have a son."

Alex watched the expression on Joel's face carefully. He seemed excited and then another emotion flashed across his face. He was concerned.

Joel tried his best to just be excited. He had just found out he was going to have a son. He was excited but at the same time his damaged relationship came to the forefront of his mind. He did not want that kind of a relationship with his son. He wanted a relationship of mutual love and respect. He wanted to be the kind of dad you speak of with a smile. Not the kind you have to force yourself to meet despite not having seen in years.

Alex knew the moment she told him about their son he was reflecting on his relationship with his father. She knew he resented him and in no way blamed him for the way he felt because his emotions were totally justified. Being abandoned by the man who was supposed to take care and protect you leaves a very large emotional scar and she knew better than anyone about emotional scars. He father committed suicide and then her mother just went off the rails.

"You're nothing like your father Joel. I know that and so should you."

"I wasn't thinking about him Alex. I was just thinking."

"Liar. Look I know it's a lot to take in at once and when I found out I too started thinking about my relationship with my parents and I it scared the lights out of me. I don't like the relationship I have with my mother and my father's dead and you and your father don't have the best relationship either. It's scary. We have not guide to go by. No one to help us but if anything that should only make us more determined to be better parents to our son than our parents were to us."

Joel stared at Alex with admiration and pride. "Alex Reid, I know you might not be ready to hear this but right now I feel like I would die if I don't tell you that I love you so much. And honestly, you're the only woman I have ever loved. I have always loved you and despite my numerous mess ups the decisions that I have made which inadvertently hurt you, through it all I have loved you. And the thought scared me so much all those years ago but now I am embracing it. Because this is all that matters."

"Joel, I..."

"You don't have to say anything that you're not ready to. I just had to say it that's all."

"Its not that. I do love you too. I realized it after my surgery. I was annoyed that you did not come to visit me more. I saw you a handful of times only and I know you were busy but still I wanted you around. You made me feel more like me at a time when everyone was just being weird to me. I looked forward to seeing you. You made me happy whenever you came by."

"Thank God Alex. I was terrified that you did not feel the same way about me as I feel for you."

"Of course I feel the same way Joel. When I lashed out at you the other day for wanting more it was because I was afraid that you and I would once again drift apart as we did the last time and the thought of having to lose you all over again... I don't know if I can. Do you see how important you are to me?"

"I know. And I am sorry. You were not wrong. I do seek excitement and adventure. But this journey we're about to embark on is both an adventure and it is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me"

"i hope it is Joel. I really hope it is", said Alex with a contemplative look on her face as she stared at their joined hands.

"Oh baby, it is. This is everything I have ever wanted."

"Joel, sleep with me tonight. Just hold me. I need you to", said Alex after a while. The day she had suddenly caught up to her. Another perk of being pregnant, always being tired, she thought to herself.

"Yes, I was going to. You've got to be insane to think after all this I would just say goodbye and go back home. No Alex I am going to be her for you and with you. Why don't you go take a shower while I put the coffee away."

As Alex left the hall to the bed room a thought cross her mind. Maybe they should find their own place. Something for the both of them. A place that did not hold memories of past relationships. A place for new beginnings.