Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer

I know this is the In Darkness Outtakes, but I do plan on combining all of my outtakes one day and didn't want to start a new 'story' just for this one little scene. If you haven't read as far as When the Snows Thaw chapter 15 and Dhampir in Disguise chapter 19, then it's probably best you don't read on. There isn't a big spoiler but it's better to leave some things as a surprise.

For those of you who have read that far, this is a little scene between Alex and Dannan, I'd love to know what you all think…

Dannan

It was the end of my shift in the shop and I was looking forward to putting my feet up for a while. They were aching after being on them for five hours straight. If Jess had been coming on after me I would have let off a little steam talking to her, but it was Jilly coming on and she was in with Geri Ingles. If she didn't have a few choice words for me then she would generally give me the silent treatment coupled with some stinking looks. I just blanked her when she came on shift and headed out the door.

"Dannan?" I heard someone call my name and turned.

It was Tony's cousin, what was his name now?

"Hi Alex." I said with a smile and I felt incredibly glad to see him.

"Hi. Can we talk somewhere?" He asked, and there was something about his tone that made me think he wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Will the diner do?" I asked because it was about the only communal place in this town that I wasn't banned from thanks to Geri Ingles' hate campaign.

"As long as you let me buy you lunch." He said with a smile that made my heart flutter.

Usually I wouldn't let anyone by me lunch, and after Mr Winston I was wary of charming guys. But then there was something about Alex, something reassuringly friendly. Besides, I was pregnant, obviously so now, if the guy wanted to buy me lunch I'd take it.

"Why not." I said with a smile.

"Great." He replied and he took my hand and it was surprisingly warm on such a cold day.

I didn't comment, just walked beside him as he walked with purposeful strides toward the diner. We walked in and Captain Bronson was there, smiling at me as he led us to a booth where we'd have more privacy. Captain Bronson was one of the few people in this town who didn't think I was a home wrecking harlot.

Captain Bronson took our orders, and disappeared into the kitchen.

"First I should tell you that I spoke to Tony about you." Alex said.

"You did? Why?" I asked, feeling agitated.

"Because you're pregnant and I had to be sure of your situation before I asked if you'd go on a date with me." He said straight out as if he was commenting on the weather.

"A date?" I asked, feeling a little nonplussed since I wouldn't expect anyone to wanna date 'Home-wrecker Lyle'.

"Yeah. I got to tell you Dannan, I was pretty bowled over when I saw you in the store, and your personality seemed to sparkle, even though you're a little down at the moment. I wanted to get to know you better, but I since you're pregnant I thought I'd missed my chance." He stated.

"Oh." I said, and I felt my cheeks burn a little with embarrassment.

"Tony can read me well, we've been close since we were kids." Alex stated, and paused as Captain Bronson placed our drinks on the table. "Anyway, he could read me and realised I liked you. Of course it would have been wrong for me to ask you on a date, you're pregnant, you obviously have someone. Then Tony told me about that teacher seducing you and now the whole town seems to be blaming you. That's just wrong."

"You and Tony were talking about me that much?" I asked, feeling disappointed because I thought Tony wasn't the type to gossip.

"Only in the interest of making sure I wasn't stepping on anybody's toes by asking you out. I really do like Dannan and I'd like to get to know you better." He said calmly, but he couldn't be serious.

"But I'm six months pregnant with a married man's baby, what more is there to know about me." I stated glumly, watching for the moment he'd crack and I'd know he was screwing with me.

"You're more than just the rumour." Alex said as he placed his hot hand on mine. "Yeah, you acted foolishly, but you were a love struck teenager and we all make mistakes under those circumstances."

"Most of those mistakes are not so life changing." I said as I looked down at my bump.

"But you could have caught something a lot worse than a baby." Alex said gently and he leaned across the table and put his hand to my bump. "That little guy is precious and the more love you give him, the more you'll get in return."

"Or her." I pointed out.

"Or her." Alex stated. "But what I'm trying to say is that this is life changing, but it can be positive if you're willing to work for it."

"I am willing to work for it." I stated. "But Mom won't let me." I added, wondering why I was being so honest with him.

"She wants to take over looking after the baby?" He asked.

"She thinks I should give her to Mr and Mrs Burrows, that way I'm not so much a home wrecker as a 'surrogate'. But this baby is mine, I want to keep her, why would I want to give her to that dried up old trout?" I demanded, surprised that I was letting a total stranger see my anger over such a personal issue.

"Then you should stand up for yourself." Alex said firmly. "It's your body and your life, it's up to you what you do."

"That's easy for you to say, but I can't afford my own place now, never mind when the baby's here and I got child care to think of. And I was hoping to go to college, re-apply for my place at Harvard." I said with a sigh, thinking of the improbability of it all.

"You got into Harvard?" Alex asked, looking impressed.

"Yes. I was so excited when I got the acceptance letter, but when I should have been planning for my exciting life ahead, I was throwing up my guts and well…" I trailed off with another sigh.

"They'll take you back next year." Alex said firmly.

"Not if I want to keep my baby. I won't be able to afford the tuition fees. And what about childcare? It won't be possible." I stated, shaking my head as if to emphasise my point.

"Anything can happen between then and now." Alex observed with a smile.

"What do you mean?"

"You could meet a rich guy who'll sweep you off your feet and would be willing to pay you through school and take you on with a baby in tow if you'll just let him be in your life." He said with a side grin that displayed perfect teeth that were bright against his dark skin and weirdly the picture I'd always had for Brody, which had been Tony and if I'm honest I'd always had a crush on, and now there was Alex, he seemed to fill that place even better, and I realised I was dreaming and I'd slipped out of the conversational zone for a moment there and had to make up for it.

"In my dreams maybe." I said with a snort since some rich guy coming to sweep me off my feet was as likely as me escaping into Darktide and living with all the werewolves and vampires.

"Well what about a humble man who'll do all he can to support you and your child, whatever you decide to do?" He asked, and there was seriousness to his tone now that made my stomach flutter, but I couldn't let fantasy take me. Not again.

"Alex, this is all flattering, but let's be realistic here." I said gravely. "Nobody in town thinks highly of me so that limits any guys here. What guy in their right mind would be willing to raise another guys baby, especially when I'm still pregnant? I got three months to meet someone or else I have to hand my baby over to Tia. There's no way that's gonna happen because I'm just gonna get fatter and uglier and there's no such thing as love at first sight."

"Yes there is." Alex said firmly. "It's a strong belief among my people that when you see the one who's truly meant for you it hits you immediately. Then there is no other person good enough; it has to be that one. That special one."

"What are you saying exactly?" I asked suspiciously.

"That I really like you. I would like to get to know you better and see where things go. If they go where I want them to, then you'll get to keep your baby and go to Harvard." He said firmly.

I looked at him for a moment and I felt angry.

"What kind of sick person are you?" I demanded.

"Excuse me?" He asked, taken aback, but why should he feel insulted when he was doing this to me?

"How can you tease me like this?" I hissed. "You think it's funny to screw with the pregnant teen's head? After all she must be stupid to get a bun in the oven at her age? You don't even know me! Did Geri put you up to this?"

"No. I don't even know who Geri is. I saw you in the shop and I liked you. I still do, and I really want to get to know you, even if you call me names." He said, sounding a peeved at the end of it.

I wasn't buying that so I glared at him with my arms crossed.

"You trust Tony right?" He asked. "You know he wouldn't lie to you."

I nodded.

"Ok. Then talk to him." Alex declared as he pulled a phone from his pocket hit a few buttons and held it out to me.

The screen declared that it was calling Tony and I could hear the dial tone.

"Hey Alex, what's up Cous?" Tony's voice came out of the phone.

"You wanna talk to him?" Alex asked as he shook the phone at me.

"Alex?" Tony called, sounding confused.

I shook my head.

Alex nodded his head before placing the phone to his ear.

"Yeah, sorry Cous, phone must have gone off in my pocket." Alex said into the phone.

"Right. Well where are you? Hunter said you should have called in an hour ago but he couldn't pick you up on the pack mind." Alex must have had his phone turned up to max volume because I could still just about make out what Tony was saying.

"Didn't he think to use the phone? Anyway, I gotta go. I'll phone Hunter when I'm free." Alex said quickly and hung up.

"Who's Hunter?" I asked.

"My boss." Alex said.

"What's a pack mind?"

Alex gave me a sturdy look, then glanced around the diner.

"I can't tell you here." He stated.

"Why not?" I asked.

"There's something I need to tell you about me. I can tell you because I know who you are, what you mean to me. But I have to tell you away from where we might be overheard." He stated.

"You want me to go off with you to some remote location? How stupid do you think I am?" I demanded.

"I don't think you're stupid, I'm just asking you to trust me. You can even come armed if it makes you feel better." He offered.

"Where do you want to take me?" I asked, deciding to gloss over the armed thing for a moment.

"Not far. Just a little way into the woods. I need some cover from prying eyes too." He stated.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because this is a show as well as a tell." He said.

"You haven't got some weird shaped birthmark that admits you into some secret society have you? Because if you have then you could just show me in the bathroom here." I pointed out.

Alex laughed then went quiet while Captain Bronson placed our orders on the table.

"It's nothing that simple." Alex continued once Captain Bronson had cleared the area. "Although it's to do with my heritage."

"What is it?"

"You won't believe me if I tell you, that's why I need to show you too." He stated.

I was really confused and I wondered about it as we ate lunch. I decided that my curiosity was much too great for me to not go with him now. So I agreed, although I didn't take him up on his offer to go armed when he offered again.

He led me out to a truck that was old, but obviously well looked after. He unlocked and opened the door for me, but as I was about to climb in he stopped me.

"Just a quick health question." He said.

"What?" I asked, pausing with my foot on the board.

"You're ok right? Shocks are not gonna affect the baby?" He asked.

"I guess it depends on the shock." I conceded.

"How about having your world view altered beyond imagining?" He asked mysteriously.

"I read a lot of fantasy, I'm open to suggestions." I said with a shrug.

"Ok." Alex said and he helped me up into the cab of his truck before he climbed in the other side himself.

"It's freezing in here." I observed as he started the engine.

"It is?" He asked with a frown.

I nodded as I shivered.

"The cold don't really affect me. I run hotter then normal." He stated, and to demonstrate he pulled me into his side and wrapped his long arm around me.

His heat was amazing, and I found myself relaxing into him, as if I'd finally found my place. It was like I was meant to be here, sitting beside him as he held me. His very presence in my life seemed to advertise safety and protection and although it was hard for me to admit at the moment, I felt something deep inside that made me worry about never seeing Alex again. I'd only just met the guy, but now I felt as if I'd known him my whole life and I'd never feel complete if I lost him now. Maybe there was such a thing as love at first sight?

I tried not to let myself get swept up in it. It was foolish romantic notions that got me involved with Mr Burrows in the first place. From now on I'd use my head before I leapt head long into a relationship.

Use my head? Was letting some guy I barely know drive me into the middle of nowhere using my head? Not in the slightest, but if he was some psycho killer it was a bit late to turn back now.

He found a dirt track that I didn't even know was there and I thought I knew all the little roads on this stretch of highway. Well obviously not.

At the end of the track was a cabin that had long been overwhelmed by nature. I didn't fancy going in there.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked when I wouldn't get out of the truck.

"Couldn't you have come up with a better idea of a love shack?" I demanded.

Alex frowned at me, glanced at the cabin and looked back.

"That place ain't fit for rats." He stated. "This was the only place I knew where I wouldn't have to walk you into the trees, and if you really want to, after I show you my secret, you can take my truck and drive back easily from here."

I narrowed my eyes for a moment, then nodded my head.

"Ok." I said and opened the door, I nearly jumped to find Alex there, waiting to help me down from the cab. No one can move that fast.

"I got a chair on the flat bed." He stated.

"What do I need a chair for?" I asked as he reached beneath the tarp and pulled out a foldaway lawn chair.

"You might wanna sit down for this." He stated as he strode to an even patch of ground and set the chair down.

He swept his hand at the chair so I sat in it and he knelt before me.

"I never thought I'd ever get to do this." He said with a wistful smile.

"Do what?" I asked, since I was starting to get a little agitated about the whole thing.

"Tell my entire soul to the one I'm meant to be with."

I felt a shiver of delight through my body, but tried to fight the giggling silly thoughts that fawned over his words.

"Ok. Well I guess there is no better way to put this than to just come right out and say it. Dannan, I want you to know everything about me before you choose me for life, and it's only fair you know the biggest part of me. The part of me that connects me to my ancestors all the way back to Taha Aki the last Great Spirit Chief. It's something that's triggered in some of us during puberty when there's Cold Ones near. I'm gonna use a word that can be applied to us but we usually try and avoid it for defining purposes." He took a breath. "What I'm trying to tell you is that as a descendent of Taha Aki, I too am a warrior. I am a protector, my natural weapons helpful against the Cold Ones. I am a werewolf."

I'd been falling into his story, wanting to know more about him, until that last one.

"A werewolf?" I demanded.

"Yeah." He replied without batting an eyelid.

"You bastard." I growled and I guess my hormones pushed my anger further than I'd usually allow it, because I actually pummelled his shoulder. "How can you do this? You are out to hurt me! I can't believe Tony's in on this too! Everyone is against me!"

"Dannan." Alex said sharply as he took my hands in his hands carefully, but I could feel the strength in them and I wondered at the damage they could do if he wanted to inflict it. "Please look at me."

I couldn't help looking up into his eyes.

"How am I teasing you by telling you this?" He asked.

"Everyone knows how much I like the Darktide books. How much I admire Brody. You can't make me love you by pretending to be him." I said angrily.

"Darktide?" Alex asked his brow furrowing in confusion.

"By Grace Pearson." I said pointedly.

"Tony's girlfriend?" He exclaimed.

I nodded my head.

"What are they, books?" He hazarded.

"Yes." I replied, starting to wonder at his reaction.

"Well I didn't know Grace wrote books." He said with an amused chuckle and he wasn't lying.

"You've never heard of Darktide?" I asked in amazement.

"Nope."

"But you can't go anywhere online without coming across some article or other." I protested.

"I'm not online." Alex stated, and he wasn't joking. "Anyway, the books are not important. I am a werewolf and didn't I say this was show and tell?"

I nodded.

"Well I've done the tell, so now it's time for the show." He said as he stood up and let my hands go.

"You mean your gonna…" I trailed off, unable to form the question as he moved away from me a few feet.

"Turn into a wolf? That's exactly what I'm doing." He answered as he removed his t-shirt to reveal well toned abs that almost had me drooling, which was weird, muscley guys had never done it for me before. Maybe it was because they were more working muscles than body builder bulges.

He removed his pants as well and I covered my eyes.

"I'm wearing underwear." He stated.

I uncovered my eyes to find that he was telling the truth.

"Well I've never done this in front of anyone who wasn't a wolf before." He stated nervously. "But here goes."

He smiled and then let out a breath and in the next second he'd exploded into a giant wolf. It was the size of a horse and I felt my mouth fall open. The wolf was beautiful, its fur a mottled grey. It took a careful step closer and as I looked into those dark eyes I knew without doubt that it was Alex. I stood, carefully, because my legs felt weak, and stepped closer to him.

I placed my hand to his cheek and the fur there felt so soft. I ran my fingers through it, enjoying the feel of his warm fur between my fingers. I felt a wave of, well I guess it was elation, that all those stories I had a hope for were real.

"Oh my god!" I gasped. "You really are a werewolf!"

Alex pulled back and nodded his big head.

"Oh…" I sighed and touched his cheek again to make sure it was real.

As I looked into his eyes the fur seemed to melt and transform into smooth russet skin. Alex was standing in front of me naked and I turned my back to him quickly and covered my eyes.

"You're ok with wolf me but not naked me?" He asked, sounding amused.

"I've never seen a naked guy before." I replied, realising how lame that sounded given my predicament.

"But you're…" He began, reflecting my own thoughts.

"It was always skirt up, trousers down, in the store cupboard." I murmured. "It was all secret and in darkness and I never even…It was just about interlocking parts."

"I'm sorry he made you do that." Alex stated and he turned me and hugged me into his t-shirt clad chest. "You should have been cherished and loved, not forced into some cheap clinch in the darkness."

His words were supposed to comfort me, but I felt sad.

"I promise you Dannan that once you're up for it I won't make you feel ashamed to be loved, I'll make you feel what every woman deserves to feel." He said in a low husky voice that made me tremble.

"What's that?" I asked.

"If you don't know then that guy really wasn't in it for you." Alex stated. "What you should feel is complete satisfaction in every aspect of life and you should feel worshiped."

I laughed, I couldn't help that moment of cynicism.

"I will worship you every day Dannan, if you're willing to have me. But there's another thing I should tell you before this goes any further." He said, and now he sounded cautious. "And that's my age."

"What's your age got to do with it?" I asked as I pulled away from him to look up into his eyes.

"I want you to know all the cons before you agree to be with me." He stated.

"Ok." I said, giving him a curious look. "So how old are you?"

"Older than I look." He stalled.

"You're in your thirties?" I hazarded since he looked somewhere in his twenties to me.

Alex shook his head, "I'm a little older than that." He stated.

"You're in your forties?" I asked, finding that hard to believe.

"I'm fifty-five." He said in a clear, precise way that led no room for argument.

"Fifty-five?" I asked in amazement. "Well you look good for your age, that's all I got to say."

"Yeah, it's part of the wolf package. We have a growth spurt when we're triggered to phase, makes us grow tall and muscley and when we look somewhere in our mid-twenties, then we stop aging." He explained as I looked up into his youthful face. "If we stop phasing we start aging again."

He was really nervous about admitting this, as if he thought it was a deal breaker. But I realised that his age didn't really matter, he wanted me, even with another man's baby. I smiled up at him.

"Well in case you haven't heard, I'm in to older guys." I stated as I raised my hand to his cheek.

Alex looked down at me for a moment, then chuckled.

"I can't believe I've finally found you." He stated as he brushed back my hair and then placed his lips to mine.

The kiss was…wow…I'd never felt this way before. Not even with Mr Burrows. I thought I'd felt these feelings before, but I'd been wrong, this was something different. Alex made me feel safe and so warm. I felt a certainty that we were meant to be together. I could see into our future as we grew old together and it was beautiful.

It seemed a little reckless and a little like a fairy story to just decide then and there after only knowing a guy a few hours that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, but I did. I knew Alex was meant for me in a way I knew my baby was mine and as Alex led me back to his truck to drive me back into town I realised there was only one problem I had to face.

What the hell was I gonna tell my mother?

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Gemma x