"Lisa?" no answer, he raises his voice as he heads towards the living room "Lisa?!" Still nothing. Strange. Very strange. Before he gets a chance to head into the room his partners eldest emerges from the doorway, shutting the door behind him.
"She's asleep Ryan." Now into his teenage years Peter was wise beyond his years but that also meant he was the hardest to keep on good terms with out the three He always seemed to have a fair idea of what was going on between them. Thankfully Lisa never revealed the reason behind why they'd split and he hadn't managed to pick up on that one or he'd have no hope of having any sort of relationship with the boy. Not that he'd blame him.
"That's the third time this week she's fallen asleep before eight. She's pushing herself too hard." Shrugging Peter wasn't all together sure of what answer Ryan expected him to give. His mum was a difficult person to figure out but then he'd been told on numerous occasions he was just like her so kept that comment to himself.
"She was in a very odd mood when she came home, barely looked at Paul before asking me to watch him then kept away from us all.."
"Paul? She's been really funny with him lately. Odd." realising he was revealing more to the teen than Lisa would approve of he changes the direction of the conversation. "I think your mum needs a holiday. Thanks for watching Paul." Watching Peter head for the front door he quickly adds "Please don't stay out too late, she'll freak."
"Don't worry, I'll be back by 10. See you." Turning from the now shut front door he was met by his exhausted looking partner standing in the living room door way, obviously woken up by their conversation about her. Something was different about her since this morning, she didn't just look tired she looked sick. There was something definitely green about the pallor of her skin.
"Do you always discuss me and my parenting flaws with my children?" Her arms were folded signalling only one thing...he was in the doghouse.
"Of course not! I wasn't. Peter is just worried about you, so am I for that matter. Are you sure you're feeling okay?" Her features didn't soften in the way he hoped they would instead she seemed to tense up more than she already had. Taking a step forward he places both hands upon her shoulders hoping to calm her down but instead she violently flinches stepping further away from him.
"Don't." Her eyes were so hurt why he hadn't a clue. This was such an extreme reaction to nothing. "Don't try to use the fact I was sick the other week now. I've asked you before to watch what you talk to Peter about. He's still a child Ryan! He seen far too much of Andrew and mine problems don't put anything else on him."
He wanted to bite back, explain he didn't share too much with Peter nor was he using her sick bug as an excuse to get out of it. He genuinely was worried about her. He'd never seen her like this before she was so emotional if he didn't know better he'd have made a comment that it must be her time of the month but it simply wasn't worth it. Instead he sighs, giving up. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you or overstep the mark with Peter. Why don't I sort Paul out for bed and you get an early night?" Her features still refused to soften instead she makes a break for the stairs, throwing back her reply full of stubborn determination. "I'm perfectly capable of putting my own son to bed thank you." Leaving Ryan confused at the bottom of the stairs wondering what on earth he did to upset her so much.
The next morning she'd woke at five am with the overwhelming urge to be sick. Not again. She couldn't pass it off as a stomach bug again. There was no denying the truth any longer. He was going to guess. She wasn't ready. Not yet. Rushing out the room she left him sound asleep in bed hoping with all her mite that she'd make it to the downstairs bathroom where no one would hear her. She did. Just. Her mind flashes back to last night the guilt flooding in with the memory, she'd reacted completely irrationally. The poor bloke hadn't done anything wrong. But she couldn't apologise without explaining why she was suddenly so emotionally irrational. Finally able to push herself off the bathroom floor she heads through to the kitchen only for her eyes to catch a glimpse of her figure in the floor length mirror situated in the hall. Her once flat stomach, something that wasn't easy for her to achieve after Paul, was gone instead replaced with something she wouldn't be able to pass of as just bloat for much longer. The truth was this had been going on a lot longer than anyone else had realised. The subject of more children, or children at all in Ryan's case, had never come up they already had their hands full with a teenager, child and a demanding toddler. Placing one hand across her abdomen she wasn't at all sure she was prepared for another child more so after her pregnancy with Paul. If Ryan reacted anywhere near the way Andrew had done she knew she wouldn't cope. She didn't have her mum, Colette and Charlie here to support her this time and although she'd made friends they didn't know her like her friends back home did.
Walking towards the kitchen she was still stood in the hall, one hand placed on her stomach. Her face was full of worry or maybe fear was a better word and her skin so pale she looked deathly. That's when the thought hit him, an explanation to all this, he just didn't know how he felt about it.
"Lisa?" Shock filled her face as she jumped back in fright. "Please tell me what's wrong. You're scaring me." Her chest began to rise and fall rapidly only confirming what he suspected as her eyes fell to the floor. Her mouth opened to reply on more than one occasion but no words came out, it was up to him. Walking close to her he takes her into her arms, somewhere she went gladly.
"You're pregnant aren't you?" Tears this time, so many tears as she completely broke in front of him in a way he'd never seen her do before. Keeping his grasp on her as she shook in his arms all he could muster was "Shh...Everything is going to be fine. We'll be fine. Shh..."