Chapter two

He rubbed his face not thinking anything of it, maybe she was on the pill? He decided to ask her when she woke up. He got up, used the bathroom and came back to find she was awake herself. It felt weird, they hadn't done this before, was he supposed to still be there? Was he supposed to make her tea? He waited for her to speak. 'Morning' she smiled and stretched. 'Morning' he replied half smiling, he still couldn't believe he was there, it felt like a dream. Slowly slowly it all started coming back to him, what they had done in explicit detail. He was lucky he still had a few good moves left in him for 402. Oh crap, he hadn't told her how old he was, he decided not to bring it up since he didn't know her age either, for all he knew she could be just as old.

-

A few weeks had gone by and neither of them had said anything about the contraception issue. He just assumed she was on the pill and they carried on as normal. Surely she would say something if something was up... She wouldn't leave something that important out of conversation and she seemed sensible enough... They were sitting on his sofa in his new flat, she was wearing a red jumper and some leggings snuggled up to him, he had his arm around her. She lifted her head as if to say something, but then rested her head back. 'Hm..?' She looked at him, nothing. He sighed, he had to talk to her about it but he didn't know how to bring it up without sounding awkward. He decided that if she needed to tell him something, she would.

-

A few weeks later Zoe had started going out more and more, this worried Bertrand because her stories about who she was with never seemed to make sense. His patience would soon be tested again later that evening; she came into the kitchen pulling her heels on. Oh no, he thought, she's going out again. 'Ingrid called, she asked me if I want to go out again' Bertrand sighed 'ok then but be careful last time you came back ill, no more drinking' she threw a hand towel at him, 'I didn't have that much!' he rolled his eyes 'Yes but clearly you had enough to cause that mess we had last time'. She shot him a look that shook his soul of balance. 'Ok I'm sorry but, be careful that's all I'm saying. She walked up to him, wrapped her arms round his waste and squeezed her, she groaned ' sorry too tight?' he frowned ' no, no nothing I'm fine' she smiled and kissed his lips. What was wrong with her, he thought to himself, she seemed so fragile lately. She almost didn't want any touch and they had been sleeping together less and less, not necessarily sexually but… just under the same roof, the most he'd got was sleeping on the couch when they'd drifted off watching a film, but even then he woke up to find shed gone to her own bed. He didn't know whether he was supposed to be hurt by this, after all she still treated him the same, maybe she felt awkward... had he gone too fast? He didn't have time to think like this at the moment, it was making his head spin.

It was another 8 hours before Zoe came back with Ingrid and another girl. Zoe went straight to the bedroom and Ingrid and the friend came into the kitchen to get some glasses and some pop. Bertrand smirked 'Oh pop very hard core' Ingrid scowled 'shut up we've had enough alcohol tonight' Bertrand was surprised; usually Ingrid and her friends didn't care about limits, until they were face down in the curb. Ingrid started, 'I thought Zoe drinks alcohol' Ingrid leaned next to the cupboard and raised an eyebrow. 'She does' he paused then continued 'I think she needs to cut back she's making herself ill' he carried on washing up. Ingrid looked confused, 'Why wouldn't she when she was out with us?' Bertrand dried his hands and turned to face her 'what?' Ingrid rolled her eyes 'she wouldn't drink any when she was out with us' he smirked ' nice try Ingrid I know she's drunk again there's an enough empty cans in there for three people and she's gone straight to her bed' he pointed at the bag of cans and bottles Ingrid was carrying. Ingrid frowned at him 'no Bertrand those are mine and Zia's I swear' she gestured at the other girl who was in the kitchen trying to keep her balance. He rolled his eyes 'ok then fine I believe you' Ingrid turned to leave. 'Better make sure she's ok she was feeling unwell' she replied... Bertrand closed his eyes, 'not again' he thought.

He went into her bedroom and into the on suite he found her hanging her head in the toilet, again. He felt himself getting worked up; he waited until she had stopped heaving. She sat up and looked at him 'what?' she said, he crossed his arms, 'drunk again I see, your making yourself ill I thought we had talked about this!' he had never raised his voice to her before, what had happened to them.. She was silent for a moment to absorb the fact he was getting cross with her. 'Zoe is there anything you want to tell me. 'Look your obviously wasted, Ingrid tried to cover for you saying the drinks were hears but your obviously drunk'. She turned round to him and rubbed her face. 'No Bertrand...' she pinched her nose, Bertrand started feeling angry. 'No Zoe don't bother, I'm sick of you being dishonest with me' she looked at him with a look that had the power to melt his heart. 'Bertrand no, I'm pregnant'

Bertrand didn't know whether to feel shocked or … he obviously had knew about it but had been in such denial with himself, telling himself she was getting drunk and making herself ill. He sort of, kind of, suspected it, but he didn't actually… but he must have known really deep down, he had never even asked her about the contraception issue… but wouldn't she have told him? Oh forget it he thought to himself, this is too much for my head, I need to talk… but the words won't come out… He didn't even know what to say, he stood there like a lemon staring at her.

Just then his phone buzzed, it was Vlad, and he was needed, now. 'Zoe, I have to go' Zoe looked at him like he had just said he'd kicked a puppy. 'What do you mean…' just then he heard what he had said properly in his head. 'No! I didn't mean... I'm sorry, it was Vlad something's happened, I know this is the most horrendous timing... come with me, I don't want to leave you alone' she sighed, 'no I'll call you if I need you… Bertrand… are you not going to say anything about it?' Bertrand didn't know what to say he looked at her 'I love you Zoe, I'll be back as soon as I can'

He got in the car and drove up to the castle, nearly managing to run over a sheep for some reason… strange bloody town. He got out and clicked the door lock, Erin came running up to him. Erin what on earth are you doing back here I thought you went off with Malik. Well actually that's part of what the problem is, we need some of your knowledge for this one. A very confused Bertrand followed Erin into the castle. Bertrand first saw Vlad, and gave him a what the hell?! look. Vlad just returned the same look back and started at the floor.

Erin was the first to talk; Vlad was sitting there looking just as confused as he was. 'Basically, the rings of Arianrod were affecting my personality, my sense of right and wrong, the feelings that were attached with my memories, everything made me so angry and really I didn't know why, I was scared and for some reason… I don't know.' Bertrand still terribly confused just started at them all. 'So what do you want me for?' Vlad clasped his hands 'well we wondered if you would have any books on the rings, to find out what exactly about them might have caused the personality change' Bertrand frowned, 'well we always knew they were bad and having them impaled under your skin was never going to be good' Vlad rolled his eyes, 'we know but, we want to know why Erin's changed back to how she was.. Well personality wise anyway, still a half fang but... shouldn't she still be… evil?' Erin glared at him 'sorry, sorry, bad tempered then' she nudged him in the ribs. 'So do you think you'd have anything?' Bertrand had drifted off into his own thoughts, 'um, well I can have a look but I can't promise anything... are the stones still under your skin?' Erin had a look, 'I don't think so, well, they are but… it doesn't feel like it' 'Bertrand frowned, right... maybe there losing some power... or something... I don't know... I'll have a look when I get a chance.' Vlad looked up 'when you get a chance? Where have you been what have you been doing we haven't seen you for ages?' Bertrand realises none of them knew about Zoe, let alone the face he was now apparently going to be a dad. He decided to lie and say he'd just been 'out' and leave it at that.

3 weeks had passed since Bertrand had found out about Zoe's pregnancy. Things had calmed down and they had both gotten used to the idea, Zoe had been feeling much better and able to go to work again. Bertrand had been out to get some tea for her since it was one of her early cravings. He fumbled for his keys to open the front door.

'You stupid girl!' Bertrand heard as he shut the front door, 'the TV' he thought to himself. 'Zoe for god sake with your sister it was different but she's older and it won't affect her like it will you'. 'But mum! Why didn't you tell me before? I mean-' Bertrand came in 'Zoe?' Zoe jumped round, 'mum I'll call you back' she shut the laptop she had been skyping her mum on. Zoe went into the kitchen and rubbed her face; she turned the kettle on and got their favourite mugs out before bursting into tears. Bertrand had absolutely no idea what was going on. He didn't even know what to say, all these thoughts... well no thoughts were going through his head, he didn't know what to think, he knew what he should be thinking, and he knew what he should have asked a long time ago. Right now he had to look after Zoe's feelings, she was obviously upset and he couldn't stand to see that.

They sat with their mugs of tea on her red sofa… they both felt so distant with each other, they were both so confused. Zoe started, 'My mum said she wanted to talk to me about it, I just thought...' she drifted off 'talk to you about what?' Zoe sighed and started crying again. Bertrand sighed and laid his head back. He pulled her tight and squeezed her, kissing her forehead. She looked at him, her eyes red from crying. She kissed him and smiled, but started crying again. 'I love you Bertrand, I'm just so confused.

Later that day, Bertrand had given Zoe some space and time to calm down. She approached him on the sofa as he was getting his coat to go back to his own flat. 'Bertrand, can you stay with me tonight? Please?' Bertrand sighed, 'Zoe of course I will, I've wanted to for ages I've been so … confused.' Zoe smiled at him empathetically 'I know I know and I'm sorry it's my fault, I just didn't know what to say to you. I shouldn't have dealt with it like that. She came up to him and he hugged her. 'I think I'm ready to tell you what my mum said. It's important... it affects both of us'

They sat on the sofa hand in hand, Bertrand still couldn't figure out how he'd gone from teacher of the chosen one to about to be a dad in a secret relationship with a girl he hadn't known half a year with an apparently fuming mother in law… not that they were eve married. She took a deep breath, Bertrand thought to himself, what on earth is she going to tell me; maybe it's not that bad? Maybe she's just still very emotional. Even Bertrand couldn't fool himself; this had to be something serious. Zoe finally started 'my mum called, as you know, my sister Mary had told her that I was pregnant, I was so angry with her… I told her not to…' she trailed off, Bertrand looked at her, begging to know what her mum had said. 'and my mum' she continued 'my mum, well she wasn't very pleased I was never expecting that, but I couldn't believe how angry she was, I tried to tell her that I love you and it's not like I'm 16, I'm nearly 23 and I have a job…' she trailed off again, then took another deep breath and continued 'but, I don't even know where to start… 'Bertrand took her hand and squeezed it, silently urging her to carry on and just tell him. 'I'm just going to make it simple to understand because it's complicated, well, my species… it can get complicated if we mate with... other.. You know...' she looked at him 'vampires?' Bertrand suggested 'yes… not just vampires, humans, anyone else.' Bertrand nodded, right, so... what would happen?' Zoe started again 'well… before the age 0f 30 my species, especially girls, are still developing, gaining skills and our brains and bodies aren't quite at their peak. So for 22 I'm still very young. Having new DNA will disrupt this, unless I'm pregnant t with my own species, all that would do is maybe stunt my development... but with another species… well, it could stop al development and confuse my body, like for example I might get cravings for blood or have a big personality change, or die.' Bertrand felt horrifies, why had she not used contraception? How could he have done all of this to her, he suddenly felt very guilty. She saw his face and squeezed his hands 'Bertrand it's not your fault, it's my mums fault for never telling me this, she said she never thought shed have to, she thinks I'm a slag and an underage mum, which for my species really I am.' Bertrand glared at her 'no you're not, dot listen to her I love you' she smiled 'you're so good to me, she touched his face. So what happens now exactly what do we have to do, can we do anything?' her face dropped. Well. The easy way out... well not the easy way out, but the easier way out would be to...' she trailed off. Bertrand knew what she was going to say, he squeezed her open hand. 'I don't want to have an abortion, not like this… I mean… not with you' she welled up 'I'm sorry Bertrand I just never imagined myself in this situation' he smiled, 'funnily enough me neither, he sighed heavily and pinched his nose 'look, Zoe, go to the clinic tomorrow and at least hear them out, I don't want this anymore than you do, but we can have another baby, we can't have another you. She looked up and smiled 'thank you for being so good to me, I love you, she leaned and kissed him.

He woke up in the middle of the night and rubbed his eyes. Zoe wasn't on her side of the bed, 'Zoe?' he walked into the on suite to find her sitting on the closed toilet crying. 'Zoe what's wrong are you ok?' she looked up, again, red eyed from crying' this couldn't be good for anyone, every time he looked at her she was either crying or angry. 'Bertrand...ah- I- I can't do it' she trailed off sobbing. 'What Zoe? You don't have to go to the clinic whatever you want is final' she sat back 'no it's not that, well it is, but... when I woke up, I felt it move, it hasn't done that before, and I think… she sobbed 'I think it's just hit me that it's a life, I cant get rid of another life, it's not just a baby it's our child.' Bertrand froze; he really didn't know what to say now. He just hugged her and took her back to bed pulling the blanket round them and hugging he close, he didn't get much more sleep after that.

He had one big decision to make, could he do this?