Alex was strolling down the sidewalk hand in hand with Dean as he talked about … something. She was having trouble focusing lately. Not only was the incident of Justin's mysterious appearance from the week before still lingering, but her secret was weighing on her mind. Alex knew she had to come clean. She couldn't carry on with this… whatever this was… with Dean any longer without letting him know the truth. It was time to take responsibility.

"Something wrong, Russo?"

Alex looked up from her shoes and into Dean's eyes. He looked genuinely concerned.

"I have to tell you something," she said leading him to a nearby bench. Dean sat beside her, but looked visibly uncomfortable. Alex could see familiar mannerisms returning. The shifting gaze, the slouching posture and the 'I'm too cool to care' facial expression. His guard was up. Dean was clearly worried about what she had to say and was apparently preparing to shrug it off. Maybe that was for the best.

Alex shifted so she was facing him on the bench and pushed her hair behind her ears. It was going to be hard to say these words out loud. She hadn't told anyone yet, not even Harper.

"So, what is it?" Dean asked. "There another guy?"

Yes. Alex's eyes widened when he asked the question. Her mind immediately rushing to Justin. Her brother's smiling, dorky face filling her thoughts. Yes there was another guy and she was pretty sure that they made love a week ago… somehow?

"No," Alex forced herself to say and shook her head, "well not exactly. I don't know if it's a boy or a girl."

"You like chicks?" Now it was Dean's turn to look surprised. His face then showed a mix of two emotions… the typical 'this is hot' expression that guys wore when lesbians were mentioned followed quickly by the 'oh my god I'm being dumped for a girl' look.

"What? No, I don't like chicks," Alex replied bunny quoting the word chicks.

"I'm trying to say that I'm pregnant!" She finally said in a loud whisper. A couple people glanced their way, but Alex waved the eyes away with a flick of her hand. Dean's eyebrows shot up in an attempt to meet his hairline, but he remained silent. Shocked silent.

"Listen, it wasn't planned or anything," Alex said, uncomfortable with the resounding silence, "it just happened. I mean, accidents happen. Just this morning I was pouring a glass of juice and the glass slipped out of my hand and I ended up pouring OJ all over the counter and my mom was all 'Alex!' and my Dad was all 'I'll get a straw' and I was all 'ew, dad, gross' and Max-"

"I'm gonna be a dad?" Dean interrupted. Alex was so startled by him finally speaking that his words didn't quite register at the time.

"You're gonna be a what now?" She said.

"A dad. A father. I'm gonna have a kid!" Dean's face suddenly broke into a grin like Alex had never seen before.

"I can't believe it, Russo. We only did it the one time, but I guess my guys are just that good." Dean's posture changed instantly to something more puffed up with pride. He turned toward her and grabbed her hands. Now it was Alex's turn to be too stunned to speak. He thought it was his baby? How could he possibly think that it was his child? They only did it a week ago. And they used protection. It's true that Dean was never exactly the sharpest tool, but even he had to know how basic biology worked. Then again the basics really were girl meets guy, they do it, girl ends up pregnant. Alex could see how he could be misled. But still! He thought it was his kid and he was … happy about it?

"What? What is it?" Dean asked, his eyes searching her face, a smile still on his lips, "what's wrong? You're looking at me like I'm nuts or something."

What did she say? It's not yours? It's the love child of a night of passion that I shared on a roof with my brother? Alex didn't plan for this reaction. She had no idea what to say or how to explain it.

"I'm just so happy that you're so happy," she finally replied.

"A baby, Russo this is great," Dean said and gave her hands a squeeze, "my ma is gonna be friggin' excited. She's been wantin' a grandkid forever."

"Forever?" Alex asked. "You're barely out of high school and she's been wanting a grandchild forever?"

"Yeah, the Moriarty's start early." Dean smiled and leaned in to plant a kiss on her cheek. He stood up from the bench and pulled her up with him.

"Come on, let's go celebrate or something," he said pulling her along down the sidewalk, "what does my baby want to do?" Dean placed his hand on Alex's stomach and she quickly pushed it away, but so he wouldn't take that the wrong way she made it look like she intended to hold it instead.

"I don't know what your.. baby.. wants to do," she replied and looked around to make sure no one she knew was eavesdropping.

"Ice cream sounds good," Dean said, "pregnant chicks love ice cream right? And pickles?" He was running at the mouth and Alex was tuning him out. How did things just go from bad to worse in a matter of seconds? Then again, how often does a girl who gets pregnant by her brother, whom she is in love with, manage to find a guy willing to claim the baby as his? If she had to put money on an answer she would say, never. This whole thing could be a blessing in disguise. A way to get the secret out in the open in a more acceptable fashion. Alex looked up at Dean as they walked and he talked. This could be fine. He really was a nice enough guy.

"Plus, your boobs are gonna get huge!" He said and gestured with his free hand.

A nice enough guy. Alex forced the thought again.


"Justin, we need to talk," Adrianne said as she stormed into his dorm room. Justin had been sitting at his desk tapping his pen on its polished surface while blankly staring at his open text book, but jumped when the girl burst through the door.

"Adrianne, knock! Please! I could have been au natural," Justin exclaimed covering himself with his pen and failing. He had pretty much avoided her for a solid week. They saw each other briefly on campus, but he always had an excuse to run off before any real conversation could take place. Of course now he had forgotten to lock his damn door and he had no where to run and absolutely no excuse not to speak with her.

"Nothing I haven't seen before," she replied curtly as her hands came to rest on her slender hips, "or have you forgotten out little tryst here?" Of course Justin knew better than to answer that. He might not have a lot of experience where women were concerned, but he knew that when their eyes spit fire and their mouths spewed venomous words he was to leave rhetorical questions alone. Instead he chose to cast his eyes at the floor. The carpet design was incredibly intricate.

"You owe me an explanation, a big one," Adrianne demanded.

"I'm sorry I haven't called, or shown up to study group," he replied as he twisted his pen cap, "I've just been distracted."

"By this Alex person?" She asked. Justin's head snapped up and he stared at her, his mouth opening and closing but no words forming. How did she know about Alex?

"I.. who.. how..?" Justin stumbled and stuttered. He stood up from his chair and crossed the room to his dresser and began straightening his things. Justin had to keep his hands busy in order to form coherent thoughts.

"Wha," his voice cracked slightly and he coughed to clear his throat, "what do you mean?" That's what he came up with? He was in trouble.

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" Adrianne tossed her hands in the air. "I mean are you distracted by this Alex fellow and if so, why on earth did you shag me if you're gay?"

Justin whirled around to face her, his eyes huge saucers in their sockets. Gay! She thought he was gay?

"Gay! Wh- what do you mean, gay?"

"Now that I know, it really is quite obvious," Adrianne said crossing her arms over her chest, "you spend more time on your hair than any other university bloke I know."

"My hair?" Justin reached up to touch his brunette strands.

"Also calling me 'Alex' during, what turned into a rather intimate session of sex, is a pretty big giveaway," Adrianne continued. Justin was too shocked to say anything.

"Don't get me wrong," the girl said holding up a hand, "I have absolutely nothing against homosexuality, I think it's perfectly acceptable, however I refuse to be someone's beard!" She huffed.

"Beard?" Justin asked.

"Yes, beard," Adrianne replied and rolled her eyes, "oh please, don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. A beard. A gay man's 'girlfriend' who he keeps around for appearances when he doesn't want anyone to know he's gay."

Justin couldn't handle it anymore and he finally sat down on his bed with a dazed expression on his face.

"Oh," Adrianne finally said softly raising a hand to her mouth, "is it possible that you weren't actually sure that you were gay yet? Were you coming to university to experiment and find yourself?" She sat down on the bed beside him.

"Oh! I've just been nasty to you and you didn't even know! You poor thing. I feel just terrible." Adrianne wrapped her arms around Justin and squeezed. He was more than a little confused. She had just done a complete turn around in mood.

"So wait, if I knew I was gay you'd be furious with me, but because I don't know you're fine?" He risked asking.

"Of course!" Adrianne exclaimed.

"Of course…" Justin repeated. This was a disaster! He couldn't go around on campus with everyone thinking he was gay. Then again he couldn't really tell Adrianne the truth. If she was planning on ripping his head off for being gay and having sex with her then she would undoubtedly go into a rage if she knew it was actually his little sister he was imagining. It was imaginary, right? Alex couldn't have really been there. And yet it had felt so unbelievably real. Her taste, her touch, her smell. It was all there. All the same. All very Alex. It was one of the best moments he had had since he moved and it had all been fake. It had to have been. It couldn't have been real because after he came and finally opened his eyes it was Adrianne who was staring back at him. Of course the look of absolute confusion in her eyes made complete sense now that she thinks he's gay and he was saying the name of some forbidden lover. Which was partly true. Alex was most certainly forbidden.

"Justin?" Adrianne said cutting into his thoughts.

"Hmm?" He asked looking over at her. Her arms still firmly wrapped around him.

"I was telling you that if you ever need someone to talk to, I am here for you."

"Oh," he replied, "right. Thanks." They were silent for the briefest of moments before she chimed in again.

"So who is he? Tell me everything. Where did you meet? Does he know you like him? Is he gorgeously handsome? Most gay men are you know. What am I saying, of course you know!" Adrianne giggled.

Oh dear Lord.


A/N: Again, sorry for the delay! I recently got a job and had to deal with a sickness... please forgive me! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always, let me know what you think. I love reading what you have to say... and if you haven't commented on any chapters yet, make this one your first! :)