A/N: Hope you like this update. :) Let me know what you think. I always enjoy reading your reviews.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters I write about. I just borrow them for my own storyline.
"So how do you want to tell them?" Max asked as they drove back.
Rosie shrugged, her head bobbing in the palm of her hand where she was leaning with her elbow propped up against the space where the window ought to be in the door.
"I guess we'll just wait till dinner when everyone's together…"
Max nodded, glancing over at his wife to give her a momentary smile before returning his attention to the road.
They were almost back at Leopard's Den, the car journey having been much more relaxed than the one to Jo'burg. They were still waiting for the blood test results to rule out complications, but after the ultrasound Max had been given something to hope for. They weren't out of the woods yet, but being three months pregnant without any obvious complications was certainly something to celebrate.
As Max refocused on the road, he caught sight of the young buck in the middle of crossing and slammed on the breaks.
Rosie complained and groaned as the seatbelt cut into her shoulder, but immediately shut up as she saw the steam coming from under the engine. Max was frozen in his seat, staring wide eyed out the windscreen.
"Max?"
Suddenly he turned to her, his hands gripping her shoulders almost painfully.
"Are you okay?" he asked desperately, his eyes intensely searching hers for any sign of injury – either that or making sure she was being completely honest.
Warily, she nodded.
He gave a sigh of relief and hesitantly unclipped his seatbelt.
His feet sounded loud on the road as he stepped down from the van and gasped aloud at the sight of the mangled animal lying on the ground.
"Rosie," he called, beckoning her with a hand.
Joining him, Rosie retched at the sight of the blood-covered antelope, covering her mouth and trying to swallow down the bile. Max's hand rubbed over her back, his face a picture of concern.
"You okay?"
To say he was confused was an understatement. Rosie had never thrown up at the sight of blood – she was a vet for heaven's sake. It would be ridiculous if she did; she'd never treat any animals.
She nodded, again gagging over the slight smell of blood.
"You know how in pregnancy, women can get kind of repulsed by certain smells-" she broke off to heave.
Max nodded, getting her drift. It was the first morning sickness – well, afternoon sickness – Rosie had had, but it seemed like she wouldn't be able to work around blood for a while. She'd been busy nursing the infant animals like Jala to be around blood before then. Or if she'd had any, she'd hidden it well, thought Max.
He instructed her to climb back into the jeep and set about picking up the poor thing and lifting it into the flat back of the car.
If the wind continued to blow in the current direction, any smell of blood would be carried away from Rosie.
If not, she would be restraining her gag reflex until they got back to Leopard's Den.
Luckily for Rosie, the wind direction did not change but as soon as they pulled to a stop outside the clinic, she finally threw up as her feet hit the ground.
Hearing the sound of the jeep, Danny and Alice both emerged in time to see her and hurried over.
Alice knew exactly what was wrong but for the sake of pretences, she immediately asked what was wrong.
"Nothing, I'm fine," Rosie groaned, heaving again.
"Are you sure?" Danny asked, straightening her up and looking at her pale complexion. It was odd. As far as he could remember, Rosie had always had a good immune system – she had hardly ever been ill, except for the odd cold during childhood.
Rosie struggled to nod, aware that Max was now standing next to her as well and putting on a confused expression. His eyes met Alice's though, and for a moment the two of them shared a knowing look.
"I think you should go to the doctor, Rosie-"
"-Dad, I'm fine," she interrupted, forcing herself to remain upright.
"No, you're not. Look at you. You're sweating, you're pale and you're being sick."
"Seriously, Dad-"
"Please, Rosie, just to set an old man's heart at rest," he said, looking her in the eye.
Groaning, Rosie took Max's hand.
Mistaking her groan for another bout of sickness, Danny helped her sit down, leaning her against the side of the jeep.
"I'm not sick, Dad," she told him as he fussed, stroking her hair down and trying to take her temperature with his hand.
"If this isn't sick, I don't know what is," he muttered.
Alice grinned, aware from the look of determination on Rosie's face that she was trying to tell Danny the truth.
"Dad!" Rosie exclaimed, becoming seriously annoyed. "Will you let me finish?"
Taken aback, he nodded.
"I'm not sick-"
Danny tried to butt in again.
Holding up her finger, Rosie continued to speak whilst trying to ignore Max's stifled laughs and Alice's grin, "I'm not sick. I'm pregnant." Finished, she leant her head back against the jeep door and waited for the news to sink in.
"You're…pregnant?" Danny asked, looking between Max and Rosie for confirmation.
Max nodded and helped Rosie to her feet, hugging her for a moment and placing a soft kiss on her head, quietly laughing in her ear.
"Shut up," she grumbled into his neck where her face was turned.
Telling Danny couldn't have been more difficult or embarrassing, she thought.
"How far along are you?"
"Three months," Max answered, sobering up.
"Three months? You waited three months to tell me," Danny replied, sounding a bit angry.
"Dad," Rosie began to complain.
"You weren't at the bank today, were you?" he interjected.
"No, Rosie was having her ultrasound," Max responded, still holding onto Rosie tightly as a form of support now.
"I don't appreciate being lied to," Danny stated, turning and striding back into the clinic.
Alice looked apologetically at Rosie and stroked her arm.
"He'll come round," she told them.
Rosie nodded.
Then as Alice turned and made to follow after Danny, Max called out to her.
"Alice, I almost forgot, we hit a buck on the way back. He's in the back of the jeep-"
"-Say no more," she replied, hopping up and beginning an examination of the antelope's injuries.
A/N: Thanks to anon, RaxAtHeart, katy1986 and wildatheartfan for reviewing the last chapter. Let me know what you guys think! :D