Fear

Tom stared at the wall opposite him, memorising every little imperfection that was there. He had been terrified when he had realised Mared had been hurt. It seemed so unfair, she had been through so much. He shoved his hands in his pockets knowing that he really had to contact her parents and Elin. He wasn't sure if he would be able to keep a civil tongue in his head if he spoke to Mr and Mrs Rhys, especially after what Mared had told him. He was equally unsure if he should worry the teenager. Elin Rhys was a force to be reckoned with, a carbon copy of her mother in many ways. She had been delighted when she realised they were a couple and even happier to learn a baby was on the way. Now he didn't want to break her heart. He didn't know what to say, so he opted to stay leaning against the hospital wall trying not to think about anything. Unfortunately his mind wouldn't co-operate. He closed his eyes, knowing he would be haunted by the fear and pain in Mared's eyes until his dying day.

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"Delyth." Lloyd frowned as the brunette smiled slightly. She was clearly concerned about something. He had no idea what, being pretty clueless when it came to relationships and women in general he decided to let her take the lead.

"Sian was winding you up, you knowi what she's like." Delyth smiled slightly. "I only popped in to see if you fancied going to the Chinese tonight. That new one that opened. Looks good."

"Oh right." Lloyd relaxed a little. "Not tonight, sorry."

"Ok." Delyth nodded. The atmosphere around them changed. The drugs officer looked a little crestfallen. He had no idea why. "I see."

"You see what?"

"Lloyd." She paused. "You are a lovely man. A kind and decent man but if you are no longer interested in someone then you have to tell them. I'm not a mind reader. You've avoided me for the past two weeks, you have also failed to return my calls. I guess I get the hint. See you around work I suppose." She picked up her chequered handbag from where she had dropped it earlier before heading out of the office. The younger woman looked on the verge of tears while Lloyd wasn't really sure what had happened. He watched her leave as the penny dropped. Sian returned to the office, shaking her head.

"Twpsin."

"Excuse me?"

"Delyth Samuel is the best thing to happen to you since I dunno when. You treat her like an afterthought and don't expect her to question it? She thinks you don't care about her anymore. She thinks you were waiting to dump her. Were you?"

"No. Course not." He shrugged. "Del is."

"Don't tell me. Tell her." Sian nodded towards the open door. "Go on, before you end up being dumped. Twp." She returned to her work as Lloyd almost ran from the room.

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Mared looked up as the doctor entered the room. A young woman in her late twenties she seemed to lack in bedside manner what she lacked in age. Mared instantly disliked her.

"Your blood tests show nothing significant. We have arranged an ultrasound scan for you later."

"Thanks." Mared pushed her hair away from her face.

"No bleeding?"

"No."

"Right."

"My partner is in the waiting room. Tom Mathias. Can he come in? Please?" Mared glanced at the young doctor who just nodded before leaving the room. Mared closed her eyes and tried not to cry. Seconds later Tom was holding her, equally terrified he kissed her hair, holding her tightly.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. Tom squeezed her a second longer before pulling back to kiss her forehead.

"You have nothing to say sorry for."

"You should have left mr, gone after Evans."

Tom raised an eyebrow. There had been no question that he would leave her. Mared sighed as he shook his head.

"We picked him up, I spoke with Dai in uniform. Anyway if it were Sian or Lloyd I would have stopped chasing him too."

Mared nodded, she knew he was telling the truth. She let him hold her a moment longer as the door to her room opened.

"Mrs Rhys?" The porter asked.

"Miss." Mared corrected him.

"Readu for you in scan, luv."

Mared looked at Tom for a moment, silently asking him to come with her. Tom smiled slightly before nodding and following her out of the room.

xxxxxx

"Hold on!" Lloyd yelled, he caught up with Delyth as they reached the door to the main police stared. "I don't want to finish with you. I dunno why you feel I do."

Delyth sighed. She was more confused than ever. Lloyd was a good man but he wasn't known for being particularly forthcoming about his emotions. She just watched him for a second as he composed himself.

"What do you want then?"

"You and me. Us. I think we are good together. I want you to be my girlfriend." He blushed as Delyth reached up to kiss his cheek. "I'm just a bit nervous and clueless about all of this. I need you to give me a push in the right direction." Delyth nodded, kissing his cheek.

xxxxxxx

Mared held Tom's hand as the sonographer pushed the probe over her abdomen. Her eyes fixed to the screen. A flicker appeared in front of them as the sound of a strong heartbeat filled the room. The sonographer smiled as Tom stared in disbelief.

"Baby seems fine."

Tom thanked a God he had long given on as tears filled Mared's eyes.

xxx