It wasn't long before the inevitable happened. It was a week or two later, and Alex was sitting on the couch, munching on a bag of potato chips. Her show had just ended, and she was contemplating getting up to get a drink.
"Alex!" Dean's voice sounded from the hallway that led to the outside. "You in the kitchen?"
Alex sighed, grabbing the potato bag. "I will be," she called back, tossing off the blanket. It may have only been the early fall, and the air hadn't gotten cooler, but she still insisted on curling up in a blanket. She put her feet on the ground, taking a few steps into the kitchen.
And that's when she felt it. She stopped, head tipped. She felt . . . weird. Not bad weird. Just different weird.
"Alex?" Dean appeared through the doorway. Seeing her stopped like that, he paused as well, confusion written across his face. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah." Alex's eyes flickered up to Dean's. "I just . . . yeah, I'm fine." A voice of reason tugged at the back of her head, but she pointedly ignored it. "What's up?"
Dean shrugged, walking over to the fridge. "I was thirsty." He grabbed a beer out of the fridge, offering one to Alex. She shook her head, declining. Her mate studied her again. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, Dean. I just feel a little weird."
"Weird? What kind of weird?" Dean put his drink down on the counter, concerned for his mate.
"I don't know." Alex looked down at her stomach. "Here, I guess. Doesn't feel like nausea, or like my heat." She frowned, genuinely confused. She placed a hand over her lower stomach, slipping it under her shirt to feel the skin.
Dean's eyes lit up. "Do you think . . ."
"No." Alex shook her head in denial. "No way. I, why . . ." She looked up at Dean. "I, I -"
A grin broke across Dean's face, almost reaching his ears. "I hope so." He stepped forward, beer forgotten. "Are you sure?"
"I, I don't know." Alex looked up into Dean's eyes. "I, I . . . I can't be pregnant. Can I?"
Dean took her hands, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. "I hope so," he told her, barely keeping his excitement out of his voice. "We're going to have a kid!"
"We don't know that," Alex snapped. She shook her head, eyes closed.
She didn't realize she was shaking until Dean pulled her close. "You're okay," he murmured in her hair.
He led her over to the couch and sat down, sparing a glance at the humans outside. They were watching, enraptured, concerned worry plastered across their faces.
"Alex. Come on. What's wrong?" Worry rushed through the beta as he saw his mate's distressed face. "This is good news, beautiful."
Alex looked up at Dean. "I'm only eighteen," she whispered.
"So? You wanted kids." Dean pressed his forehead against her, eyes sparkling. "If I remember correctly, that's why you've been coming on so strong the past few -"
Alex jerked her head away, lowering her head to her hands. "I was wrong," she whispered. "I'm not ready for pups."
"Alex, listen to me. We're gonna be just fine. You'll be a great mother."
Alex just shook her head. She was terrified, but she knew she couldn't deny the fact that what she was feeling had to be what Dr. Milligan described. It could be nothing else. "I'm only eighteen," she repeated. "I, I've barely started my heats, I, how can I be pregnant?"
"It's okay, it's' okay." Dean kissed her, quieting her down. "I'm your mate, remember? I'm going to take care of you. I'm going to take care of you, and of him." He placed a hand over her stomach. "Everything is going to go right, okay? I mean, we have a whole staff of alphas looking out for us."
His mate was still shaking, and he pulled her close, spinning her so she was sitting in his lap, his hands locked around her stomach. He pressed his face into the back of her neck. "Love you."
"Love you too."
...
The weeks proved them right. Two months later she was bent over the toilet bowl, vomiting up her breakfast. Dean was at the door, nervously watching. "You okay?" he asked.
Alex responded by gagging again, bile rising in her throat. Only after her stomach was emptied did she lean back against the wall, body tired.
Dean joined her on the bathroom floor. "Nasty," he commented. "I'm glad I'm not the pregnant one." He let out a laugh when Alex glared up at him, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "I'm just kidding, baby. You're doing great."
Alex turned into his arms, letting out a pained groan. Dean kissed the top of her head. "I love you, beautiful."
Alex murmured something into his shoulder, relaxing in his arms, and Dean smiled.
...
Alex pushed open the door to their house, stepping inside. Dean was at her side in an instant. "Well?"
"I'm fine, Dean." Alex walked into their bedroom and collapsed on the bed. "Tired, but fine."
Dean sat down on the bed next to her, placing a gentle hand on her stomach. "What'd the doc say?"
"He said everything's fine." Alex yawned, closing her eyes. It had been several weeks, and the morning sickness was finally beginning to improve.
Dean ran his hand over her stomach; it was no longer as flat as it normally was, giving away the fact that there was a beta growing inside. He lay down next to her, head resting on the pillow by hers. "Boy or girl?" he asked quietly.
"We don't know," Alex teased gently. "I told you. It'll be a while before we can know." She leaned her head closer to his, resting their foreheads together.
Dean closed his eyes, chuckling slightly. "I know, but I want to know. What about names-"
"Dean!" Alex admonished playfully. "We've been over this." She reached down, taking his large hand. "We have plenty of time."
Dean let out a long breath. "I know. But I can't wait." He slipped his hand under her shirt, his cool hand trailing her warm skin. He kissed his mate, and he felt her relax under her touch. "You're beautiful," he murmured.
"You always say that."
"I always mean it." Dean sat up, walking into the living room. "Are you getting hungry?" he called. "The alpha hasn't sent down anything for a late night snack yet."
Alex followed her mate. "I guess we could call for something." That was one of their few perks; food was only a phone call away, and at no charge to them.
"Do that." Dean continued on into the kitchen. Alex trailed behind, and jumped up on the counter. She reached for the phone, dialing a quick number.
"Hello."
"Hey. It's Alex."
"I know," the female droned.
Alex frowned, looking over at Dean. "Can we get something to eat?" she asked kindly. "I'm kind of hungry."
The female sighed. "What do you want?"
"Uh, I'll take peppermint ice cream. Not green mint ice cream. The red kind." She heard a dramatic sigh from the other end of the line, and glanced over at Dean. He mouthed something. "And, uh, pie. Cherry."
Dean nodded, grinning. Yum.
"Is that for you too?"
"Uh, yeah? I'll have some."
"Okay." The alpha hung up, and Alex followed suit, looking over at Dean.
"I like pie," he said nonchalantly, reaching out for her hand. "Now. We're only halfway through one of the best episodes of Dr. Sexy ever. Shall we?"
Alex rolled her eyes, taking his hand. "You're a geek."
"Am not." Dean led her into the living room.
...
It was ten or so minutes before their food came. Alex plopped down on the couch, half a gallon of peppermint ice cream in one hand.
"You're not going to eat all of that, are you?" Dean asked, eyeing it hungrily.
"Damn right I am." Alex took a huge mouthful, sinking into the sofa. "And some of that pie."
"What? No!" Dean pulled his plate closer. "If you won't share, I won't either." His gaze returned to her ice cream. "Can I have just a tiny bite? Please?" He looked up at his mate, pouting slightly.
Alex sighed. "Fine." She held out a spoonful, and Dean leaned forward.
"Not bad," he admitted. "Although I've always been a fan of double caramel myself."
Alex shrugged, digging out another large chunk of peppermint. She turned her attention back to the tv, watching Dr. Sexy and another nurse making out in the elevator. "I can't believe you like this stuff."
"I can't believe you hate it." Dean leaned close to her, mouth closing around the spoon that was halfway between the bowl and her mouth.
Alex cried out in protest, scuttling to the other side of the couch. Dean shifted towards her, but Alex stuck her feet out, stopping him. "My food," she said childishly, pouting slightly.
Dean grumbled something good-naturedly under his breath, turning back to his pie. He stretched out on the couch, placing his legs on top of hers. Alex opened her mouth to protest, but he kicked her in the thigh, pointing to the tv. "Shush. Plot point."
Alex rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the screen.
...
The days turned into weeks, that blended into months. The child grew, and Alex soon became self conscious about her pregnancy. Her stomach had grown considerably, and . . . Alex wasn't sure how she felt about it. She was scared, she was excited, she was nervous as hell.
As they days went on, she found herself spending more and more time in the nursery. One day, Dean glanced in, smiling as he saw his mate staring into the crib. He approached, wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his hands on her stomach. "Morning, lovely."
Alex jumped slightly. "Morning." She leaned back into her mate, closing her eyes.
"Whatcha doing?"
"Nothing." Alex returned her gaze to the crib, eyes running over everything.
"Lies," Dean teased in her ear, kissing her neck. "Only a few more months now. Getting excited?"
"Yeah," Alex partially lied, blushing.
Dean's lips moved to her ear, and then to her cheek. "I am." He pulled back slightly. "Everything's going to be perfect."
Alex just nodded.