Author's Note: Okay, this is where the actual plot gets going. Conflict, people! Awesome unresolvable conflict! Okay eventually resolvable, but not for a very long time. So get ready to be on the edge of your seat for Chapter 22. :)
CHAPTER 21: The Next Two Steps
Elle Bishop signed about the eighth paper that week stating she was in working condition and she would not be suing her employers for getting shot. Or pregnant she supposed, but then again that wasn't their fault. That was her own fault and many ways Gabriel, but then again it was turning out to be a not so bad thing.
Gabriel was happy, which meant by default she was happy. Her hand was cramping and her morning sickness was not going away either. At least she could be done signing away her free will to sue to Angela Petrelli.
"Miss Bishop." Elle mumbled something under her breath hearing the devil woman's voice. Even though Angela Petrelli was head of the Company didn't mean she had to like her. She was pretty sure half the people in the world hated their bosses. That just made her that much more normal. "I've heard the news. Congratulations." Of course she heard the news. She was all knowing and Elle was darn sure that was probably her power.
"Thanks, Ms. P." She said with a soft insincere smile. The woman smiled just as fake, but with a little more effort than Elle was putting in.
"I cannot wait to see what plays out. If it plays out like planned." Angela stated taking a long look at the woman before walking pass her toward her own office. "Well good luck Miss Bishop."
Elle cringed knowing for sure this was all Angela's doing. She was a manipulative witch trying to force her own future on Elle and Gabriel, but things weren't always set in stone. Elle knew that. She knew that from the first time she saw Gabriel. She couldn't hurt him, but she had. That had led them here though. Had led to a baby. Her fingers skimmed the fabric of on her stomach. The dark blue shirt was light against her skin so Elle could feel where the change was.
"Elle!" The voice of the speedster seemed far away and before Elle knew it she was right behind her. "I heard the news! Congrats!" She hugged the woman lightly and the electric girl seemed to buckle into the girl hug. Though still her eyes puzzled with confusion.
"How does everyone know?" Elle was assuming the knowledge had spread. She knew Mama Petrelli was all knowing, but she had been getting looks from everyone. Smiles and disheartened glares.
"Well, it wasn't Peter." Daphne stated with a shrug of her shoulders.
"I'm going to kill him." The fired up woman stated and Daphne quickly placed an arm on her should before the woman could run off to find her partner.
"It's not his fault. Lulu forced it out of him. She's gets really . . . um . . . something when she is curious." She admitted looking towards her white sneakers. "But this is great. How did Gabriel handle it?" Of course everyone would wonder that. How did the serial killer handle the fact he would be a father?
"Surprisingly well. Kind of helped me get used to the idea." It was hard to admit, but Elle never saw that life for her. Kid, boyfriend, job. She always thought she'd be trapped alone in a Company cell for the rest of her life. Nothing to do, but track down those like herself, but here she was just two steps away from the picket fence life.
"I had a feeling you'd probably be unsure about the whole, baby plus you thing." Daphne admitted leaning against the wall. "I could help out with stuff if want." Elle nodded slowly.
"Thanks Daph. I'd appreciate that." She said softly pressing her own body to the wall. It didn't take long for Daphne to decide to change the subject.
"So my team has a new member." She let out. Elle blinked turning her pale face toward the short haired blonde. "That's what I've been doing with most of my time. Training him and teaching him the rules of the new Company."
"New Company?" Elle asked perplexed.
"He was part of the old, but came back because some old friends of his were working here. He's really cool, Elle." She said. Elle could see a hint of admiration in her eyes for this new recruit. "Well I won't take up more of your time. I'm sure you have plenty to do. I'll see you around neighbor." Within a blink of an eye Daphne was a flash.
Elle looked down at her worn out shoes trying to think about her life. The next two steps. Just for today. She thought about the people close to her. Gabriel, Peter, Luke. Luke. She hadn't seen Luke in a while. Maybe a week. Maybe two since she had a full out conversation with her sort of brother. Had Peter spilled the beans about her to him? She closed her eyes lightly debating whether or not to visit him. In the house that was just full of teenagers and Peter.
She smiled and decided she needed to let one of the more important people in her life know what she was facing.
--
Elle was glad she only lived with one man. Just approaching the place where Peter, Micah, West, Alex, and Luke lived turned her off in many ways. It was not very pleasant looking outside. The grass had yet to be cut and a broken gnome laid shattered on the driveway leading to the condos. Elle shook her head not expecting anything more or less from the boys.
Then again Peter had been gone for a week so the teenagers had probably thrown some big party. She approached the old wooden framed door with caution. As if someone would come out of the bushes at any moment. Her hand collided with wood for one knock.
"Hey," It was Alex, Luke's closest friend in the house and roommate. He was wearing a faded dark Superman shirt and ripped jeans. His glasses on the bridge of his nose as his blood shot eyes stared at Elle pleasantly. "Elle. It's just me and Luke so you won't get West's dirty looks. Come in."
Elle walked in nearly tripping over a pile of dirty clothes. Alex steadied her giving her an awkward smile.
"Just so you know it was partly Luke's idea to have the party. Partly West and mine's too. Micah was out doing recon so . . ."
"Got it. When the cats' are away the mice will play." Alex smiled at the metaphor as he stumbled his way through empty Cheeto bags and beer cans towards the stair case.
"Luke! It's Elle." Alex shouted at the bottom of the steps. Elle could hear the shuffling the seventeen year old was doing. Maybe he fell a couple times before he peaked his head from the hall with a huge grin. He came into view wearing an AC/DC tee and black cargo pants.
"Elle! I haven't seen you in so long. How's the shoulder?" As Luke Campbell descended Alex ascended up the stairs, mumbling something about homework.
"Better. Much." She touched the spot where the wound was. Still had bandages on it, but the wound was as big as the tip of her pinkie. "How's school?"
"Again better. Not worst. Party didn't help my grades much." He motioned to the empty containers kicking a rusty beer can as he stepped off the steps.
"Peter hasn't seen the mess yet?" Elle asked as Luke led her into a surprisingly clean kitchen. He shook his head leaning against the refrigerator.
"He got called in for a meeting with his mom yesterday. He still hasn't been back. West, Alex, and I cleaned the kitchen this morning then West went to go get cleaning supplies so we can do the living room. Our rooms are pretty trashed too, but Peter doesn't care about that." Luke explained leaning his head back to the fridge. Elle then noticed it was shorter.
"Got a hair cut?" she asked pointing to his head. He wiped his hand over the short stubs.
"Yeah, yesterday. No reason. Just wanted to." He shrugged letting his big eyes fall to her face to notice a difference in her. "You seem different. Besides you know the gunshot wound. You feeling alright?" Elle looked into the boy's eyes. Big judgmental eyes. She wasn't sure why she thought he'd be judging of her predicament, but she was. Maybe she thought everyone was.
"Well yes and no." Yes because she was pregnant with Gabriel's child and no because she was pale and had morning sickness. He looked baffled. Maybe even a little worried. She decided it was now or never. "I just found out I'm pregnant." She said this pure sincerity and confidence. No doubt in any one's mine hearing those words that Elle Bishop was in fact with child.
Luke's reaction flowed in two parts. A wrinkle of his face in confusion then a half smile coursing through raising his dimples. Elle let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't sure why, but telling people this seemed to put a lot of stress on her.
"That's great. So you and Gabriel are going to be parents?" He laughed lightly. "Wonder what that's going to be like."
"Wondering it myself. I never pictured myself in the mom category of life. I always thought I'd be labeled as a psycho path from here to eternity." She laughed alongside him.
"Neither have I, but I'm sure you'll get through this. You got me and almost the entire Company on your side." He smiled again going over to hug her. She hugged him back unlike with Daphne.
"Thanks Luke. It's really great to know you're here. And hey! Uncle Luke. How does that sound?" She smiled reaching up to brush her fingers against his stubble. He had grown since she had last saw him.
"Yeah. I guess I will be an uncle. Anyway you should get home. I mean Gabriel probably wants to make sure you're okay." Elle nodded in agreement looking at Luke Campbell one last time before leaving.
Luke waved with a heavy smile on his face. Once he heard her car pull away his smile dropped. His face puckered into a grimace. He turned his face away from the spot where she stood and closed his eyes as he leaned over the sink. He breathed in gently trying to take it all in at once.
He gripped the sides of the sink letting his ability melt them so the metal showed the indent of his fingers. When he heard footsteps he opened his eyes, but did not turn around.
"Luke are you okay?" Alex asked. His voice kind of concerned for his friend.
"I'm fine." He said in an ominous tone. His face lifted to smile at the boy behind him carrying his laptop. "I just need to find that bastard."