I am so, so sorry for the wait on this chapter. I know I left you on a major cliffhanger but Christmas and New Year have been a bit hectic, still are actually, but I'm here now.

Happy New Year to all my readers. Hope you have a good one. (Mine didn't start well - but things can only get better...I hope.)

Chapter 21 - Reaction

Previously...

"Like I said, concussion affects people in different ways, though in your case I suspect it was your body's way of protecting the baby." Alex's eyes widened and she could feel Gene's eyes on her, questioningly. She couldn't look at him, not until she knew for sure.

"Baby?" she whispered.

"Yes, the body will..." the doctor trailed off as it became obvious to him that neither his patient nor her partner were aware of her condition. "I'm sorry, I assumed you knew. You're pregnant Miss Drake."

"P-pregnant?" asked a stunned Alex. The doctor nodded,

"About 10 weeks I'd say. We'll do a scan to double check everything is fine and we'll confirm how far along you are then. We do want to keep you in overnight too, just to be on the safe side, but providing there are no complications, you should be able to go home tomorrow. Anyway, I'll leave you two to talk about this. Congratulations." The doctor left Gene and Alex alone, but neither of them knew what to say. Alex's eyes drifted downwards as she discretely placed a hand on her stomach wondering what was going through Gene's head. This certainly hadn't been planned; neither of them had expressed any desire to have another child. They were both quite happy with where their lives were at and Alex didn't know how Gene was going to react to this news. Alex was shocked but her maternal instinct had kicked in as soon as the doctor had informed her of the baby's existence. Realising that Gene was still staring at her; waiting for her to say something, she turned slowly to face him. She met his gaze, but she couldn't read his expression.

"Gene-" she began, but didn't get chance to finish,

"Did yer know?"

"What?"

"The baby, Alex; did yer know?"

"Of course I didn't know Gene. Does this look like the face of a woman who was in the know? I'm as shocked as you are." He took in this information and was silent for a few moments before speaking again,

"Any idea what yer wanna do? Yer want ter keep it?" he asked.

"I don't know. It's not like I've had a lot of time to think about it. Besides, it's not only my decision Gene."

"It's your body," he said.

"It is, but it's your baby too. You are entitled to an opinion and I would like to know what you think."

"I dunno what I think Bolly. I never expected this; thought I'd never 'ave any more kids. An' like I said to yer when Shaz 'ad Daniel, we've got Luce and Molls; they take up enough of our time."

"They'll be grown up and have moved out in a few years," Alex observed.

"Yeh, and then I were quite lookin' forward ter 'avin yer all ter meself," he told her with a hint of suggestion.

"So what you're saying is you don't want this baby?" Alex asked in a clipped tone. Gene saw the hurt in her eyes, and cursed himself. Why didn't he ever think before he opened his mouth?

"That's not what I said," Gene replied defensively.

"Then what?" pressed Alex. Gene ran his hands over his face and through his hair.

"Shit Bolls, yer know I'm no good at this touchy-feely crap." Alex gave him a look that basically said, 'try' and Gene knew that his next words were quite possibly going to map out his future. "Well, I-"

Gene was relieved when the door opened and in walked a nurse, pushing an ultrasound machine. It allowed him a bit more time to think about how exactly to explain to her what was going through his head. It wasn't that he was totally against the idea of this baby, but all he could seem to see were the downsides and the pitfalls.

"Sorry to interrupt," said the nurse brightly, "but I need to do your scan now if that's okay Miss Drake?"

"Of course," agreed Alex, forcing herself to be polite. It wasn't the poor nurse's fault that she had the worst timing in the world. Alex reached for Gene's hand; looking for comfort. Despite the doctor's reassurances earlier, she couldn't shake the feeling of concern in the pit of her stomach.

"Okay, Miss Drake, if you can just lift your top slightly for me," Alex did as she was asked, "that's great. Now this will be a bit cold," informed the nurse, referring to the jelly she was about to put on Alex's stomach. Alex flinched at the feel of the liquid on her warm skin, "Right then, let's have a look at your baby shall we?" The nurse rubbed the probe over Alex's stomach a few times, trying to locate the foetus. She slowed slightly and motioned for Alex and Gene to look at the screen, "there we are," she told them with a smile.

"What exactly am I lookin' for?" asked Gene, "all I can see is bunch o' black and white blobs." Alex shook her head at him in disbelief and the nurse chuckled,

"Don't worry. You're not the first man who doesn't know what he's looking for," the nurse assured, pointing to the screen, "here's your baby. Here's the head, do you see?"

"Yeh," Gene whispered as he stared at the small screen in awe. All negative thoughts about this new development in their relationship left him in an instant, and suddenly it was clear to him what he wanted.

"Is it okay?" Alex asked, squeezing Gene's hand for reassurance.

"Everything looks fine. There doesn't appear to be any damage caused by your fall," the nurse informed them, twiddling a button on the machine. A soft rhythmic sound filled the air, "nice strong heartbeat." Gene eyes widened as he realised he was listening to the sound of the beginnings of new life. Life that he'd created with Alex. After a few minutes, the nurse gave Alex a paper towel to clean her stomach with and began putting the machine away. "Providing there's no further complications I'd say you'll be welcoming this little one into the world in just over 6 and a half months. Now then, there are two very anxious young girls outside, should I send them in?"

"Could yer giv us a couple o' minutes?" Gene asked; he needed to talk to Alex before the girls saw her. The nurse nodded. "And, err...could yer be discreet; they don't know about..."

"Don't worry Mr Hunt. I won't breathe a word." Gene smiled his thanks at her, and once she left the room he turn to Alex and noticed tears in her eyes.

"What's up Bolls?"

"Now that I've seen our baby, I know there's no way I could do anything but keep it. And I'm scared Gene, because I don't know what that means for us," she told him, sobbing. Gene rose from his chair and moved to perch on the edge of her bed before gathering her in his arms.

"What on earth are yer witterin' about woman. Yer really think I'd walk away?"

"But you don't want this baby."

"I never said that. Bloody 'ell Alex; yer can't tell a bloke out o' the blue that 'e's gonna be a Dad an' expect 'im ter say owt coherent. Yer need ter give 'im time ter get 'is 'ead around it."

"And have you 'got your head around it' now?"

"Yeh. I know I didn't give the reaction yer were 'opin' fer when we found out, but I want this baby Alex. I do." Alex's face lit up,

"Really?" Gene nodded, placing a hand on her stomach.

"It's not going ter be easy mind. I'm the wrong side o' forty to be startin' over wi' another kid; too old fer midnight feeds an' sleepless nights, plus we've got the other two to look after an' then there's work an' all..."

"Nobody said it would be easy."

"No," agreed Gene, "but despite all o' that I can't think of anythin' I want more. He leant down and placed a chaste kiss to her lips, assuring her of his commitment. Alex was just about to reply, but was stopped by a soft knock on the door. Gene quickly removed his hand from Alex's stomach as Lucy poked her head into the room.

"Can we come in yet? Cos Molls is drivin' me round the bend out 'ere."

"Yeh, of course. Come on in," Alex told them. Lucy motioned for Molly to enter and the young girl rushed straight to her Mum's side.

"Mum!" she cried, hugging her. "Oh Mum, I've been so worried." Alex returned her hug and whispered words of comfort to her; assuring her that she was fine.

"When can you come home?" asked Lucy.

"They want to keep me in overnight, just to monitor me. All being well, I should be home tomorrow."

"Why are they keeping you in?" Molly queried, panic rising within her. "You said you were okay." Alex and Gene looked at each other; they hadn't had time to discuss whether to tell them about the baby.

"Yer Mam's fine, Molls. It's just routine," Gene assured as he took out his wallet. "Now, do me a favour would yer," he asked as he handed Molly some money, "go find the canteen and get us a cup o' tea; 5 sugars. An' some biscuits wouldn't go amiss either; garibaldi's if they've got 'em. Get somethin' fer yerself too. Go with 'er Luce; make sure I get some change." Lucy nodded,

"Want owt Alex?" asked Lucy. Alex shook her head and watched the girls leave. Once they'd gone, Gene returned his hand to Alex's stomach.

"Molly won't fall for that y'know? She'll know we're hiding something."

"Do you want ter tell them?"

"Not yet. I don't like keeping thing from Molls, but I'd rather wait until I'm 12 weeks."

"Why?"

"Once you reach twelve weeks the chance of miscarriage decreases vastly. If we tell them now and then something happens..." Gene understood; they'd all been through so much this past year, she just wanted to protect the girls from any unnecessary pain. "Plus, I quite like the idea of it being our little secret for now." Alex placed her hand atop Gene's and interlinked her fingers with his, enjoying this moment of privacy before the girls returned.

"They're hiding something," Molly said to Lucy as they made their way back to Alex's room, arms laden with drinks, biscuits, chocolate and crisps for them, magazines for Alex and not much change for Gene.

"Who?"

"My Mum and your Dad," explained Molly.

"Yer think?" asked Lucy.

"Definitely! I know my Mum; something's going on. And your Dad sending us out for a drink; that's the oldest trick in the book if you want to get rid of someone."

"Hmm...now yer come ter mention it; they did seem a bit...off, didn't they?" agreed Lucy.

"Yup. There's something they're not telling us; and I intend to find out what it is!" declared Molly.