The two women stand at the counter staring at the test.
"How long did it say it takes?" Alex asks.
"I don't know, Amanda didn't have the packaging."
"So… does Amanda have any other kids other than the one she's pregnant with or no?"
"Yeah she has a 3 year old named Jessie. She's adorable!" Olivia pauses. "Hey, after this do you wanna go out for dinner maybe? Then come over to my apartment and meet Noah?" Liv asks shyly.
"Of course Olivia! Wait something's there now." They both look at each other. "Tell me what it says." Alex tells Olivia nervously.
"Seriously. Okay I am assuming that 2 lines means you're pregnant and 1 line means you're not, and there are 2 lines. Congratulations Mama!" Olivia hugs Alex and realizes Alex wasn't hugging her back. She was just standing there in Olivia's' arms crying. "Hey, look at me. It's okay, alright?"
Alex nods her head up and down. "I need to sit down." Alex brushes past Olivia and walks out of the restroom leaving Olivia with the pregnancy test in her hand. Olivia looks down at the test in her hand. She stands there for a few moments wondering if Alex really wants the baby. Liv says to herself "Stop being so negative. She wants the baby." Liv leaves the restroom with the test and walks back to her office, Alex isn't there. Her phone rings. It's Alex.
"Hey where are you?!"
"I'm downstairs. I'm hungry and you asked me out for dinner, so I am waiting for you outside. Do you want me to hail a cab yet or no?"
"No, not yet. I'll be right down. I just have to grab papers then I'll be there."
"Alright." Alex hangs up and puts her phone in her pocket. She stands outside for about 5 minutes waiting for Liv. The wind picks up and sends chills down Alex's' spine. "Ooh it's so cold don't you think? Why am I even talking to you? You can't hear me. Nor feel how cold it is out here."
Olivia was outside to hear Alex talk to the baby. "Hey! I am so sorry about that. I had to make a call."
"To who?"
"An OB. You have an appointment at 11 o'clock tomorrow. I'll give you the details later. I hope that's ok." Alex doesn't speak for a moment.
"Please don't be upset. I just want to know if the baby is okay.
"It's fine. I'll make space on my planner for that. You're coming though."
"I was going to no matter what!" They both smile. "Okay let's hail that cab now." Olivia puts out her hand and gets a cab. She walks over to Alex who was standing close to the building and Alex wraps her arm around Olivia's. They walk up to the cab and Alex opens the door letting Olivia in first, then herself in next.
"Where to ladies?" the cab driver says with a strong New York accent.
"AJ's pizzeria please." says Alex. "What? Did you not want that place? It was our place so I thought-"
"It's fine Alex. Who's paying?"
"You are detective." Alex says with a matter of fact attitude.
"Alright then, Councilor." There was a long moment of silence.
"Do you know how far along you are?"
"I think I'm about a month and a half, or, or two months. The cuts and bruises still haven't healed yet, at all." Olivia puts her hand on Alex's. Alex looks over at Olivia smiling. She puts her own open hand on her stomach. Olivia smiles brightly. "I have a small bump but I thought I was just seeing things. Maybe that I was going crazy. But now I know I wasn't going crazy. I'm having a baby Livy." She looks over to Liv with tears in her eyes and shifts closer to Olivia.
"Sir can we just get a ride home? We'll order in." Olivia says.
"Sure thing miss."
"Just drop us off at 203 West 89th Street please, thank you."
Alex yawns and squeezes Olivia's hand even tighter. She rests her head on Liv's shoulder. They stay like that for the rest of the ride. Once they get to Olivia's apartment they begin getting get out. Their hands separate for a second and reconnect once both are fully out. "This is my place." Olivia takes the lead looking behind her making sure Alex doesn't fall on the stairs. She opens the door and they get into the elevator up to Olivia's floor. They stand there in silence all the way until they get out and walk to Olivia's door. "It's a bit messy, sorry."
"It's alright." Liv takes off her jacket and helps Alex with her jacket again. "Wow Liv. This is really nice." She goes up to the shelving unit to the right. This picture is so cute!" It was one of Noah's baby pictures.
"It is really cute! What do you want to drink?"
"Vodka."
"Umm.." Liv bites her bottom lip.
"I'm joking! Water is fine."
"So do you have an apartment yet or no?"
"No. I'm staying at an old college friends apartment. I only sleep there. I'm not settled anywhere. Most of the time they're gone at work so..."
"You should stay here."
"What?!"
"Stay here with Noah and I for how ever long you need or want. Noah would love it! That way I would know you're safe and you would have company."
"I shouldn't. I, I don't want to impose."
"You won't. Come on, try it for tonight see if you'll like it or not."
"I don't have pajamas."
"You can borrow some of mine. I doubt the pants will be long enough though."
"Alright, I'd like that. Thank you Olivia."
"You're welcome. Come here." Olivia opens her arms and embraces Alex. "You're always welcome here. I missed you!"
Alex takes a deep breath of relief, "I missed you too!"
"Mommy!" Noah squealed.
"Noah my sweet boy! How are you?!"
"I'm great! After school Lucy took me to go get ice cream."
"What flavor did you get?" asked Olivia now kneeling in front of her son.
"Strawberry."
"Yum! Are you hungry now?"
"Yeah. Can we have pizza?"
"Sure."
Noah stands next to Olivia looking up at Alex. "Mommy who is she?"
"That is Alex, she's one of my best friends. She's going to stay with us tonight. How does that sound?"
"Good." Noah goes back into his bedroom as Lucy comes out.
"How was he?"
"He was really good, we got ice cream about 4 and half hours ago hours ago, so near 3." Lucy paused. "Hi, my name is Lucy, it's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too, I'm Alex." says Alex shaking Lucy's' hand.
Olivia walks to the door with Lucy and gives her money for her work, and says goodbye to Lucy. Alex stood at the counter watching Olivia. "Sorry about that, she's Noah's sitter she's really sweet."
"Yeah she is." A loud gurgle came from Alex's stomach as Olivia passed. Alex puts a hand on her stomach with a surprised face.
"You really must be hungry, gosh!"
"I said I was." Alex walks into the kitchen space and stand over Olivia as she pulls menus out of a drawer. "Pick what you like." Liv says looking over her shoulder to Alex who is now looking the menus over. "AJ's still sounds the best and its a pizza place and Noah wanted pizza so..."
"Noah asks for pizza every night."
"Oh. So pizza's a no go then, right?"
"No. If that's what you want then I'll get you that."
"But if you don't want that-"
"Alex. You're over thinking it, relax. We're getting pizza. What do you want on it?"
"Sardines."
"That's not going to work."
"Once again I'm joking. Pineapple and bacon is fine. Or just cheese or pepperoni. I don't really care."
"Pineapple and bacon sounds good!" After they ordered pizza the two women sat down on the couch at reminisced about the past. Out of nowhere Noah runs in and jumps on the couch startling Alex. "Hey! Watch it! Don't jump on the furniture, what have I told you about that."
"I'm sorry mommy." He looks over at Alex. "I'm sorry Alex." Alex and Olivia both stare at each other.
"Does your tummy hurt?"
"No why?"
"Because your hand is on your belly."
"It's because-" Liv starts saying until Alex interrupts her.
"Wait I want to be the one to tell him. After all it is my baby. Noah, I'm pregnant."
"With a baby?" Noah's face blank.
"Yes with a baby silly goose!" Noah giggles.
Olivia chimes back in saying, "So when you jumped on the couch she was protecting her baby from you."
"Olivia,-"
"Alex can I speak to you in the kitchen. Now." Olivia's voice was very condescending. Alex felt as though she had done something wrong.
Both of them walk to the kitchen, Olivia starts laughing. Alex defensively puts her hand on her stomach. "What's so funny? You were practically yelling at the both of us." Alex's eyebrows scrunched up. Olivia loved it.
"I'm sorry. I'm trying to get him to stop jumping on the furniture, so, I said it scared you so he'll stop." Alex's bottom lip starts quivering. "Hey I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry."
"It's hormones. I'm actually relieved your not mad and quite happy to be honest with you. I think crying is just a defense." Alex starts laughing with tears still rolling down her cheeks at Olivia who is standing there genuinely worried about Alex.
"So you're fine?"
"Yes! It's just hormones, I'm fine."
"Okay, Well there's a bathroom down the hall if you wanna fix your make-up."
"Do you have make-up remover?"
"I do, it's in the bottom drawer."
"Thanks."
10 minutes passes and Alex walks out of the bathroom. The pizza had came and Liv and Noah were on the couch eating. Liv's arm was around Noah. Alex leaned against the wall looking at them. The floor made a creaking notice when Alex shifted. Liv turns around. "Hey come here!"
"I'm sorry about taking so long and being creepy watching you guys."
"It's fine Al. Sit down" Liv pats the cushion next to her. "This pizza is really good too by the way." Alex walks closer to the two sitting on the couch. Liv looked intently at Alex's bare face while she grabs a plate and puts two slices on her plate. Liv whispers "Gorgeous" in a barely audible voice.
"Mommy, why did you just say gorgeous?"
"What?!" Liv says in shock that Noah heard her.
"You whispered really, really quietly the word "gorgeous", why?" Noah's curiosity in the subject was extreme.
Alex laughs and sits down looking at Liv who is beat red. Alex rests her hand on Liv's knee. "You are too!" The rest of dinner went smoothly, the three and a half of them sit quietly. Alex's head lays softly on Liv's shoulder. Once it hits 8:30 Noah yawns. "How bout you go put on your PJ's little man. I'll be in, in a little bit to say good night okay?"
"Okay."
Olivia looks over to Alex who's sleeping. She shakes her shoulder to gently wake Alex. She opens her ocean blue eyes and blushes. "I'm sorry Liv. What time is it?"
"It's 8:30. Come on I'll get you your pajamas and get you to bed."
"I'm not a kid Liv."
Liv smiles and tucks Alex's hair behind her ear. "I've gotta tuck him in, just wait in my room."
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