***
Alex West unlocked the door to his apartment and stumbled inside. It was around four in the morning. He had been out with Sam, trying to forget his problems and get over Lara via a bottle of alcohol. It didn't work. He was still miserable and alone. Alex flicked on the lights to his living room. He rubbed his eyes, wanting nothing more then to go to sleep and never wake up.
"Hey there, sexy." Alex looked up in dread at the all too familiar voice. Before he could say anything the voice's owner pinned him against his blue recliner in a kiss and began to unbutton his shirt.
"Hey! Hold on, Champagne. How did you get into my apartment?" Alex asked, removing her hands from his shirt. Champagne smiled and began to unzip his pants. "Whoa! Down girl, I want answers first." Alex said.
"Fine." Champagne said, getting up. She walked over to the coffee table and retrieved a pack of cigarettes. "I came to see you, Alex. I know how much you've been missing me, so I've decided to take you back." Champagne said, opening her gold plated lighter and lighting the cigarette. She sat down on the coffee table, positioning her legs in a fashion so that Alex could plainly see that she hadn't bothered with underwear that morning underneath the tiny scrap of fabric that she called a skirt.
Alex almost laughed. "You're going to take me back?" He asked in disbelief. "Honey, I dumped you."
"I know that Alex, but you were just upset, so I'll give you a second chance." Champagne said, pulling her tube top over her head and innocently tossing it at Alex.
"I was not upset when I broke up with you, Champagne. I was upset when I caught you trying to give Sam a lap dance." Alex tossed the shirt back to her. "Put this back on." He ordered.
"I was drunk Alex, big deal." Champagne said, not listening to him.
"Yeah, it is a big deal, honey. It's also a big deal when you can't keep your hands off of anything with a penis."
"Don't be jealous, Alex. Men love me, who am I to say no?"
"Well, you were my girlfriend, but since that doesn't seem to be enough for you, then I suggest you find some other guy who won't mind dating a slut."
Champagne snubbed out her cigarette on the surface of Alex's new wooden coffee table. "Look Alex, I asked you if you wanted to join in and you said no, so it's your problem. Besides, you're not involved with anyone, so why not?" She began to toy with her bra strap.
"Don't even think about it." Alex warned. "Leave now or I'll call the cops." He said, pointing to the door. Champagne didn't move. Alex ignored her and walked over to his answering machine. He pressed the button to hear his messages only to hear the mechanical voice tell him that he had none.
"Don't worry, Alex. I told everyone to leave you alone tonight so we can be together." Champagne murmured. She took off her bra, tossing it onto the couch.
"Who did you tell?" Alex demanded.
"Just some bitch you called up asking for you."
"Who?"
"She didn't say her name. But she got the point."
"If that was who I think it was, you are so dead." Alex fumed.
"Come on, Alex, I know you want me." Champagne said in her sex kitten purr. "Don't fight it, you'll only hurt yourself. What you need is some time with a real woman."
"Champagne, there is nothing 'real' about you. Now get those fake tits out of my face and out of my apartment!" Alex shouted.
Champagne made a flustered sound. "Fine then, you'll be sorry, Alex West! Just you wait!" Champagne slipped her fake leather jacket on and stormed out of the apartment without bothering to put her tube top back on.
"And don't let the door hit you on the way out!" Alex called after her. He heard a slam. "Bitch."
***
Gwenavere walked into the Croft manor without ringing the bell. She walked over to the computer area where Bryce and Hillary were sitting. She spun Hillary's chair around and handed him her business jacket.
"Come, come Hillary. Let's not be lazy." She said. Hillary got up from his seat and began to put her jacket into a closet. "So, what is wrong with Lara now? Mood swings? Morning sickness? Are things swelling?" Suddenly she caught sight of Bryce's eye. "Good lord, what did you say to her?" She asked.
"I got this from Alex West." Bryce muttered.
"Perfect. Well, is that what Lara's so upset about that you had to call me out of a meeting?" She asked.
"No, it's not that. Actually, we don't know what it is. But Lara has been up in her room crying for nearly four hours. She locked all the doors and refuses to talk to us." Hillary said, returning to stand next to Gwenavere.
"So you're hoping that I can get her to talk?" Gwenavere asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, at least get her to stop crying." Hillary said.
"Alright, I'll try. In the meantime, I haven't eaten yet, so Hillary, be a love and get me a ham and cheese sandwich with crisps and a glass of non-fat milk, please."
"Of course." Hillary said.
With that, Gwenavere walked up the grand stairs and down the hall to Lara's room. Lara's sobs were clearly audible through the thick door. She knocked gently, then harder when she got no answer.
"Go away!" Lara shouted from within.
"Lara? Love, it's Gwenavere. Do you want to talk?" She asked.
There were several seconds of silence, then finally the door swung open an inch. Gwenavere stepped in, shutting it behind herself. Lara's eyes were red and blood shot from her tears. Her hair was a mess and her clothes were wrinkled. Lara flopped down on her bed. Gwenavere pulled a chair over and sat down. She took Lara's hand.
"Love, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" She asked.
"I rang Alex." Lara said, wiping a tear off of her cheek.
"Oh no. . . What did he say?" Gwenavere asked.
"He didn't answer. His fiancé did." Lara covered her mouth with her hand and began to start crying again.
"Bugger." Gwenavere muttered.
"I don't understand." Lara sobbed. "How could he be engaged, why did he do this to me?!"
"Lara, you're not making things any better by crying about it, now are you?"
"No." Lara sobbed, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.
"And if I know Lara Croft she doesn't sit around and cry when she can be doing something more productive. Now, if you want Alex West to know that you're pregnant you've got to tell him in person. Then the little bastard can sort out his harem later."
"But-"
"No buts. Now, you know where Alex lives right?"
"Yes, he gave me his address a while ago."
"Great, so what are you waiting for? Alex won't have enough time to worry about his fiancé when he's got a Croft at his doorstep."
"And the papers? What if they catch wind of this?"
"Who cares? It's news today, it's a wrapper for fish and chips tomorrow."
"Well. . . I suppose I could go see Alex in person. The doctor said that a short vacation would be a good idea. Hmmm, let me go pack my guns." Lara said.
"Guns? Lara, what are you going to need-" Gwenavere stopped herself. "Ah, yes. Well, have fun, love."
Lara packed her guns, threw her clothes into a suitcase, bid good-bye to everyone and left the manor in six minutes flat. Hillary and Bryce didn't even have time to ask questions as Lara raced around them, getting ready. Finally Lara said good-bye and left. Gwenavere walked down stairs, holding Donnica, smiling as Lara drove away from the house.
"What the hell did you tell her?" Hillary demanded.
"I told her to stop crying and go tell Mr. West about the baby in person." Gwenavere said, quiet pleased with herself.
"You did what?!" Hillary and Bryce shouted in unison.
"Hillary you rang me whining that Lara wouldn't tell Alex, not what is all this screaming for?" Gwenavere asked.
"We decided to get her fixed up with someone else. You know, someone better then Alex." Bryce said.
"Well that would be a very long list." Gwenavere commented. She set Donnica down and looked back at Hillary and Bryce. "Boys, the more you tamper in Lara's life the more you are going to make her miserable. Leave her alone. No one can help her but herself." Gwenavere smiled at them. "Now, I've got a meeting to go to."
Hillary held up a plate with a sandwich on it and a glass of milk and raised an eyebrow at the lawyer.
"Ah, thank you, Hillary. But I've got to get back to work now. Till next time." Gwenavere left the house.
"That woman is going to give me gray hair." Hillary muttered. He set the food down next to Bryce's keyboard. "Want some?"
"Sure."
***
Lara arrived at Alex's apartment late that night. She had already check into a local hotel and had prepared what she was going to say to Alex. She ran a hand through her hair, praying that she could maintain her calm appearance all night. The door opened slowly and Alex poked his head outside. When he saw who was at his doorstep he threw the door open and stared at her in disbelief.
"Lara?!" He asked.
"Can I come in?" Lara asked in her soft accented voice.
"Yeah, yeah, sure. Come on in."
Lara stepped cautiously into his apartment. The place was as she expected it. A mess. There were clothes and spare papers and magazines and empty plates and various wired from electrical equipment spread out over the floor.
"Lara." Alex murmured, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly. "Oh God, I thought I lost you." He kissed her, hungrily pressing his lips to hers.
Lara broke the kiss, smiling to herself and walked towards the living room. She sat down on the couch, when she suddenly noticed a large black bra that was sitting on the coffee table. Lara picked it up and turned to Alex.
"Oh, that's, uh, that's not mine." Alex muttered. He snatched it from her and tossed it behind the kitchen counter.
"That's. . . good to know." Lara said. Not his? It probably belongs to his fiancé. Lara suddenly remembered the fiancé. She remembered that he had been cheating on her with Lara and she remembered the feeling of worthlessness that had accompanied the discovery. Change of plan. . . Lara thought.
"Alex, come here." Lara said, holding out her arms to him. Alex sank onto the couch next to her, kissing her fiercely. He murmured her name and ran his fingers through her hair. Lara pinned him against the couch, straddling his waist and smiling. My turn.
***
"Hmm, that was nice." Lara said, sitting up.
"Hey, Lara. Lay back down, I want to hold you." Alex said, finally satisfied that he was back with the woman he loved.
"Not now, Alex." Lara said, dismissively. "I have some things to do." Lara said, she got up and began to dress. Alex sat up, holding the blanket against his waist. "What do you mean, Lara? You just got here." Alex asked, confused.
"Oh, well, I wouldn't want to impose on any plans that you might have." Lara said, leaning down to pull on her boots.
"You're not imposing at all, Lara. I thought we could spend the day together tomorrow, or just stay here, don't leave now."
Lara finished lacing her boots and looked around for her jacket. "You shouldn't be so clingy Alex. Most girls find that very unattractive."
"Clingy? Lara, what are you talking about?" Alex demanded. Lara slipped into her jacket and began to walk towards the door to Alex's apartment.
"Lara, wait!" Alex practically shouted. He wrapped the blanket around his waist and ran after her. Lara had almost reached the door when Alex caught up with her. "Lara, don't leave. I love you, I want to be with you, just stay, I- I-" Alex stuttered. "Look Lara. I don't want to have a fling with you. I never did, I want all of you."
"Aww, that's sweet Alex." Lara said, in a mocking tone. "You should try writing for Hallmark." With that, Lara walked out of his apartment, got into her car and drove away, leaving Alex still dazed.
Alex stood at the doorway in shock, not comprehending what had just happened. "Lara?" He murmured, expecting her to drive back and have only been playing a game on him. But after the sounds of Lara's car faded there was silence. Complete silence. Alex walked back inside, shutting the door after him. He walked over to the couch and sat down. Suddenly the phone rang. Alex looked around and located his cellular before picking it up and holding it against his ear.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"Hey Alex. This is Sam."
"Sam, I need to ask you something about women."
"Oh no, what happened now?"
"Well, Lara came over and I thought that she had come to talk and we didn't talk at all and afterwards she just got dressed and left. She didn't tell me where she was staying or anything."
"What?"
"She didn't even believe me when I said that I loved her."
"Alex, she used you."
"Huh?"
"Oh my God." Sam laughed. "She walked in, laid you like flooring and left afterwards. She used you, my friend."
"But, I told her that I didn't want her just for sex and-"
"That doesn't mean that she's not going to use you for sex. Feel better, huh Alex? Most men would kill to have Lara Croft use them for sex."
"Sam, you don't understand!" Alex shouted. "I love her!"
"Hey, calm down, Alex. You don't have to tell me."
"God, I am such an asshole!" Alex shouted.
"Alex, please calm down, take a nice hot bath, eat something, good to bed then call me when you're feel better, eh?" Without saying good-bye Sam hung up. Alex glared at the phone and without thinking he hurled it at the wall. The phone bounced off, the plastic shattered and the components all spilled onto the floor. Alex sunk onto the floor. He felt completely worthless and alone. Lara, the only woman he loved, was gone and now he was nothing more then a sex toy for her. Her words had cut him deeper then any sword. He covered his face in his hands and for the first time in his adult life, Alex West began to cry.
***
"Isis? Are you there?" Lara asked, holding the phone between her head and her shoulder as she began to unpack her things. Lara had gotten back to her hotel room and had felt powerful and in control for the first time in months. But she had begun to wonder if she had done the right thing.
"Yeah, I'm here, Lara. What's on your mind?" Isis asked.
"I'm having man problems again." Lara said.
"Hide the bodies in the attic and kill anyone who asks questions."
"Isis, seriously."
"Okay, okay, what happened?"
"Well, I got involved with Alex and it turned out to be a fling and I was all upset, then I found out that I was pregnant and I didn't tell him and he came to the house and he attacked Bryce then Gwen told me to tell him so I rang and his fiancé picked up then I went to but then I saw him and I got so angry and I-"
"Whoa! Lara, slow down honey. Let me recap. You went after West and had a fling. You're now pregnant?"
"Yes."
"You didn't tell him about the baby, but then you decided that you should because Gwen told you?"
"Yes."
"Gwen? Of all people?"
"What's wrong with Gwen."
"Lara, she doesn't date! If you're going to ask for relationship advice, you might want to ask someone who's actually been in a relationship."
"Thank you for telling me now."
"My pleasure. Now what happened after you found out that Alex had a fiancé?"
"I went to go see him in person."
"And?"
"I went with every intention of telling him, but when I got there, there was a black bra on the coffee table and I got so angry with him. And I decided to hurt him the same way he hurt me. So we slept together then I left right after and he was practically begging me to stay and he said that he loved me and I just walked out on him."
"Lara, you are almost as stupid as he is."
"Hey!"
"Don't interrupt me, Lara. You have no idea how senseless what you did was. You sank directly to his level and you've just hurt him probably as much as he hurt you, not to mention he still doesn't know about the baby. As for this fiancé, I am having some serious doubts that one even existed."
"What do you mean?"
"A fiancé don't appear out of no where, Lara. Maybe an old girlfriend or a screw pal, but not a fiancé."
"A screw pal? What in the world is that?"
"You know, you've just broken up with someone, you're upset and kinda horny. So what do you do? Call on your screw pal. He comes over, you have some wild kinky sex and then he goes home, no strings attached."
"I've never heard of that before." Lara paused, glancing over at the terrace. "So you don't think that he has a fiancé?"
"Not at all. Besides, the tabloids printed a story about Alex buying a bag of chips at a corner shop, do you think he would be engaged without anyone knowing about it? Especially you. I mean, Alex might be a little shady but he's not a sex starved playboy. I don't think that he would have cheated on a fiancé with you, let alone said that he loved you. If he was solely interested in sex then he wouldn't have stopped you from leaving."
Lara paused, looking down at her shoes.
"Lara honey, you just screwed up." Isis said.
"I think that's pretty obvious now, Isis, no need to point it out again."
"No, there's all the need." Isis said. "I have never found a guy who cares about me as much as Alex cares about you and you completely throw it away. Now your baby is going to pay for this, cause I very much doubt that Alex is going to want you back after what you did."
"Now what am I suppose to do?"
"I haven't the slightest. I've never done anything this stupid before. If you really want to be with him you had better get over your pride and get down on your knees cause getting him back is not going to be easy."
"Well, I'm always up for a challenge." Lara said, trying to sound casual.