History Repeated Part 11: Pregnant Pause

Charlotte had ridden ahead of Alex, once Tess had caught up to them. She figured that the pair needed to talk. People underestimated her maturity. She knew things that people didn't expect. Well she knew that something had happened between Nick and Tess anyway. It was plain as day.

"Did you sort things out with Nick?" Alex asked as his horse trotted along side Tess'

"Nope," She answered. "I don't know what I've done, Alex."

Alex looked at her, and was blunt, "I would've thought that was obvious Tess."

Tess was stunned. Alex had been so warm and welcoming no more than half an hour ago. Now his tone and manner was anything but warm and welcoming.

"You think it's my fault?" She snapped angrily. "You think I seduced him, do you? It takes two, Alex!"

"I think you've got-"

"No, no! Don't bother," Tess cut him off and spun her horse around. She was already feeling like crap, she wasn't going to stick around so that Alex could make her feel ten times worse.

"Tess wait up. You've got it all wrong," Called Alex as he chased after her. She hadn't let him get a word in edgewise, she'd simply assumed his stance on the situation.

By now she was a fair way in front.

"Get stuffed Alex!" Tess yelled as the tears slid down her cheeks.

Charlotte had turned around as well. Lagging behind she followed the pair, and watched.

"Tess, would you stop!" Alex called as he gained on her.

"Just leave me alone!" She told him before taking off as fast as she could.

Alex would have chased her if Charlotte hadn't caught up to him and took hold of his arm, "She needs to be on her own."

He looked at Charlotte and grinned, "Why Claire, hello" He joked.

"Yeah, yeah," Charlotte smirked. "I sounded just like my mother. I know"

"But you're right, Tess probably needs to be on her own," Alex agreed.

----------------

Tess had arrived back at Drovers almost three hours after taking off on Phoenix. She'd spent the majority of her time sitting under a gum tree, thinking.

She was trying to work out what she was going to do. She was dead set about hiding her pregnancy from Nick. He clearly wanted nothing to do with her. And even if he did, she wasn't going to screw up his life any more than she already had done.

But even though she was dead set about keeping the baby a secret, she couldn't help but picture Nick with their little miracle in his arms. Tess had always wanted Nick to father her children.

The hormones were screwing with her head again. She knew that if Nick were to find out about the baby that it wouldn't be all hearts and roses. She had to stop fantasizing.

A knock at her bedroom door brought Tess away from her thoughts. She turned and opened the door. Alex was there.

He saw the tears in her eyes.

"Look," He began. "Before you go off at me again, let me speak."

Tess simply nodded and moved aside so that he could come further into the room.

"I don't think you seduced my brother. I don't think anything of the sort Tess," Alex said. "When I said that I thought it was obvious why Nick had the shits, I was referring to Christmas. Nick, Sal, the kids and Harry were meant to spend Christmas here. I guess Nick was thrown when he saw you."

"Oh," Tess said softly as she sat down on her bed. She really had to stop jumping to conclusions and assuming things. Maybe it was the hormones doing that as well?

"Tess..." Alex sat down beside her. "What's bothering you?"

Tess shook her head. How would Alex react to finding out that he was going to be an uncle? He would either support her, or lose it. She couldn't take the risk, she didn't want to find out, "It's nothing, Alex."

"Now don't give me that, Tess. I've known you long enough to know when something's messing your head around," Alex continued.

"Alex, just leave it okay," Tess told him. He was pushing for answers, but she was scared that when he had the answers he wouldn't like them. It was better if she kept it to herself for the moment.

"Look," Alex took her hand in an effort to show his support. "Whatever it is, you can tell me, Tess. We've always been able to talk... so talk."

Tess was silent. Alex seemed sincere. Maybe she could tell him. What he had said was true, they had always been able to go to each other with their problems.

"Is it Nick? Are you still in love with him?" Alex asked.

Tess shook her head again, "It's not that . . . well it is . . . that's part of it..." Tess looked down at her hands as she felt the tears rolling again.

"Come on Tess," Alex urged her to open up. He'd never seen her clam up like this before. She was usually so open with him. "What is it? Maybe I can help."

Help? What could he do to help? What's done is done.

"Tess?" Alex asked again.

"I'm pregnant, Alex."