History Repeated Part 12: Alexander The Great

Alex stared at Tess in disbelief as he removed his arm from around her shoulders.

"What?" He asked softly. Had he heard her correctly? Did she just tell him that she was pregnant?

Tess wiped her tears away and stood up. She felt better now that she had gotten it off her chest, "I've known for almost two weeks."

"Nick's the father?" Alex asked, looking up at her as she came to stand in front of him.

Tess nodded, "Yeah, Nick's the father."

Alex stood up and brought her into his embrace, "What are you gonna do?"

"I can't tell Nick," Tess sighed, resting against Alex's chest.

Alex pulled away, "He needs to know about this, Tess. You can't keep it from him."

Tess shook her head, "Alex, I've already done enough damage to Nick's life, to his family. If I tell him, it will only make things worse."

"So this is about guilt is it?" Alex asked whilst looking her in the eye.

"No," Tess defended herself. It wasn't about guilt! Well yes, she felt guilty--of course she did! But that's not what this decision was based on.

"So tell him Tess. You of all people should know what it's like to grow up without knowing your father. And you of all people should know what it's like to keep something like this quiet. It will backfire on ya Tess."

Tess shook her head as she moved away from Alex. She knew what he was saying made perfect sense. She hated growing up without a father, and she had sworn that if she had ever had a child she would never deny the father his rights of access. But here she was doing exactly that.

She didn't care about the consequences. Even though she knew the risks, she didn't care. Seeing Claire go through the same situation with Peter, and knowing that it ended in disaster wasn't an incentive to tell Nick the truth either.

She couldn't see clearly enough to make the right choice. She was blinded by guilt and feelings of hurt from the past. There was no way that she would do to Nick and Sally what Sally had done to her and Nick years earlier. There was no way that she was going to be the one to destroy what she thought was a happy marriage.

"Yeah and I also know what it's like to have someone tell you that they're pregnant to your husband, Alex," Tess said as she paced the room. "I won't do to Sally what she did to me. I know how much it hurts and I can't-"

"This isn't about Sally," Alex interrupted. "This is about you, Nick and the little life that's growing inside of you. You gotta forget everything from your past and just tell him Tess."

"No, Alex. I don't have to do anything," Tess said even more firmly. "I know you're trying to help, and I know you think that Nick has a right to know, but I can't destroy his life. And this has everything to do with Sally! If I tell Nick, this effects Sally too, Alex."

Alex shook his head, "Well what are you going to do? What are you going to tell people? Have you got a story?"

Tess hated how mature Alex had grown. He'd become so practical in his old age.

"No I haven't," She answered.

"Well you better," He told her. "And it better be a good one too. Nick's not an idiot, and he sure as hell can pick a lie when he sees one."

Tess wanted to throw something at Alex. He was right. He was right about everything, and she hated it! How was she going to explain her way out of this one? Nick knew her back to front and inside out, he could tell when she was spinning a lie. She knew she wouldn't be able to get away with it.

"Alex, why do you always have to be right?" Tess glared at him, her hands resting firmly on her hips–-she was in the Claire stance.

"Because I do," was all he said. "Now go talk to him, before you change your mind" He said before leaving the room.

"I haven't made up my mind!" Tess mumbled under her breath in frustration.