History Repeated - Part 14: The Runaround

Tess sat by Alex on the veranda and cast her eye out into the distance. She knew what was coming. She wanted to escape his questions, but knew that she couldn't avoid the indefinitely. There was really no point in trying to get out of it.

"So how did it go?" Alex's questions started no more than ten seconds after she had sat down. And he started with a doozy! Typical Alex.

"I didn't tell him. It was silly to think I could," Tess answered, looking him straight in the eye. She needed Alex to know she was serious about this. She wasn't going to be steam rolled again and she wasn't going to change her mind. The secret was to remain exactly that, a secret.

"You know Tess if the father was a knob I would respect your decision," Alex stated. "But this is Nick we're talking about. He's a good father and he'd support you if he knew what was going on."

"I don't want his support!" Tess exploded, even though deep down she did want Nick's support.

"Yes you do," Alex told her. "Why else would you come back here? I know you aren't here for Christmas, that's just an added bonus."

Tess shook her head, "I didn't come here to tell him. That's not why I'm here."

"I think it is, Tess," Tess was an open book. If anyone could read her, Alex could. "You came here because you couldn't stand being away from Nick, knowing that you're having his baby. Part of you wants to run over there and tell him the good news, but the other part of you–the whimpy, idiotic part-won't allow it because you don't want to be seen as a hypocrite by Sally."

Tess shook her head again. She wasn't going to just sit there and take that! "I told you that I don't want to wreck-"

"Yeah, you don't want to wreck the life he's built. I heard you the first time Tess," Alex butt in and cut her off. "But how can you be so sure that you'll wreck everything?"

"Because I went through it myself, Alex!" Tess stood up and towered over a still seated Alex. "Finding out Sally was having Nick's baby killed my marriage. How do you think it will effect Sally's?"

Alex sighed and looked up at her. He didn't want to have to resort to this, but it had to be said. "Look," he began, "Nick's my brother, right? I can't keep something like this from him."

Tess let out a pain filled chuckle as she turned her back to Alex, "Oh so if I don't tell him, you will, is that it?"

"I'm sorry, but yes," Answered Alex. As much as it killed him to have to betray Tess, he would if he had to. He couldn't lie to his brother about something like this even if he wanted to.

"I see," Tess whispered before heading inside and upstairs.

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Sally strolled into the house with Elizabeth in tow, carrying some shopping bags. She began to hum to herself as she unpacked the shopping.

"Not long till Christmas, Mummy!" Elizabeth said excitedly. "Only two more sleeps!"

Sally smiled and turned to her youngest child, "Its exciting isn't it? I wonder what Santa will bring you?"

"I hope he brings me a pony!" Elizabeth said with anticipation and a grin. She had been wanting one for months and months.

At that moment Nick came into the house, "Oh good you're home. We need to discuss something."

Sally looked up at Nick, "Sounds serious." She turned to Elizabeth, "Libby, why don't you go and see what Harrison's up to?"

"Do I have to?" whined Elizabeth.

Nick crouched down in front of his daughter and brushed a strand of loose hair behind her ear, "Kiddo you gotta remember that Santa know's when you've been bad and good."

"Oh yeah!" Recalled Elizabeth. And then she was gone in an instant. The thought of not getting a pony made her move as fast as her legs could carry her.

"That was smooth," Sally laughed. "Now what did you want to talk about?"

Nick took in a deep breath before saying, "Tess is back in town."

"Oh," Sally stared at Nick. "Well why?...Why is she here, Nick? What does she want?"

"She wants to spend Christmas with Alex and BOM," Explained Nick. "We're gonna have to rethink our plans."

"She wants you back," Sally stated bluntly. "That's why she's here."

"Come on Sal," Nick moved towards his wife and took her hands. "We both know that Tess doesn't work like that."

"Then why is she here?"

"Because she wants a family Christmas. It's nothing more than that..."

Sally turned away from Nick, her blood boiled, "So because Tess decides to blow into town unannounced, at the last minute, you and I have to change our Christmas plans?"

"Well what else can we do, Sal?" Nick asked. He couldn't imagine them all sitting around a table being merry.

Sally turned back to Nick, "We're still going," She announced. "We're all grown adults. I'm sure we can get through one day together."

Nick stared at his wife in disbelief. She wasn't serious was she? It was a recipe for disaster.

"It'll be alright Nick," Sally said, patting his hand. "I won't break out the claws or anything."

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