Chapter Nine. Disclaimer in One.

"What's going on?" Lyle asked

" What do you mean?"
" You look different? He said trying to pinpoint what was new.

" Parker furrowed her brows imitating what he was doing.

" You're smiling. New boyfriend?" he wiggled his eyebrows.

" Grow Up. No I don't have a new boyfriend."

They ran into Sydney on their way out.

" You're looking well today Ms. Parker." He greeted.

" See I told you. Lyle said.

" Good day to you too Mr. Lyle." Sydney faked as smile. Because Parker knew nothing of the Pretender project, they have had to get along. Keep up appearances, so to speak for her sake.

" There's nothing going on I promise." Parker said looking at Lyle.

" It's not a sin to look well Ms. Parker. Accept the compliment."

" Thank You Sydney." She smiled as him then they left to go to lunch.

" Tell me why you're happy." Lyle followed closely behind her. " I'm not driving you to lunch until you tell me."

" First of all, HA!" Parker said. " Secondly I don't even need you to drive me to lunch I can drive myself. And third there are sweepers around here who would love to take me out to lunch." she opened the car and sat in the drivers seat.

" I'm not sitting in the car with you. You drive like a maniac. I'm driving."

" I thought you weren't going to drive until I told you why I was happy." She got out of the car.

" Just go and sit down."

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Lyle drove to a posh Italian restaurant a couple of miles away from the Center.

They ordered almost everything imaginable then proceeded to eat.

" Woah, Slow down." Lyle laughed at Parker.

" You know what's weird. I've been so hungry lately. Ravenous really. Craving the weirdest things. Yesterday I ate a whole tub of bunny tracks."

" You hate Bunny Tracks." He said. She got terribly ill one summer during camp. Filling up on just ice-cream for a whole day is never a good idea.

" I know."

" Maybe you're pregnant. I hear they get cravings for things they don't usually like."

Parker laughed. " Can you imagine me, someone's mother. That would be funny."

" You'd make a great mom. You'd have the best nannies and wet nurses and…."

" Shut up." Parker threw a crouton at him.

" Try the scampi." Lyle gave her the plate.

A wave of nausea overcame Parker. She took a deep breath trying to gain control of the sudden feeling.

" Oh this one's good. Try this." Lyle handed her another plate.

Parker felt the nausea again and this time she went in search of a bathroom.

Lyle ran after her stopping at the door and then going in anyway.

Hunched over, Parker emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl.

After a couple of minutes the feeling was gone and she straightened up.

An old lady smiled at her as she came out.

" I remember those first couple of months. How far are you honey?" she asked

" Far with what?"
" The pregnancy. How far along are you."

" Oh, I'm not pregnant ." Parker said.

" Please. You can't fool me. I've seen my share of pregnant women in my day." She smiled at Lyle. " The glow. You're pregnant sweetheart. Congratulations."

Lyle stared wide eyed at her in the mirror.

" Stop looking at me like that I'm not pregnant."

" It makes sense." Lyle said.

" Just because some crazy woman says that I am doesn't mean that I am."

" It makes sense. The eating, the craving. You look different." he said

" It doesn't make sense because there's nothing to make sense of." Parker sighed frustrated.

The waiter came back to the table asking if they'd want anything else.

" I've lost my appetite. I've had my fill of crazy." she walked off.

Lyle paid the check then followed after her.

They both sat in the car at the same time, slamming the doors.

Lyle hit the steering wheel in frustration.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Parker asked

" I thought we told each other everything."

" Lyle I can't believe that you're…"
" I don't expect you to tell you about your sex life. But something as big as this. Being pregnant. Parker that's huge…. I ….."

" Look at me." she said. " I'm not pregnant. I'm not pregnant. I haven't been with anyone in a really long time. You hear that. So unless this is one of those spiritual impregnation. Trust me I am not pregnant. Ok." she laughed.

" Ok. If you say so." Lyle smiled

" Now take me to the drug store." Parker ordered.

" Why?" Lyle asked.

" We're getting a pregnancy test so I can shut you up."

Paris, France

" Oooooooooooohh. I can't believe this. We're in Paris." Zoë said excitedly. " I have to thank your dad for choosing such a great meeting place. I am going to shop until I drop." Zoë squealed.

Jarod shook his head. Women can adjust anywhere as long as they can go shopping.

" Well first we have to go and meet my Dad. Then you can shop until you drop." he said pulling her toward a cab.

" Right here please." Jarod said in French to the cabbie.

They got out in front of an old cottage. Emily came running out of the house jumping into Jarod's arms. She placed wet smacking kisses on his cheek.

" I didn't know you were her." Jarod said happily.

" I'm a surprise." she said. She held his hand, pulling him along into the house.

After all the initial greeting. Jarod introduced Zoe.

Zoe with her cheerful disposition had already got everyone to like her. Before the men knew it, the girls had already escaped and were on their way to a shopping filled day.

" Wow you've grown." Jarod looked at the clone.

REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!