Chapter fifty one.

"Are you sure this is ok?" Ayla asked, as she and Marcus got to his house.

"Sure, it's no problem. You can have my bed. It's bigger and a lot more comfortable than the spare." Marcus offered.

"No don't be daft. I can't take your bed. I'll go in the spare."

"Let me show you the spare, and we'll see what you say then."

Ayla followed Marcus upstairs to a small box room.

"What the hell happened to that bed?" she asked, looking at the spare. It was definitely old, and well past its prime. She could see the imprint of a body where the springs had worn out. It looked like one of the legs was broken too, as the bed stood on a slant.

"Well it's really, really old."

"How old? It looks like Merlin might have slept in it." Ayla exclaimed, unable to comprehend how someone could keep such a dangerous looking piece of furniture.

"It's not that old. It's my bed from home."

"Please don't tell me the other bed looks like that."

"Nah the doubles a new bed."

"So which do you normally sleep in?"

"The double."

"And you've kept this manky old thing because?"

"It's comfy."

"But you don't sleep in it?" Ayla asked. She was confused by the whole arrangement. What was the point of keeping a bed, that resembled a death trap, if no one slept in it?

"I do when I have company."

"Do you mean your mum?" she teased.

"Oi!"

"I'm just asking."

"Yeah well watch it or you will be sleeping on the spare."

"I think that may be damaging to mine and the baby's health."

"Probably. So you'll take my bed?"

"Oh without a doubt."

"Right, good. So I've got a few jerseys you can wear for bed. And I'm sure I've got a spare toothbrush round here somewhere. There anything else you need?" Marcus asked, trying to avoid her teasing.

"I don't think so. I guess I'll need clothes tomorrow. But that's about it."

"I'm sure I can dig out some old tracksuit bottoms and stuff. Not like you have to dress up for me."

"Marcus, this is just…I just…" Ayla started. In truth she was overwhelmed by the whole situation, and Marcus was acting as if it were a day in the park. Must be her hormones she thought as she sighed.

"Are you going to cry?"

"No. I don't know. It's the hormones."

"Oook."

"I sorry. I think I might go to bed. I'm knackered." she said. Ayla left Marcus on the landing and headed for his bedroom. Even good days felt far too long for her to handle.

"Ok well if you need anything give me a shout." Marcus tried to keep the worry from his voice. How could she be so tired already? Was that normal? He was definately in over his head.

"Thanks I will."

She hugged him, they both felt immediately awkward. Ayla hurried off to his bedroom, a blush creeping up her face.

She woke the next day after what she would consider the best night's sleep she'd ever had. Who would have thought Marcus Flint's bed would be so comfy? She opened her eyes to a familiar face on the pillow next to her. It was Jynx.

"Hey there buddy. I've been meaning to ask you something. Are you a boy or a girl?"

The animal just blinked at her. As if to say the answer was obvious.

"You're a girl right?" she asked.

Nothing.

"A boy?"

The kneazle mewled its response.

"Really? Wow I guess Marcus was right? You're sure now?"

Another mewl.

"Ok then."

Ayla got up and padded downstairs in search of food. Her normally healthy appetite was getting the better of her. She was almost constantly eating nowadays. Unless of course she was indulging in her other favourite past time, sleep.

"Good night?" Marcus asked from his seat at the kitchen table.

"Merlin yeah. That bed is amazing. I don't know how you ever manage to get out of it. I wouldn't have bothered but I'm starving."

"So what can I get you for breakfast?"

"You cook?"

"Yup."

He got up and started collecting pots, pans and plates at the stove.

"And you knit?"

"Yup."

"Anything else?"

"I'm damn good at cleaning." he said grinning.

"Oh Marcus, you'll make someone a lovely wife one day."

He scowled and threw a towel at her.

"Oi careful." she said throwing it back at him.

The two threw the towel back and forth, each trying to hit the other. Ayla finally managed to get Marcus in the face, but only because he was distracted by the post owl.

"Ouch! Only the Prophet this morning." he said.

"Anything interesting?"

"Nah, all rubbish." he said keeping his back to her and moving to dump the paper in the bin.

"Liar. Accio Prophet." Ayla said, she could tell by his shifty shoulders that he was lying, he had suddenly tensed them when looking at the front page.

Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the article. There was a picture of herself and Marcus having lunch the day before.

"Merlin's bed socks! That damn Skeeter woman, I'll kill her."

"You thought it was all quiet on the Western front dear reader, but I'm here to tell you the truth." It read,

"Here's Marcus Flint, Falcons Chaser, on a date with a mystery woman. The two enjoyed a leisurely lunch, with plenty of flirting and sneaky love-struck glances. Whatever could this mean?

"Has the possible relationship between Wood and Flint fizzled out? With Oliver's lightening fast marriage and this development in the Falcons camp, all answers point to yes,

"Shame really, I was rooting for those two guys.

"But what is this I spy? A little swollen stomach on the mystery woman. My, my, these Quidditch boys don't like to hang around do they?

"We at the Prophet are flummoxed as to who this young woman is. If you know, we'd love to hear from you. Who is she?"

"Oh god. Oh shit. Oh god." Ayla said panicking. "I'm in the paper. I'm on the front page of the Prophet. This is a disaster."

"Look it's not that bad." Marcus said. He wanted to calm her and tell her everything was ok, he didn't want her to panic. Merlin only knew what it would do to the baby.

"Not that bad? My parents will see this. They'll know I'm pregnant. And I haven't told them they can't find out this way." her tone of voice was getting close to hysterical now.

There was a whoosh and a pop and Kristina's face appeared in the oven.

"Open the door." She said, her voice muffled. "Sorry I tried the living room fire but you can't have heard me. Ayla your parents have been round."

"Oh god. I told you. How were they?"

"Not happy. They wanted to know where you were. And they wanted and explanation."

"What did you say?"

"I tried to explain it all. But they said that this should come from you."

"Did you tell them I was here? Are the on their way?"

"No. I'm not exactly sure where here is. I just said Marcus Flint's kitchen and whoosh here I am."

"Thanks Kris."

"No problem mate. But you really should talk to them. And soon."