Chapter 6


"You piece of shit" was the last Claire heard Alex shout, before he had crossed the room in great pace to get to Peter. This time it wasn't Alex who gave the first punch, it was Peter - and it hit Alex right on his nose. Alex shook his head and wiped off the blood that was beginning to run from it. "You shouldn't have done that .. Mate" Alex said in a calm, yet very hard way. Within seconds he grabbed Peter around the collar and pushed him up against the weapon cabinet, still with a firm grip on his shirt. Alex was raging and he had very little self control left, he knew it would take all of his strength not to do something to Peter, that he would regret later on. But the man in front of him, had put the woman he loved with all his heart at risk - and his baby at risk. There was no forgiveness or mercy, for a man like that.
"Alex no!" Tess panicked, when Alex planted a fist in Peter's stomach. "This one's for Claire" he said, as he pushed him into the cabinet once again. "You really think, you will have a chance with her - she doesn't want you. She is just playing with you" Peter said. The words from Peter's lips reached Claire, and she instantly started to feel even more hurt. She knew she hadn't been fair to Alex, at all - But one thing she weren't doing, was playing with him or his feelings. She could never do that - but looking back, it was exactly what she had been doing all these months. Tears started to roll down her cheeks.
"She didn't even tell you about the baby - That must mean she is embarrassed of you, being the father" Peter continued with a laugh.
"Shut up" Alex shouted from the top of his lungs - the words had hit him in the right spot, and he couldn't control the outcome of his action that were to follow. He tossed Peter on to the ground, and planted one fist after another into his face.
Jodi screamed and started to cry, when Alex had tossed him onto the ground - The girls were in shock, they didn't know how to stop Alex. Peter would get seriously hurt if he continued. "Claire, we have to do something" Tess said to her sister from the doorway. Claire was looking helplessly at the fight between them, what could she possible do to break them of? The tears were still running in a great stream down her cheeks, this was all her fault. If she hadn't been too stubborn to ask for help, none of this would have happened. She had to get herself together, before the fight got even more out of control. She walked towards Alex, making sure she wouldn't get hit by accident. She planted a gentle hand on his back and spoke the words "Alex, stop. If not for me, then do it for your child" She was surprised about how she had managed to sound so in control and calm, when her whole body was in a state of panic. Alex stopped his beating on Peter, still holding one arm in the air, ready to take aim once again. He snapped out of it, his child - he couldn't be beating on people like this, that wasn't a proper way to act as a father. He lowered his arm and felt tears gathering in his eyes - He was going to be a dad. He lifted himself from Peter and turned his head to Claire.
"You'll hear from my lawyer" Peter said and made his way to the door. He could barely walk. "You'll tell them what?" Meg asked in a harsh way, before making room for him. "That you showed up uninvited at a private property and refused to leave, when told?" Meg yelled at his back before he was out of sight. She switched her focus back to Claire and Alex in the study - She knew Claire was hiding something, but not in a million year did she expect it was something like this. "Come on - They need to talk" she said and placed a hand on Tess' and Jodi's shoulders, guiding them away.

None of them said anything, they just stood there, looking at each other. Small tears was beginning to find it's way down Alex' face and it ached Claire to see, how much he hurt - because of her. "Alex .. I'm" she stopped, nothing could ever explain or forgive why she had acted the way she had.
"So you were never going to tell me about it?" Alex asked, still looking at Claire. "You would have kept it a secret and made me raise my OWN kid as an uncle" He looked away, couldn't stand to watch Claire upset - it was his soft spot, Claire. And he knew if he kept looking at her, he would feel her pain even more than he did and just wasn't ready to forgive something like this. "I .. I wanted to tell you, so many times. I just didn't know how to - and it just got easier to pretend it was Peter's, since it was the most obvious conclusion. But when I finally got the gut to talk to you about it, you had hooked up with .. What's her name? Melissa - And I didn't want to ruin it for you" She stopped, she had nothing more say.
"Dammit Claire. I would never have gotten together with Melissa, if you had told me what was going on!" he looked at her again. "I .. I would have. You and me, we" he stopped. Claire looked confused at him, what was he trying to say?
"Forget it, I can't do this right now!" he said before storming out of the study, leaving Claire alone. The sound of his ute driving away made her break down - this was it, he would never talk to her again. Tess came running as soon as she had heard the ute drive off. "Oh Claire" she said as she saw her sister on the floor, sobbing into her hands. "He will never forgive me for this, Tess"
"He will. He just needs time" Tess answered her sister, afraid that Claire was right - This was a huge thing to keep as a secret and Alex didn't forgive that easy.


"Hey Nick" Claire said as she got out of the Ute, she would have usually rode Eagle, but in her condition, driving was far more easier and less painful. "Is Alex here?" She asked as she came to stand in front of him. "G'day, mate. Yeah, he's over there" he said pointing in a direction behind her with his head. "He was pretty pissed when he came back yesterday, so be careful." He said jokingly as she started making her way to where Nick had said Alex was. They hadn't talked since their big fight yesterday and she didn't even knew if it was too early to try - but she had to try, for the baby.

Alex had his back to her and was focused on what he was doing, so he didn't acknowledge her presence until she spoke. "Alex, can we talk? Please?" She said, her voice almost cracking. Alex's body tensed as soon as he heard her voice. "Now you want to talk? You are a couple of months too late, Claire!" He said turning back to face her. His eyes were red and his cheeks stained by tears. Alex was not a person who cried easily - in fact Claire was sure that she had never seen him cry before yesterday - so she was taken back by the sight.

"How could you do this to me? You know what I've went through with Harry and mom! I thought you were better, Claire." He said and then turned back and continued working on what he was doing before. "I was scared to lose you." Claire answered. "But I can't help thinking that I've lost you anyway. I'm sorry, Alex. I didn't mean to lie to you." She answered trying to fight back the tears that were starting in her eyes. Alex turned to face her again, he looked her in the eyes for what seemed an eternity. Then he did something, that left Claire completely at a loss of words. He slowly took a step forward and came to stand in front of her, still looking at her. Then he slowly lowered himself and kneeled in front of her, finally breaking the eye contact with Claire. He placed his hands on Claire's bump and caressed it before giving it a soft kiss. "Hello there mate." He finally spoke, but not to her - no, he was speaking to their unborn child. "You have heard my voice before, but it's time to introduce ourselves. I'm your dad." He continued. His voice was so sweet and soft, Claire had never seen this side of Alex. "Your mommy and I are arguing a bit, but we love you. You know that, eh?" Claire couldn't fight her tears any more, she let them roll freely down her cheeks. She suddenly felt the urge to run her hand through Alex's hair, but she stopped herself, knowing too well how weird it would have been. "I love you, mate. I can't wait to meet you." Alex said and then stood up after kissing Claire's stomach one last time. Claire was still lost for words. She was so embarrassed, that she didn't have the courage to look Alex in the eyes, instead she looked down at her feet - or her belly that is, since she couldn't see her feet any more. She could feel Alex's eyes on her and she could tell he was impatiently waiting for her to say something, but she simply didn't have the strength to. She brought her hands up to her belly, caressing it wherever she felt the baby move. Alex's eyes followed her every move. He put a hand on her stomach too, next to hers. His fingers brushing Claire's slightly, she immediately felt butterflies in her belly, a sensation completely different to the one the baby's movements caused. "I want to be present in the baby's life. Well, I have to admit that you have done a good job involving me in the pregnancy even if you didn't tell me it was my child." Alex told her, his words hurt her, not because of what he said, but because of what she knew she had done - or she didn't have done. Alex had been by her side as soon as he had discovered she was pregnant, even if he thought it was Peter's baby. He had accompanied Claire to her ultrasounds, and he was with her when she felt the baby move for the first time. He had given her all the support he could. "I should have told you. I wanted to tell you right from the start. But I couldn't because I…" because I love you Alex, I've always loved you. But your friendship is too important to lose it. Once again she didn't have the guts to tell him the truth. "Because you were too scared to lose me." Alex finished her sentence for her. If only he knew the real reason, if only she could tell him what she really felt, it would all be more simple. Maybe if I tell him I love him, we will be able to be a couple. And our baby will grow up with both parents by its side. Damnit, Claire! Stop with this nonsense! Alex is just a mate, you love each other in a matey way. Nothing more, nothing less. You were both drunk that night. Those pregnancy hormones are really messing with your head! Claire couldn't help her mind wandering, but she had to stop herself. Alex didn't love her like a man loves a woman. "I'm still angry with you. And it will take some time to get over, but right now" He stopped and a smile started to find its way, to his lips. "I'm just too happy now. I'm gonna be a dad!" Claire's heart broke when she saw him that happy, the guilt was consuming her. She couldn't forgive herself for not telling him the truth about the pregnancy. She had been scared about the fact, that she wasn't sure Alex would have wanted a child - a child with her. She had been scared that he would have turned his back on her, that he would have cut every contact they had. But now, seeing him that happy, she realised how mistaken she was, and how badly she had messed up everything. She should have known better. She has known Alex almost her whole life, she should have known that he was not the kind of man who runs from his responsibilities. She should have known that he would have stayed by her side, supported her through everything, just like he had done not even knowing it was his unborn child he was caring about.

"Can we make one deal?" Alex said, breaking the silence. Claire looked at him. "No more secrets?"
"No more secrets" Claire said in answer to his question. Alex put his arm around her shoulder and they started to walk towards the house. "Don't think I'm not still angry with you - cause I am. But, you are also the mother of my child - So I need to make sure everything is okay with you and the baby". Claire let out a tiny laugh. Typical Alex Ryan, he was such a tease sometimes - She knew he was angry, but somehow he couldn't stay mad at her for more than a few moments at a time. They stopped in front of the house. "We have to start working together from now on" Alex said and looked Claire in the eyes. She nodded - she agreed with him, one hundred percent. She suddenly remembered Melissa, his new girlfriend - or whatever she was. Her heart ached at the thought of it.
"So, how are you going to break the news to Melissa - I'm sure she didn't sign up for this?" Claire tried to joke. Alex shook his head and gave Claire a gentle push towards the door. "In .. And let me worry about Melissa" Alex said and closed the door behind them.
"This is a rare sight" Nick said as they got inside. "You two figured everything out then?". Alex and Claire looked at each other, they had to tell Nick about the baby.
"You might wanna sit down for this mate" Alex said. Nick looked confused at them both, what was going on here. "Will you just sit down already?" Alex rushed him.
"Yeah yeah" Nick said and pulled out a chair - Claire and Alex joined him at the table. "The thing is .. You are going to be a uncle" Alex said, alternately looking at Claire and Nick. Nick started to laugh - he already knew he was going to be a "uncle". "No mate, like for real" Nick still looked confused. "Alex is the father" Claire blabbered out - no more beating around the bush. Nick started to laugh, it was the funniest he had heard in a long time. Him and Claire, come on.
"You aren't kidding?" he finally said as he saw how they kept a serious face on. Alex shook his head and placed his hand on Claire's belly. "But it's strictly a partnership, nothing more" Claire quickly applied. Her words had caught Alex by surprise and he couldn't help but feel a little sad about the thought, that they weren't a real couple. "Yeah - We are going to work together as parents" Alex said and forced a smile.
"This is so unreal" Nick finally said - He should mind his own business, if they could make it work like that, it was great. "We won't be able to stop Harry's excitement when he founds out".
Something moved inside of Alex when Nick had mentioned Harry's name - they hadn't talked for a long time, he wasn't ready yet. Claire noticed Alex's pain in his eyes - she should go, let the boys figure out the whole mess with Harry. "I'll have to get back to Drover's" she said and got up from the chair. "I'll .. Talk to you later" Claire said and placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. It was a bit weird to be leaving, after a talk like this - but she felt relieved, finally she could walk around with a clean conscience. Alex squeezed her hand and smiled, letting her know he had heard her.