"Souvenirs."
Alice closed her eyes and took a deep breathe, counting. Four days late. She bit her lip. Tracy gets home in another four days, which would be over a week. Sighing, Alice tried to focus on the paperwork.
"You look horrible." Monica took in Alice's pale face.
"Thanks, Nica. I truly appreciate that." Alice snapped.
Monica raised an eyebrow. "A bit emotional?"
"I want Tracy."
"Ah." Monica nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Any particular reason?"
Alice smiled sadly. "I'm late."
"Oh. Oh!" Monica said. "How late?"
"Four days." Alice said. "Right on schedule."
Monica paused. "So, it would've been…"
Alice blushed. "We are not naming the kid SoHo or Manhattan, if that what you are asking." She groaned "Brook Lyn is enough."
Monica said, "You could take the test."
"I could." Alice played with a pen. "I could also wait until Tracy gets home."
"Any other symptoms?" Monica asked.
"I'm tired, cranky, my breasts ache, and nauseous." Alice said.
"You almost don't need a test." Monica said. "I never see anyone react that fast."
"Mmmmm." Alice said. "Tracy gets home in four days."
"So you are going suffer for four days." Monica said.
"Yes!"
"Even if you get morning sickness?" Monica looked skeptical.
"Yes!"
Monica sighed. "How is Brook going to get to school?"
"Oh crap." Alice forgot about that. "I could call Lucy…"
Monica waved the suggestion off. "Stay at the mansion. If it's morning sickness, I want to monitor you. Reacting this fast using means a rough pregnancy. My pregnancy with A.J. was horrible."
"Stupid Quartermaine genes." Alice said as Alan walked in.
"What did I do now?"
"Alice is a little nauseous. " Monica smirked. "Apparently they brought more than t-shirts home from New York as souvenirs." Alan was surprised.
"You mean? Alice! That's great!" Alan smiled.
"We don't know." Monica explained.
"Why not? We can just run a test."
"Because she wants to wait."
"But if she's pregnant…"
"I know. "
"She should stay at the house."
"Why are you offering my house?"
"Because I gave it to you."
Alice finally interrupted them. "Look, I will stay at the house. But I don't want anyone, especially Edward. I don't want to hear about a new heir." She rubbed her stomach.
"Who does knows?" Alan asked.
"Right now, you two are only one who know I'm late. Brook knows we're trying." Alice paused. " I don't want to know before Tracy."
"So call her." Monica said.
"And say what? Stop trying to save ELQ and come home because I'm late? It will keep."
Monica sighed. "So you just will wait until she gets home?"
"yes!"
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"Honey, it's not that bad." Alice sighed into the phone, two days later.
"You're having morning sickness. You're late. I'm coming home." Tracy said.
"You need to save the business."
"Did you take the test?" Tracy asked.
"No, I'm just throwing up every morning and Nica is making us stay at the house." Alice said. "Brook already claimed the den and immediately hooked up her PS2."
"oh,God."
"Your father stayed up until 3:30 in the morning playing Katamari with her."
"Really?" Tracy was amused at the idea of her father playing a video game.
"Mmmmm." Alice stretched out on the bed. "He hasn't stay up that late for a while. Unlike his daughter. Sweetheart, where are you?"
"In my hotel room. Why?"
Alice smirked, and got out of bed, locking the door.
"Do you want to have some fun, sweetheart? Are you lonely?" She asked Tracy.
"Alice?" Tracy asked, puzzled.
"I packed something in the side pocket of your carry-on. I'm surprised you haven't found it."
"Um, o.k." Tracy said. "Oh! Um, Alice?"
"Just relax and go with the flow." Alice laughed. "I just miss you. Thought you would enjoy this."
"It's not the Quartermaine thing to do." Tracy said. "I can't imagine what people would think…"
"Tracy?"
"Yes?"
"Are you horny?" Alice asked simply.
"Um…." There was a squeak.
"We'll make the best of the situation, sweetheart." Alice cooed.
"I'm coming home early." Tracy said. "This is torture."
Alice chuckled. "Nah. The torture is just beginning."
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Alice woke up from her nap by Brook bouncing on the bed. I just went to three hours ago.
"Hey!" Brook was wide awake.
"Boroughs, stop bouncing. What time is it?" Alice still haven't open her eyes.
"Um, 6ish."
"Why are you awake?"
"You said you'll take me and Serena to the library before school." Brook Lyn said.
"At seven, right?" Alice suddenly remembered. "You need to work on the psychology project for next week. O.k. Run and get breakfast. Oh, wait. Get dress first."
"O.k., thanks!" Brook Lyn said and headed towards the door.
Alice groaned, and thought I am going to kill Tracy when she gets back.
"Alice?" Monica poke her head in. A retching sound could be hear. "Oh, sweetie. I'll tell Alan to run Brook to school."
She got to the door. "Hudson Quartermaine doesn't sound half bad." Monica called back.
"Shut up!"
An hour later, Monica returned with toast and tea.
"You need to eat something."
"Mmmmm…no, I don't." Alice shook her head. "I will just throw it back up."
Monica sighed. "When was the last time you had food in your stomach?"
"About three hours ago I kept some crackers down."
"If we don't find out about the baby, will you go to the hospital?"
Alice nodded. "Could you call Tracy?"
"Of course." Monica said.
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"This is ridiculous! I'm coming home, and you are taking a test!" Tracy said.
"I'm fine. I have a IV in my arm right now. Actually I'm in a revealing gown. You would probably like it." Alice chuckled. "I'm feeling much better."
"Alice I need to come home."
Alice bit her lip at the tone of Tracy's voice. I need her to come home too. "When does the jet leave?"
"Half-hour. Are you going to be at home?"
"Um, I don't know. Brook should be there." Alice thought for a second. "I think Monica is keeping me here for a while."
"I'll meet you there." Tracy said. "I love you."
"Mmmmm…I'll see you in a bit. Love you."
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"Alice Quartermaine." Tracy breathed. Alice opened her eyes.
"Hi." Alice said. "I guess we could have them run a test."
"Actually I bought a gift for you." Tracy pulled a wrapped box from her purse.
"Ah, cute." Alice yawned as Tracy settled into the bed with her.
"A nap sounds good." Tracy lightly kissed Alice's forehead.
"Yeah." Alice felt better already. "I'm happy you're home."
An hour later. Alice woke up and glanced at the box. I'll wait. She decided.
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"Hello, Tracy's home and you still haven't taken the test ." Monica said as they walked into the house that afternoon.
"I want to wait, ok?" Alice snapped as she stormed upstairs.
"Monica-" Tracy warned.
"What? I'm excited about this."
"Me, too. But Alice, she is nervous about things, her age, the family, and she doesn't need you to pressure her."
"Sorry." Both women stopped talking as Brook Lyn walked in.
"Granny, Auntie Monica, this is Quartermaine."
Two beady red eyes peered up at them as whiskers sniffed around.
"ALAN!" Monica and Tracy screamed.
Alan looked innocently. "What? I thought Brook needed a pet."
A moment later Alice came down. "Is everything ok?"
"There's a rat in the house." Tracy said.
"I know, dear, but he's your father." Alice said. " Um, we have a problem."
"That's the problem." Tracy pointed to the rat.
"Um, then we have two problems." Alice looked embarrassed. " I dropped the test. It's unreadable."
Tracy groaned. "I don't suppose you bought another one." Shaking her head, Alice smiled sheepishly.
Monica and Tracy looked at each other then at the rat. Tracy smiled.