Chapter 45 Feeling
Regan was glaring into Stevie's mirror, preparing for a real date with Marcus. She was obviously nervous. Stevie had settled herself with some chocolate cookies on the bed and had fun seeing her friend acting so insecure about the way she looked. 'You look lovely. Marcus will be blown away!' Regan looked at her for a moment. 'You're sure? Maybe I should wear something else ... I feel stupid for behaving like this.'
'Don't, you obviously like him and it's your first real date.' Regan sighed deeply, pulling at her clothes. 'Are you in love with him?' Stevie asked curious. Her friend kept staring in the mirror, smiling to herself. 'I take that as a yes!' Stevie rubbed her tummy, which leaded to a gaze of Regan. 'You're feeling okay?' Stevie smiled at her. 'The doctor said it wouldn't take long before I could feel the baby move. Not that it's kicking. It's still too early for that. It's like butterflies.' Regan smirked at her. 'You're sure it's the baby who cause them?'
Over the last few weeks Stevie and Alex had become closer and tonight he would come over. Stevie threw a pillow, landing nothing near Regan. 'You're such a talent ... but serious, you and Alex. What's going on between you?' Stevie tried to suppress the smile with biting her lip. 'We're just friends, and it's good like this.' Regan nodded amused. 'Just friends hey. That's probably why you wearing your best shirt tonight.' 'I don't have anything else that fits. I need to get some new clothes'. Stevie sat up; annoyed with the fact she had grown bigger.
When the two friends got to the kitchen Kate and Grace glared at Regan's looks. 'Femme fatale!', Kate shouted. It was not much later Alex walked in. 'Ay, I see someone's gonna be a lucky man tonight!', he smirked looking at Regan. 'It will take him some time. Marcus wasn't sure what to wear'. Alex smiled once more, while nodding to Stevie knowing he would be a lucky man anyway.
'You have your hair short!', she noticed surprised. Alex rubbed his head. 'Yep.' It was shorter than it ever had been Stevie thought. 'You like it?' She nodded pleased. 'Smooth', Regan said while winking at Stevie, standing next to her whispering in her ear; 'It looks like your comment of last week had its effect.' Stevie had to grin, remembering the moment she had asked if he was trying to grow a ponytail.
Later that evening Alex and Stevie sat down in the living room on the couch, having some pregnancy books in front of them. 'Very interesting', Alex exclaimed, turning another page of the book. 'You hardly look at a page.' 'I already know this. I've paid attention when Claire was pregnant.' Stevie smiled, she was glad he just mentioned her, but it raised a question. 'You weren't together when she was pregnant, were you?' 'No', Alex said, a bit regretting the fact they only had been a few weeks together when she died.
'I guess I know most of this and by the way, I've brought Rose into the world. I guess this one won't be too hard either.' Alex smirked, seeing her hand softly caressing her stomach. 'So why do we read this when we already have practiced in some kind of way?' They both realized this time it was different. This time it was his own child. This time she had someone to share it with. Their thoughts made them smile to each other.
'We can just eat cookies instead!' 'You already eat them all!' She pushed him softly, so he pushed her back. 'I think I'll stick to the book', Alex said, looking a bit aside, smirking while trying to ignore her. Stevie just sat silently, still holding her hand on her belly. Her hand moved a bit over it when she felt more movement of the baby. Alex noticed it and looked at her.
She looked so peaceful, in her own little world with her baby. When she finally noticed him staring at her she gave him a smile. 'The baby gets a bit more active.' 'Can I feel it?', he asked, hoping she would let him. So far they had kept the distance in the physical way. Stevie nodded approving. He sat a bit closer, softly laying his hand on her belly. Carefully supported with her hand on his. 'You probably won't feel anything. I mostly feel it inside.'
Alex glared, totally captured in the moment. He thought pregnancy was a wonder, not that he felt anything, but it was still a wonder just to feel her stomach, knowing that it covered their child. 'Wait ...' He pulled his hand back seeing her move her shirt up over her stomach. Stevie now took his hand again and lay it on her nude belly, moving it to the place she felt it most.
'And?' She knew it was hard to feel anything, but she hoped he would. 'I'm not sure if it's the baby or your breathing.' He now looked up at her and they shared some loving glances. 'I'm sure it won't take long before she or he will start kicking me.' She looked down again. 'So your daddy can feel you too.' There was something in the way she said it that made him even feel more happy. Not just the word daddy, just the whole setting made him feel it in his own stomach.
When it became later he could see her getting more tired and offered to go home. 'No, you don't have to leave yet.' Stevie really didn't want him to go and instead of sending him away she moved closer and leaned to him. She was longing for cosiness. He was surprised with her action, but went along with it smoothly. Alex pulled her closer, laying his arm around her. Stevie looked up for a moment and moved her hand to his hair. She caressed it. Alex smirked at her, wondering what on earth she was doing. 'It's nice', she said, looking at him. He just had to grin. 'I'm glad you like it.'
Somewhere in Gungellan Regan and Marcus had a great time. The evening ended in a kiss, which exceeded Regan's expectations. A bit tipsy she walked into the house to see Alex and Stevie sleeping on the couch. She thought the sight was too cute, but her staring had made her almost fall over the side table. The noise she made, pulling up her foot of pain, woke them. They pulled away quickly looking at a half jumping Regan. 'Auw, that hurts', she mumbled, followed with a giggle. 'Oh did I wake you?', Regan noticed totally innocent. Alex rubbed his head. 'Don't mind. I think I should have been home a few hours ago.'