Alfred's POV

I watch as the snow falls before my mate wraps his arms around my chest, "Hey." He says in my ear as he holds me close.

"Hey." I answer knowing he's up to something, "What's up?"

He rests his chin on my shoulder, "Your brother wants ta go play in the snow. And if I have ta go out with 'im your arse is coming too." He kisses my cheek, "I know yah wanna come build a snowman with us." He says with a purr in my ear.

"A snow man huh?" I answer knowing he won't take a no for an answer, "I don't see why not." I might hate the cold with a passion but even I from time to time will go out if it means a snow angel or a snow ball fight. I turn around in his arms and plant a kiss on his lips, "But if you throw any snow at me I will take it as a sign of war."

I see a spark in his eyes as a devilish smile grows on his face, "Now you remember the last time yah said that."

"I was alone then but," I answer. "This hero has a helper and he plays dirty." I step away as he chuckles at me. "But if you want to try your luck Mr. Kirkland you can try."

"Oh a challenge." His grin widens as he steals a kiss, "What do I get if I win now?"

I think it over for a moment, "You win we'll do more than talk in the shower but if I win I get a massage."

"That's all you want?" He asks as I walk out to grab my coat.

"Hey you try carrying all this weight around. My feet are killing me…and my back so it's going to be really great when we win." Really it's not like I'm huge, I'm only six months along but if I could get one out of him I know down the line I could get more. "So come on Peter."

In a flash he's out the door with me close behind. Scott on the other hand stays behind for a moment as slips on a pair of gloves, "Snow man first so we don't just start throwin' shit at each other." He says as Peter launches a snow ball in his direction. "Hey!"

I follow suit and it hits him square in the chest, "No hey Dude we're here to win."

The look in his eye says he's not going to take any prisoners, "Gonna be like that huh?"

Peter and I take off in opposite directions as he wings one past my head, "Yah git get back 'ere." He yells as Peter hits him in the back of his head.

As quick as I can I make two more snow balls and launch them at him. One misses but the other hits him but still he's cornered Peter on the opposite side of the back yard. I kneel on one knee trying to make snow balls as quickly as I can but when I stand up I feel a sharp pain rocket up my body. It's something I've never felt before. I fall to my knees and curl up around my stomach. For a split second I can't even breathe but as quickly as it came it's gone. "Alfred?" Scott says as he dives into the snow beside me. I don't even have to look at him to know he's worried. "What happened?"

I manage to shake my head still unable to speak for a minute, "I'm fine. I over did it." It's all it was after all but he helps me to my feet. "I'm okay."

He shifts his weight slightly as he escorts me back to the door, "Get the door Lad." He says as he leads me inside and up to our room. "I'm gonna sit yah on the bed and you tell me where it hurts."

As he does, I unzip my coat thankful that he's not running me to the hospital this very minute, "I'm not five. I said I over did it and that was my warning for going out in the cold."

He doesn't look convinced, "I'm takin' your arse to the doctor."

"No I'm fine." I say again as I start to stand. "And a doctor will say the same thing. Besides the pain's gone."

"Sit." He says taking off his gloves and jacket. When I don't he glares at me while he points to the bed, "I mean it, sit." I do as he pulls out his phone, "You are going. I'm gonna make yah an appointment and you're going even if I have to drag you there kicking and screaming."

"Really? Over what?" I don't want to admit that I'm scared. If the doctor finds something wrong would he hurt my baby? I've heard of cases like that before after all, if the baby is unhealthy he could say that it's for the best. He'll say that I could try again and I wouldn't have any other choice.

He sits across from me and takes my hand, "Alfred, this ain't ta punish you. I'm lookin' out for you." While he gives me a smile I look away.

"You're wasting two hundred dollars for no reason."

"It's my money so I'll 'waste' it on whatever I want." He starts to take off my shoes. "And if you're right you should take it easy tonight. "

I still don't look at him as a million thoughts whirl around my mind. "She's not dead." I finally say, "And if she's going to kill me than fine…"

Slowly he takes my chin and we lock eyes, "I never said she was or that he was gonna take her." He kisses my forehead, "You're scared but I wouldn't let them just snatch away the pup."

"You promise?" Even I can hear how weak I sound.

He gives me a light chuckle, "Yeah I do." He takes off my socks, "So just lean back and try ta relax."

"What are you doing?"

He starts to kneed my foot in his hand, "Well I'm gonna say I lost the fight."

I wouldn't say no to a free foot massage so while I lean back I try to focus on that rather than what the pain could have been. Soon he moves up to my legs than to my spine once I lay on my side. "It was nothing…" I mutter close to falling asleep.

He kisses my cheek before snaking one of his hands into my shirt, "Let me worry 'bout that." We both feel a kick, "She's healthy so let's keep her that way."

I open an eye and look up at him, "Heather…"

For a moment he stops before he goes back to my spine, "Heather Kirkland Jones has a good ring to it." I let out a happy hum in agreement. His warm hands quickly lull me to sleep. I have his word that he won't let them take her; I just hope he keeps it.