Temper, Temper: Chapter Thirty One: A Line and A Half

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As an irritating source made to poke Alex's shoulder for the fourth time, she lashed out her hand quickly and gently held the hand still.

"Stop that" She said thickly as the duvet twisted around her frame making Paul unable to see Alex's undoubtedly grumpy expression. Laughing, he held onto her hand and pulled her from the sea of blankets. With the heat gone Alex instantly latched on to Paul's warm frame, muttering her grievance as he took her down the stairs.

"It's your first day of work in case you forgot" He added as Alex moved to eat breakfast at the pace of a small slug.

"Shit!" She yelled in surprise before jumping up and running back upstairs before running down again almost instantly after a quick wardrobe change. "I have to go – Bye!" Alex narrated before reaching up for Paul's lips and pelting out of the door.

"Yeah bye bye" He responded despite Alex already having left, still smiling he turned his attention back to the hunt for today's breakfast.

Being a supernatural had its benefits, and one was the speed, Alex couldn't help but think how appropriate it was she got the gene – given the fact that her time management was far from satisfactory.

The man who was working with Oscar the day Alex volunteered to ride him was already waiting for her at the small pen, staring at the notably more calm horse.

"Morning Jack" Alex greeted pleasantly, walking up to his side and leaning on the wooden fence to get a look at the project.

When she returned Oscar after all the drama over whether he would be put down or not, Alex had been offered a job. Riding Instructor. Apparently the large barn and surrounding fields were part of a business, a riding school. It would at least give her a small flow of money and something to do. For the moment though, rather than taking up her permanent position immediately, Alex's job was to get Oscar riding ready.

"You're late" Jack said simply. His tone was nothing but sour and Alex was glad she only had to put up with him for a short while, until he gave her a tour. Then she could actually get on with some work.

"By three minutes" Alex stated before following the grouchy man towards one of the smaller buildings.

'Worst tour ever' She repeated the thought over and over as she followed her guide, studying him more than the furnishings of Oakley Farm and Riding School. Jack Green was simple enough to work out; he was average in looks, height and weight, a simple farm hand with a wife. If he didn't have such an emanating mood of 'I deserve better than this', Alex had no doubt they could get on. But self-pity is a bad trait, especially when it took over and she didn't like him.

Mr Oakley – the in charge, red faced, rotund man – was nicer. Despite being more mocking the first time they met, Oakley turned out to be a far more pleasant man who was nothing but hospitable when it came to offering her employment.

Pushing all her thoughts out of her mind, Alex gently began her work with Oscar and poured all her concentration into the work. It was nice to be focussed on something other than vampires and protecting the innocent.

After a day's hard work, Alex was dirty, sweaty and happily collapsed into the sofa as soon as she walked through the front door of the house. Paul wasn't home yet, and wouldn't be for a while, Sam him had stuck him on patrol. Normally Alex would have phased and gone to see him, but she wanted to rest for a bit first. Allowing her thoughts to run free for a minute or two.

She was enjoying life here. It was nice to be pulled back into the Quilt family again, everyone was happy, she had a job, friends, excitement and a solid relationship. A completely undisturbed few weeks was a new experience, and one which Alex gladly preferred over the drama.

Then something has to go and upset the balance.

'Undisturbed' Alex thought with a smile as she shut her eyes and nestled into the sofa cushions happily but then a thought crossed her mind and her eyes snapped open as her body jolted. 'Undisturbed'

"Holy Shit" She said in disbelief before flickering her eyes to her abdomen and holding her stomach with one hand.

'No no no no no no' Tearing from the room Alex launched herself into the kitchen to get the calendar from the wall. In her haste, the calendar dislodged from its hanging place and was slammed into the table as Alex quickly ran her finger along the dates in a panic.

She was late.

'God! Everytime!' She thought angrily, 'Everytime something is right, God you just have to fuck it up don't you!' Alex accused before chewing nervously on her fingernails, 'What would Paul say?'

It was six now, he finished in half an hour then Jacob would take over, or was it Jared? Stress was now beginning to set in and fog her thoughts. Taking a deep breath she decided to go and find Paul, no way could she deal with this one her own. So with a dry mouth, Alex went off to tell her werewolf boyfriend that there was a chance she could be carrying his werewolf puppy.

Stomping into the woods, Alex easily found her way to the border, finding a tan wolf laying on a grassy mound. The animal cocked its head to the side at her presence,

"Hey Jake, do you know where Paul is please?" She asked timidly before the soft pounding of paws answered her question for her. Paul loped over to the pair and easily hoped over Jacob to get to Alex. The silver wolf also cocked his head, wondering why she was here.

"I need to talk to you…kind of important" Alex gave a humourless laugh at the end of her strained statement and Paul easily began to walk at her side away from the border and back to their house. Jacob had obviously said he'd cover until Jared and Leah took over the next shift.

"What's wrong?" Paul asked instantly when he was back to his normal self and leaning over the kitchen counter eagerly as he awaited Alex's explanation.

"I…" Alex began before nerves gripped her vocal chords, denying her speech. "I think I may be…" Nope she could not get the words to form together. Paul kept his patience and simply looked at her, urging Alex on.

"I'm late" She quickly spat out, nodding behind Paul so he could see the crumpled remains of confectionary pictures which made up their calendar.

"Holy Shit" Paul breathed out exactly the same as Alex had when the penny finally dropped, then he remained silent and motionless. She waited patiently for him to snap back to reality, but Paul never did. Gently Alex put her hand on his side, sidling up to him more when he tightly pulled her close.

"You need to do a test" Paul whispered against Alex's head before moving her out in front of him so he could see her nod a confirmation. The panic made Alex's eyes well up and a tear race down her cheek only to be firmly stopped and wiped away by Paul.

In the bathroom Alex could hear Paul's feet pacing the landing, his heavy steps making the structure beneath groan meekly. Picturing him almost made Alex smile, no doubt he would be chewing mercilessly on the tips of his fingers. The white life changing plastic in her hand made her expressionless though, opening the door for Paul to come in, Alex sat on the edge of the bath. She'd left the test at the edge of the worktop, as far away from her as possible.

Paul walked in slowly and stood in front of her, his arm preventing her from falling backwards which was perfect because Alex had no energy to keep herself upright at this time.

Her forehead met the warmth of Paul's stomach as she leaned forward. They were wordless.

Alex stared at the stupid pharmacy product, plucking it up quickly and hastily reading the back of the package it came in.

"I don't understand this!" Alex cried out, slouching her arms to the side and allowing Paul to take over the two items. "Why is it a line and a half? It should be nothing or three lines" She continued garbling before sitting back down to watch Paul try and work it out.

Suddenly Paul chucked the test and box away from him, so they clattered into a sink then, turning around with clenched fists he pounded the wall and made to leave the room. Alex caught him by the arm though.

"Paul…Paul!" She yelled as she brought him closer to her, they hugged each other tightly while Alex stroked the back of his neck comfortingly, "It's fine we'll just go and see a doctor and make sure we know what's going on okay?"

A sigh escaped her when Paul nodded his head above her, before pulling back, kissing her deeply then picking Alex right off her feet and hugging her more closely.

"Please, please don't freak out" Alex begged Paul as a scent entered her head just minutes before Paul placed it and a pale doctor easily walked around the corner, greeting them.

"Oh No! No way!" Paul yelled as he sprang off his seat in the otherwise lifeless hospital waiting room. "He isn't coming anywhere near you"

"Don't be ridiculous" Alex turned and faced the vampire, effortlessly putting on a brave face before stating, "Patient confidentiality still applies to me right?"

"Of course, the nurse has already informed me of what's going on so if you'd like to follow me…unless you'd like me to try and get another doctor out" Carlisle said with a pleasant smile, looking from Alex to Paul.

"Ye-"

"No Carlisle, you'll be fine" Alex interrupted Paul's complaints and watched him bite his lip angrily before following the pair and taking Alex's hand, to comfort himself as much as her.

"I just want to find out" Alex whispered into Paul before she was separated from him and taken into another room.

Waiting for her to walk back out of the room was torture, Paul wasn't sure how he felt about being a father – if that was the case. They were both so young though, and he knew Alex would never want to have a baby like this, with no plan or stability. Not that she would get rid of it though – That much Paul was certain.

Slowly the door opened and Alex's frame came out. She was blotchy faced and moisture covered her face but as soon as she saw Paul her face broke into a warm smile. Seeing her shake her head Paul jumped up,

"I'm not pregnant" Alex reinforced before she was lifted into a hug and then again to be tossed over his shoulder. They were both laughing lightly,

"Phew, now let's go practise not getting pregnant some more" Paul joked before rubbing his face a little as a relieved tear tried to escape his eye.