Disclaimer: I do not own Waterloo Road, as it is the property of the BBC

Chapter 26

' Pregnant? ' Jack echoed,' you're sure? '

She nodded,' I did a test last night, but for God's sake don't tell anyone, will you? I don't want anyone to know, until I've had a chance to tell Tom. '

' What are you going to do about it? ' Jack pressed.

Anna shook her head,' I - I don't know. I don't think that I can raise a kid on my own, but I'm not giving up the chance to start again and be a proper mum. '

The bell rang for the next lesson, and Jack sighed.

' I'll see you around,' Jack shrugged,' and I really am sorry. Don't worry - you'll figure out all this stuff about Tom. I can't honestly see you two not working things out. '

'Thanks, Jack. '

With that he left, to go off to teach his next lesson.

*****

Meanwhile, whilst this had been going on, Tom had still been outside the room listening. But he didn't stay to hear the full conversation, he had left just before the end of the exchange between Jack and Anna.

He had heard the part about how Anna had felt that her life was meaningless, how she'd actually tried to kill herself, what Jack's motives had been in persuing her, Jack comparing her to Lorna.

That had been the straw .. he shook his head, walking away and shutting himself up in his classroom.

Therefore he hadn't heard the part about her pregnancy.

He sighed, head in hands. It was bad enough that Lorna had tried to kill herself .. she had been troubled .. but to hear that he had driven another woman to attempted suicide ... what the hell was wrong with him? He had made a mess of the whole thing .. he was miserable, the girls were annoyed with him.

It truth be told, he did still love her .. he was just hurt by the fact that he thouht she had cheated on him. He thought about her- all she wanted was for him to realise that she was telling the truth .. and after something that had happened the previous night, he was sure he should talk to Anna.

*****

Anna had a free period right now, and Tom decided that this was the chance that he needed to go and talk to her.

He looked at his 6th form literature class as they entered. Brett and Mika were sat in the back row, Brett looking at him judgementally, and Mika looking downcast.

The class looked at him expectantly, wondering why he was just stood there in silence, not doing anything.

After a minute or so, someone called out,' What's up, Mr Clarkson? Thinking about Miss Aspinall? '

Tom slapped his hand down on the desk,' We'll have none of that! ' he yelled.

Janeece sighed,' You know sir, that was the exact same reaction Miss Aspinall has when we mention you to her. '

Tom gritted his teeth,' If you'll excuse me, I've got something to do, I'm sending a cover in. '

As he sped away from the room, the class watched after him in suprise.

Brett leaned over to Mika,' Do you reckon that he's gone to see her? '

' I hope so,' Mika shrugged,' I just want things back to how they were, don't you? This whole situation is ridiculous, she's done nothing wrong and he's blown it completely out of proportion. '

' We'll go and talk to her at lunch, to see what's gone on,' Brett vowed.

*****

There was a knock at Anna's door as she sat behind her desk, marking books.

' Come in,' she called out.

When Tom entered, she swallowed hard, and looked up at him. He offered her a smile, which she tried to return.

' C-can I help you? ' she asked.

' I love you,' Tom said.

Anna smiled slightly,' What's brought all of this on? You accused me of having an affair a week ago. '

Tom shook his head,' I love you, and I don't want to carry on living my life without you - I've been an idiot, and I am so, so sorry. '

' Did you really have such a low opinion of me, that you thought I'd cheat on you like that? ' she demanded.

He shook his head,' You know I'm insecure, and stupidly possesive .. it just seems like every relationship thatI have turns to ashes ... my marriage lasted all of five minutes, she aborted my baby, got a serious illness and killed herself. My fiance lost our baby and was stabbed to death. Davina nearly got burned to death in that bloody fire and then left me for Jack. It seemed like what we had was too good to be true. '

' And now you've come to your senses?' she challenged.

' This is going to sound a bit cheesy .. but I had a dream last night, and in this dream, Lorna and Izzie spoke to me .. they talked to me, and they made me see that you were too good to lose. Then at break time, I was coming here to apologise, but I saw Jack going into your classroom. I .. well, I got a bit curious, so I listened at the door. '

Anna's eyes widened,' You heard what we spoke about? '

He laid a hand on her cheek,' I know that you tried to kill yourself .. and I can't apologise enough, apologise for driving you to that level of torment. When I heard what Jack said to you about why he'd done it, and what you said aout how much you looked me ... I realised that I'd been so stupid, and that what we had was far too good to lose. I can't just throw away 6 months of happiness over something of nothing. What do you say - can you take an idiot like me back? '

Anna response was to grab hold of Tom's tie, and pull him towards her, where she planted a kiss upon his lips, cementing them together.

When they broke apart, Tom licked his lips.

' Well,' he said,' I take that as a yes? '

She smiled coyly,' And what do you think to the other part, that other little thing that I told Jack? ' She was referring to her pregnancy, thought she didn't know that he hadn't overheard that.

He raised his eyebrows,' And what might that be? '

She laid her hand upon her stomach,' You know ...'

Tom shook his head, furrowing his brow,' I think that I must have missed that part .. I left after he started talking about Lorna. '

Anna wrapped her arms around Tom's waist, and looked up at him.

She smiled,' Have you ever wanted to be a dad, Tom? '

He shrugged, not really getting her meaning,' Well, I've got Chlo and Mika, now, haven't I? But it would have been nice to have actually had a kid of my own some day, though. '

She raised her eyebrows,' What would you say if I told you that you were going to be a dad? '

Tom's eyes widened,' Oh my . . . are you . . .? '

Anna laughed,' I'm pregnant. '

Tom beamed, picking her up and spinning her around, before kissing her swiftly as he set her down.

' I don't believe it,' he grinned devilishly,' I'm going to be a dad. I'm going to be a dad! How - when - how far along are you? '

' I've got a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning, but I think that it's about 6 weeks - morning sickness comes at about 6 weeks, and judging by the dates of my cycle ...'

Tom laid both of his hands upon her stomach,' I can't believe that there's a little baby growing inside of you . . . my son or daughter . . . our child. You're moving back in this weekend, you and Brett? '

' Of course,' agreed Anna,' thing is . . . is there enough room in the house for everyone, with the baby? '

Tom raised his eyebrows,' Well, unless you want me to buy you a mansion, we're not going ot get a bigger house ... we've already got four bedrooms. '

' I know,' Anna said,' but with three kids already there, where are we going to fit a baby? '

' Hey, it'll be fine? When are you due? '

' I- I don't know .. it'll be about October, November, won't it? ' Anna shrugged.

' See? Problem solved,' Tom shrugged,' Mika and Brett will've moved out to go to university by then, won't they? They're both going to Manchester Metropolitan, and they'll be living there. When they come back for the holidays, they can share a room. '

' How do you always have things so sorted out, eh? ' Anna smiled.

' I'm amazing, what can I say? ' shrugged Tom.

*****

When Tom and Anna entered the staff room together at lunch time, the eyes of all of their collegues were upon them.

' Right everyone,' said Tom, standing at the front of the room and commanding everyone's attentions,' I think you all ought to know that world war three is over, and I'm finished being an idiot. ' They kept quiet about the pregnancy, wanting to tell the kids first.

' About time,' Grantly said, a smile even daring to cross his features.

*****

There was a knock on the staffroom door, and it was Anna who went to answer it, only to find Mika and Brett standing in front of her.

' Are you and Tom back together? ' Mika asked eagerly.

' Yep. Brett and I will be back in the house tomorrow - there's no getting rid of us,'

Mika squealed and hugged the woman whom she had come to regard as a step-mother.

Anna laughed,' Go on then - you two can go and spread the good news, can't you? Brett, we're going to theirs tonight for dinner, but we have to go back to Jasmine's since all of our stuff are there. '

' We'll see you later,' Brett sid,' and will you tell Tom that I'm glad. '

Whilst the girls and Anna got on well, Tom managed to get on well with Brett too.

*****

When Anna got to Tom's car, Chlo hugged her too.

' Welcome home,' she said.

*****

That evening, Tom made dinner for everyone - he and Anna, Brett, Mika, Chlo - and Donte had been invited around too.

They had just sat down to eat, and Tom was pouring everyone a glass of wine.

' Right then,' said Anna,' there's something that you should all know- this affects you all. '

' You're not dying Miss? ' Donte asked,' I kind of like having you around. '

' No one's dying,' Tom smirked,' quite the opposite, actually. '

Anna grinned,' Come the autumn, there'll be a new addition to this family. '

' No way! ' gasped Mika.

' We're having a baby,' nodded Tom.

There were cries of joy and congratulation from everyone.

When they had calmed down, Brett shook Tom's hand,' Good for you . . . Dad. '

Tom grinned,' Thanks .. I don't want you to have to feel like we're forcing a new dad upon you - I can just be Tom, if you want. '

Brett shrugged,' I could do with a new dad .. after all, the old one was crap. '

Tom laughed,' Thanks, kid. '

' So .. a brother or sister .. that .. wow,' Brett grinned.

Anna smiled at Chlo and Mika,' This is your little brother or sister, too, you know. Just as much as it's Brett's. '

Chlo grinned at Tom,' Can we call you dad, too? '

' So what, this is my brother or sister in law? ' Donte asked.

' Yep,' agreed Tom.

' Hold on,' Chlo said,' where's this baby supposed to sleep? '

Anna sighed,' Well, Brett and Mika are going to uni in September, so we'll convert one of their rooms into a nursery, and when they come back from uni for the holidays, they can share whichever room we haven't converted. '

Mika was going to study law, and Brett to study business and politics.

Brett and Mika exchanged glances.

' Actually Mum,' Brett said,' Mika and I were thinking of renting a flat around here, instead of living in the university. There's loads of flats in the city - and it's only a 15 minute drive from here. We were going to get a flat over the summer, and then I'll drive us back here when we want to see you. Plus some of these flats are only a 10 minute walk from the uni.'

Anna nodded,' Well, if that's what you want . . .'

' Tom? ' Mika asked.

'We'll give you a hand finding somewhere decent,' nodded Tom,' you can move in over the summer, eh? '

' You'll have a spare room even with the nursery, then,' Brett nodded.

' Actually . . . ' Chlo said.

Tom raised his eyebrows,' Well, the secrets and confessions are just pouring out now, aren't they? Go on. '

Chlo looked nervously at Donte,' See, the thing is . . . Donte's dad's been offered a job down in London, and he's going there over the summer, but Donte wants to stay on at the school to get the A-levels finished. He's going to be homeless in September. '

Tom rolled his eyes, and looked over at Anna - the meaning was clear. Anna shrugged - there was no reason not to allow this to happen . . . Donte and Chlo were only one year away from being adults, and Mika and Brett - already adults were moving out.

Tom looked at Donte,' Yeah. Yeah, you can move in, in the summer. '

Donte looked releved,' Oh, thanks man. '

Tom laughed, ' Bloody hell. It's going to be all change around here, isn't it? We're having a baby, Brett and Mika'll be living somewhere else, and Donte'll be living here instead. '

' This is going to be perfect,' Anna said.

Tom kissed her cheek.