"No everything is fine back here dad" Hannah promised her father as she paced around the house in worry whilst Mark was upstairs in the bathroom.
"You sure?" he checked and she rolled her eyes down the phone to him before tapping her finger idly on the worktop.
"I'm sure" she said "you and Jess have a good time, alright?" she wanted to end the conversation and Don could sense something was wrong with her. He and Jess had been away for three days in California, just staying in their hotel complex and relaxing. They both decided they didn't want a strenuous holiday and so that seemed the perfect type for them.
"Okay Hannah. Love you" he said
"Bye dad" she hung up quickly and Don checked she had gone before putting his phone back onto the bedside cabinet. Jess was already sat up in bed, rubbing her stomach lightly and waiting for Don to join her.
"What's wrong Mr Flack?" she asked her husband and smiled at the thought. She was like some teenager in love again with him. It was crazy.
"Just concerned about Hannah...she sounded a little jumpy tonight" he said and Jess just laughed to herself and Don raised a brow, wondering what could possibly be so funny to her;
"What is it?" he asked
"Don" Jess tried to be serious "she is an eighteen year old girl"
"I am aware" he nodded in agreement with her
"Home alone..." she added on, moving her hand slightly in a rolling motion but Don still looked puzzled "with her boyfriend...at night time..." and then Don cringed and groaned in horror at what she had just told him.
"No!" He gasped "Jess...why?"
"Because if not you would just have worried" she said "and I don't want that for you on my honeymoon"
"But my little girl...it's bad enough to know she has done it with him..." Don shook his head and Jess rested onto his chest and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"Then don't think about it" Jess told him "just remember that they're in love and happy...that's all you need to know"
"Okay, okay" Don sighed loudly "anyway" he smirked "Mrs Flack...what would you like to do tomorrow?"
"Hmm" Jess pondered "we'll decide that when it comes...for now I just want to go to sleep and not worry about anything"
"I think we can manage that"
...
"Bloody hell Hannah" Mark snapped at her "would you stop being snappy with me?"
"Well would you put things back where you found them?" she retorted to him, her hand pulling her long hair from her face as she moved her books back into place, crouching down for the bottom shelf.
"What's gotten into you tonight?" he asked and she rolled her eyes and stood up, turning to face him.
"Nothing" she said bitterly "I'm just fed up of you making a mess"
"Hannah" he groaned "I forgot to put one book back! Stop acting so menstrual about it"
"Well maybe" she began "if you put things back where you found them then I wouldn't be snapping at you"
"What is it?" he asked her and placed a hand onto his hip;
"What is what?" she asked him to clarify for her
"What has made you act like this?"
"Act like what?"
"A complete and utter control freak"
"Oh thanks" she said sarcastically
"Something has happened" Mark stated "I know it"
"Why can't you just accept the fact I'm annoyed you didn't put the book back?"
"Because normally you wouldn't act like this over it"
"Well maybe I'm just annoyed with you?" she suggested
"I haven't done anything" he looked dumbfounded at what she was saying. Hannah just rolled her eyes at him and he shook his head;
"Fine. You know what Hannah? I can't be bothered to put up with this tonight" he said and moved to the door. Hannah followed him quickly;
"So you're going?" she asked him and he stood on the top step
"Call me when you're calmer" he instructed her and moved down the steps to go for his coat in the hallway. Hannah remained stood on the top step, looking down onto him as he opened the front door;
"I'm late" she called down to him. Mark stopped buttoning up his grey winter coat and he closed the door, putting his keys back into his pocket and looking at the brunette who was clasping onto the spindle, looking down onto him, her face pale white and her eyes holding worry.
"You're late?" he asked her and she closed her eyes softly.
"I missed my period Mark" she explained. Mark wasn't a science expert but he knew enough about the human body to understand what she was getting at.
"You don't think...?" he gulped, thinking of what Don would do to him. Hannah sat on the top step and folded her arms in her lap, leaning forward and shrugging;
"I don't know" she admitted "I don't feel different...but I don't know...we were careful though, right?"
"Yeah" he nodded and made his way back up the steps, he sat one step in front of her and held her hands in her lap "but it's not always effective"
"I know" she sighed "but it can't be...not yet..."
"What do you want me to do?" Mark asked her but she said nothing and so he continued speaking "I'll go and get a test"
"Now?" she asked and he nodded
"Best to find out sooner rather than later" he stood up and kissed her on the top of her head "what do you want to do Hannah?"
"I don't know" she whispered "can we decide when we find out the result?"
"Okay" he agreed with her "but if it is...well...positive...I won't abandon you"
"I know" she said softly and stood up, kissing him on the cheek "I love you Mark"
"I love you too" he murmured "I'd best go" and then he went back down the steps and to his car whilst Hannah sat on the stairs, clutching onto her stomach in absolute panic.