Chapter 44

Pregnancy

Chloe's reaction was immediate and genuine.

"What!? What the hell are you talking about, I can't be pregnant, I haven't even done it with Jeremy yet! Well, he's timid and I want to let him choose when but… Pregnant?" Chloe leaned forward, eyes wide. "You're kidding me, right? You are seriously kidding me!"

Shaking her head, Lisa withdrew her hand from Chloe stomach. "I'm afraid not. Ever since my survival ten years ago I've been able to detect 'life' in someone, so to speak. To detect whether they are pregnant, basically. I don't know why and it hasn't exactly been useful as of yet. But now it is useful."

Chloe was so confused and shocked she didn't even question what 'survival' Lisa was talking about. Instead she stood up and started pacing the room. "Wait, wait, I'm pregnant? You're saying I'm… Are you certain?"

Lisa nodded solemnly.

Placing a hand on her forehead, Chloe hissed out curses. When she was finished, she locked eyes with Lisa. "Do you know how old it is? I mean, obviously I'm not showing or feeling affected." Chloe suddenly put her hands out. "It has to be older than two weeks, that much is certain. As I've said, me and Jeremy hasn't done it and I haven't touched anyone in that time!" Chloe's glare to Lisa was begging Lisa to believe her.

Lisa just shook her head, leaning forward and placing a hand on Chloe's belly again. Closing her eyes for a second she opened them again quickly. "I would say it started forming just before you came to Willingboro."

"Oooh, shit!" Chloe cussed, standing over by the window, placing her forehead against it. "It couldn't be Isaac? I wouldn't want his baby, but then it could be Liam or Freddy or Jacob… then I did have that foursome two days before…."As if realizing for the first time she wasn't alone in the hotel room, Chloe practically turned bright red. She fell to a seat, head in hands, eyes wide.

Lisa couldn't help but chuckle. "You got around a lot, didn't you?"

"You don't even know…" Chloe shook her head in semi-disgust. "I mean, that was before I had my injury, before I realised what Jeremy meant to me. Shit, shit, Jeremy, shit!" Chloe got to her feet again in panic. "What's he going to think? He'll know it isn't his, and he has never gotten angry before but I'm sure they'll be a first time… this will completely ruin him, he's that sort of guy… oh Christ, ah shit, fuckin' shit-fucker!"

This time Lisa burst out laughing, unable to hold herself in. Wiping away a tear, she managed to speak. "You have… quite the vivid language, Chloe. You almost remind me of my husband in our teenage years."

"Don't just laugh!" Chloe growled. "This is serious! I mean, this is… this is more serious than Death at the moment!"

Managing to stop laughing Lisa cleared her throat. "I know it's serious. It's just your personality has changed so much its funny. But yes, you're right, I shouldn't laugh. Look, Chloe, you being pregnant affects the list."

"What!?" Chloe's eyes widened even more. "Oh perfect, that's just what I need, really, what? Are you suggesting that…" Chloe pointed to her stomach. "That… that the baby is on the list!?"

"Not yet." Lisa nodded. "The baby isn't developed yet. To be honest, I'm not sure what the circumstances are for Death's list about pregnant ladies. I believe something like that happened with Kimberly's list, but then again if I remember right she didn't actually die… or something like that…" Lisa stroked her chin. "But that doesn't matter. I'll talk to Death myself, but I expect that the first time the baby shows signs of sustaining itself that it will participate in the list. Especially considering you got pregnant before the vision even happened."

"But what am I meant to do!" Chloe asked as if the fact that the baby would be on the list didn't matter. "With Jeremy, I mean?"

"My suggestion? You tell him. Alone and privately, you tell him you're pregnant. But because you're not seriously pregnant, I would also suggest that you ask Jeremy to raise the baby with you." Lisa sighed. "I'm guessing you are not willing to get rid of the baby, yes? Despite who the father was?"

"I…" Chloe paused before sighing. "I probably would have considered it a while back… but now…" Chloe went silent for a moment, deep in thought. "What about the real father?"

"Look, if I know the kind'a guys who you hung around with before, he won't be wanting a baby."

"…True…" Chloe muttered. "I'm really… pregnant…?"

"I know it's a shock when you discover you're pregnant for the first time." Lisa nodded. "My husband and I weren't expecting Joshua at all. I just wanted to tell you now so that if you want to, you can quickly get it on with Jeremy and tell him that it's his."

"Huh? But you just said-"

"I'm simply giving advice. It's up to you whether you want to tell Jeremy it's his baby, as long as you go at it with him soon, or tell Jeremy that it's not his. It's a choice that you should make, not an outer party like me."

Chloe nodded mutely, more to herself than anything. Finally she said, "You know, I never really knew my mother. I mean, I knew her when I was young, but then she went abroad. I've never even heard her voice for a good long time." Chloe leaned back. "Daddy will have a heart attack if he finds out I'm pregnant without being married. He's kind'a old fashioned like that. And he's not exactly the right kind of person to talk to about this." Chloe sighed once again before suddenly leaning forward and grasping Lisa's hand. "Can you come with me to the hospital? I figure it's best if I get a scan, right? And I'll need some kind of female comfort. You're a mother yourself, so-"

Chloe trailed off and Lisa found herself staring at Chloe.

I never really knew my mother. Chloe had said.

You have no right to call me your son!

So what the hell do you think you're doing here?

Isaac… I'm leaving. I can't handle it alone, not without you. I can't care for Joshua and Miles, I just can't… I hope your spirit will watch over them. If all goes well, I won't see them again.

"Lisa?"

The sound of her name drew Lisa out of her reverie. She blinked a couple of times before registering Chloe's almost pleading face. A sad smile grew on Lisa's lips. "I'll come with you. It'd be my pleasure."

A/N: Thanks to Onlyhalf and Bookreader2010 for your reviews! Don't worry, longer chapters coming soon, it's all good.

'Till tomorrow!