CHAPTER 4 ~ A LONG NIGHT ~ It’s around 8 pm as Alexis sits on her couch starring aimlessly into the fireplace. She looks up and smiles at a picture on the mantle of Ned hugging Brooke-Lynn. She gets up off the couch and walks over to the photo and picks it up. She looks down at her stomach and sighs as Edwards words ring deep into her thoughts. “Don’t you dare tell me you got that woman pregnant” . Alexis placed the picture back down and walked over to her desk and opened the bottom draw. She nervously scrambled through the door and pulled out a bag. She sighed heavily before opening the bag and pulling out a home pregnancy test. She knew for over three weeks that there was a strong possibility that she might be pregnant. She stared down at the box so intensely that she didn’t even here the door open. “Hello sweetheart.” Ned stated as he threw his keys down on her desk and chewed on her neck.   Alexis quickly placed the box behind her back. “I didn’t here you come in.” Ned grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to the couch. He pushed her down and then went to sit next to her which gave her ample time to push the box under the pillow behind her. Ned grabbed her legs and pulled them across his lap. “So tell me how your day was.” He stated as he removed her shoes and began massaging her feet. “Um it’s been very busy.” “So has mine.” “Why don’t you tell me about your day and then maybe I’ll tell you about mine.” “Alexis are you okay?” Ned asked feeling she was hiding something. “Yea I’m fine I’d just rather hear about your day then talk about mine.” Ned didn’t quit by it but decided to let it go. “Well okay, first off the day started with a bang when grandfather showed up.” “Is he still giving you hell about this wedding?” “Don’t worry him I can handle it’s the press that’s gonna kill me.” “Tell be about it. I actually disconnect the phone today because it wouldn’t stop ringing.” “I take it you turned off you’re cell phone as well?” Ned asked as Alexis shook her head yes. “At least that explains why I couldn’t get a hold of you all day.” “I’m sorry.” She said as she cocked her head sideways and pouted. “That’s okay I forgive you.” He replied as he lends over and kisses her. Alexis pushes her legs to the floor and wraps her arms around his neck. The kiss escalates and eagerly they begin unbuttoning each others shirts. Ned then pushes her shirt from her body and runs small light almost ticklish kisses down her right arm. “You know just how to drive me crazy don’t you Ned Ashton?” Ned stopped kissing her and looked up. “What?” “I haven’t even begun to drive you crazy.” Alexis smiled brightly as she pulled him into another kiss. Her hands made their way to his belt buckle as he grabbed her around the waist and pushed her back. Their hands began roaming each others body as clothes were removed and tossed to the floor. Ned stopped suddenly and looked at Alexis. “What now?” She asked blushingly. “I’m not sure.” He replied as he pulled something out from under a pillow. “What’s this?” He asked as she grabbed it from him before he could see what it was. Quickly she pushed him off of her and jumped up. “Okay Alexis what’s going on and why don’t you want me to see what was under the pillow?” “It’s nothing really.” Ned gets off the couch and walks towards her. She begins walking backwards till her back hits the front door. He places one hand on either side of her body and looks her in the eye. “You know one way or another I’m gonna find out what you’re hiding back there.” He states as he tries to sneak a peak. “So why not just show me what it is you have?” Alexis closes her eyes in defeat. “That bad huh.” Ned says through laughter. Alexis opens her eyes and slowly pulls the box out from behind her back and holds it up. Ned doesn’t say a word as he drops his hands and stares at it. “You tell me how bad it is.” He takes his focus off the box and looks at her. “I don’t know.” They just stare at each other for a moment until he breaks the silence. “We’ve never even talked about having.........” His words dropped as he looked down at the box. “I know.” Ned takes the box from her before grabbing her hand and pulling her back over to the couch. “How long have you had it?” “I bought it last week.” She said as they sat on the couch and he pulled her back against himself. “How late are you?” “Late enough.” She answered as she closed her eyes and a single tear fell. “How come you haven’t taken it?” “It took everything in me to muster up enough courage just to buy it.” She paused for a moment and caught her breath. “I haven’t been able to muster the courage to take it.” Ned pushed her forward and she turned to look at him. “I guess the only way we’ll now for sure.” He held the box up and she took it from him. “I don’t know if I can do this.” She stated nearly in tears. “Maybe it would be better if we talked about it first.” “Maybe.” Silence once again overtook the room as they continued to stare at the box. “What do you think about the prospect of once again becoming a ............” “Father?” Ned asked finishing the sentence that she couldn’t. She threw the box on the table and looked into his eyes. “Yes.” “ I honestly don’t know Alexis. I love you with all my heart and soul but I never dreamed we’d be having this conversation.” “Me neither, I mean with all the times we’ve use protection and all .......” “The times we didn‘t......” Ned continued. “I’ve never been this late.” “You’ve been late before?” Ned asked shocked. “Well yea but never more then a week, and you didn‘t answer my question.” Ned stood up and walked over to the fireplace. “I don’t know how to Alexis. I don’t know if I want this or not.” He quickly turned and looked at her as the words fall from his mouth. “That didn’t come out right I’m sorry.” Alexis stood up and walked over to him. “Don’t be sorry I know what you mean and trust me I feel the same way.” Ned opened his arms and she lunged into them. He pulled her head to his chest and kissed the top of her head. “You’ve had more time to think about this then I have Alexis so why don’t you tell me how you feel?” “To tell you the truth I haven’t really thought much about it at all.” Ned began running his fingers through her hair. “You thought about it long enough to buy a test.” “I was in the drug store getting shampoo when I saw it and decided to buy it.” She stated as she dropped her arms from around him and walked back over to the couch. “I must have picked it up and put it down like ten times before I actually bought it.” “Can I ask you something without hurting your feelings?” “You can ask me anything.” She replied as she hit the couch with her hand and he walked over, but opted to stand. “Why didn’t you say anything?” “I don’t really know actually.” Ned gave her a you can do better then that look. “Because I wanted to believe if I didn’t think about it, it wouldn’t be true. Plus I didn’t know how you’d take the news and I was afraid.........” “Afraid of what?” Alexis looked away causing Ned to sit down. He grabbed both her hands and placed them in his one hand as he took the other and placed it under her chin bringing her eyes back to his. “You can tell me anything Alexis, you know that right?” “Yes.” “Then please......... tell me what you’re feeling and what you’re so afraid of.” “I don’t want to lose you.” “Alexis sweetheart I’d never leave you if you became pregnant.” Ned stated as the mere thought caused his eyes to water. “I know that Ned, deep down inside I know you’d never leave me.” Ned pulled her lips to his and kissed her lightly. He broke the kiss and she wiped the tears from his check. Ned grabbed her hand and kissed it before picking up the pregnancy test and placing it in her hand. “What do you say we find out what this test has to say before we take this conversation any further.” “Ned I didn’t mean to.........” Ned placed his finger over her lips. “I know you didn’t and I love you Alexis Davis.” “I love you too Ned.” Ned pulled Alexis into one last kiss before she got off the couch and made her way up the stairs to find out just what the future holds.