I cup Anna's hand in my own as we make our way downstairs. I enjoy these moments of weakness (well, not weakness, more strength) when Anna lets her walls down because she's terrified, and for a few seconds I get a glimpse of the old 'us' back.

“It's cool, they'll be fine with it before the day is out,” I assure, kissing our laced fingers.

Anna goes and sits down in my father's armchair, bringing her knees up to her chest, looking at me in a pleading way. I simply nod and walk into the kitchen where my parents are both making a big breakfast.

“I smells good,” I comment, trying to make small-talk with my mother.

“Well we're just so happy Anna went to school yesterday, we just want to show her how proud we are,” mom beams.

“Is she going again today?” Dad asks eagerly.

“Uh, I think we all need to just sit down and have a talk about things...” I sigh, looking at the floor.

I shouldn't feel nervous or embarrassed for something which in reality I'm so excited about. I'm the glue holding the operation together. I'm staying strong for Anna. I can't fall at the first hurdle.

“Alexander?” My dad asks firmly “Is everything okay?”

“Just come and sit down, please....” I exhale nervously, turning my back on them and head to the living room, standing next to my dad's armchair where Anna is sat, placing my arm around her shoulders.

“I can't be touched right now,” she mumbles, shrugging me off.

My parents enter, both of them eyeing us with suspicion as they take a seat on the sofa directly opposite us.

“Is it anything I should be worried about?” Mom asks nervously, holding tightly onto dad's hand.

“No, it's good news, really,” I assure, trying to relieve the obvious tension.

“I'm so, so sorry...” Anna mumbles, not even able to look them in the eye.

“Can someone please just explain what the hell is going on?” Dad demands.

Anna shakes her head, tears already starting to fall down her pale cheeks.

“I'll explain. Mom, dad... Anna is pregnant with my child. We're keeping it and I know you'll be disappointed, but that won't change our minds,” I explain, inhaling deeply, bracing myself for the crying and shouting.

“W-what? Is this true, Anna?” Mom asks, her eyes filling with tears too.

“I-I... Yes,” Anna sighs, giving up.

“Jack told me about what you two did a few months back, is it a result of that?” Mom asks, breathing deeply.

I nod, grateful to have no had to use a fake story.

“Alexander, how many times have we told you to use protection?” Dad chips in, remaining cool. “And you, Anna, you should have known too...”

“I'm sorry, Peter... Are you two mad?” Anna sniffles, looking up at them with her bloodshot eyes.

Dad shakes his head and gives a weak half smile to show his support.

“Mad? Yes. Disappointed? Yes. I just can't believe you two would do something this stupid. You're both A+ students. What about college? You can't just go traveling to England with a baby!”

“There's lots of colleges in the USA, mom,” I reason “Plus one of us can do it during the day and one of us can take night classes.”

“But that isn't parenting! Are you even together?” She snaps.

“No, but-” Anna starts.

“No, Anna. No is the answer, here. You're thoughtlessly bringing a child into this world,” mom shouts at Anna.

Anna whimpers, starting to cry harder.

“I think you should probably go and take Anna for a walk, Alex,” dad suggests, showing he's going to try and talk mom down from her rage.

“I think I will,” I half smile, hinting for Anna to follow me upstairs to get changed.

Anna sits silently on my bed, not making an effort to move.

“Anna, I'm going to call Rian and Cass and see if we can go over to their apartment for a few hours, is that cool with you?” I ask as I change into jeans and a hoodie.

“Sure,” she shrugs, focusing on her feet.

I throw a hoodie and a pair of my boxers at her.

“You'll have to put your jeans on yourself. Meet me outside in 2 minutes, I'm going to call Rian,” I smile, kissing her cheek, much to her annoyance.

“Okay,” she whimpers slightly, following me out of the room with her eyes.

I walk straight out, attempting to ignore my mother's hysterical shouting as she argues with my father. I lean against the car and dial Rian's number.

“Hello?” Rian answers, his deep voice a slight shock.

“Hey, dude. It's Lex. Are you at home?” I ask, running my fingers through my hair to ease the stress.

“Yeah. So is Cass. Why? Is everything okay?” He questions, sounding alarmed.

“Stuff is kind of messed up at home, Anna and I need a place to chill out until things cool down here,” I try to explain as briefly as I can.

“Wait, Anna is coming too? Wow, okay. Come on down,” Rian tells me, clearly shocked that Anna and I are even talking.

“Thanks man, she's here now,” I smile as Anna walks out, dressed in my clothes. “We're on our way.”

“On our way to Rian's I assume?” Anna asks, looking down at her bump, admiring it for the first time that I've ever seen.

“Yeah, him and Cass said we can go and hang out with them until Dad has talked to mom,” I smile, offering our my hand to her. She smiles weakly back but doesn't accept it.

“This might be a bit too much, Lex. I've only just started talking to you again,” Anna panics.

“You're best friends with Cass. You two can go and gossip while Rian and I talk business,” I laugh.

“Business?” Anna frowns, walking down Thames street where Cass and Rian have an apartment on top of a store.

“Well a baby won't pay for itself, will it,” I wink, showing I'm being playful.

“I don't even want to know,” Anna laughs, stopping for a brief moment as she sees a baby shop.

I watch carefully as she eyes a simple multi-colour striped blanket in the window. Her gaze drifts from the item to her reflection. She stands to the side and cups her bump, bloating it out slightly as she smiles.

“Come on, fat ass,” I joke, pulling her along by her hand.

Instead of pulling it away, she laces it with mine and walks along to Rian and Cass' apartment.

We walk up, both of us anxious to explain the situation to our friends. I walk in fist, smiling at the couple as they welcome us in.

“I want to tell Cass alone,” Anna whispers to me, looking less anxious to be somewhere 'safe'.

“Go ahead,” I shrug, sitting down in the living room as the girls disappear off.

Rian sits down, handing me a beer and crossing one leg over the other.

“Anna seems to have cheered up,” Rian comments, sipping his beer.

“She has her ups and downs, mostly downs...” I shrug “But we have an excuse to smile.”

“Oh?” Rian looks at me curiously.

“Anna is expecting a baby,” I say proudly “I'm going to be a daddy.”

“Whoa, I was not expecting that!” Rian manages to mutter through the shock. “I didn't even know you two had slept together. Are you even together?”

“No, not yet. We were planning to before the... well, you know. We're working on it now, but it's impossible, she's so inconsistent,” I sigh, running my fingers through my hair.

“What do you mean?” Rian asks, curiously- laughing as he hears Cass squeal from the bedroom.

“One minute she'll be shouting and saying she doesn't want the baby and the next she's climbing into bed with me, cuddling me and rubbing her belly. I just never know where I stand any more,” I laugh softly, trying to hide the fact it messes with my head.

“Well you've got to remember what she has gone through, Lex. She was raped, now she's pregnant. She's still the same person she is just going to be a lot more cautious about letting the true 'Anna' show through,” Rian reminds me.

He's right. He's always right. Rian is one of those people who you can always depend on when talking about deep problems or life-changing choices. Him and Cass are mature, far beyond their years, and in a way Anna and I compliment them with our friend ship. They bring out the seriousness in us and we bring out the children in them.

“It's hard, because I keep seeing flashes of the Anna I know, but it's only for a few seconds and then it's gone, her walls are back up. What can I do? I don't want to fight with her about it, especially when she's pregnant,” I sigh, letting my anxiety show.

“Just don't argue then. Let her get angry, let her snap- it's her way of showing she's scared. Never falter, then she'll see you're consistent and start to open up to you. Don't rush it. Everything will be fine before your baby comes, I swear,” Rian smiles, patting my back as he passes me to get to the kitchen.

“I hope so,” I follow like a lost puppy, needing to talk to someone who understands where I'm coming from “This baby means a lot to me.”

“I'm still in shock about this whole situation, to be honest. You're the guy that never wanted to be tied down or have kids,” Rian tells me, shaking his head slightly.

“So am I. It wasn't plan and I wouldn't do it for anyone else, but this is Anna,” I shrug.

“Enough said,” Rian laughs, nudging me playfully “I knew I was right about you two, I always said you'd get together.”

“Everyone said it but it still hasn't happened,” I sigh “I was going to ask her out on that night, but I guess the world works in strange ways, hm?”

I look out from the kitchen and see a slightly nervous looking Anna.

“Can we go home now?” She mumbles, walking to my side, holding my hand to make herself feel a little more calm.

“Of course,” I smile, kissing her cheek as she and Cass exchange smiles.

Notes

Enjoy!

N.B- I'm sorry but I can't bring myself to spell 'colour' the American way without the 'u', so I apologise :(

-All Time Lily