Alex walked in with Zack, holding a big bag between the two of them. They looked around the house and saw nobody, hearing nothing. Alex's eyes darted towards the sofa to see Bella and Paige asleep. Bella had fallen asleep with her feet up on the coffee table and one hand rested on Paige's head, which was lying on Bella's bump, her arms cuddling it, protecting it. He watched carefully as Bella's fingers sifted gently through Paige's hair.

The two boys looked at each other, shutting the door as quietly as they could, so not to disturb the two girls' slumber. Then creeping closer to where the girls were, they put the bag down softly. Zack motioned for Alex to follow him over to the kitchen.

"What's up, bro?" Alex frowned, a serious look on his face. He noticed Zack's smile turn slightly.

"What if Paige is secretly getting really upset by this whole thing?"

"What? Bella being pregnant?"

"Yes." Zack looked over at the two girls, sighing.

"I'm sure she isn't, Zack. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about."

"Alex, I'm just scared. I mean, it still hasn't been that long since she had the miscarriage and as happy as I am for you two to be starting your own family.. I.. I don't know. I just don't want Paige to get all.. upset again. She's shown me the cuts and the scars. She's shown me everything. I'm.. I.."

"Zack. It's alright. Just calm down. I'm sure she would talk to Bella."

The two boys carried on their whispered conversation as Alex looked over to see Bella stirring. They stopped talking as Alex sauntered over, heading for the sofa. He reached down and kissed Bella's forehead, as she yawned and stretched her arms upwards, smiling when she was greeted by Alex's charming half-grin. He walked around to sit next to Bella, linking an arm round her back and resting on her shoulder, inching her closer and kissing her so lightly.

"Mmm. I missed you, baby." Bella whispered to Alex, nuzzling into his chest. She tried to turn her body to the side carefully, making sure not to wake up Paige.

"I missed you too, beautiful. You can go back to sleep, if you want. I just wanted a cuddle." He planted a kiss on her forehead again.

"No, I'd rather spend my time with you, awake."

Alex smiled shyly as he laced his fingers with Bella's, his other hand stroking her hair and pulling at little knots. Her hair was silky smooth, apart from the odd knot here and there. Pregnancy was doing wonders for her hair and skin, which glistened in the sun that was beaming through the windows. "So what happened here? Did you two have a wild party whilst we were gone and just crash out?" He chuckled.

"Not quite." Bella yawned. "What happened was.. Paige kept trying to get Isobel to kick but she wasn't having any of it. So Paige leaned in really close to the bump and just started singing 'Lullabies' and all of a sudden, the baby wouldn't stop kicking. And it was really.. nice." Bella smiled at the thought, still yawning as she tried to wake herself up. "And then I must have fallen asleep to the sound of Paige's singing and she must have fallen asleep to me playing with her hair. I don't know when Isobel fell asleep but she hasn't kicked for a while." Bella looked up at Alex. "Alex, I'm worried."

"Why?" He frowned, kissing her so softly.

"What if Paige is getting too attached already?"

"D'you know what? I shit you not, Zack has just pretty much, asked me the same question."

"Really?"

"Yes. Has Paige said anything to you about it, to cause either of you to worry?"

"Well.. no. She just says that her sessions with her therapist are going really well. She says that she's happy again and she's over it. But I just don't want this to kind of.. trigger anything. If you know what I mean." Bella's smiled slanted to one side.

"Yes. I get what you mean. But I'm sure she's doing absolutely fine, Bella. Have a little more faith in her. She must be stronger than everyone thinks."

"I know but I just don't know how to read her nowadays."

"Then don't read her. She isn't a book, babe."

Bella frowned, trying not to laugh. She didn't know whether Alex was trying to make a joke, or whether he was making a serious and very valid point. Paige would be fine, one way or another. She always got there in the end, no matter what.

"Anyway, look over there." Alex pointed to the side, where a big bag sat there, waiting for Bella. It was full to the brim with envelopes. "All for you. And Paige. And some for Isobel." His face contorted in confusion. "We have some weird fans, Bella."

"Yes but it is rather cute. I wanna go through it now, but I fear I may fall asleep if I attempt to."

"Then just go to sleep, baby. I'll wake you up later. It's one of those days where it's just really nice outside, and the temperature is nice inside. And you're just tired. I know what you mean because I get it all the time. Just sleep, princess. I'll still be here when you wake up. Okay?" He looked at Bella as she pouted, kissing her to make her smile once more. Her eyes were heavy, he could tell. He knew that she was finding it difficult to sleep; the baby must be keeping her awake at night.

"Hmm.. alright. Promise you'll still be here?"

Alex held out his hand, extending his pinky finger. "I promise."

Bella linked his pinky with her's, and they all sat there on the sofa. Bella was curled into Alex's chest, still. Her head had nuzzled right into his chest and her eyes were shut. Paige was still guarding Bella's bump with her life as her arms were clasped around it like a tight bracelet. Her head was resting on it still, although her body had moved slightly from her original position, down to the fact that Bella had changed how she was lying.

Alex felt the small blasts of hot air on his chest, as he looked down at Bella to find her asleep.

Zack walked up behind them as they all sat there. "Room for one more in this cuddle-up?" He begged as Alex laughed at him, watching him trying to squeeze down next to Paige.

Zack moved Paige's legs so that they were laying across his lap. The four of them all laid on the sofa and had an evening nap, resting from what felt like the busiest day in years, even though none of them had really even done anything to make themselves so tired.

- - - - - - - - - -

"I really can't believe this. This is so fucking cute." Bella exclaimed as she held a piece of paper with a drawing on it, close to her face. "Oh my God, it's so good. It's unbelievable!"

"What is it? Let me see!" Paige got excited, grabbing for the paper. "Oh wow." Paige's face dropped in disbelief. "Fuck. Me."

"What is so amazing about that piece of paper, for fuck sake?" Jack asked as he walked up to Bella. "Okay, I'm not going to lie. That is pretty awesome. Alex, come and look at this. One of our fans has predicted what Isobel will look like!"

Alex walked over to where Bella, Paige and Jack were all staring in awe at the sheet of paper in Bella's hands. Alex gawped at it with shock. "Oh my God, that's amazing."

"I know!" Bella squealed. "Oh my God, I have to write back to them, this is so fucking cute!"

"What other letters did you get?" Alex smiled.

"Erm, most of them were just from your fans, who are pregnant and wanted tips and advice because apparently, I look great and they want to know how they can look as good as I apparently do.." Bella said with a look of puzzlement on her face.

"Well.." Alex winked. "You DO look rather sexy with that bump of your's.."

"I can't tell whether you're being serious or not, Mr Gaskarth."

"Oh, hell yes." Alex pulled Bella up from the floor and took her in his arms. "One hundred percent serious."

"Guys? There's a time and a place for that and neither of them are now nor here.." Paige snorted. Jack threw a screwed up piece of paper at them as they kissed, separating the two of them. They laughed as Alex grabbed Bella's hand and lead her up the stairs.