《Arctic love》Four
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A smile takes over as I scroll through the pictures Savannah sent me from Bora Bora. They were in Bora Bora for about two weeks before they are heading to California to see Ed's grandparents who couldn't make it to the wedding, it's been almost four weeks since I've seen her.
"It looks so beautiful Sav," I gush as I settle into my office chair.
"Right!" She exclaims excitedly over the phone, "so how are you feeling? Hopefully, your stomach bug is gone,"
"I don't think it is," I mumble running a hand down my hair, "considering I just finished throwing up before you called,"
"Damn, you sure it's not from the wedding?" She asks concerned.
"No, it happened around the time you guys were leaving Bora Bora, it's probably just something I ate, you know how I am when I'm painting, eat whatever's insight," I shrug.
"That's true, are you still at work?" She asks and I hum.
"I'm about to leave now though," I say as I stand back up and grab my purse and keys.
"Well you should get some rest, and stop staying up painting for the love of God but please rest,"
"Okay," I laugh, "don't worry mom, I've got a pint of ice cream ready for me at home,"
"Okay," she chuckles and we give each other a quick goodbye and I begin to leave the museum. It was still busy as I left, closing wasn't for another hour. The twenty-five to almost thirty drive back to my apartment couldn't have felt any longer.
I shut my front door and lock it before kicking off my heels, my feet were feeling swollen lately. I throw my purse and keys onto my kitchen counter and look past my very messy living room with all my art supplies everywhere.
Pulling open my freezer I grab the pint of Ben and Jerry's and turn to grab a spoon. Walking over to my couch, I grab a blanket and turn on my tv, changing it to Netflix and turning on Grey's Anatomy.
Before I dip my spoon into the ice cream pint I stop and stare at it, it didn't look as appealing as I thought, I close the pint and put it and the spoon on my coffee table before getting comfortable on my couch and spending the rest of my day watching greys anatomy and the occasional moment to throw up in my bathroom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adjusting the necklace on my neck that held both my parent's wedding ring, I turn to the group of students with a smile, "and this is where I sadly leave you," I tell them at the end of our tour.
"Now I know you are all gonna miss me," I begin and the kids smile and laugh, "but you've got the gift shop right over here so have it," I wink at them. The kids rush into the gift shop and I stop to talk to the two teachers that joined the group.
We part with a simple goodbye before I reconnect my earpiece, "Pen are you back on?" Someone asks.
"Yeah sorry, my tour ran a bit late, is the shipment here?"
"Yea, I'll sort it out with them," I tell them before fobbing my way through an elevator. I remember Alex telling me to be careful down here a few weeks back. I shake my head at the thought of Alex.
The day after the wedding I remembered everything, it came like a flood along with my pounding headache. I woke up alone in the hotel room but written on the notepad he had told me work called in and he had to leave. The last time we saw each other was at the wedding and that was almost a month or so ago, maybe more than a month now.
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I flash my fob again as I enter the loading dock, we were supposed to get a shipment from the Palace itself. I was excited, beyond excited actually.
As I moved past the door something covered my mouth and I soon fell to the floor.
I wince a bit as my eyes flutter open, "Pen," a voice says and my ears continue ringing "Pen" the voice says again and I open my eyes.
Wincing a bit as I shake my head, I open my eyes, and across from me, leaning on one of the monuments was Lea "oh god are you alright?" She whispers and I nod slowly. "Your bleeding," she tells me and I glance down to my shoulder.
"Yea, I'm okay," I nod and I slowly look down. At least ten of us were hostages. "Is that it?" I ask her.
"I think so, I'm not sure," Lea speaks quietly when suddenly the building shakes and I realize it was a bomb. I struggle against my restraints and glance up at the large window above me.
"It's night?" I question Lea and she nods slowly as the building shakes again. I know there were certain protocols for the FBI but god I hope Alex comes in soon. I gulp as I hear booming footsteps coming closer, suddenly gunshots were fired and we all lower ourselves to the ground. I wince in pain.
I narrow my eyes at the group of guys as they come towards us, they take off their ski masks and I grumble.
"You're not gonna get away with this," I tell them. The closet one beside me crouches down and smirks.
"Yea?" He asks nodding his head, "and is your boyfriend gonna be the one to put a bullet through my head?" He taunts me and I struggle against my restraints. "Yea that's what I thought. We know all about you, you fiery blondie," he smiles before patting my cheek and standing up.
I wince as I sit up again, my shoulder was screaming in pain. The group moves away to do god knows what. I hear a few sniffles as I lower myself back to the ground.
"Pen?" Lea asks and I hum in response, "please stay awake," she begs. I slowly open my eyes.
"Tell me," she continues.
"Huh?" I ask her.
"About that boyfriend of yours, you idiot, you didn't even tell me." She tries to joke and I stifle a laugh.
"He's not. I actually hate him," I wince, "he's a friend of Savannah or her husband. He's a pain in my eyes, flirting and teasing me but he's an FBI agent on this case," I wince again.
"Sounds hot," She mumbles.
"I hooked up with him once," I sigh, regretting telling her, "at our best friend's fucking wedding," I shake my head. Lea doesn't have time to respond because the sound of the attackers comes back and I slowly sit up.
"This one," one gun says pointing his gun at me. Someone else grabs me and I groan in pain.
"Hey! Stop! She's hurt!" Wyatt one of my co-workers says, everyone gasps as he was hit down. I was moved out of the room and pushed aside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I blink as I hear my name being called "Penny," a voice calls, and I groan moving my head to the side. "I need a medic now!" Someone yells. I blink.
I cough, "Xander?" I mumble and he finally looks at me.
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"Hey," he forces a smile, "I got you, okay but you've gotta stay awake," he demands me. I nod slowly.
"In here!" He yells and I hear feet running. My vision was hazy as I watch two paramedics rush towards me and Alex moves over. I fall into consciousness and unconscious as the paramedics rush me out of the museum.
"She's going into shock!" Someone yells, "Penny, stay with us," the same voice demands before my eyes slowly flutter shut and I see white.
"So honey? Did you enjoy your birthday dinner?" Mom asks me.
"Yea, I mean who knew burgers could taste so good," I chuckle. Dad shoves me.
"You said you loved burgers and what better place to go than a new burger joint?" Dad muses. I laugh.
"I loved it, thanks dad," I say as he swings an arm over my shoulders and pulls me into a side hug.
"Happy birthday," he tells me and I thank him. The ride home was filled with me and mom screaming slash singing to current songs on the radio, absolutely annoying dad.
"I'm going to detach that radio from the damn car," dad mumbles as we enter the house and I turn on the light. I laugh.
"We have the voices of angels," I muse.
"More like hyenas," he muses and I roll my eyes.
"Anyways, I'm going to go get ready for bed, I have a council meeting tomorrow morning," I announce and my parents nod with smiles. I hug them both and thank them for a great birthday.
I woke up to screaming that night and a loud bang, slowly opening my door I glance down the hall to see my parent's door open.
"Mom? Dad?" I question as I walk down the hall and towards their room. Pushing their ajar bedroom door I gasp and cover my mouth. There was blood everywhere and I remember myself screaming.
"A home invasion," a female cop tells me gently, she slowly slides pictures over to me. "Have you ever seen them?" She questions.
I stare mumbling at the pictures and shake my head before turning away, "I am so sorry for your loss Penny," the female cop says.
I slowly open my eyes and blink at the bright light "I didn't hear much but Alex said one of them was still on the run," I hear.
"What was that?" I question huskily.
"Penny!" Savannah gasps as my eyes take in the hospital room. "Oh honey," Savannah says as she rushes to my side. I give her a tight-lipped smile.
"Please don't cry, I don't wanna have to fake cry too," I murmur against her shoulder. She laughs as she pulls away.
"How are you feeling?" Ed asks me from behind Sav.
"Like I've been shot," I mumble as I move around in bed. Before the newlywed could say anything else the door opens and I turn to see Alex and someone in a lab coat, obviously a doctor.
"Ahh it's good to see you awake Ms. Valentine, I'm Dr. Green," he introduces with a smile. I nod slowly and since again.
"Uhh we'll be in the cafe," Ed announces slowly, guiding Sav out.
"You've lost a lot of blood Penelope," Dr. Green begins as Alex moves closer to me. I didn't even question why he hadn't left with the married couple. "But other than that you should make a full recovery," He smiles.
"When can I go home?" I question and he chuckles.
"Hopefully at the end of this week," he says and quickly glances over his papers, "you may feel pain in your shoulder but that's suspected and your baby is just fine, everything is fine," He tells me.
My eyes widen, "baby?" I question. Dr. Green looks over at Alex and so do I.
"I'll uh leave you two alone," Dr. Green announces. I watch him as he leaves.
"What the hell was he talking about? Is he even an accurate doctor?" I begin slowly sitting up.
"Penny," Alex says and slowly sits down on the bed with me. His eyes soften on me, "did you ever feel sick over the last month or so?" He questions.
"Don't use your FBI skills on me," I deadpan.
"Penny," he says.
"Yea I've been feeling sick for almost three weeks now, I just thought," I trail off. Alex slowly sighs, "oh fuck." I say before repeating the sentence.
"Pens,"
"Didn't you wear a condom?" I exclaim and Alex's jaw ticks, "sorry, sorry," I sigh.
"You didn't have any speculation about you being pregnant?" He asks. I shake my head and he sighs.
"I genuinely thought it was a stomach bug, oh god, I'm so sorry,"
"Woah hey," Alex says grabbing my hand, "you do know it takes two to tango to make a baby right? You have nothing to be sorry about," he explains.
My mouth opens and nothing comes out "oh my god I'm pregnant," I mumble, "oh my god we're gonna have a baby." I mumble again. "I'm gonna have a baby with you!" I exclaim and Alex laughs.
"Oh my god, I could've lost the baby at the museum," I mumble my hand coming up to my stomach. "What the hell happened at the museum? Are they dead?" I blurt out.
"Okay breath Pens," Alex demands me. I let out a sigh and breath in deeply.
"We got the guys at the museum but uh when got away, we think he left the state but we have warrants going out for him," he tells me softly. "What's wrong," he asks.
"The baby could've died," I mumble. Alex crouches down and I lower my gaze to meet his eyes. His hand tightens in mine.
"Penny, I know this is a lot of information right now but take a breath, first thing first is making sure you make a good recovery okay," He assures me.
"Xander," I say softly and he hums. "I wanna keep it," I say slowly. "I know I'm not thinking at all or whatever but like I can't imagine getting an abortion or-or adoption I-I" my breath hitches in my throat.
"Okay shhh," he demands reaching up and tucking my hair behind my ear. "Pens, if you're sure about this,"
"I am," I nod and he nods again.
"Then we will figure something out okay, I promise but right now you have to focus on getting better for yourself and our baby, okay?" He says and I nod slowly.
Alex kisses the back of my hand before standing up, "Savannah kicked your ass huh?" I ask him and he laughs.
"Yea, she did, both of them," He tells me before leaning forward, he kisses my forehead.
"Good," I mumble as he pulls away, "I'd kick your ass right now too if I wasn't in pain," I tell him.
"I'll let you kick my ass later," he says.
"I'll take your word for it," I mumble with a small smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I gasp awake and jump up when suddenly a hand grabs my bicep, "Pens," Alex says and I shut my eyes letting my breathing even out.
"You're okay," he assures me softly. I nod slowly and settle back into the hospital bed.
"Sorry nightmare," I mumble,
"It's okay," he assures me leaning back into his chair. I glance at it and it couldn't be comfy at all. Alex hadn't left my side since I've woken up, I knew he left during the hours I was asleep during the day and Savannah was here but other than that he was with me.
"We all get nightmares it's okay,"
"Do you get them?" I question him turning in the bed a bit. He nods.
"Yea, a lot actually," he sighs and rubs his jaw, leaning back in the chair and slouching down.
"Hey Xander," I say and he looks at me. I slowly move to the left side of the bed and pat the extra space. He shakes his head. "You look like you haven't slept in like five months, get your ass up here, it's not like we haven't slept in the same bed before," I mumble.
Alex stifles a laugh and slowly stands and slides into the bed with me, throwing his arm around my shoulders, I move into him and place my head on his chest.
"You think I'm crazy for wanting to keep the baby huh?" I ask softly as his hand rubs my back.
"No, I'm not. Whatever you would've chosen to do I would've stood by you Pens because it's up to you, I'll just stand by and hold your hand," He tells me.
I take in his words, Alex didn't seem like the type to allow me to do whatever I pleased but then it was Alex and I knew somewhere deep down he did have a soft spot and he had just shown me it.
"What the hell are we gonna do?" I ask feeling suddenly nervous. Alex sighs and pulls me closer to him.
"I don't know, but I guess we'll figure it out together," he says softly before kissing the top of my head.
"If your not a good dad to our baby, I'm going to kick your ass," I tell him. He laughs.
"I know Pens, I know," He chuckles lightly as my eyes flutter shut. I allow myself to fall asleep against
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