Being on bed rest actually did suck, I was never one to stay in bed past twelve, always on the go with work or even my painting and now me being on bed rest Alex has gotten even more protective. I remember his face when he rushed in after Savannah and I rushed to the hospital, he looked absolutely horrified.

I would be on bed rest until my next appointment just for good measure and I was restless. Considering I couldn't go out I had to have video calls with my new therapist. Talking to a therapist I remember how much I hated it when I was in my late teens.

Reliving all those memories of my parents and now the hostage situation, I hated it, when I first started talking to a therapist I got nightmares of the home invasion that killed my parents. Alex had to wake me up because I was screaming.

While I was a teen I used to go to school and avoid all my nightmares and the aftermath I felt after therapy but now I had to sit down and continue to relive those moments.

"Pens," I look up at Alex smiles at me softly.

"What?" I ask, blinking and shaking my head.

"I asked if you wanted Alfredo pasta for dinner," he chuckles. I shrug, "what's wrong? You've been stuck in your head all day," He says, I tap my pencil against my open sketchbook.

"Nothing, just my therapy session that's all,"

"Your parents?" He asks throwing an arm over the back of the couch and leans closer to my legs that were up on the couch.

"No the hostage," I say. "We talked about what I would've like if I did know I was pregnant," I tell him and he raises an eyebrow. I wave him off and look down at my sketch pad.

Alex reaches over and grabs the sketchbook, he smiles "can I find more drawings of me in here?" He teases and I whack him with my foot. The drawing I was currently working on was a sketch of Alex smiling at my stomach, his hand resting on my stomach.

"You're good, I mean you've always been good but I never really did inspect your drawing or paintings this closely," he says slowly flipping through the rest.

"My mom wanted to own her own art gallery,"

"She painted too?" He asks and I nod. "Guess it runs in the family then huh?" He teases and I shrug.

I sit up and move around, falling into his lap with ease as he wraps his arms around me, "Hmm now that I've got your attention, Savannah mentioned a pregnancy shoot,"

"Hmm if I knew any better that's your hint of us being together?" He raises an eyebrow teasingly. I whack him.

"I don't think that about pregnancy shoots, I think it just shows that both the mom and dad love their child endlessly," I tell him and he hums continuing to flip through my sketchbook.

"Your parents weren't together right when they were pregnant with you?" He asks suddenly. I nod, surprised he remembered that small detail.

"They were best friends," I mumble.

"I've had a lot of people tell me that sometimes people are better at being co-parents than being in a relationship while parenting," He tells me softly.

"I know, I've had people tell me that too," I nod. Alex and I weren't together romantically at all but physically that's a different story. Sure I respected and had a lot of adoration for Alex but I often found myself wondering if I did love him and that kinda scared me.

"Xander," I say, he looks down at me as much as he could considering I had my head on his shoulder and the back of the couch. "Whatever happens between us, I like the dynamic we have and I don't want that to change," I tell him.

He stares at me and blinks, "I agree," he replies. "So this pregnancy shoot? Should it be how I tell my grandparents and sister that I knocked you up and were about to have a daughter?" He asks and I laugh.

"Is that how you want to tell them?"

"Yeah kinda," he replies quickly, "I'd rather not be in the same room when they find out because I have no doubt my grandma will grab a broom and beat me down for not keeping my dick in my pants,"

"You should've kept your dick in your pants," I tease him and he chuckles, leaning forward and placing my sketchbook on the coffee table.

"You are the only girl in my life that has given me the longest case of blue balls," he tells me.

"I'm sorry I'm such a hottie," I shrug as he moves me around so I'm straddling him now.

"Damn right, why the hell do you think I've flirted with you since the beginning of time?" He asks leaning his head back on the couch.

"Because Savannah was taken by your best friend and bro code is real?" I suggest and he laughs.

"Savannah is a beautiful woman don't get me wrong but I kinda prefer the blonde and green-eyed beauty type who has the personality of a firecracker," he tells me.

"Hmm, she seems like she keeps you on your toes,"

"Hmm doesn't she?" He tilts his head at me and I smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thankfully after my appointment, my doctor said I don't have to be on bed rest any longer but I should take it easy and I actually listened to him because he knows best. We talked about the option of C section which would be safer for me considering my quick visit to the hospital, we won't know much until I'm near the end of my second trimester and entering my third.

And the second I was off bed rest I immediately booked a photographer who does pregnancy shoots, we decided to do the shoot here at my apartment because it kinda was aesthetically pleasing so.

"Damn," Alex says as he walks into the en-suite. I roll my eyes at him as I continue curling my hair. Despite the cold hair we were experiencing now since it was fall I slipped on a light blue dress that stopped at my calves, hugged my curves, and of course belly and the sleeves were off the shoulder.

"Fuck me Pens," Alex mumbles lightly tapping my ass and I elbow him. Alex looked just as handsome and yummy, with his khakis pants, rolled up at the ankles and a dark polo shirt with the buttons open. We were both wearing blue for a girl baby, we were messed up.

After curling my hair I pinned back my hair with a small pink bow. Thankfully my living room had the hint suitable hints of pink around, on my art easel I left a painting I painted during my bed rest about of a stork dropping off a baby with a pink blanket. I was hoping people get it.

"Okay but like do we have time for a quickie? Because my dick is hard," Alex tells me and I laugh.

"No, keep it in your pants just this once, please," I beg, turning around his arms immediately wrapping around me.

"Your right. You know, I don't think we'd do well with quickies," he tells me.

"Why the hell would you say that? Are you trying to make me horny?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"No," he laughs, "we just wouldn't do well on quickies because when we get going we're in it for the long run," he mumbles his hand lowering and squeezing my ass.

Okay, he had me there, whenever we entered the bedroom and our clothes came out we didn't come out for hours it seemed like.

"You've done your job, you've got me horny," I mumble against his lips and he smirks.

"You're mine after this damn photoshoot okay?"

"I don't have another fuck buddy," I tell him and he narrows his eyes at me as I give him a sweet smile and kiss him.

"Uhh you better not be," he squeezed my ass again and tugs my hair gently, "this body's mine," he whispers in my ear and I shift on my feet trying not to show him I just shivered.

"You possessive jerk," I mumble and he smirks. A knock on the door brings us out of our bubble. Alex sighs and I kiss his cheek before unwrapping his hands from me.

"Situate yourself while I go welcome our guest. I don't need you having a boner in our pictures and having to explain it to our daughter on the future," I muse as I step by him.

"You absolute fucking tease," he tells me and slaps my ass as I pass him. I elbow him gently before rushing, as fast as I could, towards the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Wow, you guys are hot," Savannah whistles as I show her the pregnancy shoot pictures on my laptop. I laugh but didn't deny it. "Your baby is gonna be hot as fuck and I'm not even gonna hide my jealousy,"

I roll my eyes at my best friend, we were having lunch today since she was off work, Alex was in Chicago for the best week which made me feel empty a bit, and not to mention the bed was empty too.

"I still can't believe I'm pregnant," I confess, "it hasn't really clicked in until we rushed to the hospital,"

"You still can't believe your pregnant with Alexander Phillips's baby?" She laughs and I nod. My phone buzzes and I wait for the text message to show on my laptop screen. It was Alex, of course.

Xander Phillips- I'm telling you not to make some while I'm away, don't be a bigger tease than you already are.

I laugh at his text, I had texted him saying I wanted to make lemon meringue pie, which apparently was his favorite.

Me- you aren't telling a pregnant woman what not to eat right?

Xander Phillips- don't step on my balls and guilt trip me, Valentine.

Me- I'll save you a piece ;)

"You are the only person who I know can call Alex, Xander and he doesn't get annoyed," Savannah muses standing up from the couch.

"It was a joke at first, he snapped at me once when you and Ed continued to drag us out, he said his dad said called him Xander," I mumble.

"It's definitely a soft spot for you then," Savannah shrugs, "Want anything to drink?" She asks.

"Water please," I tell her as I look at Alex and I's text conversation before closing the tap on my laptop, I smile as the pregnancy pictures pop up again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arms wrap around my body and I unconsciously lean back and sigh "I didn't know you'd be home tonight," I mumble letting the shower continue to spray against me.

"Wanted it to be a surprise," Alex whispers lowly into my ear. I lean my head on his shoulder, trying to his erection pressed against my back. "you're so fucking beautiful," he mumbles running his hands over my stomach.

"you're very horny tonight," I mumble and he chuckles huskily.

"and that's a problem for you?" he hums, "thought you liked horny me,"

"I like a lot of you but not that you've mentioned it maybe I'm just using you for your body," I joke and he bites on my ear softly.

"so not the fact that the baby inside you is half mine?" he asks his lips moving around the shell of my ear. I shiver.

"that's a plus," I moan out as he slowly presses himself against my ass.

"Pens, I know we haven't done this before so give me the red light, and I'll stop," He tells me groaning a bit. Gripping his hands.

"green light," I whisper. Giving Alex the green light, I feel him grab his shaft and slowly ease himself inside me. We share a husky moan as he allows me to adjust to his size.

Alex's hands slide from my stomach to my hips as he slowly begins to move, "oh fuck," I moan. "You're big," I tell him.

"Oh god your tight baby," He says his pace picking up. "Put your hands on the wall Pens," he grunts. I do as he says and I moan as I take him all.

"faster," I moan out as his thumb pressed on my pussy pushing to my edge.

I let out a moan in a scream. "Xander I'm gonna c-come," I stutter as he presses deeper into me and his thumb moves in circular motions causing my climax.

I arch my back falling back against him as he continues to move, the sound of our skin slapping against each other and the water echoed throughout the en-suite.

My walls tighten against him before I come down from my high pushing him off the edge and his release inside me.

"God damn," Alex mumbles against my ear as we both fall limp, our heavy breathes filling the shower. The only thing keeping me from falling was Alex's hands on my hips. Alex slowly pulls out of me making a pop sound and I shiver.

He turns me around slowly and cups the back of my neck, "god Pens," he mumbles leaning down and kissing me.

"Welcome home," I smirk against his lips and he chuckles.

"Did you know I love being inside you and not wrapping up?" He muses and I whack him. He kisses me quickly before reaching over and grabbing my loofa and body wash. Once we both finished washing each other, Alex wrapped a towel around me, drying me off and after he dried himself he picked me up and carried me to the bed. He hands me one of his flannels as he throws on some boxers.

We slide into bed and he pulls me against him my eyes fluttering shut, completely exhausted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Pens, baby," Alex says kissing my ear, "you've gotta get up," he chuckles and I groan. The covers were soon thrown off me and I feel his arms slowly come around my body and lift me up.

"Ugh, I hate you," I grumble as he carries me out of the room. I open my eyes as he walks us into the main area of the apartment and he settles me down on a barstool at the kitchen counter. He squeezes my shoulder before walking to the stove.

I reach out and grab the envelopes on the counter thinking they were my bills but they were Alex's "when did you go back to yours?" I question.

"Early," he tells me "I went for a run,"

"You ran to your house?" I exclaim and he chuckles but doesn't answer me. Throwing his bills on the counter again I reach for the plate as he hands it to me.

"You know this would've been easier if you had just moved in with me," he muses ripping open an envelope, my thighs clench together as I watch the veins on his arms and hands flex as he does so, I shake my head.

"I am not moving again and please I've never lived with someone before,"

"Sorry to break it to you babe but that's what we're kinda doing right now," he says glancing over the paper.

"Yea but this is different, if we're fighting I can kick you out, and you know I will,"

"I know even if we were living together like actually, you'd still kick me out, doesn't matter where we are Pens you'd still kick me out," He chuckles.

"I like my own space," I shrug biting into my bacon.

"That's for damn sure," he nods leaning forward on the counter. I roll my eyes at him. "Bills, Bills, Bills, we love adulting," he sighs and moves the envelopes aside.

"Oh god we're gonna be truly adulting when Addie comes," I grumble.

"I mean I already take care of you, what's another baby gonna add to it?" He teases tilting his head.

"Oh, how I wish I could kick you right now," I say.

He folds his hands and leans closer, "Hey Pens," I raise an eyebrow.

"I think you are gonna be a great fucking mom," He tells me and I smile.

"I think your gonna be a somewhat good dad," I tell him and his eyes light up with amusement. He reaches over and snatches a piece of bacon from my plate.

"That means together we'll be mediocre parents," he says winking before biting into the bacon. I laugh.

"Perfect parents seem overrated in this century," I shrug. Alex holds out his fist and we fist pump. "So are you gonna tell me why you couldn't sleep?" I ask as he rounds the counter and stops beside me.

"Nothing you need to worry about," he assures me with a tight-lipped smile slowly tucking my hair behind my ear. I turn and look up at him.

"Maybe you should see a therapist," I say half-jokingly. He forces his smile bigger and cups my chin.

"Everyone gets nightmares once in and a while at work, I'm fine," he says as I slip my hand under his t-shirt, my fingers slowly tracing the scar left from when he was shot and had surgery done. I remember Savannah talking about it a couple of years ago and she was worried herself.

"Okay but just do you remember, we don't keep secrets from each other, that's never been us," I remind him. He nods and finally gives me a genuine smile.

"I know," He says and leans down to kiss me.