In the Park

In the Park

By Kappagirl and Jlm121
AKA Mermaidman and Barnacleboy ("To the invisible boat mobile!")

What am I doing in the park? I'm not a park person. I guess I walked here. After the news.

After. The. News.

The News.

What am I going to do?

My hands fly to my midsection. Flu. I thought I had the flu.

I understand the need for the question before the X Ray, but it had been awhile since I'd even had to consider it.

Thank god I did.

Those three little words on the sheet.

Are you pregnant?

There was a chance, and I wasn't going to take the risk. And now I'm here.

In the park. And pregnant.

In the park and pregnant with my client's child.

I'm a Lifetime movie.

In the park and pregnant. Sounds like a bad country music hook. Oh god, I am thinking about country music, can pickles and ice cream be far behind? Or Burgers. Pie. Pickles. I think I may be sick

I am counting backwards in Russian trying not to throw up on my shoes when I feel the stare.

A male voice breaks the silence, and I almost expect it to be Sonny. And when I look at him everything will be alright. Like he promised. But it's not Sonny, and it's not alright. It is, however, Mac.

"Alexis, are you alright?"

I laugh to myself. Alright? Ask me in nine months Commissioner. But then I shock the hell out of myself.

"No."

Who said that? Certainly not me.

Apparently I have shocked Mac too. The look on his face is practically priceless. Honesty was the last thing he was expecting. I can get out of this. I know I can.

"You...want to talk about it?"

No.

"Yes."

What did they give me at the hospital? Truth serum? Apparently postive pregnancy results are equvilant to sodium penathol . He sits down next to me, and my eyes don't meet his. He waits.

"We're friends right?" It's half a question at best.

He answers too quickly

"Sure."

Then I laugh. "We're not friends."

He tries to stop me.

"Alexis. . .."

I half-smile and half-remember. "It's not personal, Mac, but let's call it what it is."

"What is it?"

"You are my...colleague, my peer...the police commissioner...."

"...And I've seen you naked."

"Once."

"Is that what you were going for?"

"It's a bit...."

"Only if you choose to make it..."

"Awkward"

And there it is. He has put it out there. We were discreet. It was a one time only thing, but it barred us from ever having any sort of relationship other than a public acquaintance.

"Alexis, do you want to talk about it?"

Might as well.

"Yes."

"Talk."

I choose my words specifically. This is not the easiest thing to explain.

"Something's happened."

"Something? Anything more specific?"

How do I say this without hyperventilating. Let's see if he can guess.

"Let me ask you, Mac, take a shot...what's the most outrageous thing you can think of that could happen?"

He doesn't answer. Now this is almost fun.

"Reach for the stars."

"Besides Luke Spencer involving you in a murder plot. My imagination is pretty limited."

Cmon Mac, you can do better than that.

"Think big."

"That leaves Sonny."

Ding Ding Ding. Give that man a prize.

"Doesn't it always?"

"It's personal."

"Did he hurt you?"

"Not intentionally."

"Alexis, are you okay?

Time to go for broke. I square my shoulders and face him.

"Mac, I'm pregnant."

I feel sick. I have to stand up or I am going to throw up. For the second time my arms wrap around my abdomen. When did that become instinct? As I step away from him I realize something.

"That's the first time I said it out loud."

He is silent.

"What? No congratulations?"

"If that's what you want, but i don't think you'd be sitting alone in the park if it were."

"Care to give me some pointers on how I am supposed to act? What I am supposed to want?"

"How do you feel?"

He is completely insane.

"How do I feel? I'm...pregnant...enceinte...knocked up..."

"It's not the end of the world..."

"Oh really? Are you even hearing me?"

"You're pregnant. You're knocked up. I know it's not mine."

The corners of my mouth betray me, and I can't help but smile.

"You sure about that Commissioner?"

He smiles back and straightens his glasses. "I think I'd definitely remember that."

I feign annoyance, but he's cute like this

"It's Sonny's, isn't it?"

Nothing escapes him.

But I'm being bitchy, and he's trying to be a friend.

"We....go together."

"And now..."

"Now? Now...it doesn't matter. Carly...is back."

"She's alive, Alexis. That doesn't mean she is back in Sonny's life. She's not even his wife anymore."

"Haven't been over to the Harborview towers recently, have you?"

"No.... not my part of town."

"Carly is back. And I...did what I always do. I was the good friend, the noble one, and I stepped back."

"Why?"

"Because that is what I do."

"Who says? Where is it written that you, Alexis Davis, have to be noble and suffering?"

I chuckle, and then I whisper, "Because...it's what I do."

"You shouldn't."

"You don't know him."

"I agree with almost nothing the man has ever done. But you."

"Me."

His confession startles me slightly, and he is next to me and speaking again before I can fully comprehend it.

"How he got you into his life I'll never know. How he's kept you there, I'll always question. How he got your heart...well...I'll always be jealous."

I fight the blush rising on my cheeks. "Mac...this isn't helping."

His voice lowers. "I didn't say I wanted to help."

Suddenly, I am defensive.

"What do you want?"

Again with the bitchy. Get a grip Alexis.

"I sat down to listen."

"You did. And I invited you to."

"And you told me. Did it make you feel any better?"

"Does it get easier?"

"Considering that you told me...someone you barely know...I'd say it will be easier the next time"

"Yes, but I may not have seen them naked."

"You have to tell him."

"You gonna make me?"

"I just might."

"How?"

"How? I'll haul him down to the PCPD if need be, and lock the two of you in a room."

"That's illegal imprisonment without just cause and due process."

"I'm scared."

"You should be, after my lawsuit, the baby and I would be set for life."

"Alexis..."

"Mac? I would never not tell him. I...could never do that to him."

"I know. It's not who you are."

"I'll figure it out."

"You always do."

"I guess I should say thank you,"

"I didn't do much."

"You stopped. You listened."

"I wanted to."

"Mac. . . I. . ."

"Don't worry about it."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, Alexis."

I glance at the park entrance. I should probably go. I feel better. He helped.

"Congratulations."

That helps more. Who would've thought?

I take his hand in mine and press a kiss to his cheek.

Then he proves that he can still surprise me.

He kisses me.

And I let him.

And I almost enjoy it.

When I step back, I nod slightly. "I have to go."

"Do you need a ride somewhere?"

"I've got it."

"Don't wait too long, Alexis."

"Thanks again for the ear, Mac."

I'm walking out of the park when I realize that even though I wasn't expecting him, he was the right one at the right time.

Again.

My fingertips idly touch my lips.

How come I can't fall for the nice guys?

*finis*