Chapter Nine
Ruth Eden Glass
"It's still early on" Doctor True said cautiously. He was watching me with soft eyes but there was suspicion in them. I turned to Quinn who was practically vibrating with happiness next to me. I sat on the patient bed, with the doctor using an ultrasound to scan my stomach â even though I was too early on to see or hear anything. But, Quinn insisted and, well, doctor or not Quinn was still his Alpha.
"Can you give me a moment alone with Doctor True?" I asked him. Quinn's giddy expression fell instantly and he frowned at me.
"But I'm the father".
"It's not about the baby, Quinn. I want to talk to the Doctor about my body changes and I would feel more comfortable talking to him without you in the room".
"I'd like to know those thing" Quinn argued, "to help you through this".
"And, as sweet as that is, this is something I would like to discuss alone. I'll call you back in the moment that we start discussing the baby again". It took a few more minutes of convincing Quinn, but finally he left us alone for a little while.
"So, Eden, what is it you want to know about?" Doctor True asked once we were alone.
"I had a stillborn three years ago" I told him. "It happened through trauma, I was thrown down a flight of stairs". There was a long moment of silence before I continued. "I just want to know if that will have any effect on this pregnancy".
The doctor considered that for a few moments, before answering. "It shouldn't because the cause of the miscarriage was known. However, we can never be too careful with these things. So, we should do scans and monitoring every month and I want to make sure you have the flu jab in the next few weeks".
He grabbed his clipboard and jotted down some notes. "It says here that you are a Cheerleading Coach for the college, is that right? Well, I'm not going to stop all physical activity but no throws or dangerous stunts. Dancing and basic gymnastics is fine, but not the rest".
I nodded in understanding, "that is a given. But is there any chance that the death of my son could cause a problem with this baby?"
"It's hard to say. It shouldn't cause any problems. But, like I said, we will do extra monitoring just to make sure" he promised.
"Thank you, doctor. One more thing; Quinn knows about the still-born, but I don't want him freaking out about the baby and I every minute of the day. So, can we not mention that we're doing all the scans because of that? I'm sure he doesn't know how often we should be monitoring, so can we just pretend it's normal. I don't want him worried".
Doctor True nodded, "I understand. I won't mention it to the Alpha".
We brought Quinn back in and his mood instantly lifted when the Doctor began talking about the baby again. Quinn had questions...lots and lots of questions. What, why and how. It was like he had prepared these answers for years â ready and waiting for that time when he would be the father rather than the 'uncle' or 'godfather' or 'babysitter'. It gave me a real insight into Quinn's life and his loneliness.
When we were done â or rather when Quinn was out of questions â we decided to head out for lunch, away from the Pack so that we could talk about the baby. Quinn drove us to a small family style Italian restaurant. We sat in a small, intimate, booth in the quiet side of the restaurant.
"I just...I just can't believe this is all happening" Quinn breathed out, shaking his head in disbelief. "I've always wanted to be a father".
"I want to get one thing straight with you" I began. "I want you in every aspect of the child's life. I don't want you to miss anything. But, it doesn't change anything between us. I'm not your wife, or your girlfriend. I...I can't commit to you, Quinn, and I never truly will be able to. So, I'm not going to run around, pretending to try and make it work with you, because it won't".
"You won't even try?"
"It wouldn't be fair to you. I know I can't be what you want, and I don't want to get in the way of you meeting someone else who might be what you're looking for. But, that doesn't change anything with the baby. You are the father and I want you there for every moment and every memory".
We spoke, and ate, for the remainder of lunch before Quinn secretly glanced at his watch â he had something to do but he wouldn't dare say that to me. Things had changed to him in the space of that morning. His child had just become his most important priority and he wouldn't dare tell me that I was taking up too much time.
"I know I'm still on leave but I think I'm going to head into work and check in on cheer practice" I lied easily, giving him an out. "So, we should probably head out".
"Good idea, I have some work to do back in the Pack anyway" he replied. We paid up before heading out the restaurant â I didn't fail to notice the soft hand that Quinn put on my back as we walked out, his silent claim and protection over me. I didn't want it but I didn't have a choice; I was having Quinn's baby and Quinn was an Alpha.
Quinn drove me to the college, a soft comfortable silence falling between us. "Thanks for the ride" I said, as he pulled up outside the cheer gym.
"You know, I did promise to see your squad practice before" he commented, as Ashley and three other cheerleaders walked past the car â waving at me before they slipped into the cheer gym.
"You did. But, you have other work to do. Another time" I said â and I meant it. I had been an intense day and I needed to shake that all off and have some time without Quinn to think things through. "It's not a full practice today. Next time we have a run through of our sectional routine I'll let you know".
"I'm going to hold you to that" he smiled. He paused for a moment before changing the subject. "I know you don't want to be with me and as much as I wish I could change your mind, I have to accept that. But, I don't want to miss a moment of the pregnancy. So, I would really like it if you considered moving in with me".
"Quinn, I--"
"Just, here me out" he cut me off. "I'm talking separate bedrooms, separate bathrooms and nothing romantic. I have the biggest house in the Pack and it's only me. And after the baby is born, I don't want us having to share nights at each of our houses. I want to live with my child and I know you do to. So, will you just consider it?"
I nodded, "I'll think about it". And, honestly, it made sense. We both wanted to be there for our child growing up and it made sense to experience that together, even if we weren't a couple. "Quinn, one more thing".
"Shoot".
"I don't want to tell anyone yet".
His face fell, "what? Why? This is good news".
"I know it is, but let's wait until I have my fourteen-week scan and we know everything is going well. I don't want to tell the entire Pack that their Alpha is about to have a child and then something happens".
"Nothing will happen, Ruth, this pregnancy is going to be fine".
"I hope so" I commented, "but I would still like to be cautious to begin with". Silence fell in the car for a few minutes before Quinn sighed heavily and nodded.
"Fine, alright, but I would like to tell Ken. He's been my best friend since kindergarten and I don't feel right not telling him".
"Alright, but just promise me that he won't tell everyone in the Pack. I'm not ready for the attention yet". Understanding shone through his eyes and he nodded firmly. We both then said our goodbyes before I slipped out the car.
I turned and waved goodbye to Quinn. It was only as he was driving away that I reality began to set in. My child would not only be Quinn's son, but might also be a future Alpha and I had to accommodate for that. I would have to live with Quinn and let him be just as involved with the child's life as I was.
It was not going to be easy, but it was want I would do to ensure that my unborn child was save, loved and protected.