An Unexpected Surprise

[Lindsay Hall]

Lindsay Love paced nervously around her kitchen, preparing dinner for her boyfriend, Alastair. She had been sure to cook all his favorite foods since she had some potentially unsettling news to tell him about. Lindsay looked over at her daughter, Arabella, sitting at the table with her eyes glued on Lindsay. The part- veela woman smiled down at her young child, nodding at the coloring book and crayons in front of the three year old. "Bella, how is your picture coming?" she asked the beautiful little girl. Almost finished! Don't look! trilled the high musical voice of Arabella Rider.

Lindsay laughed at the litte girl and turned back to preparing her meal, hoping that Alastair didn't become too distraught over her news. Lindsay had been through this before, in an even more difficult way. Lindsay was a single mother since the child's father had died one month before her birth. The blonde woman had been raising Bella mostly by herself and hadn't intended on having any more children for quite some time. All those plans might change now that Lindsay was over a week late in her cycle. That was the news she had to break to Alastair and she could only pray he wouldn't freak out.

 

[Alastair Hall]

Work had been a bit slow for Alastair as of late with Wang International, so much so that he had taken up some of his free lance photography work and that had helped him for a bit. Although he was glad that work had recently started to pick up again and while he was away from home a little bit more than he’d like too he still loved his job so it was situation that he could live with. Work was busy and everyone was running around like mad trying to get things ready before the fashion show this evening. He had been back stage taking a few promo pictures for the agency of girls that were modelling tonight. A lot of them had numerous outfit changes and there was a fair few models so it took a while before his last model came to get her picture. “Perfect!” he said as he double checked the last few pictures that he had taken and to be sure that he didn’t need anymore. “Thanks Alana! Have a good show tonight.” he said to the model as she rushed off to get ready for the show. Alastair started to pack away his camera and other equipment, glad that it was finally the weekend, which meant he got to spend sometime with Lindsay and Arabella. He had missed the two girls more than anything and he was finding it harder and harder to have to leave them for a few days at a time. With his job and his home being in different time zones it was hard for him to even pop home for a bit during the day because it was either night time, too early or Lindsay was at work; different things that kept him from seeing the woman he loved and the little girl that he loved as if she was his own.

Saying his final goodbyes to everyone Alastair apparated off home and within a matter of moments he was standing at the path in front of his girlfriends’ house that he had been living in for sometime now. Making his way up the path he couldn’t wipe the grin from his face, he was just so happy to be home. Entering the house he instantly smelled something coming from the kitchen. It was definitely a familiar smell and one that made Alastair even more happy to be home, it was his favourite meal and one that Lindsay made just right. “Well isn’t this a nice surprise.” he said as he entered the kitchen, before walking over to his girlfriend and wrapping his arms around her. “How’re my two favourite girls?” he asked as he embraced Lindsay a bit more before reaching down to see Arabella. “What’s this you’re doing?” he asked in his playful voice that just seemed to come naturally when he was talking to the beautiful little girl.

 

[Lindsay Hall]

Lindsay turned as she heard the familiar steps and opening of the door that could only mean that her longtime love had returned home. A soft smile appeared on her lips as she quickly took dinner off the stove, bringing it over to their kitchen table. Her emerald eyes met Alastair's as he appeared in the doorway, coming straight to her, wrapping his arms around her small waist. Lindsay gave him a squeeze as she answered his question, taking care to conceal her worries for the moment. "We are doing quite nicely. We had a productive trip to the zoo this afternoon. Didn't we Bella?" she asked her small child, a grin on her face. "Yes we did mommy. I got to see the monkeys!" she squeeled with delight to Alastair.

At that moment, Arabella got Alastair's undivided attention as he headed to her, looking at the picture she was drawing. Bella was hard to ignore. "I'm drawing a picture for the fridge!" Bella answered a bright smile on her adorable face. "See here's you, and mommy, and Audrey, and Karah, and me! Our family." she said, continuing to work on the picture. Lindsay grinned at her daughter, not at all surprised that Arabella already included Alastair as part of their family. The blonde woman took this moment of distraction to resume her conversation with Alastair, leaving Bella to finish her picture. "I did miss you though. How was work?" Lindsay asked her boyfriend. Things had been slow, forcing Alastair to do some free lance work once more.

 

[Alastair Hall]

[color=5b5b5b]Oh how Alastair missed Lindsay. He may not have been away for that long, he’d still get to see her at night and kiss her good-bye in the morning, or whatever night and morning was for him as the different time zones were really starting to mess up his home routine so he was focused mainly on his work routine. He had been a bit peeved off at having little to no work for a the past few months but he had become accustomed to staying at home with Arabella while Lindsay ran her shop and take a trip into the town during the day to visit her for lunch and whatnot. While he loved being back at his job and doing what he loved best he was beginning to miss the smaller things that he had when he stay at home all the time. He knew that he wouldn’t be lucky to have a good mix between the two but he was going to try his hardest to have the best mix he could get. He knew that there was going to be some work coming up – closer to home soon, so at least that was something that he could use to his advantage. With his arms around Lindsay for a few moments all his worries about time zones and work left his mind and he just focused on what he had, here and now, his one true love that he didn’t really want to let go off but his other love was almost calling out to him. He knew that Arabella wasn’t his but he loved her as if she were, she was such an adorable little girl, he couldn’t help but have fallen in love with her at the first moment he saw her. When Lindsay explained about their trip to the zoo Alastair put on an over exaggerated surprised face. “Monkeys? I’m jealous. I looove monkeys.” he said as he started to flail his arms around a bit like he was a monkey, trying to tickly Arabella.

He listened to the small blonde as she explained her picture. He smiled wholeheartedly when the young girl said it was ‘our family.’ The girl, in all of her innocence, had accepted him as part of her family and it was honestly one of the smallest things that could be said to him that made him unbelievably happy. “It’s beautiful.” he said, kissing her softly on the head he stood up again and moved over towards Lindsay. Wrapping his arms loosely around her waist he pulled her closely a bit, taking in a deep breath as he savoured this moment, he was truly happy and content right here, right now. “I missed you too, baby, more than you could imagine. And work was work, couldn’t wait to get home to see you again.” he said in a low voice as he kissed her softly. “So what’s the special occasion?” he asked, inclining his head towards the dinner on the table, which just so happened to be his favourite meal.[/color]

Out of Character:

Sorry about the wait! Life >.<

 

[Lindsay Hall]

Lindsay watched her daughter interacting with Alastair fondly. She knew it couldn't have been as easy as he made it look to so completely accept someone else's child. He treated the little girl as if she were his own. For Lindsay, it was easy to see how much Alastair cared for Bella and loved her. The blonde woman was truly grateful to have found someone as wonderful as Alastair Hall to become a part of her new life, the life after losing Arabella's father. Alastair had come along at the time she most needed someone and welcomed her into his life through a snapshot photograph. He had first been her best friend, a constant presence in her life before that strong friendship turned into just as strong of a romance.

The corners of her emerald eyes crinkled as Lindsay laughed at Alastair's words to the toddler as she laughed with joy as he tickled her. "Hey! Not fair!!" Bella squeeled to no avail, gasping. Alastair left the young girl to her coloring as she blissfully ignored the adults in the room, returning to envelope Lindsay in a hug. The blonde woman grinned at his words, knowing exactly how he felt. They kissed tenderly and briefly, still aware of the child in the room. Alastair's question made her stomach flip nervously, knowing that the occasion was to butter him up for her news. Lindsay tutted as she shook her head. "Can't a girl just do something nice for her man?" she asked, deflecting his question.

 

[Alastair Hall]

Alastair laughed softly, yet fondly as Arabella squealed in protest to his tickling her. He soon stopped and let her get back to her picture as it seemed to be important to her and he didn’t want to distract her anymore, plus he wanted nothing more than to envelope his arms around his love and eat up her beauty with his eyes. It was so nice to have a break and be able to spend as much time as he wanted with her because it felt that, recently, they hadn’t had a lot of time to themselves and he missed her more than he could even express in words. With his arms wrapped loosely around his loves waist he gazed into her glorious green eyes, wanting to take in every aspect of her as if he would never see her again instead it was because he just missed her so much it was as if he was revamping his mental image of her. He had to admit that Lindsay was the most gorgeous person he had ever met but she seemed extra lovely today, he didn’t know what it was but he shrugged it off easily as to his memory doing her no justice while he had been away.

Alastair’s body tensed slightly as he enjoyed the kiss he shared with his girlfriend, it was soft and tender but it was just what he needed to feel that he was home again. It seemed strange that felt as if he’d been away from home for a long time when really he hadn’t. He still slept in his bed every night, or rather the end of his day which wasn’t night in New Zealand, unfortunately. Although the past while at work had been so hectic that he was doing extra long hours which meant he never got to see Lindsay as much as he would have liked. For now though work was going to ease off slightly and he only had to go in on the occasional day, which meant that he had to start up his freelance work again very soon if he wanted to keep a regular income; thankfully working for Wang International, he had built himself up a name and a pretty good one at that so in a way he was in demand with certain companies. He laughed softly at Lindsay’s response to his asking her about what the special occasion was as he was getting treated to his favourite meal. He, of course, was only teasing her because he knew Lindsay was the type of person that would make him his favourite meal for no reason in particular. “I know, I joke.” he said with grin as he laughed slightly. “Thank you, baby.” he said as he gave her another quick kiss.

 

[Lindsay Hall]

The knot in Lindsay's stomach loosened slightly as Alastair laughed at her teasing response. She didn't want him to realize she was hiding something until she was ready to tell him exactly what that was. Lindsay grinned at Alastair's thank you. "You're welcome, love." the young veela said. "Oh shoot!" she gasped as she smelt a faint burning smell. Lindsay twisted back around, Alastair's arms still wrapped loosely around her waist, only now he was behind her. Lindsay grabbed the pan off of the stove to keep it from burning. It was the last thing that she had on the oven. Dinner was finally finished.

With a quick kiss on Alastair's lips, Lindsay broke their embrace. She pulled out her wand and flicked it at the food she had spent the last hour and a half cooking. It whisked itself to the table. With another flick at the cabinets, the dishes and silverware zoomed out to set the table. "Bella, honey, come eat dinner." she said to the three year old. The little child listened to her mother, taking her place at the round table. Lindsay smiled at Bella, and then at Alastair as she sat down. "Al, are you working tomorrow?" she asked, hoping the answer was no. She had an assistant running the shop again tomorrow so that she could spend time with her family. Lindsay still had to talk to Alastair about her news but she would do that after dinner, after Arabella was asleep.

 

[Alastair Hall]

As laughter escaped the young man’s lips he realised just how lucky he really was and how much he loved being home. Sure he knew how lucky he was and every day that he looked at Lindsay and Arabella he reminded himself of that but it was small moments like this that made it even more so for him. He was so happy that he had found Lindsay and despite being so young he didn’t mind that she had a child, he had taken to her as if he was her own; of course he knew he couldn’t replace her real father but he would like to think that he could at least play that male role model part in her life that all children needed, especially at such an influential age as Arabella was. In his arms, Alastair felt Lindsay squirm so he quickly let her go, wondering what was wrong. Seeing her move towards the oven he realised that the food must have burned or something, laughing softly he called over to Bella, “Your mummy is so silly.” Jokingly of course, kissing Lindsay on the cheek to show he was joking.

Alastair watched as Lindsay set the table and kiss her softly before moving over to the table and taking his seat. He smiled over at the little girl as she sat down, now getting more used to things like eating and taking into her food in a slight awkward way making it a bit messy but she was still young so it was allowed. He smiled at Lindsay as she sat down, picking up his knife and fork about to start eating until Lindsay stopped him by asking a question. Smiling as he thought of the answer he replied, “Nope, or the day after that or even the day after that. Actually I don’t go to work for a whole week.” His face broke out in a beam. It had been far too long since he spent some quality time with Lindsay and Arabella so he had made sure to get some time off, it was well deserved and much needed.

 

[Lindsay Hall]

Lindsay's smile brightened as she heard Alastair say that he had the whole week off. She could hardly believe it. It was rare that they got this much time to spend with each other. Lindsay only hoped that he would still want to spend time with her after the bombshell Lindsay was going to drop on him after dinner. The thought tugged at her stomach, making her not so hungry. "A whole week?!" she exclaimed with excitement. "I don't know what we will do with all of this free time!" she teased him jokingly.

Lindsay didn't eat much of her dinner. She mostly just pushed the different foods around on her plate, taking a small bite here or there. Lindsay was much too anxious to eat. She chatted with Alastair and Arabella, throwing all of her animated self into her conversation with her most favorite people in the whole world. All too soon dinner was over and Lindsay's nervousness was growing. She turned to Bella. "Honey, its time for your bath." she told the little girl, much to Bella's displeasure. "Yia?" Lindsay called to their house elf. Yia had been living with Lindsay ever since she had Arabella. Being a single mother wasn't always easy for the 21 year old. Yia was a sort of gift from her parents. "Could you please take Bella and give her a bath? She needs to go ahead and get ready for bed. She missed her nap today." she said with a smile to the house elf. Lindsay was always kind to Yia and treated her as more of an equal than most wizarding folk.

After Bella had gone to bathe, Lindsay turned back to Alastair with a smile on her face. "So how was your dinner?" she asked, trying to start a conversation back up with him.

 

[Alastair Hall]

Alistair couldn’t contain the huge grin on his face when he informed Lindsay that he had a week off to spend time with her and Arabella. He honestly couldn’t think of anything better to do with his time off. Sure photography was his passion but seeing as it was also his job it took some of the fun out it. Although spending time with Lindsay and Arabella could never lose its appeal to him. Something he had been thinking about a lot lately and was glad to spend this week with her to reconfirm his thoughts; not that he had a doubt but timing was everything. His grin only widened when Lindsay exclaimed her own happiness, laughing heartedly at her comment about not knowing what to do with all the free time he shook his head, “We’ll think of something, aaaand I have a few ideas myself.” he added with an almost mysterious air in his voice. They continued to chit chat during the meal, mostly keeping Arabella occupied, she was growing up so quickly now it was strange to not have to make sure that her food was ending up in her mouth instead of all over her, although they still have a few misses but nothing her bath wouldn’t clear up. As per usual, Lindsay called Yai to give Arabella her bath leaving Alistair and Lindsay to clear up the dishes.

Once it was just the two of them at the table Alistair moved his chair so he was closer to Lindsay now. Frowning he saw her plate was almost as full as it was during the meal. He had noticed that she wasn’t eating much but tried to dismiss it but it just wasn’t like Lindsay to not eat at least most of her food. “Clearly better than yours.” he said, frowning, indicating to his empty plate. Taking Lindsay’s hands in his he looked into her eyes, “Baby, are you alright?” he asked, his voice full of worry, something was up with her, this he knew for sure.

 

[Lindsay Hall]

Lindsay grimaced as Alastair looked at her plate, clearly seeing the huge amount of food left lingering on her dish. Now, the game was up. Al knew something was bothering her. That's what happened when you had been in a relationship this long, you knew the person just as well as you knew yourself. Alastair's hand reached for hers, cradling them gently. The young veela bit down on her lip, chewing on it anxiously as Lindsay heard the question she had been dreading all evening long. Was she alright? Well Lindsay wasn't sure she wanted to admit what was bothering her yet but she would have to sooner or later. Lindsay was a mother. She needed to be a big girl and just spit it out.

"Um. Well...there's...there's something I have to tell you." Lindsay said, anxiety and stress clear in her voice. The blonde mother took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. It was all Lindsay could do to remain in her seat. She wanted to be pacing back and forth across the kitchen. Alastair's hands gripping hers kept her sitting in her chair. "Alastair...I don't really know how to say this so I'm just going to say it." she said, trying to act confident. She took another deep breath before continuing. "Al, I think I'm pregnant. Like pretty positive. I'm a week late and well the last time I was late was when I found out I was pregnant with Bella." Lindsay said, anxiously looking at her lover's face. The blonde knew this was a huge bomb to drop on Alastair. She watched his face carefully, trying to see how he would take this.

 

[Alastair Hall]

Alastair’s suspicions were starting to be proven right as Lindsay seemed to be quiet after he asked his question and seemed like she was trying to say something but was almost worried to get it out or didn’t know how to word it. He leaned in closer to her, moving his chair slightly so he was able to hold her, comfort her. He didn’t know why she was finding it hard to tell him what was up, she should know that she could tell him anything. Surely she had felt that she had gained his trust in their relationship at this point, he loved her and nothing she could say or do would change that. What could be so bad that seemed this anxious to tell him? Alastair started to grow more worried when she confirmed that she had to tell him something. He kissed her head and told her in a reassuring voice, “It’s OK baby, whatever it is we can handle it.” hoping that it would help her tell him sooner, he was curious as to what it was. When she stalled again by already confirming what he already knew he nodded his head, willing her to just spit it out already. Although when she did say what she had to say Alastair became unresponsive for a moment as he hadn’t quite expected to hear what he just did. Despite considering Bella as his daughter as he loved and treated her like one he never expected to be an actual father at his age, sure Lindsay was already one but...he never expected to have his own child until he was at least a bit older. He let go of Lindsay’s hands and sat back on his chair for a moment before standing up. He remained silent, this was a big thing to take into consideration but he had more on his mind now. For a while now he had been thinking of taking the next step in Lindsay and his relationship and proposing and he was seriously considering asking the question now. Sure it wasn’t how he imagined doing it but it was definitely spur of the moment and surprise Lindsay which was something he had hoped it would be like. He loved Lindsay and he was a decent guy so if he was going to be a father he would prefer to have a child with someone he was married too, sure it may seem a little old fashioned but it was the way his parents had brought him up and he had always thought of doing it that way so why change now?

Without a word he apparated off to his old apartment, something that he had kept for extra storage reasons and somewhere to go when he didn’t want to wake up Lindsay after finishing late; it was here he kept the ring he had bought for Lindsay, knowing that she mind not accidently find it here. He took a few minutes to remember where he had put it and he hoped Lindsay wasn’t getting worried as he hadn’t said anything to her after telling him that she was pregnant. Of course he was overjoyed, there was nothing he wanted more than having a child with Lindsay, but there were more important matters now. A few minutes later there was a crack heard in the house where he and Lindsay lived. “Sorry about that, had to get something.” he said as he approached Lindsay and without a moment’s hesitation he bent down on one knee in front of her, holding up the ring. “Lindsay I love you so much. I want nothing more than to be with you, Arabella and our child and love you all forever. Marry me?” it wasn’t much, he hadn’t exactly planned out what he had wanted to say but he figured it got across what he wanted to say. And now...he waited, his heart racing in his chest.

 

[Lindsay Hall]

Lindsay was no sure how she had been expecting Alastair to react but it was most certain not the reaction that she got out of him. Despite all of his reassurances that they could make it through anything, Lindsay could see the color drain out of his face once she spat out her news. Her emerald eyes watched him anxiously and nervously as he dropped her hands and sat back in his chair. THe blonde woman remained silent, just giving it time for the news to sink in. While Lindsay was already a mother, Alastair was not a father, no matter how much he treated her like his own, it was not the same. The veela woman knew that. Her anxiety increased as the minutes passed by. Alastair stood, pacing around the kitchen, still not having uttered a word. Then, right before her eyes, the man of her dreams vanished. Lindsay could hardly believe it. He had run out on her. Tears welled in the young woman's striking eyes as she literally felt her heart breaking into a thousand little pieces inside her chest, for the second time in her life. Lindsay had never imagined that this would be happening to her for a second time. Paul's death had left her with a newborn and her life in shambles. Alastair had befriended her, becoming her closest friend, gradually putting her shattered heart back together. She had trusted him with her heart, falling in love with her best friend. The shock of it all was more than Lindsay could take.

Lindsay was still sitting in her chair, where she had sat throughout the dinner. She dreaded Arabella's questions about where Al had gone. Bella loved him so, just like Lindsay did. Tears fell freely down her cheeks like rain drops. Just as suddenly as he had disappeared, Alastair reappeared in her kitchen. He looked nervous but at least he was back. Lindsay looked at him with confusion. The young woman wasn't really sure where he went or why he came back. At her questioning look, he apologized, saying that he needed to get something. Then, Alastair was down on one knee. Lindsay's jaw dropped, her green eyes widening as she listened to his proposal, of marriage. Without hesitation, Lindsay threw her slender figure at Alastair, tackling him to the floor. "Yes! Oh my god!! YES!" she said, kissing him passionately on the lips. A wide grin lit her face as she looked up at her fiance. "You know, for a second I thought you were running out on me." she accused him with a sly smile, feeling ridiculous for ever thinking that in the first place.

 

[Alastair Hall]

With the words that came out of Lindsay’s mouth ringing in his ears he knew what he had to do and wasn’t sure why he was still in their home and not apparating off to his own to collect the ring that he had been planning on giving Lindsay someday soon. Without further hesitation he was gone and whiles it was only a minute, two tops until he found the ring he felt like it was so much longer. He knew it was probably because he was in such a frantic rush to try and find the ring, he was almost positive that he had left it in the drawer in his bedside locker but as hard as he looked he couldn’t find it. He was getting extremely worried now but once he had taken a moment to think he remembered that he had magic on his side. Casting a small ‘accio’ spell he had the engagement ring in his hand. He stopped to look at his once more. He had a hard time trying to find the perfect ring, a few times he had considered asking once of Lindsay’s sisters to help him find it but with one busy trying to get her music career started and the other in school he didn’t have that option. Although once he had found the ring he knew it was the perfect one for Lindsay, she was so beautiful and only deserved something that could closely match that beauty, in compassion it didn’t stand a chance but it was the closed he could find. Shaking his head he brought himself back to reality, he had to have kept Lindsay waiting too long and he hadn’t even told her what he was going to do, what kind of guy that make him look like? The kind that runs out on his girlfriend being pregnant! he scolded to himself as he apparated back to their home. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Lindsay still there, he knew by the look on his face he didn’t have long to act. With this in mind he wasted no time getting down on one knee.

He felt his heart beating rapidly against his chest, worried in anticipation as to what Lindsay would say in reply to his question. He looked up into those perfect emerald eyes of his one true lover and silently begged that the answer would be what he hoped. In what seemed like forever he almost barely had no time to react as he was being pushed to the ground with the force of Lindsay short of pouncing on him. All he could hear was that one word he had been hoping for ringing in his ears, Yes! She had said yes! Breaking away from the kiss he chuckled at what she had to say. “I’m so sorry, I only realised when I had left what it might have looked like but I knew what I had to do. Good thing I had this already picked out! he said with a smile as he placed the ring on her finger, it fit perfectly. “Now come on, we have a wedding to plan.” he said with a wide grin as he stood up and pulled Lindsay up too. He didn’t know about Lindsay but he felt it would be better to have it before she started to show, that way they could avoid the questions from the more strict family members that didn’t believe in children before marriage...every family had one at least.

Out of Character:

Sooo sorry it took forever. Want to make the new topic but make like this took place a month before so it's still in a decent time frame? So this was April and the wedding is in May sort of thing?