Alison's house

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The shooting had changed a lot of Alison's plans - she'd intended to tell Dino about her pregnancy with that wonderful cake but that had ended up on the floor. She knew that she should have told him before now since it had been three days since the whole thing occurred but it just kept slipping her mind or the timing wasn't right. How was she supposed to tell him that she was carrying his child when he was clearly hurt? It'd taken her this long but she knew it was now or never, really. She needed to tell him before she had her first sonogram this coming weekend so he could be there! It wasn't her place to make him miss out on major moments of their child's early life. They had made this baby, not just her.

She hadn't gone as all out as she had been planning to just because she felt like it was still a very sad day for a lot of people. Students had died along with a fellow teacher! It wouldn't be right to just go on like nothing had ever had happened but she also didn't want to dwell on the sadness of the events that had taken place. "Dino, dinner is almost ready." The turkey was still going to need a little bit longer which unfortunately gave them time to discuss things. She was hoping that she could wait to make her little announcement until after this was over but she was running out of small talk! It wasn't normally hard for her to talk to him.

She could usually talk to him for hours on end about anything but her nerves right now were getting the best of her. What if he wasn't happy to hear that she was pregnant? What if he decided that they were moving too fast and he really didn't want to have a baby? She knew that an abortion was just not an option but could she raise the baby all on her own if it came down to it? What if she did get an abortion? Her best child wearing days were numbered now that she was in her late twenties. Would she ever be able to become a mother if she gave up this opportunity? "Hey baby... Can we talk?"

She didn't think that she was going to tell him now so she was trying to figure out the best way to stall this as she sat down on her living room sofa. Could she tell him about how she wanted him to meet her family? Or, maybe she could talk about how she wanted to have children and just see where it went from there.. Yeah, that was a good plan!

[Dino Jefferson]

Getting shot in the arm was something Dino was not looking forward to happening on November 20th, that's for sure. However, it happened and he couldn't have been more happy it did because it would have either been him - or Alison. Dino could never forgive himself if that had been the case. He felt the need to protect her, to risk his life for her and if that wasn't a signal that he was definitely in love then he didn't know what else was.

Dino's family lived across the country in Oregon. He had called his parents, his sister and brother and had mailed greeting cards to every single one of them with a thoughtful message. When Alison asked him to spend Thanksgiving with her, it was an automatic yes. Usually Dino spent Thanksgiving watching movies on television by himself. It wasn't too bad, at least he had gotten used to it.

He was glad, however, that Alison wanted to spend this day with him and not to mention cook him all this food! There were so ingredients when he arrived in the afternoon and he had been getting hungry. From time to time Dino would come into the kitchen and ask Alison for previews or if he could lick a spoon or something. He was really in love with her and he felt fortunate.

Dino had only fallen in love once but that didn't work. He didn't feel loved in return and it made him feel unsteady. But with Alison it was completely different because he could just feel the love from her radiating. She had bothered to cook them such a big dinner and that said a lot.

"What's up babe?" he asked her, gently pulling her close to him and setting the remote control aside. "Aren't you tired of cooking so much?!" Dino asked her, softly pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

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Alison smiled weakly as Dino asked her what was up and if she was tired of cooking.. She knew that he loved her just by the way that he was looking at her right now but she just felt this intense fear. She hadn't always been like this! Her relationship with her ex-fiancee had left her feeling like she couldn't trust any good thing because it always fell apart in the end like a house of cards. "I just feel like we need to talk, you know?" She snuggled her face into his neck and just sighed; she'd never felt this content in her life and the idea of it changing was frightening. "Have you ever given any thought to having children?"

He probably would think that was a really random question, wouldn't he? They hadn't been together very long! What sane person would even consider planning on having a family with someone that they hadn't know long? She knew that she loved him and she knew that her future was with him but she'd felt that way before, too. She kissed him gently on the cheek and started stroking his arm just to make him feel a little more comfortable answering her.

Logically, she knew that it would be best to just be honest and tell him that she was carrying his baby so she finally just blurted it all out there. "Dino, I'm pregnant." She wanted to add that it was his just so he knew but she felt like it wasn't necessary. He had known that she was a virgin when they first made love and this baby was definitely a product of that love. What else could it be? She honestly didn't think that it mattered that they weren't married because of the feelings that they shared.

She trusted him with everything - her virginity, her heart and her life after the shooting. "I know that we haven't been together long but I feel like we can do this. I love you and this baby is going to just make that love expand."

[Dino Jefferson]

When Alison brought up children, Dino rose both eyebrows. He began to think for a second. Of course he wanted kids. He was already at that age where it was wise to settle down and have a family. "Yeah, I think it's time for me to be doing that. actually..." he wasn't sure why she was asking that but hopefully this was the answer she was looking for. He didn't want to say something stupid like, Ew no, kids yuck or something along those lines. Not that Dino thought children were nasty just the ones he taught - most of them.

However, when Alison said to him that she was pregnant, he widened his eyes. Not because Dino was surprised but because he was so glad that nothing had happened to her that day. Was it luck or was it that he was meant to be there - with her? "Alison... Th-that's... Wow," he wasn't doubting his paternity since he was one hundred and one percent sure that the baby she was expecting was his. It was just so, amazing.

"Yes, we can." Dino nodded quickly before sitting up carefully and touching the side of her face with his arm that was okay. "I love you, you know that right?" he nodded, his smile was so big and genuinely happy. He was smiling from ear to ear and that was actually very rare. Dino leaned forward and gently kissed her on the lips before leaning up and kissing her forehead.