Alex's POV

"Hey easy there. You have got to take care of yourself. Why do you keep forgetting that?"
I caught Ananya before she hit the ground. She held on to me tightly.
"By the way, what are you doing outside.?"

She gave me a blank expression as if she didn't recognise me up until that moment. Then in that moment when she realised its me a wave of relief could easily be seen on her face.
"Alex? Its you. I am sorry. I thought it was you but then it wasn't you. I didn't know it was him and then I saw you standing there..."

"Relax Ananya. I am not asking you for any explanation. I don't  need one."

"No. I don't want any misunderstanding between us. I swear, I was thinking about you that why you haven't talked to me since that night and then when he tapped on my shoulder I thought it was you and I turned and hugged him. But it wasn't you."

"Sshh.. sshh.. stop panicking sweety."
I looked into her eyes and said "I trust you."
She looked a little relaxed now.

"His father knows."  How does she know that he knows.

"We know that he knows. What did he say to you?"
I was angry. How dare he talk to her?

"He said .."
She hugged me back without even completing her sentence.
"Sweety, you needn't be scared. We are all with you. You want to tell me later?" I tried to calm her down as I vould just feel the wetness of her tears on my shoulders.

"Come lets go in. We will go to our place later and we can talk then."
She followed me like a lost child still clutching onto me.

Once the memorial was over, Father suggested we go with them to the mansion. But I knew Ananya will heal better alone. We also had a doctors appointment to keep for later that day.

I discussed with Dad about how involvement of Swornwell senior can bear consequences on Ananya's life and how scared she was to talk about him.
"Lets up Ananya's security. Men will follow her without her knowing about it. Don't mentio it to her. Set up cameras inside the house too. You two will be staying alone there and that worries me a little. Lets let Maria stay with you, she can take care of the kitchen and handle other tasks as well. I don't want anyone new moving in at this point."
Dad knew Mr.Swornwell, and he wasn't too vocal about it, but he seemed tensed.

Mom was worried too to leave Ananya alone with me.
"Ananya, give me a call any time of the day or even the night if you need anything. And if my son troubles you much know that I am just a call away to come and squeeze his ears off." She kissed us good bye.

Ananya was trying to hide her pain and fear from everyone but the moment we got in the car she clung onto me like a Koala bear.
I gently stroked her head pacifying her.
"What say we watch one of Maa's favourite movies and spend the remaining of the day after we return from the doctors, in bed just talking?"

"Sounds good. You know Alex, he knew I was having twins. He knows Nathan is the father. And.."

"And he threatened me that no matter what happens he will ensure the babies will end up at his house."

He has just got his card marked. No one threatens my wife. I pulled Ananya closer.

"He has love to offer, he will get nothing but love in return. But he twists his ways even a little and I will not let him get a chance to understand what hit him. Don't worry Ananya, nothing will ever happen in your life again without your consent. No one can ever touch you or our babies if you don't want them to. I promise you, I all decision about babies will be in your hand."

The rest of ride back home went in silence. But my mind was far from it. Random thoughts kept buzzing in my mind trying to workout how he knows this for sure that the babies are Nathan's even when Nathan himself denies that.

I suggested Ananya to go to the Doctor's right away than wait for the evening.
She agreed and we headed in that direction.

We didn't have ro wait even a minute as the doctor agreed to see us right away. Mom trusted him a lot as he was the one who delivered one of my cousin's baby girl. Her experience with him was good and so Mom suggested we have him as our gynaecologist.

"Mr and Mrs Lexstur. Please come have a seat. So how are we doing Mrs.Lexstur with the morning sickness?"

Oh! I loved the sound of 'Mr and Mrs.Lexstur'.
"I am doing good. Actually much better."
Ananya replied timidly.

I was sitting there as a mute spectator while the Doctor explained a few things to Ananya. But I knew I had to be attentive. I had to take care of her.

The sonography showed us the first pictures of our babies and Ananya got a little emotional. I wasn't left untouched either. The feeling of becoming a parent was overwhelming. I side hugged Ananya and kissed her temple, as she lay on the bed.
She smiled for the first time since we were back from our honeymoon.

We sat back in the cabin with the doctor and he went on with things we could do for the baby.
"You could read to the baby." Doctor suggested.

"Stop kidding now! Really? Will the baby hear me if I read to it?"
I was surprised while Ananya just smiled.
He continued with some more suggestions and it amused me all. He guided me with tips to take care of both the Mother and her babies. He even suggested we join some Lamaze classes but little later in the pregnancy.

Suddenly he said something that clicked at the right spot.
"Even when they are not your babies Mr.Lexstur these things will help you develop a bond with them." I smiled.
Oh you bastard! You just gave yourself away.

"Ananya, go outside and wait for me."
She looked puzzled.

I gave her a stern look and she understood the seriousness and urgency in my voice.
She nodded and left.

****************************************
Ananya's POV

What just happened?
Alex seemed angry. He asked me to leave the room and wait for him outside.
I obliged without any questions but something inside me told me that this had something to do with me and I needed to know, so I waited by the half closed door.
This wasn't something I normally did. But what if it had something to do with my babies. I just needed to know.

"Whats wrong Mr.Lexstur.?"
I heard the doctor say.

"Don't we pay you enough Doc?"

"Sorry, I didn't get you." I could sense panic in his voice.

"Really, I thought doctors are smart people. My wife comes to you for check up. Normal check up and you magically come to know that the baby is not mine."

"Leave my collar Mr.Lexstur. This is not the right way. I am calling the police."
Doctors trembling voice fell on my ears.

"Oh please! Do give them a call. Lets tell them how you conducted a paternity test on the babies while my wife was unconscious that too without her consent. And literally screwed up the doctor patient confidentiality."

There was a long pause.
"How much did the Swornwells pay you. Start talking or I will get the truth out of you in my own way."

"Yes yes. I passed on the information to Swornwell. But I had no other option. He threatened me using my kid as a bait. I had to do what he asked for. I am sorry. You can complain if you want to. But I had to save my baby."
Doctor was now sounding helpless. So he was the one who confirmed to Nathan's dad. And that is why he is so sure.
A cold shiver ran down my spine thinking of what more he could do to get what he wants.

"That is a pathetic excuse. You could have gone to the police. But now you are my bitch. You will now do as I tell you to. I will let you know at the right time. Till then don't let the Swornwell know that we have found out. Act dumb again."

I heard footsteps coming towards the door but they stopped midway.

"Hey doc. Is that right? If I read books and poems and talk to the foetus it will hear me and possibly remember my voice?"

"Yes kinda."

"Even when I am not their real dad? They will be able to hear me, won't they?"

"Sure."

"Cool. Thank you Doc. Our little talk was indeed very informative."

I stood their with my back resting against the wall. But it felt good to know Alex was really trying to connect to the babies. I touched my belly and smiled to myself.

"Donavan. Eves dropping are we?"

"Sorry."
Guilty!!

"Ok so you know right. We got to get mommy and babies a new doctor. I anyways didn't like the idea of a male doctor touching my wife."
He looked away but then pulled me closer to him keeping his hand around my shoulder.

"Lets go home and eat something. I am terribly hungry. Aren't you Donavan?"

"Yes. I am famished. I will make something quickly."

"Don't for today. Take rest. I know you want to cook for us and all but you can start after a day or two. Maria would be home by now and she can take care of it."

"Alex, what are we going to do about Mr.Swornwell?"

"We? You are not going to do anything. I have something in mind."
We entered the lift. Alex turned towards me as he pressed the ground floor button.

"I know you want Nathan to realise his mistake and come back to you. I would love to see that happening, you finally having what you want and being happy in your life. Trust me I will do anything to see that. But I want you to have the choice. Nathan got his chance once. The chance to choose. But this time you will have the power. No Mr.Swornwell can come and threaten you. If you ever go back to Nathan, it will be because you wanted to. I promise you."

He looked sad saying all that. Me choosing Nathan, will hurt Alex. But is what he said really true? Do I really want Nathan to realise his mistake and come back?
I don't know what I want in the future. Right now, all I care about are my babies.
And me and my babies are perfectly safe with Alex.