[Hogshead] Sober (Vic)

[Warren Hubbles]

Warren knew that nothing was so good that it lasted eternity and he knew from experience that perfect situations always had a habit of going wrong. But the other night had seemed just right and he expected things to carry on that way, he never would have thought that he would be stood up on their first date only a day after they had shared that perfect first kiss. But clearly in the end Vicky needed a little bit more then him and her slight fancy for his older cousin Dan just could not be pushed aside so easily. He should have expected it really and yet he could not help but feel sorry for himself and boy had he carried that look about him of a lost puppy. Of course he had Heather there to help make the cold nights go by that little bit faster and although he knew getting involved with her again would just make things more complicated he truly had nothing to lose.

“You will come down to visit soon won’t you Warren?” Heather had her arms wrapped around the man’s neck as she looked all lovingly up at him.
“Of course I will.” An empty promise, but then seeing the twins again would be a positive, Warren’s embrace from around Heather loosened as he slowly bent down to plant a light kiss on her cheek. “I shall see you soon.”

The blond haired woman gave a rather high pitched giggle before picking up her small bag and trotting out the pub, not forgetting to turn around and blow Warren a kiss before she left. As always his automatic reaction was to catch the invisible kiss and shoot her a cheesy smile in response but as soon as the pub door shut behind her the smile faded and the frown filled his face once more. His clenched fist that was still holding onto thin air slowly loosened and with a small sigh he rubbed his hands on his trouser legs and turned to head out the back to change the barrels around for the upcoming day. The problem was he never got as far as the basement; in fact he had hardly made it three steps into the backroom when he heard the door creak open and the slow thuds of a single person making their way across the wooden floor.

Maybe it was Heather again, returning for one last kiss or maybe it was one of the regulars jumping the gun a bit and arriving before the pub was officially open. Whoever it was he was going to have to tell them to get out so he can prepare the place before the midday rush of those demanding their liquid lunch. But as he made his way through the small archway that was behind the bar and his eyes fell upon the woman who had entered his mouth went bone dry and no exclamation of ‘get out’ could be found. He could only stand there like a mute, or at least he was until that good old fashioned Hubbles gene kicked in and he said the first thing that came to the tip of his tongue.

“You’re a few days late.” His voice did not lie; it was a vain attempt to be jovial. “We should have left for Italy two days ago.”

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vicky couldn't make herself stop crying. Everything was a mess. She had no idea what she was going to do now. To stay here at the school knowing that Dan was walking around somewhere out there just made her angrier and angrier. None of this would have happened had she not allowed him to simply talk to her. Now she was in the biggest pickle she had even been in and had no idea what to do about it. Suddenly she regretted ever coming back her to teach. Of course that was just stupid but at the moment she wasn't thinking rationally.

Her eyes were blood short and her face simply tear stained. She looked frightening and she didn't bother to fix herself because she felt that she deserved to feel this way. She brought this upon herself and she should be made to feel bad about the mess. How was she supposed to take care of this baby all alone? Of course nothing was final yet, she just hadn't gone back to see Joshua, didn't need him seeing her like this. The last time she'd seen him she was in a right state then too. Her nose broken by Girty Hubbles and her and Dan under a love potion.

Not going back to see Josh meant that there was no one for her to speak to. The thought of calling her mother scared her to bits. Mrs. Potter was old-fashioned as they come and she would never understand this...Plus Vicky couldn't bear to hear the disappointment in her voice. Vicky was at a loss for what to do, but she knew that she couldn't stay penned up in her room all day, she had to get out or risk going crazy.

Dressing in simple jeans, t-shirt, and flats, Vicky grabbed her coat, and left the room. Outside she turned this way and that way having no idea where to go with herself. Then she simply started walking not really knowing where she was going. Her feet led the way and she was along for the ride. She barely looked up until her feet stopped. When she looked up it was to find herself standing right outside the Hogs Head.

"Warren" she breathed as she looked at the door. She remembered just then that she had forgotten all about their date. Oh boy yet another screw up. She started to walk away. He would probably hate her. But she turned back again, running away wasn't going to help anyone. So she took a few deep breaths before pushing open the front door. He was there and he turned to look at her. Vicky didn't know what to do or what to say as he reminded her that she was two days late.

There were no words that could be formed, Vicky simply stood there and started to cry, not actually she started to sob uncontrollably.

[Warren Hubbles]

His mouth was dry with words that he could not verbalise, feelings and emotions that were better left on the shelf in a small wooden box that was covered in dust and padlocked tightly shut. Slowly his tongue pocked out of his mouth ever so slightly and the tip ran lightly over his chapped lips, a nervous reaction as he knew he needed to do something to distract from the ever growing silence. It seemed that Vicky was not even going to attempt to laugh at his feeble attempt of a joke; she was not even going to humour him with a smile in fact she was just standing there, standing there and crying.

His heart sank as soon as he saw the blood shot eyes and the glistening trail of tears down her cheeks. It was only then he noticed how much of a state she looked, although he still thought her beautiful, it was why he never noticed it before because to him she could walk around wearing a sack and be covered in mud and he would still call her an angel. The tears and silence continued as Warren could think of nothing, he was completely numb as he could think of nothing that could possible cause such a reaction.

‘Go to her you fool.’ The voice in his head made a bit of sense and his legs responded to the order, swiftly moving from behind the bar, ducking underneath the counter and his arms automatically wrapped themselves around Vicky. He could feel every shake of her body, every sob and he was convinced he could even hear the faint beating of her heart. He could not remember when he last someone cry in such a way, maybe his mother after his fathers death? His eyes grew wide, had someone died?

“Vicky, angel…what has happened? As someone di-…”

He could not bring himself to ask if someone had passed on, it was not his business (although she was crying in the middle of his pub) but if she wanted to tell him then Vicky would in her own sweet way. He believed in her that much and such tears almost reassured him that maybe she had not given up on him for Dan.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vicky was a total mess and she didn't know how to make it stop. Her cries filled the empty pub. It had been like this for days and just seeing Warren standing there made it all come back. She had run back to Dan the first chance she got after Warren admitted his feelings for her and she for him. Vicky was the worse kind of person there was and she didn't deserve anyone's sympathy especially Warren's, but she had no idea what else to do or who else to turn to.

Despite her sobbing she could hear him moving about, moving toward her. His arms wrapping around her, comforting her. Vicky didn't deserve this, she wanted to push him away to tell him that she wasn't worthy of his concern, but having him near her felt to good. Vicky lay her head on his shoulder, and shuddered slightly. Her hands came around his waist, and they were now locked in an intimate embrace, though there was nothing intimate about this moment.

He started to talk, and the sound of his voice soothed her some more, the sobbing downgraded to crying. She thought he was about to ask if someone had died. Vicky realized just then what she must look like bursting in there and crying in the middle of the room. No one had died, but her news was going to hurt him. Vicky had contemplated telling him the truth, part of her didn't want to because she couldn't stand him looking at her like she was a horrible person, but then she knew if she didn't tell him someone else would.

The seriousness of the situation finally hit her and Vicky stopped crying. Unwrapping her arms from around his waist and lifting her head up, she moved away from him viciously wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Warren I-I-I have to tell you something. I don't deserve you being nice to me, and you may want me out of her after I've said what I have to say." Her violet eyes stared deeply into his gray ones. "I didn't meet you so that we could go to Italy because I was..." how the hell did she say this. Lord she hated herself for it and now he was going to hate her. "I was with Dan I'm so so sorry I know it was wrong. It's the worst thing I've ever done, and I'm so sorry. There was a love potion involved, Dan got knocked out by Girty, I was punched in the nose and had it broken. We ended up in the hospital wing because and that's when..." she had to take a breath just then. This last bit was the part she was worried most about.

"When I was in the hospital wing I got sick, I became nauseous. Josh, the healer said he couldn't find anything wrong with, well he thought there might be one thing wrong. He thought I might be pregnant, and Dan didn't handle it well. I didn't handle it well and I've just been a mess over it. I am so sorry Warren, please please know that I'm sick over what I did. I realize that I was a foolish. Dan means nothing to me, you're what I want can, can you ever...Vicky stopped she didn't think he would forgive her for this. Hell she didn't know if she would forgive. "Maybe I shouldn't have come here" she started to back out of the pub, running away seemed to be what she did best.

[Warren Hubbles]

Warren listened intently to Vicky almost like a small child would as their grandfather told them a story. He held eye contact with Vicky, listening to her words as see the truth of them as her tearstained violet eyes reviled the deep regret and pain that seemed to be taking over her inside. He remained deadly silent throughout Vicky’s confession not because he did not know what to say, in fact there were a fair few things he would have liked to say but non of them would have been constructive or indeed help the situation that was at hand.

He did however allow a small smile to fill his originally morbid features when Vicky told him about Girty knocking Dan out and then his thin cousin punching Vicky in the nose. It would have been expected that Warren would feel slightly protective over Vic and want to her to be okay but then he knew from experience the damage Girty could do, an incident with a bludgers bat and his left thigh was the perfect example. But despite these happy memories replaying in the back of his mind his focus and attention focused back upon Vic as she stopped and took a deep breath, it seemed like she did not come her to say she missed their date just because she was in he hospital wing with a bloody nose.

But it seemed that the real reason was much more reasonable, in fact it made Warren’s eyes open wide. It had not been the first time a woman had stood in front of him to tell him she was pregnant, although this time he had not done the dirty deed. The fact that his cousin has however left Warren speechless and as he stood there staring blankly at Vicky he almost had not twigged that she was starting to walk away and towards the exit.

“Whoa Vic!” Warren, as seemed to have become tradition between these two, ran forward and stood in front of Vicky, gently placing his hands on her shoulders almost in fear that she would run away again. “There is nothing for me to forgive. You were with Dan before me and anyway I am not one to preach about children out of wedlock.” He gave a throaty chuckle as his hands gently slipped off her shoulders and entwined themselves with hers. “If you think a simple thing like this will stop me from wanting to be with you then you don’t know me at all.”

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vicky was ready to run, it seems like all she had been doing was running away from one thing or another. Warren stopped her didn't let her go. Vicky had to look up stunned at him. Surely he hated her now after she told him that she was with Dan. She stood him up after all for a quick roll in the classroom with Dan. A stupid stupid mistake one that she wouldn't be able to take back. Now she was possibly pregnant with his cousin's child. No instead he stood there telling her that a simple thing like this wasn't going to stop him from being with her. Vicky was stunned a moment. She had no idea what to say to that.

Those were the last things she expected him to say. She had screwed up royally and instead of him turning his back on her the way another man might he was refusing to let her go. That cemented her feelings right there. He was the Hubbles male for her. Again she started to cry but this time they weren't angry tears. He had her hand, and she squeezed his just a little.

"I don't deserve you. I made a stupid stupid mistake one that I wish with every fiber of my being I could take back. You don't need to be dragged into this mess. You don't..." Vicky looked up into his eyes. He was everything she wanted in a man and she was dragging him into her drama. She didn't want to do this to him he didn't need to deal with this.

"This is hard enough for me, how is it going to be for you? I don't even know what to do with myself. Dan wants me to leave the castle if I am pregnant. I don't have anywhere to go. He doesn't even seem to care about me at all, trying to make decisions for me, about what I should do. I know he's your cousin and I'm sorry to say anything wrong about him in front of you but he's being an arse. I know he's married and it was my own stupidity that got me into this mess, but throwing me out isn't going to solve anything. I'm so lost" and she was. This was the worst situation for her and for Dan.

"Why are you even being nice to me?"

[Warren Hubbles]

The small squeeze on his hand made Warren know that Vicky was with him on this, she understood him and the commitment he was giving her. In his mind love was still a hell of a strong word and he was not willing to think it let alone say it, but he cared for Vicky and his own happiness at this very moment in time was in parallel to hers and if her beautiful smile did not fill that face soon he would have put money on his heart breaking in two. Whoa, now that was deeper then he was ready to go. This little private confession of his stunned him for a moment and so as Vicky went on about not being good enough for him he did not even trust his tongue and remained mute, his eyes locked upon hers.

“Of course he is an arse.” Warren could not help but smirk and break his silence at this rather plain statement that to him seemed obvious. “Dan has only ever been an ar-…well no he was alright till the whole Offley thing. But since he has been eighteen he has been nothing but an arse. Even when he tries to do some good it normally gets taken the wrong way.” That was about as subtle a hint as Warren was going to give Vicky. He did not want to brake out into a whole argument of where she tries to say ‘He wanted me out the castle’ and then Warren would no doubt put his foot in it the true Hubbles male way by saying something as stupid like ‘as long as he did not say “I can not stand the sight of you” I think your over reacting’ by which point there would be tears and Vicky will run away again and he would be left there feeling like a idiot when all he did was protect his cousin who he saw as a brother from an onslaught from a hormonal woman.

Warren took a deep breath to try and clear his head from these quite frankly ridiculous blur of thoughts. It was only the sound of Vicky’s simple question that made him relax and that weary smile to fill his face once more.

“Why, don’t you want me to be nice?” The jovial tone in his voice was only present for his first comment before it dropping back to suit the seriousness of the situation at hand. “Vicky I don’t care, I mean I am bringing baggage into this relationship with two kids, it is only fair you bring your own. And if we are really lucky the kid will get some of Dan’s looks and we can pass it off as mine. But if we are really really lucky it will be a girl and she will be the beautiful spitting image of her mother.”

Slowly leaning forwards Warren tenderly pressed his lips against Vicky’s and gently kissed her, his hands still holding hers almost still in fear that she will just up and leave him. He was offering to be there and raise another man’s child, he was willing to brush off the whispers and rumours and take on the responsibility but he was also there to protect his cousin. By saying that the child is his it will clear Dan’s name and save his marriage with Dia. Maybe Girty had had the right idea, maybe Dan needed to be knocked out so some sense could be bettered into him.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

She hadn't expected any of this to happen. It took a lot for her to walk into his pub, look him in the eye, and tell him what she had done, but to get this sort of response from him was just more than she thought she should have. He should be yelling at her, calling her a cheat, telling her that she got what she had coming to her. Those were all the things that she kept saying about herself. Instead he was trying to make her feel better, get her to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He was simply too good to be true. Vicky didn't know men like Warren still existed.

To make things better he even agreed with her when she said that Dan was an arse. Of course Vick knew it was a risk, the Hubbles clan were thick of thieves. She was waiting for him to say that she didn't know Dan, how Dan was simply misunderstood. Vicky felt better or as good as she could feel given her circumstances. One thing was for sure Warren didn't lead by the mouth the way Dan did.

He was still being nice and Vicky was weirded out by it, but was trying so hard not to show it. He was handling this like a trooper. Her baggage was his baggage and the greatest part was that he didn't seem to mind it. How could she have been so foolish, she almost passed this up for Dan. Her mind truly was not working properly lately. Even with everything going on he found a way to give her a compliment. Vicky smiled brightly despite herself. The tears she had been shedding stopped as she felt them drying on her face.

Warren leaned in and kissed her. Vicky's heart leaped, her mind suddenly filled with thoughts of joy. This was the man she wanted and though she couldn't say she was in love yet, she just knew that he was the one for her. Vicky kissed him back still having hold of his hands.

Pulling back she looked up at him, "I wasn't sure about coming here to you. I expected a much worse scene in my head, but there's no one else I could think of to talk to. You've grown to be so much more to me than just a friend. If I have you by my side I can handle anything." The fact that he offered to pass this baby off as his own child meant the world to her. In her opinion he would make a better dad than Dan anyway.

[Warren Hubbles]

Warren was not sure if he should take that as a compliment or not, he was glad that in the end Vicky had found the inner strength to come and face him but then it concerned him slightly that she did even doubt his response. Maybe it just proved how little they did know about each other as they could not pre-empt the others reactions. Maybe Warren was just reading too much into it as normal; he would not put it past himself. But now he had to look on the present of Vicky standing before him and the future no matter how rocky it would turn out to be. She had already stated that with him by her side she could do anything but Warren had done the whole pregnancy and babies thing before…well of course he had not…but he was at Heathers side and he knew how rocky the road ahead would get. It would be a lot of stress for a budding relationship like theirs to be under.

”Well I will do my best to be your rock.” He gave a light chuckle at this as the realisation kicked in. “It is my middle name after all.” That was something that he still, god bless their souls, not forgiven his parents for. Everyone else had got normal names, why could his not be Warren Jeremy Hubbles why on earth did it have to be Rock. Okay he was getting slightly side tracked, time to focus upon Vicky once more.

“Come on.” He said with a small smile, glad to see the stream of tears was slowly drying up. He then let got on one of Vicky’s hands but he still held onto the other with a firm grip so she knew he would never let her go. “Let’s get you a drink, non alcoholic of course.” In the process of gaining a companion and possibly a child Warren was also going to lose out on his biggest customer…but then if they were ‘together’ he could not really justify forcing Vicky to pay anymore. “What would you like angel? We do have soft drinks somewhere in this place. Most likely covered in dust but we can always blow that off.”

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vicky felt better, in days she felt terrible unable to see any light at the end of the tunnel. But here he was, handsome, strong, strapping, and accepting of her major screw up. Had she not been so damned fool hearty they wouldn't be standing there talking about another Man's baby. Vicky would always regret her decision to start something up with Dan. Oh how she wished she worked at the Ministry of Magic, maybe then she could have grabbed a time turner and gone back to when she had been a normal, carefree woman just pining over a man she couldn't have instead of the dumb ass who started an affair with the man who should have been off limits to her. She was finding it hard to forgive herself for this mistake and she hoped it wouldn't be a problem for her when it came to Warren. So far he had handled everything like a trooper. She had no idea what she would have done if the situation were reversed. Luckily, she didn't have to find out.

As Warren marched her over to the bar Vicky immediately wanted to order a fire whiskey but he mentioned something about non-alcoholic and Vicky groaned remembering that it could be months before she got the taste of liquor in her system again. Perfect, just bloody freaking perfect. The booze hound without her booze, it was an outrage and Vicky had no idea how she was going to manage it. It wasn't like she hadn't tried to stay off the sauce but it never lasted long. She would cave in after about a week and be in the pubs drinking up a storm to make up for it. Would threat of doing damage the her baby be enough? She would sure have to hope so. So she had to order another drink what would it be. Well there was something she enjoyed and.hadn't had in a while. "Any pumpkin juice on premises?" She asked feeling awkward ordering juice in the Hogs Head, such a thing was unheard of.

All this because she could possibly be....Then it truly hit her. She could be a mother soon. Responsible for a life other than her own. The child would need her constant attention and at times Vicky could be the most selfish person in the world. Her hand went to her abdomen now flat could soon be swelled with evidence of life growing inside her. She hadn't given thought to children, wasn't even sure if she wanted any. Her ideas on motherhood, well she didn't have any. Slowly a bit of panic started to set in. There's no way she was ready for any of this. Looking up at Warren her eyes wide and fearful "me a mother I-I-I can't be anyones mother. What the hell have I gotten myself into now. How am I going to to raise this kid? I can't even raise myself right." Damn Dan, this was just another problem brought on by her wanting him.

[Warren Hubbles]

The non alcoholic drinks were not as hard to find as Warren had teased about mainly because they were occasionally used when he made up cocktails, of cause back in the day he used to know how to make a mean alco-free cocktail and he wondered if he could find a bit of the old magic and throw something together to cheer Vicky up a bit. The question now then was where had he put that pineapple? Giving Vicky’s hand a small reassuring squeeze Warren gently let go so that he could make his way around the bar counter to act as always the proud landlord.

“I think we can do a little better then pumpkin juice angel.” He shot her a cheeky grin as he started to gather together all sorts of bottles, pouring equal amounts of each into a cocktail shake before, being the showman that he was started to perform a few very basic tricks with the shaker in an attempt to bring a smile to Vicky’s face…but it seemed that she was out of it slightly as a sudden wave of panic seemed to pass over her causing Warren to place the cocktail shaker down on the counter and look into his girlfriends eyes.

“Baby where did that come from?” His voice wavered slightly with concern as he reached out over the table and took hold of Vicky’s hands once again knowing that the contact was helping him just as much as her. “Vic, I thought the same thing once upon a time but everything has a habit of falling into place and when the time comes you will be ready and you will know what to do” He gave her a small smile and a light chuckle escaped him. “Mainly cause I will be whispering in your ear telling you what to do.”

He was only teasing but it was another small reassurance to her that he would be there for her all the time and after all he did have the experience under his belt. With another gentle squeeze of her hands Warren pulled this back to his side of the counter as he bent down to pull out a large knife and a pineapple. Taking as much care as if it was a masterpiece Warren carefully diced up the pineapple into small chucks before tossing a few into an empty glass and then odd one into his mouth as well. To finish off he laced the pineapple with crushed ice before finally pouring the cocktail out of the shaker into the glass.

“It looks like it is missing something.” He mumbled to himself as he stared at the glass. “Ah ha!” With a small chuckle he jogged over to a small jar pulling out 2 straws and a mini paper umbrella. Gently placing them in the glass he slid it over toward Vicky with a broad grin. “Sorry I do not have any sparklers, Girty used the last of them up the other night.”

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Of course she should have thought about the what ifs way before now. The way she had been going at it with Dan she just went along for the ride and never thought about protection. Yet another mistake, she should have started keeping a list. At this point the list would have been so long she would have probably needed a second roll of parchment. If there was a baby she felt bad for it, because its mother had horrible judgment. Vicky couldn't even picture it, a baby in one arm and a bottle in the other she shivered in what she could only assume was fear.

Lord where was Warren with that drink right now, oh wait what did it matter there would be no liquor in it anyway. Maybe she shouldn't let that matter so much since she was there with Warren, he was just awesome. Bustling around behind the bar trying to find her something to drink, he wasn't even pissed at her. Life could be so funny sometimes. Warren Hubbles, who knew he would be the most understanding male in the bunch. After Dan and Girty's behavior a few days ago Vicky wasn't too keen on the Hubbles clan (until right now), though she wasn't going to say that in front of Warren.

After she made her remark about mother hood he stopped and came over to her again, he soothed her nerves. Somehow he seemed to be very good at that. Not many people could, so it was a real natural gift. At this point she needed reassurance, her opinion of herself in matters of motherhood wasn't very good. "So long as you whisper to me my dear I will be OK." Winking then thinking back to what he said Vicky realized that he was stating things in the long term, not short, she wasn't a fly by night future roll in the hay. This made her feel better still, it was a great feeling to know that he wanted to be with her. There was a giddyness bubbling up inside.

He seemed to think she was OK too for he went back to concocting her drink. Too bad it wasn't going to have any liquor in it ah, these were thoughts that she was going to have to give up on. So he brought her some fruity drink and she gave it a weird look before looking up at him. "Hmm no liquor huh? Hope your bar tending skills are up to par my darling." Again she winked and tried to ignore the comment about Girty.

At the moment Vicky wasn't feeling the warm and fuzzies when it came to Dan's little sister. Her nose gave a throb after the thought too. Vicky raised her hand and rubbed her nose, she was lucky it hadn't been deformed after she was punched because Vicky was rather fond of her nose as it was.

[Warren Hubbles]

“The only way of knowing is in the tasting.” He gave her a small smile as he leaned on the bar counter so that his weight was supported to stop himself from falling down. Out of the Hubbles clan, and defiantly compared to his older cousin Dan, Warren was not good at acting but there were some occasions when even the simple human instincts were to conceal ones true feelings. That was defiantly something Warren was able to do and what he was sure as doing now.

This is however not to say that he was in not truly supportive of Vicky, he was, in that he was being truthful with but he had defiantly toned down his reactions slightly by keeping his mouth shut. Of course inside Warren’s mind was spinning, he was thinking about the repercussions of his actions. By protecting his cousin and his girlfriend he was also putting himself under a lot of pressure and giving himself that extra responsibility. He was going to have to break the news to Heather, tell the kids that he and mummy were no longer going to be living together…not that they did anyway but still. Also there would be the worst bit of all, telling Grandpa Hubbles. The old man was head of the Hubbles clan and everything got run through him first, and if you got on the wrong side of Grandpa Hubbles you would feel his wrath. He would not like this one; nope he would not like this one at all.

Swallowing hard Warren kept the smile up for Vicky as he lazily looked over at her, acting like nothing was wrong in the world and nothing ever would be. Although as Vicky gingerly rubbed his nose Warren could not help but laugh out loud. He should have guessed that Vic would not have been sweet on the rest of his family at the present moment in time; maybe his roguish charms saved him a bit. “I am guessing you will not want to come to the summer family picnic this year then?”

The idea of leaving Dan and Vicky in a room together was not really ideal and maybe Vic being there with a baby bump having to face the third degree from the whole family would not be best…so maybe it would be best for them to skip a year. “Come on angel, drink up I do not make the Cinderella for just anyone.”

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vic looked down at the drink wondering if she would really like it. Of course she knew Warren would never give her anything foul, taking one more look Vicky picked up the glass so as no to insult him. Taking it to her lips she opened her mouth and allowed the liquid to enter it. Tasting it, she thought it was like something you'd get on a tropical island. It wasn't half bad, but it still wasn't her favorite fire whiskey. Oh well this was just to be her punishment for behaving recklessly. Taking another sip then placing the glass back down she gave Warren her opinion. "Good I feel like I should be in Jamaica or something. Nice to know I can come here and not leave wasted."

Looking around the place something occurred to her. Someone else was missing. Since walking in she hadn't really given much thought to Heather and where she was. Last time Vicky had been here Heather was pretty much hanging all over Warren, letting it be known that he was hers. Vicky knew that he professed his feelings to her the night that Heather showed up in the pub, but it had been days and Vicky wasn't true to her word. Maybe the two worked it out, but then if they had why would he be mentioning being with her, even going so far as to say he would pretend to be the father of this baby.

Vicky started to wonder if she should ask him. Last thing she wanted was the buxom blond showing up again trying to mark her territory. Hell, after Vicky just shared with him that she might be knocked up by his cousin why would asking him about his children's mother make her queasy. So trying to act nonchalant she looked up at him batting her long lashes giving her the most innocent of appearances. "So where's Heather? Is she upstairs then?"

For some reason the thought of her up in his room, on his bed made Vicky angry. This emotion was hidden for she did not want Warren to know she was jealous, after what she had done she didn't have the right. But Heather was in the picture, maybe it needed to be out there. Was Heather going to be a road block for the two of them. At his point and time she knew that Dan was no longer an issue. After what happened between her and the headmaster Vicky knew she was done with him. Ready to move one, but part of her feared Warren might not be ready to move on with her despite what he said.

After all he had another life before Vicky came in like a hurricane and messed everything up. Perhaps it wasn't the men in her life that had problems, perhaps it was just her. Everything she touched turned to crap lately. She made mess after mess after mess. Maybe this time she should leave Warren out of it, let him go on living his life without her mucking it up to. Closing her eyes tight Vicky put her head down. Maybe the best thing she could do for him was leave him alone.

[Warren Hubbles]

Well the drink was good, at least that was something to take from the whole situation that was unfolding in front of him. Vicky liked his non alcoholic drinks although he knew that the alcohol lover in her would resent the fact she could not drink anymore…she would make a true Hubbles. This tangent of thought shocked Warren ever so slightly as he did not even love Vicky and he was thinking about marriage, they needed to take one step at a time and having a baby together, well that was one hell of a big step. “It would be change to not see you stumble back to the castle. I always worried you would fall into a bin or something.”

A light chuckle escaped the man as he enjoyed the light banter that they seemed easily able to slip into. It proved that they were comfortable around each other, that they were able to be themselves and not fear about asking certain questions, and Vicky for one was showing that as she straight away, no bones about it, asked about Heather.

“Nope, she left only a few moments before you turned up.” Warren offered Vicky a small lopsided smile as he tired to avoid giving too much detail on what had been going on for the few days that Vicky had not be present in his pub. After all how was Warren meant to know Vic was crying in her room because she was pregnant? In his mind he had come to the conclusion that Dan had offered her a better deal and she had gone with that, he needed to drown his sorrows and fulfil his needs and Heather was more then willing to comfort him. Yet Warren was not really going to disclose this information with Vicky as it would not make the situation any better.

Yet things were never simple really when it came to Vicky and it was clear that lots of different thoughts were racing through that beautiful mind of hers as she soon had her head down on the bar counter. A frown creased his forehead as concern and a slight bit of annoyance passed over the barman. With a deep breath to try and keep his tongue and anger under wraps Warren stepped to one side before leaping over the bar counter so that he was able to wrap his arms around Vicky’s shoulders.

“Angle what’s up?” He lowered his head and gently kissed Vic lightly on the head. “If you are not feeling well babe you can lie down upstairs. I can keep the pub shut for a bit so you can have some quiet.”

All Warren wanted was for Vicky to be happy, he hated seeing anyone like this and if there was something in his power to make her feel better in some way he would do anything to bring that smile to her face.