[H.Wing] Natures Law

[Warren Hubbles]

As agreed back in the Hogshead Warren had never opened the Hogshead that morning to the general public and instead he and Vicky made their way up the cobbled high street of Hogsmeade hand in hand and also in silence. Warren felt like there was nothing to say, he knew that at the present moment in time Vicky’s heart would be beating ten to the dozen and he would not blame her. He could feel the tension in her body as they wondered up towards the castle, his hand occasionally giving her little squeezes in encouragement every now and again just to remind her that he was there for her and only her.

It was a very reminiscent moment from only a few nights before when he and Vicky had walked through the same grand castle doors towards her office, however this time he would not be going to have a kip on her couch, no this time they were here on business and Warren would let nothing get in the way! So slowly they climbed the stairs, passing students giving them odd looks as they hurried from one lesson to another, the characters in the portraits that hung on the walls seemed to be in deep conversation and Warren was sure that rumours would quickly be circulating around the ancient building.

Still they continued along their way in silence and as they reached the third floor and the Hospital Wing Warren finally turned to look at Vicky, a soft smile filling his weathered features. “Ladies first.” He chuckled lightly as he pushed open the oak doors revelling the rows of beds and the sterol clean smell.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

They were actually headed back to Hogwarts. The place she had so desperately wanted to escape earlier. Not only that but they were headed for the hospital wing the site of the worst day of Vicky's life. Somehow this had all gotten to be just a bit too much for her. All she wanted to do now was runaway doing that might just make life easier for her and everyone involved with her. All the trouble she had caused just because she wasn't able to make up her mind about what she wanted until now. Now she could possibly be saddled with an everyday reminder of her catastrophic love life. A baby, a damn baby, this didn't fit into her plans at all, she was not ready for this.

That was the other reason she wanted to run. The effort it would take to deal with this was something she did not feel up to. That happened to be why she never went back to see Josh, she just didn't want to deal and now she was headed back to get answers and she wasn't sure she really wanted those answers. Of course Warren was being great to her. That was the real treat in all of this, her finding a man who would be there for her even when the going got tough. He didn't even open the pub today instead he walked with her hand in hand toward the castle every now and then he would squeeze her hand in the most reassuring away. Despite her nerves she felt kind of calm and it was due to him.

This almost changed when the castle came into view, the need to run far took over for.a moment, then she looked over at him and knew she would have to deal with this if not only for her sake but his sake too. The two walked hand and hand in the castle students stared at them, some just ogled others whispered to their mates. Even the portraits were all a dither. Vicky couldn't let this effect her because if she did she would surely be making a break for it. Sighing as they reached the hospital wing Warren allowed Vicky to enter first. Trying to put on a brave front by smiling widely Vicky did just that. Looking around the place she didn't want to have to visit again. Just the thought of the last time she was there made her feel angry, and vulnerable. Dan's words replayed over and over in her mind. If she was pregnant he wanted her away from the castle.

Vicky wanted to cry all over again, but somehow she found the will not to. Instead she just called out for the healer Joshua hoping he was in. "Josh are you here?" Her voice sounded frail so unlike her own, but she ignored that too and just turned to Warren with another smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

[Joshua Rowle]

Josh had been running low on skele grow, and since he didn't have time to leave the castle and go to the potions shop to replenish his supply he sat in his office with his old potions book opened to the page with how to make the concoction. He was just about to light the flame underneath the cauldron when he heard footsteps in the hospital wing followed by someone calling out for him. He knew who it was immediately.

All he could do was hope that there would be no more drama, last time the Charms professor had been there it was with the Headmaster and they were found in a compromising position. This better not be like the last time, he thought to himself. Turning the flame off and throwing the towel he had been holding to the side he threw open the door.

Standing there was Vicky and with him she had the guy from the Hogshead. Josh didn't know his name since normally when she was at the local pub he had his tongue down some woman's throat. He just recognized him since that's who he gave his money to. Josh's eyebrow rose in question as he neared the two.

"Hey there Vicky, how are you feeling?" he remembered how sick she was last time he saw her. Questioning whether or not she was pregnant Vicky refused to allow him to give her a thorough checkup, something that happened caused her to pretty much just jumped up and leave the room. Maybe she was back to do what she failed to do last time. "What brings you up here?"

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

It was an odd moment when Dan Hubbles could feel like his old self, and although he had a splitting headache, his hearing had become slightly muffled and he had an odd acidic taste in his mouth Dan was actually able to laugh as Dia lead him down the corridors of the castle towards the hospital wing.
“I told you not to take on that suit of armour.” Dia, although concerned for the well being of her husband could not help but smile as she carefully guided him down the corridor.
“It was moving in on you. Very, very dangerous…pointy swords.” The dazed look on Dan’s face summed everything up as he tried to focus on something in the distance that was no actually there. With a soft chuckle Dia found herself lazily brushing off shards of glass out of Dan’s hair as they continued to meander down the corridor.
“You jumped out the window though Daniel. A third floor window…head first.”
“There was no where to go and…and I knew there was a sticky out bit on the roof.”

There would have been no point in saying anymore and with a small absent smile Dan continued to grin as the large oak doors of the hospital wing came into a blurry view but something was not right. He felt Dia tense slightly next to him, and blinking hard Dan opened his eyes and tried to focus on the figures in the distance…Warren and Vicky.
“Maybe we should come back later.” Dan said plainly, the panic spreading across his face and the acidic taste in his mouth resembling bile just a little bit too much for his liking. Yet Dia did not say anything, she kept her head held high, her husbands arm linked firmly in his as she lead him forward to the doors.

The closer they got the more Dan’s slightly hindered senses were able to take in. He could see the look on his cousin and ex-lovers face, he could hear them muttering quietly to Josh but he was also with it enough to notice how the room went silent as Dia lead him in. With a weary smile Dan grinned at Warren and gave a rather pathetic excuse of a wave to Josh as Dia helped him onto the closest bed.
“Will you be alright now?” Dia asked, not surprised to get a rather distant ‘hmm’ in response from Dan. “I best go and clean up that mess and get that window fixed.” With a fond smile Dia stood on her tiptoes and planted a small kiss on the top of Dan’s head before moving over towards Josh. “Dan took a small dive out of a window, he is a bit dazed.” She was not going to tell the Healer how to do his job and so she made a quick exit, offering a small smile to both Vicky and Warren, finding it hard not to question why they were both in the castles medical area together.

“Where is that loud ringing coming from?” Dan looked around the room slightly dazed, the quick movements of his head not really helping the dizziness that had come with the small bang to his head. “I think I am going to lie down.” He commented to no one and he just fell backwards onto the bed, his head missing the pillow and his limps just limply hanging off the edge of the bed.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

As far as she was concerned she just wanted to get this over with. There was too much speculation, too much worry going on over something that may or may not be true. Joshua appeared and Vicky tried to muster up a smile, but all he got was an odd sort of grimace. Taking a deep breath she held onto Warren's hand tighter. This was the time she needed him most and he was there for her standing right by her side. She couldn't ask for anyone better or anything more. After all he promised that he would take this baby (if she was pregnant) and raise it as his own. Of course part of her knew that he was doing this for Dan. Such devotion that man did not deserve, but she wasn't about to say anything to Warren.

The moment she was preparing to open her mouth and give Josh the reason for her visit, Vicky stopped herself as she heard footsteps and voices out in the hall. Blast, last thing she wanted was was for some student to find her in here. The way these kids talked rumors spread around the school in a matter of seconds instead of hours. Vicky closed her eyes just hoping it wasn't that horrid little Ravenclaw prefect whatever her name was, the one that caught her and Dan in the empty classroom. She was simply trouble on two legs.

The door opened and out of habit Vicky turned her head only to see the last two people she wanted or expected. Biting her bottom lip hard she looked over at Warren as if asking him what to do now. Dan being in here was bad enough but Dia that was another story all together. Vicky had done everything in her power to avoid the woman while on the school's premises. Vicky didn't think she could face her in the eye if it ever came down to it.

Josh was looking at Vicky and Vicky looked back at Josh. The healer wasn't a stupid man he knew the score, so luckily he didn't say anything in Dia's presence. Actually, no one said much of anything. The tension in the room was so thick you could literally carve it with a knife. Vicky's heart was pumping so fast she was afraid it would start beating out of her chest giving her away to everyone within ear shot.

Good thing though Dia chose not to say but that still left Dan, which in her mind wasn't much better. Vicky heard what Dia said about him falling out the window, Vicky knew she should feel bad but part of her didn't, not that she wished him harm just that she lost any feelings for him the last time they were in this very hospital wing.

Dan went off to lay down Vicky knew that Josh would need to go and check on him. Whispering to the healer so that only he would hear Vicky said "I need to get that checkup find out if I'm with child but take care of him first he looks like he needs it a bit more than I do." Josh shook his head and did what Vicky suggested walking over to Dan,

"Dan tell me what happened?" Josh asked while Vicky turned away from both men and went to find herself a seat as far from both as possible. Looking to Warren she wondered what he was thinking about all of this.

[Warren Hubbles]

Warren watched as his cousin and Dia made their way into the Hospital Wing, Vicky’s grip around his hand tightened and honestly he could not blame her. This would be like her worst nightmare coming true and it would only take the wrong word now to make this nervous meeting turn into a shouting contest. Thankfully however everyone acted like mature adults and Dia made her quick exit leaving the four of them standing (or in Dan’s case lying) in silence just waiting for someone to break the awkwardness of it all. Thankfully being the constant professional Josh stepped up and took control of the situation, approaching Dan allowing Vic to slip off to the opposite end of the hospital wing.

At first however Warren allowed himself to be pulled along only to slip his hand out of Vicky’s grasp and give her a weak little smile. “You go and sit down angel; I just want to make sure Dan is okay.” He could not help it, he knew how much Dan had hurt Vicky and he was sure that later she would give him a talking to about it but Dan was blood, heck they were like brothers and Warren simply could not help himself but wonder over to the bed where his cousin lay looking rather dazed and lots of micro cuts over his skin.

“Well Dia and I were attacked by a suit of armour.” Dan explained to Josh as he continued to lie on his back and stare up, now into the faces of the healer and his cousin. “They had me cornered so I jumped out the window. It seemed logical at the time.”
“I thought we learnt our lesson in fifth year not to jump out windows Dan?”
“Yeah…” Dan could not help but laugh along with Warren. “I did, I jumped out backwards this time so it was not my head that smashed the glass.
“Idiot.” Warren chuckled as he playfully punched Dan in the arm. “How many stories did you fall?”
“I was on the third floor…but there was a roof underneath for me to fall onto.”

For some reason Dan seemed proud of this achievement, and even if his body was aching, his ear ringing and he was really light headed he had rather enjoyed the sensation of free falling out the window. It was only when he pushed himself up on the bed that the reality sunk in for Dan, Warren was at Hogwarts and he would have put money on it not being here to see him.

“Warren mate, don’t mean to sound rude but what are you doing here?”
“Oh, I…er…came with Vic.”
“Vicky is here?” Dan leaned forward, ignoring the head rush so that he could see Professor Potter sitting in the corner. He gave a small wave and a boyish grin but from the look on her face she was not impressed. “Is she still mad at me?”
“What do you think?” Warren’s voice was not playful this time, it was bitterly serious.
“Ah.” Looking over at Josh Dan gave him a meek smile and gave a slight shrug. “I think you should tend to Vic first Josh. I am used to falling over, Dia over reacted bringing me here.”

Dan was sure Josh did not need to be told how to do his job but as his cousin walked away to head back toward Vicky he could not help but get the impression that both of them just wanted to get out of here. That was the same thought that was passing through Warren’s mind as well, of course he did not mind the presence of Dan but he knew what it would be doing to Vicky, the guilt would be eating her up inside and all the frustration of her former mistakes will no doubt be consuming her…and Warren simply cared to much to allow her to suffer that much hurt! He took his place by her side once more, gently grazing her arm with his almost as a reminder to her that he would still and always be there.

“You okay?” He muttered, deep down he knew what the response to this would be but he knew he needed to say something. The silence that clung to the air was like an unwanted sale odder, it was not pleasant and he just wanted to escape it as quickly as possible.

(blar that was poopy. I am sorry I blame the weather, it is far to hot lol! )

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Of course Warren would want to go and see to Dan. They were related and had this most unusual solid bond. Though they were not brothers they most certainly did act like it. This was going to be hard, at the moment she disliked Dan with all her being. Just the sight of him was making her feel sick. But she kept quiet for Warren's sake, he is the one thing that meant anything to her right now so she could not deny him such a simple thing. Plus Dan did look hurt. Vicky tried to sit in the corner and not listen to what happened to him, but his voice carried. Once again a suit of armor went on the rampage and tried to attack someone. Dan had to go and jump out the window to save himself. Vicky could feel a pang of guilt, and a bit of sadness, but she still couldn't give up the anger.

Looking away, she listened to the banter between cousins. They were so tight knit it was nice, Vicky didn't really have that so she didn't truly understand it. No matter she wouldn't deny Warren time with his cousin who was in apparently bad shape. Imagine having to jump out of a window to get away from a silly suit of armor. That's was just insane.

Vicky was simply sitting there trying to stop her eavesdropping, until she heard her own name being mentioned. Dan wanted to know what Warren was doing there. Vicky had to bite her bottom lip, to keep from calling out to Warren, telling him to keep his mouth shut, but of course not she heard Warren's answer distinctly "What do you think" Vicky gritted her teeth. She really didn't want him to know anything. Vicky simply sighed, wishing she had picked another day to come to the hospital wing.

The worse part was hearing Dan tell Josh to come tend to her. Vick just rolled her eyes at him, thinking he was putting on quite a good act for those present. Vicky shook her head to Josh. "I can wait it's OK tend to him" maybe Josh would give him something to put him to sleep and then Vicky wouldn't have to worry. Warren walked back over to her and Vicky looked up at him offering the warmest smile she could muster.

He asked if she was OK. Silly question, but after everything she would feel petty and petulant if she said no I'm miserable Dan's here and I don't want to see his face. "I'm fine, totally fine." She lied in her opinion so well that she almost fooled herself.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

If Dan had to write a list of people who had the worst luck in the world, being the egocentric man he was he most likely would have put himself somewhere near the top of the list. This was because he had the self belief that he did nothing wrong and life as a whole had it in for him. Today was the perfect example, not only had the staff table run out of sausages when he got there in the morning, the suit of armour had picked on him and his wife and then finally he was now in the hospital wing with the woman present who he might just have got pregnant. Good guys never have any luck.

However wrapped up in his own little world and his dramatic ego thinking ‘oh woe is me’ Dan still had a strand of common sense and he could just about see how the contradicting orders they were giving Josh. He was like tennis ball being used in a match against Dan and Vicky, both trying to look the more gracious person but in the end they both wanted to be the one who was left with their head held high. As a result no sooner had Dan told Josh to go and look at Vicky she had returned with a quick back hand and told the healer to look after him. Admittedly he most likely did need the help more then Vicky seeing as he was the one bleeding and the world was spinning a bit…and the urge to throw up was defiantly taking over once more. But then Dan was not going to back down that easily.

“Ignore her Josh.” Dan said quickly, swinging his legs over the side of his bed and jumping to his feet. The lack of balance still took him by surprise as he stumbled forward slightly before tottering to the left as he tried to keep his balance. It was like being drunk…but just not as fun. “I can look after myself.” He wondered over to a cabinet where Josh kept all his potions, squinting slightly so he could read all the labels. With a small chuckle he opened up the glass doors and pulled out three bottles of all shapes and sizes before pouring small amount of their content into an empty cup. With a small puff a purple haze floated out the top of the cup and with yet another chuckle Dan pinched his nose and downed the contents in one.

For the briefest of moments he stood still, his head tipped slightly to one side and he was slapping his lips acting almost as if he was tasting a new exotic wine. “Could have done with a bit more peppermint.” Almost as if to agree with him Dan gave a small burp before collapsing backwards onto the closest bed, his eyes closed and light snores escaping him as the headmaster drifted off into a drug induced sleep.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

The man just had to be infuriating no matter what the situation was. Last thing she wanted when she was getting checked out by Josh was him listening in, if she was pregnant she didn't want him to know because as far as she was concerned he wasn't going to have anything to do with her child. Warren was there for her and that's all she needed, he was the only one that had been there for her when she needed him most. If it wasn't for him she wouldn't even be there getting checked in the first place.

She tried to send Josh to go look after him heal him as fast as he could so that Dan could be up and out in no time. It wasn't about being nice it was about doing what she had to do, but then of course Dan had to be annoying and tell Josh that he didn't need looking after. Vicky couldn't help it she gritted her teeth, almost let out a growl too. It was like they were playing some childish game, about who could annoy the other the most. Well hands down Dan could annoy her like no bodies business and right now he was proving that with every word out of his mouth. Vicky sighed she didn't want to do this not with him there.

Poor Josh he was sort of standing there not sure what to do looking from one to the other a consumed look on his face. He seemed t0 want to just leave them to their own devices and Vicky really wouldn't blame him at this point. They were treating him like some sort of tether ball swinging from one person to the other. Vicky simply sighed and shook her head since it seemed like Dan wasn't going to quit his crap.

Dan got up from his bed and for a moment she feared that he was going to walk over to her. Vicky looked imploringly at Warren hoping he would keep his cousin away because Vicky's composure was wearing very thin. Seems as if she didn't have to do that since Dan went to the cupboards and took things out, soon he room at large was simply staring at him as he put some sort of concoction together. Josh seemed too stunned to say anything. Next thing they all knew Dan was drinking it and in no time at all he was out like a light.

Vicky looked up at Josh, "Well he's out of the way for a while so I suppose we can get this over with." It wasn't that she was a heartless wench or anything, but she didn't want this done in front of him if she was pregnant she wanted to leave and be as far from him as possible, and if she wasn't then well she could continue on with her work there and sever her ties with him so he could get back to being a husband to his wife and so she could move on with Warren. "I'm ready Josh" she looked over at Warren grabbing his hand and squeezing tightly. "We'll soon know if I'm going to be a mommy or not."

[Warren Hubbles]

Her fake reassurance had not convinced Warren fully, had he been a simple male (much like his older cousin) he most likely would have taken Vicky’s statement as fact and been happy in the knowing she was alright. To Warren however he could not help but get that niggling feeling things were not alright, whether this was because Vic’s grip on his hand was getting stronger or the nervous looks she kept giving Dan and Josh grew much more frequent. No matter what he thought however Warren kept his mouth firmly shut as he knew it would prevent him from saying something stupid like ‘he is the baby’s father you know, he deserves to know.’ or ’A fine mess you have got yourself in now Vic!’

But instead he waited silently, his hand in hers as he watched Dan act all high and mighty and abuse his headmaster powers by deciding that he did not even need to seek the help of the trained healer. It was such a typical Dan thing to do, think that he was better then everyone around him and even people who were qualified in certain areas he would still have the cocky belief that he knew more than they did. He did love his cousin, he loved him like a brother but also like a sibling he could look down with distain at whatever Dan did and not feel bad for doing so.

The sound of snoring that was now escaping him and Warren knew that from that particular snore they did not have long. It was low rumble and not a loud snort, and a low rumble was always bad news if you wanted Dan out for some time. It seemed that Vikki too wanted to seize the moment and was getting Josh to quickly sort out the tests so that they could get out before Dan woke up. That was when he felt Vicky take hold of his hand and when she squeezed it tightly he responded by leaning down and kissing her gently on the head.

“A yummy mummy you mean?” Warren teased trying to get rid of some of the tension that was filling the air. He had been in this situation before with Heather and just like then he was secretly wishing that the test would be negative!

[Joshua Rowle]

Josh stood back a little bit and allowed the couple or whatever they were to talk. Josh was so glad that he never had this problem before, he was a womanizer in every way yes but then he made sure to keep it safe. The last thing he would ever do was mess around with a married colleague. Oh he would sleep with one of his co-workers but she should have to be unattached first. Look at the set of problems the whole thing caused. Dan was well, Josh really wasn't sure what was going on with Dan. Poor Dia was out of the loop, Vicky was sitting there in the hospital wing maybe knocked up and now Warren was in the middle. What an unhappy mess.

After a bit of time went by Josh cleared his throat. "Vicky it's time for us to go in the back. It won't take very long and we can have this all nipped in the bud in no time. Soon you will know if you're going to be a mommy or not."

Vicky looked at him a look of shock on her face, Joshua's face never faltered. Far as he was concerned this was her mess and he was simply trying to help her. Josh stood around and waited never taking his eyes off Vicky. She realized that he wasn't going anywhere so she finally stood up. Gave a look to Warren and went into the back room with Josh alone. When they entered Vicky's calm cool exterior seemed to vanish. Her face had gone pale and she looked as if she was about to fall down. Josh magicked a chair right behind her and told her to sit. The woman was so distraught she didn't even argue and just automatically sat down like a robot.

Josh took out his utensils and told her to close her eyes and let him work. Again she did as she was asked without a word. Josh placed the thin metal probe over her belly, it was a tool that could detect another human being inside another days after it was conceived. If there was a baby the probe would turn a bright blue. It didn't, but Josh liked to be thorough so he took the locket, it looked odd but it was another good tool. Again he placed it over his belly, if she was with child the locket would rock back and forth first slowly then quickly. Again nothing. Last but not least he placed what looked like a regular thermometer in her mouth. If she was with child it would say with child, after two minutes he took it out and the thermometer said no baby. That was it Josh had done three tests and all of them said the same thing.

"Well Vicky, I can tell you with certainty that you have nothing to fear. You are not pregnant."

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

All she wanted was for this nightmare to be over. Vicky made bad choices, and despite the fact that she wanted to blame everything on Dan she realized that she was guilty too. There's no way she didn't know what she was getting herself into, how many times had people told her never to get involved with a married man. They never leave their wives and the mistress always comes in second place. Vicky didn't want to be anyone's second place, but she allowed it. Then after things didn't go her way she tried to blame it all on Dan. That's not to say that she had forgiven him. No Vicky wasn't that forgiving, if she ever did forgive him it would take time. For now all she was worried about was what Joshua was going to tell her.

He asked her to come into the other room with him. Vicky stared at him then at Warren, her nerves apparent all over her face. This was about to be the moment of truth, she would soon know if she was going to be someone's mother. She knew what she wanted the answer to be, needed it to be, but is that what it would be. Vicky walked slowly behind Josh as if she were going to her doom. Once they were in the room Vicky stood there like a lost child, having no idea what to do with herself. She was so lost that she didn't even realize that Josh had placed a chair right behind her.

Vicky sat down unknowingly, and lucky she didn't fall on her bum. Joshua took some time to prepare and in all that time Vicky sat down trying to think of what would happen if she was going to be a mother. How was she going to ask Warren to take care of a child that was not his? Could she do that to him? Would he actually really stay with her if she was? There were a lot of doubts running through her mind right now.

Joshua started his tests Vicky didn't say a word simply sat there still wanting all of this to be over with already. Everything seemed to be taking forever, but it seemed that Joshua was doing his best to be thorough and she appreciated it. As long as he was sure Vicky didn't care how long they were in there.

Josh spoke Vicky's eyes shot open holding her breath as he said the words that she had so wanted to hear. "Seriously I'm not pregnant?" "No you're not at all." Vicky let out a loud whoop of excitement before jumping off the chair hugging Josh taking him completely off guard. After the hug she ran to the door threw it open and ran straight to Warren her face now filled with glee "I'm OK there's no baby." She kissed him on the lips her arms around his waist. Now she could put all the stupidity behind her, she was done with Dan and hopefully she and Warren could start on a good note. Hopefully he would see this as good news the way she did.

[Warren Hubbles]

There was something about the hospital wing that always unnerved Warren and made his stomach twist and throat tighten. Maybe it was the nights he had spent in this room during his time at school as he had been the butt end of some practical joke that had gone wrong. He still had not quiet forgiven Will and Dan for the time they put polyjuice potion in his morning pumpkin juice (how he had not tasted it still bemused him) and he had walked around the castle for the whole day as a rather rotund and spotty Gryffindor 3rd year. But at the present moment that was neither here nor there, Will was somewhere else in the castle and his cousin was knocked out lying on the bed next to him and the only person he truly cared about had been taken into a side room with the school healer.

Puffing out his cheeks in boredom Warren wondered over towards the bed where Dan lay and idly started to poke his cousin’s cheeks, pulling his face in one way or another to remove the wrinkles that had appeared on Dan’s face. The only thing was that Warren was not expecting…Dan’s eyes opened. With a small yelp Warren jumped backwards and pointed wildly at Dan as the headmaster sat bolt right up in bed.

“Y-you were unconscious.”
“’Was’ is the choice word there.” Dan said groggily as he rubbed his bloodshot eyes. “How long was I out for?”
“Er…ten minutes?”

A groan from Dan gave Warren the clear impression that he was not happy to be awake, in fact this was very reminiscent of a hung-over Dan. An uncomfortable silence soon passed over the two Hubbles men, this was something that never happened between these two, they were like brothers and would often find something to laugh about but then maybe this was a situation where humour would be hard to find even for a Hubbles. That was when there was a loud cheer from the room where Vicky had been taken, then a sound of something being knocked over.

“She’s coming back!” Warren spun around to look at Dan and with a frown he pushed his cousin back down on the bed and glared at him as if he was a naughty child. “J-Just pretend you’re unconscious.” Warren just managed to finish his sentence when the door of the room flew open and Vicky came running over towards him with a wide smile. Immediately their lips met and arms where wrapped around one another and the look of relief was as clear as anything on Warren’s face. He did not want to say ’That’s great news’ as it would seem too harsh but his grin spoke wonders and with a passing glance he looked over at Dan and noticed a small smile tugging on his supposed unconscious face.

“Will you come to Italy now then?” It may not have been an appropriate time to have asked but heck, why not. “Since your mind is no longer preoccupied.”

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vicky didn't even care that Warren seemed so thrilled, as a matter of fact he was mirroring her own feelings at the moment. Thrilled would barely begin to cover the joy that seeped through her body at the fact that she was not carrying another man's baby especially Dan's baby. Things were looking up for her and for Warren. They could put this whole sorted mess behind them, same with Dan he could put this behind him and Dia, Vicky wouldn't be a burden to him in anyway. So that was a great thing too bad Dan was knocked out unconscious unable to hear the good news.

After their embrace Warren asked her if she was ready to go to Italy with him. VIcky just smiled "More than anything in the world, can we go right now?" she said a grin wider than allowed appearing on her face. Somehow she had dodged a huge bullet not being pregnant. That would have ruined a lot of things. She was free.

"You have no idea what a relief this is for all of us I mean being a mother appeals to me one day, but not right now and not under these circumstances. I feel that now we can start things with each other and Dan doesn't have to worry anymore." Vicky kept looking over at the bed to see if Dan was awake. Then staring at Warren she asked "Is he alright? I thought I heard voices when was inside." Vicky wasn't sure she wanted to talk to Dan at the moment but then he should know what was going on.