Tess grimaced a little as another wave of pain rocked her body, but she covered quickly. Isabel and Liz were standing near her, and she didn’t want them to notice. Damn body! She swore. Always finding new ways to betray me.

Despite her best efforts, Isabel heard when she let out a short gasp as another pain wave rocked through her. She looked over at the smaller alien. “You okay, Tess?”

Tess smiled, and tried to look like her usual self. “Yeah, I’m fine. Guess there was a little too much Tabasco sauce on that pie last night.” She grinned self-deprecatingly, and grabbed her backpack. “See you at lunch?” She asked. Isabel nodded, and wandered out of sight.

Tess made a break for the nearest bathroom, and collapsed against the cool walls of the stall, concentrating on simply breathing.

 

*******

 

Isabel craned her neck to look over the crowd in the cafeteria. She settled back down when she didn’t see Tess, and sighed. “Where is she?”

Max looked a little concerned too, and Isabel couldn’t help noticing Liz looked a little jealous. But she banished thoughts of her brother’s troubled romantic life to the back of her head.

“Did you see her here this morning?” Michael asked. “Maybe she just skipped today.”

Isabel shook her head. “She was here. She didn’t look like she was feeling too well, either.” She sat stiffly, as though trying to decide something. “I’m going to go look for her.”

Liz and Maria jumped in. “Want some help?” Liz asked. Isabel shook her head.

“That’s okay. I think if she’s just not feeling well, she won’t want all of us looking for her.”

Liz and Maria nodded ascent.

Isabel pushed her chair away from the table. “I’ll be back in a while. If I’m not back before lunch is over, meet us by the Jeep after school.” Everyone nodded, and Isabel made her way out of the crowded cafeteria.

 

*******

 

Tess looked up from where she sat shivering against the wall of the stall when Isabel called her name. She didn’t want to respond, but her friend was obviously concerned, so she forced herself to answer, and attempt to look normal.

“In here, Iz.” She pushed the door open and tried to walk steadily into the main area of the bathroom, but Isabel saw through her disguise as she teetered slightly and gasped with the wave of pain.

“Tess. What’s wrong?”

Tess shook her head. “Nothing. I already told you, I had too much Tabasco sauce last night.”

Isabel shook her head right back at her friend. “Nuh-uh. We can eat as much Tabasco sauce as we want, none of us have ever gotten ill. And I’ve seen you down plates covered in the stuff. What’s really wrong, Tess?”

Tess debated internally about what to tell her friend, and then nodded. “Not here, though, okay?”

Isabel gave a brisk nod, picked up Tess’s backpack, and offered her arm for her friend to lean on. “Let’s go. We can sit in the Jeep and talk. I told the rest of them to meet us there after school.”

Tess didn’t want to explain to anyone except Isabel, but walking and breathing at the same time was taking up too much of her energy and concentration to protest, so she just nodded.

When they were settled in the Jeep, Isabel made it clear she wanted answers. And Tess, reluctantly, provided them.

“I’m sick.”

Isabel looked concerned, but masked it pretty well. “That’s obvious. What is it, though?”

Tess avoided her friend’s eyes as she answered. “It’s a chemical thing. And an alien thing. It’s compelling me to... breed.”

“And it’s hurting you, because you’re not complying?” Isabel surmised, masking her shock expertly.

“Yeah.”

“What will it do to you if you don’t comply?” Trust Isabel to point-blank, true to her nature. Tess closed her eyes.

“I’ll die.”

Isabel digested this as best as she could, and then started gathering answers in typical Liz-fashion. “Okay. I want to know everything about this that you do. So, spill.”

Tess took a deep breath. “It’s a chemical thing, it’s an alien thing. It’s genetic, Nasedo warned me about it, but he thought I’d be older. It hit all my relatives when they were in their early thirties. I can’t change it with my powers, and it’s been going on for about two weeks.”

“That’s all you know?”

“That, and if I don’t mate and conceive within the next two months, I’ll die.”

“Are... any of the rest of us in danger?”

Tess shook her head. “It’s genetic, like I said, and it never skips more than a generation. Even if your mother had never had it, her mother would have. And it’s also a female thing, so Max and Michael are safe.”

Isabel sat there and thought for a little while. “Okay... so have you thought about options yet?”

“Of course I’ve thought. But I haven’t decided, if that’s what you mean.”

“You can’t die.” Isabel’s statement left no room for argument.

“I don’t want to die, Isabel. I guess I’ll have to have the kid. But this sure is going to screw up my life.” The petite blond looked more dejected than Isabel thought she’d ever seen her.

Impulsively, she reached over and gathered her friend in a tight bear hug. Tess hesitated, but then clutched Isabel close, a few tears escaping from her tightly closed eyes. When she pulled away and wiped her face on her sleeve, Isabel met her eyes.

“We’ll all help, Tess. I promise you can do this. And you won’t be alone.”

 

*******

 

Later, when all had been explained to the group, shocked faces reigned. Maria spoke first. “Tess, you’re seventeen.”

Tess’s face was tight with frustration and anger. “I know, Maria. But I don’t exactly have any choice here, I’m going to die if I don’t.”

Max made a little motion with his hand, and gave Alex, Michael and Kyle looks. They all piled out of the car, and took a few steps away, where they held a hurried conversation. Meanwhile, baby-sitting offers and other such support were flying between the girls in the Jeep.

When the guys returned, together, as though they were a pack of wolves, Max played spokesman. “Tess... we’ve decided something.” He looked over at Michael, who picked up Max’s trail of thought.

“Any of us... will help you. And take on the responsibility of fatherhood. Think about it, pick the person you’d be most comfortable with. We’re ready.”

Tears came to Tess’s eyes, and she jumped out of the car to leap, surprisingly, on Kyle. She buried her head in his neck for a long moment before moving on to give the rest of the guys hugs. “Thank you so much. But... I need to think about this.”

Max nodded. “I know. But we don’t know how much your human body can withstand before you cease ovulating. So, you need to make up your mind within a couple of weeks, ten days if you can.”

Tess nodded. Then, aware of the high tension in the air, she hugged everyone once more, and nodded to them all. “I’m going to go for a walk. Then... later, you and I need to talk to your dad, Kyle.” Kyle nodded.

“Well, I’ll see you all later.”

 

******

 

Two weeks later, Tess stood before the gathered group in the Evans family room. Max and Isabel’s parents were out of town for the week, and the siblings had offered their home as meeting place. She took a deep breath.

“Okay. If any of you have changed your minds over the last couple of weeks, I understand. This is a lifetime deal, and you’re only seventeen. I’ll understand completely.” Nobody said anything. She drew in a sharp breath and clutched her stomach for a moment, then relaxing as it passed.

She looked at the girls, carefully avoiding the guys’ eyes. “Okay. I’ve made my decision.” She drew another deep breath, this time from nerves, and not physical pain.

“Alex... I don’t know you very well. And I’m sorry, but I don’t think I want to share a child with someone I barely know.” Alex nodded silently, his face betraying a little relief at her statement.

“Michael... it was kind of you to offer, but I can’t do this to your relationship with Maria. It’s going to bring about wonderful things someday, and I couldn’t bear to break it up.” Michael smiled gratefully, and nodded. Maria practically vaulted into his lap, kissing his cheek. Things had been a little tense between them, but it looked like they were going to be okay.

“Max...” Liz stiffened visibly. Tess pressed on. “You were my everything, once upon a time. But that was in another life, and we don’t belong to that life anymore. I can’t deny that I feel something for you, and I think those memories of our love will probably stick with me for the rest of my life, but you’re a past love now, and a good friend, nothing more.”

Max smiled gratefully, as did Liz, and then all eyes turned to Kyle. Tess went over and sat on his lap. He looked a little shell-shocked, but recovered enough to slide his hands around her waist. “Congratulations, Dad.” She said. And then Kyle Valenti, the big football star of Roswell High, got tears in his eyes, and kissed her, gently.

“Thank you, Tessa.”

 

********

 

PART TWO

Sheriff Valenti was the next obstacle. And this was not an obstacle to be laughed at. He was firmly opposed, as most parents would tend to be, to his son becoming a father at the age of seventeen.

However, the only saving grace was that he had grown to know and love Tess over the months, and he wasn’t willing to let her die anymore than Kyle was. So, with reluctant permission from Kyle’s disgruntled father, they set to work making a new life. A month later, the strip turned pink.

 

*******

 

Tess was seven weeks pregnant, and sick as a dog. She could hold down almost nothing, and was constantly plagued by dry heaves. But she insisted on going to school. “I won’t be able to after a while, so I might as well do it now.” She figured a lot of summer school was in the cards, but she was determined to graduate.

But the rumors were beginning to spread, and Tess got called to the office. The nurse sat her down, and frowned. “You’re awfully pale, honey.”

Tess nodded. “I’m okay.”

With a critical eye, the older woman scrutinized her. Tess’s stomach was still flat, thank God for small favors, and she was pretty sure that the nurse would diagnose flu or something, and tell her to drink lots of fluids and rest. But she hadn’t counted on the rumors that were spreading around the school, reaching the staff and not just the students.

“They’re true, aren’t they?” The nurse asked calmly.

“What?” Tess was truly puzzled for a moment, not having registered that the staff could have easily heard the students talking the hallways.

“The rumors. The ones that say you’re pregnant. They’re true, aren’t they?”

Tess nodded her head slowly. The nurse sighed, looking her over sadly. “What’re you going to do, honey?”

“Keep it.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” The older woman asked kindly. Tess nodded.

“Not to be rude... but why am I here?” She asked.

“Two reasons. I needed to know if it’s true, because the school needs to have the information on hand if you were to get injured or suddenly ill. And because the guidance counselor wants to talk to you.”

Tess sighed. School busybodies. Nothing better to do than pry into the personal lives of students. “Where is she, and when do I talk to her?” She asked in a dull monotone.

The nurse smiled. “Actually, she’s ill, and since I’ve had a little training, it’s up to me.” Tess perked up a little. This nurse seemed nice enough, if a little nosy.

“Okay. So, what do you want to know?”

“Well, let’s start with the obvious. Have you told the father?”

Tess nodded. “He knows.”

“How did he take it?” The nurse asked gently, obviously expecting Tess to burst into tears and tell her about how an older college guy got her pregnant and dumped her. But instead, a smile spread across her face at even an indirect mention of Kyle.

“Nicely, actually. He said he’d stick around and help us out at first. Then, later, maybe we’ll do the joint custody thing, or there’s always a possibility of marriage. But for now, he’s just going to do his best to be a good boyfriend and father.”

“Does he go to this school?” The older woman asked.

“Yes.”

“I’m afraid I need his name on file, too.”

Tess hesitated. Should she tell the nurse, or should she let Kyle come in, and tell her himself. She decided that it might be better to get it over with now. “Kyle. Kyle Valenti.”

The nurse looked surprised. “The sheriff’s son?”

Tess nodded. “That’s the one.”

 

*******

 

A few weeks later, Tess had to abandon her form-fitting wardrobe for something a little looser to effectively conceal her slowly bulging stomach. She had settled for a slip dress, casual and stylish, yet not to tight, like the rest of the popular clothing tended to be. She was making her way down the hall when she saw Kyle at the center of a knot of jocks. He clearly wasn’t happy, and none of the group noticed her. She walked by and hid her face in her locker, listening carefully.

“Hey, Valenti, I heard you knocked up the Harding chick.”

“Yeah, Kyle, is it true?”

Then Kyle’s voice, clearly peeved. “It’s really none of your business, guys. Can I go now, I’m gonna be late to class.”

“Just answer me, Valenti! Is it true or not? Then we won’t bug you again.”

Tess was silently pleading with Kyle not to say anything. The rumors were still floating around, but nothing had been confirmed. If Kyle could just keep his mouth shut, things would stay that way.

But, apparently, the younger Valenti male was too fed up to take anymore, and exploded. “Yes! Tess Harding is pregnant, the baby’s mine! Is that what you wanted to hear?” He stalked away, easily evading the crowd that had gathered, many of them in silent shock, many more whispering conspiratorially.

Tess joined him stride for stride in the hallway. His angry mask-face changed to an apologetic sympathy face instantly. He looped an arm over her shoulder. “Oh, Tess, I’m so sorry. I never meant to say anything. I know you’re upset--”

Tess put a finger against his lips. “Shh. I’m not mad, Kyle. They had to find out sometime. And it’s just their opinion, remember? The only one’s that should matter, we know support us.”

Kyle gave her a hesitant smile, and kissed the top of her head. “Want to go somewhere?”

Tess looked at him in mock horror. “And skip school and the huge rumor mill that’ll be churning about us within the hour?”

Kyle shrugged. “I, personally, could do without it.”

Tess grinned. “Ditto. Let’s go.”

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