whirlwind

Twelve - Brother

"Should I be concerned?"

Cara's eyebrows raised as she turned in the direction of the voice, seeing Nicolas with a slightly confused expression on his face.

In all honesty, it was quite cute and made him look like a puppy dog. A good change, considering she had been in immense pain most of the day.

"Concerned?" she questioned, not understanding. "Why should you be concerned?"

"There was a quite large accumulation of hair in the bath, love. Are you shedding?"

Cara was unable to hide my laugh.

"You clearly aren't used to dealing with women, are you, Klaus?" Cara grinned.

His mouth pursed into a perfect 'o' shape and he pressed a hand to his chest, mockingly looking offended, only causing her to laugh again.

In a second, he was sitting beside Cara, and his arms were wrapped around her and she was turned, facing him as they continued to laugh together. Her laughter slowed gradually as she realized he was within inches of her face. His breath fanned over her face as he, too, realized how close he was.

Cara's breath caught in her throat when his smile dropped and his eyes flitted between her own as his left hand lifted so he could graze her cheek.

`She went to speak, but it seemed as if all the words she could use escaped her.

Right before his lips touched hers, his sights shifted and instead he lifted his chin and pressed his lips to her forehead.

Without another word, he stood and left, leaving her confused as his name left her lips in a means of protest.

He didn't listen, and an exhausted noise fell from her mouth as she flopped back to her original position on the couch.

"Men are exhausting," Cara found herself saying, only to hear a voice laugh at her complete lack of control.

"That they are."

Turning my head, she was surprised to see the other male Callaghan leaning against the door frame where Nicolas had left through, and Cara saw smile on his lips.

"Alexander," she greeted quietly, slightly embarrassed that he heard her proclamation in her midst of confusion. He simply buttoned his suit jacket and headed towards her, taking a graceful seat next to her, much to her despair.

Now that she was around nine months pregnant, it wasn't that easy to move around anymore - quite the contrary, actually - most of her days were spent lounging on the couch and binge watching TV shows and movies she had seen millions of times.

No one complained.

Alexander offered her a warm smile, and she returned it. He always had an air about him that made her calm.

"No fret. And I do suppose men are extremely exhausting."

Cara laughed softly, her head shaking as she subconsciously rested her hand on her stomach. Everything didn't seem real still.

"And it is unfair to you that you're stuck in a household full of them," he continued. "Even your friend that visits is a man - though Nicolas would never admit it, I can tell he feels jealous over his presence."

"Benjamin?" Cara asked in disbelief. "Trust me, Ben isn't a threat in the slightest."

"Yes, I am aware," Alexander chided. "My brother has always been one to feel threatened even if there is a remote chance of him being overpowered or intimidated. But I am happy to inform you that Elizabeth should be returning within the week."

Elizabeth.

She had gone off into the Alaskan wilderness with a some business guru or something.

After being left in this house with both of the male Callaghan's, she had to admit that she had missed another female being in the house.

"That's good. No offense to you," Cara quickly spoke.

Alexander shook his head at the comment, showing her that no offense was taken. Cara hadn't meant it in a negative way.

His eyes turned to her open laptop, eyebrows raising.

"What is that?"

"Oh," Cara turned to her half closed computer, seeing what was still pulled up on the page. "I'm looking for apartments around here. The ones across the street are for rent - I think, but-"

"No."

Alexander's voice surprised her, and she certainly hadn't expected him to simply say 'no.'

"No? If it's the money you're concerned about, I wouldn't worry. I have plenty enough inheritance to buy myself a decent place-"

"Cara, enough. You're living here," he gently mused.

Her eyebrows whirled up and she rested her hand on her stomach. "I'm living here until the baby is born, and then I will have to move out."

"You will not have to do anything," his eyebrows cinched together and he spoke to her as if he were explaining things to a child.

"If I may, Cara, you have done something I never thought possible. You have reunited this family for the first time in years. You and your baby. And my brother... he is quite taken with you."

Cara's heart dropped, and she suddenly felt sick, leaning forward as her stomach began to hurt. Cara couldn't stand to hear this.

"No."

"He is in love with you. I know he is," Alexander continued quietly.

She heard what he said, but she couldn't process it.

"No," she spoke again.

"I know you may not believe me, but I truly believe it. He is..."

Cara didn't give him a second to explain any farther.

"Alexander!"

She interrupted, placing her hands on his shoulders to capture his attention.

"We can talk about my feelings for Nicolas another time. I'm not saying no to him, I'm saying no to the current situation. We have to go, now!"

The brunette was put off by her words, and she called out loudly.

"Nicolas!"

Instantly, the blonde man was in the room as well. She looked in between them, speaking over Alexander and Nicolas as the both began to question her.

Cara's hand rested on her stomach once more and she used both of them to stand up.

"We have to go. We have to go now! I think I'm in labor."