The Marriage Contract

ALEXA POV.

My eyes flew open, and a sudden ringing in my head made me shut it back. I was confused as to why, and why I'm in a hospital, since the little moment my eyes opened, I was able to catch a glimpse of my environment.

"Alexa." I heard my name, but I was focused on why my head hurt. I raised my left hand to touch it and felt something wrap around it which made me open my eyes to try and look at what, not caring about the glaring gaze of the light in the room.

What on earth...

"Alexa Denvers." The familiar voice called again, but this time, in a warning tone.

My eyeballs moved to look who, and I recognized it was my best friend. Phoebe Wyatt.

One of my best friends.

"It's Hodge now." I corrected still wondering what was wrapped around my head.

"Well, that is a bandage dressed around your head." She told me, obviously noticing my discomfort.

I furrowed my brows. "Why is a bandage dressed around my head?" I asked, dropping my hand back on the bed.

"You don't remember?" She asked me.

"What should I remember?" I asked getting a bit confused.

"How you got here." She stated.

I looked around the hospital ruminating on what she said which actually mean something because I don't remember a single bit about how I got here which now happens to be a big problem for me.

I looked back at her. "Did something happen?" I asked feeling a little bit of fear creeping inside me.

She just sighed. "OK. What was the last thing you remembered?"

I narrowed my eyes in thought at what I remembered last. It was clear as day, but it doesn't seem to concern the issue.

"Tell me." Phoebe urged.

"I was on the bed with my husband about to sleep," I told her factly.

"What day was that?"

"On the 12th. July." I replied. "Wait, what's happening?" I asked anxiously.

"It seems like you forgot how you got into the accident." She blatantly said.

I frowned. "What accident?"

"The one that got you here."

I sighed. "You are not getting straight to the point, Phoebe. Where's my husband?"

She equally sighed. "Well, he was here, but he left not too long ago."

I nodded. "OK. What about Emily?"

"Tomorrow is her shift."

I frowned at her. "Shift? What shift?"

"To watch you." She said as a matter of fact.

I sighed in disbelief. "You guys take turns watching me?"

She nodded.

"You guys know my husband can do all that, right?" I asked still in disbelief why they should be watching me like I'm royalty whom someone is out to get.

Aren't they being a bit excessive, if not a lot?

"Well, yeah. Whatever."

Oh. I sighed. Oh, I think I got it.

They are not used to me being married, especially with a guy I barely knew. They don't trust him, but then they shouldn't...

"Honestly, I don't know how you feel comfortable about marrying Leonard, 'cause I still find it unsettling." She suddenly said.

Bullseye.

"Is that the reason why you guys turned to watchmen?" I asked.

She nodded with a pout. "We still don't trust him, Alex. I mean, you guys have only been married for six months, and look what has happened to you. It's a bad vibe."

I sighed loudly knowing my friends are never gonna quit complaining about my husband.

"Look, Phoebe. Marrying Leo was what my dad wanted. You saw the contract. His signature was boldly on it." I reminded her.

She nodded. "I know, but it could be forged."

I raised a brow at her. "You think my godfather will do such a thing?"

She sighed and shook her head. "No. He took good care of you. But I just... I just keep wondering why his son was never around. Like since day one."

I was blanked into thoughts. I know where she's getting at, but right now, I really want this to end.

"You keep telling me this, and I've thought about it, and I've always given you an answer."

She nodded. Her face contorted. "Yeah, I know what your answer always is." She looked a bit annoyed by me.

I just shook my head.

"You know you like taking things lightly. Yeah, he was with his mother like you always say, but it didn't give him the restriction to not see his father at least once. And now, out of the blue, he woke up one morning, comes out from his shed all grown up, call his dad, and said 'hey dad, I've been thinking, I would love to marry that goddaughter of yours cause she's pretty. Because of her, I can come back home...."

I rolled my eyes as she tried imitating Leo's voice. "I don't think he sounds like that."

"Does it matter?" She attacked me. "There's something fishy going on, girl. Something behind the scenes that we do not know about, 'cause I don't think the contract is the reason Leonard came back."

I rubbed my head in exasperation.

"I know you know that there's something else aside from the contract, Alex. Father, and son that don't really know themselves unite just because of a contract, and the son just accepted? That's insane." She kept saying. Filling my head with the thoughts on her head.

I'm so tired of this.

"Sorry, I know I'm stressing you with all this." She pleaded.

"And I hope you stop," I told her.

She lowered her head sadly, but I just looked away from her.

She and Emily always make it seem as if there's a big plan against me that involves that contract signing between my dad, and godfather, but I think they're just not comfortable about the fact that I married Leonard, thereby making things up.

"Oh... Oh, God!" She lamented.

I looked at her in annoyance. "What."

"I should have gotten the doctor since you said you didn't remember how you got here. That should be a bad thing."

I nodded. "I'm glad you've realized."

"Let me go..."

The door opening cut her shut, and my eyes brightened immediately, as Leo emerged.

His pupils flared up in surprise. "O..oh. You're awake."

If my head was not on a pillow, I would have tilted it as to why he looked so very surprised or shocked, but I shrugged it and smiled.

My eyes caught Phoebe as she rolled her eyes.

Leo walked to my right-hand side. "How do you feel?"

"Well, I'm...."

"She's not fine." Phoebe interrupted looking at him.

"What do you mean?"

"She can't remember what happened to her, and why her head hurts, so I'm gonna go get her doctor." She stood up and walked out of the room.

Leo looked at me. "You can't remember what happened?"

I sighed. "I'm so tired of answering that question."

He nodded. "I'm sorry about that. I could have..."

"It's fine. It's not your fault. Just an accident." I told him before he could start blaming himself.

"Yeah. A car accident." He informed.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Well. Wow. At last, someone told me what the accident was."

He smiled at me, and I felt lost in his face, and that smile he gave me. He's just so handsome, and I'm his wife?

"You know you're staring."

I blinked. "Oh. Well, did I worry you?" I asked wanting to change the subject that just began back to the one we were dealing with it, even though I do want it to change.

He nodded. "Yeah. My dad included."

My eyes widened. "Oh. I...I totally forgot. Call him, and tell him I'm fine, so he quits worrying."

"I'll do that later."

The door opened, and the doctor with Phoebe entered.

"Glad to see you're awake at last, Mrs. Hodge." The doctor gave me a smile.

I smiled back and sat up a bit. "Thanks."

"I was told you didn't remember what happened."

I sighed and nodded.

"Why couldn't she?" Leo asked.

The doctor looked at him. "I kinda expected this to happen since the accident affected her head, but for her to forget a whole day, shows that a shock in her nervous system made that particular day erase. It was probably because you thought you were going to die when the accident was about to happen, or something else."

I nodded in understanding.

"What something else?" Phoebe asked.

The doctor looked at Phoebe. "What I explained earlier was neurogenic amnesia, but there could also be the shock from emotions. Her emotions flared up as she saw death in front of her, so it blocked off all the experiences of that day from your memory." She said looking at me.

"Like a form of repression?" Leo asked.

The doctor nodded.

"So..."

"What's that called?" Phoebe interrupted Leo.

"Psychogenic amnesia." The doctor answered her.

"So, if it was psychogenic, she could regain it?" Leo asked.

"Not a hundred percent accurate, but it happens. There's a huge probability that she will if she wants to."

"And if it's neurogenic?" I asked the question that seems to be in Leo's mind.

"It's permanent."

I gaped. "Oh."

"I don't know which category you fall on, but it shouldn't be much of a big deal since you didn't forget people, though I'd advice you to come for therapy" The doctor assured me.

I nodded.

"So, it's cool, then?" Leo asked.

The doctor nodded. "For that part, yes."

"There's something else?" Leo asked.

My heart skipped a beat at that, and I don't know why.

"Yeah. I didn't wanna say since she's been in a coma for more than a month, and..."

"A month?" I asked in disbelief.

She nodded. "Yeah. A month, and six days."

I looked at Phoebe and Leo, and they equally nodded.

What?

"Please continue, doctor," Phoebe said.

The doctor nodded. "OK, well, I'll get straight to the point. You're pregnant." She said looking at me.

"Hmm?" I blurted out with raised eyebrows.

"Pregnant?" Leo asked making me look at him. His saying it made the word settle in my head.

I'm..I'm pregnant? I instinctively placed my left hand on my belly.

"Yeah. She is. I found out when she arrived here. Luckily, the accident wasn't fatal enough to lose the baby."

"How many months?" I asked.

"Before the accident, you were pregnant for two months, and four days."

Oh. May 13th. At least I remembered that.

"And now?" Leo asked.

"It's up to three months, a week, and four days." She informed.

"Well, wow," Phoebe commented.

I looked at Leo. He was blank, obviously in thoughts, but there was a speck of smile on his face.

"I should go." The doctor said.

"Wait, so we are in the month of August now?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yeah. 17th."

I lowered my eyes. Wow.

"So, can I go now?" She politely asked.

I looked at her and nodded. "Of course."

She smiled and left.

Are things not gonna be awkward now?

"Congrats, Alex, but I should leave you two future parents. I have a lot to tell Em. Bye." I gave Phoebe a pleading look, but she ignored me and left the room.

I looked at Leo only to realize his eyes were on me. "Is there a problem?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No."

"Are you feeling awkward?" He asked again.

"What? No."

"Babe you're sweating, which means you're lying. There are many ways to tell you're lying."

I gulped.

He sighed. "You don't have to feel that way you know." He held my hand. "This is good news."

I smiled. "Yeah."

He kissed my right hand and caressed my hair. "Also, from now on, I feel I should be the one driving you to wherever you're going. I don't want this to repeat itself."

I frowned. "I don't think that's a good idea, Leo."

"Why not?"

"Accidents happen, and besides, I'm not sure it'll repeat itself," I told him.

He sighed. "I just want you..."

"Safe. I know, but I'll be fine." I assured him.

He nodded, and then a smile crept on his face.

"What?" I asked, although knowing why.

"I just...I just can't believe I'm about to be a father. It was something that was at the far back of my head before I married you."

"Marrying me even?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. That too, but I'm lucky though. Not every man is lucky to have a beautiful, nice-hearted woman like you as a permanent contract wife. I was angry, but I'm no longer."

I smiled. "Well, not every woman is lucky too."