DISCLAIMER: Yes. I don’t own Across the Universe or any of the characters. The only thing that’s mine is the plot. Enjoy. :D

“I’ll never have children, it’s disgusting.”

Her words haunted her as she sat on the closed lid of the toilet.

Neverhavechildrenneverhavechildren…

It had been three weeks.

Three weeks since what should had happened, didn’t happen.

It have been seven weeks since what shouldn’t have happened, did happen.

Lucy ran her hands through her long, blonde hair, trying to calm down her pounding heart. Just because it had been three weeks didn’t mean, didn’t mean she…

It was because of the wine.

Jude had brought it home. Two bottles. They’d felt rebellious and carefree, drinking straight from the bottle. They’d talked about how they’d put candles into the bottles after they were empty, letting the wax drip down them and creating small masterpieces to decorate the room.

They’d touched playfully at first, let it lead to more, senses dimmed, thoughts of precautions never crossing their mind. They gave into the sensation of the moment and laughed at themselves the next day. But now…?

Lucy felt nauseous with worry. She’d already been sick once today but her stomach was willing to argue that wasn’t enough. She took slow, deep breaths until the ill feeling passed, but still the knot in her stomach didn’t leave.

She would have to get tested. But how could she? Doing so would mean admitting it was possible and she just wasn’t ready for that. She would never, ever, be ready.

Neverhavingchildrenneverhavingchildrenneverhavingchildren…

She stood up, shaking. Tomorrow. She’d go… not to her doctor. A clinic. Oh, how low class, how trashy that sounded to her. Women off the streets went to clinics. Women like Lucy went to doctors. But Lucy knew she wouldn’t be able to face her doctor, not the man who had been treating her since she was four. A clinic.

Tomorrow she would go.

When Lucy came out of the bathroom, Jude could tell there was something wrong. She was pale, and there was a look of worry in her face. He put down the book he’d been reading and stood up quickly. “Are yeh all right? Wot’s happened?”

Lucy looked up startled, as if surprised Jude was even in the room. She forced a smile across her face that didn’t fool Jude for a second. “Of course, I was just…”

Jude came over to her and put his arms around her and was surprised to feel her trembling. “I don’t think yer telling me the truth.”

Lucy let out a small sigh. “I think I’ve got a touch of the flu. I’m not feeling all that well.”

Jude relaxed a bit, that explained her lack of color. “Why don’t you lie down for a bit? It could help.”

Lucy pulled out of his arms and looked up into his face. Jude gave her a reassuring smile. “It’ll pass soon enough. Would you like any crackers or anything? Me mum always used to let me have them in bed when I had the flu. I promise I won’t complain about crumbs or nothing.”

She gave him a warmer smile that gave him more relief that any assurances she could have given. “I think I will lie down, but I don’t need any crackers. Thank you Jude.”

Jude held her shoulders and give her forehead a kiss which didn’t feel to warm to him and then let her go towards the bedroom they shared. As she closed the door behind her, he figured he’d better wash his hands… just in case.

A/N: And so the first chapter ends! This is actually a story idea I had on the bus on the way home today. What’s going to happen? Guess you’ll just have to stay tuned.