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"This is not supposed to be happening," said Dr Megan Hunt, looking
down at the little stick in her hand, annoyed.
Huffing irritabley, she looked up to find part of the problem standing
in the doorway. She raised the pregnancy test at him accusingly. "I've
already stuffed up one go at being a parent. Why the hell would I want
to go around again?"
Tommy Sullivan eased into the room, his face intentionally blank. "So?" he asked.
"So?" Megan responded - almost screeching. She winced at the high
pitch. Moderating her tone, she spoke again. "That's all you have to
say?"
"It's more of a question about what you plan to do," he posed carefully.
Suddenly feeling tired, she fell into a seat. "I'm going to keep it of
course, but God knows what this time around is going to be like."
Resting one hand on her stomach and propping her head up with the
other, she was startled to find him standing in front of her. She
watched as he crouched down in front of her, bracing himself on the
arms of her chair.
"I've got your back."
Feeling strangely sentimental - blame it on the hormones - she reached
out to clasp his cheek.
Words seemed to fail her before she finally spoke. "Thank you," she
managed in a wobbly tone.
She didn't object when he stood up and leaned down to press a kiss to
her lips. Her eyes were shiny when they parted. He was about to speak
before she beat him to it.
"Gods, what do I tell Lacey?" Standing up and pushing past him, she
began to pace. Stopping, she ran her hand across the her forehead, one
hand propped on her hip.
Leaning back against the table, Tommy struggled to remain attentive,
as that particular pose pulled her shirt tight back against her form,
and he could see where she was already beginning to fill out.
"'Hi Lacey. It's your mother. How do you feel about being a big sister
in about, oh, five months or so?'" said Megan bitterly. "God, this is
twisted."
He'd had enough. Making his way over, he'd been planning to snap her
out of her funk, but as he neared her, the vulnerability in her eyes
stopped him. Gripping her shoulders instead, their gaze locked. "Now
listen to me Dr Megan Hunt," he ordered. For once she had no smart
remark to shoot back. "It is all going to be okay."
"Easy for you to say," she retorted, but it was a tired response, and
without malice.
He moved to tug her into his arms, but a sound at the door interrupted
them. "Ahem?" asked Curtis.
He watched as the woman carrying his child stepped back from him and
was composed in seconds. "Yes Doctor?"
"The results are back."
Watching her form leave the room, he moved to the door himself.
Clasping the deputy on the shoulder, he shook his head. "You have
awful timing man."
The heavy set man threw up his arms. "What?"
"You're pregnant?!" asked Lacey incredulously.
"Yeah," replied Megan uncertainly, unsure how her daughter felt about this.
"Aren't you too old?"
"Oi," she protested, and was gratified when they shared a brief second
of mutual amusement - their relationship had progressed to that stage.
"Oh."
Wondering at the teen's strange expression, she reached out to clasp
her hand. "What is it?"
Lacey flushed. "Well it means that you know, you, um... you know."
It was Megan's turn to laugh. "Good to know you've been taught about
the birds and the bees."
Lacey was torn between revulsion and humiliation. "Ah yeah, moving
on." She looked her mother over critically. "How long before you're
due?"
"Christmas Eve," replied Megan ruefully.
"Oh, that sucks," said Lacey, already feeling sympathy for her unborn
half-sibling.
"Mm."
Conversation carried on in a similar manner before Megan had to ask
the question that hadn't been asked yet. "Aren't you interested in who
the baby's father is?"
"Oh please," snorted Lacey. "It's Tommy." She laughed at her mother's
shock. "Who else would it be?"
"I don't know if I that's a compliment or an insult," replied Megan faintly.
Lacey grimaced. "Going to be hard looking him in the eyes now though."
She shuddered.
Megan turned serious for a moment. "Lacey?" she asked, looking into
her eyes. "Are you okay with this?"
Lacey rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm fine mum."
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, she pressed a kiss to her daughter's
hair. "I'm so proud of you."
"Yes mum," said Lacey with another roll of her eyes.
Their laughter sounded down the street.
Hunter Sullivan did not arrive on his due date, instead announcing his
intention to arrive at breakfast Christmas morning, finally arriving
later that night in the dying minutes of Christmas Day.
Megan's ex-husband was not impressed that their daughter chose to
spend the holiday at the hospital waiting for the baby to arrive, but
Megan was beyond caring, happily yelling insults to people left, right
and centre by that time.
In the wee hours of Boxing Day, Lacey sat on the edge of the bed,
looking at her baby brother. "He's going to get so ripped off when it
comes to presents ever year."
Megan reached out to clasp her daughter's cheek. "Well, we'll just
have to make sure that doesn't happen, hm?"
Their moment ended when an exhausted Tommy stepped into the room. "Hey
kiddo, you ready to go?"
"Yeah." Lacey leaned down to kiss her mother before gently kissing the
little baby in her arms. Standing in the doorway, she turned back.
"I'll be back tomorrow - no, in a few hours," she promised.
Megan just smiled. She briefly turned her gaze to her partner,
exchanging a look before two of the most important people in her life
left the room.
Turning to the other one, she found the baby sleeping in her arms.
"Well," she said diplomatically. "We're off to a great start."
When Tommy returned an hour later, he paused in the doorway at the
sight: Megan was guiding the baby - their son - to feed. Hunter
nuffled around blindly before his little mouth latched on to his
mother's nipple and he nursed.
He was startled when she spoke. "Do you plan on lurking in the doorway
or actually coming in?"
He stepped in. Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, he positioned himself close.
Megan was within kissing distance, and so when she turned her face, he
did just that.
"Merry Christmas," she said softly when they parted.
He tore his gaze from hers to look at the miracle in her arms. Running
a finger over the soft hair, he spoke in a soft tone himself.
"Merry Christmas."
Finito.