Creepin' Up On You
Chapter 1: She's Having My Baby
Lily sat on the semi-uncomfortable doctor's table as she waited for the doctor to come in with her test results. The nurse had had her give a urine sample, and now, she was just waiting for the doctor to come in and tell her the results. She hated waiting.
With a sigh, she turned the page of the Harper's Bazaar magazine she had brought in with her from the waiting room. She would never understand the shoulder pad trend. They made you look like a football player! Instead of passing a football, she would simply just pass on the shoulder pads, thank you very much!
Finally, the doctor came in. He grinned at her, displaying his perfectly white teeth. She wondered if he had had braces as a kid.
"Good morning, Lily! How are you feeling today?" Dr. Parker had been Lily's doctor for twelve years. She wouldn't have any one else.
She smiled back. "Hello, Doctor Parker. I'm doing all right." He had told her many of times that she could call him by his first name, David. However, it never felt right to her to call him anything but Doctor Parker.
He looked down at his chart. "I see you have been having symptoms of a pregnancy. Is that correct?" He looked back up with her, the smile still on his face.
Lily wondered if his cheeks were sore from smiling, or if they had gotten used to it. Doctor Parker was a very friendly man, who always smiled. At least every time she had seen him he was smiling. "I've been really tired lately, and have been craving juice of all kinds—even carrot juice. I hate carrot juice! My breasts have been more tender than usual as well." Lily looked away as she said the last part. It kind of embarrassed her to tell her doctor that. She had known him ever since she was in her twenties. He felt like a father to her.
"Well, you definitely have the symptoms of a pregnancy. Are you late on your menstrual cycle?"
Lily nodded. "But only by a week. I have been late before, but with these other symptoms accompanying the lateness... I've experienced the same symptoms when pregnant with my other three children."
"Well, according to your urine sample results..." Dr. Parker page as he turned a page and read what the next page said. He then looked up at Lily, his smile exceptionally wide. "You are indeed pregnant. Congratulations!"
Lily grinned. She wasn't really shocked, but it was still semi-shocking to actually hear confirmation.
"Are you excited about having another child?" Dr. Parker asked.
Lily placed her hand subconsciously over her stomach and rubbed it. "Of course!" She grinned up at Dr. Parker. "Though I haven't even mentioned to my husband that I might be pregnant. I didn't want to tell him until I was sure."
"Well, if you want to be really sure, we can take a blood test. You can get your results by tomorrow. It's usually a forty-eight hour wait, but, since you've been my patient for such a long time, I can have the lab put a rush on it." He winked at her.
Lily smiled, and went from rubbing her stomach to rubbing her arm. "Aren't urine samples effective?"
Dr. Parker nodded. "They're pretty accurate—about ninety-five percent. A blood test would just be a second opinion, so to speak."
Lily didn't usually like to be stuck with a needle unless it was absolutely necessary. But, if she was going to tell Rufus, she wanted to be one hundred percent sure she was pregnant. So, she nodded. "All right. I'll have a blood test."
Dr. Parker nodded. "I'll send the nurse right in," he said with yet another grin.
Lily smiled back. She supposed she could wait another day. It was going to be hard not telling her husband, now that she was ninety-five percent sure she was pregnant. But she'd manage to wait. After all, she didn't want to get his hopes up for nothing.
R&L
"So, how was your brunch with Jenna?" Rufus asked Lily when she entered through the elevators of their apartment. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Lily looked a little distracted to him. She smiled. "It went fine. Jenna sends her love."
Rufus raised an eyebrow. "Really? Jenna said that? The same Jenna that tells you every time you see her that I'm not good enough for you?"
Lily blushed. "Okay, maybe I just made that part up to make you feel better. She really doesn't hate you as much as you may think she does. She just thinks you should get a job other than being a rockstar. She says you have less gigs than she has fingers."
Rufus winced, though more for show than anything. He wasn't exactly a fan of Jenna's either. In his opinion, she was a stuck up snob who always had a holier than thou vibe. So he didn't care what Jenna thought of him. Besides, that rockstar job was about to pay off.
"Don't let her get to you, Darling." Lily stroked some hair out of his eyes. "I think she's secretly jealous that she doesn't have a man as amazing as mine. Heck, she doesn't even have a man. Period."
Rufus grinned. "Well, I'm sure she wouldn't be so against my rockstar job if she knew what just happened to me today."
Lily smiled, and raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why is that?"
Rufus grinned. He had been planning on telling her over dinner, but he couldn't contain himself anymore. "Well, Lincoln Hawk's manager just landed us a month-long gig in none other than New York City's own The Canal Room! For four weeks straight, the band and I will be performing there every night except for Sunday and Monday, starting a month from next Tuesday!"
Lily squealed. "Oh my gosh! Congratulations!" She grabbed him and kissed him, then held him close. "This is just the beginning for you and the guys, you know. Soon you'll be touring the world!"
Rufus grinned. "I sure hope so. It would really put Jenna in her place, wouldn't it?"
Lily smirked up at him; apparently amused even though Jenna was her friend. "It really would. Maybe now she'll finally think you're good enough for me." She stroked his hair again. "Not that I ever get tired of bragging you up anyway." She smiled.
Rufus lowered his eyes and kissed her. "You're going to come to every show, aren't you? You know I hate it when I have to perform without you there. You're my good luck charm."
Lily grinned. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
They kissed, their faces in the other's hands.
Rufus then picked his wife up and carried her toward the stairs.
"What about the kids?" Lily asked.
"Still in school. We're good for another few hours," Rufus reminded her.
"Oh yeah." Lily pulled him in for another kiss as he carried her the rest of the way to their bedroom to celebrate his and his band's new gig.
R&L
It was the next day, and Rufus was out signing some last minute paperwork with Lincoln Hawk, their manager, and the owner of The Canal Room.
No one from the doctor's office had called Lily yet, and she was getting antsy. She hated lying to her husband. She just didn't want to tell him anything until she was a hundred percent sure she was pregnant. She didn't believe how her lie about going to brunch with Jenna had snowballed into Jenna telling her Rufus needed to get a job. But Lily knew she had good reason to lie this time. For starters, she couldn't tell Rufus she was going to the doctors without him wanting to come with her, or at least not without him asking her why. Then she'd have had to either tell him the truth, or lie anyway. That would have been too complicated. Besides, Jenna always did complain how Rufus didn't have a job and wasn't good enough for her friend. Lily was sure she would have yesterday as well, had they really gotten together.
That wasn't the worst of it. When making love the night before, Rufus, who had once informed her that her breasts were his favorite part of her body, had fondled her breasts. Since they were tender lately, she inadvertently let out a wince.
Rufus instantly paused. "What? What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
"You just squeezed a little too hard. I'm fine," she said quickly.
"I'm sorry." He placed gentle kisses over her breasts. Then he had looked into her eyes and gently stroked some hair out of them. "I didn't meant to hurt you! It's just that I've squeezed then harder than that before." He grinned. "In throws of passion." He kissed her breasts again, his touches feather soft this time. Then he looked her in the eyes. "I didn't think you'd mind."
Lily pulled him in for a kiss. "Darling, it's all right. I'm fine." She brushed her lips against his ear. "Now, you have some unfinished business to take care of."
His eyes darkened, and the incident was forgotten as he continued to make love to her.
Then there was after their lovemaking when she begged him to bring her up some of the carrot juice she had made earlier. She had had a sudden craving for it.
"What's with the carrot juice kick lately? I thought you hated that stuff?" Rufus has asked as he put on his robe so that he could go down and get her some.
She shrugged. "I guess I just acquired a taste for it."
Lily snapped out of her thoughts. She looked at her watch. Just in case her test results came back negative, she really didn't want Rufus to be home when she got the phone call. She just didn't want to have to explain that she had thought she was pregnant.
She contemplated just calling the doctor's office herself, but, before she got the chance to, her cell phone rang.
She snatched up the phone and looked at the screen. "Thank God!" she said to no one in particular before she answered the phone. It was the doctor's office. This was it—the moment of truth.
"Good morning, Lily! This is Theresa, Dr. Parker's secretary. How are you today?"
"I'm fine, Theresa, how are you?"
"I'm good! Thank you for asking. Now, I got your test results here, and I think you'll be very happy to know that they confirmed your pregnancy. Congratulations, Lily! It looks like you're going to be a mommy again!"
Lily smiled, her hand instantly going to her stomach. She gently rubbed her stomach as she thought of the new life she and Rufus had created. I'm going to be a mommy again! her head screamed with excitement.
She grinned. "Thank you very, much, Theresa!"
She and Theresa exchanged farewells, then Lily hung up the phone.
Lily grinned so widely her cheeks hurt. She cold hardly wait to tell Rufus! She wanted the moment to be perfect. She would tell him tonight during dinner. The kids all had dinner plans elsewhere. Everything was falling into place. She hoped that was a good sign that this baby was meant to be. She was sure it was.
With a happy squeal, she got off the couch. She had to go to the bathroom, then grocery shopping. She had the perfect idea for dinner tonight!
R&L
Rufus came home to a lavish setting at the dinner table. There was a bottle of wine, with one glass already poured. The table was set, but the food wasn't on the table yet. Though, from the smells of it, whatever it was, it was going to be good.
Lily smiled at him from the kitchen. "Hello, Darling. How did your meeting go?"
"It went well! Everything is all signed, and we're good to go," Rufus said. "Dinner smells good. What did you make?" He was a little nervous, for Lily wasn't exactly known for her gourmet cooking. However, since she had gone to all the trouble, he'd eat it no matter what it tasted like.
Lily walked over to him and kissed him.
Rufus pulled her closer and kissed her more passionately. He wriggled his eyebrows. "What do you say we skip dinner and go straight to dessert?"
Lily smiled, but shook her head, and nodded toward the table. "Take a seat, and you'll find out what I made."
Rufus pouted at the rejection of his idea, but did as told.
A moment later, Lily brought over a big plate of ribs.
"For the main course, I've made baby-back ribs," she began.
Rufus licked his lips as he eyed the ribs. "They look good, but I'm surprised you made these. Ribs aren't usually your thing."
Lily shrugged. "Well, lately I've been craving things I usually don't crave." She headed back into the kitchen, then came out with a bowl. "For the side, I made some baby corn with butter and salt. And..." She trailed off as she went back into the kitchen then came back with a bowl of salad. "I have a baby field greens salad with baby carrots and an Italian Vinaigrette."
Once everything was set on the table, she turned on the CD player and pressed play, turning it to a comfortable listening volume. Then, she sat down at the table, across from her husband.
Rufus smirked as "Baby One More Time" came on. "Britney Spears? Really? I certainly didn't peg you as the Britney Spears type."
Lily blushed. "I'm not, but I'm open to knew things, as I hope you will be too."
Rufus shrugged. "You know me; I'm up for anything." He grinned, then motioned to his plate, which was piled with everything Lily had made. "Did you make this or have it ordered in? I asked because it's actually good!"
Lily smirked at him. "Cute. I made everything myself, thank you very much!"
"Did you make anything for dessert?" he asked.
Lily grinned and nodded. "Yes, I did!"
"What did you make? Rufus asked, before taking a sip of his wine.
"A cake," Lily answered.
"Chocolate?" Rufus asked, his face suddenly lighting up.
Lily nodded. "But you have to eat your dinner first." She winked.
Rufus licked his lips, then went back to his meal.
He laughed out loud when Justin Bieber's "Baby" came on. "All right, Lil. Now I think you've flipped your top. Justin Bieber? Really? Justin Bieber."
Lily his her smirk behind her hand. "What can I say? I heard it so much, it grew on me."
Rufus shook his head, then went back to his dinner.
They made small talk as they finished their dinner.
"All right, Lil. What is with the Baby theme?" Rufus asked as The Supreme's "Baby Love" came on. "It's not like you to listen to any of these songs."
"I need some more juice," Lily said, taking the grape juice pitcher from the table and pouring herself some more grape juice."
Rufus scratched his eyebrow. "And aren't you drinking any wine? That is definitely not like you."
Lily set the pitcher back down and took a sip of her juice before responding. "Well, I'm really not supposed to drink in my condition." She stood up and began gathering the empty dishes.
Rufus' instantly looked up at her. "Your condition?"
Lily nodded. "I lied to you. I didn't go out with Jenna yesterday."
Rufus suddenly looked pale. "More lies, Lil? Please tell me you're kidding."
"Actually, I went to the doctors," Lily continued.
Rufus looked like he was about to get sick.
"Not William. Trust me. I went to the doctor I've had since my twenties," Lily quickly explained.
Rufus looked like he was about to pass out. "Lil, please tell me your cancer hasn't returned."
Lily chuckled. "No, Rufus. It's definitely not that."
"Well, then what do you mean by your 'condition?'" Rufus asked her.
Lily raised an eyebrow at her husband. "Really, Rufus? You're not getting it yet, even with the theme of the dinner?"
Rufus looked confused. "Theme?"
Lily brought the dishes to the kitchen and rinsed them, then she put them in the dishwasher. As she did this, Rufus didn't say anything, as if he were thinking about what she had just said.
When The Four Tops' "Baby I Need your Lovin'" came on, he gasped, as if it finally dawned on him. "He turned around in his chair so that he could face her. "Lil, are you trying to tell me that you're pregnant?"
Lily grinned, and brought over the cake to him.
Rufus looked down at it, and saw that it had white frosting with the words written in yellow icing, "Congratulations, Daddy."
He instantly felt the tears of joy filling up in his eyes. "Lil?" he asked, wanting to make sure.
Lily nodded. "You're going to be a daddy again. I'm pregnant!"
"Oh my gosh!" Rufus cried out.
Lily grinned, and set the cake down on the table so that she and Rufus could embrace.
Rufus kissed her passionately.
She sighed into the kiss, and kissed him back with equal passion.
"How long have you known?" he asked her.
"I suspected it for a few days. I'm a week late on my menstrual cycle, and I'm tired a lot. I also got my juice craving back, which I've only ever had when I was pregnant. And of course, my breasts were becoming more tender." She blushed.
Rufus blushed as well. "Hence the reason it hurt when I squeezed them. I'm sorry about that."
Lily grinned. "It's all right. You didn't know. I didn't want to tell you until I was for sure. The urine sample I gave at the doctor's office confirmed that I was pregnant. Then, Doctor Parker said I could get a blood test to be a hundred percent sure, but I'd have to wait a day for the results. I got the test and didn't want to tell you until I knew for sure. I didn't want to get your hopes up for nothing."
Rufus' tears were sliding down his cheeks now. "I'm so happy!" He pulled Lily in for another passionate kiss, then picked her up.
Lily grinned, and stroked some hair out of his eyes. "What about dessert?"
Rufus' eyes lowered. "Dessert can wait. I can't."
Lily smiled in response.
Rufus paused for a second. "Wait. We can still do this with the baby in there, can't we?" He gently rubbed Lily's stomach. "It's been a while since I've had a pregnant wife. I've forgotten some of the rules."
Lily laughed. "Of course we can! After all, we did last night, didn't we?" She smiled; amused.
Rufus chuckled. "Good point! Well, that's all I need to know to convince me!"
He quickly ran to the stairs with Lily still in his arms.
Lily giggled and they kissed, then headed up the stairs as Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby" began to play.