Charlotte

Disclaimer: Sadly, I own neither Saving Hope nor Daniel Gillies.

Pairing: Alex & Joel

Summary: Picks up a few months after "You're Golden" left off.

Rating: T

Joel Goran stood in front of the stove making dinner for himself, Alex and Luke. She had a late surgery so the men of the house were trying to have everything ready by the time she got home. Luke stood on the stepstool a few inches down from his father putting lettuce into a large salad bowl. The counter and the hardwood floor were littered with fallen lettuce leaves. Joel picked up a few of them and threw them in the trash.

"Let's try to keep the salad in the bowl okay buddy?" Joel told his son with a smile.

"Sorry, Daddy." Luke replied, "Is it almost noodle time?"

"As soon as Mommy gets home. She had to work late remember?"

Luke nodded, "I don't like it when Mommy works late." After a moment, the boy went on, "I don't like it when you work late either."

"I know mate. But Mommy and Daddy have to help people because that's what doctors do. And sometimes it means we have to work late."

Luke rolled his tiny brown eyes as if he'd heard his father give the same speech a hundred times before.

"I know that, Daddy. But that doesn't mean I have to like it."

Joel was about to reply, when Luke out the kitchen window, and shouted, "Mommy's finally home!" Luke jumped off the stool and ran toward the front door.

"Luke, be careful." Joel called turning off the spaghetti and following Luke to the door.

By the time Luke and Joel made it to the door, the key was already turning in the lock.

"Well, hello gentlemen." Alex said, as she pushed open the door. Luke wasted no time running toward his mother, most of his weight falling against her pregnant belly, nearly knocking Alex backwards.

"Whoa, take it easy there, little man." Alex said as she set down her purse by the door.

"Hi, Mommy! Daddy and I made you dinner." Luke said, smiling at his mother.

"You did? That's great because I'm starved." Alex said, smiling back at her son. "Hey, why don't you go in the kitchen and Daddy and I will be right there okay?"

Luke ran into the kitchen and Alex ran straight into Joel's arms, giving him a long kiss. "I've been waiting to do that all day."

Joel smiled and gave her a kiss of his own that matched hers in intensity. When they separated they were both just a little breathless.

"Why are you always trying to one up me, Goran?" Alex asked as they walked together toward the kitchen.

"Can't help myself Reid. You're just so sexy."

Alex laughed, "Yeah, right I'm sure the pregnant, exhausted, parade float look that I've got going is really turning you on."

"You're a beautiful, sexy, exhausted, pregnant parade float." Joel replied, as he stood behind her to take her coat. He gave her another quick kiss on the back of her neck before he moved away from her.

"It's noodle time!" Luke yelled, "Mommy can I do the red sauce?"

The words were barely out of the Luke's mouth before Alex shouted, "Lucas Barrett Goran Reid, you'd better not! We just cleaned all the sauce off the walls from the last time."

Alex ran into the kitchen as fast as a pregnant woman in her seventh month could, luckily Joel got there before Luke had even opened the fridge.

"Don't worry Alex, I've got it." Joel replied, "Sit down buddy, I'll do the sauce."

"Good." Alex answered, heading toward the bathroom. "Because I have to pee…again."

When the door closed, Luke looked at his father and laughed, "Daddy, Mommy said pee!"

Joel laughed right along with Luke for a moment and then the boy's face lost all traces of humor. "Daddy, do you think Mommy is mad at me? She used all my names."

Joel shook his head, "No, she just didn't want you to make a mess, that's all." He spooned some noodles onto his son's child size plate and covered it with red sauce.

He set the plate down in front of Luke, who just stared at it for a few seconds before he said, "Daddy, you forgot the cheese."

"Oh sorry, I'll get it." Joel took a step toward the fridge, but Luke spoke before he could, "I want Mommy to do it. She knows just how much."

Joel nodded and busied himself making two more plates, just as Alex slowly turned the corner into the kitchen.

"Mommy, Daddy forgot the cheese." Luke said when he saw her come into the room. Alex smiled at her son.

"Oh, no. We can't have that." She said reaching for the handle on the refrigerator door. "I know just how much you like."

"That's what I told him." Luke replied, his words muffled by a mouthful of noodles.

Then Alex stopped moving, suddenly leaning heavily on the refrigerator door, one hand resting on her belly.

Joel was on his feet, standing beside her in seconds, his hand over hers against her belly. "Alex, what's wrong? Are you all right?"

"I think Charlotte is going to be a kick boxer." Alex said through clenched teeth. Joel smiled, and spoke to his wife's belly. "Charlotte, Mommy's had a long day. Settle down so she can relax and have a nice dinner."

As if the baby had listened to her father, the pain in Alex's abdomen subsided.

"Wow that actually worked. Clearly, she's already a Daddy's girl." Alex said, smiling as Joel moved his hand to the small of her back and guided her toward her chair.

"Mommy, the cheese!" Luke shouted breaking the spell of the moment.

"Okay, little man. Daddy will get it and I'll put it on for you okay?"

Joel opened the refrigerator and handed the jar of grated parmesan cheese to Alex, who sprinkled a pinch of it on her son's spaghetti.

"Thank you, Mommy." Luke said, hugging her tightly. "You're welcome, buddy." She said kissing his forehead, and leaning back into her chair, letting out an exhausted sigh.

"Tough surgery?" Joel asked passing her plate across the table. She nodded. "I removed a tumor from a patient's thoracic cavity. It took forever. I'm so glad to be home with my boys."

"And we're glad to have you home, Reid." Joel replied, taking her hand and holding it for a long moment. "Aren't we, Luke?"

Luke could only nod enthusiastically, his mouth was full and his cheeks were puffed out like a squirrel storing nuts for the winter.

"Want something to drink?" Joel asked, twirling noodles around on his fork.

Alex swallowed a bite of salad, and then smiled at her husband. "I do. But unfortunately pinot noir is off the menu for at least another two months.

"Yes, it is." Joel agreed, standing up again and opening the refrigerator. "However, we do have sparkling cider. You can pretend it's pinot."

God, I love this man.

Alex thought, a slow smile creeping across her face as she watched him move through the kitchen, placing the bottle, two empty wine glasses, and Luke's sippy cup on the table.

When he got close enough, she reached out took his hand and pulled him into her arms.

"Dr. Goran you just earned yourself a dirty weekend." She said kissing him tenderly.

Joel smiled at his wife, "I like the sound of that, Reid."

"So do I. I just wish I didn't feel so huge, exhausted, and unattractive."

"What's a dirty weekend?" Luke asked, confused.

"Something you'll learn about when you're much older." Alex answered as the oven buzzed.

"Garlic bread." Luke shouted excitedly, his face stained with marinara sauce.

"You and Daddy went all out huh?" Alex said, smiling and rising slowly from her seat at the table.

She turned off the oven and grabbed a pot holder before opening the door, reaching for the pan of hot garlic bread.

At the exact same moment that her hand touched the pan, another wave of pain swept through her body. She would've dropped the hot pan if Joel hadn't caught it. She hadn't even seen him cross the room towards her.

"Alex, I've got this. Sit down." He rubbed her hand gently, until she exhaled and started to relax.

"It's probably just Braxton Hicks contractions." She said, exhaling slowly.

"Okay, that's it Reid. I'm putting you on bed rest. Go upstairs and lie down."

"Joel, you're being ridiculous. I'm fine. At least let me finish eating dinner." Alex protested. "And I should help you clean up."

Joel shook his head, "Alex, you've been on your feet all day. You're exhausted. And I'm calling Maggie."

Alex raised her hands in mock surrender, "Okay, you win. I'm going upstairs. Thank you for the lovely dinner, little man." She said kissing her son's forehead.

"You're welcome, Mommy." Luke called after her as she slowly ascended the stairs.

Joel quickly finished eating and cleaned up the kitchen and Luke.

"Daddy, is Mommy going to be okay?" Luke asked quietly after he'd changed into his pajamas and brushed his teeth.

Joel nodded, "She'll be all right, buddy. She just needs to rest because it's a lot of work carrying a baby in your belly."

"That's why boys can't do it right?"

Joel chuckled at the truth of his son's comment.

"You're exactly right, Luke." He said, tousling the boy's dark hair. "Now, it's time for bed."

Luke nodded, seemingly satisfied with his father's response.

He took a step toward his bedroom but then turned around to face his father once more.

"Daddy, I would carry Charlotte in my belly for Mommy if I could."

Joel smiled and kissed Luke's forehead, "I know you would, buddy."

Joel tucked Luke into bed, and left his bedroom door open slightly so he could see the sliver of light from the hallway.

He went into the master bedroom that he shared with Alex, and changed out of his jeans and into sweats and took off his shirt. As he undressed, he couldn't help but stare at his wife's sleeping form.

God, she's beautiful.

He thought as he climbed into bed beside her. She snuggled closer to him, as if she sensed his presence, even in sleep.

"Joel…is Luke in bed?" She mumbled sleepily, reaching out to touch him.

"Yeah." He whispered, leaning over and kissing the space between her neck and shoulder. "How are you feeling?"

"Better…thanks…I was having a nice dream." She said wrapping her arms around him, she let out a contented sigh as she absorbed his familiar warmth.

"About our dirty weekend?" He whispered tucking a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear and kissed the column of her throat.

"Hmmmm…no…we went to New Zealand…like you said we would…you snuck me into your luggage."

Joel smiled against her shoulder, "And was there yoga involved?"

"Maybe…" Alex replied drowsily. "We should do that you know…go to New Zealand…so the kids can meet their grandparents."

"We will." Joel said," We'll go after the baby's born." Joel moved even closer to Alex in bed until they were just a tangle of arms and legs.

"Jesus, Alex you're freezing. Are you sure you're feeling all right?"

"I feel like a beached whale but that won't change anytime soon." Alex murmured as she started drifting off to sleep once more.

She tried in vain to pull the covers more tightly around her but in the end just wrapped herself around her husband until it was hard to tell where one stopped and the other began.

"I love you," She whispered pillowing her head on his chest.

"I love you, too Alex." He answered, kissing her temple.

She grabbed his hand and held it tightly.

He was had almost fallen asleep when her cry of pain startled him.

He raised his head, and looked into her eyes, as they danced back and forth in panic.

"No…not yet…it's too soon…it's too soon."

He realized what was happening, even before her words made it real.

"Joel, my water just broke…The baby's coming."