Disclaimer: I don't own anything having to do with the Mediator Series because that honor is exclusively Meg Cabot's. Anything unrecognizable (characters, plot, etc.) is mine.

A/N: This is the sequel to Shakespearean Interference and It's Time for Baby. There is no need to read either as this could, technically, stand alone but I hope you will read both. Characters that are of my invention have been introduced in both, but hopefully I will do a good job of introducing them here too. I hope you enjoy.

JULY

Life is made up of those big moments, little moments, and those in-between moments. Usually big moments are falling in love, getting engaged/married, buying a house (and having a lovely mortgage), and having kids. Usually. The little moments are who is going to pick up the dirty laundry off the floor, take out the trash, who gets which side of the bed. Mostly, anyway. Those lovely in-between moments are those that seem so commonplace—taking care of each other when you're sick, your child smiling at you just because they can, or even just holding hands when you go for a walk in the park. Sometimes, though, those little in-betweens are arguments. Susannah de Silva and her husband Jesse were currently arguing.

"I'm so tired of you just leaving your dishes in the sink. Please just rinse and put them in the dishwasher, it's not that hard." Suze slammed the bowl into the bottom rack to illustrate and then slammed the dishwasher shut. In sympathy, or perhaps because the sound made her giggle, two year-old Rae Emalia de Silva slammed her Lego on the floor.

Jesse took a breath, counted to ten, and then used his placating voice. "All right, Susannah. I will. I hadn't gotten around to it yet since Rae and I were cleaning the juice she spilled."

Suze looked from her husband, who looked as handsome as he had fourteen years ago when they'd been in high school despite the disheveled look he was currently sporting, to her daughter who looked positively impish with her father's dark eyes shining in her heart-shaped face. "Fine. I'm going to go get ready for bed."

Jesse watched as she left the kitchen and thought about how tired she looked. For the third week in a row. She hadn't been overworking and today was the first day she'd gone into the theatre to work with Rutherford Hayes on her play which was premiering in a week. He was worried that something was wrong with her and decided that he would talk to Gabby Lawson (doctor, friend, and godmother). "Okay, Rae. Let's get you ready for bed so that Mommy doesn't have to do that too." He hoisted her up, listening to her giggle that was exactly reminiscent of her mother's.

As he bathed Rae, Suze came to the doorway of the bathroom and watched as they interacted. She couldn't stop being amazed that this was her life. She had a job she loved, an amazing husband and the most adorable daughter. Lately, though, she had been feeling frustrated and tired and couldn't figure out what the problem was. She could only remember feeling like this once before and knew she needed to talk with her doctor.

"I'm sorry."

Jesse didn't turn around as Rae had a tendency to try and play submarine when her parents weren't looking. "It's okay, Susannah. I love you anyway, you know."

Suze smiled. "I know."

"Mama. Play." Rae held out her rubber duck.

"Later, baby. It's time for sleep."

Rae's face screwed up in mutiny as she threw the duck back in the water. "No!"

Jesse pulled the plug as Suze picked up the towel to grab her already squirming daughter. "Yes. Mama and Daddy are tired. Babies need sleep too, Rae. Tomorrow we're going to the library."

Automatically, the tears stopped. "Maddy."

"Yes." Jesse took Rae out Suze's arms as they headed down the hall to her bedroom. As they got her into her pajama's Rae's eyes started to get heavy and both Jesse and Suze were relieved that that meant she would fall asleep quickly. Twenty minutes later Rae was fast asleep and, as long as she didn't need anything, she would sleep all the way until seven the next morning.

While Jesse got ready for bed, Suze tried to get into a comfortable position, but couldn't. When Jesse came in, she finally found a comfortable spot leaning against him on her side.

Right before she slipped into sleep, Jesse spoke. "Suze?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you going to go see Gabby? I think you're coming down with something. Maybe she can give you an anti-biotic." His hand started rubbing rhythmically up and down her arm.

"I am. Probably, I'll need something more…permanent…" Before she finished her sentence, she had fallen asleep.

Jesse had no idea what she meant, but hoped that Gabby could figure out what was going on.

Three weeks later, Jesse had his weekly get-together with his best friend, Morris Richardson. About ten years ago they had made their weekly get-togethers a tradition. It had shifted two years ago from their favorite bar to a dinner of Chinese take-out in Central Park with sometimes a tag along. This was one of those tag-along weeks. He and Morris sat and watched Rae using her favorite stuffed dog as a train to pull her Legos across the grass.

"So, I saw Suze's play last Saturday. It was amazing. I think having a kid made her even more brilliant." Morris's green eyes twinkled playfully as he watched his friend brood. "Come on, Jesse. Lighten up."

"I think Suze is sick. She won't tell me. And she said she was going to go see Gabby, but she hasn't." Jesse's brow was furrowed as he looked at something in the distance.

"Don't you think that she would tell you if she was? Especially if it was something bad? Besides, you're a doctor."

"I'm a pediatric neurologist, Morris."

"Still. You would know."

"I hope so."

"Daddy." Both men looked down at Rae. She had an intent expression on her face and was cuddling her little dog to her chest.

"Yes, Rae?"

"Mommy's sick." After imparting her information, Rae turned back to her Legos and continued building her train.

"What do you mean, Rae? How is Mommy sick?"

"Sick. She needed her own blankey."

"What does that mean?" Morris asked.

Jesse shook his head. "Usually, when Rae throws up we lay her down with her blanket so that she'll feel better. Maybe Susannah has a stomach bug."

"That could be, Jesse. So, unless she says something don't worry about it."

"Yeah. I suppose. Anyway, with the practice being open a month and my new partner, I've been able to spend more time with her and Rae. Maybe she was used to me being away so long." For the first time in what felt like a long time, Jesse grinned.

"Women." Morris smiled as Rae climbed up his leg and into his lap.

"Women." Jesse agreed when Rae handed him her stuffed dog.

Four and a half weeks after the opening of her play, Suze was in the theatre sitting in the auditorium with Rutherford Hayes (her beloved mentor) and Madison White, her best friend. She had a ninety percent sure feeling that she knew exactly what was ailing her. And she had no idea how to feel about it. She and Jesse had never actually discussed children, and when they had, they never had decided how many children. She knew, from her experience with Rae, that she wanted more children. But for the past year and a half, she had been dealing with reproductive issues and Jesse had said that it was something they were going to have to discuss in detail.

"Earth to Suze." Maddy waved a hand in her face.

"Sorry. I was just thinking."

"We know." Rutherford, Ruthy to most, smiled. "I haven't seen you this distracted since you were pregnant with Rae. Both she and Jesse are doing fine and the play's been great. Now, I'm going to leave you two to your girl talk and discuss with Carson that he keeps dropping his line in the first scene of the second act." He hefted his tall frame out of the seat and headed off to the stage where the actors were currently reading lines.

Suze looked back at Madison to find her looking at her intently. "What?"

Madison arched a brow. "Are you pregnant?"

Suze smiled wanly. "I think so. I'm not positive and I'm nervous to find out. Jesse and I haven't talked about it. And I haven't gone to see Gabby to have it confirmed one way or the other."

"Do you want to be pregnant?"

"Yes. I just don't know if he does."

"Well. You'll have to talk to him."

"I know." Suze smiled stronger this time. "It's just going to be interesting. We've been arguing quite a bit lately."

"I know something that can fix that." Maddy grinned.

"Oh?" Suze quirked an eyebrow.

"I think I'm in love with Morris."

Suze felt as if someone had punched her. She had no idea that Madison even was attracted to Morris. "Are you joking?"

"Nope."

"Morris Richardson? Mr. Laid-back-freelance-journalist Morris? Jesse's Morris?"

"Yes to all of the above."

"Wow. I think I've gone dumb."

Madison laughed. "That was my point. Suze, you need to talk to Jesse and you need to go to Gabby and have a pregnancy test."

"I know I do. I know. I'm just scared."

Madison put her arms around Suze and squeezed. "Jesse will be thrilled either way."

"Yes. I think so."

"He loves you, Suze. And he loves Rae and there will be no question of whether he loves a new baby."

Suze smiled softly. "He does."

That evening, Suze and Jesse were in the living room while Rae was out with Rutherford at the theatre. They might have been on the same couch but there was miles of space between them.

"Are you going to tell me what you think?" Suze felt sick as she thought about whether or not to say anything to Jesse about her suspicions.

"About the fact that we've been arguing or about the fact that you want to have another baby and haven't been talking to me about it?" It was asked flatly, without emotion. But Suze could hear the underlying anger.

"Both. Either."

"We can't even talk without arguing and you want another baby. You never said anything because you were afraid that I would what? Yell, hit you? Susannah, I'm not a monster. I've been worried that you were dying of some debilitating disease and you've just been worried about talking to me because you were afraid of how I would react?" Jesse had never thought Susannah could hurt him like this. And over something so stupid. He knew he was probably overreacting, but he was hurt. It was irrational, but then so was Susannah. "I want more children. I want us to have a family. I love you. When we can talk things through, let me know what you want."

Suze had no idea what to say as she watched him get up and walk to the kitchen. She didn't realize that her keeping this to herself would hurt him. She just hadn't been sure that having another child at the moment was the best, especially with his new practice with Dr. Rubin and her play rights being bought to be made into movies for which she would be writing the screenplays. He was such a regimented planner and an unplanned pregnancy, even when married, was something she had been unsure about.

"Susannah." She turned to see Jesse standing in the doorway.

"Yes?"

"Do you want another child? Right now, at this time?" His face was guarded and she knew that her answer would affect his reaction.

"I do." She felt her tension ease when he smiled slowly.

"So do I."

"All right, then." She laughed, jumped up, and headed toward him. "I love you, Jesse."

Jesse felt his world right again when her arms came around him. "I love you too." He leaned down and kissed her.

Two weeks later, Suze headed toward Jesse's practice after her appointment with Gabby Lawson. She couldn't wait to see his face when she told him that she was pregnant. She knew it was right when he was locking the door behind him when she walked up.

"Well, Dr. de Silva. You know that discussion we had a few weeks ago?"

"Mrs. de Silva, I do believe I do." Jesse grinned.

"I'm here to tell you we don't have to work at it anymore."

"We don't?" His eyes were bright, but his tone was neutral.

"I am three months pregnant." Suze lost her breath as he grabbed her and spun her around.

"Oh, Susannah!"

"We're going to have a baby." She felt giddy. "Another baby."

Jesse smiled down at her. "Do you know what we have to do now?"

"Pull out Rae's old crib?" Suze joked.

"That too. But first, Susannah, we have to tell Rae." Jesse put his arm around her waist and they continued on home.

"Ah."

"Yes. Ah."

"Well, somehow, I think she'll be okay with it."

"Do you?" Jesse looked at her quizzically.

"I always wanted a younger sibling. And now, instead of bossing around Perrito around she can boss her younger sibling around." Suze grinned.

"True. She does take after you." Jesse smiled.

"Hey!" Before she could say anything else Jesse leaned down and kissed her.

No matter what, the de Silva family was going to be growing in the next six months.

So here it is. Another baby de Silva! The idea came from my sister who brought up how she and my other sister dealt with my birth. So, here is the next chapter of their life. I hope it wasn't too choppy. This was just the first chapter. Only four more chapters to go.

P.S. Perrito means "doggie" or "little dog." My cousin called her stuffed dog this when she was two so Perrito is dedicated to her, lol.