Jon, Erika, Adalie and Frankie
Part three, taking place roughly two years after the end of "Jon, Erika and Adalie," and three and a half years after the original "Jon and Erika." As you might have guessed, this story is going to focus on the arrival of someone new in the Hernandez-Archer household and the changes it will bring to their work and home lives. As always, I don't own them, because if I did, things would turn out just like this. Please read and review!
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"You look awful."
"Thank you."
"No I'm serious," Jon said as he sat down next to his wife on their old couch. They had finally gotten their two very active and very determined not-to-go-to-bed daughters down for the night after much struggling, whining and even a little bribery. It was the first time all day that they actually had a chance to talk to each other even though he had only been one office down from her all day at work but now all he could think about was how unwell Erika looked. Her skin was pale and she had pronounced dark circles under her eyes. Her hands felt clammy and she looked distracted. She hadn't eaten much at dinner but then again neither had he; Frankie had started throwing noodles at him and after that it was a struggle to maintain some semblance of cleanliness never mind meeting nutritional requirements. But he had a feeling that Erika's problem wasn't just from dinner.
"What's wrong?" he pressed.
"I'm just tired," Erika said with a sigh, taking up her customary position with her head resting gently on his shoulder.
"Have you been nauseous?" he asked.
"A little," she admitted.
"In the mornings?"
"Jon…." Erika's tone was a warning as she pursed her lips and glared at him.
"I'm just saying…"
"What are you saying, Jon?" She turned to him but the simple motion of moving her head caused a wave of dizziness to sweep over her. Jon watched as Erika groaned and leaned her head back against the couch, closing her eyes.
"Is it really bad?" he asked cautiously, placing a hand on her cheek.
"Mmm hmmm," she murmured.
"Here, let me get you some water," he said, walking over to the kitchen. As he filled her glass, he looked back to where his wife was now stretched out on the couch, her legs on the armrest and her arm draped over her eyes.
"Rike, I think we have to start thinking seriously about this."
"About what?" she muttered, not bothering to uncover her eyes.
"About going to a doctor."
"I've got the flu, Jon," Erika sighed resignedly. "This isn't what you think it is."
"Then what is it?" he handed her the glass and she managed to take a few sips before easing herself back down again.
"I just told you. It's the flu."
"And what if I think it's not?" he asked, holding the water glass for her again. She waved him off warily.
"You think I'm pregnant again."
"I didn't say that." She gave him a look. "Okay, well I was thinking it," he admitted. "You haven't felt this miserable since Frankie. And I know this has been going on for more than a week. This is every day, isn't it?"
She nodded. "Maybe."
"So why don't you want to find out?"
"Because I'm not pregnant."
"Erika!"
"We talked about this, Jon," she said, sitting up shakily. "We've got a two year old and a four year old, you're an admiral, Sam's retiring, now isn't a great time to think about adding a baby to the mix."
"I'm not thinking about adding a baby," he countered. "I'm saying that I think there is already one on the way."
"I think you're wrong," she muttered. "It's my body, I'm pretty sure I know what is going on inside of it." She folded her arms and turned away from him.
"Rike…"
"No!"
Jon tried a different tactic. "You know, I always thought that we should go for three. It would be a nice round number, another girl just like her sisters or maybe a boy finally. Adalie has been talking about it constantly."
"She has?" Erika asked softly, her frustration with him momentarily fading.
Jon nodded. "I think some of her friends at school are having babies in their families so she keeps asking me when you are going to have another."
"She isn't satisfied with the sibling she's already got?"
"Nope," he shook his head.
"We can't just have another child because our preschooler wants us too."
"We've done worse."
"Like what?" Erika asked, a tired smile playing across her face.
"Oh, I don't know, Rike, pick something," he sighed. "How about having a baby while we were both commanding starships? Or having another one while one of us was still commanding a starship and the other one was back on Earth? At least this time we'll both be here."
"This time?" Erika asked incredulously. "What do you mean this time? There is no this time. There is no way I'm pregnant."
"Fine," Jon folded his arms and stared at her. "Take a test."
"What?"
"If you are so sure, go prove it."
"I don't have to prove it."
"Then there is no way to deny that you could be pregnant right now."
"Oh my god you are infuriating! Why can't you just get pregnant and have number three yourself?" Erika practically shouted as she stormed over to the kitchen. Jon rushed after her and managed to get her to stop slamming the dishes together long enough not to wake the girls. Thank god she didn't break anything. Resignedly, she set down the dishes and leaned into his arms.
"Hon, what are you afraid of?" he asked softly, holding her shoulders.
"I don't think we'll be able to handle three so close together," she whispered, her voice wavering and in that moment Jon saw tears well up in her eyes. "What if I am, Jon?"
"Hey, hey, it's okay," he said, holding her in his arms and gently stroking her long brown hair. "We're doing just fine with the girls. Another baby isn't going to change that. We might be a little more tired than we are right now and yes at first things are going to be a little crazy but we'll get through it. I would love to have another little one and I think you would too." He paused, remembering something. "You were scared with Adalie, weren't you?"
"That was different," Erika insisted. "She was our first. I had had the miscarriage before. I had no idea what to expect and there were so many hormones I just couldn't…" her voice trailed off.
"And you were absolutely terrified to tell anyone with Frankie," Jon continued.
"Are you trying to say that it is normal for me to freak out like this before we have a baby?" Erika gave in and graced him with a lopsided smile.
Jon kissed her on the forehead. "Something like that."
"You are so sure of yourself, aren't you?" she asked. "You are so sure I'm pregnant and so sure that everything will always turn out just fine. What happened to the captain who used to expect the worst in every single situation?" She reached up to smooth his hair back.
"He learned that everything does work out eventually," Jon answered.
Erika took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. "I think you are right."
"Right about what?" he asked, confused.
"I think I'm pregnant," she admitted with a small smile. "And you've still got a noodle in your hair."
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