About three weeks had past it was now the middle of november on a cool calm evening. Charlie was resting herself on Matthew while he massaged her bump while in the same room Sophie was curled up and resting on Peter while he held her close and ran his fingers through her hair. The room was dark with the soft twinkle of fairy lights up above and a warm glow from the pink/orange lava lamp in the corner.
It was only 8:30pm but all were surprised when they heard a knock at the door. Peter got up volunteering to answer it. To his and everyone else's surprise it was Juliette. She had made a surprise visit. "Jules!" Charlie exclaimed excited to see her looking up.
"Hey Charl!" Jules smiled and greeted her then went to sit down next to where Matthew and Charlie were laying.
"Jules? Soph? Would you like icecream?" Charlie asked as she was craving some and heard that her father was in the kitchen.
"YES!" Both of them exclaimed at the same time. After the most definite positive response Charlie called to Peter asking him to bring some in.
Juiliette went over to sat next to where Charlie and Matthew were, sitting down she smiled at them softly and found it amazing how so much had changed since leaving Mt Horizon back in July.
"So what brings you here?" Charlie asked Juliette, suddenly wincing after feeling the baby kick properly for the first time.
"Are you ok…?" Juliette responded and waited before saying why she had made the visit.
"I'm great Jules. Just the baby."
"Yeah I felt that." Matthew said "I still can't believe it myself"
"WHAT? WOW CHARLIE! CONGRATS!" Juliette screamed. She was very excited by the fact Charlie was expecting.
"Ok so back to the original question. What brings you over here?" Charlie asked Juliette once again.
"Well… I've been offered as job at an inpatient unit in seattle."
"Wow Jules! Thats great!" Charlie exclaimed.
"I'm proud of you Jules." Sophie responded. Peter also said something similar.
Juliette smiled. She was glad people were proud of her as helping others get through what she had is something she had always wanted to do. Eating her ice cream she smiled. Both Charlie and Matthew's life seemed to be going well after Horizon and so was hers. Juliette smiled as Charlie showed her the ultrasound scans.
"Soph, would you like to have a look?" Charlie asked getting Juliette to pass them over.
"Awww. Do you know it's sex yet?"
"No… I think it's a girl though."
"Why? Your morning sickness or sudden cravings for chocolate"
"Both…"
"Ok then." Sophie laughed a little before clutching her stomach due to pain from her endometriosis. "Excuse me for a minute" Sophie said and stood up almost passing out with pain.
"Soph. Honey… I'll carry you." Peter said offering to carry her to the bathroom as he could see she was struggling to stand.
"Thanks mountain man." Sophie replied cheekily, trying to distract herself from the pain.
Peter lifted her up gently and escorted her to the bathroom, waiting outside so he could carry her back to the living room.
Meanwhile downstairs Juliette and Charlie were catching up while Matthew continued hugging Charlie and massaging her bump. "Jules do you want to feel it kick?"
"Sure Charl!" Juliette smiled and placed her hand on Charlie's bump. "That feels really weird. Doesn't it hurt?"
"No… not really. Not at the moment anyway but apparently it gets worse as the baby grows more."
"Ah ok then." Juliette smiled and removed her hand letting Matthew go back to massaging Charlie.
Soon enough Peter came back down carrying Sophie. "Soph is it your endo?" Charlie asked greatly concerned as she had noticed that Sophie's symptoms seemed to have been getting worse over the past few months.
"Yes it is… It's making me feel worse than ever." Sophie replied curling up with a hot water bottle. "I'm going to the gyno tomorrow anyway so she'll see what's causing the pain."
"Good luck. You should take tomorrow off." Charlie replied.
"No… no… I'll be fine. You didn't stay off with that awful morning sickness you had. I said you should."
"I know… but Soph you can barely stand."
"Charlie. I'll be fine."
"No Soph… You're not working tomorrow. Juliette can cover." Peter had a great idea and wanted to look after his wife.
"Soph. I'd be delighted to cover for you! You're in no state to work." Juliette replied, slightly shocked that Peter had volunteered her of all people.
The next morning Charlie and Julliette both had group with the cliffhangers. It was clear everyone was in a great mood this morning. You could feel the positive atmosphere just by stepping in the room.
"You're not going to be sick today are you Charlie?" Elliot said in a jokey Manner.
"No Elliot, shouldn't be." Charlie replied and smiled at him. "Anyway this is Juliette. A former Mt Horizon student and one of my best friends. She will be covering for Sophie today."
"Is Sophie ok?" Elsa asked.
"She's not feeling well. Both me and Peter ordered her to take the day off. Thankfully Juliette popped by which meant she could cover.
"Oh poor Soph. Hope she's feeling better soon." Amy said "Any particular topic for today's group?"
"No. Not today. Free session. You guys choose" Charlie replied.
After group had finished Charlie had to head off for a weigh in and Peter had gone to take Sophie to the gyno. Juliette was left to run the place alone. A little worried she sat down in Sophie's office not quite sure what she was meant to be doing. After making herself a cup of herb tea she managed to calm herself down and realized Peter wouldn't have left her in charge for short time if he didn't think she could manage it.
Walking out of the doctor Charlie sighed. Being 54kg before her pregnancy then dropping to 49 meant she had not gained enough for being 17 weeks in. This made her worry as it was a threat to the babies health.
"Thank god you're back!" Juliette flung her arms around Charlie before rounding up the cliffhangers as they were about to tackle the high ropes course. Lean was particularly worried about this. His phobia of heights and how last time he made a big fool of himself by just stopping dead halfway up. He didn't want that to happen again.
"Well done Lean!" Charlie Exclaimed!
"Thanks Charl! I DID IT!" Lean was particularly proud of himself after this accomplishment. "Why aren't you belaying today?"
"It could seriously harm the baby if I had to catch a fall"
"Ah ok then. You're still climbing right?"
"Yes. But only on top rope. Again the pressure it could put on the baby if I fall."
Back that evening Sophie had some good news to share. "I'm Pregnant!" she exclaimed unable to contain her joy. After being told she was unable to have kids once being diagnosed with endometriosis it still only seemed like a dream to her.
"WOW SOPHIE! Both you and Charlie are expecting! How wonderful!" Juliette mused.
"How far along?" Charlie asked.
"About three weeks!"
"Wow! The sickness will start soon then. Just live of bland foods or nothing if you get it half as bad as I did."
"Will do Charlie. Will do. I am so excited!"
"So am I! Juliette added. "First Charlie's mum, then Charlie and now you! Is this coincidence or what!"
"I think It was coincidence" Both Charlie and Sophie said at the same time.