Mary Marries Lou
Chapter: 4
Pairing: Mary/Lou
Rating: PG
The Grant's had been married for almost two months. And then those several weeks a lot of things had changed. On top of their new positions as work, they had moved out of their apartments and bought a house in a nice neighborhood right outside the city. Mary went to New York and helped Rhoda move back to Minneapolis. And Mary and Lou had just returned from a glorious two week honeymoon in Hawaii.
It was Monday morning. Lou hated Monday mornings. The alarm clock rang for the third time. Or perhaps it was the fourth. He rolled over and hit the snooze button once again. The morning light was creeping in between the curtains, lighting up the bedroom. And they both knew that they couldn't escape the reality of day much longer. He settled back down under the blankets, trying to cling to what little sleeping time he had left.
Mary pushed back the blankets and sat up. Her stomach felt uneasy. Like she was on a boat. One that was riding enormous waves. She made her way into the bathroom, the feeling only intensifying with every step she took. Lou assumed that she was up and getting ready for work. Thinking he could get at least fifteen more minutes sleep he drifted back into a peaceful sleep.
A few minutes later Mary exited the bathroom and climbed back in the bed. "I don't feel so great." she told him. "I feel like I'm getting the flu."
Lou rolled over and placed his hand over her forehead. "You don't have a fever."
She closed her eyes. "I feel like I'm on a boat."
Yet another symptom, Lou thought. A few days ago red meat made her nauseous. And last night she had complained she was getting a third headache in a weeks time. "Mary." he started. "I'm not sure how to tell you this but I think you may be..."
"May be what?"
She knows. Maybe not. I should tell her. Nah, Lou thought, I'm going to let her figure it out for herself. "I think you may be coming down with something."
"I think you're right." she agreed. "Matthew did have the flu last week. Maybe I picked something up from him."
Not a chance, he thought. "Maybe."
"I feel awful." she said. "I don't think I've ever felt like this in my entire life."
"I know it might feel that way now, but it'll get better." he assured her. "I promise."
"You think I should see the doctor?"
"Not just yet." he advised. "I'd give it a few days."
"What if it's something serious?"
Lou laughed. "I don't think it's anything serious."
"How do you know?"
"Gut feeling." he replied. "Why don't you just lay here and go back to sleep for a while?"
"Lou." she said. "I have to go to work. I have a news show to put on. I just can't lay here and go back to sleep."
"You have an associate producer."
"I have a twenty six year old amateur." she replied. "I can't have him stepping in for me after only three months."
"Okay, well." he breathed out. "I'll get you some club soda and some saltine's to settle your stomach. Then you can get ready to go to work."
"Thank you."
Lou's secretary had buzzed him and told him that his wife was on the way up. Mary was a welcomed distraction from going over endless reports. He looked up to see her coming through the door. "Hi." he smiled. "Feeling better?"
"Much." she walked across the room to his desk. "The club soda really did the trick." she sat down in the chair across from him. "The first hour or so was pretty rough, but the fog has finally lifted. And now I'm starving. Where do you want to go for lunch?"
"Where ever you'd like." he said. "Are you sure you feel okay?"
"Yes." she replied. "Why?"
Lou carefully looked her over. "You're not lightheaded?"
Mary shook her head. "No."
"What about tired?"
"Yeah a little." she replied. "But we were up kind of late last night."
Lou nodded in agreement. "But the sickness from this morning is gone?"
"Yes." she replied. "Why all the questions?" she asked. "Were these Matthew's symptoms?"
"Matt had a bit of a stomach bug." he replied. "And a bit of a runny nose."
"Oh, then I didn't catch it from him."
"No." Lou laughed. "I think I'm the responsible party."
"You haven't been sick."
At first Lou thought that it would be fun to see how long it took her to figure out her symptoms, but at this rate his anticipation was getting the best of him. Earlier this morning he had suspected that she knew, but now he was sure that she didn't. "Mary." he said. "Are you deliberately being thick?"
"What?" she asked. "No." she said. "I don't even know what you're talking about."
Lou got up from behind his desk and walked around, sitting down in front of her. "Okay." he breathed out. "Let me ask you this, are you late?"
"Late?" she arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean, late?"
He reached for her hands, holding them in his. "Mary, sweetheart." he said, looking into her eyes. "I think you're pregnant."
The thought had never crossed her mind. "Pregnant?"
"Yes." he replied. "Are you late?"
Mary was trying and failing to do some quick calculations in her head. "I'm not sure." she said. "I had it last month. I think."
"You think?"
"Well, I'm not sure." she replied. "There's been so much going on with the wedding and the house and work..."
Lou reached around and picked up the calender off his desk. "Would this help?"
"Yes." she took the calender from him and started scanning over it. "I don't know." she breathed out, searching the dates. "How long have you suspected this?"
"Oh, I don't know." he breathed out. "For about a week or so now."
She looked up at him through thick eyelashes. "A week?"
"Yeah." he said. "At first I thought you knew and then I thought it would be fun to see how long it took you to figure it out."
"Why are you so sure I'm pregnant?"
"Well it's the little things." he told her. "You've been complaining that you're tired and you've had a few headaches, your body has started to change..."
Mary handed the calender back to him. "I guess I should make an appointment with Dr. Fields." she asked. "I can't believe you figured it out before I did."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No, that's okay." she replied. "We don't even know if I am."
"You're pregnant." he said, firmly, "I would bet my life on it."
"You're that sure?"
Lou nodded. "Yes." he said. "And Dr. Fields will confirm it for me."
"I'll make an appointment when we come back then." she said. "Hopefully she can see me today."
"When we come back?"
"Yes." she replied. "I told you I'm starving. I'm ready to go to lunch."
tbc...
