For previous lyrics to "Light In Your Eyes", the song by Blessid Union of Souls, from which the parent story's title is taken, please refer back to the parent story, "Light In Your Eyes", chapter 11, "Light In Your Eyes". Otherwise, you may be confused as to why I only put down part of the lyrics. The reason for this is, Roger had already written the lyrics and melody to the rest of the song previously, 11 years ago, when Melanie originally left Scarsdale to go to New York City. I'm putting down the new lyrics now (really, the rest of the real song), since he had not finished the song after she left, until recently in this story. Just wanted to make sure you readers are clear on that. Here is chapter 10 (much happier, I promise.)
Oh, and just in case, I don't own Hercules... you'll see, hehe.
Four weeks later...
"Baby, are you OK?" Roger asked, knocking on the loft bathroom door, when he awoke one morning to Melanie out of bed and throwing up in the bathroom.
"Don't come in, Roger," Melanie said through the door.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Roger asked.
"I'm puking, what does it sound like?" Melanie snapped.
"Mel..." Roger said, worried and confused.
"Roger, I'm fine," Melanie assured him. "I've had the flu and stuff before."
"You sound like a damsel in distress, though," Roger said nervously.
"I'm a damsel. I'm in distress. I can handle this," she said loftily.
This sentence was followed by more retching. Then it stopped and the door opened. Roger looked at Melanie, worried. She was pale and clammy.
"Baby, what's going on?" he asked.
"I'm going to Mo and Jo's for a while," Melanie said. "A couple days, that's all." She passed him and went downstairs to her flat. Without wasting a breath, she began to pack a suitcase.
"Why are you going to Mo and Jo's?" Roger asked, confused. "Was it something I did?"
"No, Roger, of course not," Melanie said. "It's just that, if this is something contagious, or I am sick, I don't want you catching it, sweetie, that's all."
"Baby, let me do that," Roger said, taking the socks from her and placing them into the suitcase. He even folded them.
Melanie raised her eyebrows in surprise that he was doing so. But she wasn't going to protest. She felt extremely tired and somewhat nauseous and really only wanted to sleep at the moment, not pack or go somewhere. "Baby, don't worry about me, OK?" she said. "I'll be fine."
"I know you will," Roger said, kissing her forehead. "But I'm still worried. You're like, never sick. Call me every night, OK? I don't care if it is three a.m. before you get a chance, call me."
"All right," Melanie said.
"And if you don't, you know I will ask Maureen to," Roger said firmly.
Melanie laughed. "All right," she said, convinced. "Don't forget to pick Madeline up from softball, OK? I don't want her to even think about walking home."
"I will, baby," Roger said. He finished packing the suitcase with the things Melanie said she needed, then followed Melanie out of the apartment and down to where Joanne sat, waiting, in her car. "I love you, Melanie."
"I love you, too, Roger," Melanie said, kissing him as she got into the car. Roger threw her suitcase into Joanne's back seat and returned to give her a hug through the open window. "See you in a few days."
"Bye, Melanie," Roger said, and he watched as they drove off after she waved goodbye to him.
"Madeline, sweetie, don't worry about Mom. I'll be fine in a few days. I just don't want you or Dad catching whatever I have, OK?" Melanie explained over the phone to Madeline that night. "I'm fine, really. I'll be home in a few days. Until then, make sure you do your homework, get to bed on time, and make sure Dad doesn't eat the cookies I left in the jar."
Madeline laughed. "OK, Momma," she said. "I miss you already."
"I miss you, too, sweetie," Melanie said. "I'll see you in a few days. I love you."
"I love you, too, Mom," Madeline said, and then she gave the phone back to Roger.
"Mel," he said quietly, because Madeline was still within earshot, "do you know what I just thought of? We haven't told Madeline about my—"
"— your HIV," Melanie said grimly. "Yeah, I know." She sighed.
"I mean, it's not like we've been lying to her," Roger said to her. "It's just… never come up in conversation."
"Yeah, so when should we tell her?" Melanie asked him.
"How about we tell her when you come home this weekend?" Roger suggested. "She's confused why you're gone just because you're sick. It's not normal to, uh, go MIA just for a cold— I know, I know, this could be more serious than that," he added hastily, as Melanie began to scoff. "But you see my point, don't you? If it's just a cold, it's just a cold… at least with normal parents."
"Right," Melanie said. "So it'll be a good idea to tell her when I get back. We have to explain the real reason I'm gone." She paused for a second and noticed Roger was quiet. "Roger, are you nervous about telling her?"
"Very," Roger admitted. "But she loves us and we love her. She'll be upset for a while, but after the initial shock passes and she knows I'm healthy and Collins is healthy, I'm sure she'll accept it."
"Yeah, but baby, I'm scared, too," Melanie said.
"I am, too, baby, it's me we're talking about here," Roger said.
"I know, baby, I'm sorry," Melanie said. "I'll see you in a few days, OK?"
"OK. I love you, Melanie," Roger said. Then a thought occurred to him. "Oh, and another thing we should talk about when you get back, where do you want to go on our honeymoon?"
"Oh yeah!" Melanie said, clapping a hand to her forehead. "I forgot! I'm so sorry."
Roger laughed. "Don't worry about it," he said. "We've been through a lot and it's not going to get easier just yet. I can understand why it might have slipped your mind. So I was thinking, how about the Bahamas?"
"Oh, Roger, can we really afford that?" Melanie asked, sounding both skeptical and thrilled.
"Well, let's just say my granddad might have chipped in some..." Roger began.
"Roger!" Melanie said, surprised.
"OK, so he chipped in a lot," Roger said, laughing. "We can use that to go on our honeymoon, don't you think?"
"Well, I suppose, but I would feel bad, don't you?" Melanie asked him.
"Not in the slightest, if it means seeing my lovely wife in a tankini," Roger laughed.
Melanie grinned. "Where are Mark and Katie going, do you know?" she asked him.
"I haven't a clue," Roger said, "although I bet Katie's hoping for Cannes."
"Cannes! Oh my," Melanie exclaimed. "Wow, I hope they can do that. That would be amazing for both of them, with the Film Festival and everything."
"Yep," Roger said. "I think that's the gist behind the general idea."
"Thank you, Roger," Melanie said. "I love the idea of the Bahamas. See you in a couple days. I love you."
"I love you, too, baby. Bye," Roger said, and then he hung up.
"Melanie, would you please quit being such a pain in the ass and just take this?" Maureen demanded, giving Melanie a fierce look and shaking the pregnancy test stick in front of her. "It just might be the answer to all your problems."
Melanie burst out laughing and rolled her eyes. But she took the pregnancy test from Maureen nevertheless.
"Well, I'm sorry if I'm being such a burden to you, Maureen. I don't mean to be a problem to you. Of all people, though, you should not be saying that," she said, giving Maureen a look before going into the bathroom.
"Well, it's true, as much as I do love you!" Maureen said loudly at her, as the door shut.
"Don't let Joanne hear you say that," Melanie called back, laughing. Maureen scoffed and went and flopped down on her bed. The bathroom adjoined hers and Joanne's bedroom.
A couple minutes later, Maureen knocked on the door, concerned when she heard no noise coming from behind it. But right after she knocked and was about to open her mouth to say something to Melanie, she heard Melanie yell her name.
Maureen shoved open the door and rushed into the bathroom.
The next day, Melanie slept in and woke up feeling only slightly sick. Now that she knew why, the feeling sick didn't bother her much at all.
"Hey, baby, are you feeling better?" Roger asked, embracing Melanie as she walked into the loft, Maureen beside her.
"At the moment, yes," Melanie said, smiling and kissing him.
"At the moment— hang on?" Roger said, looking at Maureen and Joanne suspiciously, "do you two know something I don't?"
Maureen giggled. "Yes, we do," she said, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Oh, Mo, quit torturing him," Melanie said, grinning and pushing her playfully. "Roger, I'm pregnant."
Roger's eyes widened. "You— you're what? You're— oh, wow!" he stammered.
Melanie smiled and laughed as Roger pulled her into his arms and kissed her excitedly. Then he hugged her gently, laughing. "Baby, this is so exciting!"
Melanie smiled. Her smile widened as Madeline came into the room and came over and hugged her.
"Mom, you're home," she said. "Are you feeling better?"
"I am, Maddy," Melanie said. "Dad and I have some exciting news for you."
"Oh yeah, what?" Madeline asked eagerly.
"I'm going to have a baby," Melanie said.
"Oh, Mom, that's excellent! Congratulations!" Madeline squealed. Melanie smiled and hugged her again. "So when will you have it?"
"I'm going to the doctor tomorrow to find out for sure. I'll let you know as soon as I do," Melanie said.
"OK," Madeline said. "Oh man, this is so exciting! I have got to call Christine and Scott and tell them!"
And squealing happily, she ran out of the room, out of the loft, and presumably, down to Melanie's flat to tie up the phone line.
Melanie turned and looked at Roger, who was beaming. But in that second that she looked at his face, she felt suddenly put out. She had just talked to him about being open with Madeline about his HIV and that would have been the perfect time to tell her, but the good news of Melanie's pregnancy had driven the opportunity out of the conversation. They would have to bring it up later, as much as they didn't want Madeline to be upset, as they knew she would be too soon.
That wasn't Melanie's only reason for feeling suddenly down. She was concerned that she could be positive, despite them using protection. She was also terrified for the baby, if he or she would be positive as well. It would be over a year until they found out whether or not the baby was positive.
But Melanie didn't have much time to brood, because at that moment, the loft door slid back and Katie burst into the room, laden with grocery bags. She set them on the counter as fast as she could and ran over to hug Melanie.
"Maureen just told us!" she squealed. "That is such great news, Mel! How far along are you?"
"Thanks, Katie," Melanie said, laughing. "My estimate is six weeks. I'm normally a week late, give or take a few days, but I'm two weeks late this time, so I guessed I was. Maureen hounded at me long enough to get my ass off her bed— because she hates Joanne's couch— take the test, so I finally did, and here we are."
Katie nodded. "And it was true!" she squealed.
Melanie smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. "Yeah," she said. "I'm going in tomorrow to see my doctor. I'll let you know as soon as Roger and I know. We just told Madeline. She's downstairs at the moment, tying up the phone line."
"Yeah, we saw that," Katie said, smiling, tears sparkling in her eyes.
Melanie turned now to Collins, who was beaming and sniffling. He had tears in his eyes. "Oh, Collins, don't cry," she said, hugging him close. "What's wrong, sweetie?"
Collins wiped his eyes and took a deep breath and said, "Nothing, don't worry about me. I'm fine," he said. It's just that I'm so happy for you. You and Roger are having a kid. I mean, I remember you from high school, Mel— which was college for me— and what you were like then. Now we're all older and I'm positive, but damn near 40. I've been blessed to live with this disease since I was 21— not be killed by it, I mean. I've lived longer with it than anyone else I know. But I got to see you finally marry Roger and now you're having a baby. That's the most amazing thing in the world."
"Collins, you're healthy. Nothing's wrong right now, right?" Melanie asked him, expecting complete honesty. Collins looked from her to Sam, who was standing next to him, his hands on Collins' shoulders, then nodded. "So I don't want you to think about that so much. It'll be OK." Collins wiped tears from her face and she from his. "I mean, there's no denying you have it, but what's the use in dreading it just because of new life? I mean, right?"
Collins nodded. "I'm sorry, Baby girl," he said. "I'm totally ruining the mood. I shouldn't be talking like this. I'm acting like a blubbering idiot. I'm gonna stop right now."
"Good, because you need to give me another hug," Melanie said, smiling at him.
Collins gently wrapped his arms around her in a hug.
Roger covered Melanie's hand with his and squeezed it as the nurse called their name to see their doctor. There wasn't much they didn't already know, but they were excited to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time.
"It'll be OK," he whispered, his mouth close to her ear, as they followed the nurse into the exam room.
"Hello, Melanie," Melanie's doctor, Bethany McBride, greeted her when she entered the room, after the nurse had taken her vitals and brought in the ultrasound machine. "So I hear you and Roger have good news?"
"I'm pregnant, Doctor McBride," Melanie said, "I took a test yesterday, and it said positive."
"Well, let's just see if we find anything, OK?" Doctor McBride asked. "Those tests are rarely false."
Melanie lay back on the exam table and Doctor McBride put the gel on her stomach, which was still flat. The doctor maneuvered the tool around, and a few minutes later, Roger and Melanie heard the sound of their baby's heartbeat for the first time.
"There you go, Melanie, Roger," Doctor McBride said, smiling at them. "That's your baby's heartbeat."
Roger leaned down and kissed Melanie, tears glistening in his eyes. Then he met the doctor's slightly concerned gaze. "What is it, Doctor McBride?" he asked. Melanie sat up a little to listen.
"Well, if you listen closely, you can hear the baby has a slightly arrhythmia," Doctor McBride said. Melanie and Roger listened for a moment and could make out the sound. "But as you are perfectly healthy, Melanie, and you are only six weeks along—"
"Aha, I was right!" Melanie whooped, punching her fist into the air and then giving Roger a high-five. Roger laughed.
Doctor McBride gave Roger a curious look. "She guessed," he said, rolling his eyes and grinning.
"Ah," Doctor McBride said, smiling. "Then I can only tell you that this arrhythmia will probably correct itself as the baby continues to develop. So, I am going to put you on neonatal vitamins and encourage you to continue being healthy." She handed Roger a washcloth. "Keep taking the AZT every day to help ensure that your baby doesn't have HIV. And Roger, please wipe the gel from your wife's belly. Everything is great, so you two may go and good luck."
She smiled one last time and bid them goodbye and left. Roger kissed each spot of Melanie's belly he wiped clean. Melanie giggled happily.
"So what did the doctor say?" Katie asked, when Melanie and Roger returned to the loft.
"She said the baby is developing completely normally, except the baby has a slight arrhythmia, or heart murmur," Melanie said. "Only she wasn't worried, because she said it usually corrects itself as the baby develops more."
"That's good," Katie said. "I'm glad everything is OK. You made me nervous for a while there."
"Me too; sorry," Melanie said, sitting down in a chair. "So, Roger is thinking about moving downstairs."
"Oh yeah, why?" Katie asked.
"For me, mostly," Melanie said. "I mean, I'm due in March. He doesn't like the idea of a pregnant women going down those metal stairs in wintertime. What about you, though?"
"Me? Nah, not for another year or so, at last," Katie said, shaking her head. "Plus, Mark should find a job first, before we start having kids. Plus, we've had to postpone our honeymoon."
Melanie nodded. "We have, too," she said, "although our reason is because of our kid… kids," she amended.
Katie nodded. "You'll get to go soon," she said. "Just don't stay in the Bahamas long enough that you never want to come back to the city." Melanie laughed. "So what are you hoping for?"
"I think we're both hoping for another girl, but whatever we get, we get," Melanie said. "But I bet Roger is hoping for another girl to wrap around his little finger."
Katie smiled. "Well, we know how he is with Madeline," she said. "I bet he will be amazing with a new little girl wrapped around his little finger."
"Well, we will find out in about six months, won't we?" Melanie said, smiling.
Three weeks later...
"Roger, those are great songs," Larry Larson, Roger's manager, said to him, that evening when he and the band were rehearsing them for their new upcoming CD. "When did you write those?"
"I wrote 'Light in Your Eyes' after Melanie left back in 1982," Roger said. "It's not completely finished yet, but I'm thinking on it. I wrote 'I'm With You' right after my daughter, Brianna, was born. She liked the stars mobile above her bassinet so much and she had stars in her eyes." Roger looked away quickly and blinked back tears. It still hurt somewhat to talk about Brianna. "As for 'The One That Got Away', I wrote that for Melanie after she came back. And you know how much I love Bon Jovi."
Larry laughed. "Yeah," he said, "we can do more than just that one as a cover, too. You and Melanie are doing OK, then?"
"We're doing great," Roger said. "She's pregnant."
"Wow, Roger, that's excellent, congratulations," Larry said, smiling at him.
"Thanks. We are both pretty excited and nervous about the baby. Maddy is especially excited," Roger said, smiling. "Melanie's not even four months along and she's already getting kind of big."
Larry smiled. "That's great," he said. "Your goal is to release the CD before the baby is born, right?"
"Right," Roger said, "so we can promote it while Melanie is at home on maternity leave. Then I'm going on paternity leave for eight weeks. Then I was hoping we could hold off on the tour until the baby is about six months old and resume it until the baby turns one. I would like to be at home for my baby's first birthday because that's the one-year HIV testing time, if that's all right. After that, when we tour doesn't matter, as long as I can run it by Melanie first, if that's OK. Melanie's due in March, so we could tour from then to May, then July to October."
"I like that idea. It gives you time to be at home for her and the baby," Larry said.
Roger nodded. "I'm glad you're OK with the idea," he said. "I don't want to do something wrong to compromise the band's success. But at the same time—"
"— you would indefinitely choose family over fame," Larry said, nodding understandably. "It's OK, we totally get that." Roger smiled gratefully. "Well, in that case, we should start working on recording the songs, huh? I mean, you have those three finished and they need to be put to music. You need only to finish 'Light in Your Eyes' and we'll have part of an album already done. I'll give you, say, what, three weeks to finish the lyrics to 'Light in Your Eyes'?"
"Sure," Roger said. "I've been thinking about them a lot lately, so it shouldn't be a problem. Hell, I can probably have them by tomorrow, if you want."
"OK," Larry said.
"So no pressure at all, Roger," Declan said, grinning at him and clapping him on the shoulder.
Roger rolled his eyes and grinned.
This is the end of chapter 10. You won't have to wait too long for future updates, because I've already got four more chapters typed up after this (I'm working on starting writing/typing chapter 15 at the moment.) I know I haven't officially introduced Sam to the Bohemians yet (through Collins), so I'm going to try to get that in the works somewhere (because, if any of you are guessing, they are together, I just haven't made that entirely clear yet for a reason), but that's been the most difficult part of all. There have just been no opportune moments yet. I'm working on it.
Oh yeah, and on a side note… three days ago, in my English Composition I class, my professor mentioned in her lecture that she would hate to be called "baby doll" by her significant other (she's married). I don't remember what we were talking about to get her on that topic, but I was very much reminded of Collins and how I often have him calling his girls he's close to "baby girl". I told my professor this about Collins, speaking of him as if he were a friend of mine in real life, quite a bit older than me, that if you "know" Collins, you know "baby girl" coming from him is normal. She just nodded and said, "yes, that may be so, but she would still hate to be called 'baby doll', since she is 'not a toy to be played with by children'," LOL. (Of course, to save myself a lot of ridicule from stupid college jock boys, I was smart and didn't mention that Collins is simply a fictitious character not of my own imagination.) Anyways, it was quite funny. I had a hard time trying not to laugh, because my classmates were giving me strange looks...
Thanks for reading. Don't forget to review.
Until next time, lots of love,
Renthead07