Title: White Christmas

Chapter 9 – The Best Christmas Ever - Part 2

Dedication: Nat, Blaire, Megan, Manda, Mandy, Haylz and Chantal!

Susie stared at the stick in her hand. Tears were running down her face and blurring her vision. She didn't know how she felt. She couldn't decide whether to be happy, sad or angry. All she knew was that she was confused. She didn't know what she wanted. She sighed and looked at the white stick in her hand.

"Any minute now." She told herself. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She found her legs shaking so she put the seat down on the toilet and sat on top of it. "Come on Susie you can do it. Open your eyes and look at the stick. It's going to be okay. It won't matter what the results are. Either way you're going to be fine." She started breathing deeper as she finally got the courage to open her eyes and look at the strip. "It's blue." She compared the colour on the strip to the colour on the box and she started crying again.

"Susie?" There was a knock at the door. Susie didn't answer. She just sat on the toilet, crying. "Susie are you alright? You've been in there for a while. What did the doctor say?"

"I…" Susie tried to reply but it just came out as a squeak.

"Susie?" Jonesy twisted the knob and opened the bathroom door. When he saw Susie with tears pouring down her cheeks he rushed to her side.

"Susie what happened? What's wrong?"

"I…" She squeaked again.

"Tell me. Was it bad news?"

"I…" She held up her hand which contained the pregnancy test.

"What?" Jonesy's eyes lit up. "Is that what I think it is?"

Susie nodded.

"What does it mean?"

"It's positive." Susie managed to say.

"That's a good thing right? We're going to have a baby."

"I…I don't know. I don't know anything at the moment. I'm so confused. I don't know how to feel."

"Well if it helps I'm really happy. In fact I couldn't be any happier."

"Really?"

"Of course. I'm getting married to the woman I love, and we're going to have a baby. What more could I want?"

"I thought you would be upset."

"Why would I be upset?" He took her hands in his and smiled at her. "I love you so much Susie and no matter what happens I always will. And having a baby with you would make me the luckiest guy on earth."

"Really?"

"Yes." He smiled at her and she couldn't help but smile back.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. You don't have to apologise." He hugged her. "I'm just glad you're not sick. I don't know what I would do without you."

"Well you've got me now. And there's no way you're going to get rid of me." Susie said.

"Good. Because there's no way I would want to get rid of you."

"Oh god I'm going to be sick again." Susie turned back to the toilet and threw up once again.

"You should go back to bed."

"But we've got lunch with the family."

"It's alright. I'll tell them you're not feeling well. You need to rest."

"But I…"

"No buts. You're staying in this room and no matter what you say or do I'm not going to let you leave."

"Okay I'll stay." Susie laughed.

"Come on. Into bed. I'll get you a bucket and I'll get room service to bring up some dry toast and orange juice. It will make you feel better."

"I love you so much."

"I love you too." He held out his hand and helped her up. "Now, into bed."

"Yes sir." She smiled and he helped her into the bed.

"Now I'll just be downstairs. If you need anything call and I'll be right back up."

"Okay." Susie watched as Jonesy tucked her in, gave her a kiss and then left the room. She lay there thinking about how lucky she was until she eventually fell asleep.

"Evan hello. Oh where's Susie?" Ellen asked when she saw Jonesy walk into the dining hall by himself.

"She's upstairs in bed. She's not feeling the best. I think she might have eaten something that didn't agree with her stomach."

"Oh the poor thing. Is she alright?"

"She'll be fine. She just needs some rest."

"Well I'll pop up and see her later on. Now, come with me and I'll show you where you're going to sit." Ellen linked arms with Jonesy and they headed over to the group of people sitting around several tables.

"Okay now Evan you know Susie's brothers Marty and Jackson and of course Chuck. You'll be sitting with them today and their partners too."

"Thankyou Ellen." Jonesy smiled and sat down beside Chuck.

"Hey Jones, where's Susie?"

"She's not feeling the best. She said she might come down later if she's up to it."

"All the more food for us." Marty licked his lips.

"All you ever think about is your stomach." Kell laughed and patted his beer belly.

"There's nothing wrong with having a healthy appetite." Marty defended himself.

"You don't even know what the meaning of healthy is Marty." Jackson laughed.

"Well you can talk; you scoffed down three servings of desert last night if I remember correctly." Shelly smirked.

"Yes well I was hungry."

"Hey can we please talk about something other than how much you guys can eat." Amanda rolled her eyes.

"Like what exactly?"

"Well like you and Shelly having another baby!"

"You're having another baby?" Kelly cried. "Wow that's fantastic!"

"Hey we said we weren't going to tell anyone yet."

"Well now's as good time as any. It's Christmas day a time for family and celebration. And what's worth celebrating more than another addition to the Raynor family?" Amanda smiled.

"I suppose." Shelly smiled.

"That's so amazing. I'm so happy for you guys." Kell beamed.

"Thanks."

"Mate you didn't tell me you knocked her up again!" Chuck cried. "Congrats bro."

"Yeah, thanks." Jackson forced a smile.

"So, I guess things between you guys are back to normal then?" Amanda prodded.

"Yeah. We couldn't be happier." Shelly grabbed Jackson's hand and smiled.

"Jonesy you've been really quiet, what's up?" Chuck asked. They were standing at the bar and Jonesy was ordering another drink when Chuck walked up behind him.

"I'm fine. I think I might head upstairs and check on Susie."

"Righto man. Don't be too long they're going to serve desert soon. Wouldn't want to miss out on mum's famous Christmas pudding."

"No, I wouldn't want that." Jonesy smiled, then left the bar and headed up to check on Susie.

"Hey." Susie woke up when he entered the room.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."

"It's fine. I was just resting. How's it going down there?"

"Good, good. Amanda just announced to everyone that Shelly was pregnant, I think Marty's had one too many beers and your aunties and uncles are being their usual loud selves."

"So the usual Raynor Christmas then." Susie smiled. She patted the bed beside her and Jonesy sat down.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better thanks." She replied. "I'm thinking of maybe making an appearance downstairs later."

"That's probably a good idea. Your mum is really worried about you."

"Yeah, she's like that. Me being her only daughter and all."

"Yeah. Well I'll let them know you'll be down soon."

"Thanks." Jonesy gave Susie a quick kiss on the forehead then stood up. "I love you."

"Love you too Susie." Jonesy smiled and walked out of the room.

Well there we go. It may be a short chapter but at least it's something! Hope you like it Natty!

Jess