When I woke up Mark was gone. I expected to feel his warm body lying next to me but all I found was cold sheets. He'd been gone at least an hour then. I sighed and rolled over to look at my alarm clock. It was only seven-thirty. Mark and I didn't have to go into work until nine. I figured he must have been called in. I laid in bed for a little while and just watched the minutes tick by on my clock. At seven forty-five I decided it was time to get up. I slowly sat up in bed and was about to get out when I caught sight of a note on Mark's pillow.

Callie,

I hated to leave but I got called in on an emergency surgery. Before I left I checked on Kim. She was still running a fever and honestly she was miserable so I gave her some Children's Motrin. I brought Teo over to Addison's house so she could take him to school on her way to work and I brought Trenton with me this morning. Don't worry it wasn't too early. Only five am. All you have to do is take care of Kimberly today. Honestly you don't need to be at work for another two days anyways. Don't hate me too much for making you take care of yourself today.

Always and Forever,

Love Mark

I wasn't sure if I was angry or proud of Mark for finding a crafty way to make me stay home today. I decided to be proud and went to get in the shower before Kim woke up. Sometimes it still didn't feel real that I was expecting again and then I'd get ready to get in the shower and I'd catch a glimpse of my stomach and it would hit me again. This time I stopped and looked for a long time. Just taking it all in. I couldn't decide if I wanted a boy or a girl. Kim was my little princess and I loved her so much. But I love my princes just as much. After a minute or two of just taking it in I finally got in the shower. When I got out I could hear Kim crying so I quickly threw on my clothes and got to her room as quickly as possible. Kim had thrown up again. Somehow she kept missing her pajamas and only getting it on her comforter. I sighed happy that I had washed her sheets last night instead of waiting until today. I scooped her up and carried her out to the couch. She snuggled into one of the pillows and tried to get herself to stop crying. I draped her Little Mermaid blanket over her and kissed her forehead.

"Give me just a minute to change your comforter and then I'll sing to you okay baby?" I told her. Kim nodded pathetically. I smiled and left the living room. I was just about finished putting on Kim's sheets when Mark called me. I answered as soon as I could get my hands free.

"Cal?" He asked.

"Yeah Mark?" I asked.

"How is Kim?" He asked.

"She threw up again. I just got everything cleaned up. How is work?" I asked.

"Pretty good. I just got out of surgery. Do you want me to bring you something for lunch?" Mark asked. I nodded.

"Subway sounds good." I told him.

"The usual sub?" He asked.

"Yeah. Except can you add Ranch to it?" I asked.

"Instead of the Mayo?" He asked.

"No I want both." I told him.

"I will never understand cravings. Alright well I'll bring it by around eleven. Tell Kim I love her." Mark told me. I smiled.

"I will. I love you babe." I told him.

"I love you more. Bye." He told me and hung up before I could argue. I hated when he did that but if he hadn't, we would have argued who loves who more for hours like a bunch of teenagers. That was one of the things I loved most about him. We could act like teenagers together. It was perfect. I finished Kim's bed and then went into the living room to check on her. She was already fast asleep. I smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead. I settled into the lazy boy next to the couch and flicked on the TV. I found myself watching America's Next Top Model. I guess you could say it was my guilty pleasure. I watched maybe two episodes before my eyes slid closed. When I woke up my stomach was turning unpleasantly. I heard the front door open and close and Mark walked into the living room carrying Subway.

"Hey Cal. Are you okay?" He asked and sat the Subway down on the coffee table. I slowly shook my head.

"I don't know." I admitted. Mark came over and kissed me on the forehead.

"Cal, you're warm." He told me.

"I just got over the flu though." I protested. Mark grabbed the thermometer from the side table by Kim's head and sanitized it before bringing it over to me.

"Either you can do it, or I'll do it for you." Mark warned. I rolled my eyes and took the thermometer from him. I took a deep breath and stuck the thermometer in my mouth. When it beeped I handed it to Mark for him to check. "Cal, you're running a fever." Mark told me.

"Is it high?" I asked concerned. Mark shook his head.

"It's barely a fever." He told me.

"Well how about you tell me the digits." I said annoyed.

"100.1" Mark told me.

"Oh jeez. That's nothing. They would have just sent me home from school for that." I said rolling my eyes. Before I could downplay my fever anymore I felt suddenly like throwing up. I grabbed the trashcan by the couch just in time and let my breakfast exit my body. "God what I do for my kids." I complained and leaned back in the chair. I always felt so drained after I threw up. Mark smiled sympathetically.

"I'm going to put your sub in the fridge and then get Kim to bed. Then I'll call Richard and tell him I need the afternoon off. I'll ask Alex to bring Teo and Trenton home. I need to get you feeling better." Mark said practically talking to himself out loud. None of that was for me to respond to. An hour later I was curled up in bed with Mark. He'd draped a cool rag over my head to relax me and was rubbing soothing circles on my back in attempt to get me to fall asleep.

"Hey Mark." I yawned.

"Yes Cal?" He asked.

"I love you so much." I said and drifted off to sleep.