Chapter 21

Another two weeks had passed and Erica and David had just got done with a prenatal check-up. Her pregnancy was progressing nicely although she had a low iron count so she was put on a higher dose of her iron pills. Erica was tempted to find out the sex of the baby today but she stopped herself from forcing it from David and Dr. Coburn because she told them not to tell her no matter how much she begged. She had gained ten pounds since her last visit and was now upset over her weight gain and how "fat" she now was.

"I can't wait to get home. I am just so fat that I don't want to be out in public."

"Erica, you are not fat! Gaining a little weight doesn't make you fat."

"How can you say I'm not fat, I look like a cow!"

"Well if you think you look like a cow than you will be a whale by the end of forty weeks!" He said with a light laugh.

"Oh David don't even talk like that. I am not looking forward to this aspect of the pregnancy. Good thing I get a baby from all this or I would not be doing this."

"I know your figure is essential to your work." He said rolling his eyes.

"Don't you patronize my David Hayward. Just because you don't care about your looks and they don't matter to your work doesn't mean…" She was ranting but David put his lips on hers to shut her up. "What was that for?" She asked with a stunned look on her face.

"I had to shut you up somehow! Everyone in the corridor is looking at us. And by the way I think you look incredibly sexy no matter how much you weigh." He said with a grin.

"Shut me up.." she was trying to come back with but she caught the last bit of what he had just said."Did you say sexy?"

"Yes I did. Now what do you say we go home and relax. All these people are looking and I would like some privacy."

"Yes, privacy sounds nice."

They made their way to the car and he drove them home. They walked in the door and Erica sat down on the couch and David went to get her some ice cream from the freezer. On the way home Erica decided she wanted ice cream but she didn't want to stop somewhere for it because they would all look at the fat woman eating ice cream. So they came home and decided to eat ice cream on the couch so no one else could see her.

"Rocky road that's my favorite. How did you know?"

"Two nights ago in your sleep you were ordering some rocky road so I figured I should get some. It's also my favorite too."

"I was ordering ice cream in my sleep? I don't think I was talking in my sleep David, I think you were dreaming."She said in denial

"No, I'm pretty sure it was you talking in your sleep because I was awake and I was watching you sleep."

"Watching me sleep huh?"

"Yes I watch you sleep. When I am awake I can't help but watch your beautiful sleeping form."

"Yeah well I wouldn't use the term beautiful form anymore."

David put a pillow next to Erica on the couch and put her feet up on it and then he took a seat on her other side. He pulled her to him, laying her head against his chest and wrapping his arms around her and placing his hands together over her expanding belly. She responded by placing her hands on his and turning her head to look at him.

"Erica like I told you earlier, you are and always will be beautiful in my eyes."

"Thank you David, even if you don't mean it its nice to hear it."

"Erica you've always been beautiful. When your face was scarred you thought you would never look the same and I told you that you were beautiful no matter what scars you had you were still beautiful. The same goes now, you could weigh two hundred pounds and you would still be beautiful to me. Looks aren't everything and at least when this is all over you…I mean 'we' will have a bundle of joy to show for it. It's only temporary and you know it."

"Yes after I pop this thing out I can be just as good looking as ever! Until then I guess I'm just going to have to wait."

"So you really don't care about the baby you just want to look good?" He said trying not to laugh.

"You know I love this baby and I wouldn't give it up for anything even if I could be Miss America. I am just not a fan of this weight gain thing."

"Do you want me to gain some sympathy weight for you? Take your mind off you and more on me?"

"Now that would be bad for you and me, I like you just the way you are!" She said pulling his head down to meet hers so she could kiss him. "Thank you for being so supportive David, I don't know what I would do without you."

"Erica you are the strongest woman I know, I think you could handle it. But I am so glad that I can be here for you. There is no place I'd rather be."

They lay there on the couch for a little while arms wrapped around the baby and Erica fell asleep rather quickly. David waited until she was asleep enough that he slowly got out from under her to avoid waking her and he took her upstairs and put her to bed. He lay down beside her and whisper in her ear "I love you Erica Kane."