Chapter 29

Four Months Later

"I love it. How can you not love it?" Lulu wandered around the apartment, peering out windows and glancing in rooms. "This is the perfect apartment for us. And just look at the view!"

Dante followed Lulu into the bedroom and wrapped his arms around her. "I don't know, Lu. There isn't a separate room that we could use as a nursery."

"You know," began the realtor from behind, "I have one more apartment to show you. It has two bedrooms."

"We'd love to see it," exclaimed Dante as he took Lulu's hand in his.

Lulu sighed and walked with the others out of the apartment. "But this one's so nice," she whined.

"I know, but let's just look at the other one," said Dante. He looked back at Lulu and smiled brightly. "You never know..."


Lulu plopped down on the bed and stared out the large window. It was dusk, and she could see all the colours that painted the sky. "The view is breathtaking," she whispered as Dante joined her on the bed.

"I agree. Everything about this apartment is great. Plus, it's already furnished."

Lulu turned around to face Dante. "I say we get it."

"I second that," responded Dante. He leaned in and kissed Lulu gently on her lips. "Our baby is going to live in the best apartment around."

"And we'll prepare the best nursery around." Lulu stood up and then clutched at her stomach. "Oh."

"Lulu?" In two seconds flat Dante was at her side, with an arm around her shoulders. "You okay?"

Lulu looked up at him, her eyes bright. "It's the baby. He or she just kicked me really hard. Ouch! There it is again. Here," Lulu took Dante's hand and placed it on her stomach.

Dante laughed. "Oh, even I felt that." He kissed Lulu on the head while keeping his hand planted firmly on her stomach.

"Our baby the boxer," said Lulu with a giggle.

They stood there like that for a few minutes before the realtor entered the room. "Sorry about that. I just had to make a couple of phone calls."

Dante looked up at the realtor and smiled. "No problem. By the way, we'll take this."

"The apartment?" asked the realtor in surprise. "But you've hardly even looked around!"

"Yeah, but we love it. And it feels right," said Dante. Lulu looked up and nodded in agreement.

"Well, I can't disagree with you on that. Congratulations on your new home!"


4 ½ Months Later (Approximately 8-9 months after the Ralph incident)

Lulu was suddenly awakened by a sharp pain in her abdomen. "Ouch!" She immediately wrapped her arms around her giant stomach and cringed.

Was this it? Lulu was somewhere around nine months pregnant, which meant that she could have the baby any day. Was it going to happen then, at three in the morning?

Another sharp pain tore through her abdomen, and Lulu felt tears begin to prickle her eyes. "Ow," she cried loudly.

There was no response from the other side of the bed where Dante lay.

Taking the deepest breaths she could, Lulu crawled closer to Dante and shook his shoulder roughly. "Dante!"

His only response was a muffled snore.

Don't panic, Lulu commanded herself. This was nothing compared to the time nine months ago when Ralph had her at gunpoint. Nothing.

Then why was she suddenly so afraid?

"Dante!" She screamed in his ear. "Wake up!"

Dante flinched slightly and opened his eyes a tiny bit. "Lulu?" he murmured groggily.

Another stabbing pain. "Dante, get up!" wailed Lulu, shaking him as hard as she could. That was when Dante seemed to come to. His eyes opened widely and he bolted upright.

"Lulu, oh God. Are you okay?" He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked Lulu in her watery eyes.

"For God's sake, of course I'm not okay!" Lulu replied angrily. "I think I'm having the baby!"

As soon as Dante heard that the baby was coming, he leapt out of bed and pulled on the t-shirt he'd worn the previous day. "Can you walk?" he asked Lulu calmly, even though on the inside he was panicking.

"Yeah, yeah I think," she replied breathlessly. Dante pulled on a pair of jeans as Lulu clambered slowly off the bed.

"Ouch! Damn," she cried, keeling over on the floor. Never before in her life had Lulu experienced anything like what she was feeling at that moment. Dante rushed over to her side, and helped support her while the pair walked slowly over to the door of the bedroom.

"It's going to be okay, Lulu," he said gently. "This is the baby that we fought so hard for. We want this! You want this."

"To hell with that!" Lulu screamed as they made their way out the front door and onto a waiting elevator. Their apartment was on the third floor.

"C'mon Lulu. We're going to get to the hospital soon. Just take deep breaths, Dante coaxed, rubbing Lulu's back comfortingly. Lulu just squeezed her eyes shut.

"I'm sorry," she moaned, reaching for Dante's hand. "I'm sorry that I'm being so horrible."

Dante laughed. "I don't blame you."

The elevator made a little DING noise, and Dante helped Lulu out. Two minutes later, they were in the car and speeding off towards General Hospital.

Author's Note - hey guys! Sorry if the way Lulu reacted to the baby coming was somewhat unrealistic. I've never exactly been pregnant, therefore I couldn't know for sure. There are a couple more chapters to come, so please keep reading and reviewing!