I've been enjoying the comments on this part of the story. We've been through so much angst in the early chapters and now we're getting all the fun parts.

Chapter 107. A PICTURE'S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

Allison

I hold Alex up so that he can see the screen of our new picture phone. At least

I think he can focus on it, because when his father's face comes on the screen, he starts

to smile.

"Hey, little buddy," Greg tells him, and the baby waves his arms in excitement.

Greg finally got and installed the phone, partly to see me during

the five or so hours he's away every day at the hospital. But even more, much

more, I think it's because he couldn't stand to miss a minute of our son's life.

He loved Gretchen from the first minute he saw her. He's still in awe of her

intelligence, beauty and sweetness. But he didn't watch her go through all the

stages on her way to becoming the great kid she is today.

He's not about to let that happen with Alex. He wants, no needs, to see it all.

There are other factors involved, I'm sure. It's already evident that Alex is

very much like his father. I think Greg wants to study him to see whether the

emotional damage caused by his father's treatment is really to blame for some of his own issues today. He loves his son, but that won't stop him from running his own little experiments, to see whether having a father who's nurturing, who's there for all of the events of Alex's life, does make a difference in how he views the world. I don't even know whether Greg is conscious that he's doing this, but knowing him, it's deliberate.

I have my own reasons, of course, for being glad we have this phone. Since I

met him, no matter how he acted towards me, the sight of Gregory House has had

a magical effect on me. Not just those amazing blue eyes, although they're a

big part of it, but the entire package. I love to watch the play of expressions

across his face as he talks. Since I've gotten my sight back, being able to see

him has become even more important to me.

I miss him when he's away at the hospital, even if it's just for a short time

every day. In another few weeks I'll be going back to work and I think it will

be better. In the past when we were both working at the hospital we may not have seen each other for hours at a time, but at least we were in the same building. He'd come to my office or the lab, sometimes to hassle me when he was bored, and sometimes just to see whether I was doing something interesting. We often had lunch together, either in the cafeteria or away from the hospital. Occasionally I'd consult him in his office.

I remember one time, it must have been soon after Fathers' Day because he had his new 3D camera. I stopped by to see whether he was ready for lunch. I don't know why I had to ask, since he was always ready to eat.

He motioned me in through his doorway. "C'mere, I want to do something." He

watched me walk in. I knew he was planning something.

It could have been anything, but I was curious. "What?"

"Stand by the window." He motioned me in that direction.

I looked at him with narrowed eyes, but did as he asked. I waddled past him to

stand in front of the window.

He pulled out the camera, and I smirked. "You are not going to take pictures of

me looking like this," I said, indicating the giant bulge that my lab coat

couldn't hide.

"Don't you know that women are sexiest when they're pregnant?" he asked. "I want

to immortalize you looking like this." There was a mischievous light in his eyes.

"Greg!" I protested.

"Allison!" he mimicked. "C'mon. Take off the lab coat. I want a good view."

I sighed deeply, but complied. He had me walk a few steps, then turn around,

then walk towards him. Not only was he getting pictures of me at my fattest, but

also of the clumsy way I walked.

"This is so cool!" he said, grinning like a school boy with his first camera.

"Maybe later we can do some with you naked."

"No way!" I objected. "You are not going to take pictures of me naked and

looking like the backside of an elephant!"

"Aw, c'mon! Pweety pweaze?"

I had to laugh. "We'll talk about it later. Right now, I'm starving." Yes, I was

also always ready for lunch those days.

He reluctantly put the camera away, and we headed for the cafeteria. I just

hoped I'd be able to come up with a way to divert him and avoid any more picture

taking.

Chapter 108. MOVING OUT

Nancy

"Don't forget my posters," Audra tells me, getting out of the car at school.

I smile at her. "Honey, I promise we won't leave anything behind." Today was

moving day. While she was in school, we'd be moving everything from my apartment and a few things from Marty's to the house.

"Will you pick me up after school, or should I take the bus?" Audra asks, an

anxious frown on her face.

"Which would you prefer?" I ask in turn. She knew she'd be on the same bus as

Emily, but she'd never ridden it and didn't know where to get off. Of course,

Em would tell her.

She bites her lower lip, but finally says, "I'll take the bus with Em." She tries to be so brave sometimes, and I let her because every time she succeeds, her confidence gets a big boost.

"OK. I'll see you after school. Have an excellent day." That's become my ritual

farewell to her, every day since school started. She seemed to have adjusted to

her new class, but every day was new.

"I will," she promises, flashing a smile my way. I watch her catch up with Calene who's entering the building just ahead of her, and then I drive off.

Today would be a little tricky, coordinating our move with Tori's. She'd rented

my apartment, and would furnish it with some of her sister's old furniture.

We'd have to play musical furniture as well as musical homes.

I arrive back at my apartment. Marty's directing the movers, making sure they're careful with the furniture and the boxes of dishes.

"Ginger hid in a closet the minute these guys arrived," Marty tells me.

"That's OK. She'll come out once they're gone." I watch them cover each piece

with padding before loading it into the truck. They seem to have a system for

cramming as much as possible into every space.

"Nan?"

"Hmm?" I absentmindedly acknowledge that Marty wants my attention.

"I guess this isn't a good time," he says, sounding disappointed.

"A good time for what?" I ask. Now I'm looking at him.

"Come into the kitchen," he says.

"OK." I follow him away from the moving men. They're probably glad we're getting out of their way.

"What is it?" I prompt.

Marty sighs. "I've been thinking. We're moving into the house together, you, me

and Audra." He stops and seems unsure whether he should go on.

I take his hand and smile at him. Whatever he's got to say, I want him to get

it out.

"Nan, maybe...maybe we should be getting married." He looks at me hopefully.

I gulp. Wow! I guess I figured that someday we might consider getting married,

but I think he means soon. Am I ready for this? How will it change things? A

million thoughts go through my head, none of them really connected to each

other. I have to sit down. I'm so dizzy.

Marty brings me a glass of water and I sip it. "If I thought you'd have this

reaction, I wouldn't have brought it up."

"Oh, no, Marty! I'm just surprised! More than surprised! Completely floored."

I think I've calmed down a little. But what do I say? I look at him, this man

who's brought me such love and caring, such companionship. And the sex hasn't

been bad either. I giggle at the fact that I'm even thinking about that. Say

something, Lloyd, I tell myself. I want to tell him how I feel, and what I think but all that comes out is, "Yes!"

I stand and put my arms around him. The kiss begins so sweetly, but then passion takes over. I have an odd thought that my queen-sized bed is already on the moving truck, and I begin to giggle again.

"What?" Marty asks.

I shake my head but I'm smiling when I say, "Nothing. Maybe I'll tell you later."

"Yoo-hoo," we hear coming from the direction of the front door. "Anybody home?"

We're holding hands as we go to see who it is. I think I recognize the voice.

I'm right, it's Tori. "Everything all packed up here?" she asks. She's walked

through the open front door as the movers leave with another couple of boxes.

She watches them admiringly.

"Hi, Tori," I greet her. I can't hide my grin.

"OK, what are you two grinning about?" she asks.

"Nan just agreed to marry me," Marty tells her.

Several expressions pass across her face but finally she smiles and says, "That

is soooo terrific! Congratulations! I've only known you for a short time, but

I can tell you're really good for each other."

"Neither one of us really expected this to happen," I say.

"Have you told Audra yet?" she asks.

"No, we just decided," I tell her. "I think she'll be happy about it."

"Happy? She'll be over the moon!" Tori exclaims. "Oh, now we'll have another

wedding to plan!" She's getting excited.

"Well, don't rush us. We haven't set a date or anything," Marty says.

"I think it's an epidemic!" she says. "You met my parents at Clair's wedding,

didn't you? Well, my mother just phoned last night to say that they've been

having dinner together a couple of times a week, and they're even thinking about remarrying!"

"That's wonderful news," I say. "Isn't it?"

"Oh, yes. Mom should never have divorced Dad in the first place," Tori confirmed. "I just wish I'd catch whatever's going around."

"You just have to meet the right guy," I say, looking at Marty. He is definitely

the right guy for me.

"Well, I've already married five wrong guys," Tori laments.

"It's about time, then, that the right one shows up," Marty tells her.

"You guys are the greatest," she says, and hugs us both. We just look at each

other in surprise.