Chapter 7: The Life They Now Live

He was anticipating what the night would hold, when she suddenly stopped short of opening her door. "Something wrong?" he asked tentatively. In response April slowly turned around, scraping her body against his, to face him and revel in his slacked jaw and rolling back eyes.

"Not at all. I was just thinking…" she answered, lusciously rewinding visions in her mind, "thinking about how adept your fingers are… how skilled at getting in tight spaces…," she giggled softly. "I'm glad you were on my team. I never win at Jenga," she replied breathlessly.

"Glad I could impress."

"Oh, you impressed alright," April stated wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing herself against him. "So much so, you deserve a special treat," she grinned hungry, "follow me!" All night April and Ethan had been the blissfully happy couple. Earlier at Maggie and Ben's home, they had enjoyed a couple game night with their hosts, along with Connor and his wife Lisa. It was fun competing together instead of against each other. It seemed the team work stimulated her desire for some "other" team exercise. When she opened the door from the steps, Ethan was greeted with a breathtaking scene. The rooftop deck was decorated with candle lanterns, string lights, large leafed foliage, chaise loungers, and jasmine flower plants- greatly reminiscent of their New Orleans trip. April noticed the look of surprise on Ethan's face as he took it all in. "Uhhh," she hesitated. "This is the last thing I need to share with you," she began as he sat down to listen. "When I moved back into my place, I found out my neighbor was moving out. And where my apartment had the basement bonus room of the building, she had the rooftop bonus area. So, I made an arrangement with the building owner, refinanced, and bought the space from him." Ethan nodded in understanding. "So now, I have the largest space in the building and all the private bonus spaces, including this private rooftop deck," she explained as she placed her hands on his knees and seductively leaned over him. "And since we're alone in the privacy of my own home," she slowed straddling him, "I'm feeling here is where you should get your reward for your earlier victory."

"My victory? You deserve a reward too," he suggested firmly grabbing her hips.

"Oh, I'll get mine, don't you worry," she giggled as she kissed him passionately and he exposed her camisole.

"Dr. Rhodes says the patient can go to recovery," Nurse Sexton informed the floor nurse and watched her do as bid. However, as April began to leave the nurses station, the world began to spin. When she opened her eyes, her coworkers were hovering around her fallen body. "What happened?"

Connor's brows furrowed. "You tell me. Have you not been feeling well lately?"

"Not really. I've been having a few headaches this week, but I just figured it was my constant flip-flopping on medical school. I guess I'm just stressed out." Everyone agreed that could be the issue, but Connor didn't want to leave any stone unturned, especially when April dropped like a rock immediately upon getting to her feet. This time when she woke, 30 minutes later, she was lying in a hospital bed with an IV and oxygen.

"Take it easy April," Connor instructed. "Stop moving! We need to find out what's going on." Her pressure had apparently dipped and her breathing was shallow, so they treated her for exhaustion while they figured it out. "We're running some tests and we'll go from there, ok?"

"Thanks," she answered. "Did anyone tell Ethan I passed out?"

"Uh, I'm not sure. I did have them call Maggie, so I'm assuming she told him." April nodded in a huff, resting her eyes.

"Gosh, I don't want him distracted needlessly." It'd been 4 months since their trip to New Orleans and nothing had slowed down. Every moment together gave them an opportunity to strengthen and build their relationship. They weren't without disagreements, or full on arguments, but they weren't allowing them to fester. She and Ethan were a team- wanting the most complete life for each other. They loved each other for what they were, and rejoiced with each other when they grew. When she told Ethan, she was considering going to medical school, he was supportive. He was super excited and proud of her, finally living her dream. And even though he hadn't proposed again, they always made plans accounting for a future life together. Ethan never made her feel like she was ruining or hindering his life, if she opted for medical school instead of kids. He seemed to understand medical school was the last vestige of the life she'd dreamed of and thought she'd never have.

Dr. Rhodes's face was impassive, which worried April. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Let me do one thing and then we'll go through your results." Connor sprayed gel on her stomach and ran the wand over her belly. "There," he pointed, pulling her view and dropping her jaw. "April, you're pregnant." Her jaw dropped in disbelief.

"I can't be. I'm in early onset menopause."

He chuckled softly. "Well, besides the little baby on the screen, your levels say you're pregnant too." She didn't know how to feel or what to think, actually she couldn't get her mind to stop racing- to formulate a single thought. What was she going to tell Ethan? Were they ready for this? What about medical school? How would Ethan take a baby? As the panic set in, she immediately remembered GiGi's words.

"Enjoy the journey and trust your love. It'll produce magnificent things, including my great-grandbaby."April had tried to tell her it couldn't be, but GiGi stopped her. "Don't stress, it's bad for the baby. Now go. See you next year." Considering GiGi's instructions, April laid her hand protectively across her stomach, taking deep breaths to relax.

Ethan arrived after the multiple car crash victims were stable. "Are you ok? What happened?" he asked terrified looking around at Connor and April. Before they could speak, he heard a thumping sound in his ears. "What's that sound?" He turned to his partner, thinking she was having a cardiac episode, as the heartbeat was way too fast. "Connor, her heartbeat's too fast. What's going on?"

April and Connor looked at him with stern faces, but Connor broke into a large smile. "No, HER heart is fine. I'll let her tell you what's happening. HIPAA laws you know," Rhodes stated leaving the room.

"April, tell me. What's going on?" April could tell Ethan was getting nervous, his hand trembled in hers. She placed her hand on his cheek to calm him down.

"I'm fine Ethan. Uh… I think you should sit down." His eyes seemed to become more fearful, so she thought blurting it out will do. "I'm pregnant."

"What? Uh, how? I thought…" Ethan's thoughts were apparently racing too.

"I don't know, but Dr. Patchevsky confirmed. She's set up an appointment for me in a couple of days, but based on her view of my ultrasound, she estimates I'm around 16 weeks."

"16 weeks? Four months?" and then it dawned on him. "New Orleans?" She nodded remembering the beginning of their new life. Thrilled at the idea of being a family, Ethan decided not to wait any longer.

"I've been trying to find the right time to do this," he began as he pulled the box from his pocket, "but it seems the right time is now." April's eyes grew to the size of saucers. "April Layton Sexton, I love you. Whether you're making me happy or sad, or even mad, I love you. I'm better with you by my side. You're the partner I chose, and the partner I need. You make my life full and fulfilled. So, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Tears ran down her cheeks, but her smile spread from ear to ear. "Yes," she answered softly, remembering the ring that used to be on her finger. But when he opened the box, the ring was different. The diamond had been exchanged for a large cushioned sapphire.

Ethan answered her unspoken question, as he slipped the ring on her finger. "Something different for our new beginning."

"I guess I got my answer," April answered a question Ethan didn't know he needed to ask. "Glad I didn't take my MCAT, as I'm going to pre-school instead of medical school," she joked.

He laughed in agreement. "So, do we know if it's a boy or girl?"

"Not yet love, but if GiGi is right, it's a girl," She responded. April proceeded to tell Ethan about their grandmother's declaration and how she'd forgotten about it until then. Gently he kissed her forehead and they began to plan the beginning of their new family.

[Eight months later…]

The curly haired bundle cooed as it strained to discover the sounds and colors all around. The color kaleidoscope of balloons and streamers, along with the second-line high stepping jazz, were so different from their home in Chicago. April twirled slowly to reveal the southern wonders and the grafted branch of their additional family tree. "Chois!" she heard Mr. T shout. His pace could've almost been a run, if Mrs. T would've let him drag her along. Ethan greeted him warmly with a hug and a kiss to Mrs. Townsend's cheek. However, they didn't seem to linger long as they saw April strolling over with their baby strapped to her chest.

"Oh my gosh," Mrs. T gushed, "she's so beautiful!" The baby looked up and smiled wide as Mrs. T lifted her out of her harness. "April, she looks just like you." Mr. T just stood by and ogled the baby, tickled at her grip on his finger.

"I think so too," Ethan conceded.

"Well son, you better get your pistol ready- you're gonna need it," Mr. Townsend asserted as the men chuckled.

Before Mrs. T could return the baby to her mom, the one who foretold her arrival shuffled over. "Hey now! Give me that baby," GiGi demanded as her daughter passed her on. As she held the little girl, GiGi gazed upon April and smiled. "Told you."

April nodded smiling with enormous gratitude. "You did." She recounted for GiGi how she discovered she was pregnant, and even how her instructions to not stress was an immediate answer to her confusion at the news. "How did you know?" April inquired.

GiGi just laughed heartily, with which the baby joined in. "Well, there are some advantages to being old." And with that, GiGi continued to bounce and tickle the baby girl, while she chastised Ethan and April about eloping. "Lisbeth, did you know about this?!" GiGi questioned Mrs. Townsend.

"Ma, Ethan called and told me they had a little service a couple of months after they found out."

"But when I called to tell you I was pregnant," April interrupted, "we hadn't made any plans yet. If we had, I would've told you."

"Kiss up!" Mrs. T shouted as the group laughed loudly. April hugged her mother-in-love and assured her she was just trying to stay on GiGi's good side, to which Lisbeth told her was a good idea.

Before they blessed the food, Lisbeth stood before the crown with Ethan and April. "Since last year," she began as the Choi name rang out as a chant among the members. "Yeah, yeah," she acknowledged calming them down again, "but April is officially a Choi now," and the crowd applauded cheerfully. "However, today we welcome the newest edition to our family," Mrs. Townsend declared as she grabbed the baby from GiGi. "Nola Gabriella Choi". Once again, the family rejoiced, while GiGi looked frozen in place.

"You named her after me?" she asked April.

"Well considering we never thought we'd be able to have her," April started, "it seemed only fitting to name her for the one who heralded her coming," Ethan replied finishing April's sentence. GiGi wiped he tears and kissed her grandchildren, before hogging Nola again.

As the day went on, Ethan's mind wandered, finally appreciating how the family of his lost love helped him heal his old life, so he could have his new one. "Babe, you ok?" April asked while rocking their daughter.

"Yeah. Just taking time to give thanks for my greatest blessing… You." She smiled and with a gentle kiss, he and his family enjoyed the life they now live.

The END.