Dallas, Texas

Sprawled out on the cool tile floor of the bathroom, Sue Ellen clung onto the porcelain as she dry heaved, waiting for it to turn into something more again. She was sure that she would feel better if the bout of illness was truly over, so seeing as she felt just as awful now as she had earlier, she didn't believe it was over.

Proven right, she hated that now that her stomach was emptied of anything resembling food the next step wasn't for the vomiting to stop but instead for the remaining bile to make its way out, burning as it did so.

Dry heaving again, she felt exhausted on top of everything else her body was going through, and she had a fair idea of why. She didn't feel confident enough to leave the bathroom to check however mentally she'd been very aware of dates and biological events since late January.

February, March and early April had all had clear signs that indicated she'd have to continue waiting, however, late April had come and gone with no sign of anything one way or the other, leaving her unsure of what the future held, until now.

Overcome by another wave of nausea, she leaned over the side of the porcelain bowl and gagged again, the acidic liquid soon swirling in the clear water below.

Closing the lid and flushing, she leaned against the wall, feeling a little bit better however not convinced it was truly finished. If she was in the state she thought she was then it was just getting started, however she wasn't thinking that far ahead, she couldn't until she knew.

Taking her time, sitting still and focusing on her health, she thought she was well enough to make the journey of only a few yards for some information although when she stood her legs felt weak.

Shaky on her feet, she tottered into the bedroom, finding her purse in the closet, noting the last circle on the small calendar was where she expected it to be.

Their anniversary vacation hadn't done it, and the timing had been wrong at her birthday, so it had to have happened after that but until she saw a doctor to confirm she wouldn't know which encounter had been the successful one. It didn't matter, and the doctor was unlikely to be able to pinpoint the exact timing of things, but she was curious and it was something pleasant to think about when she otherwise felt awful.

"Honey, you're trembling. Let me help you."

Startling her, his voice nearby, she found JR right behind her when she turned around.

"I didn't know you were there."

Leaning into him as he held her close to steady her, she felt hot, cold, and queasy and could only imagine how awful she looked, although her appearance wasn't only down to her, he was the man responsible for what she suspected her current condition was.

"You thought I was going to leave you alone when you're like this?"

"I did ask for a little privacy."

Only half-serious, she was glad to have his assistance and support, although she really didn't wish for him to witness what she was sure to occur again before the morning was over.

"I brought you some tea."

"Thank you."

Slowly making their way over to the bed, she slid between the sheets, sitting up with a pillow behind her back.

Accepting the teacup with shaky hands, she didn't even get as far as taking a sip before she handed it back to him, the smell far too much for her delicate state.

"I'm sorry; I don't think I can stomach that right now."

"Darlin', you were looking at your calendar in the closet, and you're not well. Do you think you might be pregnant?"

Setting the teacup down on the nightstand, JR nodded, smiled softly and asked her a question, his cautious tone endearing.

"I wouldn't be surprised, we've hardly been abstinent."

Chuckling in agreement with her comment, his reaction told her that they were definitely on the same page as far as their intimate relationship went. Whatever problems they'd ever had in the bedroom were long gone now, hopefully never to return.

"Have you seen a doctor?"

"No. I've only just figured it out myself."

Shaking her head, she only meant to convey that the news was just as new to her as it was to him but the quick movement so close to the rising steam from the hot tea had more of an effect than she'd bargained for, the smell from the teacup sending her hand to her mouth as she gagged again.

"Sue Ellen?"

"I'm sorry."

Throwing the covers back as she pushed past him, she only just made it to the bathroom in time to empty the remainder of her stomach contents somewhere Francisca wouldn't have to clean up.

"Are you still seeing that Doctor Krane?"

Hearing his voice from the other room, she couldn't figure out why he was asking her that question, but when the next involuntary heaving motion overcame her she suddenly didn't care.

"I'll see anyone."

Murmuring, she tried hard to think back to when she was carrying John Ross; she'd experienced morning sickness, she knew that, but she truly couldn't remember whether it made her feel as horrible as she did now or whether it'd come on as suddenly as this bout of illness had. She'd experienced food aversions in both of her previous pregnancies too, leading her to believe that wasn't going away anytime soon.

As terrible as her symptoms were at present, she'd rather have them than not, because they were the first sign that she and JR were getting exactly what they wanted. She had experience with both miscarriage and infertility, both of which were emotionally painful, and to have conceived within only a few months of trying again was wonderful, the only thing more wonderful would be when she finally held her healthy newborn.

Knocking on the bathroom door, JR stood in the doorway to deliver his news. "I've made you an appointment at 2.00pm today with a Doctor Baker."

"Thank you."

Murmuring again, she looked at him and raised her hand to emphasise her feelings; she was grateful but that didn't take away from the nausea she was experiencing.

"I'll leave you alone now."

Pulling the door, he left it slightly ajar, giving her the privacy she'd asked for but not completely shutting her away should she need help, showing her he understood what she wanted from him, support. He didn't need to be right there with her, they had the rest of their lives to be close.

To be continued…