(Takes place two weeks later, Dixie is planning on meeting a world reknowned obstetrician at SOS. She fidgets, and taps her fingers on a table in the back with nervousness)

"Oh Lord, please let everything go right," she whispered to herself. A man approached her table. He wore a faded grey suit with glasses sticking out of the top pocket. His hair was a salt-and-pepper colour, slicked back; he fingered a small goatee when she looked up at him.

"Bess Cooney?" he asked.

Dixie smiled, offering him a seat. "Actually, my name is Dixie Martin---well, Dixie Cooney-Martin but...I'm just a little overprotective of myself. I don't...I don't want my husband to know I'm seeing you."

"It is his child, is it not?"

"Oh yes, of course..." she looked down. "I just...I had a miscarriage last year and if he knew I was even the slightest bit nervous about things going wrong this time, he's going to panic."

He smiled. "I understand. Well, let me introduce myself. I'm Doctor Patrick Carrera."

"Dr. Carrera, thank you so much for seeing my on such short notice. I'm so happy you're one of the few people who are on good terms with Adam."

"It fades throughout the years, I'm sure that's the reason. Now, you said your name was Martin?"

"Yes, Dixie Martin."

"I assume you're not married to Adam."

Dixie chuckled. "Lord, no. Not anymore. Adam's my ex-husband, but he's the father of my son, JR. But now, I'm married to Tad Martin--the baby's father."

"I'm sorry to ask so many questions, curiosity just gets the best of me."

"It's completely okay, the only thing I care about is getting through the next nine months."

"Okay, Adam didn't give me much of a background on you. Why are you worried about the next nine months---is it just the fact that you miscarried last year?"

"Well no, I miscarried yes but...I have what is called pericardia--or fluid around the heart. Apparently it developed because I donated a kidney to my brother Del---Dr. Carrera, if you don't mind...I'm just a wreck about all of this and--" she stopped short. Through the corner of her eye she saw Tad enter the club.

"Wreck about?" Dr. Carrera lead on.

Dixie's lips parted, she caught her breath. "I'm just nervous is all. The doctors here say I can have a baby, and then no, that it wouldn't be safe but...I just need a straight answer. I'm pregnant now and I..." she paused again, watching Tad. "...and I want to keep the baby. My husband and I have wanted this for so long."

"Is there something bothering you, Mrs. Martin? You seem distracted?"

"It's my husband...he just walked in. Is there any way we can set up another meeting--at the hospital or something and do some tests or whatever you need done?"

"Absolutely. I know you're being cautious, so I don't want to get in the way. I'll call you later this week and we can make the arrangements, all right?"

"Thank you so much, Doctor Carrera, you don't know how much I appreciate this."

He walked away. Dixie sighed, putting a hand to her head. Tad spotted her and smiled, easing his way over. She returned the smile.

"Hey, Dix, what're you doing here?"

"I'm....waiting for you, didn't you get my message?" she covered.

"What message?" he said, sitting opposite her and dipping a straw in his lemonberry drink.

"I told JR to tell you to meet me here, so we could have lunch."

"Oh well, I haven't been home. Out and about all day--good Lord, it's cold outside. I just stepped in to get something to drink, fancy meeting you here," he smiled again, moving to sit next to her.

"Tad, you know," she paused, jabbing a cherry in his drink with the straw and putting it in her mouth. "I really think this is going to be great. The more I think about it...the more I know."

He kissed her cheek. "Of course it is. Hey, I've gotta go do some stuff for Mama, are you doing home after this?"

"Um, yeah...I think. I need to talk to JR, he has to go to this trial, you know."

"Erica's trial? You know, for a few days I totally forgot about it. God, Dix...I think he knows more than we do about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I hate that he has to do this."

"So do I...but the simpler it is for everyone to see he isn't at fault, the less we have to worry about with the drug charges."

"Yeah, well I'll try and pick something up for dinner, all right?" he kissed her lips, pausing for a moment to take her in. "I love you."

"I love you too, Tad. Be safe."

He left and she sat there with his warmth on her lips. Her heart was pounding. She hadn't lied to him, and what she was doing was helping, not hurting her. There was just too much going on.