~*~*~*~

Part 5

"Lisabeth?" whispered Mark into the darkness of the early morning. He reached next to him and found the blankets tucked back neatly. Still sleepy, but slowly waking up Mark reached for his glasses and glanced at the bedside clock radio.
3:50
Way too early to be up on a Sunday off.
Mark sighed as he walked out of the bedroom in search of the red head.

Elizabeth's eye's were half closed and she was lying on a black leather padded chair in what seemed to be a study. The lap top was turned on and had some medical page from the web on it. She rubbed her hand tiredly across her face in an attempt to take away the fatigue she was feeling but she just couldn't get to sleep. Kicks came hard and fast, with thoughts of mother hood and the delivery that were already beginning to plague her mind.
"You still have four months to go, Corday. Slow down." she muttered to herself.
"What's wrong?" asked Mark, who had crept into the room and was leaning against the heavy oak desk.
"Hey." Elizabeth said, her eye's snapping open. "I thought you were sleeping."
"So did I. What's this?" said Mark gesturing to the computer.
"Just a message board. A mother's thing. It's interesting to read about their experiences." said Elizabeth, clicking on the close then shut down buttons.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Mark worriedly.
"Oh, I don't know. Lot's of things I guess." she said looking down and tracing an imaginary line on her stomach. Mark waited patiently for her continue. "The baby, Charlotte. Mark how am I going to take care of a seven year old and a new born?"
"You don't have to do it alone. I'm here." comforted Mark walking behind Elizabeth and beginning to kneed away at her shoulder muscles.
"I know, it's just.... I know I just want to be a good mother and I'm not sure I can do that." said Elizabeth, still looking down.
"Yes, you can. I know you'll be great."
However Elizabeth wasn't convinced.
"Come back to bed, you need to rest. Charlotte will be coming home and there is a lot of shopping to do." said Mark helping Elizabeth up, "You'll be fine. Don't worry about it." he whispered as he switched off the lamp and led her out of the study.

~*~*~*~

"Are you sure you don't want me to take the day off?"
"Mark I can go shopping by myself and Charlotte will be there to help me, won't you Charlotte?" asked Elizabeth glancing down the excited seven year old that was holding onto her hand and skipping around as best as she could.
"Uhuh! Were're gonna get some things for me to wear." sing-songed the little girl "You have to get back to work tomorrow and you should be resting today." protested Mark as Elizabeth opened the passenger side door to the van and let Charlotte inside, then making sure that she was buckled in properly.
"Mark, I'll see you latter and what do you want to do- lock me up in the bedroom?" asked Elizabeth climbing into the drivers seat, waving away Mark's hand.
"Well, you know that wouldn't be such a bad idea...." he said suggestively.
"Mark. I'll see you later." said Elizabeth expageratingly as she gave him a peck on the lips.
"Take it easy!" yelled back Mark as he watched as Elizabeth drove out of the parking lot before running back to the ER to complete the rest of his shift.

~*~*~*~

"Elizabeth?" asked Charlotte looking out the window in awe at all the other cars that were driving past.
"Umhum."
"How did the baby get in there?"
Elizabeth wasn't excepting this question and hesitated for a few moments. "Well?" pressured Charlotte.
"You know Mark?" started Elizabeth, carefully choosing her words.
"Yeah. Is he the daddy?" asked Charlotte, once more not able to contain herself.
"Yes, he is. Charlotte, when two adult peoples love each other heaps, they sleep together. If they are lucky, the woman will have a baby." said Elizabeth finally deciding on explaining the simpler version till she had a chance to talk to Mark.
"Elizabeth?" asked Charlotte again, another question forming in her tiny but clever brain. "What is love?"

~*~*~*~

"Dr Greene?" called frank holding the phone out to Mark who was looking through the charts at the desk. When he saw the phone he walked round to the other side of the desk and took the reciever.
"Who is it?"
"Some priest." answered Frank going back to his work.
"Hello?" said Mark into the phone as he goes back to looking at the board.
"What do you mean the church isn't available all month....... Uhuh, yeah, well- Yes, yes Father I understand....... Can we cancel it then? Ok. Yep. Thankyou!" Mark put the phone back into it's cradle with sigh.
"Who was it?" asked Carter, dropping a chart into the rack.
"The priest. The church is booked all month- I'd have to talk to Elizabeth before moving up the wedding." answered Mark.
"Why don't you just elope?" suggested Carter logically. Mark stopped looking at the charts and then looked down at his watch, the wheels in his head beginning to turn.
"You know, Carter do you think you could give me blood test?"

~*~*~*~

"Elizabeth!" said Mark, sounding relieved as he opened the driver-side door of the van. It was evening now and the garage was a little darker than usual.
"Something wrong?" she asked, letting Mark help her. Walking to the back door of the hideous vechiel, Elizabeth grabbed hold of the door and swung it open.
"Nope. I was just getting worried- woah!" said Mark as Charlotte stood beside him and the three of them looked into the van which was over loaded with groceries and who knows what else.
"Don't ask there was so much to get and then we had to pick up Charlotte's bed and-" said Elizabeth, trying to explain but Mark cut her off, handed a few light bags to the excited child that was trying to get a word in edgewise.
"Charlotte bring these bags to the kitchen. The first table you see." Mark said before turning to Elizabeth. "You CARRIED the bed?!?"
"No, Mark I didn't." said Elizabeth sighing as she too reached in and got a hold of a few bags.
"Good- hey! What are you doing?"
"Mark I thought we talked about this..." trailed off Elizabeth.
"Nope. Tonight you are going to talk it easy. Very easy I want you on that couch and resting and your not to get up until dinner is ready unless it is an emergency." ordered Mark pointing to the house where Charlotte was coming out of, her hands empty of bags, ready to carry another load.
Elizabeth glared at Mark for a few seconds but not coming up with a reasonable, excuse walked out of the garage and into the house a little mad that Mark had won and that she hadn't.
"Once I get into that chair I won't be able to get up again." she muttered to herself.
Mark chuckled to himself before finally reaching into the van and grabbing a bag himself.

"Charlotte do you want to help with dinner?" called out Mark from the kitchen.
"Yes, yes, yes!" yelled Charlotte as she walked as fast as she could past the living room and into the kitchen, leaving one tired but angry looking Elizabeth on the couch.
"Can I help too?" she called out.
"NO!" replied Charlotte and Mark unanimously, both for different reasons.
Elizabeth sighed and leaned back into the sofa.

"Hey. You hungry?" asked Mark coming into the room about an hour later. Elizabeth shot him a look and then crossed her arms infront of her chest.
"Ok, ok I know stupid question. You can't be mad at me forever. Wanna eat now?"
"Fine. Your forgiven, for now anyway. I'm starving."' said Elizabeth uncrossing her arms as she tried to get up. "Ooph- You didn't have to help me up I'm not disabled Mark."
"I know your not but you look cute when your angry." said Mark, nibbling gently at Elizabeth ear.
"I'm *not* angry. What did you cook anyway?" asked Elizabeth trying her best not to take notice but closing her eye's in delight anyway.
"Alphabet soup. Charlotte didn't really go to school and wanted to learn the 'abc'."
"Sounds good." said Elizabeth sitting down at the table.
Mark and Charlotte brought the things to the table and Mark began to serve everyone.
"I have a surprise for you tonight." he said casually.
"What's the surprise?" asked Charlotte before looking into the soup.
"Well if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise then would it?" answered Mark smartly.
"Mark, where are we going?" asked Elizabeth wearily. "I've had enough surprises for one day."
"You'll like this one, I promise. Just remember to dress up a little." Mark advised, pointing to Elizabeth's untouched soup. "Eat."
"Mark-"
"Nope. Not saying a thing."

~*~*~*~

"Where are you going, looking so happy?" asked Chunny, noticing the portly nurse smiling her way through her shift.
"No where that concerns you girl unless you think Mark and Dr Corday's marriage is important to you." answered Haleh, a smug look on her face as she out on her coat.
"But that's not on for a few months!" said Chunney confused.
"Think again their eloping and they asked *me* to be a witness at the court house."
"WHAT?!?!?" yelled Chunney, almost dropping the two IV bags she was carring.
"Hey! I didn't tell you for nothing. Dr Greene told me to tell nobody and you ain't nobody to me." said Haleh indignantly.
"I can't believe I can't go!" moped Chunney.
"I'll get a picture- don't you worry about that!" said Haleh holding up a camera and two rolls of films in her arms.

~*~*~*~

"Nothing fit's me anymore." said Elizabeth sadly to the mirror in her's and Mark's bedroom.
"Don't worry we can always buy you clothes, that's not a problem." said Mark logically as he entered the room and placed his hands around her waist and placed his hands on her belly.
"But everything looks hideous on me, Mark and I'm already starting to feel like a cow." sighed Elizabeth, leaning her head on Mark's shoulder, still looking at her reflection on the mirror with a somber expression on her face.
"Really? I didn't notice." Mark said, his eye brows furrowed in disagreement. "I think you look beautiful." he whispered in Elizabeth's Ear. Tuning to face her, he planted a butterfly kiss on her forehead.
"But that's what your ment to say, Mark." said Elizabeth as she placed Mark's hand on her stomach. "She's kicking, there."
"Yeah, oh! Wow, he's really beating you up in there." said Mark in amasement.
"I'll say." said Elizabeth rolling her eyes.
"I don't know what to wear." said Charlotte quietly from the doorway, her hands tucked behind her back humbly.
"I take care of her." said Mark before kissing Elizabeth on the cheek and leaving the room.
"Let's go see what we can find for you to wear." she heard Mark saying to Charlotte as the two went down to Charlotte's new room or otherwise know as the old guest room.
Elizabeth pulled at her pale blue knit jumper once more as she made another displeased expression at the mirror.

~*~*~*~

"Mark.....This is a court house?" said Elizabeth uncertainly as they walked up the steps of the aging brick building in the twilight.
"Uhuh." answered Mark, placing his hand on her back as they went inside.
"What's a court house?" asked Charlotte.
"I'll explain later- This way." said Mark leading them to the elevator. Elizabeth just shook her head, a secret smile forming on her face......

"You didn't-" said Elizabeth awe. "Where did you get the blood test results from?"
"Oh, but I did. You still want to go through with it?" asked Mark anxiously as they came face to face with a Justice of Peace who was sitting behind her desk, a small pile of paperwork infront of her.
"Of course! So were're going to be married tonight?" she asked, still in shock.
"As soon as Carter and Haleh arrive..."
"You told *Haleh*?" whispered Elizabeth loudly.
"Well, she and Carter are going to be our witnesses.... Carter!" called out Mark as the young doctor approached them.
"Congratulations. I suppose Dr Corday is a little shocked?" said Carter as he shook Mark's hand.
"I think you can call us by our first names now Carter." said Elizabeth, a smile on her face as she got over the reality of it all.
"Oh. Ok, Elizabeth." he answered awkwardly.
"You ok?" whispered Mark in Elizabeth's ear.
"Very ok. Charlotte come over here." said Elizabeth as she called over to Charlotte who was playing with the magazines on the table in the waiting room.
The little girl an over. "Hello Dr Carter! Did you come for the wedding?"
"You *told* her?" asked Elizabeth expageratingly.
"Well, I had to tell *someone* plus it was a surprise for you- not her!" said Mark defending himself. Elizabeth crossed her arms and looked away.
"Uh oh- tell me you two aren't fighting." said Carter quietly into Mark's ear but not so Elizabeth could hear them , or so he thought.
"Nope. She'll come round don't worry."
"Don't get your hopes up." said Elizabeth still looking the other way. Mark made a look at Carter that said; 'Don't worry she'll be fine.'

"You can kiss the bride if you want to." advised the Justice of Peace.
"Come on Dr Greene- a good one!" yelled Haleh, joining in with the girlish grin on her face.
Mark leaned in towards and kissed Elizabeth full on as Charlotte, Carter and Haleh watched, throwing rice over them.
"You got Married!!!!!!! and Mark was sooooo worried!" yelled Charlotte, not being able to keep her mouth closed.

~*~*~*~

"I haven't been so tired before." said Elizabeth as she, Mark and Charlotte entered the house, a few hours after the funeral.
"Go to bed. I'll fix Charlotte up." offered Mark, helping Charlotte with her coat.
Elizabeth considered this for a moment as she took off her own coat but finally agreed.
"Thanks. Goodnight Charlotte do as Mark says, ok?"
"Ok! Night." said Charlotte who tugged at Elizabeth's jumper to make her bend down a little so that she could give her a peck on the cheek.
"Thanks Char." said the surprised but pleased Elizabeth with a smile before giving Mark a peck on the lips and heading for the stairs. As soon as she got there and was where she thought Mark couldn't see her, Elizabeth began to massage her temples as she assended the stairs.
Mark quietly watched as Elizabeth walked to the stairs and noted how slowly she was going. With a shake of his head and a sigh, he looked down at the task at hand.
"Off to bed Charlotte."
"Ohhhhh but-" whined Charlotte.
"No buts! You have school tomorrow." said Mark leading her to a downstairs closet.
"School? Oh yeah! Elizabeth told me. I only went there for a little while."
"Did you like it?" asked Mark as he opened the door. Charlotte was no longer as energetic as before and stood quietly beside him.
"Yup! I had lots of fun." said Charlotte with a big smile.
"Well now our in year one and this time- your staying in school until you finish it."
"Ok." said Charlotte simply.
Suddenly, Mark remembered one peice of information that may have been forgotten. He stopped searching through the sheets and gave Charlotte all him attention.
"Char, when you went to school before, did you remember the teacher talking about a man called God?"
Charlotte looked like she was thinking very hard and she slowly shook her head.
"I don't think so. But I've heard of him. A nice guy isn't he?"
Mark suppressed a laugh at Charlotte's seriousness. "Yeah I agree. When they talk about him, just listen ok? I have to have a little talk to your teacher before class. Here." Mark handed Charlotte a small bundle of blankets before grabbing hold of a large colourful doona and pillow.
"Is this for my bed?" asked Charlotte, her eye's round and large.
"Ummhum."
"Wow! I've never had a bed with so many things on it."
"Well, now you do." said Mark before leading her upstairs and into the spare room which was now known as Charlottes room and was situated cross the hallway from Mark and Elizabeth's room.
"Cool!" exclaimed Charlotte as soon as she saw her new donna cover.
"You gonna change or what?" asked Mark seeing Charlotte just stand as he made the bed up. He and Elizabeth had already had an argument over how to put it together. It ended with Mark sending her out of the room with the excuse that she couldn't do much anyway and should keep out of his way or it would never get finished.
"Huh?"
"You know, clothes to wear for when your sleeping." explained Mark, stopping and walking over to the cupboard where Elizabeth had put, with Charlottes help, all the clothes that they had bought. Reaching down at the bottom, he took out a small cute cotton nightly that was decorated with angels all over it.
"We have clothes to wear when we sleep?" asked Charlotte, confused.
"Yep and this is it." said Mark handing her the dress. "Arms up!"

~*~*~*~

"What are you doing still up. I thought you went to sleep over an hour ago." said Mark quietly as he pulled back the bed sheets and climbed into the bed beside Elizabeth who was laying on her side, facing Mark's side.
"Couldn't really get to sleep. Not exactly what we planned of our First Night isn't it?" she replied with a smile as she cuddled up to Mark.
"Doesn't matter. We can always have the honey moon later." whispered back Mark kissing her softly on the lips. Elizabeth broke away.
"She's kicking again."
"You think it's a girl? I thought it was a boy." said Mark, his hand on Elizabeth's belly which was uncovered, the blanket round her hips, her T-shirt pulled up.
"Just a feeling I have." she said sniffling a yawn.
"How have you been feeling lately?" asked Mark seriously as he saw how tired she looked with bags under her eyes.
"I'd be fine if She would let me sleep." said Elizabeth with a sigh.
Mark started rubbing his hand over Elizabeth's stomach softly but quite fast.
"Shhhhh!"
"Mark what are you doing?" asked Elizabeth. His hands felt nice but she was a little bewildered.
"Maybe He will go to sleep." suggested Mark with a shrug as he covered Elizabeth with the doona. "Come on. You really need to try and sleep. It's not nightmares is it?"
"No, I've gotten past those." said Elizabeth rolling her eye's. Mark had been asking her that everytime she couldn't get to sleep.
"I just worry." Mark said defending himself. "Now *go* to sleep. Your worse than Charlotte!"

~*~*~*~

~Ok, so I can't write good wedding scenes- but don't say I didn't try cause I did. This is why it took so long for me to post it. Hope you Enjoyed!~