Part Thirteen
Gia showered enjoying the relaxing spray of the hot water. She dried herself off and then finished getting ready. She had a few more moments to spare before she had to leave for her doctor's appointment. She went back into her bedroom and spotted the book that Carly had given her. She had finished it the night before. Her mind was swarming with facts about her pregnancy. She just hoped she could cope with the swollen feet, the back aches and the cravings.
She tucked the book into her purse. Carly had said to give it Jason to read after she was finished. Putting on her jacket, she opened her door and looked down the hall at her brother's apartment longingly. She hadn't seen him since the night at the police station and she already missed him. Well, not his disappointing looks but what they used to have. She missed breakfast with him, although the last few days she hadn't really had much of an appetite in the morning. She missed their talks…their real brother and sister relationship.
Sighing, she left the Brownstone in her car and made her way to hospital. She and Jason had planned to meet outside the OB-GYN office. She was a little nervous about the appointment. Listening to Dr. Meadows was going to cement everything. She was glad that Jason decided to come as well. It meant a lot to her…
She spotted him in the waiting chair looking at one of the other pregnant women waiting to be seen. She touched his shoulder and he looked up. "Think I'll still look this good when I'm that big?" She asked jokingly.
"Even better." Jason said truthfully.
Gia felt her cheeks flush. She quickly changed the subject. "Ready to do this?"
"Of course." Jason said.
One of the nurses approached Gia. "We're ready to do the physical examination, Ms. Campbell."
She looked back at Jason. "I think I want to do this part alone." She said embarrassed by the situation.
"I don't mind." He picked up a pamphlet on newborn care. "I'll just read."
Gia went down the hallway and changed into one of the flimsy hospital gowns. She hopped up on the bed and waited for Dr. Meadows to come in. Looking around the room, she saw many different pictures of the various stages of pregnancy. There was even a picture of a woman cuddling a tiny baby. Her hand went to her stomach and she looked down. "Hey there…this is all new to me, so I guess you could say that I'll try and learn everything as fast as I can. I'll make sure this is right for both you and me…" She looked up and turned red seeing Dr. Meadows standing there.
The older woman just smiled. "Don't worry about it. I'm glad to see that you're more used to this idea of pregnancy."
"I've had a few days to let it sink in." Gia admitted.
"It's a little early to do a sonogram right now." Dr. Meadows said. "I'm just going to do a quick physical exam. According to your forms you filled out you believe you are six weeks along."
Gia nodded and lay back. The exam was quick and relatively painless. She looked over at the doctor.
"Six weeks sounds right." Dr. Meadows said. "Are you taking you prenatal vitamins?"
"Yes." Gia said.
"Good." Dr. Meadows wrote a few things down on her chart and then headed for the door. "You get dressed and then come down to my office. We'll talk about proper care and diet."
Gia nodded and quickly got dressed. She opened the door and headed back to the waiting room. Jason stood up and gave her a questioning look. "Everything is fine. Dr. Meadows wants to see us in the office to discuss a few things."
Jason nodded, slipped the pamphlet he had been reading in his pocket, and followed Gia to the office door. She knocked on it and heard the invitation to go in. Jason entered last.
Gia took in Dr. Meadows' look. "Dr. Meadows, this is the baby's father, Jason Morgan. I would like him to be here…is that all right?"
Dr. Meadows nodded. "I'm glad to see the father taking an interest."
Jason sat next to Gia in the seats and looked over at the doctor.
"Your body is going to change a lot over the next few weeks." Dr. Meadows began. "The morning sickness may or may not get worse. You'll find that you are fatigued a lot and need the use of a bathroom many times a day. All this is normal, and I ask you not to ignore any of these signs. This change is very delicate and you have to take proper care of yourself." Gia nodded. "You'll find that your breasts will get tender as well…" Gia turned a little red and looked over at Jason. He didn't seem embarrassed. In fact he seemed engulfed in every word the doctor was saying. Dr. Meadows handed Gia a piece of paper. "Here is a list of things you need to make sure your body gets. There are also some things there I want you to avoid such as alcohol and cigarette smoke."
Gia scanned the list, taking in all the names of the vitamins she needed to make sure she consumed in her food. It was a little overwhelming.
"Also, I want you to make sure you have little or no stress." The doctor said. "It's very dangerous."
Gia frowned. With her family, and their dislike of Jason she was going to have a hard time making sure she followed that rule.
"Do either of you have any questions?" Dr. Meadows asked.
"When will the baby begin to move?" Jason asked.
"Usually between sixteen and twenty-two weeks." Dr. Meadows answered. "A while yet…but in another month we should be able to hear the heartbeat. Would you like to schedule a sonogram for then so you can see the baby as well?"
"Yes." Jason said without hesitation. Then he looked over at Gia. "If she wants to."
"Of course." Gia said smiling at Jason's enthusiasm.
The three agreed on a date, and Gia and Jason left the office. He asked to see the list of foods she should have and then looked at his watch. "Let me buy you some supper."
"Alright." Gia said. "Kelly's?"
"How about the Port Charles Grill?" Jason asked as they walked further down the hall. "They serve more of the listed foods."
Gia laughed a little and grabbed the list back from him. "You brought your bike?" When he nodded she continued. "I'll meet you there. I don't think it's a good idea for me to get on a motorbike when I am pregnant."
They parted at the door and Gia crawled into her car. She smiled to herself as she drove to the Port Charles Grill. Jason had looked so interested by everything the doctor had to say. She had watched him as she listened to Dr. Meadows. And in a few weeks, they would all meet again to see the baby and listen to its heartbeat. She was counting down the minutes.
"Baby, you're daddy is something else. I don't know too many guys who would take full responsibility for a baby that was conceived in a one night stand. And it seems like he wants to do so much more. Just not financial…he loves you so much and you aren't even here yet." She tried to concentrate more on the road. "And I love you too."
She sighed and parked her car in the Port Charles Grill's parking lot. A year ago, if she could have seen herself sitting in a car talking to her stomach she would have laughed it off. But now, it seemed so real. She walked across the pavement and smiled when she saw Jason at the door. "You beat me."
He smiled. "You know my bike goes faster than your car. I like the feeling of the wind rushing at me. You'd like it too. I'll have to take you on a ride sometime…after the baby is born."
"I would like that." Gia said as they entered the Grill. She had to laugh when the hostess gave Jason a look. "I don't think that your jacket fits in with the dress code of the restaurant."
Jason didn't seem to care. He brushed past and pulled out a chair for Gia to sit in. She looked around and then sat down. No one she knew was there that night. She was glad Jason chose a table further away from everyone else. It would give them a chance to talk.
Gia skimmed the menu and then sat it down. "I know what I want."
Jason nodded and motioned for the waitress to come over.
"I want the chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and corn." She said. "With a glass of water, please?"
"I'll have the same." Jason said.
Gia settled back into her chair. "I did some thinking last night. Mainly about how much my life is going to change when this baby comes along. I've realized a few things."
"Like what?" Jason asked.
"For starts, I think I have to move out of the Brownstone." Gia frowned a little. "I love it there. I love having my own little space. And until about a week ago, I loved being close to my brother. But I don't have any room for the baby. I only have one bedroom and it's not very big. I have no room for a nursery. As much as I hate to leave my apartment, I need a bigger place."
Jason understood. "I get on it."
Gia shook her head. "I think this is something I need to do. I need to find a place that suits me and will be good for the baby."
"Just let me know when you find it…so I can see." Jason said.
"I know you'll want to approve of it…"
"I trust your judgment." Jason told her.
"I'm glad to hear you say that." Gia said sipping her water. "I'll start looking for it tomorrow." She paused for a moment and then continued. "There is something else that I want to talk to you about. I think it's a good idea that you tell your family." She noticed the look on his face. "I know you don't think of them as your family...Lucky told me about it one time. But they are soon going to find out and I think it would be better if you told them yourself."
Jason sighed. The thought of the Quartermaines knowing about the baby was giving him mixed reactions. On one hand, he wanted Lila to know. He was getting along better with Monica…she deserved to know. But the thought of Edward and AJ knowing made his blood run cold. He did not want to have to listen to Edward bellowing about his great grand child. He looked across the table at the mother of his child. She seemed to be pleading with her eyes. "Gia…"
"My family knows and I had to deal with them." She pointed out. "Your family needs to know as well."
He groaned a little. "I'll tell them."
"Good." Gia said. "I just want this baby to have the benefit of knowing all of his or her family no matter who they are."
"You might regret saying that." Jason said.
"I never regret saying anything." Gia said looking hungrily at the plate of food that just arrived. She devoured it, enjoying every bite and Jason's company. She patted her stomach. "I don't think I was the only one who enjoyed the meal."
Jason grinned.
Gia reached down to her purse to grab a piece of gum. She saw the book that Carly had lent her. She picked it up and slid it across the table. "Carly wanted me to give this to you to read. You don't have to. You can just give it back to Carly."
"No." Jason said. "I really want to read it."
Gia almost shook her head. He certainly was devoted to this baby.