*Disclaimer:  I am in no way affiliated with Passions, NBC, or JER.  I don't own these characters so don't sue me!

CHAPTER 31

            Hospital

                        (Three weeks later)

Ivy sat alone in the examining room after redressing herself.  She'd been having regular weekly check-ups at the hospital since she'd been released to see how everything was healing.  Everything had been fine until last week.  She had begun to feel quite sick and she finally told Eve about it only today.  Eve had looked worried and said she was going to run some extra tests.  That was what Ivy was waiting for now.

Ivy reflected on the past few weeks as she waited.  Ethan and Theresa had gotten married by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas and were more in love than ever.  They were staying with her right now until they found a place of their own.  She was now living in the beach house that she had inherited from her father.  She had remembered it a couple days after being released from the hospital and decided that it was as good a place as any to start her new life.

Ivy remembered the day she had been released from the hospital.  She had been with Sam that day, but neither had mentioned it since.  They had agreed that it had just been the celebration of a new start for her and that if they were going to start seeing each other, they would take it very slowly.  And they were.  Nothing had happened between them since except for the occasional kiss.  They had been going out for dinner and meeting for coffee. 

Sam had told Jessica and Noah about Ethan and his past with Ivy.  They weren't as quick to accept the situation as Kay had been, but after a week they had come around.  Ethan and Noah had become quite friendly and Ivy and the girls had gone out to lunch and shopping several times.  They were all trying to get used to each other.  Even Sam's parents were coming around.  They had all joined for a "family" dinner one night and worked out their problems and talked about the past.  Sam's mother didn't say she forgave Ivy for hurting her son, but she listened with interest to the terrible story.  But Mr. Bennet was completely charmed with her.  All in all, things were going quite well.

Finally, Eve walked into the room with a strange expression on her face.  "Oh Eve, you've kept me in enough suspense waiting.  Can you just give me some antibiotics to get rid of whatever I have?  I'm making dinner for everyone tonight and I really should be getting home."  Yes, Ivy was even trying to cook.

"I can't give you any medication, Ivy.  In fact, I have to take away the pain killers I gave you when you were released from the hospital."

"What?  Why?  Is there something wrong," Ivy started to panic.  Her life was finally going somewhere good and now there was a problem.

"No, no.  There's nothing wrong.  It's just that, well, you're pregnant, Ivy."

"Oh, very funny Eve.  I know we're trying to build some sort of friendship, but that's not a funny joke."

"It's no joke.  You're going to have a baby."

Ivy was shocked.  "How can that be?  It's been years since I've had any children.  Women don't very often have children when they get to be my age.  Not that I'm saying I'm old, but…"

"It happens all the time."

Then something struck Ivy.  "Oh my God!  Oh my God!  What am I going to do?"

"Calm down Ivy.  Lots of women have babies at your age.  Everything will turn out fine.  You just need to be extra careful and rest."

"No, that's not it.  I'm not sure if the baby is Julian's or Sam's."

Eve saw the tortured look on her face.  She had just assumed that since Ivy and Sam had been seeing each other that….  "What do you mean?"

"Julian…he took advantage of me the first night he beat me.  Then, that same week when I was released from the hospital, that day actually, Sam and I…well, you know.  It was only those two times.  Sam and I haven't been together since.  We agreed to take things slow."

"I see," Eve was quiet, not sure what to say.

"Eve can you do a paternity test now?"

"I could do an amniocentesis, but it's too dangerous with your pregnancy.  You'll just have to wait until the baby is born.  I wish I could do more."

Ivy sighed, "Thank you anyway, Eve."  Ivy got up to leaved and added, "Eve, don't tell anyone yet.  I've got to think of a way to break this to everyone."

"Of course, Ivy.  And for what it's worth, congratulations."

"Thank you."

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