Thanks to all who have read and reviewed-J

CONFIRMATION

The sun rose and splattered the Racer's suite in random patches of light that painted white squares on the wall and carpet. Both Speed and Trixie were up and dressed when there was a knock on the door and room service brought in the breakfast that Speed ordered for them. They drew up chairs to the table, which was set for them. Speed began to eat his meal with relish but couldn't help noticing how Trixie just picked at her plate and sipped her orange juice.

"Aren't you hungry, honey? You've hardly touched your food, is something wrong?" he asked in concern.

Trixie smiled a weak smile as she reassured him. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. Just eat and enjoy it."

Speed wiped his mouth with a napkin and took a sip of his coffee. "If you say so," he said doubtfully, not liking her pale complexion.

"Don't worry about m---," she was about to repeat but her sentence was cut off as she jumped up and rushed to the bathroom.

"Trixie!" Speed cried out. Alarmed by her hasty departure, he abandoned his breakfast and ran after her into the bathroom. He knelt beside her and gently brushed her hair back as she retched and kept retching. He was terrified as her eyes appeared glassy and the pallor of her face rivaled the porcelain of the bowl. "Take it easy, baby," said soothingly as he wet a washcloth and placed it on her forehead.

"Ohhh," Trixie moaned, her sickness making her weak. She tried to stand but her knees buckled as she fell against her husband.

Speed gently scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom. He placed her softly on the bed and drew the comforter over her as she lay there looking deathly, her face totally devoid of color.

"I'm callin' an ambulance," Speed said firmly and began to rise but Trixie reached and grabbed his arm to stop him.

"D-don't S-Speed. It's not necessary," she entreated wanly. Deep down inside she knew what was causing her malaise, she was carrying their first child, she was sure. But she didn't want to tell Speed, not until she was sure.

"Not necessary? Don't be ridiculous, Trixie, this is your health, of course it's necessary." He reached to pick up the phone but with difficulty his wife sat up and restrained him.

"Speed, please. I-I'm feeling much better now, really." She swung her legs over the side of the bed and slowly stood up as he watched with fear in his cobalt eyes. "See."

Speed sighed in relief as he saw some color return to her cheeks. He crushed her in his arms, cradling her head against his shoulder as she felt his body shudder slightly. "Thank God. I was so scared when you got so pale," he murmured, his voice breaking.

"Oh Speed, you need to stop worrying about me," Trixie insisted as she pulled away from his shoulder noticing the tear tracks on his cheeks.

"Stop worrying about you? Angel, you may as well ask me to stop breathing. As a matter of fact, I'm skipping the track today and staying right here to take care of you."

"But you have a race to prepare for," Trixie pointed out.

"So what. You're more important than any race."

"Speed, Pops will have a fit if you skip practice. The race's tomorrow, you know."

"Trix," Speed said as he laid a finger on her lips. "I know that but I want to make sure you're okay. After the way you just got sick, I don't want to leave you. And as I recall, you've been getting lightheaded a lot lately. I love you and I'm very worried about you."

Trixie took his face in her hands and gazed deep into his eyes. "I love you with every fiber of my being but I am fine now and I want you to go to practice. It's your last chance before the race tomorrow. I'll be fine, I'm fine right now. Please?" she pleaded prettily.

Speed studied the upturned face before him, the face that dazzled him like no other and he knew what his answer was. He leaned in and kissed Trixie gently, then releasing her turned to pick up his helmet and gloves and went to the door. He then turned toward her and holding his things in one hand blew her a kiss with the other before he stepped out and closed the door.


A few hours later at the practice track, the Mach 5 was finishing its laps and pulling into the pit stall when it was met by Pops, Mom, and Sparky. Speed turned of the motor and just sat there, his mind a million miles away. His morose attitude did not go unnoticed by his parents, especially his mother.

"You didn't have a very good time for that lap, son," Pops said with a frown, holding his stopwatch. "A lap in 45 seconds isn't going to win this race, you've got some top notch competition."

"Yeah, I know," Speed said dully.

"Well, whattya plan to do about it?" Pops wanted to know.

Speed just grunted which made Pops temper rise. He glared at his second born and opened his mouth to express his displeasure when Mom stepped forward. She sensed something serious was bothering her son because his indifference to his track performance was a sign that something was definitely up. She wondered if it had to do with Trixie.

"Speedy, is something wrong with Trixie?" Mom asked softly, her cornflower blue gaze penetrating.

"What makes you think that?" Speed replied, trying to appear casual.

"Mother's intuition, son. I heard you two carrying on, on the plane and she just doesn't seem herself."

Speed cast his own worried blue eyes up to his mother. "Mom, she was so sick this morning, I thought I was gonna have to take her to the hospital. She barely ate a thing then threw up so badly that she couldn't even stand, I had to carry her to the bed." He sighed and gripped the wheel feeling helpless and frustrated. "I never should've left her this morning and I'm gonna go back and check on her." He started and revved the motor.

"Hey, what about practice? You need to do better for tomorrow," Pops barked.

Speed sighed, as he felt torn by his responsibility to the team and his concern for his wife. His mother however stepped in to save the day.

Mom patted her son's arm reassuringly. "Your father's right, son. You stay here and practice and I'll go see if Trixie's all right."

Speed looked at his mother gratefully. "Would you, Mom? Would you go to see if she's okay?"

"Of course, sweetheart. I've been worried about her too. Don't worry, I'll make sure she's all right." Mom Racer turned and headed out.

"Thanks Mom!" Speed called out. He watched his mother's retreating back. "Mom's one in a million, that she is."

Pops eyes were glued to his wife as she left. "She sure is," he said with something a kin to awe. He cleared his throat and said gruffly, "Now how about another run, Speed?"

"Sure thing Pops." He shifted gears and tore off down the track.


Back in the hotel suite, Trixie was just resting, lying on the overstuffed sofa as she pondered her recent bouts with nausea. She was positive that she was about to become a mother but the idea was still the cause of much doubt. And what about Speed, how would he feel about being a father so quickly after they had gotten married? Before they got married they had discussed having a family, both wanted one very much but felt that maybe the race schedule might interfere. But they both decided that if she happened to get pregnant, they both would be thrilled.

Flashback: Lake Icy Chill

The sun had long since set and the moon had risen, a pearly disk in the velvet sky sending a soft light onto the mirror surface of the lake and the sleek white racecar with the "M" on the hood parked there, turning it to silver. But Speed and Trixie hardly noticed as the young couple was occupied by the mutual expression of their love. Gradually they drew apart and gazed at each other adoringly.

Trixie looked at the man who would soon be her husband. "Speed, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, baby," Speed replied affectionately, caressing her face. "Shoot."

"What do think about us having a baby when we get married?"

He regarded her closely. "Right away?" he said with a bit of dismay. He had hoped he's have Trixie all to himself for a little while before they started a family.

"Don't you want children?"

"Of course I do but I was hoping we could enjoy being alone together for a while." He nuzzled her neck but she pulled away and faced him. He sighed as he sat back in the seat and listened.

"I do too but it does happen. If it did, would you be okay with it?" Trixie persisted.

Speed ran a hand through his coal black hair. "Gee, Trix, what do you want me to say? Of course I'd be okay with it. After all, it'd be our baby. But it'd be difficult what with the race schedule and all."

Trixie looked at him intently. "But…we'd handle it. Right?"

Speed turned back and gazed at her, the one person in the world he could never refuse anything. He smiled a slow, sweet smile. "You bet. We're a team, aren't we?" He reached to take her chin in his hand and drew her closer….

End Flashback

Trixie had another chilling thought. Suppose it wasn't that she was pregnant, that she actually had something wrong with her, what then? The symptoms were all pointing in the direction of the former but still her hormone driven emotions were getting the best of her customary common sense.

Her musings were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door. Trixie sat up and made her way to the door.

She opened the door to what appeared to be a royal messenger with an envelope on a golden tray. "A message for Mrs. Speed Racer." He offered the tray to Trixie bowing and after she took it, he turned on his heel and left.

Trixie opened the envelope and read the missive…

Dearest Trixie,

I truly enjoyed being in your charming company last night

at the ball, my only regret was that it was so short. However,

it would please and honor me if you would have lunch with

me. I eagerly await your reply.

Your humble servant,

Omar.

Trixie felt a panic as she reread the note and the words from Prince Omar sunk in. It appeared that he was totally indifferent to the fact that she was a married woman and that her husband was not only a champion racer but an expert fighter who was very jealous. She sighed and folded the note, trying to figure what to do when there was another knock on her door. She opened the door to find Mom Racer's warm smile beaming at her.

"Good morning, Trixie dear," she said sweetly. "May I come in?"

"Of course, Mom Racer," Trixie invited as she stepped back to let her mother-in-law in. The matriarch of the Racer clan strolled in and regarded her daughter-in-law fondly.

"We missed you at the track this morning. Speed said you weren't feeling well. I hope it's nothing serious." Her clear blue gaze, like her second son's unnerved Trixie.

She laughed uneasily. "Oh that. It was nothing, really. I'm fine."

Mom examined her closely. "Speed said you were pretty sick. He's quite frantic about it."

"Speed's too much of a worrywart, Mom. As you can see, I'm just fine," Trixie said in an overly convincing manner. She sat on the sofa in the suite and acted nonchalant.

Mom wasn't convinced. She took a seat beside Trixie and asked bluntly, "Trixie, are you expecting?"

Trixie's eyes flew open and she felt pinned by her mother-in-law's penetrating blue gaze. She gave up and decided to tell Mom her own suspicions. "I-I'm not sure but I think so. I skipped my period last month and it hasn't come yet this month."

"I figured when I saw how you were behaving. Have you told Speed yet?" Mom inquired gently.

Trixie shook her head. "I don't want to till I'm absolutely sure. He might not like the fact that we're only married three months and we're already going to have a baby. We've never used any protection."

Mom looked lovingly at her daughter-in-law. "Darling, my son will be thrilled. He's always wanted to be a father with you as the mother. Oh I think it's marvelous!" She hugged Trixie tight and then said crisply. "We have to get you to a doctor."

"How? We're in a foreign country, I just don't trust a foreign doctor," Trixie protested.

"Of course not but this is a first class hotel. It's sure to have a reputable doctor," Mom insisted as she got to her feet and went to the phone to dial.

Two hours later, both Racer women were in the office of Dr. Sahibe, the in house doctor for the hotel. He had just given Trixie a thorough examination, including a pregnancy test and now she and Mom were waiting for the results. Due to the fact that she was a visitor to the country and the wife of the defending Formula 1 champion, he assured her the test results would be done immediately.

Trixie sat tense and silent, her hands folded primly in her lap as Mom Racer patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Take it easy, dear. Every woman goes through this eventually."

Trixie managed a weak smile. Both women looked up as the office door opened and the genial doctor entered with a manila folder. He took a seat behind his desk and addressed Trixie.

"Well, Mrs. Racer, it appears that your suspicions were correct. You are eight weeks pregnant, congratulations," he said smiling.

Mom smiled back as Trixie sat there just taking it all in. A baby! Speed and I are going to have a baby! she said to herself excitedly. She listened as the doctor advised her to contact her personal physician as soon as she got back home. They both got to their feet thanked the doctor and left to return to the suite.

On the elevator ride up both Racer women were strangely silent, lost in their own thoughts. Mom Racer was thinking about herself becoming a grandmother and how wonderful it will be to hold and take care of a baby again. And Trixie was thinking of what it was going to be like to be a mother, to hold a little baby created in love by her and Speed. I hope he has Speed's eyes she said to herself with a dreamy smile.

They both headed into the suite and when there in tears, Mom Racer embraced her daughter-in-law. "Oh Trixie darling, I'm so happy! I can't wait till you tell Speed, I know he's going to be thrilled." The two women broke apart and the new mother went to the sofa.

Trixie spied the note from Prince Omar on the sofa where she had left it. She surreptitiously picked it up and held it out of sight as she smiled joyfully and wiped away a tear from her own eye. "I know Mom, but I don't want him to know till after the race. He's got enough on his mind."

"I think that if you told him before the race, it would just give him that much more of a reason to win. It'll be added inspiration for him."

Trixie examined her mother-in-law carefully. "You really think so?"

"Absolutely," Mom assured her. "Speed's always been really in love with the idea of being a father someday. And to know that he's going to be a dad before a race, I think that my son will be so happy he'll do better than his best."

Trixie giggled, "That's bad news for all the other racers." She pondered earnestly for a moment and then said, "Well, I am going with him as navigator so I guess that that'll be as good a time as any. Okay, I'll tell him just before the race tomorrow."

"Good," Mom said as she turned to leave but Trixie stopped her.

"Oh, Mom, please don't say anything to Pops or Spritle. Especially Spritle, you know he can't keep a secret."

Mom chuckled, "So true. Especially when the secret's about his favorite big brother. Okay dear, mum's the word." She let herself out.

After Mom left Trixie sat down and closed her eyes to say a short prayer Dear God, I want to thank you for the precious gift, this baby growing inside me. I pray that I will be the best mother I can and that Speed will be glad that I'm having his baby. I want us to be the greatest parents in the world, so please watch over us. Amen.

She got up and went into the bathroom inadvertently leaving the folded note on the coffee table.

TO BE CONTINUED….AS SPEED WORRIES ABOUT HIS WIFE AND THE RACE, AND TRIXIE IS ABOUT TO GIVE SPEED THE GOOD NEWS, A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THEM DRIVES TRIXIE INTO A TRAP

NEXT----A BAD FEELING