Chapter Sixteen- What's The Baby?
***Reader's Note***Sorry! it's tooken so long, I was just having a rough time finishing the chapter, plus school and friends,aswell as a new story! I've just started writting that should be out near the end of "9 months..." anyhow, read on...
The wedding party, filed themselves into St- Mary Margret's in the aftrenoon.Jessica made sure of that, she wanted everything to be precisely on point, and everyone knew that.I mean who else would have a wedding preactice three months in advance?
"alright,"Theresa began as she filled the room."is everyone here yet?"
"well not really, our parents aren't here...."
"yeah, Miguel and Charity are at the hospital taking that sonogram..." Theresa added.
"ah, Sheridan, Luis, Antonio..."
"Liz---"
"okay are we going to spend the whole day going through a list of who you think should be here."Kay cut in."because the wedding party's here, and that'a all were going to need, I mean Jesus all the people your naming right now it sounds like the wedding's three months in advance."Kay sped on.
"well spoken, honey."Fox commented, bobbing Alexia on his arm.
"thank you."she replied crisply, before facing Jessica and Theresa once more."so are we goign to start this thing or what?"
"well when you put it this way-yeah."
"Serena are you ready for that mic check?"Theresa called out to, her across the church.
Serena was at the stage of the church, with Chad and Whitney and their crew preparing things for her preformance, she looked around at the group and looked back at Theresa."um--"
"WAIT!!!!!!" the voices of two elderly women called out from the chapel doors, as Tabitha and Edna sprinted in.Everyone looking on at the duo strangely.
"oh, dear I told you we were late Edna!" Tabitha scoweled as she pulled her friend inside along side.
"sorry, I distictively heard, two thirty."
"one thirty."Jessica corrected warmly.
"one thirty, Jessica sweetie we're so sorry."Edna smilled as she put her hand on Jessica's arm.
"well, there's really nothing to be sorry about,"Reese began, Jessica glaring at him."because,"he pause rethinking the rude statement he'd been screaming to tell the two old broads, and re-thinking."because the weddings not for three months and you reall y don't have to be here...really."he emphasized.
"we know that, Ross..."Tabitha began.
"Reese."
"of course, we....Edna and I, were taking a little stroll in the area and we thought it'd be nice to pop in...see how the wedding's going, that would be alright wouldn't it Ross."Tabitha said as she rose her brow almost intimadating Reese to speak against her.Ever since that tiny incedant with Tabitha practicing witchery, and Tabith never calling Reese by name, they've never really been close...but then again they never were so there wasn't much of a love loss there.
"fine Tabitha why don't you sit yourself down in one of the pews, want anything...holly water preferably?"Reese replied with a touch of irratation in his voice.
"Reese!"Jessica exclaimed giggling a bit."never mind him, I'm sure he must of woke up on the wrong side of the bed--"
"if any!"Edna hissed as the two laughed.
"anyways it's not a problem if you stay, I'd love the in-put."this should be some, wedding practice.
In other places, Miguel and Charity were parked in the sparse Harmony Hospital parking lot, today was the day when everyone's suspiscions would be put to rest...'would be' would be the key word in the thought because the couple had just spend the first five minutes in the parking lot deliberating whether or not, they wanted to know the sex of the baby...
"okay, so we don't wanna know whether the baby is a boy or a girl."Miguel began.
"well not right now, I mean think about it if we find out now we'll be ruining the surprise..."
"true, and it's only another three months right?"
"right."Charity replied crisply, both of them knowing the other was dying to know what they were having.Charity sighed, as she looked on desperately at her husband."honey who were we kidding! I want to know what the baby is just as much as you do."
"yeah."Miguel huffed."look, why don't we just decide on impusle, because if we sit here in figure thsi out we'll be here all day."
"I like that idea."Charity smirked as she rubbed her stomach softly.
"good."Miguel ended, as he got out of the car walking over to Charity's side, opening her door and begining to help her out."easy,"he continued softly.
"okay."Charity said, as she scooted herself out, Miguel helping her out of the car as he closed the door.
"you alright?" Miguel smiled, Charity still on his arm.
"um hum."Charity nodded, before smiling and kissing him softly."ready?"
"yeah, let's."
'...and that's when,
he proposed to me,he prosed with a diamond ring
I started crying, (tears in my eyes.)
he placed it on my finger and I said
yes.
He propsed to me, (yes he did.)
baby proposed with a diamond ring...
couldn't believe it, he placed it on my finger
and I said yes...'
"brava! girl....brava!!!" Edna clapped furiously, as Serena went on.
"ma!" Jhosh exclaimed, as he looked back at his mother.
"oh shush! Joshua your interrupting Serena's beautiful preformance."
"well actually, I was---"Serena, went.
" I'AM INTERRUPTING!"Jhosh called out.
"shut up!" Kay hissed, as she turned a merderous glare to the two,turning back to her familly.
[Somewhere else in the church]
"hey."Marcus began quietly as he found a seet next to his sister.
"Marcus."Tania quipped still a bit pissed at her brother for...everything.
"some wedding huh?"
"yeah."
"I mean, damn look at mother time and company over there."Marcus teased refurring to Tabitha and Edna.
Tania craked a smile falling victim to one of her brother's dry jokes."what do you want Mark?"
"I want my baby sis back, I mean ever since you came into the pad...you've hated me."
"I had good reason."
"I know, I might of been tripping for a bit---"
"might of? it's a little more than just might of Marcus."
"alright, I was tripping."
"yeah."Tania hissed.
"forgive me?" he pouted, giving tania puppy dog eyes.
"Marcus," she laughed as she rolled her eyes"stop acting crazy, I forgive you."
"you do?"
"yeah...now help me with this passage, I'm going up to practice soon."
"hello."Eve greeted warmly, as she pasted through the hospital curtains.
"hey."
"you ready for the sonogram?"
"well, seems like we don't really need one since everyone's so positive we're having a boy."Miguel teased, the fact.
"but, Marcus thinks it's a girl."
"yeah, but...the ladies are always on point, but putting that aside today should put everyone's suspisions to rest"Eve started as she prepared things"that is if you two, want to know?"
The couple exchanged looks before Charity answered."no, we only have three months left let it be a surprise."
"yeah."he agreed.
"alright," Eve smiled softly."now this, will be a little cold at first." Eve warned as she rubed the gell onto Charity's stomach, turning on the sonogram.The room stood quiet, as Eve flipped the switch the baby's soft heartbeat filling the room."hear that."she continued quietly as the couple listened.
"is that..."Charity started softly, feeling the tears beginning to form in her eyes.
She nodded, as she let the apparatus slide across Charity's stomach."see there's it's head," she began."it's foot."
"this is amazing," was really all Miguel could say as he looked onto the screen which dissplayed, his baby.He looked to it sheepishly, secretly anticepating having the tiny pitter patter of little feet in the house.
Charity looked on aswell, Miguel's hand lighty placed ontop of hers.Now, she knew she and Miguel just decided a few minutes ago, that they could wait for the the next three months and find out, like everyone else; but watching her baby, made her grow inpatient and eager to find out before anyone else! hey maybe even before Miguel.She looked over at him, as she smiled adoringly, and turned back to the moniter.Would Miguel really mind if she casually snook into the hospital...let's say this afternoon, and just happened to run into Eve who with all the excitment, just blurted out the sex of the baby.Doesn't sound like too much of a crime.
Time began to pass, as the weddig rehersal was drawing onto it's final thirty minutes or so.Everyone was spread out around the church handling their own seperate business, dealing with the wedding gossiping...whatever, floated their boats.
"where the hell is he?" Reese muttered to himself, as he past Theresa.
"who?"Theresa questioned, curiously.
"oh, my best man he said he'd come to the rehersal and he hasn't shown up yet."
"really? well what's his name? maybe---" Theresa's reasoning was dismissed with a very angered Reese pulling out his cell phone.
"I'm sorry, Resa, I'm going to call him see what's going on."
"oh--okay."Theresa replied, as she watched Reese pass by.'I wonder what Rick's doing.' a free thought popped into her head, she herself was a little tooken by what she was thinking, but the thought did make her wonder what her valintine was doing.
Kay and Jessica were talking in one of the pews, as Jessica looked down ather watch"I've got to get going."she went hurridly, as she grabbed her coat.
"what's the hurry? where are you going?"Kay quizzed,as she observed her little sister awkwardly.
"I'm going over to mom and dad's."
"oh."Kay hissed, the thought of her mother disgusting her.
Jessica caught on to her sister as she rose her brow."you know if you were smart you'd be comming with me to patch things up with mom..."
"sure---"Kay rolled her eyes, as Jessica cut her off.
"I'm leaving in a matter of months, and I don't want to leave with this drift between me and my father, I love him to much."Jessica ended, as she looked down at her sister. "I know you love mom, and I think it would be a real shame if you let past mistakes ruin what you have with her...everyone deserves a second chance---"
"Jessica spare me the after school special speech, mom doesn't deserve a seond chance."
Jessica glared at her sister, feeling a bit dissapointed in her but she knew once you got her started she wouldn't stop so she decided to drop the next part of her lecture."bye, Kay." Jessica finished turning her direction towrads the chaple doors."bye babe."she kissed Reese lightly, as she departed.
"Rick where the hell are you, you knew the practice was today."Reese sputtered realizing he just swore inside the chaple, with a silent curse he braught himself outside pulling his coat over his shoulder.
"I'm sorry man, I just had things to finish you know I came here for reasearch."
"and the wedding!" Reese corrected.
"and the wedding."Rick repeated."don't worry I'll be at the next one, and the one after that...okay, Cornilus."
"I told you to never call me that!" Reese roared.
"okay...Cornilus."
Reese remained silent as he watched cars whizz by.
"anyways, I have to get back to work, call me when there's another practice alright?"
"will do."Reese replied in a mellow tone.
"okay, see you then."
"alright."Reese ended his conversation, rustling his cell back into his coat pocket, turning around realizing he wasnt alone."shit! Ethan you scared me half to death."Reese gasped, as he turned to the man in a dark corner.
"tisk,tisk,tisk....Reese you know it's bad to swear at church."Ethan smiled demonicly, as he approched the man."out of church rather."
"dually noted."Reese snickered,"so tell me, what brings you to my wedding practice."
"why don't we go tot the book caffe, so we can talk alone."
"umm...sure."Reese replied, as the two steped down from the chaple stairs and onto the street.
Not Too Far Away...
Miguel and Charity were walking towards the church, both feeling whimsiful with seing their babies sonogram.
"well, I better be getting inside..."Charity said as she faced the church steps."are you comming in or..." Charity began making things seem as if she had no intention of running into the church and getting someone to drive her back to the hospital.
"no, well not yet...I have to go, check on things back at work but I'll be back in awhile."
"okay."Charity smiled, as she drew Miguel into a kiss.
"humm."Miguel smiled." I'll--see you later."
Charity watched him go, waving quaintly parishing any thought of deception as she whizzed around, and waddeled her pregnant self up to the top of the church steps, opening up the door and walking in.She searched the room to find someone to help in her scheme, and they narrowed towards her brother and trusted best friend.
"Jhon."she hissed, as the man turned around searching the room.Charity rolled her eyes, as she repeated to call his name."Jhon!"
He found Charity calling him at the chapel doorways, and he jumped up from his seat and casually walked over to her"hey."
"Jhonny, I need you to do me a favor."
"hey, Jhon trusted friend who's like a brother to me, how are you?"Jhon began" oh I'm exceptionally fine, and how about you Charity."
Charity sighed, as she smirked." I'm great, but there's something that I need my trusted friend to do for me."
"really what's that?"
"could you drive me to the hospital?"
Jhon paused as he observed Charity,"weren't you and Miguel just at the hospital, a few minutes ago why don't you go call him and tell him to drive you back."
"because, I can't...Jhon have I ever asked you for anything?"
"well, no."Jhon replied matter-of-factly.
"haven't I always been there for you."
Jhon waited hesitantly,"well...yeah."
"so couldn't you do this tiny favor for me."
"fine," Jhon sighed "why are we heading back to the hospital anyway?"
"I'll tell you in the car, let's go." Charity sped on as she jerked, Jhon out the door.
"well atleast let me get my coat first, don't want me to catch a cold or anything!"
Jessica, stood hesitantly at her door as she knocked.She was worried she'd face her father, and he'd go on, about how against he was about her moving to Montreal...but she had to risk it, and Sam had to face it no matter how much he faught, Reese and Jessica were moving To Montreal and he might as well except it, and be at peace with the desicion instead of threatning to bet poor Reese to a bloody pulp.
"Mom."Jessica smiled gratefully as she let out a faint sigh.
"hey honey, why aren't you at the chaple didn't you have a wedding practice today?"
"we did,"Jessica began letting herself in."but I skipped the last thirty minutes to be here, Mom, is Daddy around?"
"yeah, he's upsatirs, why don't you sit down make your self comfy in the kitchen while I go get him."
"alright."Jessica nodded quietly as she took off her coat.
Meanwhile, Reese and Ethan sat down at a table in the Book Caffe.
"here you go," the waitress spoke, as she laid the coffe down on the table.
"thanks."Ethan and Reese chimmed.
"so,"Reese cleared his throat, as he faced Ethan."what are you doing back in Harmony, I thought you and the Mrs were off to Barbadoes, for what is it your second honeymoon."
Ethan swivled his cup around."the flight was canceled."
"ouch."Reese gasped.
"yeah, the 'Mrs' didn't seem to like that very much."Ethan began,"but that isn't why I'm here, I know you and Jessica are close to heading down the ilse and I was wondering if the both of you were thinking of"he paused, as he looked Reese dead in the eye."a pre-nuptual agreament."
Reese coughed up coffe, as he looked over at Reese."well, no, Ethan." he looked at him awkwardly as if the man was speaking a foreign language."look man, when I marry Jessica in April, I don't plan on turning back...you've seen what a hard time the chief is giving me with this wedding thing in the first place..."Reese rambeled on.
"look, I know...and I'm positive that what you and Jessica have will last for ages and ages." 'I'm sure of it' Ethan snickered to himself."but wouldn't you want something that will ensure a happy longevity."
Reese leaned inwardly, wanting to give Ethan the benifit of the doubt on this prenuptual agreement business.
"Grace she's already made her choice, I don't think there's anything else Jessica and I have to talk about."Sam's gruff voice trailed, as he and Grace came downstairs.
"Sam,"Grace hissed, as the two entered the kitchen facing their daughter.
"dad."Jessica greeted quietly as she got up.
"daughter."Sam replied coldly.
"Sweetie, why don't you go in the back yard for a few minutes...your father and I have to have a little talk."
"okay..." she replied, as she tunred towards the back door.Her parents watching her every step before the door snapped shut.Grace quickly turned to her huband and galred at him.
"how dare you do this to your own child!" she thundered.
"excuse me?" Sam snickered."excatlly what have I done to Jessica."
"you know excatlly what you've done Sam, it's this damn silent protest you've been carrying on for months."
Sam was silent, only pulling up a chair in response.
"I shouldn't even be telling you this, I mean look at what's happening between me and Kay."Grace began with a small touvh of emotion in her voice, as she foccused on Jessica sitting on the tree swing, before darting back to Sam."I won't let this familly deteriorate just because you can't take the fact that our little girl is grwoing up, now you get out there and you here her out."
"I---"
"Sam, or else!" Grace threatened.
Jhon and Charity were walking down Harmony's Hospital, on the drive Charity explaineed everything including if Jhon ever told Miguel about this...well let's say he wouldn't want to let it slip.
"I don't know about this Charity, I can't keep this from Miguel we've been friends for...hell for forever!"
"well you'll have to, atleast for the next three months you can tell him as much as you'd like after that."
"I'm sure!"Jhon exclaimed sarcasticlly.
"you just wait here, while I go to the front office K?"
"alright, but if Miguel shows up I am so out of here!" he hissed, while searching the hospital for him.He knew it only be a matter of moments before Miguel would show up, wanting to know the sex of the baby too.
"thank you very much,"Charity finished as she took the brown envelope from nurse Betty.
"you're very welcome Mrs Lopez-Fidzgerald."
"bye."
Betty nudged the nurse beside her while giggling uncontrolably."wonder if he's still here?"
"maybe, he just came by to pick up the results a few minutes before she came."
"see Jhonny quick and easy."Charity began as the two went down the hallway, Charity trying to pry open the envelope.
Miguel smiled deviously, as he prepared to open the envelope, this was the perfect crime'poor,innocent,Charity.' he thought to himself, as he opened the cover slip.
"I can't wait to see!" he heard a familiar voice squeal, as he looked up and realized he'd be caught.What he didn't know was she'd been caught aswell.
Sam realized it wasn't fair for him to treat Jessica the way he had, slowly he made his way outside to the small tree swing he used to swing Jessica and Kay on when they were little, it was true.He didn't want to let Jessica go yet, in his eyes she was still little Jessi, in his eyes he was still the only man in her life...he wished he could keep things that way."hey, sweetheart."Sam cleared his throat as he stood behind Jessica.
"hey daddy."Jessica turned briefly before begining to push her self on the swing.
"let me."Sam stated warmly, as he swung her."so, how are the wedding plans going?"
Jessica laughed, knowing this was about the tenth time someone had asked her that but if it ment that her father actually cared about the one thing he was against she was more than willing to answer it one more time."very good," she hesitated as she stoped herself and turned towards her father"I still need someone to walk me down the isle daddy...and I was just wondering if you could put this protest and your hate for my future husband aside, to walk me down the ilse."
"it would be an honor, Jessi-ca."she smiled at her father, and he smiled back and for the first time in awhile they had a brief, quiet beautiful father/daughter moment, before Sam snapped back into protest mode, and looked down at Jessica."I'll walk you down the ilse, honey, but I still won't except you leaving Harmony."
"I hoped you'd think diffrently."Jessica answered while jumping off the swing, a little hurt.
" well, I'm sorry your hopes were for nothing.Jessica I love you, but I don't agree with you leaving your only home so young."
"no, dad.It isn't the Montreal thing that get's you," she paued truning towards her father."what does is that for the first time, one of us want to leave...and you can't stand it, so you rebell against you.Trouble is, you just might loose your daughter because of it."Jessica turned as she left through the back way of the house.
"I'm going, to---"Jhon began as he stoon in the middle of the couple."bye." he sped off, and out of the hospital.
"what do you have there?"Charity inquired raising a brow.
"I don't know,what do you have there?"Miguel questioned.
"you caught me,"Charity sighed."I came here to find out what we were having, I'm sorry honey, the suspense was killing me...I just had to know."
"I guess you've caught me too...so do you want to open these."
Charity contimplated for awhile,"let's wait, it would make giving birth this much better."she finished as the two headed back to the front office.
"if it was anything that nasty labour video, I think not."Miguel teased.
Charity and Miguel returned the brown envelopes to the office, the only thing revealing if the baby was really a baby boy or a baby girl.Eve feeling a tad curious herself decided to open the envelope her self.
"so, Doc what does it say?"
"well, I'll tell you this Betty.Everyone will be very, very surpised."Eve smirked, as she left the envelopes in hand.
Next---David, Faith and Theresa find themselves at Charity and Miguel's.When the visit is over someone will find themselves sleeping on the couch, but who!!!? (sorry bout that corny spoiler y'all, just expect a little tiff to be going on at the Lopez-Fidzgerald house.)
***Reader's Note***Sorry! it's tooken so long, I was just having a rough time finishing the chapter, plus school and friends,aswell as a new story! I've just started writting that should be out near the end of "9 months..." anyhow, read on...
The wedding party, filed themselves into St- Mary Margret's in the aftrenoon.Jessica made sure of that, she wanted everything to be precisely on point, and everyone knew that.I mean who else would have a wedding preactice three months in advance?
"alright,"Theresa began as she filled the room."is everyone here yet?"
"well not really, our parents aren't here...."
"yeah, Miguel and Charity are at the hospital taking that sonogram..." Theresa added.
"ah, Sheridan, Luis, Antonio..."
"Liz---"
"okay are we going to spend the whole day going through a list of who you think should be here."Kay cut in."because the wedding party's here, and that'a all were going to need, I mean Jesus all the people your naming right now it sounds like the wedding's three months in advance."Kay sped on.
"well spoken, honey."Fox commented, bobbing Alexia on his arm.
"thank you."she replied crisply, before facing Jessica and Theresa once more."so are we goign to start this thing or what?"
"well when you put it this way-yeah."
"Serena are you ready for that mic check?"Theresa called out to, her across the church.
Serena was at the stage of the church, with Chad and Whitney and their crew preparing things for her preformance, she looked around at the group and looked back at Theresa."um--"
"WAIT!!!!!!" the voices of two elderly women called out from the chapel doors, as Tabitha and Edna sprinted in.Everyone looking on at the duo strangely.
"oh, dear I told you we were late Edna!" Tabitha scoweled as she pulled her friend inside along side.
"sorry, I distictively heard, two thirty."
"one thirty."Jessica corrected warmly.
"one thirty, Jessica sweetie we're so sorry."Edna smilled as she put her hand on Jessica's arm.
"well, there's really nothing to be sorry about,"Reese began, Jessica glaring at him."because,"he pause rethinking the rude statement he'd been screaming to tell the two old broads, and re-thinking."because the weddings not for three months and you reall y don't have to be here...really."he emphasized.
"we know that, Ross..."Tabitha began.
"Reese."
"of course, we....Edna and I, were taking a little stroll in the area and we thought it'd be nice to pop in...see how the wedding's going, that would be alright wouldn't it Ross."Tabitha said as she rose her brow almost intimadating Reese to speak against her.Ever since that tiny incedant with Tabitha practicing witchery, and Tabith never calling Reese by name, they've never really been close...but then again they never were so there wasn't much of a love loss there.
"fine Tabitha why don't you sit yourself down in one of the pews, want anything...holly water preferably?"Reese replied with a touch of irratation in his voice.
"Reese!"Jessica exclaimed giggling a bit."never mind him, I'm sure he must of woke up on the wrong side of the bed--"
"if any!"Edna hissed as the two laughed.
"anyways it's not a problem if you stay, I'd love the in-put."this should be some, wedding practice.
In other places, Miguel and Charity were parked in the sparse Harmony Hospital parking lot, today was the day when everyone's suspiscions would be put to rest...'would be' would be the key word in the thought because the couple had just spend the first five minutes in the parking lot deliberating whether or not, they wanted to know the sex of the baby...
"okay, so we don't wanna know whether the baby is a boy or a girl."Miguel began.
"well not right now, I mean think about it if we find out now we'll be ruining the surprise..."
"true, and it's only another three months right?"
"right."Charity replied crisply, both of them knowing the other was dying to know what they were having.Charity sighed, as she looked on desperately at her husband."honey who were we kidding! I want to know what the baby is just as much as you do."
"yeah."Miguel huffed."look, why don't we just decide on impusle, because if we sit here in figure thsi out we'll be here all day."
"I like that idea."Charity smirked as she rubbed her stomach softly.
"good."Miguel ended, as he got out of the car walking over to Charity's side, opening her door and begining to help her out."easy,"he continued softly.
"okay."Charity said, as she scooted herself out, Miguel helping her out of the car as he closed the door.
"you alright?" Miguel smiled, Charity still on his arm.
"um hum."Charity nodded, before smiling and kissing him softly."ready?"
"yeah, let's."
'...and that's when,
he proposed to me,he prosed with a diamond ring
I started crying, (tears in my eyes.)
he placed it on my finger and I said
yes.
He propsed to me, (yes he did.)
baby proposed with a diamond ring...
couldn't believe it, he placed it on my finger
and I said yes...'
"brava! girl....brava!!!" Edna clapped furiously, as Serena went on.
"ma!" Jhosh exclaimed, as he looked back at his mother.
"oh shush! Joshua your interrupting Serena's beautiful preformance."
"well actually, I was---"Serena, went.
" I'AM INTERRUPTING!"Jhosh called out.
"shut up!" Kay hissed, as she turned a merderous glare to the two,turning back to her familly.
[Somewhere else in the church]
"hey."Marcus began quietly as he found a seet next to his sister.
"Marcus."Tania quipped still a bit pissed at her brother for...everything.
"some wedding huh?"
"yeah."
"I mean, damn look at mother time and company over there."Marcus teased refurring to Tabitha and Edna.
Tania craked a smile falling victim to one of her brother's dry jokes."what do you want Mark?"
"I want my baby sis back, I mean ever since you came into the pad...you've hated me."
"I had good reason."
"I know, I might of been tripping for a bit---"
"might of? it's a little more than just might of Marcus."
"alright, I was tripping."
"yeah."Tania hissed.
"forgive me?" he pouted, giving tania puppy dog eyes.
"Marcus," she laughed as she rolled her eyes"stop acting crazy, I forgive you."
"you do?"
"yeah...now help me with this passage, I'm going up to practice soon."
"hello."Eve greeted warmly, as she pasted through the hospital curtains.
"hey."
"you ready for the sonogram?"
"well, seems like we don't really need one since everyone's so positive we're having a boy."Miguel teased, the fact.
"but, Marcus thinks it's a girl."
"yeah, but...the ladies are always on point, but putting that aside today should put everyone's suspisions to rest"Eve started as she prepared things"that is if you two, want to know?"
The couple exchanged looks before Charity answered."no, we only have three months left let it be a surprise."
"yeah."he agreed.
"alright," Eve smiled softly."now this, will be a little cold at first." Eve warned as she rubed the gell onto Charity's stomach, turning on the sonogram.The room stood quiet, as Eve flipped the switch the baby's soft heartbeat filling the room."hear that."she continued quietly as the couple listened.
"is that..."Charity started softly, feeling the tears beginning to form in her eyes.
She nodded, as she let the apparatus slide across Charity's stomach."see there's it's head," she began."it's foot."
"this is amazing," was really all Miguel could say as he looked onto the screen which dissplayed, his baby.He looked to it sheepishly, secretly anticepating having the tiny pitter patter of little feet in the house.
Charity looked on aswell, Miguel's hand lighty placed ontop of hers.Now, she knew she and Miguel just decided a few minutes ago, that they could wait for the the next three months and find out, like everyone else; but watching her baby, made her grow inpatient and eager to find out before anyone else! hey maybe even before Miguel.She looked over at him, as she smiled adoringly, and turned back to the moniter.Would Miguel really mind if she casually snook into the hospital...let's say this afternoon, and just happened to run into Eve who with all the excitment, just blurted out the sex of the baby.Doesn't sound like too much of a crime.
Time began to pass, as the weddig rehersal was drawing onto it's final thirty minutes or so.Everyone was spread out around the church handling their own seperate business, dealing with the wedding gossiping...whatever, floated their boats.
"where the hell is he?" Reese muttered to himself, as he past Theresa.
"who?"Theresa questioned, curiously.
"oh, my best man he said he'd come to the rehersal and he hasn't shown up yet."
"really? well what's his name? maybe---" Theresa's reasoning was dismissed with a very angered Reese pulling out his cell phone.
"I'm sorry, Resa, I'm going to call him see what's going on."
"oh--okay."Theresa replied, as she watched Reese pass by.'I wonder what Rick's doing.' a free thought popped into her head, she herself was a little tooken by what she was thinking, but the thought did make her wonder what her valintine was doing.
Kay and Jessica were talking in one of the pews, as Jessica looked down ather watch"I've got to get going."she went hurridly, as she grabbed her coat.
"what's the hurry? where are you going?"Kay quizzed,as she observed her little sister awkwardly.
"I'm going over to mom and dad's."
"oh."Kay hissed, the thought of her mother disgusting her.
Jessica caught on to her sister as she rose her brow."you know if you were smart you'd be comming with me to patch things up with mom..."
"sure---"Kay rolled her eyes, as Jessica cut her off.
"I'm leaving in a matter of months, and I don't want to leave with this drift between me and my father, I love him to much."Jessica ended, as she looked down at her sister. "I know you love mom, and I think it would be a real shame if you let past mistakes ruin what you have with her...everyone deserves a second chance---"
"Jessica spare me the after school special speech, mom doesn't deserve a seond chance."
Jessica glared at her sister, feeling a bit dissapointed in her but she knew once you got her started she wouldn't stop so she decided to drop the next part of her lecture."bye, Kay." Jessica finished turning her direction towrads the chaple doors."bye babe."she kissed Reese lightly, as she departed.
"Rick where the hell are you, you knew the practice was today."Reese sputtered realizing he just swore inside the chaple, with a silent curse he braught himself outside pulling his coat over his shoulder.
"I'm sorry man, I just had things to finish you know I came here for reasearch."
"and the wedding!" Reese corrected.
"and the wedding."Rick repeated."don't worry I'll be at the next one, and the one after that...okay, Cornilus."
"I told you to never call me that!" Reese roared.
"okay...Cornilus."
Reese remained silent as he watched cars whizz by.
"anyways, I have to get back to work, call me when there's another practice alright?"
"will do."Reese replied in a mellow tone.
"okay, see you then."
"alright."Reese ended his conversation, rustling his cell back into his coat pocket, turning around realizing he wasnt alone."shit! Ethan you scared me half to death."Reese gasped, as he turned to the man in a dark corner.
"tisk,tisk,tisk....Reese you know it's bad to swear at church."Ethan smiled demonicly, as he approched the man."out of church rather."
"dually noted."Reese snickered,"so tell me, what brings you to my wedding practice."
"why don't we go tot the book caffe, so we can talk alone."
"umm...sure."Reese replied, as the two steped down from the chaple stairs and onto the street.
Not Too Far Away...
Miguel and Charity were walking towards the church, both feeling whimsiful with seing their babies sonogram.
"well, I better be getting inside..."Charity said as she faced the church steps."are you comming in or..." Charity began making things seem as if she had no intention of running into the church and getting someone to drive her back to the hospital.
"no, well not yet...I have to go, check on things back at work but I'll be back in awhile."
"okay."Charity smiled, as she drew Miguel into a kiss.
"humm."Miguel smiled." I'll--see you later."
Charity watched him go, waving quaintly parishing any thought of deception as she whizzed around, and waddeled her pregnant self up to the top of the church steps, opening up the door and walking in.She searched the room to find someone to help in her scheme, and they narrowed towards her brother and trusted best friend.
"Jhon."she hissed, as the man turned around searching the room.Charity rolled her eyes, as she repeated to call his name."Jhon!"
He found Charity calling him at the chapel doorways, and he jumped up from his seat and casually walked over to her"hey."
"Jhonny, I need you to do me a favor."
"hey, Jhon trusted friend who's like a brother to me, how are you?"Jhon began" oh I'm exceptionally fine, and how about you Charity."
Charity sighed, as she smirked." I'm great, but there's something that I need my trusted friend to do for me."
"really what's that?"
"could you drive me to the hospital?"
Jhon paused as he observed Charity,"weren't you and Miguel just at the hospital, a few minutes ago why don't you go call him and tell him to drive you back."
"because, I can't...Jhon have I ever asked you for anything?"
"well, no."Jhon replied matter-of-factly.
"haven't I always been there for you."
Jhon waited hesitantly,"well...yeah."
"so couldn't you do this tiny favor for me."
"fine," Jhon sighed "why are we heading back to the hospital anyway?"
"I'll tell you in the car, let's go." Charity sped on as she jerked, Jhon out the door.
"well atleast let me get my coat first, don't want me to catch a cold or anything!"
Jessica, stood hesitantly at her door as she knocked.She was worried she'd face her father, and he'd go on, about how against he was about her moving to Montreal...but she had to risk it, and Sam had to face it no matter how much he faught, Reese and Jessica were moving To Montreal and he might as well except it, and be at peace with the desicion instead of threatning to bet poor Reese to a bloody pulp.
"Mom."Jessica smiled gratefully as she let out a faint sigh.
"hey honey, why aren't you at the chaple didn't you have a wedding practice today?"
"we did,"Jessica began letting herself in."but I skipped the last thirty minutes to be here, Mom, is Daddy around?"
"yeah, he's upsatirs, why don't you sit down make your self comfy in the kitchen while I go get him."
"alright."Jessica nodded quietly as she took off her coat.
Meanwhile, Reese and Ethan sat down at a table in the Book Caffe.
"here you go," the waitress spoke, as she laid the coffe down on the table.
"thanks."Ethan and Reese chimmed.
"so,"Reese cleared his throat, as he faced Ethan."what are you doing back in Harmony, I thought you and the Mrs were off to Barbadoes, for what is it your second honeymoon."
Ethan swivled his cup around."the flight was canceled."
"ouch."Reese gasped.
"yeah, the 'Mrs' didn't seem to like that very much."Ethan began,"but that isn't why I'm here, I know you and Jessica are close to heading down the ilse and I was wondering if the both of you were thinking of"he paused, as he looked Reese dead in the eye."a pre-nuptual agreament."
Reese coughed up coffe, as he looked over at Reese."well, no, Ethan." he looked at him awkwardly as if the man was speaking a foreign language."look man, when I marry Jessica in April, I don't plan on turning back...you've seen what a hard time the chief is giving me with this wedding thing in the first place..."Reese rambeled on.
"look, I know...and I'm positive that what you and Jessica have will last for ages and ages." 'I'm sure of it' Ethan snickered to himself."but wouldn't you want something that will ensure a happy longevity."
Reese leaned inwardly, wanting to give Ethan the benifit of the doubt on this prenuptual agreement business.
"Grace she's already made her choice, I don't think there's anything else Jessica and I have to talk about."Sam's gruff voice trailed, as he and Grace came downstairs.
"Sam,"Grace hissed, as the two entered the kitchen facing their daughter.
"dad."Jessica greeted quietly as she got up.
"daughter."Sam replied coldly.
"Sweetie, why don't you go in the back yard for a few minutes...your father and I have to have a little talk."
"okay..." she replied, as she tunred towards the back door.Her parents watching her every step before the door snapped shut.Grace quickly turned to her huband and galred at him.
"how dare you do this to your own child!" she thundered.
"excuse me?" Sam snickered."excatlly what have I done to Jessica."
"you know excatlly what you've done Sam, it's this damn silent protest you've been carrying on for months."
Sam was silent, only pulling up a chair in response.
"I shouldn't even be telling you this, I mean look at what's happening between me and Kay."Grace began with a small touvh of emotion in her voice, as she foccused on Jessica sitting on the tree swing, before darting back to Sam."I won't let this familly deteriorate just because you can't take the fact that our little girl is grwoing up, now you get out there and you here her out."
"I---"
"Sam, or else!" Grace threatened.
Jhon and Charity were walking down Harmony's Hospital, on the drive Charity explaineed everything including if Jhon ever told Miguel about this...well let's say he wouldn't want to let it slip.
"I don't know about this Charity, I can't keep this from Miguel we've been friends for...hell for forever!"
"well you'll have to, atleast for the next three months you can tell him as much as you'd like after that."
"I'm sure!"Jhon exclaimed sarcasticlly.
"you just wait here, while I go to the front office K?"
"alright, but if Miguel shows up I am so out of here!" he hissed, while searching the hospital for him.He knew it only be a matter of moments before Miguel would show up, wanting to know the sex of the baby too.
"thank you very much,"Charity finished as she took the brown envelope from nurse Betty.
"you're very welcome Mrs Lopez-Fidzgerald."
"bye."
Betty nudged the nurse beside her while giggling uncontrolably."wonder if he's still here?"
"maybe, he just came by to pick up the results a few minutes before she came."
"see Jhonny quick and easy."Charity began as the two went down the hallway, Charity trying to pry open the envelope.
Miguel smiled deviously, as he prepared to open the envelope, this was the perfect crime'poor,innocent,Charity.' he thought to himself, as he opened the cover slip.
"I can't wait to see!" he heard a familiar voice squeal, as he looked up and realized he'd be caught.What he didn't know was she'd been caught aswell.
Sam realized it wasn't fair for him to treat Jessica the way he had, slowly he made his way outside to the small tree swing he used to swing Jessica and Kay on when they were little, it was true.He didn't want to let Jessica go yet, in his eyes she was still little Jessi, in his eyes he was still the only man in her life...he wished he could keep things that way."hey, sweetheart."Sam cleared his throat as he stood behind Jessica.
"hey daddy."Jessica turned briefly before begining to push her self on the swing.
"let me."Sam stated warmly, as he swung her."so, how are the wedding plans going?"
Jessica laughed, knowing this was about the tenth time someone had asked her that but if it ment that her father actually cared about the one thing he was against she was more than willing to answer it one more time."very good," she hesitated as she stoped herself and turned towards her father"I still need someone to walk me down the isle daddy...and I was just wondering if you could put this protest and your hate for my future husband aside, to walk me down the ilse."
"it would be an honor, Jessi-ca."she smiled at her father, and he smiled back and for the first time in awhile they had a brief, quiet beautiful father/daughter moment, before Sam snapped back into protest mode, and looked down at Jessica."I'll walk you down the ilse, honey, but I still won't except you leaving Harmony."
"I hoped you'd think diffrently."Jessica answered while jumping off the swing, a little hurt.
" well, I'm sorry your hopes were for nothing.Jessica I love you, but I don't agree with you leaving your only home so young."
"no, dad.It isn't the Montreal thing that get's you," she paued truning towards her father."what does is that for the first time, one of us want to leave...and you can't stand it, so you rebell against you.Trouble is, you just might loose your daughter because of it."Jessica turned as she left through the back way of the house.
"I'm going, to---"Jhon began as he stoon in the middle of the couple."bye." he sped off, and out of the hospital.
"what do you have there?"Charity inquired raising a brow.
"I don't know,what do you have there?"Miguel questioned.
"you caught me,"Charity sighed."I came here to find out what we were having, I'm sorry honey, the suspense was killing me...I just had to know."
"I guess you've caught me too...so do you want to open these."
Charity contimplated for awhile,"let's wait, it would make giving birth this much better."she finished as the two headed back to the front office.
"if it was anything that nasty labour video, I think not."Miguel teased.
Charity and Miguel returned the brown envelopes to the office, the only thing revealing if the baby was really a baby boy or a baby girl.Eve feeling a tad curious herself decided to open the envelope her self.
"so, Doc what does it say?"
"well, I'll tell you this Betty.Everyone will be very, very surpised."Eve smirked, as she left the envelopes in hand.
Next---David, Faith and Theresa find themselves at Charity and Miguel's.When the visit is over someone will find themselves sleeping on the couch, but who!!!? (sorry bout that corny spoiler y'all, just expect a little tiff to be going on at the Lopez-Fidzgerald house.)