Chapter 12!! Yea!!! I got to post another one sooner than I expected. Hope you all enjoy it and are having a wonderful holiday season!!

Feedback is greatly appreciated!!

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As the weeks flew past, Elizabeth found herself growing larger and larger. Today marked the eighth month of her pregnancy and she wanted nothing more than for it to finally be over. The added weight she was carrying around was beginning to aggravate her and only made it harder for her to keep working, which she had decided to do during this pregnancy.

This particular day she was more irritated than usual for some reason. She placed most of the blame on her hormones. But she also hadn't had much sleep the night before, and the little sleep that she did have was plagued with strange dreams that awakened her three different times in the night. After being awakened the third time, she dismissed the notion of ever going back to sleep, so instead she got out a book and read downstairs until the sun came up.

Now, at a little after two in the afternoon, she stepped into the scrub room, preparing for a gastric bypass that was scheduled to take place in a few short minutes. She splashed a little cold water on her face to try to wake herself up before the procedure. Luckily Donald was assisting her, so they would probably keep up some lively conversation which would help her to stay awake.

Just then Donald pushed the door opening, entering the room with a nod and a "Good afternoon."

Elizabeth plastered a fake smile on her face, nodding back at him.

After they both had finished scrubbing, she followed him into the OR, where the patient was already prepped and waiting.

Twenty minutes into the procedure, Elizabeth found herself starting to nod off. She snapped her head back up quickly, hoping no one had seen her. Fortunately it had gone unnoticed by all those present in the room.

Trying to make herself stay awake, Elizabeth tried to keep her mind busy, thinking of things that were coming up. Christmas was only a week away. Her and Robert were planning on spending it together, with Ella of course.

Thinking of Robert brought a smile to her face. She had helped him decorate the tree at his house a few weeks ago. He had mentioned to her that it was the first time in years that he had even bothered to put a tree up. When it was just him, he never felt like taking the time to bother putting the thing up when he knew no one else would even see it.

"Dr. Corday... Dr. Corday..." Donald Anspaugh said quite loudly.

She didn't respond. During her little daydreaming, she had nodded off again.

"Dr. Corday!" he said, more harshly this time.

This snapped her out of her daze. "Yes, sorry," she responded, somewhat flustered.

"You're not with us here, are you? You look exhausted. Go home and get some sleep, we can't have you falling asleep in surgery."

"No. No, I can finish. I'm just a bit sleepy."

"Go home," he reiterated firmly.

"Yes sir," she responded, slumping out of the ER, upset with herself for not being able to just finish out the day. What was the point of working if she had to be scolded by her superiors for falling asleep in surgery.

Wearily, she climbed onto the El, heading to Robert's where he was waiting for her. He had gotten off a few hours earlier and had picked Ella up from daycare. The two of them actually weren't expecting her for a few more hours. I guess they'll be surprised to see me, she thought to herself.

After getting off the El at the station near Robert's house, she decided against walking, even though it wasn't very far away. Instead, she hailed a cab to drive her the two and a half blocks to Robert's.

Shoving a twenty at the driver, she didn't even wait for change before she got out and waddled up the driveway.

As she approached the door, it swung open and right away Robert had a worried look on his face.

"Elizabeth, what are you doing home?" he asked, walking out to help her up the steps.

"Donald sent me home. I fell asleep in surgery."

"Whoops. I guess that didn't go over too well," he said, helping her in the door and settling her down on the couch once they were inside.

"No, not really."

"Why didn't you call me? I would've come and picked you up. I can't believe you took a cab."

"Well first I took the El to your stop and then I got off and took a cab the rest of the way."

"Good God, you took the El?" he asked incredulously. "Next time call me and I will gladly come and pick you up. You do still remember that you're eight months pregnant, don't you?"

"How could I forget?" she asked, glancing down at her protruding abdomen.

"Ella's playing in the guest room with some toys. Why don't I help you upstairs to bed. You can take a nap, and I'll have dinner for you when you wake up."

"Wonderful," she said as he pulled her up off the couch.

Settling her into bed, she lay on her side, and he placed the pillow she slept with in between her knees. He pulled the blanket up around her and gently kissed her cheek before heading downstairs to check on Ella and decide what to start for dinner.

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Sorry this chapter is kind of short and boring, my brain isn't functioning properly right now. But stay tuned for the next chapter, which I promise will be better!!! You'll just have to wait and see what happens!

Also, I really, really want to thank those that are reviewing, it means a lot to me that you all take the time to do this, and please keep it up!!!!