Chapter 17: All's well that ends well
Susan and Mark were thoroughly enjoying parenthood. Joshua was now seven months old and loving the day care centre at the ER. Susan was now working 24 hours a week, not back to doing full time and not doing nights, but she was having fun none the less.
Mark was making sure he kept to his contracted hours and not working the crazy 70 hour weeks that he used to. All the free time he had was spent with Susan and Joshua.
Doug and Carol had been to visit, and both agreed that Joshua was a real mix of both Mark and Susan. He had Marks dark hair and Susan's gorgeous green eyes. He was definitely a cute baby and both his parents adored him.
It was now summer and Susan and Mark were planning their first vacation with little Joshua. They were just going to go to North Carolina for a week and then spend a week at home in Chicago.
In the ER Susan was daydreaming about their vacation, as Mark came up to her he instantly read her mind.
"Only two days to go." Mark whispered in Susan's ear
"I know. I can't wait to get some time alone with you and Josh." Susan replied with a smile
"It'll be our first holiday as a family." Mark said as her kissed Susan on the head before picking up at new chart
Susan smiled again at the thought of going away.
"Two more days" She thought. "Just two more days."
TWO DAYS LATER
While Mark was packing the car Susan was busy getting Joshua ready. He had a little white Bears t-shirt on and blue dungarees. Susan also put a sun hat on him, as surprisingly enough it was actually quite warm in Chicago.
"Hey you two ready?" Mark called up the stairs
"Yeah, we're on our way down" Susan replied grabbing the baby bag
"Right little buddy let's get you strapped into the car seat." Mark said as he took Josh
Soon they were on there way. Josh didn't seem too interested in the scenery as they drove out of Chicago as he fell asleep only half an hour into their journey.
"Guess he gets his sleepy head tendency from his daddy" Susan laughed
"Oh yeah? Well you've been known to doze off yourself you know!" Mark replied "Hmmm ok, I guess he's doomed to be a sleepyhead then." Susan said as she turned round to look at Josh
Later that day, around 6pm, Susan, Mark and Joshua arrived at their holiday apartment. Josh had certainly woken up now, he was hungry and hot, though Mark and Susan's car was fully air-conditioned, North Carolina was a lot warmer than Chicago.
So hot in fact Mark and Susan sensed a storm brewing.
"I hope we get him to sleep before the storm starts. You know he'll only sleep through it if he's sound asleep before it starts. He definitely gets that from you." Susan said "You're dead to the world once you're asleep. I'm a delicate, lighter sleeper."
"That I'll agree with. Josh only has to gurgle and you're up and out of bed like a shot." Mark answered
"Yeah, and even when he's screaming his head off you don't stir." Susan said, playfully poking Mark in the stomach, with the one finger she had free
"I just know you only want attention, don't I." Mark whispered to Josh before kissing him lightly on the forehead.
Mark made his way into the kitchen and as he did he called back to Susan. "Want me to make some dinner? You did bring stuff up for tonight didn't you?"
"Yeah it's in the brown bag. There's some minced beef, potatoes and some vegetables. You could mush some up for Josh, then I can bath him and put him down for the night. Then you and I can get cosy." Susan said with a slight grin
"Ooh that sounds good." Mark called back
At 7.30pm Joshua was bathed and had been put down for the night. Susan and Mark were curled up on the couch, (which was surprisingly comfortable for a holiday apartment) watching a movie.
Susan turned to Mark and gave him a long lingering kiss. As she pulled away she said
"Mark I have something I need to tell you."
"Yeah same goes for me." Mark replied, surprising Susan a little
"Oh well you first then." Susan insisted
Mark got up from the sofa and onto the floor. He swept back the hair from Susan's face and kissed her lightly, as he did so he assumed the down on one knee position.
"Susan, I've been waiting for a while to ask you this. And we've been so busy with Josh and work, but now we're away I want to take the opportunity to ask you if you'll make me the happiest man in the world and marry me."
"Yes." Was all Susan said as she had tears forming in her eyes
Mark scooped Susan up and pulled her onto the floor with him. Susan grinned like a child in a candy store.
"Careful. Don't want to hurt the baby." Susan said
Mark looked a little puzzled, then it hit him. "You're pregnant?"
"Yep, my last period was supposed to be three weeks ago, so last week I did a test and it was positive. I must be about 7-8 weeks gone." Susan replied
Later that night, as the storm raged outside Mark and Susan made love in the knowledge that they would be getting married and also welcoming a new addition to the Greene-Lewis family.
Five months later and winter was once again engulfing Chicago in it's grasp. Joshua had celebrated his first birthday and the third room in Mark and Susan's house had been decorated to accommodate the baby which was due in two months time on the 21st of January.
The wedding was planned for the following July, with most of it having to be planned after the baby was born. Especially things such as Susan's dress.
No-one could deny Susan was getting big. It seemed to be a running theme in her pregnancies. Though she was adamant that this would be the last.
"I just can't put up, with the swollen feet and needing to pee all the damn time. I think this baby uses my bladder as a stress ball." Susan complained to Connie, knowing she'd done this four times.
"Hey don't worry hon, it'll all be worth it when the babies' born. Remember what you were like before Joshua was born. Now look how beautiful he is." Connie answered.
"I know. Just want to see it, hold it, like I did with Joshua. I love the cuddles." Susan smiled
Susan didn't have to wait long. Six weeks later, at thirty-eight weeks pregnant Susan gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl. She weighed in at 7lbs 13oz, and had lovely blonde hair. Mark and Susan decided to call her Bethany Megan Greene.
Then what seemed to be just 6 short months later, Susan and Mark got married in an intimate ceremony at a hotel by the riverside. Susan wore a gorgeous cream dress and held or bouquet of roses. Mark turned out in his carefully pressed tuxedo. Carol and Doug looked after Joshua and Bethany throughout the ceremony. And as Mark and Susan said their vows they didn't stop smiling.
When the vows were over a yell of 'Kiss Her!' came from the ER staff that were able to attend. And Mark obliged lovingly.
Susan and Mark were thoroughly enjoying parenthood. Joshua was now seven months old and loving the day care centre at the ER. Susan was now working 24 hours a week, not back to doing full time and not doing nights, but she was having fun none the less.
Mark was making sure he kept to his contracted hours and not working the crazy 70 hour weeks that he used to. All the free time he had was spent with Susan and Joshua.
Doug and Carol had been to visit, and both agreed that Joshua was a real mix of both Mark and Susan. He had Marks dark hair and Susan's gorgeous green eyes. He was definitely a cute baby and both his parents adored him.
It was now summer and Susan and Mark were planning their first vacation with little Joshua. They were just going to go to North Carolina for a week and then spend a week at home in Chicago.
In the ER Susan was daydreaming about their vacation, as Mark came up to her he instantly read her mind.
"Only two days to go." Mark whispered in Susan's ear
"I know. I can't wait to get some time alone with you and Josh." Susan replied with a smile
"It'll be our first holiday as a family." Mark said as her kissed Susan on the head before picking up at new chart
Susan smiled again at the thought of going away.
"Two more days" She thought. "Just two more days."
TWO DAYS LATER
While Mark was packing the car Susan was busy getting Joshua ready. He had a little white Bears t-shirt on and blue dungarees. Susan also put a sun hat on him, as surprisingly enough it was actually quite warm in Chicago.
"Hey you two ready?" Mark called up the stairs
"Yeah, we're on our way down" Susan replied grabbing the baby bag
"Right little buddy let's get you strapped into the car seat." Mark said as he took Josh
Soon they were on there way. Josh didn't seem too interested in the scenery as they drove out of Chicago as he fell asleep only half an hour into their journey.
"Guess he gets his sleepy head tendency from his daddy" Susan laughed
"Oh yeah? Well you've been known to doze off yourself you know!" Mark replied "Hmmm ok, I guess he's doomed to be a sleepyhead then." Susan said as she turned round to look at Josh
Later that day, around 6pm, Susan, Mark and Joshua arrived at their holiday apartment. Josh had certainly woken up now, he was hungry and hot, though Mark and Susan's car was fully air-conditioned, North Carolina was a lot warmer than Chicago.
So hot in fact Mark and Susan sensed a storm brewing.
"I hope we get him to sleep before the storm starts. You know he'll only sleep through it if he's sound asleep before it starts. He definitely gets that from you." Susan said "You're dead to the world once you're asleep. I'm a delicate, lighter sleeper."
"That I'll agree with. Josh only has to gurgle and you're up and out of bed like a shot." Mark answered
"Yeah, and even when he's screaming his head off you don't stir." Susan said, playfully poking Mark in the stomach, with the one finger she had free
"I just know you only want attention, don't I." Mark whispered to Josh before kissing him lightly on the forehead.
Mark made his way into the kitchen and as he did he called back to Susan. "Want me to make some dinner? You did bring stuff up for tonight didn't you?"
"Yeah it's in the brown bag. There's some minced beef, potatoes and some vegetables. You could mush some up for Josh, then I can bath him and put him down for the night. Then you and I can get cosy." Susan said with a slight grin
"Ooh that sounds good." Mark called back
At 7.30pm Joshua was bathed and had been put down for the night. Susan and Mark were curled up on the couch, (which was surprisingly comfortable for a holiday apartment) watching a movie.
Susan turned to Mark and gave him a long lingering kiss. As she pulled away she said
"Mark I have something I need to tell you."
"Yeah same goes for me." Mark replied, surprising Susan a little
"Oh well you first then." Susan insisted
Mark got up from the sofa and onto the floor. He swept back the hair from Susan's face and kissed her lightly, as he did so he assumed the down on one knee position.
"Susan, I've been waiting for a while to ask you this. And we've been so busy with Josh and work, but now we're away I want to take the opportunity to ask you if you'll make me the happiest man in the world and marry me."
"Yes." Was all Susan said as she had tears forming in her eyes
Mark scooped Susan up and pulled her onto the floor with him. Susan grinned like a child in a candy store.
"Careful. Don't want to hurt the baby." Susan said
Mark looked a little puzzled, then it hit him. "You're pregnant?"
"Yep, my last period was supposed to be three weeks ago, so last week I did a test and it was positive. I must be about 7-8 weeks gone." Susan replied
Later that night, as the storm raged outside Mark and Susan made love in the knowledge that they would be getting married and also welcoming a new addition to the Greene-Lewis family.
Five months later and winter was once again engulfing Chicago in it's grasp. Joshua had celebrated his first birthday and the third room in Mark and Susan's house had been decorated to accommodate the baby which was due in two months time on the 21st of January.
The wedding was planned for the following July, with most of it having to be planned after the baby was born. Especially things such as Susan's dress.
No-one could deny Susan was getting big. It seemed to be a running theme in her pregnancies. Though she was adamant that this would be the last.
"I just can't put up, with the swollen feet and needing to pee all the damn time. I think this baby uses my bladder as a stress ball." Susan complained to Connie, knowing she'd done this four times.
"Hey don't worry hon, it'll all be worth it when the babies' born. Remember what you were like before Joshua was born. Now look how beautiful he is." Connie answered.
"I know. Just want to see it, hold it, like I did with Joshua. I love the cuddles." Susan smiled
Susan didn't have to wait long. Six weeks later, at thirty-eight weeks pregnant Susan gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl. She weighed in at 7lbs 13oz, and had lovely blonde hair. Mark and Susan decided to call her Bethany Megan Greene.
Then what seemed to be just 6 short months later, Susan and Mark got married in an intimate ceremony at a hotel by the riverside. Susan wore a gorgeous cream dress and held or bouquet of roses. Mark turned out in his carefully pressed tuxedo. Carol and Doug looked after Joshua and Bethany throughout the ceremony. And as Mark and Susan said their vows they didn't stop smiling.
When the vows were over a yell of 'Kiss Her!' came from the ER staff that were able to attend. And Mark obliged lovingly.