Author: BlackCherryMeg
Title: The Twists and Turns of Life
Chapter 10: Perfect Family
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
A Few Months After The incident
I shifted my body to try and wake up a little more. Steven was next to me and dead to the world. I peered over my shoulder and saw him lying there with such an innocent look. I gave him a quick kiss and headed off to the bathroom. My stomach felt like it was doing flips for the past week. I knew I must be coming down with the flu or something.
The phone rang and so I ran to answer it before it woke Steven. "Hello."
"Hey Jackie it's me Donna. You'll never believe what I just found out!"
"What is it?"
"I'm pregnant again! Isn't that great?"
"Oh my gosh Donna that's wonderful! I'm so happy for you. But won't it be hard, since Steven will barely be a year old by the time this one comes?"
"Yeah I thought about that, but I just am so happy."
"Yeah I understand, but I have to go before I barf all over the phone."
"Ok, did you come down with something, or is it the same as me?"
Wow I didn't even think of being pregnant…"Jackie are you there?"
"Oh sorry Donna, yeah I'm here. I was just thinking that maybe I could be pregnant."
"That would be so cool! Well you better go before you get sick. Bye."
I hung the phone up and quickly got dressed. I wanted to find out if I was pregnant or not so I was going to get a pregnancy test. I heard Steven upstairs and hurried before he asked me any questions. As soon as I got to the store I headed over to the medicine isle and picked up an early pregnancy test. I remembered doing this almost a year ago. Steven was so happy about the baby… then Chrissie came and we were even happier. I'm positive a second baby would make us the perfect family, especially a little boy.
"Hey Jackie…" I turned around to the familiar voice and was facing Michael.
"Hello Michael… what are you doing here?"
"I'm just picking a few things up for Bridgette. And you?"
"Oh my god Michael are you still with that Barbie?"
"Yeah I went back to her after Steven beat me up. So are you pregnant?" He asked pointing to the test I held tightly in my hand.
"I think I could be. I'm not really sure."
"Oh that's-"
"Listen Michael I don't have time for chit chat, I have to go and take care of some things. I'll talk to you later, goodbye Michael."
I walked away from him and paid for the test. Michael needed to leave me alone…Steven and I were finally getting our lives back and he was healing so fast from the incident a few months ago.
"Hello will this be all for you today miss?" The cashier looked up at me and realized I was a little dazed. "Nervous about come certain results?"
"Oh no, just thinking about things."
"Oh well I just thought…that you looked so young, well you know. I'm sorry I shouldn't have assumed."
"Oh don't worry about it, I'm married to a wonderful man, and I already have a daughter; plus I'm almost 22 so everything's good."
"Well that's nice; it will be $9.74 please." I handed her the money and left. Did I really look young again? After Chris was born I didn't think I would ever look good again. Steven told me I was beautiful, but he's my husband… he has to think that. I got into my car and drove to Donna's; I wanted to take the test with her there.
As I pulled into Donna's I saw her in the front yard watering her flowers; little Steven was in a baby bouncer on the porch. "Hey Donna."
"Oh Hey Jackie, I didn't know you were coming by. Did you call or did Eric forget to give me another message?"
"No I didn't call sorry. I just went to the store real quick to get a pregnancy test. I wanted to take it here so Steven didn't see it and get all anxious." She nodded and we went inside.
"Hey there little guy how are you? Are you happy to see Auntie Jackie?" Little Steven smiled and grabbed my finger with his small hand. "Is he getting any better at night?"
"Actually yeah he sleeps more, but still wakes up once or twice."
"Well Chris still wakes up at night, not as much. It's nice to have a break once in a while, but Steven doesn't wake up to her cries anymore."
"Hmm… well why don't you go take the test and I'll wait out here."
"Alright." I walked into the bathroom and took the test. A second later my cell phone was ringing.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jackie, its Steven. You need to come home right now! Chrissie has a fever and won't stop crying."
"Ok I'll be there in a few minutes, bye." I hung up the phone and ran out of the bathroom. "Donna Chris has a fever and I have to go check on her, watch the test and call me to tell me what it says ok?"
"Ok I can do that. I hope Chris gets better."
I ran out to the car and started it up. I went over the speed limit a number of times, but luckily the roads didn't have a sign of any cops. As soon as I pulled into our driveway the car was off and I was running through the gardened pathways to our door. I went into the nursery and Steven was in the rocking chair holding Chris who was crying and rubbing her head.
"Jackie I didn't know what to do. After I called you I saw the number for your doctor and he said to give her a cold bath, but she didn't stop crying after that either."
He handed her to me and I rocked her in my arms, she didn't stop crying but quieted a little. "Why don't you get me some of that baby medicine on the kitchen counter, a bottle filled with ice water, and a cold rag."
"Ok I'll be done in a few." He hurried out of the room and his steps were heard until he got to the kitchen.
"Oh sweetie why are you so sick? Do you like to worry mommy and daddy?" I looked down at her; the cries stopped every few minutes so she could yawn or rub her eyes. "I see you're getting tired aren't you? Well then let's read you a story like daddy does. Or better yet we can talk about you being a big sister. Not soon, mommy thought she was pregnant… but found out it's that time of the month, not that you know what that is. But I can try to give you a sister or brother."
"A big sister?" I looked over at Steven who was in the doorway with a bottle in one hand, medicine in the other, and a cold rag draped over his arm.
"I want to get pregnant again. Isn't that great?"
"Well you might've picked a better time to tell me, but yeah it is great. For now let's just get her healthy." I took the rag and placed it on her head, gave her some medicine, then the bottle.
"She should be calming down in about half an hour. Can you hold her while I go call Donna? We have to keep an eye on her in case the fever gets worse."
"Ok I'll hold her, but hurry; I'm going to freak out any minute now." I smiled at him and handed Chris to him, then hurried down the hall to our room.
I picked the phone up and dialed for Donna. "Hey Eric is Donna there?"
"Um yeah she's right here, hang on a sec ok?"
"Alright, but hurry!"
"Hey Jackie is Chrissie better?"
"Well it's getting somewhat better, but I'm guessing it will be over with by night. Anyways I called to tell you that I know I'm not pregnant so no need to check."
"How do you know… oooh never mind."
"Yeah seems I was just a little late and coincidentally sick."
"Wait…but the results were positive."
"Are you sure? I mean that can't be possible."
"Jackie I'm sure, it says 'a plus () for pregnant and a minus (-) for negative. There was a definite plus."
"Oh my gosh what if I lost it and the hormones are still there so the test was positive?! Donna I have to go, bye." I hung up before she could say anything and picked up my personal calendar.
"Hmm…I don't get it I should be pregnant if everything is calculated right… oh my gosh I did lose it!" No one was around but I felt the need to say it aloud.
I ran back to the nursery in tears and Steven immediately noticed my sad expression. "Jackie babe what's wrong?"
"I was pregnant!"
"That's great."
"NO Steven I was pregnant. I lost the baby!"
"No… no how do you know?"
"Because the hormones are still there and the test was positive but I started! It's the signs of a miscarriage."
"Jackie we can try later or Chrissie may have been our only miracle."
"I know… I expected not to have anymore but when I thought that I was, it was an amazing feeling."
"Don't worry everything will be perfect, whether we have another baby or not. We make this family work and with all the love here in our home it will work." He kissed my forehead and put his arms around me. "Oh Jackie I love you so much."
"I love you too." Chris let out a loud cry and we turned around to face her crib. As we stood over her she looked up and smiled at us. "I think she was just trying to get our attention. She's a jealous thing, just like her father."
"Hey whoa I am not jealous!"
"Mhmm sure. Why did you punch Michael on the porch? And that guy in The Hub that bought me fries?"
"Because they were hitting on you Jackie!"
"Doesn't mean I like them. Steven you should know by now that you are the only man I look at anymore and I like it that way."
"Good because I feel the same about you. This is so perfect. Our lives have turned out so right that I'm afraid any sudden breath or choice would ruin it all and I won't have you or Chris."
"Don't worry Steven we aren't going anywhere. You're stuck with two Burkhart girl's for the rest of your life," Chris cried once more. "And we both know how to get our way with you." He smiled and kissed me. Then looked at Chris and realized she used her cries to worm her way into his heart.
"I think I can handle that. Besides all I need is a bottle to get Chris quiet and jewelry for you."
"Well jewelry won't always work mister."
"Oh really?"
"Yes really, once in a while I'm going to want you only!" That made him smile and pull me to him.
"We really are the perfect family aren't we?"
"We sure are Mr. Hyde. I love you."
"I love you too Mrs. Hyde." We kissed and it was wonderful knowing the rest of my life would be just like this. I knew that for once in my life I didn't need money, accessories, or stuffed animals. All I need for now and forever was my husband and my daughter.