Disclaimer: As always, I don't own the characters or the show!
A/N: This is a repost of chapter three with a few revisions.
Chapter 3
Lionel couldn't get to sleep at night without two things, the first naturally being his wife. If she wasn't lying next to him, her cold feet touching his shins, the scent of her shampoo and perfume teasing him, her arms always finding their way around him, he couldn't rest at all. The second thing was a book. He had to do a bit of reading to wind down. Jean had a similar problem. She, too, couldn't sleep without her husband right beside her, always warm, always gentle, always holding her. She also had to apply her hand cream. She wasn't sure why; maybe it was because the lotion had a lilac scent like her favourite flower; maybe it was just a habit. All the same, even when they were completely exhausted, Lionel still had to read and Jean still had to apply her hand cream before either could sleep properly.
"What are you reading tonight, Luv?" Jean inquired as she opened her lotion bottle.
"Great Expectations," Lionel replied.
"Oh, so just a bit of light reading, then?"
"Naturally."
Comfortable silence filled the next minute. Jean lathered the lotion and snuggled up to her husband while Lionel drank in the scent and scanned a few pages. He really ought to have chosen a Winnie-The-Pooh adventure tonight. Something simple and easy to help him relax. His mind scrolled back over the evening. There was something Jean had said before they got ready for their night out that filtered back into his consciousness...
"Jean?"
"Mmm-hmm."
"What did you mean when you said that you and David didn't wait to have children?"
She sat up and looked at Lionel curiously. "I didn't say that."
"It was something to that effect. You were talking about Judy and Alistair and impending grandchildren, and I said that they had only been married for two months and you said that you and David didn't even wait that long."
"What is this sudden interest in my childbearing schedule?"
He shrugged. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's all right too. Shall we sleep?" Lionel closed his book, set it on the bedside table, and leaned in for a kiss from his wife.
She kissed him back, then suddenly took his face in her hands and caressed it. "I love you," she said.
He was a bit taken aback by her sudden gesture, but appreciated it. "I love you too," he returned. They each turned to switch off their respective lamps. In the darkness, Jean welcomed Lionel's arms as they snaked around her from behind.
"David was the first person in my life I trusted and adored after I thought I'd lost you." Jean whispered. Somehow, the velvet night and the love apparent in Lionel's embrace made Jean feel comfortable enough to broach a subject she'd buried so long ago. She hoped her words weren't hurting the man she fell for the moment they met during the Korean War. She said as much, suddenly feeling very weary. "I was fortunate enough to find true love twice in my life. Some people don't even get one chance," Jean explained.
"I know, Luv," Lionel soothed. "It's all right." He held her tighter. This was a side he didn't often see in his wife. He wanted to support her.
"We weren't children any more by the time David and I married. I had always wanted babies, as had he. We were financially stable, and owned a house when we said our vows. Most importantly, we loved each other dearly and we wanted to expand our union. So we decided to try to get pregnant right away." She was quiet then for a moment.
"And?" Lionel asked gently.
"And we got pregnant. And I miscarried. And we got pregnant again. And I miscarried." She was not going to cry.
Lionel didn't know how to respond, so he hugged her and kissed the top of her head.
"Judith was our miracle. Such a tiny, perfect baby." Jean smiled in the darkness as she remembered her daughter as an infant. The shock of black hair. The big blue eyes. The adorable dimples obvious even at birth. "We wanted her to have a sibling, but a third miscarriage made us decide to be happy with what we were already blessed with." She paused. The next sentence came out in a rush, "So many miscarriages, Lionel. What if Judy has the same difficulties as I did?"
Lionel wanted to argue some sense into Jean's statement, but he was wise enough to note that this was hardly the time for talking sense when his wife was obviously upset. He went for the emotional, "Then we will love her and help her and Alistair through it."
It was the perfect answer. Jean turned over to face her husband. "You are the most wonderful man I've ever met."
He pulled her close. "I love you," he said again. She slept in his arms.
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Judy and Alistair waited in the office of Judy's gynecologist. To say that they were nervous would be a gross understatement. Judy played with her jewelry, flipped through magazines, fidgeted in her seat, and finally exclaimed, "We've been waiting for half an hour! How long does it take to run a few blood tests?"
"It's only been half an hour?" Alistair asked. He slouched in his chair and exhaled slowly. He had already had to sit in the waiting room for an extra half-hour while Dr. Nielsen examined Judy and drew blood for tests. The time had been an anxious eternity. Alistair's chest felt tight, like he couldn't draw a deep enough breath. He cracked his knuckles and tried to pull in more air.
"Are you all right?" Judy stopped fidgeting and turned to her husband, concernedly taking his hand and looking intently into his eyes.
The last thing Alistair wanted to do was worry Judy with his nervous attacks. He had managed to get through is wedding – well, with help from Li, of course – without letting on that he was experiencing symptoms of a mild anxiety disorder. What would the responsibility of a child do to anxious incidents? He couldn't think about that. Alistair really did want a baby. He just didn't want anyone to know that he had moments of frazzled nerves. "Of course, Luv. I'm fine." He tried a smile. "Still taking in last night."
Judy didn't believe his fake grin or his assertion that he was fine, but she didn't have time to respond. Dr. Nielsen finally entered the office. Alistair sat up straight, catching a deep breath, and Judy squeezed his hand.
Dr. Nielsen was petite and blond. She had a naturally cheery smile and an upbeat personality. Judy thought she was a bit like Sandy. She was also gentle and always made sure to explain everything that she was doing – both very comforting characteristics for a gynecologist to have. "I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting. I know you're anxious to find out for sure whether you're pregnant." She sat down behind her desk. Judy and Alistair, hand-in-hand, leaned in closer without realizing they'd moved. "Congratulations. You're going to be parents!" She smiled toothily.
It wasn't like they didn't already know. Judy had missed a period, had experienced the nausea and fatigue that usually occur during the first trimester. And she and Alistair hadn't exactly been careful with birth control during their honeymoon. They loved each other wholly and exclusively, had discussed having children, and knew they wanted to be parents together. So, as Alistair explained it with a wink, "Hey, hey. Qué será, será." Still, to hear the words come from Judy's doctor made the world stop and then start again in a whole new light. It was like the sun shone brighter and the sky was bluer and the office plants were greener and even odd noises like the air conditioner humming were sweet to the ears.
Neither Judy nor Alistair could speak. It was a first for Alistair. Words were unnecessary, though; Alistair was out of his seat and had Judy hoisted into his arms in a split second. The kiss they shared was one of excitement, unadulterated joy, and terror all at the same time. Alistair's heart beat faster, and if Judy hadn't already taken his breath away with her kiss, he would surely have fainted.
When their lips parted, Alistair let Judy stand on her own legs. "Oh, Alistair. A baby!" she whispered. He exhaled, grinned, and still couldn't find his tongue. Judy hugged him tightly. "A baby."
"You're in excellent health, Judy, and the blood tests indicate that everything is going quite well," Dr. Nielsen interrupted gently as she stood up. "Still, there's one last thing I'd like to do today before you leave. An ultrasound. If you absolutely don't have time, we can schedule one for the very near future, but I'd really like –"
"We have time," Alistair finally spoke up. "For our child, we have all the time in the world." Judy found this statement particularly adoring. Dr. Nielsen smiled.
"It won't take long. I can have the room set up in a matter of minutes. I'll be right back for you. No half-hour waiting this time, I promise." Dr. Nielsen said, then exited her office and made for a room just down the hall. As she promised, she returned a few minutes later, this time to lead Judy and Alistair to the room where the ultrasound machine was waiting for them. Judy climbed onto the bed, and Alistair took her hand. This was really real!
Dr. Nielsen explained every step of the preparation for the ultrasound while Alistair watched in amazement. His wife's stomach was flat, as usual; how could there be a new life in there?
"Good question, Judy," Dr. Nielsen's voice broke through Alistair's thoughts. "It would have been just as easy to do an ultrasound during the initial examination, that's true. But I've learned that it seems to be much more upsetting for a couple to learn that they're actually not pregnant through something as personal as an ultrasound than through a prickly blood test. I know it makes for a longer visit, but, trust me, it's always worth it when you hear your baby's heartbeat." That made Judy smile.
"All right. Here we go." Dr. Nielsen winked at the expectant couple. Judy gripped Alistair's hand tighter. Dr. Nielsen slid the wand around Judy's tummy to find the right spot. "There. Do you hear that?" Rapid pitter-patters whispered out from the speakers. "That's your baby's heart. Very strong; sounds very healthy." She smiled broadly. Tears of happiness filled both Judy's and Alistair's eyes. Dr. Nielsen moved the wand again. The thumping stopped, then, as the doctor probed a bit more to the left, started again. "How do you feel about having two babies for the price of one?"
"Twins?" Judy exclaimed.
This time, Alistair did faint.