The next day at the doctor's office, Dr. Morganstern noticed a change in the interaction between Susan and Mike. Susan leaned toward Mike as he kept his arm around her, and both of them had smiles on their faces. While the doctor had originally had her eye on Mike, it was obvious to her that he and Susan had worked out whatever problems had been between them.
"Well, Susan, Mike," she said, smiling at the two. "It's time for your first sonogram." Susan's eyes widened, and Mike smiled.
"I completely forgot about that," Susan said, turning red.
"Yep, standard 2-month procedure," Dr. Morganstern laughed. "I'm just going to get you set up here."
"Ok, I know how it works," Susan replied. "This is one of the best parts of being pregnant," she added to Mike. "Getting to see your baby for the first time."
"I believe it," he replied.
"So, Susan, how's the morning sickness been?" the doctor asked as she rubbed gel on Susan's stomach.
"Oh, it's been pretty steady every night for the past two weeks," Susan sighed, exchanging a look with Mike. "This morning was pretty bad."
"Yes, that's to be expected. But yours got started pretty late, hopefully you'll only have to endure it a few weeks more."
"That's what we're hoping. Mike hasn't gotten a decent night's sleep in days," Susan said apologetically.
"It's worth it," Mike replied, squeezing Susan's hand.
"You're lucky to have him, Susan. When I had morning sickness, my ex-husband would just roll over in bed and leave me to stumble to the bathroom," the doctor muttered, smirking.
"Oh yes, my ex-husband was the same way when I was pregnant with Julie. I could have passed out on the toilet and he'd never know," Susan replied darkly.
"Some men are just insensitive," Dr. Morganstern added, and Susan nodded. "Well, here we go, guys, are you ready?" Susan and Mike both nodded as Mike leaned over to have a better view of the screen. Dr. Morganstern turned on the machine, and a few moments later they were able to see a fuzzy outline of the small baby.
"Do you see that?" Susan whispered to Mike excitedly.
"I do," he confirmed, grinning from ear to ear. "That's incredible," he continued, and gently kissed Susan's forehead. Susan smiled and kissed his cheek in return.
"I love that little heartbeat," Susan sighed. Dr. Morganstern smiled at the couple.
"I'm going to leave you two alone for a moment while I go get the prints," she said, quietly backing out the door. Susan and Mike just stared at the machine.
"I think it's finally hitting me," Susan admitted. "We're really having a baby."
"We are," Mike agreed.
"I hope I'm not too old for this."
"No way. If you're too old, then I'm too old."
"Keep in mind, Mike, that I'm the one that has to deliver this baby," Susan laughed. "Whether you're too old is irrelevant. You just have to stand there and let me break all the bones in your hand while I push this baby out."
"Looking forward to it," Mike replied sincerely. "I'm looking forward to everything about this. Diaper change, 3 am feedings, everything." Susan stared at Mike in disbelief and admiration.
"Dr. Morganstern is right. I am lucky to have you."
"No, I'm the lucky one. I'm lucky you took me back after I screwed things up so badly," Mike sighed.
"Don't worry about it anymore, it's in the past." Mike smiled at Susan gratefully and kissed her softly as Dr. Morganstern was coming back in.
"Everything is completely normal, guys. Here are your prints," she said, handing Mike a small envelope. "I just wanted to give you these sheets on dieting and all that fun stuff," she added.
"Ah yes, my favorite part. A nice booklet telling me everything I can't eat or drink," Susan joked. "I tried to get wine out of this guy, but he said no," she pouted, smacking Mike lightly.
"Smart man," the doctor replied, shaking her head and grinning. "I have another patient waiting on me, though, so I'm going to go. Just make an appointment for four weeks from now, and you're good."
"Ok, thank you, Dr. Morganstern," Mike replied as she left. Susan got off the bed and got dressed quickly, then turned to Mike.
"Come on, we have to go put the pictures on the refrigerator like normal people," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him out of the room.
"That's normal?" Mike laughed, following her.
A few weeks later, Susan woke up one night, her stomach growling.
"Hey, Mike," she said, rolling over and gently prodding Mike awake. "Mike!"
"What?" he groggily replied, opening his eyes.
"You know what I really want right now?" she asked, smiling sweetly. Mike, getting the wrong impression, slid closer to her and wrapped an arm around her, kissing her neck.
"I think I do know," he replied, moving lower, but Susan rolled her eyes and pushed him away gently.
"No, not that," she said, laughing as Mike's face fell. He groaned and rolled off of her, sighing.
"What do you want?"
"Mint chocolate chip ice cream."
"You're kidding."
"No, I'm not."
"We don't have mint chocolate chip ice cream," Mike said pointedly, his fate sealed.
"I know. I was hoping you'd go get me some," Susan pleaded.
"No."
"Mike, please? I'm hungry."
"Susan-"
"Please?" she pouted, and Mike sighed.
"So you're telling me that tonight, the first night in weeks we haven't been sitting up all night in the bathroom, you want me to go to the store at 2:30 in the morning and buy you ice cream? Is that what you're seriously telling me?"
"Yes…" Susan said hopefully. "Please, Mike? Please? I'll let you have some."
"I don't want any damn ice cream," Mike grumbled.
"Please?"
"Fine," Mike sighed, sitting up to grab his shirt. Susan clapped her hands gleefully.
"Aw, thank you, baby," she said, running her hand soothingly down his back.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't know why I'm actually doing this," he grumbled again, pulling his pants on over his boxers.
"Because you love me?" Susan asked, winking.
"I must," he sighed. "Do you want anything else?"
"Well-"
"Please don't say pickles."
"No, but can you get me pretzels too?"
"Yes," Mike replied. "I'll be right back."
"Ok," Susan replied, then felt it was best to thank him again. "Thanks, babe!" she called as he headed downstairs. She giggled when she heard him mutter something incoherently in reply.
When Mike returned half an hour later, Susan was sitting up in bed, waiting for him. He sleepily trudged into the bedroom, carrying a bowl of ice cream and a bag of pretzels. Susan eagerly grabbed both and proceeded to dip the pretzels into the ice cream, devouring them.
"That's disgusting," Mike observed, making a face.
"No, it's the best," Susan corrected him, shoveling more into her mouth. "Do you have any idea how much I love you right now?"
"Hopefully enough to let me get some sleep, I have an appointment in the morning."
"Don't you want some?" Susan asked, holding her spoon out to Mike as he lay down.
"Get that stuff away from me," he muttered, closing his eyes, then let out a surprised yelp when the ice cream dripped onto his neck.
"Oops," Susan giggled as Mike glared at her.
"Damnit, Susan, did you have to do that?" he asked, reaching to wipe the ice cream off, but Susan stopped him, grabbing his hand.
"No, let me get it," she whispered in his ear, gently sucking the ice cream off his neck. Mike shuddered as she moved her lips up to his earlobe.
"Screw sleep," he growled, taking the bowl from Susan's hands and dropping it on the floor. He rolled on top of Susan, his lips covering hers as she ran her fingers through his hair.
Some time later, Susan lay in Mike's arms, smiling softly as she watched him sleep. She gently brushed his disheveled hair off his forehead and snuggled closer to him, and his arms instinctively tightened around her. He had finally told her he had to get some sleep, and she had reluctantly obliged. She sighed as she thought about how much she loved him, despite everything he had put her through, despite how he had made her cry. In her heart she believed he was no longer keeping things from her, that he had stopped whatever he had been investigating. As she peacefully drifted off to sleep, she had no way of knowing that she was very, very wrong.
TBC...
Boone
