-Disclaimer in first chapter-

A/N: Reviews make me so happy. And I feel sad because school starts in 15 days, I'm working two jobs….Pity for reviews anyone?

Ch 11. Change In The Air

.: About one months later:.

After that night in PA, Lucy was fine. No sign of a hangover; or a memory for that matter. Wedding plans were being made; we were renting a cabin in Aspen for our honeymoon and skiing, something Lucy never did but I was happy to teach her. Things felt great with us again, and I knew they had to stay that way.

It was the twentieth day in February, and something was going to happen that would change our lives forever.

I sat at our table, eating breakfast early in the morning, for we both were on dayshift that day, drinking coffee and eating toast as I heard the toilet flush and Lucy come out of the bathroom.

"Morning sweetie," I looked up at her pale face, "You ok?"

"I'm fine, Carter. Why wouldn't I be?" She rolled her eyes and poured herself a glass of juice.

"Okay, just asking," I knew her cycle, well I've been living with her for so long it was hard not to notice, and I mentally noted she was due, and had been for a long time.

"I'm sorry," She sighed and sat next to me, holding her juice as she cuddled her knees into her chest.

"You okay?" I reached over and rubbed her shoulders.

She let her eyes drift far away, "I, um, I'm worried."

"What about?" I stood up, walked behind her and massaged both her shoulders, noticing how stiff they felt.

"Um, something isn't right," She pulled away from my hands and looked me in the eye.

"With what?"

"I don't know how to say it."

The tone of her voice made my stomach jump, "Lucy, what is it?"

"I'm late… very late actually."

"You said you didn't have to be at work until 7."

"No Carter, not that!" She stood up and stormed back into the bedroom.

"Late as in…Lucy, oh my god!" I stared at her, as all this news hit me like a truck. "Well how late!"

"I don't know…a month… two…?"

"Lucy! Two months! Why didn't you tell me sooner!" I ran my hand through my hair and took a deep breath, trying to think, "Wait, we've been careful!"

"Have you?" She asked.

"Ummm it's a two person job," I looked at her with my eyes wide.

"No, I'm not on the pill, you know that."

I sighed and sat in a chair and ran my hand over my face, "I have been careful."

"Okay, you need to calm down, it's not like I haven't skipped a period before." She started to walk to our bedroom to get ready for work. I followed.

"Well, have you been having any morning sickness?" I asked as we both entered the room.

"I feel a little queasy right now," She said as she pulled her shirt off over her head.

I gazed at her stomach, "You don't look pregnant."

"It's not like I would be showing now anyways," She sighed and began to change her pants.

"Well." I sat on the bed and watched her, while I also tried to think of what it would be like if she was pregnant, and the only thing that came to my mind was how wonderful it'd be. "Do you have any tests?"

"No, it's not like I just keep those around."

"Then, let me draw some blood at work," I stood up and pulled her hands to me.

"I don't want the whole hospital to know," She looked at me sadly, "Think we can wait until after our shifts?"

"Yeah, I'll pick one up on my break."

"Thank you," She enfolded her arms around my waist and laid her head on my chest. I kissed the top of her head and slowly stroked her back, smiling to myself that I…I may be a father.

.:An hour later:.

We got in the jeep, and were on our way to work. Lucy barely said anything else all morning; she became paler as she lost herself in her thoughts

"Lucy, you need to stop worrying," I said as I looked over at her.

"I can't! There's a lot to think about, John."

"Like what?" I asked smiling.

"Well, except for the fact that we can't afford a baby, I am still a resident, working 12 hour shifts, you are chief resident and work just as much. Our apartment isn't baby proof-"

"Wo wo wo, Lucy. We don't even know if we are pregnant yet, don't go freaking out yet," I took hand in mine, and felt it relax.

"I guess, I'm just scared," She sighed and laced her fingers through mine.

"You're concentrating on the bad parts, what about the good parts?" I knew I've been thinking of them all morning.

"Like what good parts…me getting fat?"

I laughed a little, "Well, not only that, but maybe we're going to have a baby…"

Smiling, she said back, "Yeah, babies are all well and good. But that involves us being parents."

"Yeah, I know!" I reached over and rubbed her shoulder blade.

"Why are you being so happy about this?"

"What's not to be happy about, Lucy? We could be having a baby, and if we're not that's fine too, just the thought of having it someday…I don't know." I shrugged and drove as I heard her sigh.

"I'm going to be a pumpkin for the wedding," She whined.

"A cute pumpkin." I parked and we both walked out of the car, hand in hand. Into the hospital and I walked her to the elevator.

"So, I'll catch you later?" She asked as she pressed the elevator button.

"Yeah, I'll pick it up on my break," I put my hands on her waist and couldn't help but try to notice the size of her stomach.

"Alright, I love you." We kissed while the elevator doors were opening.

Once she was inside I said, "Lucy…don't worry so much."

She smiled and waved before the doors shut in her face.

.:Little Later:.

"Hey!" I heard Abby call to me with a

I turned around and faced her, "What?"

"Nothing," She said at the same time as she flipped through a chart.

"Abby, what do you want?" I asked laughing.

"For you to sign this." She handed me a form and I signed it, while she took the forms back out of my hands she started again, "Why are you in such a good mood?"

"Nothing special," I patted her on the back and walked away.

"Oh come on! I have to pick lice out of your patient's hair and you can't even fill me in on something juicy." She walked in front of me backwards while she talked.

"It's nothing, I just may be getting something."

"Oh like a pony?"

"With a tone like that, you won't know anything."

"Come on, Carter."

I took her arm and pulled her into the lounge.

"This is big, huh?" She asked as she got coffee.

"Umm maybe, I hope so," I said, still smiling while I reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a yogurt.

She smiled at me and cocked her eyebrows.

"Lucy may be pregnant," I said, and then heard how great it sounded… Lucy, my Lucy, pregnant.

Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened, "What!"

"Yeah, um, she has a feeling and we're taking the test today after our shifts."

She shook her head, "So…you want her to be?"

I nodded, "She's not so sure… Abby, please don't tell her I told you, she'd kill me."

Again, she shook her head, "No, I won't… but good luck, Carter." She reached up and hugged me.

"Thanks," I said as I let her out of my arms. "I have to go pick up the test. So I'm on my break, I should be back in an half of an hour."

Abby waved bye to me as I ran out of the hospital, down the street and into the convince store.

"Hello, Sir," Greeted the clerk, "Do you need help with anything?"

"No thanks, I think I got this," I gave her a smile and headed down the women's isle. Wow, there were a lot of tests, and beside those tampons and pads. I never had the desire to be in one of these isles, and now I remembered why.

I picked up boxes, read the back, put it down, and grabbed another one. Must have been five times before the clerk came and asked, "You don't look like you have a handle on this."

I looked up at the African American women and shook my head while I laughed a little, "I'm confused, is what I am."

"Well, this one always worked for me," She held up a pink box, I took it out of her hand and read the back… still confused. But if it worked for her…

"Uh sure, why not?" I looked at it one last time before walking to the counter to check it out. There, I also picked up a candy bar, just incase my wish came true.

"By the looks of you, honey, I'm guessing you want this test to come out blue huh?" She asked as she rung up my items. She was probably around my age, maybe a little older, and with dark skin and hair.

"Yeah I do, but I'm not sure if my fiancé does," I pulled out my wallet and paid for the items.

"Oh honey, she just probably needs to get used to it. But I'm sure she'll be just as happy as you are if it is."

I grinned and took the bag off of her, "Thanks."

As I walked out I heard her say, "And good luck, Sugar."

.: Hours Later:.

"Well, little one, you have nothing to worry about," I said encouraging to my patient.

"But I still have a sore froat!" Said the little 5-year-old boy with a groggy voice.

I started to write the prescription, and smiled at the child, "Yes, but I'm going to give you some medicine. Which is going to make you feel better really fast."

"Thank you, Dr. Carter," said the mother as she stroked her son's back.

"Fank you doctor," Repeated the boy.

Then I heard a knock at the door.

I looked towards the door and said, "Come on in."

"Hey," Said Lucy as she entered the room. "Can I talk to you for just a second?"

"Yeah, just hang on." I handed the prescription to the mother. "Come back if it gets any worse and make an appointment with your family doctor. See ya, slugger." And then, walked out with Lucy, "Everything okay?" I asked.

"Um, no, not really. Dr. Myers wants me to stay after," She said shrugging.

"No, Luce, come on. We've been waiting for this all day. If I could take it, I would, but I need you there. You're tired, I'm tired, let's just go," I took her hands and pulled her closer to me.

She licked her lips and sighed, "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you." I watched her as she ran back up the stairs.

"The little boy okay?" Asked Abby as she snuck up behind me.

I looked at her then signed the patient out, "Yes, he's fine, but I'm afraid you're not."

She looked at me with a questioning look on her face.

I walked over to the stairs to wait for Lucy. I whispered, "Yeah, something about budding into other people's business."

"I just happened to be there, not my fault you and Lucy talk in the middle of the hallway," She took my chart off of me and rolled her eyes.

Once I saw Lucy walk down the stairs, my conversation with Abby was over, "Well…?" I asked.

"Yeah, he said he'd let me go," She sighed.

"Good…good," I took her hands and walked her off the last step, only to see Abby staring at us, "Yes, Abigail?"

She gave me a secret smile and handed me the chart. "One last signature. See ya tomorrow."

Lucy eyed me.

"I didn't say anything! She must have been eavesdropping." I opened the door for her and we walked out into the surprising windy air.

"I just want to get this over with. It's been on my mind all day."

As we walked to my jeep, I looked at her. Trying to figure out if she made up her mind about wanting a baby or not. Once we sat in the car, she started to talk. "I don't even know what I want the test to say anymore," She clapped her hands together and sighed, "I mean a baby would be amazing…incredible."

"That's what I've been trying to say," I rubbed her forearm and felt as she took my hand, while I drove.

"The test should be negative. I mean we're not married yet, working a lot… it makes sense for us not to have a baby now. Am I even making sense?"

Laughing, I said back to her, "Yes. But, I've never been much for stereotypes, or rules on how we're 'supposed' do things. You know me. We can have a baby, though, Luce. Because we're not married for a couple of months don't matter."

She smiled at me and rubbed my shoulder, "If it's in nine months, or nine years, you're going to make such a great father."

I smiled as I parked the Jeep, "Glad you think so."

We walked together, up the stairs, and into our apartment without any words to one another. Just both thinking: what if it's positive.

"Up for a test?" I asked as I pulled the pink box out of the bag and tossed it to Lucy, once we were inside.

She caught it and sighed, reading it, "I guess." And then she walked down the hall.

The next thing I knew, I jumped up, ran to her and held her shoulder right before she entered the bathroom. She spun around and faced me. "I just want you to know, that no matter what that test says, I love you. And will always love you and support you, you're with me now. You don't have to do anything by yourself."

She beamed slightly, and kissed my cheek, "I'll be out soon."

I picked up the blue grocery back, and saw one last item left. I placed it in my pocket, then, I sat back down on the couch and began to flip through a magazine as I waited, but for the minute she was in there, it felt like a century. I stood up and knocked on the door slightly, "Luce, you uh need some help?"

"No," She called from inside the bathroom

"Are you sure?" I yelled back in

"Yes, Carter, this is something I can to do by myself!"

"It's taking you a long time!"

Just as those words left my mouth, she opened the door with a worried face.

"Well, am I a dad?" I asked nervously.

"We have to wait."

"How long?" I asked as she set the test face down on the counter.

"Three minutes… the longest three minutes of our life."

I sighed and sat on the couch, while she stood up and played with her engagement ring.

A/N: Ok I know what you're thinking…a cliffhanger. Well I'm not much for them either but something has to keep you coming back to read this ff.