August 27th, 2004
Week 14
The heat was starting to get to Alex. The hot flashes had begun. Her waistline was expanding and she already felt like a cow.
"Momma!!!" Lilah squealed loudly from the playpen.
"I'm coming." Alex said with a Popsicle in hand. "Do you want to taste Mommy's pop?" Lilah extended her arms. She picked her up and went to the front porch.
"Momma. Momma." Lilah reached up for the Popsicle.
"Okay. Here." Alex let Lilah lick the Popsicle. Her face contorted at the new taste. Alex laughed loudly, "I take it that you didn't enjoy the Popsicle." Alex settled down on the swing. Lilah started to bounce.
"Daddy!!!" Lilah squealed. Derek limped down the sidewalk. He waved his cane at her.
"Here's daddy, Princess." Derek said walking up slowly to his house.
"How was the walk?" Alex asked. He shrugged easing himself onto the steps to sit down.
"My hip was starting to hurt so I headed on back." He said. Alex sighed deeply.
"I'll run you hot bath later." She said.
"I'm sick of baths." Derek said. She put Lilah down and the baby crawled over to her daddy.
"Well, they're the best things for your aching bones." She said watching Derek pick Lilah up. His face seemed to light up when she was in his arms.
"Do you want to take a bath with daddy?" He asked, "you're getting sticky."
"Daddy. Daddy." Lilah laughed. Derek smiled as he slowly got up. He grunted trying not to drop his daughter. God, life was hell. He couldn't even walk with is own daughter. Alex grabbed his elbow to help him.
"Come on." She smiled trying to not make him feel useless. He often did. Derek smiled weakly as he went to the bathroom. Alex began to start the water. Derek undressed Lilah. "You know...I've been changing everything over to Alexandra Kelly. We were supposed to get married June 22nd but you were in a coma."
"We'll get married soon then. Run over to the courthouse and do it." Derek winked.
"Oh how romantic." Alex giggled.
"Splish splash. Daddy and Lilah bean's taking a bath." He said wiggling his own clothes off.
"I'll leave you two alone. if it gets too much, I'll be in the bedroom reading." Alex said.
"We'll be fine, Alex." he said stepping into the bathrobe. Alex nodded slowly as she left the room. Derek groaned loudly as he sunk into the water.
"Waa waa!" Lilah bounced.
"Yes, the water is fun." He said settling Lilah on his lap. he gently splashed water onto her back. The baby squealed louder. She seemed to love the water more and more as every day passed.
He watched her blue eyes sparkle with excitement. He couldn't believe this child was his blood. They were getting another perfect child too. Life couldn't be better than this. he just hoped he'd be healthy by the time the next baby came.
"is everything okay?" Alex knocked on the door.
"Yes, mommy." Derek said in a high voice. Alex chuckled softly.
"Good." she said walking to the room. Derek sighed. He just hoped everything would be okay and he wasn't just kidding himself and his family.
September 11th, 2004
Week 16
Alex almost couldn't get out of bed, but she had to. Derek ad lain out her blues. She sat up rubbing her belly. She felt the baby bubbles beneath her hand. Alex picked up her shirt and slid it on. She was glad she still had her dressy shirt from her pregnancy with Lilah.
"Are you about ready?" Derek walked in. God, he looked so handsome dressed up. Lilah looked adorable in a white frilly dress.
"Sure." She mumbled buttoning her pants.
"We don't have to go." Derek said.
"Yes we do, Derek. It our own house holding the ceremony." She said as she began to pin her hair up, "Lilah looks cute."
"She looks like mommy." Derek held Lilah up. Alex smiled weakly. She put her hat on and turned to Derek.
"I don't look like a heifer do I?" She asked. Derek shook his head.
"You look beautiful." He said, taking her hand, "Let's go."
There had to be already two hundred people filling the streets of King Arthur. Alex took in a deep breath staring out the window. She took a deep breath.
"I don't want to go." Alex said. Derek looked at her.
"But we're here." he said. Alex shook her head.
"No. I don't want to go. I'm tired of these celebrations. I want to frigging move on. I want today to be a joyous day. I don't want any more tears." Alex said. Derek looked at her. he could tell Alex didn't want to go out.
"Okay. Let's go downtown to city hall." He said. Alex looked at him.
"What? Why?" She asked.
"We're going to get married." Derek smiled. Alex burst out laughing.
"You want to cheer me up by marrying me?" She asked.
"No I want to marry you because I love you." He said driving past their station. Alex began to protest, but she saw the determination on his face. "Do you want to get married or not? We have all the licenses and everything." It was the date of her father's death. it was the date of some of her friends' death. Alex looked back at Lilah who was smiling. She felt the baby flutter in her stomach. She nodded.
"Let's do this." Alex laughed. "Adam is probably at the station though looking for me."
"call him and tell him to meet us at city hall." Derek said. Alex couldn't believe she was doing this. She picked up her cell phone and dialed Adam's number.
"Lexie, where are you?" he asked answering the phone.
"Can you be at city hall in ten minutes?" Alex asked him.
"Well, yeah..." Adam said. She could hear the hesitation in his voice. "Why?"
"Derek and I are getting married." She said.
"What? You have a ceremony to be at." He said.
"Adam, I want you there." Alex said. He sighed.
"I'll be there." Adam said.
"We don't have our rings on us." Alex frowned as she paced up and down the hallway.
"We have them at home. Don't worry." Derek said, "I'll put a rubber band on your finger."
"Gee. Thanks." She chuckled looking at Adam bouncing Lilah on his knee, "Are you mad?"
"No." Adam looked up at her, "You wanted to get married to Derek. Why should it matter what date you pick...even though there are 364 other dates you could have picked."
"This is the date I want. this is the date Dad would have wanted too." Alex said, "Do you think he'd want it to be remembered as such a horrible day?"
"No." Adam said, "I just want to make sure you want this."
"I do." She smiled as the secretary walked out.
"Judge Harris will see you now." She said.
"This is it." Derek said taking Alex's hand. "You don't want to back out right?"
"No way." Alex grinned as they walked into the room.
"Good afternoon." Judge Harris said.
"Good afternoon." Derek grinned.
"Is this your witness?" he asked.
"Adam Taylor." Adam nodded.
"Your full names please." Judge Harris said looking through the forms.
"Alexandra Morgan Taylor and Derek Matthew Kelly." Alex told him.
"All right. This is very simple." Judge Harris stood up, "You can say vows if you wish."
"I do." Alex said, "We only get married once." Judge Harris nodded.
"Very well. We are gathered here today to witness the union of Alexandra and Derek. Derek, any vows?" He asked. Derek nodded.
"Alex, I know this isn't your dream wedding, but it shouldn't matter how or when someone gets married as long as they're in love. The date we set, I was in a coma. You sat by my bed. You helped me to heal. I love you more than I ever thought possible." Derek said, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Lilah, and this little bean." Judge Harris nodded.
"Alexandra?" He asked. She took in a deep breath.
"We haven't had an easy relationship. There were moments I thought it'd end, but the moment you got stuck in that fire, I knew you were my true love." Alex said, "You make me happy. You make me feel like a beautiful woman. You make me feel...I can't even explain how my heart feels. I will be honoured to be your wife."
"Very good." Judge Harris smiled, "Do you, Derek Matthew Kelly, take Alexandra Morgan Taylor to be you lawfully wedded wife?"
"I most certainly do." Derek smiled. Tears filled Alex's eyes.
"Do you, Alexandra Morgan Taylor, take Derek Matthew Kelly, to be your lawfully wedded husband?" He asked. Alex nodded.
"I do." She whispered.
"Then by the power invested in me and by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Judge Harris smiled; "You may kiss your bride." Derek pulled Alex into a kiss. It was a very quick marriage, maybe slightly out of continence, but their love for each other was the only thing that mattered. They were now husband and wife. Both of them were extremely happy.
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