CHAPTER 18

2 MONTHS LATER: HOUSE

Sark looks up as Lauren walks into the living room. "Darling you are supposed to be sleeping"

"I needed to walk around." Lauren shrugs looking at her belly. "And I think he's getting bored as well."

"How are you feeling?" Sark asks

"Eight months pregnant." Lauren says sadly. She picks up the mail sitting on the table and starts sorting through the mail when she finds an envelope with no return address. She opens the envelope and removes some papers wrapped around a picture. She removes the picture her eyes widening, "Sark"

Hearing her tone Sark stands walking into the kitchen where he finds Lauren staring at a picture. "What is it?"

Lauren hands the picture to Sark then unfolds the papers to find a picture obviously drawn by Sophia. She opens the note, "Sophia wanted you to have this. She's fine. Michael." She reads aloud.

"He probably had a source send it. At least we know she's OK."

Lauren looks at the drawing in her hands and smiles seeing the little girl's shaky handwriting, "Love you Mama. Sophia" Lauren swallows heavily. "Sophia... I miss her so much."

"So do I."

Lauren takes a deep breath walking over to the refrigerator she grabs a magnet and puts the drawing and picture up, "Think we'll find her?"

"I'm working on it."

"I know" Lauren whispers as he hugs her from behind. "I know."

"Come on you know what the doctor said." Sark guides her out of the kitchen to the living room.

Lauren lies on the couch, "Stay off my feet. I'm hungry"

"What would you like to eat?"

"Ice cream?"

"What kind?"

"Strawberry"

"I don't think we have any but I will go to the store and get you some."

Lauren smiles "Thank you"

Sark kisses her head, "Don't go anywhere."

"I won't" Lauren assures watching as Sark leans down kissing her belly and the baby kicks in reply. "Don't be gone long."

"I won't." Sark promises as he straightens up. "Do you want anything else?"

"No I'm good." Lauren sighs "Or as good as I can be."

Sark winces at her tone as he grabs his phone, "I won't be long." He walks out of the house.

Lauren watches as he leaves then closes her eyes. 'Wherever you are Sophia Mama and Daddy love you and your baby brother so much. One day we'll be back together... and be the family we're supposed to be.'

20 MINS LATER

"Sorry it took so long." Sark calls as he enters the house. He drops his keys on the hall table as he makes his way through the house. "Lauren?" He calls setting the ice cream on the counter.

"Julian"

Sark frowns hearing the pained tone he hurries into the living room where he finds Lauren doubled over, "Lauren"

"Hurts" she manages to get out

"Come on lets get you to the hospital."

Lauren suddenly blacks out.

MIDNIGHT: HOSPITAL

Sark sits beside the bed holding Lauren's hand as she sleeps off the drugs. As he hears a moan he squeezes her hand as she slowly opens her eyes, "Hey" He kisses her knuckle.

Lauren looks at him, "Julian"

"How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Sore." She says after a moment. She looks at him "The baby?" She asks worried.

"He's fine." Sark stands walking over to the basinet he carefully picks up the sleeping baby he walks over to the bed. He hands the baby to Lauren.

Lauren smiles at the sleeping baby. "Is he OK?"

Sark nods "Seems like he just wanted out ahead of time. The doctor said he's perfectly healthy despite the fact he's early and how he decided to come out." He gently brushes Lauren's hair back as she looks at the baby in her arms.

"He looks like Sophia." She whispers tears filling her eyes.

"That's what your parents said." Sark smiles sadly remembering the day his baby girl was born and the fact he wasn't there, he watches as Lauren looks the baby over.

"She'd be so happy to have a little brother." Lauren whispers

"Hey..." Sark strokes her cheek, "they'll be together, I promise." He kisses her forehead then looks at the baby. He looks down at the baby and strokes his cheek. "I'm going to find Sophia... nothing will stop me from finding her."

The two watch the baby sleep

EARLY MORNING

"Hey little guy." Lauren strokes the baby's cheek as he nurses. She looks up as Sark walks into the room. "Hi"

"Morning love" Sark kisses her head as he sits on the edge of the bed.

"I woke up and you were gone."

"Just went home to take a quick shower." Sark looks at the baby, "How is he doing?"

"A hungry little guy." Lauren smiles fondly at the baby.

"We still have yet to decide on his name."

"I like the name Ian." Lauren muses

"Ian, huh?" Sark strokes the baby's cheek, "Works for me."

"What about his middle name?"

"What do you want it to be?"

Lauren looks at the baby "I have no idea."

"We have some time." Sark kisses her forehead then looks back at the baby.

LATE MORNING

Lauren smiles watching Sark hold the newborn, "What's going through your mind?"

"He's amazing." Sark says awed

"That he is." Lauren agrees

Sark sits on the edge of the bed his eyes on the baby, "How about Jacob?" He says thoughtfully

Lauren looks at the baby, "Ian Jacob." She smiles "I like it."

AFTERNOON

"How are you feeling?" Olivia asks Lauren when the two women are alone.

"Sore" She bites her lip tears blurring her vision. "I just wish Sophia was here." She looks at the basinet, "She was so happy to be getting a baby brother or sister to play with."

"They'll find her." Olivia assures

"I just miss her so much."

"I know you do. We all do"

Lauren blinks back tears

"It's all right to cry Lauren." Olivia states

"I know" Lauren whispers, "I just don't want to cry right now. Once I start I can't stop." She looks at Ian who is sleeping in the basinet by the bed, "I don't want to upset him."

Olivia nods

"I just want to see my babies together."

"And you will. Between Julian and your father and the CIA they'll find Michael."

"I know." Lauren takes a deep breath trying to keep from bursting into tears.

"When did the doctor say you could return home?"

"In a few days, he wants to make sure I'm healing properly. Also wants to make sure Ian is all right."

"I thought he was."

"He is the doctor wants to be sure."

Olivia nods, "How are you and Julian doing?"

"We're good. He's been so sweet about everything. He doesn't force me to talk yet doesn't ignore me when I feel like I'm going to explode." Lauren smiles "He's there when I need him."

"Have you two discussed marriage?"

"No"

"Lauren"

"I know you'd prefer if I was married to him... or anyone but I'm not ready to be married again... and I don't know if I'm ever going to be again." Lauren admits

"And Julian?"

"We don't discuss marriage." Lauren admits

"Is he not ready for marriage?"

"I have no idea." Lauren shrugs "Perhaps it's not something he wants... now or ever."

"And you don't want to force the topic."

"If it comes up it comes up. I'm not going to give him an ultimatum Mother." Lauren says just as Ian starts to whimper. She turns to the basinet and smiles reaching in she strokes the baby's cheek, "Hey little guy." She carefully lifts him out.

Olivia watches as Lauren comforts the baby, 'She loves her babies so much. How could Michael do this to her? And to Sophia? I get he's upset about Julian and all but this was just cruel of him to do this.'

COUPLE DAYS LATER: HOUSE

Lauren stands at the basinet watching Ian sleep. She smiles feeling Sark wrap his arms around her shoulders. "I wonder how Sophia will react to him."

"They will love and adore each other and protect each other." Sark kisses her head.

"I just miss her so much."

"As do I."

"I just want her home with us."

"I do as well."

"I know" Lauren turns to look at Sark. "I love you"

Sark smiles "I love you too." He kisses her lightly. "And I promise we'll have them together."

Lauren nods resting her head on his shoulder.

TBC…

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