Alright, sorry it took millions of years before this chapter came up, because of school and severe writer's block. But this chapter is fresh off the presses. Hope you enjoy it, and please review.

Chapter 4

It was noon at the time I headed back home. I knew as I walked home from Elizabeth's house that I'll have to tell Joseph about the Baby somehow. Because I was starting to show, it had to be soon. And with this town, the gossip about me would spread like fire. I was pondering and praying all the way. The minute I got in the house, I anxiously looked for mom. I searched the house and found her in the kitchen

"Hi, Mary," She said from her cooking dinner.

"Hey." I kissed her on the cheek and started to help with the cutting. "What happened when I wasn't here?"

"Nothing much. Sis. Daniels got better since you left."

"Thank God." There was a brief silence and my brain was bothering me more. "Um…, any news from Joseph?"

"He said that he misses you and he wants to see you soon."

I heaved a troubled sigh as I started cutting the carrots rapidly. Mom looked over at me; like she was worried I was going to cut my hand.

"Is everything okay? You seem a bit apprehensive—"

"I'm scared, Mom." I put down my knife and rested my hands on the kitchen counter. "He might not believe me, he might think I'm a slut, he might report me to the priests!" I was getting a major headache and was feeling very sick. Mom wrapped her arms around me.

"Mary, it's gonna be all right. You are carrying the Messiah. God will protect you. Do you think he would allow anything to happen to the mother of His Son?" I was silent, reflecting on her words. She's right, I thought. I should trust God to bring me though. I stood up straight, but I still felt sick. "You okay now?"

"Sorta. Can I go to Joseph's house?"

"Yes. Just don't come back too late."

"Okay." I left the kitchen and was on my way to Joseph's, but not before I threw up in the backyard.

"Okay, it's my turn now," said Monica.

"Here," Jason dropped the paper in her lap and quickly grabbed the sour cream and onion chips along with some caramel cubes.

Monica picked up the paper and started reading. "'On the way to his house I was pretty much panicking, trying to figure out what to say…

So by the time I got there I was telling myself to calm down. But as I stood in front of the door, my nervousness came over me again. Just looking at the building, I could imagine all the bad scenarios possible. I clutched my stomach and bowed my head. God, I prayed silently, please help me find the right words to say to Joseph and please let him understand. I don't know what's going to happen, but You do. So I put this in Your hands. Amen. I lifted my head, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door. Soon Joseph opened the door.

"Hello, Joseph," I said to him.

His eyes brightened when he saw me. "Hello, Mary." He kissed me sweetly, and my brain wondered if this would be the last kiss I would ever get from him.

"Come in," he opened the door and I cautiously entered, clenching my veil.

Now, before I go on, I really loved Joseph, well, love Joseph, but you get my point. Even though he's some years older than me and it was mostly an arranged marriage, I wouldn't know what I would do if I lost him, and I seriously felt like this would be the day.

As I stepped in, Joseph followed in after me and closed the door. He took one look at me and smirked. "I see that Liz has been feeding you well."

That one comment made me remember about the weight I gained because of the Baby. "Yeah, you know her cooking. Look, I have something to tell you…, but…" I couldn't go on anymore; one more word and I would collapse or be very ill. I looked outside the window and saw the road to the garden nearby, my favorite place. "Can we go to the garden? I haven't been there in a long time."

He looked at me and he raised an eyebrow with an apprehending face. "Are you sure? You just came, and you look tired."

"Please?"

His detaining look soon melted and he put his arms around my shoulders with a smile that could melt ice. "Ok, but if you feel faint, just tell me. All right?"

"All right." Still feeling light-headed from before and my stomach turning over again, we left Joseph's house and started walking down the road. I told him about my stay at Cousin Liz's and he listened attentively, only interrupting a few times to add a comment or ask a question. By the time we got to the garden, I forgot what I had to do that was so nerve wrecking. In the midst of some trees, there was a bench we always sat on. We sat down after walking around in the grass, talking for about 10 minutes. Joseph then said, "Mary?"

"Yes?"

"Is that all you wanted to tell me?"

So that's why I was nervous. Shaking, despite the warm weather, I took a huge breath and said it, "Joseph, I'm pregnant."

He stared at me with unbelief. "What?" His distress turned into rage as he stared me straight in the face. "Who did this to you? Who hurt you like this? In the name of God I will—"

"No," I stopped him before he proceeded to get a sword. "No one hurt me. Please, listen to me. God sent an angel to me, to tell me that I was giving birth to the Messiah."

I could tell by his emotionless face expression that he didn't believe me. "Mary, I thought you loved me…, but how could you…"

"But I do! I'm telling the truth! I didn't sleep with anyone else!"

"Then how did you get pregnant?" his face was carved into one of hurt and fury. "How could you expect me to even consider that you are having…" He stood up and turned away from me. "We can't get married."

"But…" I couldn't even get out of my throat what I wanted to say. He left, without turning around to see the tears streaming down my face.

God, why didn't Joseph believe me? Am I supposed to raise the Messiah on my own? Must I lose the one I love? I do not know how this will work...; I don't understand Your ways…

"Mary?" my mother knocked on my door. I was at home, lying on my sleeping mat, my body facing the wall.

"Come in," I weakly said. She slowly opened the door and quietly crept in till I could feel her presence by my side. The candle she was holding was the only light source in the room, since the sun had set a while ago, but still before I came home to my sleeping mat. "He wouldn't listen…" I whispered. "He wouldn't believe me." My mother knelt down and gently touched my tear-stained face. "I mean, I asked God for him to understand…, why didn't he? I thought…" My voice was already hoarse so I dared not to talk anymore.

Mom moved her hand down to mine and shut her eyes. "Lord Father God, I pray for You to guide us in these times. Even though we do not know nor comprehend Your ways, You will make it all work out in the end. Please touch Joseph's heart and open his eyes if it be Your will. If not, spread Your arms around us and keep us safe. In Your name, Amen." She stood up as I turned, finally, to face her. "God is with you, Mary. He will protect you." She kissed my forehead and made her way softly out of the room, leaving the place dark again. With a newly-found comfort, I drifted off to sleep.

I found myself in a wide empty space, filled with darkness. Suddenly a bright light appeared in the center of the plain, in the form of…, an angel? I looked closer. He looked a lot like the angel that visited me 3 months ago. And with him was… Joseph?

He was saying something to Joseph, but I couldn't hear it, until Gabriel motioned toward me and Joseph looked in that direction. Somehow, without any of us walking, we got closer to each other until we were face to face. "Mary?"

"Joseph?" The morning's events popped into my head. "Joseph, you have to believe me about this Baby. This angel, this is the same angel that came to me."

Joseph turned his head to Gabriel. Gabriel nodded with a satisfied smile, and Joseph looked into my eyes. "…, it's true…" With those words, Joseph and Gabriel faded into darkness and I went out of consciousness.