Chapter Nine

"Please – don't tell him I'm here." Lia whispered to the nurse as she marked her chart. "He'll blow a gasket if he knows."

The nurse smiled, more than willing to be a co-conspirator. Patti knew Danny well. Her husband Jake had gone to med school with him. She knew that if he knew Lia was in the hospital he'd want to examine her himself. It was the last thing Lia wanted.

Patti smiled. "I hear you. Don't worry. Dr. Arlington will be back in just a second."

"Thanks Patti. I really appreciate it." She said as she watched her go.

Lia sat on the edge of the exam table. Her head continued to spin. She couldn't believe what had happened. When the chief called her this morning and told her she'd been promoted she was beside herself. It was what she had been working towards forever. Detective. She sighed. She was still in complete shock. Even with that she always thought when it finally happened she'd have a completely different reaction. Instead – moments after she hung up the phone she ran into the bathroom and threw up her breakfast.

She never had a reaction like that – not until after she'd been through something dangerous. Usually, she had nerves of steel. She couldn't believe that could be it.

Then she remembered that Danny had told her specifically to tell him if she got nauseous. She knew that she needed to get another opinion. If she told only him he'd keep her in bed indefinitely.

Not something she minded as long as he was there with her – but she was sure that wouldn't be what he had in mind.

Suddenly the door opened to reveal someone she was not expecting at all.

"Hello Lia." Dr. Oliver said with a smile as she moved into the room.

"Michelle. Hi." She looked at her confused. "Did Patti tell you I was in here?"

"Yes – in a way." Michelle smiled wider. She came closer and gently pressed her hand against Lia's side. "I hear you took a nasty hit. Broke a few ribs."

"I'm fine." Lia shrugged her off. "I mean. I'm sure I'm fine. It's just that – Danny told me to tell him if anything changed and this morning – I was nauseous. I can't tell him – you understand? He can't be at all objective. He gets crazy."

"I understand." She stepped back and stared into Lia's eyes.

Lia began to get nervous. "So. Is Dr Arlington on her way?"

Michelle shook her head. "Nope. She handed you off. Sorry but you're stuck with me."

"Not that it isn't nice to see you Michelle – I know I didn't go to medical school but you're an OBGYN." Lia laughed. "And I have broken ribs."

"True." Michelle nodded. "You do. You're also six weeks pregnant." She replied with a grin.

It was the last thing she expected to hear. "I'm what?" Lia jumped off the table.

"Pregnant." Michelle bit back a laugh. She knew this would be her reaction. She moved towards her and placed her hands on Lia's shoulders. "Relax sweetie. Sit down. Let it sink in."

"But I – I mean we…" Lia stammered. "We weren't even trying. As a matter of fact we were doing the opposite of trying. We were making sure that it wouldn't happen until we were ready. I mean for God's sake we're barely in the same place at the same time."

"Sometimes babies have their own schedule." Michelle said quietly, trying to calm her a bit.

Lia sank back down onto the exam table. "But I – I mean…we…I mean…" Tears filled Lia's eyes as she whispered. "Oh. Wow."

"Yeah. Wow." Michelle whispered with a grin. She straightened and patted Lia on the arm. Her voice was stern as she instructed her. "So. Here's the deal. You're alright to work as long as you feel OK – but be careful. A woman's body has a way of protecting her child – so you should be fine. Just take it easy." She watched and waited to see Lia's reaction. When she finally nodded, Michelle continued with the bad news. "I'm sorry to say you're off those pain meds Danny gave you. You'll just have to tough it out."

"That's OK." Lia said, her voice dreamy. "Is everything OK?" She said then, her voice laced with panic. "I mean – I didn't know I was…when that stupid punk…"

Michelle smiled as she said softly. "Lia, relax. Everything's just fine. Now." She said as she smiled wider. "Do you want me to go get Danny for you now?"

"Yeah. Umm. No. I don't want to tell him here." Lia replied. Knowing Danny he'd check her into the hospital for the next eight and a half months. "That's OK. I'll wait till he gets home."

"OK. Suit yourself." Michelle chuckled as she made her way to the door. "See you in two weeks."

"OK." Lia nodded still in a daze. "Michelle - thank you." She added when she finally focused.

"No need to thank me. I haven't done anything yet." Michelle smiled. "Take care Lia. I'll see you soon."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Quinn sat next to Billie, holding her hand in his. Across from them a young, bookish looking woman sat with a notepad asking them endless questions. Despite her nerves Billie couldn't help but notice there was something weird.

The woman paid ten times more attention to Quinn than her.

Billie sighed and decided she shouldn't be surprised. She looked sideways at him, watching him talk. Looking at Quinn was one of her favorite things to do. She adored the little crinkles by his eyes and the way his hair stuck up a little in the back, no matter how he tried to comb it. But his smile and his laugh, nothing got to her more than that. Unless it was his eyes, or maybe the way sometimes he held her so close she almost couldn't breathe.

It was his laugh that snapped her out of her daydream. "Billie honey…" He said softly as he ran a hand over her hair. "Ms. Montrose asked you a question."

Billie's fingers traced over the side of his jaw before she turned to face the woman sitting opposite her. "I'm so sorry."

Ms, Montrose gave her a weak smile. "I asked what it must be like to live with such a handsome celebrity." She said as she stared in Quinn's direction again. Her eyes never left Quinn's face as she added. "You must be happy to have him around to help you raise your nephew."

"I am." Billie said with a huge smile. "I thank my lucky stars every day."

"And you should." The woman replied. "I mean, it's very beneficial to have a college graduate in the house." She flipped open a folder she had next to her and shifted the papers a bit. "I see here you never finished school."

"No." Billie replied, her pulse racing a bit. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "I left college when I got the word that Tyler needed me."

"Oh of course." Ms. Montrose said condescendingly. "I didn't mean to suggest…"

The hell you didn't. Billie said to herself, biting down on her bottom lip a bit. "I thought it was more important to stay at home with Ty."

"Yes. I see that. And that worked out alright until you squandered away your fortune." Ms. Montrose said with an artificial grin.

Quinn noticed the change in Billie immediately. His arm slipped down from where it rested on the back of the couch and he rubbed a hand over her back, silently trying to get her to calm down.

Billie took a deep breath and tried to answer her. "I made some mistakes in the past. But I always made sure Ty was well taken care of."

"I agree. Ty seems to be an incredibly happy well adjusted young man." Ms. Montrose said as she shut her folder and notepad and moved to stand. "You are so fortunate to have found someone like Mr. Donovan."

"Please. Call me Quinn." He corrected her as he and Billie stood as well. Billie gave him a look that could melt ice. He cleared his throat and addressed Ms. Montrose. "And I'm the fortunate one." He said as he slipped an arm around Billie's waist and rested a hand on her hip. He bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"I'm sure you think so. Quinn. Lovely to have met you and oh yes. You too Ms. Larson." She gave Quinn a dazzling smile. "You've made a lovely home here." She added as she turned to glance at Billie again. "I do hope you appreciate it. It'd be a shame to let it all slip away."

Billie fought to keep her voice steady as replied. "I do. Thanks for your concern."

"Good. OK. Well." She wandered towards the door, still gazing at Quinn with puppy dog eyes. "I'll let you know my findings later in the week. But rest assured it all looks good."

Billie wasn't able to form a sentence. Quinn was quite sure that steam was actually coming out of her ears. He smiled and walked Ms. Montrose to the door. "Thank you. That's great to hear." He ushered her out and waved goodbye.

When the door clicked closed behind him he had to think quickly. It was a good thing his reflexes were still sharp. He reached up and caught a mug that Billie had hurled towards the door just before it hit and shattered.

"Belinda…" He began.

"I have never in my life been so insulted." Billie marched around the room, stacking the plates she had served pound cake on. She picked up a butter knife and waved it at him. "And you were absolutely no help."

"What?" He gawked at her.

"Call me Quinn." She replied in a sing-song voice. "I mean, really. Are you kidding me?" Billie whirled around and stormed off towards the kitchen.

Quinn knew that she'd be mad but he hadn't seen Billie this furious in a while. Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks were rosy. She looked gorgeous but his mother told him long ago never to tell a woman she looks beautiful when she's mad – otherwise she'll be mad at you all the time.

"Bill…" He tried to bite back a smile.

Billie wasn't nearly finished. "That woman was pathetic. I mean seriously – she was a half second away from throwing herself into your lap – and THE NERVE of her bringing up that I didn't go to school. Like hers did such a good job. If she's any indication apparently they let absolutely ANYONE be a social worker."

"Billie." Quinn tried again.

"You know what?" She continued as she threw the faucet on full blast. She squirted soap furiously over the dishes in the sink. "She should try and do what I did. I was EIGHTEEN when I got Ty. EIGHTEEN. And I raised him all alone until that pathetic, nasty bloodsucking cretin got his hands on my money AND once that happened? I think I actually did an even better job. So you know what?" She said again as she turned off the running water. "Ms. MONSTROUS can kiss my ass."

Quinn couldn't take it any longer. He smiled widely as he approached her carefully and whispered. "Are you done?"

"NO." She said bitterly as she tried to calm herself down.

"OK. First of all, you are the world's most incredible mother Billie. I am in such awe of you." He ran a hand over her cheek and leaned close. He tilted her chin in his hand and kissed her softly.

Billie's blood pressure was still raging, but now her knees were getting weak. "Quinn…" She whispered.

"Second of all, I know that she was throwing herself at me – but you must know I wasn't about to try and catch her."

"You better not." She glared at him. "If you know what's good for you…"

He took another step towards her, his hands resting on the edge of the sink, pinning her up against it and kissing her again. "You're good for me." He said as he pulled away. "You and Tyler – both of you are the very best things that ever happened to me. So if flirting a little with Ms. Monster…"

"I believe her correct name is Monstrous." Billie replied with a giggle.

"Excuse me. Monstrous." He corrected himself as he continued. "…makes it easier for me to adopt Ty then I'll do it. There's no way she'll ever get me away from you anyway."

"You better believe it." Billie replied as she wound her hands around his neck and pulled him back to her. She sighed as he kissed her again. "But let her try 'cause she has no idea who's she's up against."

"I love it when you act all tough." Quinn's laugh was lost on Billie's lips.

"I am tough." She replied, punching him in the arm.

"OW." He winced as he laughed again. "I bet I can break you." Quinn whispered against her neck as he scooped her up and carried her from the kitchen.

"You think so?" Billie laughed as she glanced at the clock. "I'm not so sure. We only have exactly thirty-five minutes before Ty comes home from school." She said as Quinn dropped her in the center of the bed.

He gave her a look that had her sighing again. "Then I better work fast." Quinn replied as he went about doing just that.