An Unexpected Love: Guess who's Pregnant?

by tarskeewee08

(Evangeline's POV)

The seat on this plane is so uncomfortable; I mean do they consider the fact that child bearing women fly planes too! I look out of the window and sigh. Mom said on the phone this morning she was still in a coma, my god what happened? Now here I am a week from seven months and about to show up in Llanview pregnant for the world to see.

No one knows of my pregnancy and now my mother and uncle will find out like this. I considered telling her on the phone but I lost my nerve. Sighing I shift uncomfortably in my seat as I hear the pilot announce our descent. Looking over out the window I can see the Buchanan Towers as we fly over. My heart aches for my sister and I am sick with worry, I'm also terrified of seeing him again.

Fastening my seat belt I lift my seat and say a silent prayer that he's not at the hospital. I need to deal with my family first before him. I can't handle them all at once. Nora assured me he was out trying to find a lead on who ran my sister off the road. John is convinced that this was done intentionally to her. But why? Layla didn't have any enemies.

Bracing as the plane touches down I sigh and gather my strength for the holy war that's about to break loose when I step off this plane.

(John's POV)

"Rex I need to know more about this incident at Ultra violet" John hisses.
"I can't tell you anymore than that. There are confidentiality issues for my clients. Plus that incident was more about me than Layla. This guy wasn't…."
John gets up from his desk and gets into Rex face "Listen to me Balsom, I don't have time for your shit today. She could very well die. I want to know everything you know about this Leo Caprone."

Rex steps back and frowns "Don't you think I want to help her! She's my girlfriend for Christ sake!"

John runs his hands through his hair. He was hitting a brick wall. Listening to the dispatch call reporting the accident the woman said she was passing by when the car flipped there was no mention of another car causing the accident. Tracing the call it was found to be from a payphone several miles away. This made no sense. He looked down at his watch. Nora told him Evangeline's plane landed at 11 and it was already 12 minutes after. She was here. He needed to see her and not just for this case. He needed to see that she was okay.

"I want that file on the biker gang and this young girl that's with them that you're trying to locate. Have it on my desk before the end of the day!" I say walking to the coat hanger in my office and grabbing my coat before slamming out. Natalie looks up at me. "Can we talk John?"

I keep walking. I have no time for her. I need to get to the hospital and meet Vangie.

Llanview Airport

(Evangeline's POV)

"Evangeline!" Nora screams rushing toward me. I smile excitedly and let go the handle of my carryon bag walking into her embrace. She squeezes me and steps back amazed at my girth. "Oh my god look at you!" she exclaims.

I undo my coat so she can have full view of my precious bundle of joy riding shotgun in my belly. Nora puts her hand to my belly and her eyes tear. People walk around us that are coming off the plane some smiling and some frowning at the scene we are making.

"Has she kicked?" Nora asked
"All the way here" I say laughing. She's stopped now, I notice when people touch my belly she gets real still. Guess she's shy that way.
Nora nods and drops her hand. She steps back and looks at me. "Girl you didn't think that coat would cover it did you?"

I laugh and close it back. "Do I just look fat?" I ask hopeful.
"No! You look pregnant and radiant."
I shake my head sadly. "Everyone's going to flip and I don't have time for that. This is about Layla. Speaking of her how is she?"

Nora grabs the handle of my carry on and pulls it along, we both start walk down the terminal to baggage claim. "She's the same Van, I spoke to your mom 20 minutes ago telling her that your plane was on time. She said the doctors see normal brainwaves but are growing increasingly worried that she has awakened yet."

My heart is in my throat and I try to swallow it down. My beautiful, vibrant, adventurous sister is in a coma and I'm helpless to help her. Walking next to Nora in silence I see the faces of young women around her age pass me by rushing to and from flights. What if I lost her? What if she comes back different? What if her life is ruined now because of some maniac that decided to hurt her?

Feeling my baby kick I know she is doing it to tell me to stop worrying. Rubbing my belly I smile and keep walking, well at this point I waddle more than I walk. Nora looks over at me in my long black trench my hair in a tasteful bun and I large gold hoop earrings hanging from my ears. I look totally different than when she last seen me. I feel totally different.

"You sure you will be okay for this. John knows what time your flight landed. He needs your help on locating Layla's attacker."

I look at her and frown at both statements "You didn't have to tell him that I was coming today Nora, I need to time to get acclimated."

Nora shook her head sadly "Vange you know the drill, every minute counts if we are going to catch this guy. I really think that John is working the case not trying to get next to you."

I stop in the middle of the terminal and put my hands on my hips. "Are you kidding me? Of course he could careless about me but do you honestly think that when he sees my pregnancy he will give a flip about the case! He will loose all focus and I need him working to help my sister. We could have had this conversation over the phone!"

Nora runs her hand through her hair and sighs "How is that possible when you won't let the man have your phone number!"

I laugh and so does she. Shaking my head I start to walk again. "I guess you got a point."
"Well he won't be at the hospital. Let's just deal with Lisa and Clay, then we'll handle John" my friend says putting her arm around my shoulders. I smile "Oh brothers…."

Hospital
(John's POV)

Walking to Layla's floor I immediately see Clay talking to the nurse at the nurse station. Walking over he looks up at me and scowls. "Clay how is she?" I ask ignoring the growing frown.

"Not good she has a fever and your brother says that means she has an infection. They're trying to get it down but with her in the coma they don't want to heavily medicate her. Right now they're using antibiotics."

I looked at the exhausted look on his face and felt sorry for him. "I'm sorry"
Clay looked me "Evangeline is on her way and I don't want you upsetting her! Lisa filled me in on your break up and her running away to Seattle of all places!"

I blink at him surprised. "Seattle?"
"Yes, she doesn't think we know where she went but her mother is resourceful. She hasn't spoken to the family since she left Llanview. We have to get updates from her girlfriend in this town" he hissed.

I can't get over the fact she went to Seattle? Then for her not to speak to her family doesn't sound right. "Why would she cut ties with you guys?"

"That's what I want to know!" Clay snaps moving into my space. "I mean you broke up last spring so what on earth would make her run from town the way she did?"

Shaking my head I can't find the words. I'm dumbfounded that she went to this extreme. Had I hurt her that bad? Of course I did, what am I saying. But Seattle Evangeline? Why Seattle?

Hearing Lisa behind me I turn and look. "Clay behave. John is helping finding who hit my baby, I don't want you alienating him."

I look at Lisa surprised by the support. She's standing there smiling at me in gray slacks and matching turtleneck. Her hair is pulled back in a bun giving a full view of her face. I look at her swollen puffy eyes and understand her pain. Taking her hand I smile back at her. "Thank you Ms. Williamson."

She pats my shoulder reassuringly. "I know we haven't gotten along in the past but I'm so worried about my daughter. Do you have any idea who caused this accident? Was it because of the weather?"

Dropping her hand I run my hands through my hair. Looking at both their faces I don't know what to say. "I'm not sure but I am certain that it was intentional. I just can't get a handle on who would want to hurt her."

Lisa nods sadly and then I see her eyes grow large. She puts her hand to her mouth in complete shock. I look at Clay's face and he's wearing a look of angry shock as well. Both of them are standing before me stunned and I turn around to see what has garnered this reaction.

Coming off the elevator is Evangeline. My heart stops at the sight of her. Though she's trying to cover it with her trench she is round and pregnant. I look her up and down. Her skin is glowing and her brown eyes sparkling with the new life she's carrying. The gold hoops hanging from ears are swaying lightly and I swear she looks like an Angel.

She looks at me and her family in shock to being caught off guard by all three of us like this and Nora puts her arm around her. I can't believe that she's pregnant and if I don't breathe again soon I will pass out from holding my breath.

She steps toward us bravely and smiles slightly "Hey…"

(Evangeline's POV)

Nora and I laugh on the elevator at how quickly Lisa will notice I'm pregnant and I say once again that I hope that I see mom first and not her with Uncle Clay. The elevator door opens and the bottom of my world falls out from under me. Standing in the lobby is not only momma but John and Clay. She and Clay see me and the looks on their faces breaks my heart. John turns around and I swear the man looks as if he is going to faint.

I can't speak at facing all three of them at once. Nora puts her arm around me and I find the strength to walk. I smile not knowing what to do "Hey…."

Lisa pushes pass John and Clay who still can't close their mouths. "Cookie? What in the world?" she immediately puts her hand on my belly and tears well in her eyes. She looks up at me hurt "How could you not tell me Cookie, my god"

"Hey momma" I say and pull her into a hug

Clay finally comes out of his trance. "Cookie, how could this be? I don't understand…" he says in a cracked voice.

I see disappointment on his face and it hurts me badly. My baby isn't a disappointment. This is why I didn't want to tell anyone. I'm so happy for the blessing god has given me. I don't need to make any excuses for it. Looking past Clay I see John glaring at me. He has his hands on his hips the way he does when he's trying to keep in control. His jaw is clenched and those blue eyes are blazing with betrayal and outrage at my keeping this from him.

I look back at Clay. "We can talk about my pregnancy later. First I want to know how my sister is." I say letting go of my mother.

Mom looks over at Clay he folds his arms and glares at me. "Cookie, how could you do something like this and not tell us. We are your family! Is it because that man didn't want you? So you run off and hide like this!" Clay shouts.

Mom turns on him "Stop it Clayton Williamson right now! Don't you dare attack her. She is a grown woman and has every right to handle her life and life choices the way she sees fit. My daughter is in that room fighting for her life and I will not have you put another child of mine in the hospital with stress. Look at her!" Mom turns around on me and points at my belly. "How far along are you Cookie?"

I look at John who is reeling from the insult Uncle Clay hurled his way. "Almost seven month's mom."

John rubs his jaw and holds his glare. I look back at Uncle Clay. "I don't want to discuss my pregnancy with you. Are we clear?"

Clay rolls his eyes "I need some air" he says storming away.
Nora rubs my back and looks at mom. "How is she Lisa?"
"She has a fever now. It's an infection."
I put my hand over my mouth. "No, what are they doing about it?"
Mom shakes her head "They have her on antibiotics, but so far there has been no change."

Nora touches my mom's shoulder. "Have you eaten?"
She looks at me. "Cookie, why didn't you tell me about the baby? My god would you have had the baby by yourself and not let me share that with you?" she asked visibly hurt.

I touch my moms face. "I am so sorry mommy. I was wrong for not telling you. I guess I just didn't know how."

Nora sees John still standing back waiting patiently to speak. She grabs Lisa's hand. "Come on lets get you something to eat."

Mom looks back at John then at me. She understands in that moment that John had no idea either. Touching my face gently she smiles "Don't stress yourself, you hear me baby. Talk to him but if it gets out of hand drop it and move on. I don't want anything happening to my cookie or grandbaby." she says touching my stomach again.

I smile at her "Thank you mom"
She nods and walks away. I watch them leave down the hall. Looking back I see John and the tears in his eyes affect me. But I don't owe him anything after all the tears I have shed for this man. He doesn't move he just stands there staring.

So I take the first step and stare back. "Well are you going to say something?"

An Unexpected Love: I love you

by tarskeewee08

She's pregnant? She told her mom almost seven months pregnant? Looking at her my anger has a stranglehold on my throat and I can't speak. She looks up at me when her mom walks away. How could she do this to me? How could she do this to us!

"Well are you going to say something?" she asks standing less than 2 feet from me.

I grab her by the arm and she doesn't resist. Going to the first door I see I push her in. Closing the door I glare at her as she walks over to the empty bed and lays down her purse. She unbuttons her coat taking it off she tosses it to the bed. She's wearing a navy blue maternity turtle neck and blue wide leg pants. Across her neck is a long gold beaded chain that matches the gold hoops in her ears and gold bangles on her wrist. As always she exudes class and grace under any circumstance. Her pregnancy flatters her look as oppose to detracting from it.

I look down at her swollen belly then back up to her face. The pain of her excluding me from my child makes me want to grab her and shake her fiercely. Tears are in my eyes and I blink several times causing one or two to fall.

She looks away after seeing my anger and sighs "Look John…"
"How could you!" I growl at her
She looks back up angrily. "What?"
Taking a step toward her I clench my fist. "You ran from me pregnant? You left town carrying my child and kept it from me! What type of woman are you!"

Her face flashes a look of shock, hurt then anger. "What type of woman am I? Maybe the type of woman that knows that the father of my child is too weak and self loathing to offer anything to the baby I'm carrying!" she hisses

I swallow as her words pierce my heart. I fight the urge to let go my rage and take a deep breath "I would never abandon you or my son!"

She laughs. "First of all John it's a girl! Second, you abandoned me the moment you made love to me again then dismissed it in front of her!"

"I tried Van, I called and begged you to hear me out. I even threw her out! You didn't give me a chance. You gave up like you always do!"

She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes on me. "Give up? I gave a year of my life centered on nothing but patience and understanding. You spent that year chasing behind the eternal victim and trampling over my heart!" she said through clenched teeth.

"It may have not been perfect for us Van but I never betrayed you to the magnitude of this! I had a right to know damn you! Who are you to exclude me from the life of my child! If Layla hadn't had this accident you would have kept me from her birth. From her first words and first steps! I would have missed her learning how to ride a bike or the first day of school? "

"You still will! This changes nothing. We don't need or want you!" she snapped glaring at me.

I walk closer to her and now we are face to face. "Well you don't have a choice. That's my baby you're carrying and you won't keep me from her!"

She laughed and her laughter was cruel and unlike her. "I won't have to! You'll do that for me by running around chasing ghost and babysitting that redheaded idiot you claim to love!"

I grab her arm forcefully and her smile fades. "Stop it! Stop this now! We love each other. What is wrong with you!"

She pulls free. "Pain John! That's what's wrong with me. The kind of pain that makes you feel worthless and unloved. The kind of pain that keeps you up at night pacing, wondering what you could have done or said differently. The kind of pain that haunts your dreams, never allowing you any escape or release. That's what's wrong with me. And you're responsible for it all!"

I look at her sadly. I think of when she told me that it was over because I said the word LOVE to Natalie. I think of when she was tied to a burning stake and I saved Natalie first. I think of my visit to her hospital room when I couldn't tell her how happy I was she was alive. I think of her helping me rescue Natalie to watch me walk away to another woman ignoring her sacrifice. I think of her arriving at the station to see me and Natalie kiss before I told her that I moved on without her. I think of her finding out the secret of Christian's identity.

She turns from me and puts her hand on her belly and then over to her forehead smoothing her hair backward into her tight bun in the back. I touch her shoulder "Evangeline please"

She moves away "Don't touch me.."
"Why are we doing this?" I ask sadly. "We're going to be parents, this is the most exciting thing Van."
"I don't want you in our lives." she says refusing to turn around and look at me.
"How could you say that? Are you no longer in love with me?" I ask and my fear of her response has me now sweating with dread.

She remains silent. I know she can't admit to not loving me. That's one lie should would not tell.

"I don't want you in our lives."

I shake my head looking at her back "That's not for you to decide. I won't let you go!"
She turned and looked over her shoulder. "The hell it isn't! I'm here for Layla John, when she's better me and my child are returning to our life in Seattle."

"You won't be going back to Seattle to have her alone. I will fight you Van; I'll put up a fight like you have never seen." I say staring at her with fierce determination.

She turns all the way around and looks me up and down. "How will Natalie feel about your divided interest?"
"What does she have to do with this?" I ask irritated.
"She's your girlfriend? Right? She won't be around my baby!"
"Evangeline Natalie is nothing to me. She has nothing to do with us and our baby."

"Whatever….I want to know what's going on with the investigation of my sisters accident." She says looking away.

"Don't you dare change the subject. We aren't through. I want to discuss where we go from here."

"Have you not been listening to me!" she shouts. "We aren't going anywhere. I won't spend my pregnancy around you and this pain between us. It's not good for me or the baby! I want you to stay away."

I look at her hurt. "Evangeline…" I say walking back to her. I touch her arm gently and she shrugs. I put my hand to her belly and she freezes. The feeling of me touching her there weakens her defense. I see it on her face and in her eyes. They tear and she closes them slowly. It's as if time slows down for us both and a wave of love washes over both of us. Before I can hold onto that moment she comes out of it and pushes my hand away.

"I'm tired I need to leave and rest." she says going to the bed to get her coat. I step over blocking her way. "No baby don't go, stay with me we have to work this out."

She finally shows emotion and her lip quivers. "Why can't you just leave us alone. We don't need you John. Go back to your Natalie and live with your lies and secrets. I don't want that anywhere near my child."

Her words have a sense of finality that force tears from me. My voice cracks and I know now in this moment if she leaves I lose her and my daughter. I lose them for good. This is my only window of opportunity to reach her. "I love you"

She looks up at me and a brief smile flashes across her face. I swear her initial reaction was of shock and great joy. The glow in her eyes heals the pain in my heart for her trying to force me away from my child. I have my Vangie back. I smile to greet it but it fades quickly to a heartbreaking look of pain. "You liar! I don't believe you!"

I look at her shocked "I'm not lying Van, I love you and I always have."
She puts her coat back on while watching me. "A confession of love because I tell you that I will try to keep you from our daughter, sounds like a man desperate to have what he wants. Just like the man that hid a secret of a man's identity to get that mans wife into bed. A liar!"

I shake my head looking at her. "If you want to hurt me you can stop now because the moment you walked off that elevator carrying my baby and knowingly concealing it from me you ripped open my heart. I don't need to know the many ways I failed you Van, I live with the guilt and sorrow of loosing the most important thing in the world to me everyday."

"Well I can agree with that, you're the King of Guilt." she says smirking now putting her purse on her shoulder.

"Who are you? Where is the woman that I loved? The woman that believed in love and the goodness in others? You are going to have our child, this is a new beginning for us. You say you want me to stay away to keep the baby from my deceit and demons, but instead you want to raise her with your bitterness an anger over me failing you!"

I see my words have an affect. The cold glare in her chestnut brown eyes melts and the flame of love we share shimmered weakly underneath. I saw in her eyes the hope she still held onto that I would fight for her. That I would fight for our baby. She's pushing me away to test me. It's clear to me now. She wants to know if I'd give it all up to make her number one. I finally understand.

"John, when you have information on my sister call me. I will be staying at the condo and the number is the same." she says coolly pushing past me.

I turn and watch her head to the door "Evangeline, I won't let you run from me. There is no place on this planet you can run to with my baby that I won't find you and bring you home. I will have you again and we will be a family."

She stands still and absorbs what I said, then after several painful seconds she grabs the handle of the door and walks out. I watch her coat breeze behind her as she leaves.

Weak from our confrontation and the discovery of my unplanned parenthood I sit back on the bed behind me. I'm going to be a father. After all the pain and anger over her concealing it I can now finally feel the joy and excitement of having a baby. She said it's a girl. I look back at the door and sigh "We're having a baby" I say under my breath and smile.

(Evangeline's POV)

Closing the door I finally let go of the tears inside of me. My heart hurts so badly at the things said in that room. I lean against the door and try to regain control, crying I think of his anger and pain at me concealing my pregnancy and part of me wants to run back into his arms and tell him I'm sorry. But I can't, I can't trust that he won't hurt me or my baby. I hear him saying he loved me again and the tears come down harder. God how I wanted to hear those words, I've dreamt many nights of him saying them to me in different ways, but never with me carrying our child and my sister down the hall lying in a coma. Holding my stomach crying more now my body shakes with tears and I really feel that I'm going to loose it and slip to the floor.

"Evangeline?"
I open my eyes to see Michael standing in front of me with a look of shock. "Mike…."

He comes to me and pulls me into his arms. Hugging him I cry into his chest. He rubs my back and kiss my cheek. "Evangeline, you're pregnant?" he says in my ear confused.

All I can do is cry. He takes me into his chest and walks me down the hall to his office. I regret crying like this and I thought I could handle John but that confrontation destroyed me. The things I said to him, the look of disgust on his face at my excluding him. It really hurt me.

Michael takes me to the chair in his office and sits me down gently. Going to his desk which is covered in papers and files he grabs a tissue from the tissue box. He gets down in front of me and starts to wipe at my face. My eyes are closed and I'm wheezing through my tears.

"Evangeline you have to calm down. Please…just breathe."
I struggle to catch my breath and some sense of calmness comes to me. Finally opening my eyes I see the warm look of friendship on Michael's face. "Hi Mike" I say smiling weakly.

He touches my face "Hey kid…"
I smile at him and we stare at each other for minutes. He speaks first. "Okay, you got some explaining to do lady." he says chuckling.
I laugh too. "Hey look at me. You can guess the beginning because you've seen the middle and we both know how this will end."

Mike shakes his head sadly "Van he would never abandon you and this baby. Why keep him in the dark over something like this? Does he know?"

I bite down on my lower lip and nod. "Those tears you saw were from him and the fact that my sister could be dying. I haven't allowed myself to adjust to the idea that I could loose her. Before we talk about the baby Mike tell me how she is. What's going on with her?"

Mike gets up and goes to his desk. Sitting on the edge of it he folds his arms. I see his eyes keep traveling to my stomach and I can understand his shock. He may even be angry, I mean he is the baby's uncle.

"Layla has an infection and so far she's not responding to the antibiotics. The good news is that the fever hasn't risen further, and her temperature is holding at 100. The bad news is that she's in a coma and if the fever elevates further she could have seizures or worse."

I put my hand to my mouth and more tears fall. I didn't know I had more tears left in me after the torrential downpour of sorrow and regret in the hallway.

"I need to see her Mike" I say weakly.
He nods and stands. "Let me take you to her."

(John's POV)

Coming out of the room I wipe at my eyes and try to calm myself. Dropping my hands I look up to see Clay sitting in the lobby glaring at me. Our eyes meet and he rises and walks over. I am in no mood for this.

"You…."
"Before you say anything Clay, I had no idea she was pregnant." I say aggravated.
"Of course you didn't. I mean according to her mother you never loved her, but by the looks of her you had no problem enjoying her!"

I ball my fist and prepare to swing at him. I could punch that smug look off his face. I could break his damn jaw for talking about my love for Evangeline that way.

"Back off!" I hiss trying to walk away. Clay side steps me and looks up into my face angrily.

"My cookie is a baby mama to a lowly cop that broke her heart and cast her feelings aside for some trailer park adulteress who isn't fit to wash her car. Oh I know the whole sorted detail. The rags to riches story of Natalie Buchanan Vega, how you caused the death of her first husband and then concealed his identity while you kept my niece in your bed. I know of how she almost died because of her relationship with you. See John I did my homework when Cookie flew off and turned away from her family. I just couldn't after reading all of that and seeing her still survive it, understand what would make her run? Now I know! You disgust me!"

Listening to him I feel nothing. After what Evangeline said to me earlier how can I? Her words hurt and tore at my spirit. There's nothing Clay can say to make me feel any worse.

I unclench my fist and look back into his angry eyes. He loves her too and if I was him I would feel the same way. Hell I'm going to have a daughter. She bring home a John McBain I might I draw my pistol on him. But the truth is the truth. And the truth is I love her and my child. I want them back.

"I love her and she will know that soon." I say hoarsely and shoulder past him going to the elevator. Pushing the button I can't escape the hospital soon enough, I need to escape and regroup. I need to come up with a plan to get her back. I need to find a way to reach her.