Disclaimer: I do not own Strong Medicine or the characters. They belong to Whoopi Goldberg, and Tammy Ader, and Lifetime TV. Thanks to my proofreaders and editors! Sorry it took so long for me to get this chapter out...


About A Month Later

Lu finished her make-up and flipped the bathroom light off. She sighed as she walked into the bedroom.

Peter turned away from the dresser mirror, still fiddling with his tuxedo's bow tie, "What's wrong babe?" his forehead creased with concern.

Lu half sat down, half fell down on the bed. "Nothing." she lied.

"That sigh wasn't a nothing sigh." Peter walked over and knelt down on the floor in front of her.

She sighed again and rubbed her stomach. "Just tired... I just wanna stay home."

Peter reached up and touched her cheek, "I know sweetheart. We won't stay long, I promise. But Dr. Jackson would throw a fit if we didn't at least make a brief appearance at the biggest hospital fundraiser of the year."

Lu quickly wiped away tears, "Well then, why don't you just go on without me?"

Seeing her tears, Peter moved from the floor to the bed. He put his arm around Lu and pulled her close, "Hey, hey... What is it? huh? I know you're tired, but something else is bothering you too."

Lu pulled at the long black dress that clung lightly to her rounded stomach, "I'm fat."

Peter smiled and kissed her cheek, "You are not. You're beautiful."

"I'm a big, fat cow!" she insisted as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Peter chuckled and wiped away Lu's tears, "Darling, you are not." he gently rubbed her stomach, "You're six months pregnant, sweetheart. You're carrying our baby and I think you're the most beautiful woman in the world."

"You're just saying that." she sniffled.

"No, I'm not." he ran his fingers through her long dark hair, "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

"Really?" she asked as she wiped away a few tears.

"Really." Peter took Lu's face between his hands and kissed her deeply. "Really." he said again.

A small smile tugged at Lu's lips, "I'm sorry honey."

Peter kissed her forehead, "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"Stupid hormones!" she chuckled, "I love you."

"I love you too. And I really want you to go with me..." he smiled, "Save me from being bored to death at the bachelor auction."

"I guess I had better go. Somebody might try to auction you off again... and you're just not available this year." Lu teased her husband playfully.

Peter wrapped his arms around her, "Nope... and never again. I'm taken." he gently kissed her lips.

Lu returned his kiss and quietly added, "Forever."

Peter smiled as he stood and began fiddling with his bow tie again.

"You're hopeless," Lu laughed and slowly stood, "Come here and let me fix that."

Peter stepped over and stood in front of his wife. He kissed the top of her head as she easily tied his bow tie.

"There." she patted his chest.

"Thanks." he smiled and turned away to get his tuxedo jacket. "We won't stay very long." he promised as he pulled on his jacket. Hearing Lu growl, he turned around."Honey?" Peter raised an eyebrow and tried to stifle his laughter when he saw her leaned over, halfway buried in the closet, "What are you doing!"

Lu growled something in response, her voice muffled by their clothes.

Unable to contain it any longer, Peter busted out laughing as he walked over. "Honey... honey... honey... I can't understand a word you're saying." he gently pulled her out of the closet.

Lu blew out a frustrated breath, effectively blowing the hair out of her eyes, "I'm looking for my black flats and I can't find them." she sighed in exasperation.

"Here... go sit down baby. Let me find them for you." he tucked a few strands of stray hair behind Lu's ear, then leaned over in the closet to look for her shoes.

A moment later, Peter emerged with a pair of black dress shoes, "Are these the ones you want?" he asked as he held the shoes up.

She nodded from where she sat on the bed, then smiled at her husband as he knelt in front of her and slipped the shoes on her feet. "Thank you."

"Anytime." Peter stood and helped Lu to her feet. "Shall we go?"

Lu kissed his cheek as he linked her arm through his own and escorted her out.


Later That Night

Lu changed into her nightgown and crawled into bed next to Peter, "That was actually fun to watch." she said, referring to the bachelors' auction. "I can't believe that Ashlyn paid seven thousand dollars for the date with Nick!"

"What?" Peter smiled, "Are you bashing my best friend's worth?"

"Noooo!" Lu laughed as she leaned against the headboard and slid down in bed until she was reclining against her husband. "I'm just saying that the most the other bachelors brought in was five thousand dollars." she laid her head on Peter's chest and snuggled up as close to him as her growing stomach would allow.

"Well, he's always been a ladies' man." Peter reached behind Lu and rubbed her lower back.

"Ohhh that feels so good." she moaned

"You're so tense..." he frowned, "Lay down babe, let me give you a back rub."

Lu sighed gratefully and slid down in the bed.

Peter rolled Lu over on her side and pressed firmly just above her hips.

She gasped in surprise then slowly began to relax.

"That's it... just relax." he soothed as he began to rub her lower back in slow, firm circles.

Lu groaned and tears slipped from her eyes as the tension in her lower back began to melt away.

Peter reached around and wiped her tears away, "Close your eyes darling."

"I'm sorry... I'm just tired." she mumbled as she obediently shut her eyes.

"You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for." he picked up an extra pillow and placed it between her knees.

Lu sighed in relief as the pillow took even more of the pressure off of her back.

Peter returned to rubbing just above her hips in slow, firm circles. "Don't fight sleep dearheart, just give in to it and rest."

"Thank you." Lu mumbled just before falling into an exhausted sleep.


A Little Over Two Months Later

Andy walked into the ER and called out, "Who paged Campbell?"

"I did." Nick responded from a few feet away.

Andy stepped over to the gurney, "Let me hear it."

"No, no. It's not a patient." Nick moved away, allowing another doctor to take over.

"What?" Andy frowned in confusion.

"Not an ER patient anyways..." Nick looked across the crowded ER and pointed.

Following Nick's motion, Andy sighed when she saw Lu frantically trying to save a patient.

"I've tried and tried to get her to leave," Nick explained, "But she's been going non-stop from patient to patient."

"How long has she been in here?" Andy's voice was filled with concern.

Nick glanced at the clock on the wall before replying, "Almost three hours."

"Good grief." Andy sighed, "Alright, thanks. I'll take care of it." she start to walk away but thinking twice, she stopped and turned back. "Come with me so you can take over."

Nick nodded and followed close behind.

"Lu?" Andy approached from behind.

"Yeah?" Lu glanced over her shoulder before quickly returning her attention to her patient.

"Come on. It's time to go." Andy took the IV bag from Lu and handed it to a nearby nurse.

"Andy!" Lu exclaimed, "I'm in the middle of something!"

"Nick's got it under control." Andy nodded as Nick stepped forward and took over caring for the patient.

"But..." Lu started to protest.

Refusing to take no for an answer, Andy put her hands on Lu's shoulders and turned her around. "Let's go." she wrapped her arm around Lu's shoulders and slowly led her out of the ER.


A Few Minutes Later In The RWHC Lobby

"Sit down." Andy said as Lana rolled a chair over and held it behind Lu.

"I'm fine." Lu insisted.

"Uh huh." Lana put one hand on Lu's shoulder and gently pushed, making Lu sit down in the chair. "You're due in less than a month girl! You've got to take it easy."

"It's time to focus on you and your baby." Andy eyed Lu sternly.

"Andy..." Lu sighed heavily, "I know my limits."

"You know, Ma... you really should listen to them." a quiet voice responded from behind.

"Marc?" Lu rolled the chair around and looked behind her in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

He laughed and stepped over, "Hi Ma. Good to see you too." he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"No, no, no, no. It's not that. I'm happy to see you." she hurried to explain as she wrapped her arms around her son's neck and hugged him tightly, "I'm just surprised. You're supposed to be at school in Arizona."

Marc hugged Lu and kissed her cheek again, "I arranged to finish this semester from home. Do you really think I'd miss my baby brother's birth?" he smiled and gently rubbed her protruding stomach.

Lu smiled, "I'm glad you're home."

"Me too." he put his arm around his mom's waist and slowly pulled her to her feet, "Now... let's get you home."

"And off your feet." Andy quickly added.

Marc smiled and nodded at Andy and Lana as he slowly led Lu out of the clinic.

Lana shook her head and laughed, "I knew that kid could convince her."

"He's her heart." Andy nodded in agreement as she watched Marc drive away with Lu.


Three Weeks Later

The sounds of movement slowly pulled Marc from a dream. He rolled over in bed and rubbed his eyes. Turning his head to the right he blinked as the bright green numbers of his alarm clock seemed to glow mockingly at him. 2:24 AM. He sat up and shook his head from side to side, trying to shake the remnants of the dream from his mind.

The sounds of movement in the next room now invaded his conscious thought as he swung his legs off the bed and planted his feet on the floor. Marc stood and made his way from his bedroom to the living room. "Ma?" he asked quietly when he saw a figure moving in the darkness.

Lu slowly blew out a breath before responding, "Yeah?"

Marc reached over and turned the lamp on, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Lu squeezed her eyes shut at the sudden brightness that filled the living room.

"Then why are you up this early in the morning?" he eyed his mom nervously.

Lu sighed and rubbed her stomach, "Early labor pains."

"Labor!" Marc exclaimed. Suddenly wide awake, he turned and ran towards Lu and Peter's bedroom. "Peter!"

"Honey..." Lu called after him.

"Peter!" Marc yelled.

"Marc," Lu called again, "He's not here."

"What do you mean he's not here!" the panic in Marc's voice rose as he quickly returned to the living room.

"He got paged to the hospital about three hours ago on an emergency." she explained.

"Emergency! THIS is the emergency!" he paced the floor, speaking rapidly, "What do I do Ma? Tell me what to do!" he whirled around to face Lu.

"Calm down son." she smiled, "I'm still in early labor."

"How long have you been having pains?" Marc asked nervously.

"Eh... Around three and a half hours." Lu shrugged.

"And you STILL call this early labor? I can't believe Peter left when you're in labor!" he stared at Lu in astonishment.

"He doesn't know." she responded as she took a few steps with her hand on her lower back.

"What?" Marc's jaw dropped in shock.

"I didn't tell him." Lu walked over to the couch.

"Why not?" a look of confusion now replaced the shock that was on Marc's face a moment before.

"Because..." Lu leaned over and held onto the back of the couch, "It could be hours."

"What is it? What's wrong?" he walked over and put his hand on his mom's lower back.

Unable to answer, she closed her eyes and tightened her grip on the couch as a contraction rumbled through her stomach all the way to her back.

"Ma?" Marc's forehead creased in concern, "Ma?" he asked more insistently when she didn't answer.

With one hand, Lu tightened her grip on the couch even more and waved him off with her other hand. She pressed her lips together, slowly breathing through the pain.

"MA! This is NOT early labor!" Marc screamed, panic completely taking over as Lu's water broke, drenching the carpet where she stood...