525600 Minutes

February-Maria

Disclaimer: I own no one!

A/N- FOUR reviews for an update! I NEED feedback!

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"Amy, I have a cold," Maria muttered, leaning back on the bed. She sighed, her belly supported by pillows. "I've got the sniffles, a cough and a slight fever,"

"Ria! You're going to miss meeting Jay's special guest,"

"You know who it is!"

"Why do you say that?"

"You haven't shut up about his special guest!"

"I've been sworn to secrecy until you meet him,"

"Him?"

"That's all you're getting out of me,"

"I don't want to expose Lola to my cold,"

"Fine. You want company?"

"I thought you wanted to meet his special guest."

"I know who it is."

"If you want to, come on over. Can't guarantee I'll be up to entertaining,"

"You don't have to be. If anything we can lounge in your bed with the soup I'm bringing,"

Maria sighed, glancing down at her belly. She felt terrible. Yet, as soon as the baby kicked, she felt better.

"Risa, your daddy should be calling soon," Maria murmured, cradling her belly. Carlos was only one or two days a week. She missed him like crazy but he was almost never home. He told her he needed the money to be able to afford taking paternity leave.

She must have dozed off because the next thing she saw was Amy hovering above her. "Trying to put me into labor?"

"You weren't answering and I was worried you had passed out," she murmured. "Chris told me he would see if Jay and his special guest would come over"

"A pre christening party without the Godmothers," Maria commented, squeezing Amy's hand.

They ate. They drank. They gossiped. Maria's bad cold didn't seem so bad, with Amy there to distract her.

"Can I feel her kick?" Amy asked, leaning onto a pile of pillows. Maria nodded, seizing Amy's hand. She placed her friend's hand under her belly.

"Did you feel it?" Maria asked. Amy nodded, her eyes shining. "Amazing, isn't it?"

"Each kick is so precious," Amy murmured. Maria nodded in agreement. "Did I tell you Chris kissed me?"

"No!" Maria squealed. "How could you forget to tell me that?"

Maria was happy to see Amy happy. In the all the tears Amy had been with Shane, Maria had never seen her so happy.

"I'm glad to see you so happy," she murmured. Amy nodded.

"What's wrong?"

Maria sighed, her emotions pouring out. "I don't know how I'm supposed to raise this baby or survive marriage if he's never home."

Amy took Maria in her arms and let her cry. "Have you tried talking to him?"

"When am I supposed to talk to him? He's never home!"

The further along she got in her pregnancy, the worse it seemed to get. At first, he had at least made the effort to be home. Now he was only home when he absolutely had to be.

"Guys are here," Amy murmured, her cell phone chirping. "Do you still want company?"

"I want to meet his special guest." She murmured. Amy nodded, moving toward the front door.

Chris, Jason and a third guy walked in. The third guy and his dual colored hair intrigued Maria. Who was he? Why was he holding Jason's hand?

"Maria, meet my boyfriend, Alex. Alex, this is my good friend, Maria," Jason murmured.

"Hello. Sorry that I'm not dressed but I'm very pregnant with a slight cold," she said, feeling slightly awkward.

"It's okay," Alex murmured, shaking her hand.

Then, the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"How are my girls?"

"I'm sick. Baby's fine."

"Sick?"

"I have a cold,"

"A Cold? Poor baby. Who's that in the background?"

"Jay's boyfriend"

"Okay,"

"Yeah. I'm crashed in the guest room in my Jammies surrounded by company,"

"Sweetie, I won't be home tomorrow,"

"Why not?"

"Vince can't spare me till Sunday,"

"Okay. Love you,"

"Ditto,"

Then, she hung up.

She had to maintain her composure. Then, she lost it.

Silently, she wept for the lonely week ahead of her.

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