Blanche stared at the ceiling of the ambulance, cold, her hands shaking. Dorothy say beside her talking quietly to keep her calm.

Blanche put her hands on her stomach and wondered if she was losing the baby.

I certainly deserve it, she thought bitterly, I'm a horrible mother and its not like I wanted the baby to begin with. I deserve this for how awful I've been.

She went ridged as another pain we through her midsection. Dorothy took her hand.

"It's going to be okay, Blanche, you're going to be fine."

"This is my fault." Blanche whimpered. "I've done nothing but complain about this baby since I found out about it."

"You didn't do anything wrong, Blanche." Dorothy assured her.

"Horseback riding, hiking, swimming." Blanche recited. "I drank wine and cocktails all weekend. I had sex too many times. I may not have deliberately harmed the baby but I've been reckless with my body." She started crying.

Dorothy held her. "It's going to be okay, honey."

"We're almost there, Blanche." The EMT said. "Just try and stay calm."

Blanche peered desperately at Dorothy. "I don't want to lose my baby, Dorothy."

XXXXXXXXXX

The doctor made them wait and Blanche thought she might die before he came.

Her cramps had lightened but were consistent and her bleeding, while light was as well.

Dorothy sponged Blanche's sweating brow. "It's going to be alright, sweetie."

Blanche cried quietly, her heart pounding. "Where the hell is the doctor?"

The door opened and a young doctor in loose, baggy green scrubs. "I'm Dr. Gerber. I understand you're having some bleeding and cramping?"

"Where have you been? She's been here for an hour and a half." Dorothy demanded.

"Its a busy day, ma'am." Dr. Gerber said emotionlessly. He checked the chart. "Mrs. Devereaux, how are you doing?"

"It's just Ms." Blanche said between pained pants. "I'm widowed."

Dr. Gerber smiled mutedly. "We're going to do an ultrasound and find out what's going on. You're over thirty-five and this is not your first child?"

"Only a little over thirty-five." Blanche said charmingly. "And, this is my fifth child."

"We're gonna take good care of you, Ms. Devereaux." Dr. Gerber said. "It'll only be a few more minutes." He left the room.

"You could be losing the baby and there could be a chance to save it and they're waiting." Dorothy said angrily. She got up and started pacing. "I mean, how can they do this." She turned and pointed at Blanche. "If you lose this baby we will sue."

"Dorothy, come and sit by me, hold my hand." Blanche requested. "I'm scared."

Dorothy did as she asked. "This hospital is terrible."

"We've never had a bad experience here before." Blanche said.

The door opened and an ultrasound tech wheeled a sonogram machine in. "Hi, I'm Tanya. Hope you're doing well, despite the circumstances. Let's see what's going on." She lift Blanche's gown and squirted ultrasound gel on the small mound of swollen flesh that was growing from her midsection. She pressed the wand in the gel and moved it around.

Blanche and Dorothy stared intently at the screen.

A fuzzy woo-woo-woo noise filled the room.

"The baby has a strong heartbeat." The tech observed. "Good size, appears to be normal. The fluid in the amniotic sac is fine." She moved the wand lower and squinted. "Hmm, I'm going to need to do an internal ultrasound but it appears the placenta is growing over the uterine opening that leads to the cervix. Its not uncommon. I'll have the doc come take a look

"

"I'm not losing the baby?" Blanche asked hopefully.

"Doesn't look that way." Tanya said with a smile. She left the room.

"Oh, thank goodness." Dorothy breathed in relief.

Blanche closed her eyes and smiled. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

XXXXXXXXX

"If you need anything you just call, honey." Rose urged, tucking Blanche in bed. "I can scratch your back, adjust your pillows, bring you a snack or a drink. Change the TV channel for you-",

"Thank you, Rose." Blanche interrupted. "I'll call you if I need you." She smiled at her friend. "You've already been too sweet to me."

"I'll be right down the hall." Rose said. "Just call."

"Thank you." Blanche sang. "I think I'll take a little nap."

"Want me to sing to you?" Rose offered.

"Oh, I have a little headache all of a sudden, honey, but thank you." Blanche declined.

"Right out here." Rose repeated. She pulled the door to.

Blanche exhaled in relief and grabbed a copy of Reader's Digest. The phone rang and she grabbed it. "Hello?"

"Hello, my dear." Don greeted.

"Oh, Don, how are you?" Blanche said happily, tossing the magazine aside.

"I'm good, thinking of you." Don said. "Are you feeling better?"

"A little, but you should still stay away, I'm still contagious." Blanche lied. "I'll let you know when you can come over."

"I guess we'll both have higher phone bills this month." Don laughed. "I intend to call you everyday."

"I hope you do." Blanche said. "I like hearing your voice." She put a hand on her belly protectively. "Makes me feel good."

"I want to make you feel good." Don said in a low voice. "In more ways than one."

Blanche out a hand on her cheek. "Are you at work?"

"I'm in my office. No one can hear me." Don assured her.

Blanche grinned. "Well, why don't I tell you what I'm wearing?"

"Oh, ho ho." Don laughed. "Please do."

"Well, its a little red silk number with teeny tiny little straps." Blanche lied. She looked at her blue and white cotton gown in the mirror and shrugged. "Its got a very low neck and a very low back. And, its just a little too big for me so the straps just keep slipping on down my shoulders and chest."

"Oh?" Don murmured.

Blanche smiled. "And, there's nothing underneath it."

She heard the sound of his deep, even breath becoming irregular and smirked. "Its very thin silk, you can see my whole shape through it." She listened for a moment, stifling a giggle. "When I walk it clings to me like wet silk."

She heard him let out a strangled gasp and grinned. "But, I've gotten a little chilly so I'm putting on a robe."

Don laughed breathlessly. "I bet its real nice. I want to see it sometime."

"I'll make sure you do." Blanche promised. "How is work?"

"Boring when compared to you." Don answered. "Are you sure I can't see you tonight?"

"This afternoon isn't enough?" Blanche laughed.

"Once with you is never enough." Don stated. "You're unlike anyone or anything else, Blanche."

"Oh, you naughty man." Blanche chuckled. "I have to go. I'll talk to you soon."

"Goodbye, my dear." Don said. "I...I love you, Blanche."

Blanche smiled, slow and wide. "I love you, too." She felt a rush of emotion. "Talk soon." She hung up and smiled tearfully. "He loves me."

XXXXXXXX

"Jeanne was an absolute delighr." Blanche said after the woman had left the catch her flight. She sat back on the sofa. "But, I admit, I'm glad to have the house back."

"We certaintly won't forget the visit anytime soon." Rose said cheerfully.

"Well, now that she's gone," Blanche said with a sigh, "I have some news." She showed them the large diamond ring on her hand. "Don asked me to marry him."

The girls gasped.

"When did this happen?" Dorothy asked.

"Back a few weeks when he came to see me." Blanche said. "He said he knew it was quick but he knew a sure-thing when it was in front of him."

"What a kind man, agreeing to marry a woman carrying another man's baby," Rose marveled, "I'm not sure I could do it, knowing she'd been with so many men that she doesn't know who the father is."

Blanche gave her an insulted look. "Thanks, Rose."

"Why did you wait so long to say anything, honey?" Dorothy asked.

"I was just thinking, I guess." Blanche said simply, "I wasn't sure. I am now. I want to marry him. He makes me happy in a way no man has in a great deal of time. Since George, maybe." She smiled softly. "Will you girls support me, us?"

"Oh, you know we will." Rose said happily. "A wedding and a baby! What good news!"

Dorothy gave Blanche a hard, knowing look. "Blanche, you have told Don about the baby, haven't you?"

Blanche smiled nervously. "Well, uh, well, I suppose I haven't in so many words."

"Blanche!" Dorothy exclaimed. "You cannot keep this from him. He has to know. You can't just spring this on him."

"I know." Blanche whined. "Its hard. Here I've finally found someone who loves me for me and I love him and we're so happy and its just gonna ruin everything."

"I told you that you needed to tell him about the baby at the beginning." Dorothy stated. "If it ruins everything it'll be your own fault. Blanche, you are showing now. In a few more weeks it will be obvious that this is not normal weight gain and you will be forced to come clean."

"I'm just trying to think of a way to tell him." Blanche said weakly.

"You mean you're trying to come up with a convenient lie." Dorothy corrected. "Blanche, you cannot tell this man you only just learned of the pregnancy. You are high-risk, for one. And, at your age and as many babies as you've already had, you couldn't get away with it."

"I didn't mean to let the lie go on this long." Blanche insisted. "It's hard to go akd ruin a good thing. I just had a moment of weekness."

"Blanche, you have lost your mind." Dorothy declared. "Don't come crying to me when this blows up in your face."

"I'll tell him." Blanche promised. "Don't be mad at me, Dorothy, you're one of my best friends, I need you. Please, don't be mad at me, it would just break my heart." She looked at her friend pleadingly.

Dorothy sighed. "Fine, as long as I get to say I told you so."

"Of course, darlin'." Blanche said. "I'll tell him just as soon as I can."

XXXXXXX

She couldn't tell him.

Eevrytime the moment presented itself and they were alone Blanche found herself chickening out.

The opportunity to forget about her obligation presented itself in the form of her father's visit with his betrothed.

"Are you sure you should be going to the Bahamas in your condition, Blanche?" Rose questioned as Blanche packed. "I'm not sure flying is the best thing for you to do."

"Well, I'd swim, honey, but its such a long way." Blanche remarked. She smiled patiently. "The doctor said it's fine so it's fine. I will rest when I get there and when I get back. I promise."

"Are you sure you don't want us to go, too?" Rose asked. "We might be helpful."

"Big Daddy and Maggie just want immediate family." Blanche declined. "Virginia, Charmaine, and Clayton are all flying down. I'll be able to tell them all about the baby."

"Its bad form to use someone else's special event to announce your own news." Dorothy remarked. "Have you told Don yet?"

"Its almost the holidays, Dorothy." Blanche said lightly. "I won't ruin the holidays with this. I'll tell him afterward." She zipped her last case. "Okay, I'm ready to go. I'll just call my cab."

"I wish you'd let us go." Rose fretted as Blanche took out het earring and dialed. "I'll worry about you until you're back."

Blanche smiled sweetly. "You're such a sweetheart, Rose." The cab dispatch answered and she made her request.

The flight was uneventful and they landed at the airport in Freeport within their two hour window.

Blanche spotted her sister Charmaine through the crowd and went to her. "We landed at the same time."

"I've been here since this morning." Charmaine stated. "I didn't try to talk Big Daddy out of this."

Blanche rolled her eyes. "Can you blame me for being concerned?"

"If you visited home more often then you'd have known Maggie is a lovely lady." Charmaine stated imperiously. "Instead you're down here gallavanting with your friends and not paying any attention to your family."

"Don't be nasty, Charmaine, we're here for a joyous event." Blanche said saccharinely.

"You approached me, Blanche." Charmaine said. "I'm simply waiting for Virginia to arrive."

On cue their sister came through the crowd and waved. "Well, here I am, to watch daddy marry that awful woman."

Blanche smirked at Charmaine. "You don't like her?"

"I think she's a little gold-digger." Viriginia said nastily.

"She's a lovely woman, Virginia." Blanche assured her. "I've met her and I like her. Daddy loves her and I truly believe she loves him."

"Well, if you say so." Virginia said uncertainly. "Is Clay here yet?"

"His flight gets in tonight." Charmaine said. "I said I'd pick him up."

"We'll all pick him up." Blanche decided. "Its been too long since I've seen my baby brother."

"Once again, if you came home more often." Charmaine said lightly.

"Be nice." Virginia urged. "Lets us all just try and get along this weekend." She collected her luggage. "Is the hotel nice?"

"Its beautiful." Charmaine said as they went towards the exit. "Daddy didn't spare expense."

"Or, Maggie didn't." Virginia said in sotto voce.

They went to the hotel and Blanche and Virginia settled in their rooms before they went down to the bar to see Big Daddy and Maggie.

"I'm so glad to have all my girls together." Big Daddy said happily. "It makes me truly happy you've all come to celebrate this day with us."

"I would love for you girls to stand with me at the ceremony." Maggie requested. "You're all becoming my family and I want to honor that."

"Little Miss Perfect." Virginia muttered behind Blanche.

Later, when Clayton arrived, they all joined in the hotel restaurant for a seafood dinner.

Her sisters regaled the table with their goings-on and Clayton updated them on him.

Blanche discreetly turned her ring around. "I have some news." She cleared her throat. "Well, it seems I am pregnant."

Charmaine shrieked with laughter. "How on Earth?"

Virginia gave her a skeptical look. "Are you sure it isn't just something you ate?"

"I didn't eat a baby, Virginia." Blanche laughed. "I am right around five months along. Other than a little internal problem we are both healthy and doing well."

"If you're happy about this then I am, too." Big Daddy said diplomatically.

"I am happy." Blanche said. "Very happy."

"I also saw that ring on your finger." Big Daddy added.

"I am engaged to a lovely man." Blanche said. "His name is Don and he works in finance."

"Where is he from?" Big Daddy asked. "Not some Yankee, is he?"

"He's from Savannah." Blanche said. "But, he's based out of Florida."

"Well, a wedding is always good news." Big Daddy said. "And, so is a new baby." He raised a glass to his daughter. "To Blanche."

The table toasted her.

"I still think you're crazy." Charmaine remarked.

"And, I think you sound jealous." Blanche countered with a smile.

XXXXXXXXXX

The wedding was beautiful.

The party left Freeport just before the hurricane that threatened to wash them all away.

Blanche was happy to be home. She'd never tell Rose that she was right, the trip had exhausted her.

"I'm so glad they managed to get the ceremony done before the rain." Dorothy said, looking through the Polaroids. "Margaret looked lovely."

"It was a beautiful ceremony." Blanche agreed. "Flowers everywhere. I hate that they didn't end up choosing the lanai but it was still nice."

"Well, I'm glad you had a good time and I'm glad you're back." Dorothy declared.

"I missed you three, too." Blanche said with love. "Wr both did." She took Dorothy's hand and put it on her belly. "Rose, Sophia, come and feel."

They all put their hands on her belly where they could feel a gentle fluttering beneath the surface.

Blanche smiled prettily. "I guess its pretty real now."

TBC