"Damn I hope I didn't get that gene," Michael said and then took a gulp of his beer. His older brother, who had met up with him at Rodi's, sat beside him nursing his broken heart and drowning his sorrow in several bottles of beer.

"What gene?" John asked after a moments pause to try to figure out on his own what his brother was referring to.

"The 'dumb ass' gene, because, man, are you a dumb ass," Michael said and then chuckled. "You never told mom about Evangeline?" Michael asked the same question he had repeatedly asked since John blurted it out as he told the story of his and Evangeline's recent split.

"It just never came up," John continued trying to defend himself.

"So she's just not that important to ya?" Michael said.

"What, no it's not like that you know how I feel about Evangeline," John said his temper flaring a bit.

"I thought I knew, but John this is a case where actions don't speak louder than words. Women are built differently than we are, inside and out."

"Is that what mom and I spent all that money on when we help put you through medical school?" John said sarcastically.

"You know what I'm saying, emotionally they're alien compared to us. Things that just don't matter to us, like telling them we like their shoes and their hair is pretty, to some of them it's the same a saying I love you. Words matter to them, and you 'not' telling mom about your relationship with Evangeline makes it seem like you're ashamed of her," Michael said and John slammed his beer bottle down on the countertop.

"I'm sick of hearing that. I'm not ashamed of Evangeline, hell most days I don't think I'm worthy of her, that she's too damn good for me."

"Ok then you tell me, John, why didn't you tell mom about her, better yet go and tell Evangeline?"


An hour later:


"Anhejusstodthurlikanidioaahh." A muffled voice spoke out and Nora stared in confusion at the head that was buried against her shoulder.

"Ok sweetie you're gonna have to speak English, it's the only language I know," Nora said half-jokingly and Evangeline lifted her head to expose her puffy face and bloodshot eyes.

"I said, and he just stood there like an idiot. I just wanted to mush his face in, and don't say I'm hormonal because that's not it, contrary to what John thinks. You know he actually ask me if that's what it was, was that the reason I was acting the way I was acting, the jackass."

"I think I may be to blame for that, I was giving him friendly advice about pregnant women and their hormones, sorry," Nora said with a slight frown.

"It's not your fault Nora, believe me, this was long in coming. He never told his mother about me and then acts like its no big deal. I just don't understand why he can't see that it is a big deal, a really big deal. I guess I'm not as important to him as he is to me."

"Sweetie I don't think that's it. John may have a good reason for not telling his mother well at least in John's twisted warped mind there's a good reason, that us normal people may not get," Nora said trying to be supportive and failing at the task.

"Yeah, I'd like to hear it. What reason could he possibly have for not ever mentioning me to his mother?"

"Maybe he was just afraid," A voice spoke and both the women turned to see John standing in the doorway.

"Ok, I think that's my cue to leave," Nora said as she hastily stood grabbing her bag and moving to where John still stood by the door. "But you call me if you need me ok, no matter how late it is," Nora paused and said this to Evangeline who only nodded her head in reply. Nora then left out closing the door behind her.

"I'm sorry…about before," John began to speak but Evangeline stood and held up her hand to him.

"Uhn-uh, the only thing I want to hear from your lips, is an explanation for why you never told your mother about me," Evangeline said as she then folded her arms across her chest. "You said it was because you were afraid, afraid of what?"

"Something bad happening," John said in a low voice, so low Evangeline found herself straining to hear him.

"How could something bad happen from you telling your mom about me John, what, is she a racist?"

"What? No! It's nothing like that, my mom would love you."

"Then what could happen, John? I don't understand…are you afraid that by telling your mom about me you're somehow obligated to marry me or something because let me assure you I'm not…"

"I'm afraid you'll die," John blurted out. He cut her Evangeline off in mid-sentence and completely stunned her into silence. "That's why I didn't tell her because the last time…" John paused long enough to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat. At seeing John's demeanor Evangeline softened her tone and moved to where he stood.

"What happened last time John, did it have something to do with Caitlin?" Evangeline inquired and John only nodded his head.

"We were already engaged and Eve still didn't know about her yet. But we planned a family dinner, I invited Mikey and Eve, we were gonna tell them about our engagement and…and that Caitlin was pregnant."

"Oh John," Evangeline gasped out as one hand shot to her stomach and the other to cover her mouth.

"We never had that dinner, we had a funeral instead," John said as a single tear rolled from him eyes. Evangeline now stood in front of him. She reached out and gently wiped the tears away. "I just didn't want to tempt fate again."

"Oh John," Evangeline repeated as she leaned up and wrapped her arms around his neck. John in turn snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him and he buried his face in her soft hair.

"I just don't want anything to happen to you or our baby."

"Nothing is going to happen to us," Evangeline stated as she moved back a bit to stare into John's eyes. "We've got you to protect us."

"I couldn't protect Caitlin."

"I'm not Caitlin John. Nothing's gonna happen to me, and I'll never let anything happen to this baby. I promise," Evangeline assured and John let his hand drift down to cover her belly. "You know we can't spend the rest of our lives worrying over what could happen, we should count our blessing and just be happy for what we have for as long as we have it."

"Yeah, that sounds good," John said putting on a farce smile, still not so convinced that he'd let down his guard.

"So let's throw a party, we'll invite your family and mine, and we'll tell them about the baby."

"Are you sure we should do that?"

"Well John it's not like we have a lot of time here, I'll be showing soon and it's gonna be harder to hide. I might get as big as a house."


Twenty Weeks:


"God, I'm as big as a house," Evangeline frowned as she stood in only her undergarments in front of the floor-length mirror in the corner of her bedroom. She turned from side to side-eyeing and poking at the very firm and protruding swell of her belly. John, who had learned a while back never ever to make any agreeing or disagreeing remarks concerning her weight, simply sat on the bed putting on his shoes. "What the hell is this kid, part whale?" She then turned her head towards John and looked at him sternly. "Does whale run in your family?"

"You look beautiful," John said as he sat staring at her and honestly thinking her the most beautiful sight he had ever beheld. He found himself staring at her more lately, as her body became more curvy and thick in all the right places. He could see the glow, that glow people would say pregnant women had, but he had never laid witness to it until now.

"Big and beautiful, that's what you wanted to say isn't it John?" Evangeline asked her lips trembling slightly.

"No I said you're beautiful," John said as he stood and moved to stand behind her, trying to wrap his arms around her only to have her swat off his attempts, but it didn't deter him in the least. "And did I mention how sexy you are?'

"Ok, now you're just making fun of me," Evangeline said with a frown.

"Oh I thought last night would have told you just how sexy and irresistible I think you are, but if you'd like more reassurance, I've got time," John stated causing Evangeline to smile and allow him to finally envelope her fully into his arms. Before Evangeline could reply a sudden jolt in her belly brought them both to silence, as they stared at each other in the mirror with wide eyes. "What was that?" John asked.

"He just kicked," Evangeline said now with a huge grin on her face, one slightly outdone by the wide goofy grin John had.

"She's a strong kicker," John replied as he moved his hand about her belly hoping to feel another kick, and Evangeline simply smiled too excited to even dispute John's claims that she was having a girl when she was sure it was a boy. They decided not to learn the sex of the baby, to let it be a surprise at birth, but both were sure they were right about their guesses. Suddenly the phone ringing cut into their little 'family' moment and John moved to the nightstand and picked up the phone. "Hello?" After a moment's pause, he held out the phone to Evangeline, who instantly knew who was on the other line.

"Hi, mom, what…no he hasn't moved in, yet. Mom, did you call to fuss about John, because… Oh," Evangeline listened as she nervously bit her bottom lip and threw John a horrified look. "Next week, mom I don't know…I have a pretty heavy caseload so it may not be the best time to visit," She lied. She had in fact lightened her caseload significantly. "Yeah, ok…uhm-hmm…I love you too," Evangeline ended the call and then gave John a panicked look. "She's coming to visit, John. She's coming next week."

"Baby, you were the one who suggested we throw a party to tell your mom and Eve, and then you chickened out last minute. I don't know what you're waiting for. You don't plan to wait until the baby's born and then hand it to Lisa and say, 'hey mom guess what'," John said and could tell by the way she was thinking over what he said, she had thought about doing just that. "Hey I'm trying hard to rebuild some trust with your mom, and you're killing me. I told Eve nearly three months ago, and she's ecstatic and I'm sure Lisa will be too."

"Sure she will, right along with being disappointed in me, and hating you more."

"Sorry but I don't lose sleep over your mom disliking me," John said sarcastically. "And I don't think she'll be disappointed in you, you're a successful lawyer, well respected in this community and highly regarded in your profession, what's there to be disappointed about?"

"Oh I don't know maybe about the fact that her grandchild will be born a bastard," Evangeline said with a slight pout.

"Ok, I've shown your mother the utmost respect despite the fact she goes out of her way to show me just how much she doesn't like me, but I won't have her calling our child a bastard."

"She wouldn't say it but she'll be thinking it, and John technically that's what our child will be because we're not married."

"So you're saying you want to get married?" John asked quietly.

"No that's not what I'm saying…why do you want to get married?"

"I'm not opposed to the idea, and I can't say it hasn't crossed my mind recently."

"John are you proposing, because I gotta tell you, you really suck at it. And this is just silly talk just because we have a child doesn't mean we 'have' to get married, and a baby shouldn't be the reason we get married anyway. So I'll just have to face the music, next week my mother will finally know the truth and she'll either deal with it or I won't allow her to be a part of it at all. So that's that," Evangeline said as she walked into the bathroom to take her shower, leaving John standing in the room thinking about what he should do and wondering how he would get it done and done properly. And there was only one person who could help him, and that was Nora.