Hope

8:00 a.m.

Emily rubbed her eyes as she awoke to the bright sunlight shining through the window. Matt's arm draped across her stomach and his leg over hers. Emily lay on her back playing with the hair on Matt's arm as she rubbed it. He slowly awoke to the sensation of her lips on his hand as she brought it to her mouth. She turned as much as she could before gently kissing him. Matt slipped his tongue into her mouth and ran his hands along the curves of her body. Emily moaned with pleasure as his hands kept roaming the well-known territory. She grabbed his hands to stop him before giggling and slipping out of bed dropping the sheets behind her. Matt grinned as he followed her to the shower. After their morning activities, they left for Emily's doctor's appointment.

10:00 a.m.

Matt and Emily sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office again. This time hoping that something could be done to relieve the aches they were feeling in their hearts at the sadness of not being able to conceive a child on their own. They were each lost in their own thoughts when the nurse called Emily's name.

"Emily Flannery." She hollered over the few screaming infants and other children with mother's waiting for exams.

Matt and Emily stood and followed the woman into the little exam room where they took more blood before leading them into the doctor's office to wait some more. Emily leaned her head on Matt's shoulder as she sighed wanting this all to be over but knowing it was just beginning. The doctor came in and sat behind her desk. She picked up Emily's file and flipped through a few pages before speaking.

"Emily, Matt, I see that Emily is having trouble with her eggs implanting after fertilization. We took some blood work to check her numbers and they were at a 5.In order to get pregnant, they need to be at least at a 13. We have started you on a medication that should fix the problem, but it is very important that you pay attention to her cycle and when she is ovulating that is when you need to have sex. Here is a prescription for some ovulation kits that will tell you when you should try to have sex. Do you have any questions?" She asked hoping that they wouldn't have to try invitrofertilization.

"Um, is that the only time we can have sex?" Matt questioned wanting to make sure he knew all the rules before they left not wanting to mess this up for either of them.

"You can have sex at other times, but it is vital that you act when she is ovulating." She replied.

Emily sat quietly scared that she would never get pregnant.

"It's also important that you get rid of the most stressful things in your life. Emily I know that your job causing you a lot of stress and you may want to think about a career change." The doctor told them as if it wasn't really a choice.

"Okay." Matt replied, "We'll discuss that when we get home. Is there anything else we need know?'

"Here is some information for you to read and if you have any questions, please call me, call when you have your next period so we can check your levels again." She responded getting up from her seat and shaking their hands before leading them out of the office.

The couple drove home in silence, both overwhelmed from the information they had just received. They arrived home and walked inside hand in hand. Emily lay down on the couch after kicking her shoes off, Matt sat on the other end putting her feet on his lap. He let out a sigh and then began the difficult discussion.

"Em, what do you think about what the doctor said?" He asked knowing the potential for an argument and treading lightly.

"Which part of it? The part about the medication or the part about changing jobs?" Emily responded with contempt in her voice.

"About the job Em. What do you think about doing something else?" He tried again this time rubbing her feet as he spoke.

"I want a baby. I love what we do Matt. I love working with you and being your partner. I don't know I want to do something else. I mean what else is there?" Emily rambled as she sat up to look at Matt.

"Well, what about teaching full time? You're so good at it." Matt said hoping she would agree to that and then he would worry less about her since she wouldn't be in the field.

"But, you'd have to get a new partner and, and I'd miss you. I don't know if I can handle seeing you go out on calls and not going with you." Emily almost whispered scooting closer to Matt.

Matt took both of her hands in his, "You know I would miss you too, but I wouldn't worry so much and you'd be more relaxed. Em, I want to do everything I can to make this easier on you. I love you and would do anything to make you happy. Emily I will support you in whatever decision you make baby."

"Matt, I want a baby. I want to be the mother of your children. If me teaching full time will make that happen then I will learn to accept it." Emily said not really believing that she was going to sacrifice what she had worked hard for, but she wanted Matt to have a child of his own.

"Baby, I want you to be happy. If you'll be happy teaching then do it, but if not then please don't do it." Matt pulled her onto his lap as he thought about how much he loved this woman.

"Matt I think that would make me happy if we can get pregnant easier. It would be less stressful." Emily replied realizing that this really could be what was best for her.

"Emily you are the most self-less woman I know. You make me smile at the end of a bad day; you have made me a better person. Every time we leave for a case the thought of losing that crosses my mind and that scares the he out of me. I love you and want to have everything we both have dreamed of with you." Matt placed a kiss on her cheek as he felt the wet teardrops fall.

Emily leaned into him and smiled as she spoke, "Matt, honey, I'm willing to try to do this for you. I love you so much it hurts. Will you show me how much you love me now?" She kissed him hard and straddled him. Matt stood and picking her up and caring her into their bedroom where they made love. Matt wrapped his arms around her holding her close as the cuddled making plans for a relaxing evening out before heading into the office tomorrow to talk to Cheryl. They were sure that they would end the day exactly where they began it.