A/N: Thanks to everyone who commented. I am super glad you liked last chapter. I know everyone is waiting for the children's reaction. It will come I promise. I just decided to slit it up. This story will go throughout her entire pregnancy. How do you feel about flashbacks? Also comment on if she will have a boy or girl and leave suggestions for names. Would love to get other's opinion. Also, if anyone wants to chat about our favorite people while we are waiting for new episodes PM me. Definitely missing not having them every Sunday. Please leave comments, suggestions and if something doesn't seem to fit. Thanks to a co-worker for editing…wanted to get this up fast. Chapter five is coming out this week too!
Chapter Four ~ One Down, Two to Go
The house was quiet. Everyone had gone off to school. The TV was on as background notice for her. The lack of sleep and the constant heavy work load had finally caught up with her. Even though she was up with Henry this morning for breakfast, she was asleep once again. She was planning on taking a few days off. She needed the time to adjust to the news and to inform everyone. She also had to make an appointment with her doctor.
She lightly stirred out of sleep and stretched. She slowly let her eyes adjust to the bright sun that was streaming through their large bedroom windows. Just as her eyes adjusted, her stomach turned. She quickly jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. Oh no, the part she hated the most about pregnancy. And yet she hadn't had any until now. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad as it was with the others. Especially with her last pregnancy. Jason's ended up being the hardest. She was almost vomiting throughout his entire pregnancy.
When she was done tossing her breakfast from this morning, she washed her face and brushed her teeth. She ran her fingers through her hair as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She laid her hands on her stomach and turned to look at her side reflection. She wasn't showing yet. She had a little time to inform everyone.
She smiled at herself as she went back to the bed with a hand still laying on her stomach. She then saw the gift bag sitting on her night stand.
"Henry." She whispered to herself. She went over and cuddled herself back into bed. She pulled the card out of the bag:
(Let's do this once again baby.)
She smiled as she read the card. He was so wonderful. She then pulled out the book. "What to Expect When You're Expecting." She chuckled a little looking at the book.
(Baby, it's been 13 years. I thought we might go
through this together.)
The post-it said.
How did she get so lucky? She opened the book were the bookmark was. It was on the chapter for eight week pregnancy. There was another sticky note:
(Last minute appointment at 4. Pick
you up at 3. Lunch is ready for you downstairs.
I Love You!)
She couldn't help the tears now forming in her eyes. He was the best. She was going to have to thank him. She got out of bed and just throw her rob on. Grabbing her cell phone, she walked down to the kitchen. On the table, there was a plate of fruit and a ham sandwich. There was a coffee cup with a sticky note:
(Decaf only please!)
She looked at it and frowned. Her coffee. She had forgotten that she was going to have to give that up. It was hard for her to do so then. Being in school with Stevie's pregnancy, giving up her caffeine in coffee was almost impossible. Her frustration about drove Henry up a wall. It wasn't her crazy cravings, it was the coffee. She went over to the pot of coffee that was already brewed and poured herself a cup. She poured just a little bit of milk in it and took a sip. It tasted different. But she was going to have to be fine with it. She went back over to eat her lunch.
She grabbed her cell phone and sent Nadine a text message. "I need to have a private conversation with you in my office at 7 today." She put her phone down and took a couple bites of her sandwich. A minute later her phone went off.
"Yes ma'am. Can I do anything else?"
"No, thanks Nadine."
Blake walked into Nadine's office with a knock on the door frame. Nadine looked up and waved him in.
"What can I do for you Blake?" She asked putting down her pen and giving him her undivided attention.
"I just got off the phone with the Denmark Ambassador." Blake said walking into Nadine's office and sitting in a chair.
"What did he want?"
"He wants a meeting with the Secretary."
"What about?" Nadine asked jotting down a note. There was no way he was going to get a meeting this week. Even though Deputy Secretary Cushing was available, they were trying to limit the duties he was going to handle.
"There was something about an Isis threat. Do you want me to set something up for maybe next week?" Blake asked wondering if she knew anything about when Secretary McCord was coming back.
"Next week should be fine."
"Have you heard from the Secretary?" Blake asked sitting down in a chair.
"No, I was going to call her soon." Nadine said putting her hand on the note about their meeting tonight.
"Is everything okay with the Chinese Ambassador?" Blake asked changing the subject.
"Yes, he is fine. I just told him the Secretary was under the weather. He just told me to tell her he wasn't holding anything against her and to get well soon."
"I will send her an email." Blake said getting up and leaving.
Elizabeth was curled up under a blanket on the couch. The news was playing on the TV. The book that Henry got her was lying opened on her chest. She had dosed off while reading. She was actually listening to Henry and not looking at anything work related. For once she was completely relaxed.
Stevie walked into the house and put her books down by the front door. Her class had let out early. She was coming home to get ready for an exam in Criminal Justice. She figured since her mother was the only one home, then maybe she could help her. She knew that her mother would be going out of her mind not being at work.
She walked into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of ice tea when she heard the TV on. She walked over to the family room to find her mother peacefully asleep on the couch. She moved closer making it easier to read the title of the book. Shock streamed across her face finding out what her mother was reading.
"Mom!" She asked a little louder then she meant to.
Her daughter's voice stunned her out of sleep. She quickly sat up as a wave of nausea rushed through her.
"Yes baby?" Elizabeth asked sitting up, closing the book and placing it on the coffee table. She took a sip of ginger ale hoping it would reduce her nausea. When she didn't hear her daughter respond, she turned to see her pointing at the book.
Stevie was frozen. 'What? Her mother couldn't be pregnant. How?' Stevie's mind was racing now with questions.
Elizabeth realized what her daughter was looking at. 'Oh crap.' She patted the couch next to her, asking for her daughter to sit down. She wanted to tell all the kids together. But I guess she was going to have to tell Stevie first.
"Yes honey. I am pregnant." She stated turning slightly to face her.
"But how?" Stevie asked trying to process the fact that her mother was going to have another baby. "I'm in college and my mother is pregnant?" She thought to herself.
"Stevie?" She asked wondering if that was her actual question. "I can still have children."
"I'm sorry mom. It's just…I mean…" She was now rambling. There were so many questions. She wasn't sure how to feel about this.
"Honey, that's how I felt. I'm 46 and having…"
"Wait! Is this safe?" Stevie asked interrupting her mother. Worry crossed over her face.
Seeing the worry on her daughter's face, Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her. She was a little pleased that she was actually worried about her. She felt guilty though.
She ran her hand through her daughter's hair, "I will be just fine. Many women my age have babies. You are going to have to forgive me for complaining all the time though." They both just chuckled at her comment.
"You do that all the time now." Stevie responded pulling away from her mother.
"Ha ha." Elizabeth said hearing her cell phone vibrating on the kitchen counter. She went over to read the text message.
(Be there in 5 to pick you up.)
"See you soon." She responded to Henry's text. "So, I have to get ready for my doctor's appointment. Would you like to come talk while I get dressed?" She asked putting her phone down and walking over to the couch. She picked up the book and headed towards the stair.
"It's okay. We will talk after your appointment. I love you mom."
"I love you too baby." Elizabeth said before heading off to her bedroom.
