Oh crap.

Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap.

George had told me he took care of this. That his mom knew that it was over for them. He didn't tell her about us yet, so she would have time to process. When she had accepted it, he would be sending her that card he got in the hospital gift shop that congratulated her on her new nanahood with a copy of the picture in my hand.

Oh crap.

I have a picture of a fetus in my hand. Not just a fetus. Our fetus. In my hand. I had to think quick.

"That soup smells great!" and I began to ravish the tray. And slip the picture between the cushions. It was my only option.

"Have some saltines, Izzie. They settle the stomach like a wonder."

Saltines? Seriously? Did she know? No, she couldn't know. She is a mother, she just knows about upset stomachs. I took the crackers with the least suspicious smile I could muster.

"Now tell me about my George. You know you can tell me anything. I won't say a word."

"Oh no, no! With all due respect you about got me and my mouth nearly dead the last time I told you anything, Louise."

"I guess that is true. I honestly just thought he was shacking up with you and Meredith though. I even made me peace with that. I had no idea about the truth. I really didn't mean to get you in trouble, I was just sure I really did know what was going on in his life."

She paused.

"I have no clue, do I? He's divorcing his wife, living back here...I just know I am missing something. I just want to know that my baby is okay."

A serene smile passed on her lips.

"That's not right. I know he's okay. He's got you, sweetheart. The best friend any mother could ask for."

I couldn't take it any more. It was like she was putting the screws to me without knowing it. Her delightful stew sudden chocked my throat. I don't know if it was the baby or the guilt, but dinner was over for me once again. I pushed Meredith out of my way in my rush. In fact, I barely registered. I just puked my guts out until I couldn't puke anymore.

Meredith reached out to me with a cool rag.

"I do not envy you, Izzie."

I rolled my eyes.

"I get it. I'm awful. Can we not do this now?"

"No, we do this now. You two have messed up, and I don't get it. But you are my friend, Iz. You don't always have to get your friends, just be there. So I am here. You can call me Auntie. I'll even carry a shank for the next showdown with Callie. Just keep me in the loop, okay?"

"Sure."

"Now get up. I assume Mama doesn't know? That's what I thought. We need to fake your flu and put you to bed without her trying to hover. Hovering will equal her discovery of your Hello Kitty underpants next to George's fishy boxers, and we can't have that."

She pulled me up and gave me what little affection she could muster at the moment.

"Oh, God! I just left her in the living room with my Sonogram picture between the cushions!"

Her eyes grew wide.

"Seriously? Um, um...okay! Hang out here for a minute. I will go sit by her, tell her you'll be out in a minute, and snag the picture. See you in a minute! Try not to puke anymore! We'll divert disaster!"

There are times when you truly appreciate your friends, and now was one of those times. I pulled out my phone to call George while I had time.

"Why, hellooo, Dr. Stevens! What a pleasant surprise!"

"Save it George. Your mom is here. She was trying to feed me when your kid made me spew the stew. What are we going to do?"

"My mom is at the house?"

"Yes! And she wants details, George. About you. Then she said she woudn't have to worry if I didn't tell her, because you have me. How harsh is that? She's calling me Mary Freakin' Poppins, and I am her son's secret, dirty, mistress! Help!"

"Umm, let me think. Nope. I've got nothing. Where's Meredith?"

"In the living room telling your mom I have the flu."

"That's good. We can work with that. The flu is good. Tell her you need to go to bed. I'll call and distract her in about ten minutes. It'll be okay. Put your phone on vibrate and I will call you when it's all clear."

I snapped my phone shut. Time to make it look real.

I went in wearily, holding a rag to my reddened face. I let her feel me for fever and generally cluck about my illness. With some finnagling I was able to convince her it would be bad for her to take me to my germ filled room. Thanks to George's call, I was able to make a quick escape.

Worn out, I almost really did fall alseep. I didn't even notice when Mrs. O'Malley slipped in. She went undetected as she put away piles of laundry, and picked up clothing for the hamper, until she sat down beside me on the bed. Still, I feigned sleep. Maybe she would go away.

"Open your eyes, Izzie Stevens, I know you are not asleep."

My eyes shot open in fright. It was like being caught sneaking out in high school. I guess it is a mother thing.

"I was disappointed when George told me he was divorcing. I didn't want him to have a broken marriage. I would be lying though, if I said I thought they were a match. Don't get me wrong-Callie is a sweet girl, but she was never for my Georgey. That was all his father. George loved him so much, he just couldn't bear to think he was disappointing him. I always thought you two were a better match. Oh, you two look hilarious together. His father and I used to make fun of you two all the time. Girls that look like you have never paid attention to our son, but you were like two peas in a pod. Always on the phone together baking cookies, knitting sweaters. Before he sent us the first picture, we thought this gorgeous girl he was describing was really some mousy-looking girl. You are a stunner, though, and sweet to boot. So, frankly, Callie was a shock to me. There is absolutely nothing wrong with her, she's a gorgeous girl herself, but a mother knows, Izzie, a mother knows."

I didn't know what she was getting at, but I felt so sad. Maybe she was stirring the mother in me, who knows, but I began to cry a little. Being a mother, she pulled my head to her lap and began stroking my hair.

"Does your mother know, Izzie? About the baby?"

I gasped. I didn't even know which one she meant at this point.

"I don't mean to pry, but when I see a young one hiding hands behind their backs, I get suspicious. There was a mirror behind you, I could make out that it was a Sonogram photo."

"She doesn't know. We haven't talked in a long while."

"When George told me how sick you were, I could almost guess right away. Even though he's a doctor, he's a little naive to these things. You definitely can't tell by looking at you. When I was pregnant, I was a mess right away, but you look like you are holding up well. Besides all the throwing up."

My phone began to vibrate and glow. She reached for it.

"Not now, George. Izzie will call you later. We are having girl talk. I love you, but for right now you need to go busy yourself elsewhere. Goodbye!"

This was when I became convinced that she was going to kill me. Mama O'Malley just shut down my connection to George like she was working a blockade for the North.

"Silly, boy. Now where were we?"

"I'm pregnant."

"Oh, yes. So tell me,will the father be around? Not to be cold, but I am guessing 'no' since George is living in your room and not him? That's okay. My boy will take good care of you and your little one. He is so much like my Harold. I hope you will let him help you out. This could be just what he needs in all this divorce mess."

I had no place making this decision without George, but I couldn't lie to her. Not with her tending to me like one of her own. It was now or never.

"No, he will be around. He doesn't mind George, because he is George, Louise. Please don't hate me, and don't get angry with George, but he is the father of my baby."

She sat perfectly still for a moment. Not a word, or a sound, or a breath. Just still. After a moment, she resumed stroking my hair.

"Bingo."

"Huh?"

"I knew he was hiding something, and I knew he was in love with you. Bingo. I win. I told you I know everything about my son."

"You don't hate me?"

"You probably broke up his marriage, but it was going to happen anyways. At least I get a pretty grandbaby. You would have been in way more trouble if you kept this from me tonight. So when were you going to tell me, anyways?"

"George wanted to let you soak in the divorce, then let you know about us and the baby. He bought you a card."

"How thoughtful. I am a teacher. Does he think I can't do the math of nine months?"

"He's George. He knew it would all work out."

"And it did."

She kissed my forehead.

"Will you tell Meredith to bring in the picture of my grandchild that she was so poorly hiding? The girl is all skin and bones. She couldn't hide an amoeba."

I went to the door only to find Meredith and Cristina crouching by the door.

"What are you doing?"

"I brought my shank. Just in case."

"I brought a scalpel in case you needed emergency surgery."

"Thanks for the bright sunny thoughts."

We all piled on the bed and looked at the small picture. We talked about which George or Izzie parts the baby would have. Meredith threatened to knit a sweater. Cristina lamented on the very, baby Christmas we were about to share, and Louise? She laughed and joked as she gave us enough ammo on George to last a lifetime.

It's good to have friends and family.

Very good indeed.