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Chapter Nine: A Hospital Christmas Eve Part Two

Marty sat up in her bed while John moved to the right side of her bed and Cole and Langston stood on the left. Once the small tree was placed in the center of the bed the foursome began to decorate it.

"This was really nice of you to do." Marty said looking up at John.

He simply shrugged nonchalantly saying, "It happens."

Cole's face broke out into a huge smile and he couldn't help the laughter that followed.

"What's so funny?" Langston questioned as she put a small red ball on a branch.

"John is what's so funny. The way he told her that doing nice things for her just happens, like it means nothing. He's always doing nice things for her," Cole explains, "Like bringing her coffee, cleaning up after himself when he stays at the apartment, not drinking milk out of the carton and he even leaves the toilet seat down."

At the last thing Cole had listed Langston burst into a fit of giggles as she playfully shoved Cole, "That was way too much info, Thornhart."

"But it's true." Cole countered with a shove of his own.

"Yeah, well no one else needs to that all right?" John expressed looking pointedly at Cole.

"Don't worry John I think your secret's safe," Marty giggled, "Right Langston?"

"Yeah, it's safe. I really don't think I'm going to be sharing that golden nugget of information with anyone anytime soon. Scouts' honor." She mused mimicking the Girl Scout's sign.

John watched Marty out of the corner of his eye as they continued decorating the tree, smiling at how happy and carefree she looked. It was almost as if everything was normal again even though in his heart he knew everything was far from normal. Sighing he wondered if everything would be normal again. Shaking it off he continued watching her and decorating the tree thankful for this small piece of normalcy at a time like this.

Langston meanwhile watched John as he watched Marty and she could tell that he wanted to be alone with her. Always up for playing matchmaker she elbowed Cole and whispered in a hushed tone, "I think we should leave them alone, don't you?"

Cole nodded saying, "You know what I'm thirsty. How about you guys finish up here while Langston and I go get some hot chocolate in the cafeteria. Do you guys want anything?"

"No, thanks, sweetheart I'm fine. John, do you want anything?"

John shook his head negatively as the two teenagers left the room knowing they did it on purpose. Turning back to Marty he noticed she had dropped the ball she was holding and that her hands were now moving around her rounded belly that was showing through her hospital gown.

"You all right?" He asked concern showing through his voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just felt the baby kick but then it stopped. Oh! There it is! Here," She says taking his hand and placing it on her belly, "Do you feel that?"

John was about to say he felt nothing when he felt a soft thud after a gentle tap against his hand. Looking up at Marty whose chocolate eyes seemed to sparkle more than normal, the bright smile on her face and the fact that he felt his daughter kick all at once was too much for him. Before he could stop himself, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.

Marty was stunned to feel John's firm lips pressed against hers but nonetheless found herself responding to the kiss. It was natural, gentle and sweet everything a kiss should be. It wasn't like the kiss she previously had remembered from the night before but it was just as good and just as real.

"I'm sorry. It's too soon. I shouldn't have done that." John berated himself immediately after he pulled away from her.

"Don't be sorry. I didn't mind." Marty admitted shyly looking away from him.

"Yeah, I didn't mind much either."

Langston smiled as she sat across from Cole at the table in the cafeteria sipping hot chocolate. As she watched him and John help Marty decorate the tree, she could tell that he really cared about his Mom and she thought it was sweet.

"That was the best hospital Christmas Eve I've ever had." She replied thoughtfully smiling brightly.

"Glad I could help. I just wish that . . . " Cole stopped himself unsure of what to stay next.

Langston merely smiled and continued his thoughts for him, "You wish that your Mom wasn't in the hospital. I know what you mean, the feeling's mutual but she should be getting out soon right?"

"I don't know when exactly my Mom's going to be able to come home. I guess when Dr. McBain and Dr. Miller both say she and the baby are healthy she'll be able to, but I'm not really sure."

"Your Mom's having a baby?"

"Yeah, in about four and a half months I'll have a little sister and my Mom and John will have a daughter."

"Congratulations. I should get going though. My Grandma's probably wondering why I haven't come home yet since I hate hospitals and all. Thanks for letting me help you and your Mom and John decorate the tree. It was nice and I had fun."

"Yeah, it was nice and it was fun." Cole whispered to himself once Langston had left the table.

"Thank you for the tree and coming to visit. It was nice seeing a friendly face." Marty said smiling.

"It's no big deal. I'll be back tomorrow with Cole anyway since it's Christmas. See ya then Lady." John replied leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

As John left her room Marty touched her lips gingerly and whispered, "Lady? Mmmm, I could get used to that."