Boys Don't Cry

Chapter: 7

Rating: R

Over the past two months Mary and Lou did their very best to reestablish the friendship between them. He occasionally sent her flowers and sometimes the pastries she always craved from the bakery a few blocks from her apartment. Mary called him after her doctors appointments and kept him up to date as her pregnancy progressed. Things seemed to be going very well between them. They had definitely turned a corner.

Mary's flight had just landed in Minneapolis and the first place she intended to go was WJM. She was taking a long weekend so she could help her mother put together her father's birthday party. He was turning sixty-five and Dottie wanted to throw him a huge party to celebrate. Mary hadn't told Lou of her plans in hopes to surprise him.

The elevator ride up to the newsroom seemed to take forever. Or perhaps it was just the anticipation of it all. After all she hadn't seen them, with the exception of Lou, in six months. And a lot had certainly changed. She pushed open the newsroom door and stepped inside. Ted was pouring a cup of coffee and Sue Ann and Murray were insulting each other over the typewriter.

"Well, I'm glad to see nothing's changed." Mary said, smiling.

"Hey, Mare." Ted sat his coffee cup down and immediately went over to her. "Boy has it been a long time." he leaned in to hug her, but found an obstacle between them. He pulled back a bit and looked down. "Hey, look at that! You're knocked up, congratulations!"

"Thanks, Ted." she said. "You always put things so eloquently."

The infamous Ted Baxter on air voice washed over him. "Well it is my job."

She slipped off her coat and hung it up on the coatrack, revealing her very obvious six months pregnant abdomen. Murray came over to her and hugged her. "Congratulations, Mary." he said, pulling back. "How have you been?"

"Just great." she smiled. "How are Marie and the kids?"

"They're fine." he was dying to know more but didn't want to pry. That's what Sue Ann was for. "What are you doing back in Minneapolis?"

"It's my dad's birthday."

Sue Ann smiled. "And is this your present for him, dear?"

"Very funny." she said. "And no, I got him a watch."

"Well, I don't see a ring, dear." she said.. "But don't worry just because you're pregnant and unwed doesn't mean people will think you're a tramp."

"Oh, Sue Ann, I've missed your sense of humor."

"Of course you have." she smiled. "So who's the lucky guy? Anyone we know?"

"You know I'm a little surprised that you didn't know I was pregnant." she said. "I thought that maybe Lou would have told you."

Murray shook his head. "No." he replied. "He never mentioned anything to us."

Ted picked off his coffee cup and walked back over to Mary. "So who's the lucky guy?" he asked. "One of those higher ups at CBS?"

"No, Ted."

Lou opened his office door and came out. "What's all the ruckus out here?" he looked over and saw Mary and immediately his demeanor changed. His mood became lighter and happier. He was smiling from ear to ear. "What are you doing here?"

She made her way over to him. "I thought it would be a nice surprise."

He reached out for her, drawing her toward him."A very nice surprise." he leaned in and kissed her softly, letting his lips linger on hers before pulling back. His hand moved down over her abdomen. "How did the baby enjoy her first airplane ride?"

"Well he either loved it or he hated it." she replied. "He kept flipping and kicking the entire time. I don't know if it was out of frustration or excitement."

From the moment their eyes met it was like they were the only two people in the room, the only two people in the entire world. Everyone else just seemed to melt away. "You look incredible." he said. "You're glowing."

"I could stand here all day and let you compliment me like that."

"I'm not doing anything else." he said. "How long are you going to be in town?"

"My flight leaves Tuesday morning."

"Where are you staying?"

"With my parents." she replied. "I came in for dad's birthday party."

"You could always stay with me."

Mary smiled. "We'll see."

Ted was about to lose his mind. The suspense of it all was driving him absolutely mad. And everyone else around him even though they would never admit it out loud. "Hey, guys!" he said, walking over to them. "Do you all think you could share with us what's going on here?"

Lou found his way back to reality. "Oh, yeah, yeah, Ted." he turned around to face Murray and Sue Ann. "Mary's in town for her dad's birthday."

"She told us." Sue Ann replied. "We want to know more about her delicate condition."

Murray looked over at her. "Isn't it obvious?" he asked. "Mary and Lou are going to have a baby. But what I don't understand is why you didn't tell us."

Lou looked at Mary and then over at the three of them. "Well, I just thought that it was something you should hear from the both of us." he said. "And I really thought it was Mary's place to tell you."

Sue Ann looked over at Mary. "Well, dear, there's no better way to trap a man than by pregnancy." she smiled. "Congratulations."

Lou shook his head. "Nobody was trapped, Sue Ann."

"Sure." she was sugary sweet. "If that's what you choose to believe."

Ted came over and inserted himself between Mary and Lou.. "Well I think it's fantastic." he smiled. "Two of our friends are going to have a baby." he patted her stomach. "Do I hear wedding bells?"

"Please don't do that, Ted." Mary said. "And no you don't hear wedding bells."

"You mean you're going to stay in New York?"

"I don't know." she replied. "Lou and I have a lot to work out."

"Hmm." he sighed, looking over at Lou. "Seems like you should have thought about that before you got her pregnant, Lou."

"Ted." it came out as a warning. "Go to your dressing room."

He let go of both of them and headed for the door. "Congratulations anyway."

Lou took Mary by the hand. "If you'll excuse us." he said to Murray and Sue Ann. "We have a little catching up to do." he led them into his office and shut the door. "How about a proper hello?"

Mary was immediately in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You didn't like my first hello?"

"It wasn't that I didn't like it." he said. "It's just that I think we can do better. After all it's been over two months since we've seen each other."

"I think you could be on to something..."

He drew her into a kiss. A long, deep, slow kiss that seemed to go on for an eternity. He pulled her as close to him as their baby allowed. "Much better." he said, pulling back. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too." her open mouth met his again. Engaging him in a series of breathtaking kisses that left them both wanting more. Finally for the sake of her sanity she pulled back. "Did you have plans for lunch?"

"No." he replied. "What did you have in mind?"

She placed a single kiss on his lips. "Lunch." she said. "Why, did you have something else in mind?"

"Well after that kiss..."

Mary smiled. "I thought we were going to take things nice and slow?"

"We can take things as slow as you would like." he promised.

"That's a very tempting offer." she said. "And I may take you up on that later."

"You may?"

Her lips covered his again. "My hormones are in overdrive." she said. "But I really want us to talk first. I want to make sure that things feel right."

"Okay." he agreed. "How about I take you out to lunch and then I'll drive you to your parents house? Tonight the four of us can go out for dinner, my treat."

"I'd like that." she said. "I really want this to work out."

"So do I." he replied. "I think if we just relax things are going to be fine."

Mary reached for his hand and pressed it to the left side of her stomach. "I think our son thinks so too." the baby kicked under Lou's hand. "I think maybe he's going to be a football player like his dad."

He smiled. "Why are you so convinced it's a boy?"

"I don't know." she replied. "I just know it's a boy."

"It could be a girl." he gently caressed her stomach. "Wouldn't you like to have a little girl?"

"Yes." she replied. "But this baby is a boy."

tbc...