Author's note: Thanks to two kind reviews, I've decided to go with this story. And one thing-from now on, I think I'm going to try to make my chapters a bit longer. I hope you like it!

Chapter 2: That "Oh shit" Feeling

The alarm went off that morning at 6:00 A.M. Lois didn't need it. She had been up all night worrying about whether she would be able to live without Peter or not. She just lay there, staring at the alarm, never wanting to have to leave her bed. But, she knew she had kids to take care of, and she couldn't just desert them. So with her doubts clinging to her, she brought herself to get out of bed and try to get downstairs. That didn't really happen though, because as soon as she had made it to the top of the stairs, the horrible cramps she had had from the previous morning recurred, and she once again made a run for the toilet. This time, however, Brian was watching, and followed Lois.

Lois was almost done vomiting when Brian queried her. "Lois, this is now two mornings in a row. Are you really sure that this is natural?"

"Who gives a crap, Brian. It's probably just my reaction to losing Peter. It will go away again, just like it did yesterday morning."

Lois was supporting herself on the toilet, trying to get up, when Brian put two and two together. "So Lois, you say that you have had cramps and vomiting two days in a row, but only in the morning?"

"Yeah, what of it?"

"Well, if I didn't know any better myself, I'd say it sounds to me like you're having morning sickness."

"Oh my god, I think you're right, Brian." Tears were starting to form in Lois's eyes. "I'll take a pregnancy test, sure, but for god's sakes, I just can't go on like this. I just…just…can't go on…"

"You know what Lois, I don't think that you're near anywhere healthy enough to leave the house today. How bout I call the funeral home, reschedule the funeral, and help the kids get ready for school."

"You would, Brian? Really?"

"I would do anything for you, Lois."

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

"Why don't you just relax, okay?"

"Okay."

Lois's POV

PREGNANT? SERIOUSLY? Peter really screwed me over like this? Well, thanks a lot, motherfucker. Oh my god, something is really wrong with me. Oh well, I shouldn't get too ahead of myself. So, I took the home pregnancy test, just like Brian suggested I should. I don't really know what happened after that, but I vaguely remember having suicidal thoughts. God, I'm messed up. I should really get to bed…

Brian was downstairs reading the newspaper when he thought he heard something fall upstairs. "Oh my god, is that Lois?" When he made it to Peter and Lois's bedroom, he was all out panicking. He pushed open the door, only to see an unconscious Lois hanging from the ceiling by a short noose. "Oh my god, Oh my god, OH MY GOD!" Brian was completely freaking out as he frantically got on a chair, untied the noose, and got Lois down. The next few hours were practically hell for Brian as he paced up and down the emergency wing hallway of the local hospital. The same hospital receptionist who had told Lois of Peter's desk had called James Woods High and the Hugs and Kisses (The Good Kind) Daycare to let the administration know to dismiss the Griffin children so Brian could come and pick them up.

He was truly afraid to leave Lois alone, he really was, but he knew that her own children had just as much of a right to be with her in her time of need as Brian did, so for the next twenty minutes, Brian drove across Quahog to pick up Meg, Chris, and Stewie. Now pacing back and forth in the hospital hallway, Brian wished he could just curl up there on the floor and die.

"Mr. Griffin, Lois is going to be fine. If you'd like to come in, you may." That was the best news Brian had heard all day.

It was still a scary sight, seeing Lois in a disturbing situation like this, but Brian felt much better getting to sit next to her, knowing that she would be okay. Besides the hollowed out blue bags under her eyes, Lois looked the same as she had the morning before. "This just isn't her." Brian thought to himself.

The sun was setting over the horizon when Lois had finally opened her eyes. "Brian, is that you?" She was the happiest she had been since Peter was alive just seeing a trusted friend care for her so much.

"Yes, it is. Are you okay? What the hell where you thinking?"

Lois was now crying, as her fragile self was no longer able to handle such a rough treatment from someone else. "I just missed Peter so much, and I wanted to be with him so badly, and then I thought that maybe I could commit suicide to be with him. I just couldn't bear the thought of having to live without someone who loves me the way he did."

"That's not true Lois. You see, I…I love you, too. And if you really need someone to call a husband, I'll be here."

"Oh my god, you would, yes, yes! I would love that, Brian!"

"As would I." Brian was almost ecstatic with the thought that Lois actually did love him and would like it if he stood by her side as a husband to help raise what was left of Peter and Lois's family. "I've always wanted to raise kids, and now I get to help raise three of them!"

"Actually, Brian," Lois had interjected his celebration. "There's not just three kids anymore. Remember that pregnancy test you suggested I take? Well, I took your advice, and it came out positive. I'm going to have another child."

Brian was speechless.

"Is… is that okay with you, Brian?"

"…Yes, yes it is. I love you, Lois Griffin, and I would love to hold your hand as we raise this child of Peter's together."

"Oh Brian…"

Maybe she was just hallucinating, but Lois was able to picture Peter smiling, as if he had wanted Brian to marry Lois in his place. Brian was his best friend in life, and this child would be the last act of love Peter would ever be able to give to Lois. He loved her more than anything, but if he couldn't be with her, then Brian was the next best thing.

Lois was released from the hospital that night. Peter's funeral was the next day, and it was the most beautiful thing Lois had seen since her own wedding day. She smiled with tears streaming down her face as she said one last goodbye to the man she had entrusted her life to twenty years ago. Brian and her children were with her, supporting her. She no longer felt alone. That night, she called the kids down to the kitchen table to tell them the news she and Brian had kept secret from them for the past day.

"Kids, this may seem surprising to you, but Brian has decided to become my husband in Peter's place." Lois and Brian looked at each other smiling as they held hands.

"Really, mom?" Meg was obviously surprised. Chris and Stewie, however, didn't mind much.

"And," Lois continued, "I have just found out that I'm pregnant. We're going to have a new member of the family."

That's it for today! Remember to review! And thanks to DarkRose1999 for becoming this story's first follower! See ya'll later!

Mgmoose99