Lexi sat bolt upright in bed. Dashed to the bathroom. Ethan was just walking out of the bathroom. She pushed passed him. The chicken soup she had enjoyed last night came back to haunt her. She leaned back against the wall.
"I hate chicken soup!" she murmured weakly.
Ethan gave her water. After she sipped it he helped her up. Took her to her room and lay her down. He sat beside her. "Did you get any sleep last night?"
"A little." she lied.
"Lexi." he encouraged.
"No I did get a little sleep." about an hour. Maybe less.
He lay beside her. "C'mere."
"I gotta get up for work." she told him. Although she had protested she leaned into his chest and sighed.
"Not for a couple of hours. I'll get you up."
She turned over so her back was against his chest. Her head was pillowed under one of her arms. His hand rested on the swell of their baby. He rubbed it.
"I'm sorry Lex. I always knew she was mine. Well nearly always. I guess I just freaked."
Lexi nodded. "I'm sorry for even thinking about hurting you in that way never mind even implying she wasn't yours. I do love you Ethan."
"Yeah I love you too."
But both people knew that love couldn't keep you together if you were badly suited. And they were badly suited. Neither wanted it to end this way but that's the way it was!
Lexi was asleep in no time. Deeply asleep. Ethan kissed her head softly. Rubbed her stomach.
"Daddy's back!" he vowed. Then went to phone Bob.
Ethan spoke to Bob on the phone. "Yeah Bob it's Ethan. She's ill. Not eating. Barely sleeping. No she won't be in. I couldn't say when she'll be back. Yeah I'll get her to phone you. Thanks for understanding. What? Your wife's been pregnant twice? They can go canny mental like. Yeah I'll tell her. Thanks man."
He then went to the study and began designing flyers for Sid's upcoming events. He and Thabo had spoke about it and they were gonna raise some money for charity by having a boxing match. A fancy dressed boxing match. Gonna get the local school kids involved by asking them to design some costumes. The details were still being ironed out they were doing this and were having a few free boxing lessons taught by him and Thabo to get some youngsters into Sid's. Like a group teaching session. Hopefully they'd see a couple of kids with potential. He had the rest of the week off he'd taken them as a holiday coz all this stuff with Lex had scrambled his rains and he was no use to anyone!
Lexi awoke. Felt great after a sleep. Glanced at her clock and shot up
"Damn I should have been at work an hour ago!" she yelled.
Dived from her bedroom into the shower and was in there for 5 minutes. Literally. She was barely wet and then she was back out again was back in her room pulling her dressing gown off and pulling her clothes and work uniform on. Smiled slightly when the she struggled to get the zip over her abdomen. She really needed new uniforms!
She heard a knock and then Ethan walked in. smiled at her when he saw her. Then frowned when he realised she was flustered.
"Your awake." he said
"yes I am." she said annoyed. "You said you'd wake me!"
"You needed your sleep." he shrugged. "Bob was fine with it. Told me he'd sort it with Martin. He is pissed by the way."
"You should have woke me!" she said pulling her brush through her wet hair.
"Lex you needed your sleep. I did it for you and the baby!"
"And coz you don't want me working there anymore. I actually thought you cared that I wasn't getting any sleep." she yelled and tied her hair back.
"Don't even start saying I don't care when I do! I phoned him didn't I? told Bob you'd phone him later!"
"I am needed at work! You don't pick if and when I go into work I do!" she fumed.
"And your not eating or sleeping! You have our baby to think about!"
She walked out of her room and went to the phone.
"What you doing?" he asked.
"Phoning Bob. Telling him I'm coming in."
"Why you have the day off now. Relax."
"Coz I wanna get away from you!" she said nastily.
She picked the phone up and he pressed the disconnect button so she couldn't ring out.
"Dammit Ethan it's my choice!" she told him angrily.
"C'mon Lex we spend the day together. You me and the baby. We'll talk names. And what pram you want and look on the internet for baby stuff." he said softly.
"No I don't wanna do that stuff with you I wanna go to work."
His eyes darkened. "Fine!" he took his finger off the button. Walked down the hall.
He turned when he heard a gasp and the receiver hit the floor. He saw Lexi almost bent double. Arms around her stomach panting. Her face contorted.
"Ethan!" she said breathless. "The baby!"
He was by her side in a second. "Lexi!"
"Ambulance!" she panted. "Baby."
"It'll be quicker if I drive you myself." so he picked her up and carried her to the car. Put her inside and pulled her belt over her.
"Ethan it hurts!" she told him.
"You'll be fine. The baby too. Believe me!"
"This isn't good Ethan. I'm losing her. I can't lose another baby!" Tears streamed from her eyes.
"No your not Lexi. Your NOT!" he said panicking.
They arrived at A and E and she was immediately whisked into a cubicle. He was asked to wait outside. Her records pulled up. He was pacing his mind whirling with thoughts of Lexi and his baby. He prayed his little girl was ok. Not his baby girl! An hour passed. He felt sick with worry.
"You can go in now Mr Bell."
He was straight in there. Lexi was on a drip.
"Lexi?" he asked softly.
"They wanna perform a scan Ethan." her eyes glistened. "They couldn't find her heartbeat."
His stomach dropped.
"I'm so sorry Ethan!" she said tearfully.
"Lex this isn't your fault so no apologies." he clutched her hand.
They waited a little until they were transferred to the maternity unit. They clutched hands the whole way there. They were soon in a private room next to a machine. The cold clear gel on her stomach. They placed the ultrasound on her stomach. Ethan and Lexi held their breath, they heard the whooshing of their babies heartbeat and she appeared on screen. Arms flying. Lexi burst into tears. Ethan felt all choked up. He leaned and kissed Lexi's cheek.
"She's fine Lex. Our little girl is fine."
The doctor took his measurements. "Yep your daughter is definitely fine. Big for her age too."
"Daughter?" they both gasped. "You mean we're definitely having a little girl?"
"You didn't know?" the doctor asked nervously.
"We guessed. Well her dad guessed she was a girl."
"Yes your having a girl who is healthy and like I said very big for 18 weeks. Hence the reason why I could see her gender."
"And she is definitely ok?" Lexi needed reassurance.
"Yes. You will need to be monitored closely. I can see that your placenta came away from the uterine wall slightly. That in itself can be dangerous for both mother and child. It was a very small perforation. I have made some notes. You are to take it easy. Rest often and be careful to stay away from stressful situations"
"I'll make sure of it." Ethan looked at her lovingly.
"Right I see in your notes you had blood taken. You need to go over to Ward 17 in the S.I.U. I know they need to speak to you."
Lexi paled as did Ethan. She was handed a printed sheet of what she had to do and steer clear of to avoid it happening again. Ethan didn't leave go of her hand as they walked to Ward 17.
"I'm here Lexi. I'm always here and whatever happens we'll deal with it together ok." he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to it.
She nodded and gave her name to the receptionist. They went and sat down in a chair. She sat ramrod straight stiff.
"You'll be ok Lex."
"Alexis Trevanion." the doctor said.
"Will you come with me please?" she asked Ethan.
He nodded and refused to let go of her hand.
They were led into a cold sterile room. The doctor tapped away on a keyboard. Reading her notes. Looking intense. God the waiting was killing her! She needed to know! The doctor turned to Lexi. His face serious. Lexi's stomach dropped.
"Miss Trevanion I have good news. Your cancer has not returned. Your bloods were completely normal."
Lexi exhaled a breath. Her shoulders slumped. "Really?" she questioned.
The doctor nodded smiling. "Your still in remission."
Lexi bit her lips so tears didn't fall. Ethan squeezed her hand telling her he was still there.
"Thank god!" he breathed in a shaky voice.
Ethan and Lexi stood up and left the doctors office walked towards where the car was parked. Before they reached it they turned and hugged each other tightly. Each person needing the contact.
"I was so scared I thought I was gonna lose both of you today. That can't happen. I love you both so much! When we were told our baby was fine and your cancer hadn't returned…." he held her tighter. "I nearly cried in relief. I need you both." he breathed deeply.
She nodded. "I'll speak to Martin. Tell him I'm cutting my hours. Within the next month I'll go on maternity leave. I can't just up and leave them in the lurch."
Ethan nodded. Opened the door to the truck for her. Shut the door when she was inside.
He climbed in beside her.
"You gave mummy and daddy a big fright today sweetie." she rubbed her stomach.
"She sure did." Ethan agreed and put his hand over hers.
"How about we go home, talk names and look at pink frilly dresses?" she asked excitedly.
"Sounds good." he replied.
He was driving.
"You got any names in mind?" he asked.
"Dunno, I like Daisy. Haven't really thought of it."
"I like a few. Katie. Ebony. Zoey."
Lexi smiled. "I like the sound of Zoey." she said the word a few times. "Zoey, Zo Zo, Zoey Bell."
"Zoey Skye Bell." he murmured.
"That has got a nice ring to it." she agreed.
Zoey Skye Trevanion Bell, She thought.
"Lexi, Ethan and Zoey." he said.
"Is that her name then?" Lexi asked. "Are we agreed?"
"I think so."
"You know if we have another scan she can still be a he!" she told him.
He shook his head. "I told you. She's a girl. Takes a man to produce a daughter." he said proudly.
"And us?" she asked.
"We take us one day at a time. We both said things that were unforgivable. We need to work through stuff before we jump back into a relationship. That was always our problem. We jump straight in. Are way too intense. We should go slow and steady. The existence of our daughter proves how fast we go. I want us to work. I promise I'll never leave you Lex. And I mean YOU. Not Zoey. I will never leave you again. I love you."
"I love you." she said tears in her eyes. The one thing she had longed to hear from him. That he'd never leave her.
"Are we telling mum and dad they are having a granddaughter?"
"Well my mum knows so we'll tell yours too."
The car pulled into Leopards Den. Alice was doing paperwork on the veranda. Frowning. She looked up when she heard the car.
"Lex baby you ok? You look pale?"
She nodded. Decided not to tell her mum the real reason why she went to hospital. Why worry her unnecessarily.
"Where's dad?"
"Down in the surgery."
Danny walked up towards them.
"Dad we have news." Lexi said smiling. He stood behind Alice.
"We been to the hospital and my blood tests came back. I'm fine my cancer isn't back!"
"O baby that's amazing news.!" Alice got up and hugged her Danny wrapped his arms around them. "I've been so worried baby."
"I'm good mum I promise." she murmured and kissed her mums cheek.
Her mum and dad released her.
"That's not all. Me and Ethan have had a scan too. It's official we're having a little girl!" she was grinning from ear to ear.
"Lex Ethan congratulations!" Alice hugged her again.
Danny shook Ethan's hand. "Congratulations son."
"Thank you Danny."
Alice hugged Ethan. "I can't believe it. You still feel like my babies and now your gonna have your own baby!"
"Who'd of thought it huh?" Ethan asked holding Lexi's hand.
"Not me in a million years!" Danny admitted. "Of everything we thought of adopting you we never envisaged this happening." Danny admitted.
"How are you two?" Alice asked softly.
"We have stuff to sort out." Ethan told her.
"But we're hopeful that we'll be fine." Lexi added and looked at him out of the corner of her eye. Gave him a small smile. He did the same back. Everything was good!
A/N ethan and lex have made up awwww an the family harmony is back once agen yay! one more final chapter after this one then we get the next story started which i am nearly finished writing woop woop :D