Sam slowly opened her eyes, wincing as the bright overhead lights hit her retinas.

Where was she? What happened? The last thing she remembered was that phone call…That phone call telling her that Marshall was trying to get her daughters back.

And suddenly, Sam felt sick again, and she made to get up, only to realize she had an IV running through the vein of her left arm.

Why am I in the hospital? Sam thought to herself, looking around the room and down at the white bed she was laying in.

"Ah, Ms. Puckett, glad to see you're awake," a doctor said, walking into the room.

"What happened to me?" Sam asked, trying to sit up.

"You passed out," the doctor told her gently, placing a hand on her shoulder to prevent her from moving. "In a wedding dress store."

"Oh…" Sam sighed. Now it was coming back to her.

"Yes, you gave your party quite a scare," the doctor continued. "We have the whole group in the waiting room. I'll be sure to tell them you're awake in just a moment."

"Okay," Sam nodded. "But look, I feel fine now and everything, so can I just go and-"

"I'd like to keep you overnight just to make sure you're okay," the doctor told her.

Sam rolled her eyes. "Is that really necessary?"

"Yes."

"Fine," Sam said. At least she would get a break from Mrs. Benson.

"Now, I'd like to discuss something very important with you," the doctor said. "Before I bring anyone else in here."

"What?" Sam frowned.

"Well, we ran a few tests when you arrived here in the ambulance," the doctor began. "To try and see if we could find a reason for your sudden fainting spell."

Well I just got to worst news of my life, so that might have something to do with it, Sam thought bitterly to herself.

"It-It was probably just stress," Sam mumbled, looking down at her lap. She didn't want to discuss this with some strange doctor she didn't even know. "I'm getting married, my future mother-in-law is driving me crazy, my best friend won't let up on planning the wedding, I-"

"Stress may have played a factor, but that's not what I want to discuss with you," the doctor said.

Sam blinked. "Then what is it?"

"Well, Ms. Puckett, while we were checking you out, we found out that you are pregnant," the doctor said, his eyes sparking. "Congratulations."

Sam felt those words hit her like a ton of bricks. "I-I-What? I'm pregnant?"

"Yes, about six weeks along, in fact," the doctor nodded.

Sam could feel her heart racing as she slowly took in this news. She was pregnant? With Freddie's child?

She had a flashback to when she found out she was pregnant with the twins…Marshall had thrown a fit.

But Freddie wouldn't do that. Freddie would be excited. He desperately wanted to have a family with her, which is why he wanted to adopt the girls, and now they were going to have their own baby together as well.

And for a few fleeting seconds, Sam felt…happy. She was having another baby! She'd get to be a mother all over again!

But then, she remembered the news that had gotten her to this hospital bed in the first place, and she felt the spark inside of her fade away. She placed a hand on her abdomen. Would Marshall do something to hurt this child, just spite her further? She suddenly felt very afraid and vulnerable.

"Would you like me to go collect your visitors now?" the doctor asked.

"Y-Yeah," Sam nodded. "But, um, can you send in Freddie Benson first? He's the father, and I-I sort of want to tell him alone."

"Of course," the doctor replied. "I'll be back with him in a moment."

I need to tell him about Marshall, Sam thought to herself as she nervously fidgeted with the end of her blanket. I can't hide it from him anymore.

She looked out the small window next to her bedside. She wondered how Freddie would take it. She just hoped he wouldn't do anything stupid…

"Sam!" Freddie burst through the door and rushed over to her. "Oh my God, are you okay? Carly called me and I came over here with the girls as soon as I could. What happened? Are you okay?"

"I-I passed out," Sam mumbled as Freddie hugged her. "Baby, I'm fine."

"I was so worried," Freddie said.

"Dude, chill, it was probably just from all the stress," Sam told him. She took his hand and squeezed it. "I have to tell you something important though."

"What is it?" Freddie asked.

Sam took a deep breath. "I-I just found out…I'm pregnant."
Freddie blinked. "You-You're what?"

"Pregnant," Sam repeated. "We-We're going to have a baby."

"Oh my God…" Freddie breathed as he threw his arms around her again, a huge grin breaking out over his face. "Oh my God, Sam! Sam, this is-this is amazing! More than amazing! We-We're going to have a baby! We're really going to be a family. Especially since…well, the girls said yes."

"What?" Sam asked, confused.

"They said yes to me adopting them," Freddie said, looking like the happiest man on earth. "Can you believe it?"

"Of course I can," Sam said softly. "They love you. I told you that there was nothing for you to worry about."

"I just can't believe how lucky we are," Freddie said, kissing her. "Kira and Leah will officially be able to call me dad, and now you and I are going to have another child to take care of and see grow up together. I-I can't think of anything I've ever wanted more in my life."

Sam plastered on a smile. She wished she could be as thrilled as Freddie was right now. But she knew everything was far from having a happy ending.

"Freddie," Sam sighed. "I-There's something-"

"I don't know how I managed to get this lucky," Freddie said softly, kissing her again. "You've really made me the happiest man in the world, you know that?"

I can't tell him now, Sam thought miserably, biting the corner of her lip. He's too excited. I don't want to crush his joy.

Suddenly, the door of Sam's room flew open and the twins came running in, Carly at there heels.

"Sorry," Carly said as Kira and Leah ran to their mom. "They were getting to impatient in the hospital room."

"It's okay," Sam chuckled as she hugged both her daughters.

"What happened?" Leah asked.

"Yeah, those stupid doctors just told us you passed out," Kira nodded. "It was the wedding dress place, wasn't it? It was probably all the gross perfume they have there."

"No, it-it wasn't the wedding dress store," Sam said slowly. She looked at Freddie. He looked positively bursting, and Sam knew he wouldn't be able to keep the news a secret any longer. "I'm pregnant."

"What?" Kira and Leah exclaimed simultaneously.

"No way!" Carly gasped.

"That's right," Freddie said, putting his arm around Sam. "We're going to have a baby."

"Whoa…this is so great!" Leah said. "I can finally have a baby brother or sister! I've been dreaming of this for years!"

"You do realize you have a sister," Kira said, elbowing Leah in the ribs.

"Yeah, but you're kind of mean," Leah said jokingly.

"Well hopefully this sibling won't hog the bathroom," Kira said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm so happy for you guys," Carly said to Sam and Freddie. "Now normally a pregnancy so close to the wedding throws a wrench into all the planning, but I don't think there's any problem here. The wedding's so close that Sam should still be fit into any wedding dress she wants."

"Thank goodness for that," Sam said, her voice dripping in sarcasm.

"Hey, baby? Is there anything you need?" Freddie asked. "Something to drink? To eat? Are you comfortable enough? I can go try and get you some more pillows and-"

"Fredwad, relax," Sam said, giving him an assuring smile. "I'm fine. Although…I guess I wouldn't say no to some food."

"I'll go see what the cafeteria has," Freddie said, quickly getting to his feet. He gave her one last kiss before turning to head out the door.

Sam watched him leave, a definite spring in his step.

I have to tell him eventually, Sam thought sadly. Just not now.