"Did you finally get him to stop bouncing on his bed and get in it?" Elizabeth laughed as she adjusted the pillows behind her head. She snuggled herself as close under the covers as she could. The chilly January day had given way to a cold night and if there was one thing Elizabeth could not stand it was a cold room to sleep in.
"If someone hadn't told him about Bounce U, there wouldn't have been such an issue." Lucky pointed out as he moved his way around the bedroom, removing his watch and placing it on the nearby dresser. He laughed when he saw how covered up Elizabeth was. "Warm enough Nanuck?" he teased as he got into bed himself.
"You're the one who didn't want a typical McDonald's birthday. I thought you said that was too normal for your child." Elizabeth stuck her tongue out at him. "Don't make fun of me."
"But you make it so easy." Lying on his back, he rested his head on his arm as Elizabeth curled up into his side, resting her head on his chest. He began rubbing her back as he turned his head just enough to kiss the top of hers. "I will admit it was a good call."
"I keep telling you to not question my taste." She fell silent for a moment, content to just lay there by his side. The party had gone better than she had hoped. Cameron and his friends had all gone home exhausted, always a good thing where four-year-olds were concerned in her book. Lucky was actually speaking to his parents again and their relationship was starting to resemble normal again. She had been terrified that Tony and Lisa's arrival at the party would lead to a screaming match when they spotted her pregnant stomach, but the other couple had called citing car trouble and had been unable to make it. Cameron had been disappointed but it was better than his party to become an ugly grudge match.
Glancing over at the alarm clock, Lucky moved the arm under his head to pick it up. "What time is the appointment again?"
"Nine am. Your mom said she would take Cameron to school tomorrow so we won't have to rush." It still seemed like a strange dream but tomorrow was on more step to making this an impossible to deny reality. Tomorrow morning, Dr. Lansing was doing the sonogram picture and said it was possible they would be able to know if the baby was a boy or a girl. "You do realize we still have to decide if we want to know."
"Honestly I'm ok either way. Jess didn't want to know so we didn't find out with Cam. If you want to know, I'm alright with that."
"You're no help." Elizabeth smacked his chest with her open palm. "On the one hand, I think it would be great to know. Save a lot of headaches. On the other hand, I've met your family and I think finding out would lead to a whole new set of headaches."
"I hate to tell you this, but no matter which way we go, Dad will be convinced the baby is a boy. No matter what the sonogram said, he was convinced Lulu was a boy until she came. And then he acted shocked."
Elizabeth laughed softly and found a comfortable position to try to sleep in. She was barely into her second trimester and the baby had already started to mess with her sleeping patterns. "I'm glad you're coming."
"Wouldn't miss it."
She tried to smile but a yawn overtook her. "I'm glad you convinced me to stay tonight. I think I might have fallen asleep behind the wheel."
"Can't have that." Lucky chuckled softly. Nervously he looked down to the top of her head. The idea had been forming in his head for a few days now, maybe ever since he heard about the baby. And now it seemed like the perfect time to suggest it. Or at least it was the perfect time if the butterflies in his stomach were any indication. "You know you don't have to leave."
Elizabeth laughed softly. "Well I wasn't planning on getting up and driving home now after I finally got comfortable."
Of course she would misread what he was saying. Lucky took another breath. "No not tonight. I meant ever. You could move in. With me and Cameron."
Slowly Elizabeth raised her head so she could look directly into his eyes. She scanned them, looking for any hint of a joke. Had she heard right? "What did you say?" She whispered.
"You could move in with us. If you wanted. You already have a key. You're here more than at your grandmother's. And I would be around more to help you get ready for the baby." He paused and traced her face with his finger. "Move in."
Her heart felt as if it leapt up to her throat and had sped up to the speed of a jackrabbit. It wasn't' as if she hadn't thought about this, in the back corner of her mind. When he had given her the key, it had filtered through her mind and she had quickly dismissed it. Thinking like that had helped lead to the disaster with Max. She wasn't willing to set herself up for disappointment yet again. Cautiously she held his free hand with hers. "What about Cameron?"
"He's doing fine with you being here more often. He's talking more to you than to me most days."
"Only because you were being a stubborn ass about your mother."
"Still, he'll be fine."
Elizabeth chewed her lower lip and finally allowed herself to really think about his offer. Was this what she wanted? What she really wanted? It could all go horribly wrong, but it could all go completely right as well. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine getting up right now and going back to her grandmother's house. If she said no, could she get up and leave right this second? She opened her eyes as the realization washed over her. Not only could she not leave, there was no way she wanted to leave. "Yes."
Lucky blinked in confusion. He hadn't expected her to say yes right away. He had at least twenty more arguments to throw at her for the all the roadblocks he was sure she was going to create. "Did you just agree with me right away?"
"It's not a new trend, so don't get used to it."
Mac stared at the gold band he held between his thumb and index finger, letting his thumbnail slide across it as he studied it carefully, thinking about all it represented. He had worn one before, had made up his own vows and taken his daughters' mother to be his lawfully wedded wife for the rest of his life. That particular arrangement had ended bitterly and with a lot of regret and resentment. He had told him that this time it would all be different. Neither he nor Alexis had ever broached the subject of getting married until recently on purpose. He hadn't wanted to spook her, understanding her track record as well as his own. Each had a lot of baggage, only some of which included their children.
He glanced over at Kristina and felt his heart break for the millionth time. Her eyes were trained on closed hospital room door knowing her mother was just beyond it but not understanding what kind of condition she was in. He had nothing to tell her, because no one had told him anything yet. He had no facts, only bits and pieces of the circumstance that had landed her in the hospital to begin with. It was why he hadn't intercepted Kristina's invitation to stay over at Lance's for the night and ride with him and his dads over to Cameron's birthday party the following day: he had hoped he would have some concrete information to provide her with.
Dillon and Lucas had offered what almost sounded like condolences and Mac had barely managed to keep from crying after leaving their home with Kristina in tow. She must have understood the grave tone in which he spoke with Dillon and Lucas even though he had made certain to keep the conversation only between the three of them, not wanting to scare her unnecessarily. Alexis' A.D.A. had been the one to call Mac, remembering that they were involved, and he had left work mid-conversation with one of his deputies. The hospital assured him that, even if Alexis' co-worker hadn't known to call him, they surely would have since he was on her In Case Of Emergency card. He was thankful he hadn't had to wait that long.
Why had he been in such a hurry when all they had done was wait? And for how long? He received the call last night and it was edging closer and closer to the twenty-four hour mark. Still, the doctors ignored him and he hadn't been updated about Alexis' condition, whatever it was. He was beyond frustrated, so far past tears he was next to homicidal. How hard was it for one, just one, doctor to stop and notice him and Kristina sitting her outside of Alexis' room, no more informed now than they had been the previous night? Clearly next to impossible. He wanted to leave Kristina here and track one down, but he was without that option as Maxie hadn't shown up yet. There was no way he was leaving his future stepdaughter all alone.
His hold on the ring was almost enough to break it he mused, and tucked it into the right breast pocket of his charcoal gray suit. There had been so much hope in Alexis' eyes when he had asked her. It had been the same night they disappeared in their special cabin, the anniversary of their first date, and now it was the place he would always remember proposing to her. Of course they had wanted to tell their family long before they had, but each understood the difficulties in doing so. Kristina had been the most pressing concern since his girls were all grown and living their own lives. Sonny had gone away late in his only daughter's life so she had more memories with him than Morgan. Michael had the most but AJ had taken him out of the town so she never got to see or talk to him. He had almost suggested that Robin and Patrick take her along with Morgan when they went to visit, but Alexis had forbade it, not wanting it to seem that they were forcing Kristina on her brother or his dad. The truth of it was that Michael had never viewed Kristina as his sister and this often led to a distraught little girl whose feelings were always hurt when he refused to play with her.
Finally, finally, Mac spotted a man in a white suit and assumed that was Alexis' doctor. When the man moved toward her room, Mac engaged him immediately, "Can you please tell me what's going on with my fiancé?" When it looked like the man might shun him, he gestured toward Kristina. "We've been here all night and we need answers. The nurses won't even let us see her!"
The doctor, scratching his black head, said, "Well that was a mistake. They were waiting for me to arrive. I was currently away. I apologize for the wait. Please, both of you can come in. She's resting comfortably—" Mac had heard the phrase too often for it to offer any kind of comfort so Dr. Bernstein continued, "She had a mild collapse and we've run a few tests. We'll know what's wrong within an hour."
"Thank you, Dr. Bernstein." Mac led Kristina into the room and she instantly ran to Alexis' side, stopping short when she noticed how still her mother was. Mac watched the scene with a mix of apprehension and unabashed love. Yes, she was a little tyrant when she wanted to be, but she was starting to warm up to him…she was just taking her time. Pushing her thick cinnamon hair behind her ear as he had seen her mother do a hundred times a day, she pulled a chair to the bed and climbed in beside Alexis. Mac was about to pull her away when Alexis reached down, eyes still closed, and ran her left hand over Kristina's head, her words not words, more like mumbles as she fought the built-up phlegm in her throat. If he listened quietly enough, he could make out the sound of Kristina sobbing.
"How's my brave girl?" Alexis greeted her daughter, trying to hold her closer but the IVs in her arms making it almost impossible. Mac closed the space between them, ever cautious, and watched her eyelids lift. Her eyes sought his and he had no choice but to reach out and let the bed rail support his quivering form.
"I've been good Mommy." Kristina promised.
"Have you?" Alexis attempted a smile.
Kristina nodded seriously. She tried not to stare at the tubes and machines that were all attached to her mother. They made Mommy look like a creature out of one of Morgan's comic books rather than Mommy. "I even listened to Lucas and Dillon."
Alexis coughed even though she had wanted to laugh. "I'm so glad you're being a good girl. You're much more fun to be around when you're listening to grown-ups. Have you been listening to Mac?" It was the first acknowledgement besides eye contact that she had given him in the short time they had been in her room. She didn't have any recollection of the time between her collapse and now. Time had ceased to matter.
"Yes." Kristina nodded furiously.
"I was telling Kristina that you needed your rest so you could get better, but we've been out in the hall..." Mac nodded toward the door as he stammered. Despite the necessity to remain in the hospital when Robin or Maxie required his presence, he would never feel comfortable in one.
"I know. I felt you." Alexis assured him, wiping away a tear when she noticed his eyes turn glassy.
"What's wrong, Mommy?" Kristina asked cautiously staring up into her mother's eyes, her cheeks enflamed.
"Oh baby…" Alexis let her voice trail off and fought to keep her emotions in check. "That's what the doctors are trying to find out."
"But they'll give you medicine and then you can come home, right?" Kristina begged her eyes squeezed shut as if she couldn't accept any other outcome.
Alexis closed her eyes and rolled onto her side so that Kristina wouldn't notice the obvious tears in her eyes. She didn't know what was wrong and if Mac knew he hadn't shared it with her or her daughter. "I'm sure it's just a routine check..."
Mac spoke up, his heart in his throat. "No, darling, it's not a routine check. Something is very wrong." There was no reason to lie to Kristina; she understood the gravity of the situation whether or not she was consciously aware of it.
"I got a little dizzy. It's probably my blood pressure." Alexis reasoned, not sure what she would do if it was something worse.
"Mommy, I want you to come home right now." Kristina told her stubbornly. Alexis and Mac shared a shaky laugh at her bluntness.
"I want to come home too, baby. Just as soon as the doctor lets me, I'll be home with you and Mac and Maxie." Alexis promised, swallowing a lump in her throat, forcing herself to look at her daughter's broken expression.
"And Morty?" Kristina chimed in referring to the goldfish Maxie had bought for her when they were at the mall looking at bridesmaid and flower girl dresses.
"Yes, how could I forget Morty?" Alexis' bottom lip trembled and she stared over at Mac in desperation.
"How about we go find Maxie and you two can get some dinner?" Mac suggested, unbeknownst to the shaking figure in the doorway.
Maxie bent down and Kristina ran into her arms. "Hey munchkin, I missed you." Maxie cooed to her, her gaze snapping to Mac's and then back to Alexis'.
"I can't leave my mommy." Kristina countered, nodding toward the hospital bed.
Maxie gave that a moment's thought. "We wouldn't be gone that long. Besides, she and Mac need to talk to the doctor. When we get back, we'll get to know what's going on with your mommy." Maxie insisted brushing back Kristina's drenched bangs.
"That's a really good idea." Alexis agreed with a smile. "Go and get something to eat. I'm not going anywhere." She was able to keep her features light and her eyes warm just long enough for Maxie to convince Kristina to go with her. Staring over at Mac, she whispered, "What's wrong with me, Mac?"
He pushed the chair Kristina had abandoned out of the way and leaned over to kiss her forehead. "I don't know, sweetheart, but we're going to fight it."