ABC/DISNEY owns GH and Grey's Anatomy. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 42
The next morning Cody rolled out of bed only a little bit earlier than normal. Both he and Nadine were off today, which was perfect. He pulled on his black USMC sweatpants, and his gray USMC t-shirt. He had a lot of items emblazoned with those letters. Cody was proud to have served and now he was proud to show support for his brothers and sisters in uniform.
Looking over he grinned at his girl, who was in his red USMC shirt and sleep shorts. She hadn't even moved yet. On days she was working she was up and moving early. On days she was off sleeping in was a luxury she took advantage of. He would handle morning walks when those times came around.
He was slipping on his boots that were by the door when his phone buzzed. He let Ritchie onto the grounds and headed out to the porch. "How was she?"
"Good. The chew toys you left got demolished." Ritchie said laughing. "I went out and picked up a few more. Consider it a welcome to the family gift." He said before Cody asked how much he spent. "I also got the phone number of this really hot woman who owns a bulldog. Women love men holding puppies." The guard said with a grin.
"Did this help you make up your mind about if you want a dog or not. Aside from the picking up women angle." Cody squatted down and opened the carrier. He would walk their newest family member before heading back inside.
"I liked having something else living in the house." Ritchie told his friend. "She basically ignored me, but she brought noise into the apartment. I'd like one that is smaller though."
"Smaller than a puppy?" Cody didn't understand the concept of a teacup dog.
"No, smaller when full grown. Your dog has some good sized paws." Ritchie pointed to the animal that was now on the leash. "Did the vet say how big she might get?"
"Rough guess was between sixty-five and eighty pounds." Cody said stepping off the porch and into the grass. He had grabbed a treat from the stash of doggie items in his office closet. When she relieved herself he would praise her and give her the reward.
"I'm okay on the front end of that, the back end might be too much dog." Ritchie told his friend. "Nadine is gonna reward you big time for this. Ladies love surprises."
Cody just grinned because Ritchie didn't know the half of it. "The puppy destroy anything at your place?"
"Nope. Kept her confined to the kitchen. Not much to destroy in there." Ritchie had hung out at the island most of the night so the dog wouldn't be lonely. "I need to get to work. Enjoy your day off, and text me the name when you guys figure it out." He opened the door to his car. "Text me where you got her. I might go out and have a look."
"Sure thing. Thanks." Cody waved as his friend left. "After you do your business we'll go in and I'll introduce you to your mom. Prepare yourself to be spoiled." The dog just looked up and grinned.
"Okay, you ready?" Cody asked the puppy in his arms. "You remember what I need you to do? A dog of few words, we are going to get along fine." The former solider predicted. The fluffball had been in the house for thirty minutes now, and outside twice, without barking once. He knew she could do so because she barked while at the vet's, but this morning she'd been really quiet.
Cody opened the door and saw his girl was still under the covers. With a smile he walked to his side of the large bed and put the dog down. Nose to the mattress she sniffed her way over to the tousle of blond hair that was sticking out. Then she gave a small little puppy grunt, as if to say wake up.
At the noise Nadine turned her head and blinked. "Oh!" She proclaimed sitting up. Waking up never took her long, which was a byproduct of her medical training. "It's my puppy! What is she doing here?" She brought confused, but happy, eyes up to her boyfriend. The light brown and white puppy was wagging her tail hard enough to make her floppy ears bounce. "Our paperwork won't clear until this afternoon."
"I filled out some paperwork last week." Cody said spilling the beans. "I wanted to surprise you with the dog you wanted."
"Aww, you are just the sweetest guy." Nadine picked up the dog and cuddled her close before leaning over and kissing Cody. "I can't believe she is here. We need to name her. Or have you already done so?" Nadine asked looking at the medallions on the dog's collar. Most were vaccination related, but one was special. On the gold medallion four words had been etched into the medal. 'Will you marry me?'
Cody just watched his girl and waited while she looked at the tags. He knew when she found the special one. So he pulled the velvet box out of his pocket and opened it up.
Nadine looked at the medallion and read it twice just to make sure it said what she wanted it to. Any lingering doubt was removed when she looked up and saw Cody holding a box with the most gorgeous ring. "Oh!" She said shaking and blinking back tears. "Yes." There wasn't any other answer she could give him.
Her hand was shaking, and so was his. Getting the ring on took a few tries. "I love you." Cody told her.
"I love you too." Nadine had given up and let the tears come. Their furry friend was licking them off her face. "A puppy and proposal. This is seriously the best day ever."
"Yeah it is." Cody leaned in a got a kiss and a lick. "We need to name her."
"We do. What about Roxie?" She asked looking down at their puppy and leaning into Cody. "Roxie Paul."
"Really?" Cody just looked at his girl.
"Yeah. That way when I change my name we will all match." Nadine couldn't wait to get married.
"You're changing your name?" Cody was just old fashioned enough too really like that.
"Uh huh." Nadine looked down at her ring and back at him. "I want everyone to know that I'm yours."
He had to kiss her for that.
"Should we take her for a walk?" Nadine couldn't stay in bed anymore, she was too excited. Later they would put this bed to good use, during puppy nap time.
"Wouldn't hurt." Cody said taking the soft dog. "Get dressed, after I'll make us all breakfast."
"Okay." Nadine leaned in for another kiss. After breakfast she would send out a picture of her ring to Georgie, Emily, and Liz.
"Georgie." The nurse called out and then smiled as her fellow employee walked over with her husband behind her. "Come on back. Scale then you can leave me a sample. Kelly is running right on schedule, which is the benefit of an early appointment." It was just a fact that as the day went along the doctor would start getting behind. Obstetrics patients generally had questions, and it was a rare day something unexpected didn't pop up. However Kelly did her best to not make anyone wait more than fifteen minutes if possible.
"Thanks." Georgie said stepping onto the scale. She knew what it would say because she weighed herself twice a week at home.
"Okay. There is a cup in the bathroom." The nurse pointed and her patient went inside.
"Which room, we'll head down." Georgie asked her colleague.
"Four. I'll be right in." The nurse said before gloving up.
"You okay over there?" Georgie asked as they walked into her exam room and she got into the waiting gown.
"Yeah." Johnny said before helping his girl up onto the table. "I'm not going to lie I get nervous about these appointments. Reading those baby books I am aware of everything that can go wrong." He was also aware of all the things he had done wrong in his life and a problem now would be a great way for karma to pay him back. He was trying not to think that way because he'd also done good things in his life as well. The fact that he had Georgie in his life showed the universe didn't hate him.
"Don't borrow trouble." Georgie said squeezing his hand. She knew how her guy thought.
"Quoting my Nana." He said laughing. He wished the older woman was still alive, she would have adored Georgie.
"Whatever works." She said happy when he smiled.
"Hello O'Briens." Kelly said coming into the room. The doctor was reading the chart. "We got a positive result for sugar in your urine sample. Before you panic." The doctor looked over at Johnny, like most first time dads he was nervous. "This happens with a lot of mommies, most of whom do not develop gestational diabetes. For most a positive result is a one-time thing. So I'm not going to worry just yet especially since Georgie was already tested, but I'll be watching. Another positive result will mean having the three hour test done." She let her patients know.
"Everything else is okay?" Georgie wasn't going to panic either. If she did develop the condition she trusted Kelly.
"Everything else is fine. You could gain a little more weight, but if you don't I'm not going to worry. Like with the sugars we will just keep watch. With you here in the hospital I can always drop in and put you on a scale." Kelly said turning on the ultrasound machine. Her patient was within the parameters of what they wanted to see, but on the low end. Since she started her second trimester they had seen improved weight gain, and that made Kelly relax. "Okay, let's have a look." She said applying gel and then the wand to her patient's tummy. "Have you told anyone that you are having twins yet?"
"No." Johnny said shaking his head and looking at the monitor. In the beginning he had needed help because the image made no sense. Now that the babies were bigger it was not problem seeing them. "We'd like to keep it to ourselves until the babies are born if possible."
"Well you know I won't tell." Kelly said laughing. "You are missing out on the opportunity to score twice as many gifts." She didn't want kids, but she was always amazed at the haul new parents got at the shower.
"Johnny's dreams of surprising his friends is about to hit a snag." Georgie said from the table looking at the image. Kelly would review everything before she started talking. When the wand shifted and the doctor nodded Georgie closed her eyes. "Liz is due home soon, she will figure it out. Nadine and Emily have never had babies and neither specializes in obstetrics. They swallowed my story of a big baby. Liz will know from experience that I'm too big to have just one in there." Georgie said opening her eyes at Kelly's signal.
"She is sharp. I miss seeing her around the halls. Liz worked on my service once, and that was all it took to see why Patrick didn't want to share her." Kelly said still looking at the screen. With two babies there was a lot to check.
"I could fix you up with one of the guys, then you'd see her a lot more." Georgie said with a wicked grin.
"Are there any that can keep up with me?" Kelly wanted to know.
"Let me think on it." Georgie had never played matchmaker before, but she was positive that Marco would be perfect for the sassy doctor.
"Okay. Everything looks good." Kelly said before pointing out the major organ systems, the fingers and toes, and the brain. "Right on schedule."
"Any genders?" Johnny wanted to know relaxing.
"I didn't mention them for a reason." Kelly said arching a brow. "Your lovely wife doesn't want to know. I can write them down for you, but if you slip and tell her trauma is not my specialty."
Johnny had to grin at that. His girl was a lot more patient than him. He was a box shaker, so not knowing if they were having boys or girls or one of both was driving him bonkers. "I'll wait." He wasn't sure he could keep the secret.
Georgie looked at him and grinned. "Go ahead and tell us. Otherwise the suspense might kill my husband."
"Thanks babe." Johnny said giving her a kiss, she really did love him.
"That's it?" Kelly looked at Georgie. "At least make him give you something."
"Look at that face." Georgie smiled wider. "I can't deny him anything."
"Which is why you are on my table." Kelly pushed the button to print out the photos the parents could take with them. "Two girls."
"Seriously?" Georgie asked eyes wide. There was no way she wouldn't be on blood pressure pills before they started walking. Her guy was serious about spoiling any daughters he had.
Johnny didn't really know what to say.
"Gotcha!" Kelly said laughing. "Two boys, the universe wouldn't give O'Brien girls. Even I know that. Here." She handed the photos to her colleague.
"Boys." Georgie said relieved. While healthy babies were the main goal, she had been hoping for sons. Not because of her hubby, but because of her sister. She didn't think she could handle a teenage girl with attitude after having Maxie in her life.
"That was funny." He told the doctor grinning. "We already have names picked out."
"We have girls names picked out as well." Georgie pointed out.
"Want to share?" Kelly loved hearing the names her patients picked out.
"No." Johnny wasn't telling anyone what they had chosen.
"That's okay, because I'll still get to hear them first." Kelly said laughing. "Back in two weeks."
"Thanks." Georgie said sitting up. She let Johnny help her from the table. "Two boys, I guess I won't end up wanting to strangle you after all."
"You aren't disappointed are you?" Johnny asked just checking.
"No. Liz said she loves being the only girl in her house for the moment. She also said that she hopes to have a little girl someday. I'm looking forward to all the adoration that will be coming my way." Georgie said laughing.
"I don't adore you enough?" Johnny asked feigning hurt.
"I need adoration for three." She said rubbing her tummy. "I also need something to drink, I'm thirsty."
"How about a milkshake?" Johnny suggested as he tied his wife's sneakers. Since Kelly said Georgie could stand to gain some weight the calories wouldn't hurt.
"Okay. Strawberry would be amazing." Georgie said pulling out her phone when it buzzed. Her jaw dropped and she started laughing. "Nadine got a few gifts this morning." She turned the device.
"I got a dog." Johnny read the text. "I think she failed to mention the ring." He was happy for his friends. "We can stop off and get them a gift. The hound too." He said holding the door open for his girl.
Jason put his book aside. "All done?" He was out on the terrace.
"I am. I need to thank the guys for letting me go through their bedrooms." Liz said sitting on her husband's lap. "I gave the sketches to the interior designer. Thank you for letting me take time to draw them."
"You don't need to thank me for that." Jason said urging her head down to his shoulder.
"We are on our honeymoon. I could have been using that time to hang out with you." She told him why she was apologizing.
"I don't want to stay here while construction is going on. I don't want the boys around that either, so work needs to happen while we aren't in residence. Now is ideal because the house will be ready for our next visit." Jason said rubbing her back. He had asked this of her when they returned to the villa. It changed her original plans, but it would make him feel better. "The boys are going to love the murals on their walls."
"I think so too." Liz relaxed into her husband's warmth. "I have loved every minute of being here with you, and I think they are going to love coming here with you too."
"I have loved being here with you, but I miss the boys so I'm looking forward to returning home." Jason admitted enjoying having his wife so close.
"Me too." Liz replied looking up at him through her lashes. "How bad is my jet lag going to be?"
"It will be worse than when we returned from Seattle, but hopefully not too bad. Since it will be Friday night when we touch down I figured we'd just hang out at the house over the weekend and listen to the boys tell us about their time with their Nana." Jason explained why he had planned their return for later in the evening.
"That's my phone." Liz said shifting a bit to retrieve the device. So far on this trip she hadn't gotten any calls, but Monica sent a picture or two each day. "Look!" She said smiling wide.
"Cody popped the question." Jason said laughing. "And they got a dog."
"That ring is gorgeous." Liz said enlarging the picture to get a better look. "It the perfect size and shape for her hand. You guys really know your stones."
"We try to find stones as beautiful as the women who will wear them. We fail, but we do try." He told her looking into her deep blue eyes.
"Jason Morgan, you sly talker you." Liz had to lean up and kiss him for that. "Would you mind if I offered them use of the villa for their honeymoon?"
"Not at all. It shouldn't sit vacant." Jason let her know. "Cody can also give me a report on how everything looks if they come. What would you like to do this evening?"
"I'd like to stay in and cook together." Liz loved it when they did that.
"How about a walk on the beach first?" Jason suggested.
"That sounds wonderful." Liz said sighing in happiness. This was really her life. "I'll get up. In a minute or so."
"No rush." He would never complain about having her so close. "No rush at all."
Thanks for the reviews!