'When we lose one blessing,

Another is most often

unexpectedly given in its place.' - C.S Lewis

Chapter 8: Stronger: September

Monday, September 4th

With every Braxton Hick, I have a humble feeling inside. With every day that passes by, I know that we are one step closer to having the family we have wanted for more than three-years.

But with everyday, I know that it is slowly getting closer to the worst day I have ever experienced. And that day could never get better, no matter how long ago is was.

I was awoken to the sound of my own coughing. I had recently come down with the contagious cough that was quickly being past around from one person to another. But I was saying to Sheldon that I had the flu, just to make sure he didn't come over.

I placed on my glasses as the pitch black room became less blurry, as a result of my horrific vision.

I climbed out of bed, like I had done every night for a few days, and walked out in the hall. I grabbed the extra bed cover, that was kept in the storage box by the stairs, and a pillow.

I had been sleeping on the couch after I woke up with this for a few days, just for Penny's sake. To make sure I didn't wake her, or get her sick either. That would be the last thing I would want to happen.

"Leonard, you can't keep going on by sleeping on the couch every night." Penny sighed, sitting next to me the next morning.

"I don't want you to get sick." I smiled, my voice sounding hoarse, croaky or dead.

"Sweetie, you don't even have a voice anymore." She cried, trying not to laugh.

She smiled over at me, as I gazed into her emerald eyes. I tried not to breathe too far forward, as not to get her with my infected breath.

"You won't get me sick." She beamed.

"How'd you know that?" I questioned, as I even found my voice funny. I kind of sounded like Darth Vader.

"It's not like it would kill me." She laughed.

"If only you knew." I sighed, "It's not just a cough, it's a feeling of burning at the back of your throat, pain when you swallow, talk, or anything-anytime." I expressed, hoping that would stop her from getting too close.

She raised her eyebrows at me as I stared right at her.

"Leonard, I had this exact thing before I got pregnant. You didn't get sick."

I silently looked away as I remembered that I definitely didn't get sick when she was. And when that happened, it got us into this pregnancy.

I opened my arms, and allowed her to fall into them. I wrapped my hands around her back and leant my chin up against the top of her head.

"God, I hope you don't get sick." I smiled, before I felt Penny's laughter against my chest.

2016:

"When was the first time someone called you 'sir'?" Penny asked.

"Sixth grade. But I wore a sport coat and carried a briefcase, so." I sighed, as I could tell that Penny would of laughed at that if she was in the mood.

"Can you believe when I met you, I was twenty-two?! I mean, it's crazy, where does all that time go?" She questioned, as I immediately thought of an answer.

"Mm, You watched 'The Bachelor' a lot." I laughed as Penny gave me a death stare.

"Go ahead and make jokes, but your thirties are almost over."

"No, they're not." I scoffed, knowing I was lying.

"You're closer to forty than you are thirty." She pointed out.

I laughed at her for a second before saying, "You married an old man!" I joked.

I was sat across for Doctor Perry, and a strange woman that I hadn't seen before. She was awfully quiet during the entire appointment, and practically let Howard do all the talking. We hadn't even heard her talk yet, she just nodded along.

"Would you like to ask some questions to our newly joined member?" Howard asked, placing the folder on the desk.

"I haven't got any to mind." Penny smiled, keeping one eye on the extra nurse. "What about you, sweetie?" She asked, turning to me.

I shook my head, as I was keeping my voice a minimal amount, afraid it would raise questions on why it was different.

"That's fine," The woman finally said.

I immediately knew why she would be embarrassed to talk, as she was surrounded by American people, and her accent was obviously not from anywhere around here.

"That's a really nice accent, where's that from?" Penny questioned, as I was even intrigued.

"It's Irish." She confirmed, "I was born and raised in the southern part of Ireland. Small area named Cork, lovely people." She smiled.

"Oh, I've always wanted to go over to Ireland. Just the accents are amazing!" Penny gushed, as I remained silent.

The woman nodded, as Penny laughed silently. Howard turned in his chair and smiled over at me and Penny.

"Have you got any names yet?" The woman asked, as I was feeling confused on what her name was, because she hadn't even introduced herself.

"No, we can't decide." Penny lied.

"We haven't even talked about it yet." I covered up, before I noticed Howard staring at me. "Yes, my voice is different to usual."

The room fell to an awkward silence, as Doctor Perry continued to set up the machine.

The last few appointments, I had found myself more relaxed in the environment, especially when that heartbeat can be heard. My legs weren't jumping as much, but I did find my heart pounding more apparently at times. I guess that came natural after a miscarriage and stillbirth though.

"Penny, I know you've said no every time, but are you sure you don't want to switch it over to the three-dimension?" I asked, secretly hoping she would say yes.

Penny shook her head again, as I knew that having that kind of ultrasound again wasn't something she was keen on.

The room was silent again as Penny grabbed my hand, like she had done in every appointment. We both smiled as our daughter filled the tiny screen, that was the only way we had seen her for the past six months.

"That heartbeat gets stronger every time we hear it." Howard smiled, playing around with the giant ball poking out of the keyboard.

Me and Penny remained quiet. We usually did. During the ultrasounds, we didn't really talk to much. We just wanted to listen to the heartbeat.

Please Review. I love coming home from school to the reviews as it really makes my day after a crappy six hours!

Author's Note: The extra nurse in the last two parts is based off my friend Dieth *Claina*, who is actually from Cork, Ireland. (She doesn't live there anymore.)

Happy Friday! :) (Thank God it is finally the weekend. And no school next week! All effort going into the next chapter!)