Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews. I know you would like frequent updates, but I'm hesitant to update quickly because I'm still not done writing this story. I have an idea of where it is going, but I haven't found the time to get the words down. Hopefully, once school dismisses on June 5th and I am free for a few weeks from the demands of a teacher's life, I will be able to finish this. Until then, I hope you understand why I dole out new chapters so stingily. Also, I appreciate your patience concerning James. I personally didn't hate him on the show, not that I wanted him to be a permanent fixture, but I liked the different Evelyn we saw and how it made Adrian react. I'd also like to apologize for the lack of Evelyn/Adrian so far. It is coming, I promise, but first here is some James/Evelyn followed by a brief Evelyn/Adrian scene and concluded with an Adrian/Zoila scene. Please, good or bad, let me know what you think. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review this story.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Evelyn is frequently impressed with James, astounded by what a truly wonderful man he is. This afternoon has once again proven to her how magnificent he is. After being unable to fit into any of her evening gowns, she finally decided it was time to buy, for not at least, one new evening gown that would accommodate her expanding waist. James tagged along, to keep an eye on her she suspected, but it was fun.

After looking around several stores, and trying on multiple dresses, she finally decided on a beautiful black gown. It conceals the slight protrusion of her stomach, while accentuating her curves. She loves it, and from the way James stared at her as she was inspecting her reflection, he is also very fond of it. Once the dress was purchased, they enjoyed a late lunch, Evelyn able to actually enter a restaurant without immediately feeling nauseated. Thirteen weeks into the pregnancy and she can finally eat again.

Pushing James back on the bed, Evelyn intends to show him just how much she appreciates him. The infamous second trimester hormones have already kicked in and both of them are enjoying it. While the nausea isn't plaguing her, and she has more energy than she has had in quite a while, she plans to show James just how much she appreciates him, and thank him for such a nice afternoon out.

She is quickly on James, their lips crashing together as her hands unfasten buttons. Their sex life is anything but dull, but she's never been quite so bold, so frantic. He is enjoying her eagerness, but he can't suppress a chuckle. Evelyn pulls away from, giving him a questioning look as her hands rest on his belt.

"Hormones?" He asks chuckling again.

"Shut up," she growls, her voice husky. She undoes his belt in record time then yanks it through the loops of his pants, tossing it to the floor.

"I think I'm gonna like these hormones," he smiles. She is just about to tell him to shut up again, but James silences her by pulling her into a deep kiss.

Evelyn wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. She needs to feel him right now, her body on fire. She presses against him, urging him to quicken the pace. She is more than ready, but James is content just kissing her. His self-control and ability to make foreplay intoxicating drives Evelyn crazy. Usually she loves it, but today she wants to skip it all together. She needs him.

"James," Evelyn gasps, breaking the kiss.

"I know," he responds, well aware she doesn't want to wait.

He pulls her into another kiss, pressing firmly against her to let her know just how ready he is. Evelyn moans into his mouth, his hands working on the buttons of her blouse. He maneuvers them so he is now on top. He begins trailing kisses across her jawline, down her neck.

She is lost in the feel of his mouth on her, when his hand comes to rest on the swell of her stomach. She tenses at the unexpected contact. James notices the change immediately, glancing up at her in concern. His hand continues to rest on her abdomen.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

Suddenly, Evelyn finds herself embarrassed. They have made love many times before, each time very fun and enjoyable, but for some reason the intimacy of this moment, of his hand resting on the only visible proof her child, her child with Adrian, has her shying away from him. She isn't embarrassed by the change in her body. She might find the tightening of clothes a bit frustrating, but as the baby bump becomes more apparent, she finds herself growing calmer, becoming more secure in the fact that she really is pregnant.

James watches her eyes, trying to decipher the flashes of emotion. She is such a complex person, always surprising him. He looks at her questioningly, hoping for an answer. She gazes up at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. He is so wonderful, but she doesn't know how to explain this apprehension she is suddenly experiencing. James lifts his hand from her stomach and cups her cheek.

"You ok?" He asks, his thumb caressing her cheek. She nods, relaxing now.

Evelyn isn't sure why having James touch her stomach threw her so much, but now that he is looking at her, cupping her cheek, the fire inside her has reignited. She places her hands on either side of his face and pulls him to her, plunging her tongue into his mouth. She rolls them over so that she is on top, quickly freeing them of their remaining clothing. She plans on taking full advantage of this hormone rush, showing James how much he means to her.

The Children's Hospital Gala is one of the largest charity events of the year. To make it possible and ensure its success, many different people and organizations work around the clock. Every year the Powells attend, donating a rather sizeable amount, but Evelyn has never paid much attention to the organizations that make this event possible. It didn't really surprise her to find out Hamilton House was one of those organizations. It benefits children, something she is realizing James cares a lot about.

James has spent the past several days helping with preparations for the event. There are still a lot of last minute preparations, but before he can fully enjoy the gala, and seeing Evelyn in the new dress she bought for it, he has to meet with his church committee concerning a relief effort they are also participating in. An earthquake has devastated Chino, members of the church who are not busy with Gala preparations have been collecting supplies. The plan is Friday night, after the Gala ends, they will drive the donations to Chino, deliver the items, then spend three days aiding in relief assistance.

Evelyn finds it admirable what James and his church are doing to help those affected by the earthquake. She also can't believe how much James does for his community and others. It is positively exhausting planning an event. She couldn't imagine just an hour after the event is finished, packing up donations and heading to a damaged area to distribute the donations as well as help with relief efforts. Much to her surprise, James has invited her along on the trip.

Usually, he will tell her of an event then leave the decision up to her whether she will attend or not. This time, the invitation isn't open ended. She has considered it over the past couple of days, but she is still unsure. It isn't that she doesn't want to help the victims of the earthquake, but it is Chino. She has never been there, but certain places one doesn't have to visit to know is not for them.

Sighing at her current dilemma, she goes to the bar and pours herself a glass of apple juice. There isn't a reason she can think of to decline the invitation, and she has tried to summon a valid reason to stay home. She supposes after the committee dinner tonight she will agree to accompany him on the trip. He has been so supportive of her, the least she can do is join him on this trip.

"Oh, Evelyn, you're home," Adrian says entering the study, surprised by her presence

"Marisol had an appointment so I took the afternoon off," Evelyn tells him, leaning against the bar.

"So, the baby is ok?" Adrian's face is etched with concern as he looks her over.

"Yes," she reassures him calmly, "the baby is fine." She is touched by the concern, if a bit annoyed, but no matter, Adrian was a wonderful father. This time doesn't appear to be any different.

"You seem to be feeling better," he comments, walking behind the bar to retrieve a glass.

"I am, actually."

Evelyn smiles, so glad to feel more like her old self. Even though she would gladly suffer through anything to have a healthy baby, she is enjoying having more energy and not experiencing constant nausea. She is finally able to enjoy food again.

"I'm feeling so well, in fact, I am joining James on a relief effort this weekend." She isn't sure why she is telling him this, but things have calmed between them so she doesn't see the harm in sharing this information.

"But you're pregnant!" Adrian exclaims, squinting at her in disbelief. She can't be serious.

"Yes, Adrian, I am pregnant. That has been established. The frequent nausea and this nice little baby bump are proof of that." Evelyn pats her rounding stomach for emphasis, this pregnancy becoming more obvious with each passing day.

He rolls his eyes. "Are you sure you should be going to a place devastated by a disaster? It doesn't sound safe." He worries about her and the baby. This just seems like an unnecessary risk.

"For God's sake, Adrian, it is just Chino, not a third world country!"

"Ch…Chino?" He sputters. "You'd be safer in a third world country!" Adrian stares at her in disbelief. If he wasn't so concerned for hers, and their unborn child's well-being, the thought of her in a place like Chino would be laughable. It's not.

"You're overreacting," she says through gritted teeth, closing her eyes as she tries to remain calm. She understands his concern but he does not have the right to tell her what she can and cannot do.

"I don't think so," he replies calmly. He takes a sip of his drink, reminding himself he doesn't want to get into an argument with her. Things have been going well between them. He doesn't want to mess that up now. "I just don't think participating in a relief effort, especially for a place like Chino," he cringes at the word, "is safe for a woman in your condition."

"My condition?" Evelyn scoffs with a roll of her eyes. "If it will allay your concerns, James has already said I will only sort through the donated items and help determine where they need to be distributed. That doesn't sound so taxing, even for a woman in my 'condition'." She snarls at the last word.

Adrian isn't in the least amused by her cavalier attitude.

"You're carrying my child, and I don't think it is a safe place for you to be. If you must help those in need to impress Reverend Boyfriend, why not do it here? There are plenty of unfortunate souls in Los Angeles." He waves his hand towards the window and the large city that lies beyond.

"Adrian," Evelyn begins, her words measured. "It is my body and I will do whatever the hell I please!"

Anger gets the best of her. It is one thing for him to be concerned, but to actually think he can forbid her from going on this trip is something she will not tolerate. She slams her glass down on the bar then stomps towards the door.

"Evelyn," he calls after her, his tone taking on a devious lilt.

She freezes, tensing at the tone. She should have known better than to expect him to change, even for the sake of their child. He isn't going to let this go, and judging from that tone, he is getting ready to play dirty.

"It may still be early on in this pregnancy, but my lawyer assures me it is never too early to begin preparing an argument for sole custody. This could be the foundation of that argument."

The words sting. He could have struck her and she wouldn't be so stunned. Momentarily she stands there, her mouth agape. She is unable to believe he has just threatened her with that. Adrian immediately regrets the words as he witnesses the pain, and even fear, that flashes in her eyes. Threatening her with her child was low, even for him. "Go to hell, Adrian," she hisses, quickly pulling herself together. She refuses to allow him to see her so upset by his words. She masks her hurt with a look of abject anger.

"Evelyn," Adrian begins but it is too late. She marches out of the room, the sharp clicking of her heels resonating through the halls as angry tears stream down her face.

Adrian sits at the bar, a bourbon in hand, deep in thought. He replays the conversation in his head, wincing at his stupidity and insensitivity. He should have known better than to use their child against her. Even if they hadn't lost one child, Adrian knows a baby shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip. He has tried to apologize to Evelyn but she has remained behind a locked door, only leaving when James arrived to escort her to dinner. From the angry looks the Reverend sent his way, Adrian is positive Evelyn discussed the argument with him.

Adrian sighs heavily and takes a large swallow of the bourbon. He really didn't mean to allow the conversation to go to that place, but he was just concerned about her well-being and that of their unborn child. Of course custody is something they will have to discuss since Evelyn is hell bent on the divorce, but that wasn't the way to broach the subject. He really is an ass sometimes.

"Hey, I got your message," Zoila says, laying a hand on his arm.

"Thanks for meeting me." He offers her a slight smile.

"You sounded upset."

Zoila momentarily considered deleting the message and pretending to know nothing about it, but there was something in his tone of voice that told her he needed a friend. As she looks him over, she is glad she decided against her earlier idea. He looks dejected nursing the glass of alcohol. She perches beside him on a bar stool, orders a drink, then gives him a questioning look.

"What'd you do?" She sighs heavily, well aware of the guilt that lies just beneath the surface.

"I screwed things up." He lets out a ragged breath, his eyes focused on his drink.

"That's already been established." Zoila narrows her eyes at him.

"It's….odd," Adrian begins, unsure of how to describe this current situation, but 'odd' seems appropriate.

"Of course it's 'odd'; we're talkin' about you," Zoila jokes, offering him a smile. When he doesn't even attempt a half-hearted grin, she tilts her head in concern. "What's going on, Adrian?"

Again he sighs, torn between unburdening his soul or keeping his word to Evelyn. He promised her he would not mention the pregnancy to anyone else until she was prepared to make an announcement, but she has told James and even Genvieve. Besides, she is beginning to show, if just slightly. It probably isn't something most people would notice yet, but he is well attuned to her body, and her stomach is no long the flat plane it once was.

"This stays between us," Adrian says, deciding it is only fair he has someone to talk this over with. Evelyn has Genvieve and James after all.

"Ok," Zoila agrees slowly, caught off guard by the seriousness in his tone.

"Evelyn is pregnant," he tells her, watching her closely for a response.

Zoila was concerned as to what Adrian was about to say, the knowledge of just a few of his past deeds causing her mind to run wild with possibilities. None of those scenarios that ran through her mind involved his wife being pregnant.

"She got knocked up by a preacher?" Zoila blurts out, her eyes wide.

"What?" Adrian asks, a look of confusion crossing his face. He then realizes Zoila is thinking the same thing he had when Evelyn told him about the baby. "No; I'm the father!" He says it proudly, a smile tugging at his lips when he says the word 'father'.

Zoila opens her mouth to speak then closes it. She nods, letting Adrian know she understands, takes a sip of her drink as she composes her thoughts, then says, "How pregnant is she?" She is curious as to when the two warring spouses found the time to conceive a child.

"Almost thirteen weeks," he answers, that proud smile crossing his face once again.

"Congratulations," Zoila says softly, glad to see him so happy. A dull ache has begun to form in her chest as she's reminded of her own pregnancy, but this is about Adrian and the arrival of a child, not her and the loss of one.

He thanks her, reveling in how nice it feels to share this joyous news with someone. When they found out Evelyn was pregnant with Barrett, Adrian had told anyone who would listen that he would soon be a father. He misses the excitement of making the announcement, but he also understands Evelyn's apprehension. Both are well aware a child can be taken away at any moment.

"Is everything ok?" she asks carefully, aware of the risks that come along with a pregnancy when the mother is over a certain age. If she remembers correctly, Evelyn is a year or so older than she is.

"They're both great!" Adrian happily tells her. "Evelyn is feeling better than she was in the earlier weeks, and the baby is measuring right where it should be. Everything is developing normally. The blood results came in a week or so ago and there are no abnormalities. We could've found out the gender, but Evelyn wants to wait. I understand that."

Zoila listens to him ramble on about the pregnancy, never before having seen him so happy. As much as it hurt her losing a baby, she can't imagine the pain Evelyn and he experienced when they lost their six-year-old son. For six years they had loved him and watched him grow, listening to his hopes and dreams. She can't fathom how devastating that loss was.

"So, what'd you do?" Zoila asks once he has finished speaking. He sighs heavily, guilt clouding his eyes.

"Evelyn wants to go on some sort of mission trip with the Reverend," Adrian explains. Zoila snorts at the thought of Evelyn Powell visiting a place where there are no five-star hotels and room service.

"Sorry," Zoila apologizes, motioning for him to continue.

"No, trust me, I'd laugh too if I wasn't worried about Evelyn's and the baby's safety. I just think it's too dangerous for her to go." Adrian takes a sip of his drink.

"Where is she going?" Zoila asks, unable to imagine Evelyn traveling to somewhere like Africa. The stories she has heard from Remi and Valentina about the conditions is more than enough to discourage her from going, and she isn't the spoiled socialite Evelyn is.

"Chino," Adrian almost spits, a look of disgust adhering to his face.

"California?" Zoila asks, her voice taking on a tone of annoyance. Adrian nods. "It's not even a two-hour drive; she'll be fine." Zoila rolls her eyes.

Adrian drops his gaze to his glass, studying the amber liquid. He has known about this pregnancy for nearly five weeks, and in all that time Evelyn and he haven't discussed the one thing weighing heavily on both their minds. It is understandable they should share this fear, but they can't bring themselves to discuss it, at least not yet.

"She'll be fine," Zoila assures him, patting his arm.

"That doesn't mean I won't worry."

The concern in his eyes draws Zoila closer. He is an enigma, always causing her to second guess him, and on occasion, herself. When he is hiding behind his smug, womanizing façade it is easy to dislike him. She has seen glimpses of the caring Adrian, a man who is likeable and fun to be around, but this is the man she has never seen before. He is father torn apart by the loss of his child as well as the expectant father who is treading cautiously into this new role. He is also a husband concerned for his wife's physical and emotional well-being. He is aware his world will be torn apart once again should something happen to this child, but he is even more painfully aware of the fact his wife will more than likely be destroyed should something tragic happen. She understands now why Evelyn has stood by him all these years despite his deplorable behavior. This man, the deep care and concern flashing in his eyes, is very attractive.

Zoila jolts at the realization. Adrian has just shared with her his estranged wife is carrying his child, and here she is attracted to him. What is she thinking?

"She'll be fine; James will make sure of that," Zoila offers weakly, her throat dry. Adrian appears too deep in thought to notice her current discomfort.

Adrian nods at her words. He might not be fond of the relationship between Evelyn and the Reverend, and he does wish the man would go away, but it is obvious James cares for her. Zoila has only met James formally once before, but she can tell he is a good person. She hopes that will offer Adrian some sense of comfort.

"What's really bothering you?" Zoila asks, her gaze scrutinizing Adrian. She knows him well enough to tell there is something more than concern bothering him. Something causing the guilt that occasionally creeps across his face.

Adrian looks towards the ceiling then at Zoila. He knows what he said to Evelyn was horrible, but Zoila will make him feel twice as bad about it. Maybe that's what he deserves in all honesty. He finishes off his drink then turns to Zoila.

"When Evelyn told me she was going on the trip, after I'd expressed my concern," Adrian pauses, receiving a knowing look from Zoila. She refuses to believe he simply 'expressed his concerns', at least not nicely. "Anyway," Adrian drawls, "when she told me she was going, I threatened her with sole custody of the baby."

Adrian hangs his head in shame. The look on Evelyn's face is painfully etched into his memory.

"You're an ass," Zoila sighs, shaking her head.

"I know," Adrian agrees miserably. He has thought the same thing since the confrontation in the study.

"You need to apologize," Zoila tells him, making it sound more like an order than a suggestion. Adrian nods. "I mean it!" Zoila says forcefully, her eyes flashing with something akin to anger. "She's lost one child. There's enough for her to worry about with this pregnancy. She doesn't need to be scared you're going to take the baby away from her once it's born!"

Zoila doesn't like Evelyn, in fact the woman irritates her to no end, but Zoila understands the fear and uncertainty that goes along with a pregnancy when the mother is older. She remembers it well. That fear and uncertainty, coupled with the grief Evelyn must feel every day over her son's death, makes Zoila feel strangely protective of her. She has enough to worry about without having to also worry about Adrian's next stunt.

"I tried to apo…." Adrian begins to tell her but she interrupts him.

"Stop trying and do it!" Zoila demands, surprising Adrian with the authoritative tone.

The two remain at the bar a little while longer discussing just how Adrian should go about apologizing. He appreciates her advice and tells her as much when they prepare to leave. She congratulates him again, urges him to apologize, then they part ways after a hug.