Henry's footsteps thundered down the hospital corridor, skidding to an abrupt stop as he rounded the corner and practically mounted the desk.
"Elizabeth Adams —?" Her name left his lips in a puff of air as he tried to regulate his breathing "Is she here?"
The nurse looked up and smiled, "How can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Elizabeth Adams - Is she ok?"
"Are you a relative?"
Henry thought about that for a second and then shook his head "I'm — Well, I guess I'm a friend."
"I'm sorry sir but I can't divulge any information to non-relatives."
"That's fine - I just need to see her. Can you tell me where she is please?" Henry was starting to become frustrated. He needed to see Elizabeth - immediately and this whole interaction was taking far too long."The lady in the ER sent me here."
"As I said sir - If you're not family then I cannot give you any information."
"I'm not asking you for information! I am merely asking you to tell me what room she's in?"
She shot him an apologetic look "I'm sorry sir."
Henry could feel panic rising in his chest. He had no idea if Elizabeth and the baby were okay and he seemingly had no right to know either. The only family of Elizabeth's that Henry was aware of was her brother Will and how on earth was he supposed to contact him? And then it hit him square in the face - This is the way it would always be. Is the eyes of the law, the universe and Elizabeth herself it seemed - He was nothing! He had no right to be anything and that terrified him.
He tried one last time. 'Please - I just need to know she's alright - Elizabeth and our baby are my whole world and I'm going out of my mind here. I will beg if I have to but I need to know that they're okay."
"Sir - I have already told you I cannot divulge any information. I understand your frustration but the rules are in place for a reason. "
Greg was sitting in the row of chairs along the corridor and overheard the conversation. He had never set eyes on Henry before, but listening to his outburst, it was immediately obvious.
"Excuse me —" He approached the desk and smiled at Henry "You're the firefly guy aren't you!?"
Henry was in a high state of anxiety and didn't currently have the brain capacity to decipher a cryptic sentence. "What?"
"You're not exactly what I'd imagined but Bess did a pretty good job describing you." Greg was holding out his hand "I'm Greg. It's so good to finally meet you."
"I'm sorry - I don't mean to be rude but I have no clue who you are or what you're talking about and right now I don't have time for this, so if you'll excuse me —"
Henry turned his attention back to the woman behind the desk who gave him a stern look.
Greg continued "You're Henry, right? Elizabeth's Henry?"
Henry turned his head sharply "You know Elizabeth? Where is she? Are her and the baby okay?"
Greg ushered him to sit down "I think she's in with the doctor right now."
Henry let out the breath he'd been holding and looked at Greg expectantly "Please say they're okay - I got here as quickly as I could but nobody will tell me anything."
"I don't know myself - But she's in good hands Henry and I know she'll be glad you're here."
Henry slumped forwards and rested his head in his hands "I'm not so sure about that."
"Oh trust me - She will be."
Henry looked up at Greg with a puzzled expression "Are you and Elizabeth —?"
"Are me and Elizabeth what?"
"Are you — together?" Henry really didn't want to know the answer but it was the only explanation for Greg being there.
Greg laughed a big, thunderous laugh "Oh god no! I love Bess with all my heart but she definitely isn't my type. She is like family to me — And my partner Andrew."
"Ohhhh - Okay! I'm surprised you even know who I am?"
Greg smiled "Andrew and I are blessed to count Bess as one of our closest friends and we know all about you Henry." He paused for a few moments before continuing "That beautiful girl isn't so good at letting people in - But if you are one of the lucky ones and she opens up to you, then you are extremely privileged — Well, that's how we see it anyway."
"And she does that with you? She lets you in?"
"To an extent, yes - I know she finds it hard to lean on anyone but thank god she trusted us enough to do just that, because she needs all the love and support she can get right now."
"Because she hasn't had it from me — Right?" Henry felt himself getting defensive but what right did he have.
"I didn't say that at all. Speaking frankly - You're both as stubborn and pig headed as each other. It's about time you figured this whole situation out because honestly — it's ridiculous." Greg waited for Henry's angry response but it never came.
Henry just nodded "You're totally right, we do need to figure this out. I'm sorry - I didn't mean to be rude. It sounds like you've done a lot for Elizabeth and I really am so grateful. Right now - I just need to see her! I'm scared to death of what might be going on and she's all alone while I'm stuck out here — And she shouldn't be alone —She's had enough of that in her life."
Greg squeezed Henry's shoulder "Second door on the left - Room 105 - But I'll deny all knowledge of this if anyone asks."
"How do you even know where she is? They won't tell me anything."
"Andrew and I brought her in and one of us has been with her most of the time — but the doctor asked us to leave the room so here I am."
Henry looked over at him "What if she doesn't want me here?"
Greg smiled "Then you stay put until she does - It's that simple. She may not want to admit it Henry - But she needs you. If you run every time she pushes you away, you'll forever be running. Sometimes you just have to push back and make her see sense."
Henry stood, holding out his hand."Thank you for taking care of her - I think it's about time I took over now."
Greg shook his hand "I'll be right out here if either of you need anything. We won't be leaving until we know she's ok. Andrew was supposed to be getting coffee but I think he's actually gone ro roast the beans himself. Now get in there and be with your girl —- Oh, and give her a kiss from me! But like an on the cheek 'I'm your friend and I care about you' kinda kiss - you know - Not the sort of kiss that you would give her because that would be highly inappropriate."
Henry chuckled and then walked down the corridor until he was outside of Elizabeth's room. He took a deep breath, opened the door and stepped inside.
Elizabeth was laying on her side facing away from the door, cannula in the back of her hand attached to a drip, her soft sniffles and shuddered breaths the only sound in the room. Henry stood rooted to the spot at the sight before him. Surely all of that could only mean one thing.
Without wasting a second more, he was by her side, crouching down to take hold of her free hand "I'm here gorgeous girl - I'm right here."
Henry was shocked at how poorly she appeared. Her skin held a greyish tint, she had clearly lost a fair amount of weight and she looked absolutely exhausted, far worse than the last time he'd seen her.
Elizabeth opened her eyes and when she saw Henry, a deep sob escaped her, tears streaming down her face.
"Ssshhhhh — It's okay sweetheart, I've got you. It's okay —." He gently moved her hair away from her face and traced his fingers down her cheek.
"Henry — You're here."
"Of course I'm here — It's where I should have been all along."
Elizabeth swallowed thickly and whispered "You're not mine to have."
Henry squeezed her hand tighter "I'm all yours to have. It could never be anybody but you, Elizabeth. I love you — I always have."
"It doesn't matter anymore." Another sob escaped and her shoulders shuddered with pure emotion "Nothing matters anymore."
Henry wanted to step back in time and be there for her when he should have been. He wanted a chance to do things the right way because if he had - She may not be lying in a hospital bed hooked up to god knows what and looking so sick. And what about the baby — Their baby — Was there even still a baby?
"What happened sweetheart?"
"I don't know but I'm really scared— Nobody's telling me anything and I can't focus Henry — I want to know but I don't want to all at the same time."
Henry opened his mouth to ask for more but before he could, the door opened and the doctor bounded in, pushing the ultrasound machine.
"Right then Elizabeth - Let's see what's going on." The doctor looked up and smiled at Henry "You weren't in here before. I'm Dr Murrow and am I right in thinking you're Henry?"
"Yes I am - I got here as quickly as I could — What happened?" Henry was pretty sure he already knew but some clarification was needed.
"I'm guessing Elizabeth hasn't filled you in?." The doctor looked over at Elizabeth who just started sobbing again, which made Henry's heart break. She hadn't told him anything and his brain was trying to fill in the blanks.
"I don't think she's in any state to tell me anything right now, so can you tell me — Have we lost the baby?"
Dr Murrow's expression remained neutral "I detected a heartbeat when Elizabeth first arrived in the ER and it appears this little one is hanging in there — But we need to have a look at exactly what's going on — Let's just take this one step at a time, ok?"
She placed the machine next to the bed and grabbed the gel "Gown up please Elizabeth — This might feel a tad cold."
"I don't want to — I want to be ignorant for just a little while longer."
The doctor looked at Elizabeth and offered a knowing smile "I understand your fears Elizabeth but I need to know what's going on so I am better equipped to help you and baby. Will you allow me to do that?"
Elizabeth pulled her gown up so her bump was showing and Henry's eyes grew wide. It was the first time he had seen it without it being hidden under a sweater and he was amazed by it. He wanted to reach out and lay his hand on their baby but he felt unworthy. He had missed almost half of Elizabeth's pregnancy already and now they were facing the prospect of no pregnancy at all, the guilt washed over him in waves.
Elizabeth grabbed his hand and looked at him "Henry—."
He was brought back from his thoughts by her whispered plea for support "I know."
Dr Murrow moved the probe across Elizabeth's abdomen until she had it in the perfect place and turned the sound up "There you are mommy - One very strong and extremely healthy heartbeat." She turned the screen so that Elizabeth and Henry could see it and Henry had to choke back the tears.
"Oh my god — That's our baby?" He shared a look with Elizabeth that made his heart swell "It's so beautiful."
"It's really something huh?! Look what we made Henry."
"It sounds like a steam train." He was staring at the screen in utter disbelief "It has fingers and toes and everything."
"Actually - I think it sounds more like a galloping horse. And the fingers and toes are generally a good sign." The doctor laughed and then turned her attention to Elizabeth "Baby is on the small side so we need to keep a close eye on that but right now, everything else looks pretty healthy."
"Are you sure?"
"With baby, yes - Not so much with you Elizabeth! You have a severe kidney infection which has probably been caused by the Hyperemesis Gravidarum —"
Elizabeth looked horrified "What is that? Will it harm the baby?"
"Would you like me to discuss this with you in private?"
Elizabeth looked at Henry and shook her head. "I want him to stay. He's the father and he has a right to know what's going on."
Henry tangled his fingers with hers and mouthed "Thank you."
"Okay then — In layman's terms, Hyperemesis Gravidarum is acute morning sickness. You are severely dehydrated and undernourished which is why you were having dizzy spells. Add the kidney infection into the mix which spiked a fever, it was no wonder you passed out.
"But the pain in my back was so bad — Are you sure everything's okay?"
"The pain you were experiencing was from your kidneys — Baby is fine Elizabeth."
"Are you positive or are you lying to me?"
The doctor smiled and turned her attention back to the screen, repositioning the probe and pointing to the middle of the picture.
"There is your little one's heart. All four chambers are beating away beautifully. It's kicking and turning just as it should and I imagine you'll be feeling that movement any day now. There are no abnormalities that I can see. Your baby is fine Elizabeth — And no, I'm not lying to you." She looked at the parents and smiled "I have a really good view if you would like to know what you're having?"
"I thought I was having a baby?"
"I meant the sex."
Elizabeth gasped "You can tell that?"
Dr Murrow nodded "I would go as far as to say I'm 99% certain with this one."
Elizabeth looked at Henry "Do you want to know?"
Henry was struggling to find any words at all. Everything was hitting him head on in one mass onslaught. "That's our baby." Was all he managed.
Elizabeth smiled as she really looked at him for the first time since he'd arrived by her bedside "Yes it is - Shall we find out if it's a he or a she?"
"Do you want to know?"
Elizabeth nodded
"Okay."
They both looked back at the screen and the doctor tapped some buttons, taking pictures of the images and then smiled "Congratulations mommy and daddy - You're having a little girl."
"A girl? Oh Henry — We're having a baby girl." Elizabeth's tears were flowing again and as she looked at Henry - So were his.
"I can't believe all this — What did I ever do to get so lucky?" She is so perfect, just like you." They were staring into each other's eyes and the doctor had to clear her throat to get their attention.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but this is important — You need to take things easy Elizabeth. If you don't look after yourself then this baby will suffer. I have pushed through enough fluids to rehydrate you and the antiemetics seem to be working. The antibiotics will clear up the kidney infection but you need to listen to your body - and to me."
"I will - I promise. I don't care about me - Just keep this baby safe."
"I plan on keeping you both safe. You need to stay here at least overnight to make sure everything stays as it should and get those antibiotics straight into your system. If you behave yourself and do as you're told, I'll let you go home tomorrow - But I'm not joking around Elizabeth - You need to look after yourself."
Henry looked up "I'll be taking care of her, don't you worry about that. Is there a way we can have pictures of what you showed us on the screen?"
"Of course!" She printed a strip of pictures off and handed them to Henry. "Get some rest Elizabeth and I'll be back to check on you later. Nice to meet you Henry."
As soon as the door clicked shut, Elizabeth turned to Henry "I love that you're here but you don't have to stay. I'm okay and the baby is fine —-"
"I'm not going anywhere Elizabeth."
"You heard the doctor - Our little girl is happy and healthy. I had a scare but it's all okay."
"Let me say it again - I am not going anywhere."
"And what about Stacey? You should get back to her."
Henry squeezed her hand "Stacey and I are no longer together."
The tiny hint of a smile tugged at Elizabeth's lips "I hope you didn't end it on my account Henry. Things with us just never seem to work out and —-."
"I mean this in the nicest possible way Elizabeth - But for once in your life would you please just shut up."
She looked up at Henry and pouted but that only made him laugh.
"We can talk about all of this later on but right now I need you to close your eyes and get some sleep. You heard the doctor - You have to listen to her for your sake and for our little girl."
"But what if something happens to her?"
"I won't let anything happen to either of you — I promise."
Elizabeth let the pillow take the weight of her head and closed her eyes "Will you still be here when I wake up?" She opened her eyes again just to make sure Henry was still there.
"I'll be right here babe - I won't move out of this chair - Now sleep."
She closed her eyes again and fell asleep almost instantly.
Henry sat back in his chair and let his emotion take over. The tears flowed freely as he let his mind go to dark places. He could have lost them both and it was overwhelming. Their stupid pride had prevented them from being together - and he was damned if he was going to spend another second away from them.
He looked down at the pictures tightly clutched in his hand and he couldn't help but smile - Their little girl was perfect, just like her mother and this was it now. No more games, no more cat and mouse between them - He was hers, she was his and the little girl was theirs - Forever.
A/N - This chapter is taken very much from personal experience. When i was pregnant with my second child, I had such severe morning sickness all the way through my pregnancy that i actually lost weight and could only manage water and apples (odd i know). It was a very long 9 months and also very scary but I had a very healthy 10lb baby girl who is 18 now.