"This oughta be good."
Alexis raises an eyebrow at Sonny as he approaches her. They're at a table by the window at Kelly's, Alexis's back to the kitchen. Sonny nods at Frank, who stands by as he takes a seat across from the woman.
"Excuse me?" Alexis looks at him incredulously.
"You wanted to meet me for breakfast, but I know you well enough to know that you wanting to talk isn't because you want to catch up."
"Wow, you're just jumping into it, aren't you?"
"What is it?"
"I…want to discuss our daughter."
"What about Kristina?"
"Just…everything related to her and this surrogacy."
"You have your reservations, I'm sure."
"I do."
"Care to fill me in?"
"She doesn't have any kids, she's never been pregnant, but she offered to be Molly's surrogate anyway."
"Well, y-you know our daughter has a big heart."
"I know, and I love that about her, but per usual, she gets ahead of herself," Alexis frowns, "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate how much she's willing to help Molly, but she really hasn't thought it all through."
"Our girl's nothing if not impulsive," Sonny then leans forward, "Look, I-I get your concerns, and truth be told, after her m-miscarriage, I had some of my own. I'm having Dex keep an eye on her."
"Credit where it's due," Alexis reclines a bit in the chair, crossing her arms, "he's doing a good job."
"Is he?"
"Indeed. Apparently she stayed at his place for a few days after the miscarriage."
"He offered?"
"She asked."
"Oh…" Sonny covers his mouth with a finger or two, thinking, "is that so?"
"It is. It seems like he's really looking out for her, which I absolutely appreciate. Your goon's got a good heart."
"I'm happy to hear that. It's better for Kristina to be around someone she feels comfortable with, especially as she…embraces this whole milestone."
"Yeah," Alexis mutters, her eyes cast downward, "if only this milestone was actually for her…"
"What was that?" Sonny raises an eyebrow.
"What?"
"You just said something about this milestone being for her? Or that it should've been?"
"Oh…um…"
"What's wrong with her trying to support and help out her sister?"
"I have no issue with her trying to do that-"
"Then what is it, Alexis?"
"Okay…" Alexis takes a deep breath, "Kristina and I talked on the phone just after she got approval to be Molly and TJ's surrogate."
"About?"
"I…apologized for how critical I was of the whole thing when she and Molly broke the news. I still have my reservations about it, don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day, she's an adult and she can make her own decisions. All I can do is support her."
"Ah, so you've finally learned," Sonny dons a toothy grin.
"That I have," Alexis nods, a contained smile on her face, "but back to the topic at hand: after I apologized, our conversation…changed."
"How so?"
"I asked her how she felt about the whole thing, and she expressed to me that she thought she was supposed to feel okay with it."
"She wasn't okay with it?"
"She seemed torn."
"I thought she offered to be the surrogate?"
"She did."
"Then I don't understand the issue."
"I think I do," Alexis sits up, "I think she didn't expect her first pregnancy to be for someone else; she expected it to be for herself."
Sonny raises his eyebrows, propping his elbows on the wooden table, "Kristina wants to be a mom?"
"I don't know for sure, but I have a hunch she's at least considered it. I said as much to her over the phone, and she went radio silent. Eventually, she said she thought about it, but went quiet when I asked if she wanted it. She hung up on me pretty quickly after that. If I was wrong, she'd immediately say so…and she didn't."
"She's never talked to me about starting her own family."
"She's never talked to me about it either…well, until that phone call."
"Maybe it's just a…a fleeting thought, y'know? Something that came up and went away. If she really wanted to be a mother, we'd know."
"...That's fair. Maybe I'm just reading too much into things."
"Hm, maybe," Sonny shrugs, ignoring Alexis's glare, "but…you've given me something to think about."
"And that is…what, exactly?"
"Well, we know Kristina's pretty selfless. She serves customers at Charlie's, she's giving her sister a baby."
"Right. So…?"
"I think she can give more, that she's willing to give more…and I think I know a way she can do just that."
She repeats the thought in her head ad nauseam: I'm ready to do this again.
Kristina sits on the exam bed in the hospital room, legs crossed at the ankles. Her hands rest in her lap, pushing in the white of her hospital gown. A month passed before she set up her current appointment with Dr. Navarro, taking the time, on doctor's orders, to make sure that her body was back to some kind of normal. The relief she felt when her period came and went two weeks prior was indescribable.
She glances at the closed door, waiting for the woman to walk back in and break the news to her. She knows full well everything will come back clean, that a second attempt is possible. It's all just a waiting game. Thankfully, she didn't have to wait that much longer.
"Sorry about that," Dr. Navarro walks in, a manila folder in her hand, "Results took a bit longer than expected."
"Oh…" Kristina jolts up, "Is that bad or-"
"No, no, nothing bad. Just a small analysis delay: nothing to do with you."
"Oh…okay."
"I've looked over everything," the doctor opens the folder, "and I'm happy to report that, since your menstrual cycle was in order, you're able to carry again."
The news, while expected, stuns her. She takes the news in, Dr. Navarro's words white noise. The mantra that replayed in her head countless times, a truth she tried to convince herself of, suddenly stops being so.
"Kristina?" Dr. Navarro raises an eyebrow, looking the young woman over, "Are you okay?"
"Uh…" she sighs absent-mindedly before snapping back to reality, "oh! Um, yes, yes, I'm…I'm fine."
"You look a little shell-shocked."
"I'm just…glad I'm able to try again for Molly and TJ. They certainly wanted me to."
"Well, it seems they have a lot of faith in you. And you, well, you were determined to be their surrogate. You still are."
"Yeah…" Kristina sucks her lips in as she nods slowly, "so, um, does that mean we do the procedure now or…?"
"Oh, no," the doctor shakes her head, "I still want a bit more time between now and then, where we can get everything set up in a timely manner and you can have a bit more recovery time. I'm thinking about two weeks."
"Two weeks," she repeats, "...okay."
"Great," Dr. Navarro closes the folder, a smile on her face, "I'll go log the date. Once you've changed back into your clothes, just go to the reception desk and they'll get you your card."
"Got it," Kristina gets to her feet just as the doctor opens the door, "Dr. Navarro?"
She turns around, "Yes?"
"Thank you."
A smile flashes on her face, "You're welcome, Kristina."
The young woman stands still in the room for a moment, eyes fixated on the blinds. She blinks a few times before grabbing her outfit off of the small white counter behind her. There's a knock at the door just as she smooths out her dress.
"Kristina?" TJ asks, his voice somewhat muffled by the door.
"Come in."
"Hey," he smiles as he steps inside, gently shutting the door behind him, "Dr. Navarro told me the news."
"I guess 'congratulations' are in order, huh?"
"I'm just here to check on you," he stretches his arms out. Kristina obliges and wraps hers around his torso, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"I'm glad."
"Yeah," she pulls away, "Have you told Molly?"
"Not yet. I mean, I just found out, like, two minutes ago. She'll know soon, though."
"She'll definitely be excited," Kristina flattens her lips, "What about you?"
"I mean, I'm excited," TJ replies, "I want to be a father, and it looks like I finally get to be. I appreciate you helping us like this, Krissy, I really do."
"You're family," she flashes a smile, "and Molly's my little sister. I'd do pretty much anything for her."
"'Pretty much' anything?"
"Anything within reason."
"Right," TJ chuckles, "well, I'm glad you feel okay about trying again. And I'm glad you're okay after the miscarriage."
"Yeah…" Kristina's hands land on her hips.
"You didn't have to do this."
"I know, but…you guys really want a baby. And I know you'd both be amazing parents. Besides, you've been through enough."
"And if you're able to help us out, then you'd help us."
"Which is exactly what I'm doing."
"You care," TJ's smile is sweet, "Not everyone can say they have someone in their life who cares about their loved ones the way you do."
"You're giving me way too much praise," Kristina's giggle cuts through her words, "I'm just trying to be a good big sister."
"I think you're doing just fine."
"Well, thank you, TJ. I appreciate it."
"Of course," he stuffs his hands in his lab coat pockets, "So, when is the procedure?"
"Dr. Navarro didn't tell you? It's two weeks from now."
"Nah, she gave me a brief 'congratulations' before approaching the reception desk. I knew you came in for a checkup, so I put two-and-two together," TJ opens the door just as Kristina grabs her purse off the counter, "And Krissy?"
"Yeah?"
"I know this next year is going to be a lot for you with the pregnancy, but as important as it is the baby gets proper care, you deserve just as much. If you ever need anything, be it checkups or a shoulder to lean on, I'm here for you."
"Thank you," she hugs him, "I appreciate it."
"Anytime," he holds her tight before letting him go. Kristina walks towards the reception desk, a slight spring in her step.
"Here you go, Krissy!" Amy beams as she hands over the appointment card, "Two weeks from today, same scheduled time."
"Thanks, Amy," Kristina pockets the card.
"Hey," the blonde nurse leans closer, "if you ever need anything, you let me know. I can give some basic care, I can cut down on all the screaming I do at the screen, whatever you need."
"I appreciate it, and if I really do have a problem, I'll let you know," a grin briefly appears on Kristina's face. She nods at Amy before walking out of the hospital. She stops in her tracks when she sees Dex leaning against the side of his SUV, her heart skipping a beat. She feels a warmth shoot through her body when he locks eyes with her, a toothless grin on his face.
"Hey," she approaches him coolly.
"Hey," he echoes back.
"Take me home?"
They sit in silence as he exits the hospital parking lot and turns left onto the exit road. Her attention goes between the front and side windows on her side of the car and the man next to her, eyes tracing over each feature of his face.
"Are you going to keep staring," Dex speaks up, causing Kristina to jump slightly in her seat, "or are you going to talk to me?"
"What do you want to talk about?" she crosses her arms.
"How was the checkup?"
"Good. Everything's working fine. The procedure's in two weeks, same time as today."
"I'm glad everything's okay with you."
"Yeah…"
"Oh no, what's wrong?"
"Excuse me?" she shoots him a playful scowl.
"You sighed out your answer; something's bothering you."
"I mean, I'm doing this all over again. And after last time…what if it ends the same way?"
"Hopefully it won't."
"I agree, but if it does…I don't want to do this over and over again until one works out. It was hard enough losing the first egg."
"The procedure hasn't happened yet," Dex reassures her, "I think you're jumping the gun just a bit."
"But-"
"We all know that miscarriage was not your fault. You're a strong, healthy woman. Worrying about what could happen doesn't do you any good."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
"I am right."
"Hush," she snaps playfully, smiling when she sees him laugh. Her cheeks turn pink at the sight, "How do you know what to say?"
"Therapy."
"Used it often?"
"How'd you guess?"
"Just a hunch."
The SUV pulls into the parking lot of the apartment complex, a dark-red brick building with lines of foliage shooting across walls and windows. Kristina leads the way to her apartment, unlocking the door when they reach one on the right, sitting on the fourth floor.
"Amy's going to be out the rest of the day," Kristina remarks as Dex shuts the door behind him, "long shift and then a girl's night with some of the other nurses. It'll just be you and me."
"Sounds good," just as Dex answers, his phone buzzes in his back pocket. He pulls out the device, eyebrows raised as he sees Josslyn's name pop up, "I'll…be right back."
"Take your time. You can use my room."
"Hello?" Dex closes the door to the bedroom as he swipes on the incoming call.
"Hey," Josslyn's voice is gentle on the other end, "you busy?"
"Kind of."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm on the clock."
"You're with Kristina," she sighs, "Sonny's got you on her all the time, huh?"
"You could say that."
"Why doesn't he have his other bodyguards look after her? Why does it have to be you?"
"You miss me, don't you?"
"Like crazy. We've only been together like…what, a few times since you started playing bodyguard?"
"I haven't been keeping count."
"I wish Sonny could give you some more time off. Are you still on-call tonight?"
"I think I get off around nine or ten."
"Okay, cool, tell me when you're off and I'll meet you at your apartment. We can spend the night together, just the two of us."
"I'll let you know," Dex glances at the door, "I have to go back to work, okay?"
"Okay. See you tonight," he hangs up the call just after she finishes her sentence. He sits on the bed and looks around the room, noting the eclectic taste Kristina has: psychedelic, modern-industrial, bohemian.
"Like what you see?"
He whips his head around to see Kristina leaning against the open doorway. His breath hitches in his throat when he sees her, eyes bright and cheeks a slight pink.
"Oh…" he coughs, "um…"
"You're not in trouble," she laughs, sitting down next to him, "I told you that you can be in here."
"R-Right, um, your room," he looks around again, "it's nice. It definitely captures everything about you."
"Oh yeah?" she leans into him, locking eyes with him. The pink in Dex's cheeks turns darker as he's suddenly aware of how close she is, how pretty she looks, and how it'll take everything in him to not meet her in the middle, "How so?"