Ned Ashton pulled the covers back up over Carly, then lowered himself down onto their bed and took her hand. "I think maybe I should give Dr. Meadows another call. You look really uncomfortable, and your breathing seems worse," he said.

"I think I'm just tired. The baby shower took a lot out of me," Carly said.

Ned supposed that was possible. Although the idea that less than two hours of sitting upright was exhausting seemed to be a problem in itself. Then there was the issue that Carly had been too nauseous to eat anything since breakfast.

"Really, I feel better already just lying down. Beth said that she had a few really bad days right around thirty-one weeks and she was fine. I promise I will sleep much better here than in the hospital," Carly said.

Ned could believe that. "Ok but promise me that you'll let me know if you're feeling worse or if you need anything. I'm going to make sure your friend got settled in one of the guest suites. Maybe you can catch up while I figure out something for dinner. Is there anything that appeals to you?"

The color faded even more from Carly's face at his last question. "Umm, I'm sorry, I'm just still so nauseous," she said.

"I was afraid of that. How about some more Sprite? Just try to take a few sips at a time. I'm worried you're going to get dehydrated and then I think you're just going to feel worse, honey," Ned said. He leaned over and kissed her forehead then he got up from the bed.

XXXXXXXX

Simone Torres navigated through a sitting room and into the actual bedroom part of the Ashton's Bedroom Suite. Carly was definitely living in a different world than they had grown up in. Despite their childhood fantasies, her best friend seemed too terrified and uncomfortable to enjoy any of it.

"I hesitate to ask how you're feeling because it's pretty clear you aren't well," Simone said when she reached the four-poster king bed.

Carly lay on her left side sort of propped up against pillows. Her swollen abdomen seemed to splay out in front of her. She pursed her lips and exhaled slowly. "Not really," she said.

"I'm sorry," Simone said. The words sounded empty to her so she could only imagine what Carly heard and took from them.

"Yeah, right now I'm just trying to get through another two months, and make it to term," Carly said. Her words were raspy as if it was hard to speak, which Simone sensed it was.

"That sounds like a good goal," Simone said.

Carly shrugged her shoulders.

Simone saw fresh tears in her friend's eyes, and they tugged at her heart. She took a deep breath and then really regarded her friend. She had thought that Carly had looked pale earlier but apparently reality sans makeup was a lot worse. Her skin was nearly translucent, and she had dark circles under her eyes. She was very clearly very ill. "Come on, Carly, talk to me. I had no idea things were this bad, but I want to help you," she said.

Carly's eyes became more vacant. "You sound like Ned," she said.

"Ok, well, Ned seems cool, and he is clearly concerned about you," Simone said.

Carly bit her lip apprehensively. "I'm scared," she said. Then her shoulders crumbled, and she started crying again.

Simone lowered herself down onto the bed and squeezed Carly's shoulder. "Shhh…it's ok. I know you're scared but I think you're right, and right now I think you should just try to take things one day at a time, and let Ned help you," she said. Somehow, she had a feeling that the last part of her statement might be the hardest.

"Ned just helped me wash my face and change clothes because I was too weak to do it myself. We both known what my mother would say, but I swear I am not faking Simone," Carly said and then she dissolved into another heap of sobs.

"Of course not, Carly, I don't think that. Listen, our moms have their issues but we're going to get past that. Ned really seems like a good guy, and I saw how he never left your side during the baby shower. So just ignore any of Virginia's taunts that still reverberate in your head and let your husband love you," Simone said.

"He was afraid I was going to pass out. I think he thought I should have just canceled the shower at the last minute," Carly admitted.

"Unfortunately, I'm afraid his concerns were justified. Are you sure you shouldn't be in the hospital?" Simone asked.

"I was in the hospital, twice actually. I was just discharged last night. My OB is going to follow me closely for the rest of the pregnancy, but she says that the risks of complete bed rest outweigh the benefits," Carly said.

"Ok but what if you're too weak to get out of bed?" Simone asked.

"I don't know. I haven't figured that part out yet," Carly admitted just as Ned Ashton came back into the room with a large glass of crushed ice and a clear but carbonated liquid.

"Here, sweetheart, why don't I help you sit up and maybe just take a few sips," Ned offered.

Simone saw how apprehensive Carly appeared at Ned's suggestion. "Maybe, I should give you two a little privacy," she offered. She didn't wait for an answer.

XXXXXXXX

Carly Ashton's head swum as she leaned her head back against Ned's chest after taking a few sips of sprite.

Ned took the still more than half full glass from her and set it on the bedside table. He pulled her into his embrace more securely and then stroked her cheek. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

Carly couldn't face his question any more than she had been able to answer Simone's question earlier. She just buried her head in his chest and let the tears come. At first, she thought she felt better letting it out. Or maybe she just felt better letting Ned hold her and he had but then it got too hard to cry and breathe and her head literally felt like it was spinning.

Ned must have sensed something because he swiftly laid her back down on her left side. "Oh, sweetheart, I know, just try to relax your breathing," he whispered as he started kneading her lower back.

Slowly Carly regained a little composure. She still felt weak and shaky, but she could breathe again. "Sorry," she whispered.

"At this point, I think if anyone should be apologizing, it should be me. You have been through so much carrying our son," Ned said.

For a brief moment, Carly almost forgot that Ned wasn't actually the father of her child.