Chapter 9

**Thank you to everyone who gave me suggestions of what costumes characters would wear for the Halloween party**

The next few weeks were exhausting for Maddie and David. The magazine article was good publicity for the agency. They were busier than they had ever been. They spent long hours either interviewing clients or working cases. At the end of the day, Maddie and David were exhausted. Every night, they just flopped into bed. Finally, it was Halloween. It was the day of the party. It was after work hours. Everyone was in the office dressed in their costumes. Bert and Agnes were dressed as a wizard and witch. Maddie and David were dressed as Bonnie and Clyde. The office was decorated for Halloween. There were fake blood drips, ghosts, pumpkins, fake spiderwebs and even a couple of witches hanging from the ceiling.

"Agnes sure went all out for this party," Maddie said as she stood in the office looking around.

"It's Agnes. Are you surprised?" David said back.

"No not really," Maddie laughed.

The staff stood around mingling, eating pizza, and drinking a punch that was lightly spiked. Agnes of course had various Halloween related rhymes as she served punch. "The witch costume sort of suits her. It sounds like she's making potions and casting spells," Maddie said to David.

"Maddie, can I talk to you in my office for a minute?"

"Sure," Maddie said confused as she walked in with David and closed the door. "What did you want to…" was all she got out before David attacked her with a passionate kiss. "I guess talking isn't what you had in mind," she said when the kiss ended.

"Nope. Not at all."

"What brought this on, David? Not that I'm complaining."

"Well, it's been three weeks since we've had any fun. You look incredibly hot in that costume. And it's Halloween, everyone deserves a treat."

"You look very handsome in your costume."

"And you know I look even better out of it."

"David, the office is full of people. We can't do this now. Wait until we get home."

"Maddie I can't. I'm going to embarrass myself out there if we wait," David said as he started kissing her neck.

Maddie knew there was no fighting it. She wanted it just as much as he did. "Alright but lock the door and let's go in the bathroom," Maddie said between moans.

David walked over and locked the office door as Maddie walk to the bathroom and started to undress herself.

"Hey that's my job," David said as he quickly walked to the bathroom. They were standing in the bathroom behind a locked bathroom door. They were locked in a passionate kiss. Maddie could feel how excited David was for this interaction. After they finished their encounter, they quickly dressed. David stood looking in the mirror making sure he didn't have lipstick on his mouth, as Maddie reapplied her make up and fixed her hair. They slipped out of David's office and made their way back to the party. Nobody seemed to notice that they were gone.

The next several weeks were a headache for Maddie and David. Business was booming. They were busier than ever. Plus, Maddie and David seemed to take turns getting sick. After Maddie got over her cold, then David caught a cold. Then Maddie again. Then both at the same time. But the bright spot in all of this was that it would soon be their first holiday season as a couple. First Christmas. First Thanksgiving. Sure, they celebrated before, but not as a couple. Maddie, David, and their families were excited. They would be hosting Thanksgiving at their house. Maddie's mom, David's dad, Richie, Agnes, and Bert. Luckily, they all seemed to get along at the wedding. Then it hit Maddie, this would also be the first holiday season without her dad. She's a bit sad that he and David's dad didn't meet. She and David agreed that they would have gotten along. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, they were both exhausted, Maddie more than David. Maddie thought nothing of it. She figured it was the all the work and getting over a cold. The memory of Halloween crossed her mind. She thought about how they were dressed up but a certain part of David's anatomy wasn't dressed at all. And the possible result of their encounter crossed her mind. She decided not to worry about it today.

Maddie went downstairs to help her mom. She was never one to host holidays. There was never a reason to. She didn't have people in Los Angeles to host. Then she met David, Agnes, and Bert. She ordered pies from a top Los Angeles bakery. She promised the office staff she'd bring in any leftover pie. What they didn't know is she purposely put in a pie order to bring in for them too. Maddie helped set the table while her mom cooked.

"Maddie, would you like a glass of wine?" Mrs. Hayes asked.

"I can't mom. I'm still on my cold medicine," Maddie lied. She didn't want to chance anything if possibly turned out to be fact.

"Still? I thought you're over the cold."

"I am mom. But Doctor Branton said to take them until the run out. Just in case mom."

"I'm back with the pies," David said as he came through the door. "Wow it was a zoo. Honey, I even you your favorite cupcake."

"Thank you, sweetheart," Maddie said kissing David.

"Aw. What a sweet man," Mrs. Hayes said.

"See how well I have him trained already mom?"

"I'm so sorry your father couldn't be here to see this. He would be thrilled to see you so happy," Mrs. Hayes said to Maddie.

"I know mom," Maddie said as they heard the doorbell ring.

Thanksgiving dinner went great. Agnes and Bert brought green bean casserole. Richie and David Sr picked up some wine. Later that night, Maddie and David lay in bed. Richie and David Sr shared a hotel room. Maddie tried to get her mom to stay at the house. But Mrs. Hayes insisted on staying a at hotel. Maddie remembered the conversation she had on the phone with her mom when discussing plans.

"You're newlyweds. You don't want your old mom lurking about as you two…" Mrs. Hayes started to say.

"Mom!" Maddie said cutting her off.

"You have been pregnant with his child. Living together and married for months. Sweetheart it's no secret that you two are having…"

"Mom!"

"Maddie you're a grown woman. You're still embarrassed to talk about it. Adorable."

Maddie's flashback was cut short by a sudden wave of nausea. She got up quickly and ran to the bathroom. David noticed and quickly went after her. He found her throwing up. He helped hold her hair and rubbed her back.

"Are you ok honey?" David said sitting on the floor next to Maddie when she was done. "Must be all the food today."

"I don't think so David."

"What do you mean you don't think so?"

"I've felt this feeling before. When I was in Chicago. Two years ago…"

"Oooooh," David said as it dawned on him what she was getting at.

"I don't know for sure though."

"How long have you suspected?"

"Well it didn't occur to me until earlier today. I'm going to call Chris in the morning and see if she can squeeze me in for a test tomorrow just to be certain."

"Good. I'll cover for you at work."

"David what if this is it?"

"If it is, then it's great. Sooner than we would like, but still great."

"But I'm scared David."

"I know. Me too, honey. Come on. Let's get to bed. It's been a long day." David helped up Maddie. She rinsed her moth with mouth wash and went to bed.

The next morning, David went to work. Maddie stayed home to make the appointment. They didn't want anyone to overhear the conversation.

**RING RING** "This is Doctor Christine Branton," a tall brown-haired woman in an office said.

"Hi Chris. It's Maddie."

"Hey Maddie. Don't tell me you got a cold again."

"No Chris. This is something more serious. Could you squeeze me in today?"

"Yeah. I have some time. What do you need?"

"A pregnancy test."

As Maddie was getting her test done, David sat in his office. He was looking at the paperwork in front of him. But wasn't paying attention to it. He was too anxious to hear about the results. What if it came back positive? Did they want kids? Yeah, they did. But they wanted to wait. They wanted to enjoy married life a bit more before they became parents. Part of him hoped it came out positive. He wanted to experience all the stuff he missed the first time. His thoughts were interrupted by Maddie walking into the office. "Well?"

"It was negative."

"Negative?" David said with some relief as he got up to hug Maddie. But Maddie noticed a little sadness.

"Are you disappointed?"

"A little. I know I said I wanted us to wait and enjoy married life. But I was starting to get excited. I missed a lot of it the first time. I look forward to experiencing all of it with you when it happens."

"You do? The vomiting in the middle of the night. The bloating. The moodiness. The crazy hormones. The late night cravings. You look forward to all of that?"

"You bet I do. Even you screaming at me in the delivery room that it's all my fault and you will never let me touch you again."

"What am I going to do with you Addison?" Maddie smiled and shook her head.

"I can have some ideas," David said kissing her.

Maddie stopped him before it got too heated. "David, we need to be more careful. Chris put me on new birth control. It'll take some time for it to kick in. You to need to come dressed for the party from now on."

"Maddie let's make a pact."

"A pact?"

"Yeah a pact. What do you say that after our six-month anniversary, we start trying?"

Maddie smiled. "Ok deal." They kissed to seal the deal.

Over the next month, business started to slow down, probably because of the holidays. Maddie and David had a great time preparing for the holidays. They enjoyed holding hands and walking around while shopping for gifts for everyone. Buying decorations. Buying a tree. This was the first year Maddie looked forward to the holidays. This was the first time she was truly sharing the holidays with someone. She had a feeling this would be the start of many happy holidays for years to come.

The week of Christmas was busy but happy. Work was slow, but it was usually slow around this time of year. David and Maddie were flying to Chicago to spent Christmas with Maddie's family. Then ring inthe new year with David's family.

Maddie and David happily mingled amongst the staff at the office party. Everyone noticed Maddie and David seemed extra happy. Maddie was excited to tell Agnes about their plan. Agnes and Bert were going to spend Christmas with his family.

"Are we ready to tell Agnes our news?" David asked.

"I think I should tell her alone, David"

"Why?"

"We said we'd tell everyone at Christmas. And we won't see them until after the New Year. I'll sneak away with Agnes. You entertain the kids." Maddie and David gave each other a little knowing glance at her last statement. Maddie walked over to where Agnes was sitting. "Excuse me, Agnes. May I see you in my office?"

"Sure Ms. Hayes," Agnes said. They walked into Maddie's office. "Agnes please sit down," Maddie said motioning for them to sit on the couch.

"Agnes there's something I need to tell you…"

"Ms. Hayes, we're friends, right? Not just employer and employee, right?"

"Yes of course Agnes."

"Ok good. Because there's something I need to get off my chest. I can't really talk to Bert about this. Naturally he knows. But talking to him about it more would just stress him out more."

"Agnes what's wrong?"

"Not long after the wedding, we wanted to have a baby. So, for the last several months we've been trying. But it didn't seem to be happening. Right after Thanksgiving, we started going to doctors to see why. Ms. Hayes, they told us that there's a high chance it won't happen for us. Something about one of us not producing enough of something to for it to happen. I feel so bad. Like I'm broken or something. Bert and I really want to be parents."

Maddie felt so bad. There's no way she could tell Agnes her news now. "Agnes, getting pregnant and giving birth isn't the only way to be parents. You could adopt. There are plenty of children who need loving parents."

"You're right Ms. Hayes. I'm so sorry, I just realized I interrupted you. What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Oh it's not important Agnes. It can wait."

Maddie was weirdly quiet on as David drive them home.

"What's wrong?" David asked.

"Nothing is wrong."

"Maddie, I know you well enough to know when something is on your mind. Did you tell Agnes our news"

"I couldn't, David."

"Why not?"

"Agnes told me she and Bert have been trying to get pregnant for months. They went to a doctor and were told it most likely won't happen for them."

"Oh no."

"David, after she told me that, I just couldn't do it. How could I tell her that we were going to try soon when it'll most likely happen for us?"

"I get it, honey. It's not easy."

"No, it's not. I can't help but feel bad for them. I'd hate to think how it'll be when I'm pregnant one day."

"Maddie, getting pregnant isn't the only way to have a baby."

"I know David. I told that to Agnes when she told me. She seemed open to the idea. Adoption is great thing."

"You think so?"

"Yeah David. You know my friend Katie."

"The one who picked us up at the airport last time we were in Chicago?"

"Yeah. She was adopted at birth. She ended up with a family with money. As an adult, she found out her birth parents were poor teenagers who came from a long line of drug addicts. Who knows what her life would have been like had they chose to keep her. Thanks to her adoption, she was able to attend great schools, get a great education and a great career."

"Maybe one day, we can give a kid that same opportunity, Maddie."

"Really?"

"Yeah, why not? Maybe adopt an older kid who normally gets over looked. I would like us to have one of our own first. But maybe one day."

"Maybe one day," Maddie smiled as she grabbed David's hand.