Inside this issue:
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“I did,” Chris informed her as he lead her over to one of the beds, “and I do.” “Chris, look if you’re trying to get me to take a nap,” Eve began again in protest. “Just trust me,” Chris urged lifting her in his arms and pressing a kiss onto her lips before gently pressing her onto the bed. He pulled away from her taking a moment to gaze down at her before giving her another gentle kiss, “I love you.” Chris whispered before drawing back from her. “Where are you going?” Eve questioned as she watched him move across the room, “Don’t think you can just bring me in here to make me rest and then leave like that.” “That was never my intention,” Chris replied slipping behind the curtain drawn over the center of the room. “Then what are you up to?” Eve asked curiously as she sat up a bit on the bed. “Just stay put,” Chris instructed as he peeked out from the curtain, “I mean it Eve.” “Chris,” Eve sighed before sinking back into the pillow, “alright.” “That’s a girl,” Chris replied wheeling out the sonogram equipment from behind the curtain. “Chris?” she questioned curiously, “how did you?” “I struck a deal with Ted in radiology and he brought this in here for me. He owed me a favor so I thought we should take a moment here to see how our little one is doing,” Chris explained with a grin as he set up beside her, “granted, I know that this isn’t our scheduled time, but I couldn’t wait.” “You could find yourself in trouble if the hospital finds out that you’re abusing your power around here,” Eve teased him. “I’ll take my chances for my little martini,” Chris offered with a smile as he watched her eyes light up, “besides you can’t tell me you’re not even the slightest bit curious to see the magic we made together.” “I can’t wait to hold our son or daughter in my arms Chris,” Eve confessed lightly as she looked to him reaching out to take his hand. “Good then I’ll hear no more protests out of you,” Chris teased squeezing her hand for a moment before releasing it, “now you know what to do.” “Of course,” Eve smiled in response as she moved back a bit. Sitting upright, she pulled her shirt over her head before laying it over the side of the bed. “You didn’t have to take that off,” Chris reminded her as his eyes cast over her beautiful, flawless skin. “I thought it would be easier,” Eve answered with a hint of a smile, “unless of course it’s going to drive you to distraction.” “You always drive me to distraction Eve,” Chris confessed bending down to kiss her gently, “now what do you say we see our son or daughter?” “I say,” she smiled lightly, “you’re on.” “Okay then,” Chris decided moving back again to set up the equipment as he watched her recline on the bed. He paused for a moment just watching her laying before him. “What?” she asked with a light laugh. “You’re so beautiful Eve,” Chris confessed as he looked to her finding himself remembering how much having her in his life meant to him. Time and time again they’d seemed like they were at the end of their rope with one another, but now, now as they were about to view their child together, it just added to the realism behind how strong they were. Eve watched him for a moment noting the curious expression on his face, something she hadn’t ever seen before. He was almost childlike in his wonder and in gazing into his dark eyes, she found herself falling in love with him all over again. How could she have been so blind to see that everything she’d wanted, everything she’d ever needed was right before her eyes all this time? Why had she denied herself the happiness that she’d finally found with Chris? Why couldn’t she see what she had with her all that time, she thought to herself, but of course now wasn’t a time to think about what she’d almost passed up because the point was that she hadn’t and now, now they had one another and she was never letting go of Chris. Love was more than enough for them. “Ready?” he asked giving her one last look. “More than ready,” Eve nodded feeling the coolness of the lubricant spill upon her stomach. Chris watched her flinch and her abdomen concaved in a bit. Chris felt a tiny smile upon his lips as he realized that her stomach hadn’t fallen as flat as he’d remembered and perhaps it was his imagination, but something about the idea of her growing with their child sent feelings of pride and love rushing through him. He reached out to her touching her cheek with gentle ease, “Cold?” “A little bit,” she offered melting into his touch as their eyes connected for a moment. “It’ll only last a few seconds,” Chris assured her as he moved the mechanism over her abdomen. “I can’t believe we’re really doing this,” Eve admitted closing her eyes for a moment as she heard it. Opening her eyes with a gasp, she nearly jumped from the table, “Chris...” “Eve,” he said watching the excitement behind her eyes as he stilled her, “I hear it,” he answered with a proud smile realizing there was no mistaking it. Even in it’s early stage of development, it was there stronger than ever as Chris looked over to the monitor finding himself at a loss as the image became a reality to him. “Our baby,” Eve gasped lightly unable to take her eyes away from the monitor as Chris moved the wand over a bit to get a better view. She found herself lost in the moment as the tears filled in her eyes, “our baby’s so tiny.” “We did that Eve,” Chris said proudly as he looked to her once again, “that’s our baby Eve. We did this together.” “This is truly a miracle Chris,” Eve answered as he gently wiped at a tear falling from her face. “It’s our miracle Eve,” Chris replied easing his fingers over her cheek as he felt himself overcome with a love unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. “I love you Chris,” Eve whispered as she moved her hand up to cover his, “I love you so much.” “I love you Eve,” he responded unable to resist the urge as he bent down to kiss her, “the both of you,” he whispered again in between kisses as he tasted the salt from her tears, “thank you for our baby Eve.” “Chris,” Eve smiled again as she touched his cheek, “we did this together. Our love made this happen.” “It’s our love that gives me reason and purpose in my life,” he explained gently as he heard a tapping at the door. Unwilling to move away from her, he kissed her again as the tapping continued. Finally Gabriella popped her head in. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” she began apologetically as she noticed the lights were turned down, “but someone said I could find Eve in....” she stopped as she realized what was going on as she noticed Chris and Eve engaged in a kiss, “oh I’m so sorry.” “Gabriella,” Eve half laughed as she pulled her lips away from Chris and she peeked over his shoulder to see her friend standing there. She waved at her finding this a bit amusing as Chris pulled himself up from the side of the bed, “hi.” “Yeah hi Gabriella,” Chris frowned turning to face her. “You told me to come look for you when Mike Corbin was awake and,” Gabriella paused as she heard the sounds of the still running sonogram filling the air in the room. She turned her eyes to the machine and looked back to Chris and Eve, “are you two...?” she began as her chin dropped. “That’s right Gabby,” Eve smiled brightly, “we’re having a baby.” “Together,” Gabriella questioned in disbelief. “Yes together,” Chris frowned not liking her tone as he stood beside Eve protectively. “I just meant....” she stammered a bit, “I mean I heard rumors that you two had run off to Atlantic City and tied the knot, but I didn’t really believe that the two of you...” “Well, it’s very true,” Eve answered reaching for his hand, “it’s very real and our baby is very real.” “Well in that case,” Gabriella looked between them, “congratulations.” “Thanks we appreciate it,” Chris waved his hand at her, “now if you don’t mind.” “Of course,” she said taking one last look at the monitor before walking out of the room. “You didn’t have to shoo her away,” Eve frowned slightly once they were alone again. “Yes I did,” Chris answered dismayed as he turned to her, “I didn’t want to hear another speech about how I’m not good enough for you,” he frowned moving in to turn off the machine, “I mean it’s bad enough when I know it myself, but to be constantly be reminded day in and day out that I’ll never be what the world believes you should have.” “Chris, I don’t give a damn what the world thinks about you, me or our love for that matter,” Eve insisted firmly, “don’t you see by now that I don’t care what everyone else thinks...just about what we feel together.” “Eve,” he started again. “No Chris, I want to say this. I need to say this,” Eve sighed, “yes for a time I was so bent on becoming this saint, this perfect version of myself, but it’s not me and maybe that woman wasn’t meant to be with you, but that woman wasn’t meant to be with me either. I’m not her and I could never be her. I’m the woman here with you, the one who loves you. I’m the person who’s made a great many mistakes in her life and I’ve just been blessed enough to find a man who’s willing to let me be me and accept me for that.” “Eve, after all I’ve done...” Chris started. “As far as I’m concerned you’ve done nothing in comparison to what some of these other people have done,” Eve saw the look of doubt on his face, “hey I mean look at Gabriella and Joe. Those two have flaunted their relationship in front of Karen any and every opportunity that they’ve had to do so. While they might not have intended to hurt her, Joe had no problems rubbing his happiness in her face like he did and when she was miserable no one ever even gave her the help she needed, myself included,” Eve paused thinking about the times she must’ve done the same things in flaunting her relationships in front of Chris, “but the point is that none of us are saints here, so no one has a right to say what’s right for us.” “You deserve better Eve,” Chris frowned again. “Is that your way of letting me go?” Eve asked searching his eyes. “Not a chance,” Chris shook his head, “you and our baby mean far too much to me for me to ever let go.” “Then what’s the problem?” she asked again, “We’re not going to let the masses tell us how to feel or behave.” “No we’re not,” he shook his head, “you’re right. None of what they say about us matters.” “It’s just jealousy anyways,” Eve added with a smile. “That’s right,” Chris paused, “although I’d really like to make that part about us being married a reality.” “We will,” Eve smiled, “I have no doubt in my mind that it’s going to happen for us,” She offered squeezing his hand, “maybe when Mike is feeling better, we will go down to Atlantic City like the rumor says.” “I’d marry you anywhere, any time, any place,” Chris informed her gently as he squeezed her hand. “I needed to hear that,” Eve answered as her thoughts turned back to Mike, “maybe we should finish up in here and go check on my father.” “I’ve got a better idea,” Chris
smiled as he walked back over to the machine again, “I think it might be
just what we all needed.”
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