He was sick.

And not just physically either. Yeah every now and then she would hear that deep, body rumbling cough, the loud horrible Timberlake sneeze, and the pitiful, deeper than normal, scratchy sounding voice asking for something to drink or more medicine.

But the sick thing about him was that he hadn't moved from the same spot in 2 days. He hadn't showered, hadn't changed clothes, just laid there on the couch.

After picking him up from the airport and bringing him home, he immediately sulked upstairs and slept for about 15 hours. The next morning Meredith was making soup for him in the kitchen when he shuffled in, grabbed the carton of milk from the fridge and a box of cereal and shuffled back. She followed him, watched him flop down on the couch and begin channel surfing and gorging on his "meal."

And even though he was sick, she couldn't help but have her mind on this "talk" he wanted to have. She tried not thinking about it. She thought about everything but that. And finally when her mind was on the ingredients in the cambells soup she was making, she heard it.

The TV, that he had the volume up all the way on sports center, ceased to make any noise at all.

She put the can down and leaned a little from the counter she was resting on towards the walkway that led into the den. He was pushing himself off the couch and coming towards the kitchen. The TV was on mute.

He caught her staring at him and he smiled slightly. She smiled back.

"How you feeling?"

He yawned and walked towards her. "Well, pretty much horrible."

"Aww...I'm making you more soup." Turning around, Meredith stirred the soup, semi-motioning towards it.

"I know, I smell it." Arms slipped around her waist and lips touched her neck. He held on close to her and squeezed her tight, resting his forehead on her shoulder.

She groaned. "Justin..."

"I feel so bad, angel."

She wiggled trying to get him to let go. He just kept on holding her. "Well you laying in your dirty clothes just wallering in your germs doesn't help. Go take a shower."

"Nooo. I don't wanna."

She chuckled and turned off the stove. "Like some cheese with that whine?"

"Ha ha, funny. No, I want you to come lay with me so I'm not all bored. If you don't mind my germs." Justin started pulling her body so that she would come with him. She grabbed his hands and unwrapped his arms from her torso, but by then he had already pulled her almost out of the kitchen.

"I think I'm more concerned with the way you smell."

"What?"

She gave him a look out of the corner of her eye. "Justin, take a bath or shower."

HE pouted and shook his head. "I wanna lay."

"Shower."

"Lay."

"Shower.."

"LAY!" She thought if this went any further he would pitch a fit and throw a temper tantrum.

"You know you are so annoying and childish when you are sick."

He smiled and pulled her body close to his. "You think it's sexy."

With a forceful push, she got away from him and went back over to the stove to do something with the soup she made. "You are full of it."

"Wait, mere..Wait..." Justin shuffled after her, dragging his feet. He stopped right behind her and sighed. Her hand was on her hip and he knew somehow he had pissed her off.

"I'm sorry Angel. I'm just, I don't know. I don't wanna DO anything."

"Ok, then don't." She mumbled.

"Angel..."

The slamming of one of the cabinets echoed in the house. She had gotten a bowl, but had not done so very quietly or gently. "Justin if you don't wanna do anything but be a lazy sick bum, then fine. I just don't want to be around you."

"Mere..."

Her hip made the silverware drawer snap back into place and she stared at him accusingly, pointing at him with the spoon she had gotten. "Just shut up. Go back to your little hole, waller and I'll come bring you your damn soup."

"Meredith, stop that."

Hearing him say her name, her full name and not just a cute nickname or pet name made her realize what she was doing. He rarely said her full name, when he was being extremely serious. And Justin was only serious a few times, when he was upset or when he was in the midst of making passionate love to her.

Her eyes darted from him to the stove and she set the bowl beside the pot of soup and nervously began ladling the broth she had made into the bowl. "I...I'm sorry."

As on cue, Justin's headache came back. He rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes. "Is something going on? No, wait. What's going on?" He stared at her back, wanting her to turn around, waiting for an answer.

He watched her shoulders raise and fall quickly. "Nothing."

Justin rolled his eyes at her back. "That's bull shit. I KNOW you. What is it?"

After a few minutes she didn't respond. He stepped back close to her and touched her shoulder with his hand. She jerked away from him. He didn't like that. That meant that she was scared; it meant that he had scared her.

It was a new situation for him, one he had never really been in, and one he didn't like...at all. He did the one thing he knew how to, to make her at ease. He sighed, and then whispered gently, "Ange..."

She turned around, eyes wide and watery and exclaimed in a worried and frantic manner, "I..I didn't get my period..."

Justin looked around the kitchen floor, eyebrows bunched in though. "So...wait, oh my god..."

When she realized it was dawning on him what a skipped period meant, she grabbed his upper arms and looked into his shocked cobalt eyes. "No, no... I mean. It just, it was about 2 weeks late. Scared me, really bad."

The shock faded away and sadness and hurt filled instead. He stepped back from her touch and shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because...i..I don't know. I didn't want you to worry." She bit her lip and looked at the wooden kitchen floor in shame.

On instinct he pulled her into his arms. So what? He didn't smell his normal Justin freshness and he had that whole sick/sweaty scent going on, but right then it was the most comforting thing she had felt from him since he had gotten home. "God, mere. That's my job. To worry about you. Is everything ok?"

She tried to act like it wasn't that big of a deal, even though she knew it was. Her arms snaked their way up to his neck and slithered around it, holding on to him, and pressing her body into his tightly. "Yeah, yeah. It just scared me and you know how everyone has been buggin us about children lately and ..I..Just forget it."

After a few minutes of him enjoying the scent of her hair and the feel of her close he whispered. "Come with me."

She pulled her head from the soft white cotton that was covering his shoulder. "What?"

He nodded to the den. "Lets go sit down."

She nodded to the kitchen. "Don't you want your soup?"

He let go of her and grabbed her shoulders, directing and pushing her towards the comfy couch. "I want to talk to you."

"About..."

With the slight push of his hands he pushed her so she was sitting down on the couch. Slowly, he kneeled down in front of her and after clearing his throat and sniffing, he took her hand, kissed the inside of her palm where her wedding band was and looked her in the eyes. "Starting a family..."

She stood back up forcefully, almost causing him to fall backward. "I'm going to go get you that soup. Why don't you get that shower and take a..." And hand grabbed her forearm and she looked down, to see him pleading with her.

"Please sit down."

Justin pushed himself up on the couch and rubbed his temples. Meredith stared at him a little longer before cautiously and slowly descending herself beside him on the cushions.

They sat there, right beside each other, but not touching or looking or even communicating with each other. It was pure hell.

He was tired of this. He was fed up. She was always like this. Whenever anything awkward or complicated came up in their marriage she would get quiet, change subjects, ignore him. He thought that being her husband would be enough to let her open up to him. But obviously, right now it wasn't.

"Ya know what? Just..forget it." Justin mumbled and pushed himself off the couch, storming towards the steps.

"No, Justin. Wait, please."

He turned around sharp on his socked feet causing her to come to a halt. She stood there, frozen as he yelled. "What for Meredith!? You don't want to talk about it. You don't want to tell me what's on your mind. I cant help it that I haven't been here the past few weeks. I have a JOB I have to do. And sometimes that job takes me out of your little vision for more than a day. You've had ten years to get use to it. Why cant you just DEAL with it and move on. I want to TALK to you, like a husband should be ABLE to talk to his wife but you won't let me."

She never liked being yelled at and the fact that she was being yelled at by the person she loved the most, hurt her. Her eyes welled up with tears and she timidly said. "I talk to you ALL the time."

He spat back at her, eyebrows furrowed, lips curled in a frown, teeth gritting, jaw tightened and his voice...a growl. "I'm not talking about that shit. I'm talking about the important stuff. I love talking to you about just stupid crap. But dammit I want to have a family with you. How many times have I told you that I want to grow old with you, live my life with you, have KIDS with you. I thought you wanted that to. Guess I was wrong."

He had pushed too far that time. "I NEVER SAID THAT."

"So the truth comes out. You DONT want children." In reality he knew she wanted children, he was just trying to push her buttons and get some reaction out of her besides the passive little mere he always knew.

Anger flared in her eyes and she pointed at him accusingly. "Don't you put words in my mouth Justin. You know damn well I want to have children.... WITH YOU. But I'm sorry I don't know how to bring this up. I'm SORRY I don't know how to talk about it. I'm SORRY that I've NEVER been in this situation before. I'm SORRY that it SCARES me to DEATH. I'm just...sorry."

He was trying to push her buttons, but he didn't want her to cry. He hated it when she got upset, and right now he knew she was doing the best she could to keep from letting the tears fall. He stepped towards her. "Stop..." A cough came over him and he covered his mouth. "St.."

Meredith walked a little closer to him and touched his arm as he coughed painfully into his fist. Finally he wiped his mouth, cleared his throat and looked at her, staring deeply at him. His hand brushed some of her hair of her shoulder and he touched her there, moving his hand up to her neck and gently rubbing her there. "Stop saying you're sorry. You know I don't like when you do that."

She bowed her head and he wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders and ran the other over the back of her head. "What do you want me to say?" She mumbled into his shirt, just leaning on him.

His hands moved towards her face and he cupped both of her cheeks, tilting her face so she would be looking up at him. His eyes bore into hers. "Just...tell me what you are thinking about all this Mere. Tell me what was on your mind those 2 weeks that you were late. Tell me...tell me you want to start trying to have a family with me, if..If that's what you want."

"I..I want to start." The fact that she had looked him directly in the eyes and smiled when she said it, he knew she meant it. HE had to hold back his joy and did the only thing he knew how...smile back at her.

"Soon?"

She giggled a little and slung her arms around his neck, hugging him. "Yeah..."

They both sighed. Neither of them liked fighting with the other unless it was playful arguments. They didn't fight much, so it was always awkward to them when they did. His lips searched for her ear, kissing her cheek and neck in the process. He smiled, chuckled, wiggled his hips against hers a little and said, "Soon as in...Now."

With a shake of her head and a push she said, "Shower first."

"Why don't you get in the shower with me." He tried his best to be childish and innocent but the attempt failed, greatly.

"NO...By yourself."

"Bath?"

"Whatever floats your boat." She shrugged.

"No, I mean if I take a bath will you join me."

She couldn't help but laugh. "No...I'll go up there and talk with you while you are n there."

"Will you...wash me?"

She rolled her eyes and pushed him towards the steps. "We will see."

"That means yes."

"No it doesn't."

He turned around, leaned down and kissed her forehead and said in a knowing voice. "Maybe not in the real world but in our lil mere and Justin world...it means yes."

-----

A week later or so...

The beer bottle in her hand was starting to freeze her fingers as she weaved her way through the crowd of people into the den. She spotted him laughing, smiling, a little more than usual. He had told her not to let him go too far that evening, but she couldn't help it.

He was just so cute and fun and sexy and funny when he was a little, um, drunk.

He was sprawled out in a recliner watching one of the first big college football games of the season. Without another place to seat herself, she plopped down in his lap and handed him his Corona.

"Thank ya, baby." He smiled at her and began nuzzling and kissing her neck, tickling her too.

"Justin this is your last beer, no more for you."

He nodded and resituated her so he and she were more comfortable sitting together in the cushy leaned back chair. "Yes ma'am. Whatever you say boss lady."

"You guys are even worse when you have a couple of drinks in you."

Meredith looked over at the couch where JC and Christina were talking to each other quietly. "I am completely sober Chasez!"

"I'm NOT!" Justin cheered, chuckling.

Meredith pursed her lips and leaned back against his chest. "You know what this means?"

"Whut does it mean hot momma." He ended his sentence with turning her head and kissing her on the mouth.

She pulled away and smiled. "Means I get to drive the Benz home."

"Woman you aint touching my car." Justin's shook his head at her and crossed his arms over his chest, making her sit up more and not be as comfortable against him.

"What if I give you something?"

"Like..." He smiled as she leaned in and whispered something in his ear.

JC groaned from where he was on the couch, watching Justin's eyes widen, a smile form on his face and then him hug Meredith close to him and begin to kiss her neck. "Oh my god, I use to think mere was this little innocent girl now she's like...sexaholic."

Meredith smiled at him while pushing Justin's wandering hands to safer territory. "Your one to talk Josh."

Justin laughed as he watched his wife nod to where JC had his hand on Chris's thigh. He sang loud, "I can feel your HANDDDDDD creepin up my THIGHHHH...strangers alllll aroundddddd...." JC's hand jerked from where it was and he sat there like a statue as Chris began to blush.

"Shhh..." A finger was placed on his lips as Meredith quieted him.

Kelly and Joey appeared beside the recliner standing up. "Ju are you drunk." Kelly asked.

He looked up at her lazily and nodded. "Uh huh...on luvvveeeee..."

"If you are puking tomorrow, don't you dare whine to me." Meredith said leaning on him.

Joey pulled a chair up for Kelly to sit in. She sat down and Joey flopped onto the floor. They all continued to watch the football game and when on of the teams scored, Kelly yeehawed and started rooting with Justin. "See this is what I love about Kel. Even though she can't drink because of the baby, she still can act all crazy."

"Joseph I'm always crazy."

Joey turned his head up and smiled at Kelly and she leaned down as much as she could with her large stomach to kiss him. "I know." He whispered.

"Oh my god we are surrounded." JC said to Chris causing her to giggle.

"Where's Lance and Leslie?" The male Chris asked as he walked through the den to the kitchen from wherever it was that he had been hiding.

"They went upstairs." The female Chris answered.

JC's eyes widened and he stood up off the couch. "Nah, they better not be in MY room."

Christina put her hand on his arm and pulled him back down beside her. "Jace calm down..."

"Ok, ok. I guess I can burn sheets." He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.

During all this, Justin had become intrigued with Kelly's stomach. One of his hands was on her belly and the other hand was trying to lift Meredith's shirt, not by her wishes though. He was just looking back and forth and smiling. Kelly looked at Meredith. "What is he doin?"

"You think I have a clue."

She smiled. "He is your husband."

"I'm comparing." He said very matter of factly.

"Why?" Joey asked, looking up at him from the floor.

"Because Mere's stomach is so small and yours is so bigggg..."

Kelly chuckled and looked at him like he was crazy. "Timberlake I'm pregnant."

With a bright smile and a furious nod he shouted. "I KNOW! You gonna have a baby, Angel's gonna have a baby...EVERYONE IS HAVING A BABY..."

Kelly turned to look at Meredith and asked shocked, "What?"

Meredith burrowed her head in Justin's shoulder and groaned. JC stood up quickly again and screamed. "YOU ARE PREGNANT!?!"

"NO!" She screamed back.

Justin smiled like a child and wrapped his arms around her. "You will be soon though."

Christina smiled and pointed to the two. "You guys are..."

Meredith groaned. "Thanks Justin..."

"What I do?" He shrugged.

JC threw his hands in the air and plopped back down on the couch. "Well thank God! It's about damn time."

"Aww I'm so happy for you girl!" Kelly beamed.

"Well I'm not pregnant right now. Gees we haven't even gone to the doctor yet."

"But you've scheduled an appointment right?"

Meredith nodded at her pregnant friend. "Yeah, next Friday."

Chris smiled and gushed to Kelly. "Awww I can see it right now. Either it'll be a boy with Justin's curls and Mere's eyes or a girl with Justin's eyes and mere dark brown hair..."

"Or what if it turns out to look nothing like either of them..."

JC and Joey both groaned as Chris and Kelly kept on talking. "Ohhh like a red head with freckles."

"Or maybe it'll be twins!!!!"

"IDENTICAL!"

Meredith looked up at Justin shyly. "I can't believe you blurted that out."

"sowwy..." He pouted.

She whispered. "I was supposed to be a secret."

"I forgot."

"No you just weren't thinking."

His slight childish behavior faded and even though he was drunk, he got serious. "I'm sorry Meredith. I'm just, excited about it."

"Me too."

Justin sighed and put his hands on her stomach under her shirt. "I mean, gosh...we are going to have a baby...a baby angel a little US."

"I like that..."

"What?"

She covered his hands through her shirt and kissed his lips. He tasted a little like beer but she wasn't about to complain. "...a little us."

Justin looked around and noticed everyone else was chatting it up about the future Timberlake baby. He pressed his forehead against hers, smiled and whispered. "Well why don't we get started on our little us when we get home."

All she did in return was smile. Back Forward