The day after her test, Lucy stayed home, but John went to work, "Let Weaver know everything went okay," Lucy says. "Okay, so what are you going to do today?" "Just rest and give mom a call, let her know what's going on." "You sure you'll be alright?" "Yeah, now go, I'll see you later." "Love you," he says s he gives her a kiss, heading towards the door. "Love you too," she says as she kisses him back. John arrived at work and was immediately asked how Lucy's test went. The entire staff was relieved to hear the news that all went well. After his shift ended, John returned home. Lucy was laying on the sofa, when she heard the key in the door,"Hey, how was work today?" she asks greeting him with a kiss. "Good, Typical day, just your run of the mill traumas. A couple of minor MVA's , a ruptured appendix, and my favorite, a kernel of popcorn stuck in a kid's ear. And what did you do all day? he asked with a smile. "Slept till about ten, then called mom." "How'd she take it?" "Was worried, naturally, but I told her everything was okay." "Got a call from Gamma today." "Oh?" "She wants us to come for Thanksgiving. Told her I'd have to check with the boss,first,"he laughs. "What about our schedule, I'm sure I'll have to work." "You don't." "Why?" "I think I sold my soul to Weaver," he laughs and adds,"But we do have to work Christmas Eve." "So, do you want to go?" "It's up to you." "Well... go let your grandmother know we'll be glad to come." John calls his grandmother and let's her know, yes, they'll be there for Thanksgiving dinner. "Is this going to be formal or what?" she asks. "Hey the Carters are just like you and me when it comes to family gatherings, casual." "That's good, cause that's all I've got." "What about "the dress"from the weekend?" he says with a slight smirk on his face. "That dress is for you and you only" she smiles back. The next day, as they arrive for work, the waiting area is mercifully empty and so is the admit area. As they enter the lounge...SURPRISE!" everyone yells. "We thought we'd help you guys celebrate," says Dr. Benton. "Thanks, guys," Lucy says obviously looking for a cake. "We didn't think a cake would be appropriate, so it's donuts and bagels. "Just as well Lucy, you're going to have to watch your weight anyway," cracks Dave with a smile. Without hesitation, Lucy slaps him playfully across the face and- "Sorry Dave, hormones," laughs Lucy. "We really didn't know what to get you, so we thought you could start out with diapers." Everyone claps and yells,"Speech,speech,speech..." John motions to Lucy to do the honors. He carefully stands her on a chair and the room quiets,"I'm speechless,"she says. "That'll be a first," comes a voice sounding suspiciously like Malucci's. John just smiles to himself, knowing Dave was already in trouble, thanks to his big mouth. "Anyway,"Lucy continues,"I want to thank all of you, not only for these," she points to the gift,"but without all of you I wouldn't be here. Thanks for everything you've done for me." Dave just doesn't know when to quit,"SOME of us have done quite a lot for you." "Shut up Dave," says a smiling John. "Okay, everyone, back to work, we've got patients waiting," announces Weaver. The day for Lucy was full of minor emergencies and paperwork. While doing charts, she reflected about how much her life has changed in such a short time. As she continued writing and thinking, John Comes up from behind her and starts rubbing the back of her neck. "I just want to get this day over," she says. "That anxious to meet the family,eh?" "Yeah,right. I really do need to get these charts finished, and if you don't leave me alone, I'm going to have to come back in tomorrow." "See you around 5:00," he says as he kisses her goodbye. At 5:00, Lucy was ready to go, but no John,"Randi have you seen-" "Exam six." "Thanks,"Lucy says as she walks down the hall to Exam 6, and smiles as this brings back some memories. As she enters, she finds John studying a x-ray, "You about finished?" "Just about." "Let me take a look," she goes to get a closer look,"Hairline fracture of the right tibula." "That's right." "I had a good teacher," she says with a seductive smile. "What else did he teach you?" "Make sure that both the doors are locked." With that, the doors are locked, but they forgot to completely close the blinds and Dr. Malucci just happens to walk by.
ONE HOUR LATER
Unfortunately, John and Lucy somehow, had to go through the ER to leave. They had to go to the lounge, get their jackets and the gift. "Do you think any one will notice we're still here?" Lucy asks. "What do you think?" "I'm glad I'm not your med student anymore, or someone could get into trouble," she laughs. They are able to get to the lounge, gather their things without anybody saying anything. Thinking they were in the clear, they exit the room,and head towards the ambulance bay entrance. "Way to go Carter," yells Randi. "Let me look at your neck," adds Lydia. John raises his hand to his neck, as if there was something there. Malucci comes up to them, "Next time make sure the blinds are completely closed." "Great," Lucy says quietly, definitely embarrassed, "Let's go," she demanded. Putting his arm around her shoulder, they head home. By now it was common knowledge they were living together.THANKSGIVING MORNING
John rolls over in bed to put his arms around Lucy, it's always been nice to wake up with her in his arms, but today as he reaches out, all he grabs is an empty space. Wondering where she could be, he looks for her in the bathroom, but she isn't there either. As he stumbles around, he hears a conversation from the television. "Garfield, one of the largest balloons in the parade, is ten stories high and takes eight people to hold on to it." "What's going on?"asked a sleepy John. "It's the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade! I was up early and didn't want to wake you." "We only have a couple of hours before we have to be at Gamma's,don't you think you had better start getting ready?" "All done," she threw back the blanket that had been wrapped around her, to show, she was indeed ready, "This okay to wear?" "Perfect." "Oh please," as she rolls her eyes. "What about breakfast?" "Done, waffles okay?" "You? Waffles?" "Yeah, you know the frozen kind." "What's with all this?" "I don't know, woke up feeling good and ready to go." "Are you gonna eat?" "Had a bowl of cereal earlier." "Well, will you at least sit down and have a cup of coffee with me?" "I'll sit down,but no coffee. Bad for the baby." The thirty minute ride to the Carter house, seemed like it took forever to Lucy. All her early morning enthusiasm had disappeared and she was very quiet. John make an attempt to make conversation, "Breakfast was quite delicious." "Thanks." "How you feeling?" "Okay." "Little nervous, huh?" "Absolutely," she says with a slight smile. "I knew that smile of your was in there somewhere." "Thanks." The rest of the time was spent talking about who might be there, "I have no idea,who's coming. Depends if they can make the time to come." "Hopefully, not too many," she sighs. "Don't worry, you'll do fine. I'll be there," she smiles. "I know you will, she says as she gives him a small kiss on the cheek. Once again, the Jeep makes the turn into the long,winding drive,and Lucy is starting to get an uneasy feeling in her stomach. As they enter the house, they are both greeted by Millicent Carter,"Richard, Elizabeth and the children are here, and of course your grandfather." "Nobody else?" "Your parents and Barbara are still out of the country, but have promised to be here for Christmas. Now come this way, everyone's waiting to see you and meet Lucy." "Great," Lucy replies. "Just remember, I'll be right beside you." All of a sudden she stops,"John, I don't feel to good." "Come on Luce, you can do it." As they walk through the living room door, Lucy takes a deep breath and musters all the courage she can to meet John's family. Millicent makes the introductions,"Lucy Knight, this is John's cousin, Richard,his wife Elizabeth, and their five year old twins, Olivia and Allison. At that moment dinner was announced,"see I told you, it would be okay," John says, while leading her to the dining room. Sitting at the head of the table was John's grandfather, John, casting a doubtful eye on his grandson and his lady friend, "Ms. Knight, how did you meet my grandson?" he asks matter of factly. "I was his medical student a couple of years ago, until February, when I went to Boston. No need to mention why, unless he asks, she thinks to herself. Glancing over to John, he nods his head to let her know she had given enough information. As dinner progresses, the conversation focuses mainly on the children, as they had just started school. Lucy was grateful, as she was not feeling well. "Aren't you hungry? as concerned John whispers. Before she could answer, "Lucy, you're awfully quiet, are you feeling okay?" asks Millicent. "Not really,if you'll excuse me, I need to get some fresh air." John gets up from his chair to go with Lucy, but she indicates she'd be fine. After a few minutes, John starts to get up from his chair,"I'm going to see if she's okay." "John,I'll go. Just sit and finish your dinner,"replies Millicent. Millicent find Lucy on the terrace, looking at the view, "Are you alright dear?" "Must have a touch of the flu. Once of the hazards of working in a hospital," she lies. Millicent studies her for a few second, then says,"How far along are you?" A surprised Lucy, just stands there with a puzzled look,then she smiles. "About two and a half month, how did you know?" "All I have to do is look at you my dear, you're absolutely 'glowing'. I can also see how much my grandson cares for you, by just the way he looks at you." "Please don't tell anyone else, we're not ready to let too many people know." "How is John dealing with the prospect of becoming a father?" "He's excited of course. I know the closer the time comes, the more protective he'll be." "And you?" "Well, I've always wanted a family, and it must have been preordained, that I was able to have this second chance at a life with John." "You both are very lucky to have each other. Now, I think we'd better get back inside." By the time they returned to the dining room, dinner was over. Grandfather, had retired to his study to watch the financial new, Richard and John found another television set and were watching football and Elizabeth was in the kitchen supervising the cleanup. Millicent suggested Lucy find John and have him give her a tour of the main floor. It was while Lucy was looking for John, she came across Olivia and Allison looking at picture books. "Would you like for me to read to you?" "Would you ,please?" Lucy sat down, holding each child in her lap, reading each picture book they gave her. In the meantime, John wanders into the kitchen looking for Lucy. "I told her to find you and you'd give her a tour. Come on, I'll help you look for her." It didn't take long for them to hear children's laughter coming for another room. There they found Lucy and the twins, acting out the story of the"Three Little Pigs," with Lucy playing the part of the"Big Bad Wolf." With a husky voice, she says,"Little pig,little pig,let me in." "Not by the hair of my chiny, chin,chin," replies Allison. All three break out giggling and Lucy pulls the girls to her and gives them a big collective hug. All this is noticed by John and his grandmother. To which Millicent says, with a smile,"She's going to be a wonderful mother,John," as she looks for his reaction. "Yeah, she is,isn't she," he says not realizing what he said. Then he realized, he had done it again. He had told another person about their pregnancy. Lucy was going to be mad. He hurriedly adds,"I mean, someday." "John,I know. I already guessed, and she told me earlier, I'm so happy for the both of you I can tell you're going to be wonderful parent." "How did you know?" "You look at Lucy, the way your grandfather use to look at me when we were younger, but the two of you have a special bond that will only grow stronger because of what you have been through together." "So, it's our little secret?" he asks,giving her a hug. "Absolutely." "Lucy, I hate to break up your fun, but we should be getting home. We DO have to work tomorrow." "Goodbye,Lucy," the twins say in unison. "Bye girls, hope to see you again." "Shall I let grandfather know we're leaving?" "I'll let everyone know that you had to leave. You two take care of yourselves and that great grandchild of mine." The couple leave and on the way home talk about how John's family, with the exception of his grandfather made Lucy feel right at home.