DISCLAIMER: All Early Edition Characters are property of CBS, Sony & Tristar. All other characters and story ideas are all mine. No infringement is intended and no profit is being made. Song lyrics are property of the writers and publishers.

Author: Darby Ross
Feedback: darbyross@webtv.net

Summary: Tragedy strikes the Hobson family. Is the paper to blame?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One More Day
by Darby Ross

Chapter One
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Last night I had a crazy dream
A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didn't ask for money
Or a mansion in Malibu
I simply wished for one more day with you
        ~~Diamond Rio~~
************************************

      Gary staggered into the waiting room of the hospital. His stomach felt as if a cannonball had just hit it.   He ran his fingers through his hair and numbly looked at his surroundings.

      He hated hospitals. Always had. There was just such a sense of foreboding about them. To him they seemed more like a place to die than a place to recover.

      A place to die. His eyes welled up with tears. 'Mom. Dad.' He thought. He sat down in the waiting room and pulled his cell
phone out of the case and dialed his parents number.
~~~~
      Lois sat her bags down by the door. "Honey can you load these? " Lois asked Bernie. "I've got one more bag to get and I'll
be ready to leave."

      "Do they know you are coming early?" Bernie wondered.

      "Yes, I called Bailey a little while ago." She said as she headed back upstairs.

      Bernie picked up a bag as the phone rang. He sat it back down and answered the phone. "Hobson residence."

      "Dad." Gary responded. His voice cracking.

      "Gary?" Bernie waited. Nothing.

      "What is it?" Lois asked as she re-entered the room.

      "I don't know. It's Gary. He won't talk." Bernie said, handing the phone to Lois.

       "Gary? Are you all right?"

      The lump in Gary's throat felt as big as a baseball. He willed himself to swallow it so he could speak.

      "Gary! Talk to me. You're scaring me!" Lois urged, grabbing Bernie's arm for support.

      "Mom." Gary got out before he broke into sobs.

      "Son, calm down. Tell me where you are and we'll be right there. Gary, please." Lois begged. She could hear Gary trying to
control himself.

        "Bernie hurry, go get the car loaded and get you a bag packed." She said motioning him with her hand to get moving.

       He asked no questions, just took off running.

      Gary tried to compose himself as a young couple walked by and looked at him with concern. He took a deep breath and wiped his eyes.

      "I. I',m , I'm at St....John's.... Hos...pit...al." He said slowly.

      "Gary have you been hurt?" Lois asked. Fear sweeping through her body.

        Gary shook his head 'no'. "Mom, it's, it's Bailey." Gary hiccupped.

     "Good Lord! Is Marissa there with you?"

      "No." Gary said softly. "Nobody's here."

      "Gary you just hang on. Your father and I  are on our way. Everything will be all right. I love you son." Lois said reassuringly.

      "I love you too, mom."

      Lois hung up the phone just as Bernie returned downstairs, his bag packed and ready to go.

      "Get the car loaded. I need to make one call before we leave." She instructed.

          "Lo, what is going on? Is Gary okay?" Bernie asked in a shaky voice.

     "It's Bailey." She answered grimly.

      "Oh, Lois. No!"
~~~~~~~
        Gary went to the men's room and splashed cold water on his face. He pulled some paper towels out of the rack and dried
his face. He went back to the waiting room and sat down.

      He scooted down where he could lean his head on the back of the chair. He crossed his arms and legs.

      His mind drifted back to last December.....
~~~~~~~
      Gary opened the door to his house and entered.

       "Honey! I'm home!" He called out.

         "Pop!" His young son cried out excitedly as he ran into the room to greet his father. He was dressed in jeans with rolled up cuffs and high top sneakers, a striped t-shirt and a ball cap.

     Bailey came out of the kitchen wearing a black and white polka dotted dress and a white apron. Her hair was twisted up in a
chignon.

      "How was your day, Sweetheart?" Bailey asked.

          "It was just swell." Gary answered.

         'This is what the American Dream is all about.'   He thought.
~~~~
          "This is what the American Dream is all about." The President said yesterday in his speech to the Nation." The announcer said as the radio clicked on.

      Gary felt an arm fall across his chest as the hand slapped the alarm off.

      He opened one eye to see Bailey roll over and cover her head with a pillow. He smiled. Ever since they had been married,
Bailey had been helping him with the paper. And at least one day a week she took care of the paper by herself so Gary could have an entire day off.

      Yesterday had been a long day for her. If she had let him know, he would have stayed home and helped her instead of going to the Bears game. But Bailey had read the article in the paper and had known what an exciting outcome it would have, and had not let him see the paper before she left for the day.

      "Meow!" Thump.

      Gary got up and went to the door and opened it.

      "Meow!'

      "You think you could take it easy on her?" Gary asked the cat.

        The feline ran by him and hopped eagerly onto the bed and curled up comfortably next to Bailey.

      Gary shook his head and glanced at the front page as he shut the door. He scanned the headlines as he thumbed through the
paper.

      "Not too bad of a day." He muttered.

      He opened up a can of cat food and served it to Cat.

      "Leave Bailey alone while I shower, or out you go for the day. She's tired and needs to rest." Gary warned the cat.

      "Meowr." The cat responded softly.

      When Gary finished showering and getting dressed he walked back into the loft. He smiled at his wife, who was now curled up with his pillow. Cat had resumed his place next to her and was purring contentedly.

      "I mean it." Gary said shaking his finger at the cat, who just looked at him and remained quiet.

      Gary bent and softly kissed Bailey on the cheek , then left to take care of the papers demands.

Chapter Two
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Bailey stood with her back to the door of the loft, singing along with the stereo.  She was spreading  fudge into a pan to cool.
She sat the bowl down and licked the spatula clean.

     "Whatcha doin?" Gary asked as he snuck up behind her.

    "Dadgummit!" She exclaimed. She dropped the spatula in the bowl and swatted at him.

      "Gary, you scared me to death!"

      "I'm sorry." He said the corner of his mouth twitched.

      "It's not funny." She said trying not to laugh, herself.

      Gary reached around her and wiped his finger in the mixing bowl to grab a taste of the fudge.

      "Mmm. Taste's good. But I bet not as good as you." He said as he leaned in and kissed her.

      She pushed him away and narrowed her eyes at him. "It's not fair. I can never stay mad at you for long."

     "Well, that's a good thing. For me." He said as he pulled her back into his embrace. "I was right. You do taste better than the
fudge." He said after he kissed her again.

        Bailey giggled. "Why didn't you wake me before you left this morning?"

      "Because you were tired and you needed to rest. The cat didn't bug you did he?" He asked looking towards the cat.

         He could have swore the cat shook his head 'no'.

       Gary returned his attention to his wife.

      "No he didn't bother me at all. Did you little guy? We're buddies. " She said as the cat rubbed against her leg.

       The cat looked up at Gary as if to say "See. You worried for nothing."

      "Don't look so smug."  Gary said to the cat.

      Bailey sighed as she leaned her head against his chest. "How long are you home for?"

      "Why? Are you ready for me to leave?" He teased.

       "No! I just figured you would have to go back out."

      "Nope. I'm yours for the rest of the evening."

   "Really?"

      "Really. Anything you would like to do?" He asked as he nuzzled her neck.

      "Yes, actually. Can we go pick out a tree?"

      Gary stepped back in surprise. "Go pick out a tree? We have the whole evening to ourselves and that's what you want to do? I guess the honeymoon is over." He said shaking his head sadly. "All over, after only 6 months."

      She tickled him. "Oh, Gary. Really." She laughed. "It should only take an hour or two. Then we can come back here and I'll fix you hot chocolate with little marshmallows and we can watch the game on T.V." She coerced.

      "Hot chocolate with marshmallows, huh?"

      "Mmm, hmm. And football."

      "Okay. But only. Only if we can go eat first. I'm starved."

      She smiled and gave him a quick peck on the lips. She put the fudge in the refrigerator and said. "Give me a minute to get
ready."

      "A minute. The game starts in 3 hours. Do you think we can leave before then?"

      Bailey shot him a dirty look.
~~~~

      They struggled to get the tree up the stairs into the loft. Not that is was heavy. They just kept collapsing in fits of giggles. Both still amused by an incident at the tree lot involving Gary and an unseen wire.

      They finally got it into the loft and into the tree stand.

      "Okay. It's all secured." Gary said as he stood up.

      Bailey cut the strings that tied the branches together setting them free quickly, slapping Gary in the face.

     "Oof!"

     "Oh Gary, I'm so sorry!" Bailey said covering her giggle with her hand.

      "No you're not. You did that on purpose." He accused.
 

       "I did not!" She defended herself.

        "I think you did." He said as he began to stalk her. "I spent almost 2 hours searching for the perfect tree in sub zero weather. I almost hang myself on the stupid wire they use to hold the trees up." He said, rubbing his hand across his upper chest.

      This declaration caused Bailey to start laughing again, and Gary to almost join her.

       He continued.  "I pulled my back trying to get the darn thing up the stairs." He complained, placing his hand on the small of his back. "Then I get slapped in the face with the branches. And you seem to think the whole thing is funny."

        "I'm sorry Gary. I can't help it. If you could have just seen the way your feet went up in the air when you walked into that wire." She  said doubling  over in laughter.

          The corners of his mouth twitched.  "I could have died tonight and I think I need some serious TLC and some of that hot
chocolate you promised." He said as he reached her and pulled her to him and kissed her. Quieting her laughter.

      "Hot chocolate?" She whispered.

      "Mmm, hmm." He murmured onto her lips.

      "Okay. Now?" She sighed.

      "Of course. The game is about to start." He grinned and kissed her quickly, then pulled away from her.

      "Tease!' She accused.

      "And could I have some of that fudge while you're up? He asked as he made himself comfortable on the sofa.

     She just looked at him.

      "You know my back. It hurts." He said flashing her a smile and a look she couldn't refuse.

      She laughed in spite of herself.  "You'll be on a sugar high having fudge and hot chocolate." She warned.

   "I'll take my chances."  He said turning on the TV.

    Bailey put the milk on the stove to start heating and cut him some fudge and took it to him along with an ice pack.

   "What's this for?"

   "Your back."

   He smiled slowly  at her.  "My back's fine.  I was just kidding."

   "Are you sure?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

   "I'm sure."

   She turned to go back to the kitchen and Gary grabbed her hand. "Thank you."  He said smiling up at her.

   "Your welcome."  She replied as she squeezed his hand.
~~~~~~

      Gary straightened up in the chair. He looked at his watch. Only a few minutes had passed. When would someone tell him
something? He wished someone were here to talk to him. Marissa! He quickly dialed the number to McGinty's.

      "McGinty's. How may I help you?" Jake answered.

      "Jake, this is Gary. Let me talk to Marissa."

      "I'm sorry Mr. Hobson. She left out of here a few minutes ago. She said she didn't know when she would be back. Can I take a message?" Jake asked.

      "No, thank you, Jake." He said as he hung up the phone.

      He felt so helpless. He needed to do something. Bailey always seemed to know the right thing to do to help him. Just like that night in December...............

      "My word, Gary! What happened?" She had asked.

Chapter Three
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

      "My word, Gary! What happened?" Bailey asked as Gary walked into the bar.

      He was soaking wet, his teeth chattering.

      "Hot shower. Explain later." He said haltingly.

      "Of course. Come on let's get you upstairs and out of those wet clothes." She said as she took his arm.

      "Mary can you bring us up a couple of bowls of Tony's chicken fettuccine?" She asked as they passed her.

      Mary nodded in acknowledgement.

      "Get out of those things and I'll turn on the water."  Bailey instructed as they entered the loft. She hurried across the floor to the bathroom.

      Gary followed her in and stripped off his wet clothes and stepped under the hot stream of water.

      "Coffee?" She asked.

      "Coffee's good." He answered. Teeth still chattering.

      She closed the door.

      He could soon smell the aroma of coffee brewing.

      "Are you doing okay?' She asked through the door.

      "Much better. Thank you."

      He turned off the water and before he was dried, Bailey brought in some clothes that had been warmed in front of the radiator. He dressed in the toasty warm sweats.

      "Thank you." He said again as he hugged her. "It's nice to come home and have you here to take care of me."

      "What happened, Gary?" She asked as she held onto him tightly.

    "A sprinkler pipe burst in a furniture store warehouse. I tried to warn them, but they didn't believe me. I just happened to be
under the right, or wrong as the case may be, pipe when it broke."

      "Why did you try to stop it? No one was hurt were they?"

      "No. There was just a lot of damage. I thought if I could get them to drain the pipes it would save them a lot of headache.
I should have just come on home for all the good it did me."

      "Well, you tried. But you need to be more careful. You could catch pneumonia." She stated as she pulled away from him.   "Are you ready to eat?"

      "Yes, I'm famished." He replied.

      Bailey poured them both a cup of coffee and they sat down to eat the dinner Mary had brought up.

      "What would I do with out you?" He declared looking up from his plate.

      "You don't have to worry, I'll never leave you." She replied softly.

      When they were finished with their meal, Bailey took the dishes to the sink and rinsed them out.

      Gary came up behind her and put his arms around her waist. She jumped.

      "Are you okay?" He asked.

      She patted his hand. "Yeah." She sighed. She turned to face him. "There's cheesecake in the fridge." She offered.

      "No thanks. I want you to tell me what's wrong. You didn't have much to say during dinner."

      "I was just thinking. Tonight wasn't a major save, but it still scared me." She confessed.

      His features softened. "I just got a little wet. No cuts, bruises, breaks or concussions." He said.

      "I know. But I'm your wife. It's my job to worry."

      "Come here." He said as he nodded his head toward the sofa. He took her hand and she followed him.

      He sat down and pulled her down next to him. She laid her head on his lap and he ran his fingers through her hair. They stayed this way watching the lights on the tree twinkle.

      "We did a pretty good job with that tree, didn't we?" Gary asked.

      Bailey smiled. "Yeah, it is pretty."

      They had used all white lights and old fashioned ornaments. Red wooden beads and green bows. A gold angel rested on top.

      "Do you think maybe it's time to start looking for a house?" Gary asked out of the blue.

      She sat up. "Really!?"

      He shook his head. "This place was great for just me, but there's not a lot of room for two people. So much of your stuff is
still in boxes across the hall. I know it drives you crazy."

      "It's not that bad. I don't want you to move if you're not ready. This is your home." She stated.

      "It's your home now, too. And my home is  where ever you are." He said placing his hand gently on her neck.
"Besides when we start on that family of ours, I don't think we can fit them in here." He laughed.

      "You've got a point. After the holidays then? We'll start looking."

      "That's fine by me. So does that mean you have no objections on trying to have a baby soon?" Gary asked hopefully.

      She smiled. "No, I don't have any objections."

Chapter Four
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

      Gary hurried home Christmas morning after stopping a domestic dispute and an ATM robbery. The paper was giving him a couple of free hours to open gifts with his family, before he had to head out again.

      "Well, it's about time you got here." Bernie grumbled as Gary entered the loft.

      "Bernie!" Lois scolded.

      "Well, if he had let me go with him he could have been back sooner." Bernie pouted.

      "I'm here now." Gary said as he took off his coat and hung it on the rack by the door. "So Dad, are you gonna play Santa and hand out the gifts?"

      Bernie's mouth spread into a wide grin. "I thought you'd never ask."

      Bernie quickly doled out all the presents. Lois squealed with delight as she opened one of her's.

      "Finally I got one! I have asked for a bread machine for the last 2 years. Thank you, Bailey." Lois gushed. Hugging her
daughter in law.

      "Hey! It's from both of us!" Gary interjected.

      "Well, thank you Gary." She said, hugging him too. But we both know Bailey is the one who picked it out." Lois said,
winking at Bailey.

      "Okay, let's pick up the pace so we can get to my turn." Bernie said scooting a package toward Bailey.

      Bailey smiled. Bernie was so cute. He was as excited as any of the kids she had seen at the hospital last night.

      "Here, you go ahead and open this one." Bailey offered as she handed him a package.

      "It's almost too pretty to open, Bernie." Lois commented.

      "Almost." He replied as he ripped the paper off. "Oh, would you look at this!" He said in awe as he unwrapped his new rod and reel. "She's bee-you-tee-full." He exaggerated.  "Thank you."

      "Now you." Bailey said handing Gary a present.

      "When are you going to open one?" He asked.

      "I'll go next. Just open your package." She said excitedly.

      He unwrapped the box.

      "Here save the bows." Lois said as she took the bow from Gary.

      "Oh, Bailey. Wow!" He said as he pulled out a black leather, hooded parka. The coat and hood were flannel lined for added warmth. Also in the box was a pair of matching gloves.

      "Thank you, Hon." He said as he got up to try the coat on. "This is really warm." He commented. "Thank you so much." He kissed her softly,

      "You needed a new one since that dog ripped the sleeve off of your other one and I wanted to keep you as warm as possible." She said smoothing down the collar.

      "Okay, now it's your turn." Gary said. "Open that one." Indicating a small box tied with a gold bow.

      She opened it and gasped. Inside was a delicate gold chain with a small diamond drop.

    "Oh Gary. I love it!" She said breathlessly.

     "Here. Let me put it on for you." He offered.

      Bailey put her fingers on the stone as Gary fastened the chain around her neck.

      "Thank you, sweetie." She said softly.

      He blushed at the endearment spoken in front of his parents.

      Bernie put his arm around Lois and hugged her to him. They both smiled.

      Gary looked around the room. What was it he had heard a child say once? 'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening the presents and listen.'

      Gary listened. Love was definitely in this room.
~~~~~

      Gary came down the steps from the loft into the office. He could hear his mother and Bailey talking in the kitchen.

      "Are you sure I can't help you with anything in here?" Bailey asked Lois.

      "No, I've got it all covered. Thank you for letting me do this. It's not very often I get to cook for my whole family." Lois
said, then looked at the clock.  "I hope Gary makes it back soon."

      "It smells wonderful, Mom." Gary said as he walked into the kitchen.

      "Oh good you made it." She said kissing her son on the cheek.  "Did everything go okay?"

       "Piece of cake." He answered.

      Bailey smiled appreciatively at him. He had changed into the dark olive green, ribbed mock turtle neck sweater Bailey had
given him, which emphasized the green in his eyes. And black jeans.

      "You look very handsome." Bailey stated.

      "Thank you. You two look very nice yourselves." He commented to the two women.

      Bailey wore a long black suede skirt and matching boots with a tan cardigan with a faux animal print collar. A gift from
Bernie and Lois.

      Lois wore a navy blue wool dress.

      "Where's your father?" Lois asked.

      "I haven't seen him. I went right upstairs when I got back and changed." Gary offered.

      "He's in the bar trying to find a game on the T.V." Bailey answered.

      "Gary go tell him, no T.V. during dinner."

      "All right, Mom." Gary said as he raised his eyebrows at Bailey and smiled.

      "Lois." Bailey said softly.

      "Please, call me Mom." Lois requested.

      "Mom, I want to thank you so much for this Christmas. It's just what I always wanted it to be."

      Lois smiled broadly. "Well, you're welcome. Bernie and I are just so happy to have you as part of our family." She paused, placing her hand on Bailey's arm. "Is there any chance that you may be adding to our family any time soon?" Lois asked hopefully.

      "Mom!" Gary scolded as he entered the kitchen.

      "What?" She responded innocently.
~~~~~~

      "Mr. Hobson? ...........Mr. Hobson?"

      Gary came out of his musings to see a nurse standing before him.

      He sat up expectantly.

      "Here are your wife's personal belongings." She said as she held out a plastic bag containing Bailey's jewelry.

      He saw the necklace he had given her at Christmas, the charm bracelet he had given her for her birthday and her wedding rings. She had never taken these off.

      All the blood drained from his face.

Chapter Five
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
One more day
One more time
One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again, I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still
for one more day with you
                ~~Diamond Rio~~
*****************************

      "Oh, no! Mr. Hobson. Oh, I am  so sorry. This is just hospital policy. It's just to insure nothing gets lost or stolen." The nurse explained.

      Gary relaxed a bit. "How is she?" He asked, taking the offered bag.

      "I'm not sure. When the doctor gets free he will........."

      At that moment Gary heard a blood curdling scream come from the room Bailey was in. He jumped up and ran down the hall. The nurse chasing after him. Gary burst into the room, and was immediately grabbed. He heard someone order, "Get him out of here!"

      "Bailey!" He cried out. He couldn't see her. Doctors and nurses surrounded her.

      "Gary?" He heard her say weakly as he was dragged from the room.

      "Let me go! That's my wife in there!" Gary yelled as he struggled with the two men who held him.

      "Mr. Hobson please! I know you're worried about your wife, but you have to calm down." The nurse tried to explain.

      "Don't tell me to calm down!"

      "Gary?" He heard a familiar voice call out. "What's going on?"

~~~~~~

            Gary walked down a sidewalk in a residential area admiring the homes. He had just saved a four year old boy from getting his head stuck in a storm drain, a couple of blocks back.

      "Meow!"

      "Hey, fleabag. What are you doing here?" Gary asked as he spotted his cat.

      The cat trotted off across the street. Intrigued, Gary followed.

        The cat stopped in front of a beautiful victorian style, 2 story home with a wrapped front porch with gingerbread accents.

      Huge trees out front would supply wonderful shade in the summer.

      "Meow." The cat looked up expectantly at Gary.

      "What? Yeah, it's nice. But it's not for sale." Gary informed the cat.

      He turned to walk away. "Come on let's go home."

      "Meow!" The cat repeated a little more insistentlythis time. Then took off up the front walk.

      "Come back here! Darn cat." Gary grumbled as he ran after it.

      He reached the cat at the front porch and picked him up, just as the front door opened.

      "May I help you?" The vaguely familiar looking man asked.

      "I'm sorry. I was just getting my cat." Gary answered, holding the animal out in front of him.

      "I know you." The man stated.

      "Huh?"

      "It was at Nick and Tony's over a year ago. You saved me from choking to death."

      "Oh, sure. Of course. How are you doing?" Gary asked.

      "Good. Won't you come in for a minute." The man invited. "I'm sorry. I never got your name."

      "Gary.....Hobson."

      "Adam Harrison." He replied extending his hand for Gary to shake.

      Gary tucked the cat under one arm and shook hands.Curious as to what the house looked like on the inside, Gary accepted
the invitation.

      "Here, take a seat." Adam gestured toward a chair in the living room.

      As Gary walked in the front door he entered a small entry hall. Directly ahead was a beautiful oak staircase. To his right he caught a glimpse of a large dining room.

      Gary turned to his left and entered the living room. He sat in the chair Adam had indicated. Careful to hold onto the cat. The living room was spacious with a large fireplace that had built in bookcases on either side. The wood trim, from what all Gary could see, matched the oak floors and staircase.

      "Your home is very nice." Gary commented.

      "Would you like to buy it?" Adam joked.

      "Howzat?"

       Adam laughed. "I started trying to sell this house over a year ago. I had planned on retiring the first of January and moving to California to be near my daughter and her family. I wanted to go ahead and sell the house and move into an apartment till my
retirement. But I had no takers, So I took it off the market in November."

      "You still want to sell it then?" Gary asked. His interest peeked.

      "Yes, I am still going to retire next month. I thought I would wait till spring and offer it again at a reduced price. It's a lovely home and I've taken very good care of it. Well, enough of that. Do you live around here?" Adam asked.

      "Oh, uh, no. Well a little ways away. I own a bar, McGinty's. My wife and I live above it. You're really serious about selling this house?"

      "Yes, I am. Are you looking to buy?"

      "My wife and I, well we haven't really looked, but we were planning to and I really like, well this house is. Could I bring her by to look at it?" Gary wondered.

      "That would be wonderful. Talk it over with your wife and let me know when you would like to come by. Here's my  number." Adam wrote on a piece of paper.

      Gary took the offered slip of paper. "Thank you Mr. Harrison." He looked at his watch. "I really need to be going, but I will certainly be in touch."  Gary said as he got up to leave.

      Gary walked off the porch. He scratched the cat's head. "I'm sorry I called you fleabag, buddy."

~~~~~~~

      Gary looked at his watch. 5 minutes till midnight. He picked up his pace. He had to get back to McGinty's before the stroke of midnight. He rushed through the door just as the count down began.

      "Ten, nine, eight."

      "Hey, I made it. " He said out of breath as he walked up behind Bailey.

      "Five, four"

      Bailey turned and smiled. "I knew you would."

      "Two, one! HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The crowd cheered.

      "Happy new year." Bailey and Gary said in unison. Then they kissed.

      "Hey, Bud. Happy new year!'  Chuck said, slapping Gary on the back.

      "Chuck! What are you doing here?" Gary asked.

      "Well, that's a fine how do you do." Chuck said as he held out his hand.

      Gary clasped it. "I'm sorry. I'm just surprised to see you. You're not in any trouble are you?" Gary questioned.

      "Haven't I proven to you that I've changed? That I'm a new man.  I didn't even try to sneak a peek at the paper when I was here for your wedding." Chuck insisted.

      "Well." Gary began.

      "Hi, Gary. Happy new year."

      Gary looked up to see Emily approach.

      "Emily. You're here too?" He asked looking at Bailey."Did you know about this?"

        "No, I was as surprised as you when they walked through the door tonight." Bailey responded.

      "Happy new year, Gary." Emmit offered.

      "Thanks Emmit.You too. Marissa." He said as he hugged her.

      "Did Chuck give you the news?" Marissa asked.

      Gary quickly looked at Chuck then at Emily. "You two aren't getting married?"

      "Good heaven's, no! Me marry him? It's bad enough working with him. I couldn't stand to be married to him." Emily explained.

      "But you two...." Gary began.

      "Don't go making a mountain out of a mole hill, buddy. I hired her back to Bikini Squad is all. Of course it promptly got
cancelled. Not that I'm blaming Emily in any way." Chuck declared.

        "If there is any reason it got cancelled it was because it was junk. How that kind of crap gets on network television is beyond me." Emily retorted.

      "You worked on it." Chuck stated.

      "That doesn't mean I liked the show." She argued.

      "See, she's a little too vicious for my taste, Gar."

      "Vicious? You know you shred my very last nerve. I don't know why I put up with you." Emily stated.

     "Because you know deep down inside, you're crazy about me. Of course, who wouldn't be?"  Chuck offered.

      "Oh, puhleeze.  In your wildest dreams, maybe."  Emily retorted.

      "Me thinks you protest too much." Chuck answered.

       "Why you egotistical......"

      "Then why are you two here?" Gary interrupted before a free for all between the two broke out.

      Chuck grinned broadly and rocked back on his heels, then forward. He rubbed his hands together. "I'm moving back to
Chicago."

      "Howzat?" Gary asked in amazement.

      "I've got a new show. Chicago Beat. It's all about Chicago cops. Very gritty stuff. Better than NYPD Blue. We start filming
the end of February. Entirely in Chicago. So I came on in to find a place to live and get settled first."

      "And you're moving too?" Gary asked Emily.

      "That depends.  I've been offered a job on the show, but I don't know if I want to move half way across the country."

      "You will or you will be unemployed." Chuck reminded her.

      "A mere technicality." She said, waving him off.

      Bailey suggested they move to a table. "That would be so great if you moved here, but how come you never mentioned this Em?" Bailey asked.

      "Chuck and I wanted to surprise you." She answered.

      Making note of the reference, Chuck and I, Bailey said, "Well you certainly did."

~~~~~~~~~

      Marissa had succeeded in calming Gary down and walked him back to the waiting room.

      "Gar? How is she doing?" Chuck asked as he and Emily rushed into the waiting room. He had never seen his friend look like this before.

      "I can't get them to tell me anything." Gary responded. His voice cracking.

      Chuck embraced Gary. "Hang in there Bud. Everything's going to be okay."

Chapter Six
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

   "Thank you for coming.  But how did you know?" Gary asked.

    "Lois called me and I called Chuck before I left." Marissa stated.

   "Aren't you filming?"  Gary wondered.

   "Like I wouldn't be here for you bud.  Wild horses couldn't keep me away."  Chuck said sincerely.

   "No one has given you any news at all on her condition?"  Emily asked.

   "No, just this." He replied indicating the bag with her jewelry.

~~~~~~~~

      Gary motioned for Bailey to come into the office.

      "Hi!" She greeted him as he closed the door behind her.

      "Happy Valentines Day!" He whispered as he pulled her close.

      She smiled. "Same to you."

      He kissed her softly. "Where's Marissa? I want to let her know we're leaving."

      "We can't leave. I told her to go on home." Bailey explained.

      "Howzat?"

      "I told her to go home and spend the evening with Emmit."

      Gary sighed. "Well, I had this whole surprise planned and . Never mind. That was nice of you to get Marissa to go home. She works too hard." Gary said.

      "Yes, she does. I mentioned something to her earlier and she thought it was a good idea. What do you think of promoting Jake to Night Assistant Manager? He's the best worker here and he's very dependable. Marissa has been working long hours and sometimes I would like to be able to go home with you when you get done with the paper, and snuggle up in front of the fire. If we promoted Jake, it would free up time for all of us." She said persuasively.

      "That's not a bad idea. Actually it's a very good idea. I'll talk to him tomorrow." Gary agreed, running his hands up and down her arms.

      "Good." Bailey smiled and kissed him quickly.

      "How's business tonight?" He asked.

      "Not too bad. A little slow, but I'm sure most people are at restaurants and not bars."

      "Maybe we'll close a little early tonight and my surprise won't be completely ruined."

      "Can I have a hint?" She asked, leaning into him.

      "Yeah, go pack an over night bag."

      "We're going someplace? Can we leave? What about the paper?" She asked, pulling away to look up at him.

      "It's just overnight. If I could take you to some far off exotic place I would."

      "Who needs exotic places. I have you." She said sweetly as she turned to go upstairs.

~~~~~~~~

      "What are we doing here?" Bailey asked as Gary pulled into the driveway of their new home.

      "This is your surprise."

      Bailey was baffled. "How is this a surprise? It's our house, we closed on it yesterday. Oh! The surprise is inside?"   He just
smiled at her.

      He unlocked the door then he turned and picked her up and carried her in.

      "Gary! What are you doing?" She giggled.

      "Carrying my wife over the threshold of our new home.Aren't I allowed?" He teased.

      "Of course you are." She said as he gently put her down.

      The house looked enormous without any furnishings.

      "Wait right here, till I come and get you." Gary instructed as he took off upstairs.

      Bailey waited. "Gary! What are you doing up there?" She called out.

      "Don't come up." She heard him reply.

      She walked in a circle, then decided to set down on a step. She heard Gary's footsteps behind her.

      "Okay. All ready." He said as he picked up her bag and took her hand.

      He led her up the stairs and into their bedroom.

      "I couldn't wait any longer to spend the night in our house." He offered.

      He had lit candles which lent a soft glow to the room. There was an inflatable mattress in the middle of the room, flanked with sheets a blanket and two fluffy pillows. On top of one was a box wrapped in pink paper and a white bow. Peggy Lee's, 'The Way You Look Tonight' was playing softly on a portable stereo.

      "Oh, Gary I love this song.  Where did you find it?" Bailey asked, afraid she was going to cry.

   "I found a CD that has a collection of 40's love songs.  I know how much you love them.  Actually I've become quite fond of them myself, the last couple of years."  He told her.

   "Really.  You never did tell me how you learned to jitterbug so good."

   "Someone I met a long, long time ago taught me." He said.

   "Should I be jealous?" She teased.

   "Nope." Gary took her in his arms.  "Dance with me."

      "How did I get so lucky to find you?" She asked.

      He pulled away from her and looked at her surprised.

      "You? I'm the one who lucked out."

      "Really?" She said smiling. "I know how hard it is tofind a guy like you. Believe me, I had to kiss a lot of toads before I
found my Prince Charming."

      "Hmph! Exactly how many did you have to kiss?"

      Bailey laughed. "Are you jealous?"

      "No, I'm not jealous. Just curious."

      "Oh? Well, since you were married, I'd figure your kissing experience would be more than mine." She countered.

      "That doesn't count. That was only one person."

      "For a lot of years." Bailey interrupted.

      "Not so many years. So are you not going to tell me?"

      "Okay," She sighed. "None of them were too memorable.  I don't know why you want to know.  And now of all times."

      "Just humor me."

     'It's been a long, long time' began to play.

     "Well, there was Tommy Jenkins.  He was the first guy I kissed.  He slobbered.  It almost turned me off kissing forever.  And then there was, what was his name?  Anyway, kissing him was like kissing a brick wall.  Yuck." She emphasised by sticking out her tongue.  "And then, let me see, Oh there was Casper Fine.  He breathed through his mouth while kissing.  I felt like I was getting CPR."

     "Casper Fine?"

     "Yeah, he was the last guy I dated before you.  He owned an escort service."

      Gary choked. "Howzat?"

     Bailey laughed out loud.  "You've seen the little trucks that have the signs that say "Wide Load' going up and down the highway.  An escort service.  What did you think I meant?" She asked teasingly.

     "Ha ha.  Very funny. "

    "So if all the kisses you had were bad.  How'd you get so good at it?" He asked.

   "I had a good teacher. You."

    "Good answer." He laughed softly.

    "How about you?  How did you learn to kiss so good?"  She asked.

   "I didn't know I did." He said as he leaned his face closer to hers.

    "Well, you do." She whispered.

      He pulled her closer and she melted into his embrace and they continued to dance without speaking.

      "You want to open your gift?" He whispered.

      "She smiled against his sweater. "Sure."

      They sat down on the mattress and she picked up the box and unwrapped it. "Oh Gary! It's the clock! You remembered. Thank you!" She said flinging her arms around him and hugging him.

      Bailey had spied the cuckoo clock in a shop window a few days ago and had mentioned to Gary how perfect it would look in their new living room.

      She unzipped her bag and handed Gary a box. He opened it and pulled out a cell phone with a case that clipped to his belt.

      "I know you're not too crazy about them and it's not the most romantic gift in the world.  But it might save your life someday." She explained.

      "You're probably right. There have been several times when it would have been handy to have one of these. Thank you so much." He said and kissed her. He sat the box on the floor, his lips never leaving hers, then he slowly reclined her back on the mattress.

Chapter Seven
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

      Gary entered the kitchen of their new home. He placed the paper on the counter and kissed his wife.

      Gary marvelled at the good fortune or whatever it was, that had caused them to end up with this house. He had enjoyed helping Bailey purchase furnishings for it. It was a large home with four bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, living room, dining room, den and a two car garage.

      The back porch was enclosed in glass and overlooked a big backyard with large trees, perfect for tire swings and tree houses. It wasn't too far from  McGinty's which made it handy.

      The cat had followed Gary into the kitchen and meowed. He ran to his food bowl, already filled.

      "Busy day?" Bailey asked, handing Gary a cup of coffee. Spying a headline she picked up the paper.

        'Man found frozen to death'.  Bailey read on. '39 year old Stan Mathews was found dead last evening near the front porch of his home. It appears that Mathews was on his way to his car when he slipped and fell, breaking his hip. He was able to drag himself back to the porch where he was found hours later. Mathews had become disabled four years ago in an auto accident.'

      "Oh how terrible!" Bailey exclaimed. "That poor man. It says here they think he fell sometime between 8 and 8:30 A.M.."

      Gary finished his coffee. "I better get going. I need to allow time for the roads. Call Marissa and tell her I'll swing by and
pick her up later in the jeep. I'll run by and get you too."

      "I'll be all right. I have four by four also."

      "No, I don't want you driving in this." He warned.

        She fixed him a thermos of coffee and wrapped a couple of sausage biscuits for him to take. "I have an appointment I have to go to. I will be careful."  She insisted.

      Gary started to object. "You need to get going. Be careful." She said as she kissed him.

      "I mean it." Gary declared.

      "I know you do, now go on."
~~~~

      Gary walked into McGinty's around 12:30 that afternoon. Half frozen. He looked around, surprised at the number of ustomers in the bar.

      "People are just crazy." He stated as he  walked into the office.

      "What are you talking about Gary?" Marissa asked.

      "Can you believe how full the bar is? The roads are terrible! I shouldn't have even brought you in to work. We should have
just closed the place down." He grumbled.

      "Gary there was work to do." Marissa answered.

      "Don't you think safety is more important than work? I had to keep a man from falling and breaking his hip and freezing to
death. A child from sliding down a hill into oncoming traffic and a teenager almost mowed down a pedestrian in a parking lot where he was doing donuts. And now my wife is somewhere out in all of this. You haven't heard from her, have you?"

      Bailey walked into the office at that moment.

      "What are you doing here? Where have you been? I thought I told you this morning I didn't want you out in this." Gary snapped.

      "I told you I had an appointment." Bailey said softly.

      "Was that appointment worth risking your neck over?" He barked.

      "No, it wasn't." Bailey broke down in tears. "Excuse me."  She said as she ran up the stairs to the loft.

      "Gary!" Marissa said sternly.

      "What? I didn't mean to make her cry." He responded as he headed up the stairs after her.

      Gary entered the loft. They had kept most of the furnishings in place. Bailey sat on the sofa wiping the tears from her eyes.

      "Bailey." Gary began as he sat next to her. "I'm sorry. I didn't. I, I shouldn't have snapped at you. It's been a tough morning and when you weren't at the house when I came to get you and I couldn't reach you.  Well,  it scared me when I realized you were out in this." He said waving his hand towards the window.

      Bailey sniffed and wiped her tears. "It isn't anything you said. It's me."

      "Are you sure?"
 
      "Yes. I'm okay now." She reassured him.

      Gary looked at his watch. "Bailey, I gotta run. I want you to stay here until I get back and I'll take you and Marissa home. Promise me you'll stay."

      "I promise. Gary. I'm sorry I worried you."
~~~~~~

      Later than evening, Gary entered the office and saw Bailey sitting at his desk. Her head in her hands. He touched her shoulder. "Hon?"

      Bailey jumped and cried out. "Would you stop doing that!" She snapped.

      "I'm sorry." He said, backing away, confused by her mood.   This was so unlike her. "Are you ready to go home?"

      Bailey sighed. "Yeah." She answered as she pushed the chair from the desk and got up.

      The trip home was quiet. As they entered their home, Bailey took off her coat and gloves and stored them in the hall closet.

      "You didn't say two words on the way home. You're not still mad at me for this afternoon are you?" Gary asked.

      "No, I'm just tired. I think I'll go on up to bed." Bailey stated and softly kissed Gary good night.

Chapter Eight
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

      Gary looked at his watch. Time had just stood still.

        "What are they doing in there?" He asked as he stood up and began pacing.

      "I'll go see if I can find out anything for you." Marissa offered.

      "I'll go with you." Emily said.

      Gary looked over at Chuck, who sat with his arms folded across his knees.  "What am I going to do if she doesn't make it Chuck?"

~~~~~~~

        Gary was leaning against the bar at the front of McGinty's. He watched Bailey as she made her way from table to table checking on customers.

        "Why don't you just talk to her?" Marissa asked from behind him.

      "Huh?" Then looking at her, brow furrowed. "How do you do that?"

      Marissa shrugged, then continued. "I know you've been concerned about Bailey lately. She hasn't been herself. Have you  even tried talking to her?"

        "Yeah, but all she tells me is that she is okay. She hasn't said anything to you has she?" Gary asked hopefully.

      "No, I've been worried about her too, Gary.  She's been withdrawn and doesn't joke or laugh like she used to." Marissa conveyed.

      "I wish she would tell me what was the matter. She started acting funny the day I got mad at her for getting out on the roads when they were icy."

      "I don't think that is it. It's not like her to stay mad at you for something like that." Marissa answered.

      Marissa felt for the edge of the bar and sat her coffee mug down. "One of these days you two are going to have to learn to talk to each other.  You both need to trust what you have with each other and feel safe in that love."  Marissa advised.

      Gary realized she was right.  At least about him.  Part of him still felt that he didn't deserve to be happy and that somehow this would all go away.  He still had walls built around his heart that needed to come down.  Maybe that was why she wouldn't talk to him.
 
      Gary looked over at Bailey again.   There was a smile on her face that didn't reach her eyes. Something was wrong and
the uncertainty of it was gnawing away at his insides.

      He looked at his watch. "I gotta go, I'll talk to you later." He told Marissa. He paused and glanced once more at Bailey. She never looked his way as he left.

~~~~~~~~

      Gary entered the house later that evening to the aroma of a ham baking in the oven.

      "Mmm. Smells good. What's the occasion?"  He asked.

      "Chuck and Emily are coming for dinner. You forgot?"

      "No. You didn't tell me."

      "Yes I did! I told you yesterday." She explained.

      "I think I would have remembered if you had told me." He countered.

      Bailey turned her back to him. "If you ever listened to anything I said." She mumbled under her breath.

      "I heard that!" He waited for her comeback.

      "Well at least you finally listened to me." She snapped as she turned to look at him.

      "What is wrong with you?" He asked angrily.

      "What isn't wrong with me Gary?"  Bailey yelled back at him. Instantly sorry for her outburst. She turned away again, not able to bear the weight of his gaze.

      She put her hands on the counter and dropped her head. "I'm sorry Gary." She quickly wiped a tear from her face. She couldn't believe she was crying again.

      "I got the duplicate key made for the back door. It's in a small envelope in my purse, upstairs. Chuck and Emily will be here
soon. Maybe you should go freshen up." She said as she waved her hand toward the stairs.

        Gary stood there for a second looking at her. Then turned and made his way upstairs.

      The key was the last of his worries, but he hadn't been able to come up with the words to get her to come clean with him about what was bothering her.  Maybe he was afraid of her answer and now wasn't the time, with company coming.

      He tossed back the flap on her purse and peered inside for a small envelope. He spied it at the bottom. He reached in and
pulled it out along with a scrap piece of paper. He separated in from the envelope, intending to return it to her purse when he saw what was written on it.

      'James. 11  A.M. Tues,'

      Gary stuffed the note in his jeans pocket.  The last thing he wanted tonight was company.
 

Chapter Nine
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

      Gary woke up to find the space beside him in bed empty. Lightening flashed and thunder clapped loudly.  He glanced at the clock. 3:30 A.M. He tossed the covers back and got out of bed. He went downstairs and found Bailey curled up on the sofa. She looked up when he entered the room.

      "What are you doing down here?" He asked.

      He could tell she had been crying.

      "I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake you. I'm sorry if I did." She replied.

      Gary sat down next to her on the sofa. He rubbed his hands across his face. 'Might as well get this over with.' He thought.

      "Is that the reason? Or do you just not want to sleep with me any more?" He asked, not looking at her.

      Bailey was shocked into silence.

      "Do you want out of this marriage?" He blurted. Thunder shook the house.

      "What?!" Bailey asked in surprise.

      "You heard me." Gary said, not able to repeat the words.

      "Heaven's no!" She exclaimed as she reached out and touched his arm.

      He pulled away from her.

      "Gary, I, I , I love you! You know that don't you?"

      Gary sighed. "I thought I knew it. But now I'm not so sure." He confessed.

      Bailey's head snapped back as if she had been slapped.

      "Who is James?" Gary asked, looking at his hands.

      "Who?" Bailey asked, confused.

      "James." He repeated. "I found his name on a piece of paper in your purse when I was getting the key. Who is he?" Gary said through gritted teeth.

      Bailey laughed nervously. "You don't think? Gary no! I, we're. Oh you think that is why." Bailey stammered trying to find the right words.

      "I don't think it's so funny. You've been acting different the last couple of weeks. I ask what is wrong and you tell me you're okay. You burst into tears anytime I speak to you or you snap my head off and then I find this note with a man's name and date on it. No, I don't find this funny at all." Gary said, raising his voice.

      "Gary, it's not funny. I promise you, I'm not having an ah, ah, I'm not seeing anyone else. I would never, ever do that to you. I had an appointment with er, ah James for a surprise for you that , well it just looks like it isn't going to work out. I , I just let it
get the best of me and I am so sorry. Please forgive me?" She asked reaching out for him again.

      "You got this worked up over a surprise for me that didn't work out? It must have been a heck of a surprise." He said skeptically.

      "Yes, it was." She said quietly.

      "What was the surprise?"

      "It doesn't matter now."  She answered.

      Gary remembered Marissa's words from earlier in the day.  "Bailey, you need to trust me enough to tell me what is going on.  If you don't trust me that much.  We have a real problem."

     "I've told you everything, Gary." She lied. "Let's go back to bed. I'm feeling awfully tired now.  We can talk about this tomorrow." She said as she stood up.
 
     He grabbed her arm as she walked past him.  She turned around and he looked at her intently.  Trying to read her thoughts.  She hadn't told him the whole truth.  He knew that. He also knew that he wasn't going to  get anything more out of her tonight.  He dropped her arm and walked past her up the steps.

      Lightening lit up the living room.  Bailey rubbed her eyes. She couldn't keep putting this off. She knew she had to tell him. Some way, somehow. She had to find the words.

       Bailey slowly walked into the bedroom.  Gary was already in bed, his back to her.  She crawled in next to him and took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she was about to tell him.

      "Gary.  You were right.  I should trust you enough to not keep things from you.  I just didn't want to hurt you."  She said softly.

     Gary lay still for a few seconds.  Trying to brace himself for what she was about say.  Finally he sat up and faced her.

     Lightening flashed again.  She was as pale as a ghost.  Her features drawn and tired.

     "Go ahead." He said evenly.

     "Remember when we met I told you about the fall I took off the horse that broke my ankle?"

   He nodded.

    "It looks like it may have done, it may have done more damage than just my ankle." She stammered, wiping tears that had begun to stream down her cheeks.

   Gary sat up a little straighter.  "What kind of damage?"

      "The note you found was an appointment I had with a Dr. James.  I thought I was pregnant."

    Gary scooted closer to her and  took her hand.  "You thought?"

    She shook her head.  "But I'm not."  She swallowed hard.   "He thinks there might be a problem and the accident might be the cause.  He seems to think I have some scarring and I may never..... I may never." She began to sob.

   Sobs that came from down deep inside of her.
 
    Gary pulled her to him.  "He seems to think? Then he's not for sure?" He asked. Stroking her hair.

    "He wants ...to do....more tests." She said in between sobs.  "I go in next week."

    "Bailey, honey. You should have told me." He said kissing the top of her head.  He felt terribly guilty for what he had accused her of.

    "I didn't want to worry you, but I just made a mess of everything anyway."  She hiccuped.

    He held her tighter.  "This isn't something that you should go through alone.  Remember, for better or for worse?  Of course I  didn't make it easy for you to tell me.  I was such an idiot."  He confessed.

    "I'm so sorry Gary I know how much you wanted...want kids." Unable to speak any more she cried until she could hardly breath.

   Gary held her until her sobs subsided and she fell asleep.

    Rain pelted softly against the roof.  He listened to the rhythmic beating of her breathing as she lay with her head upon his chest.  One of his arms wrapped protectively around her.  With his other hand he wiped the tears from his eyes.

Chapter Ten
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

     "You're wondering why I didn't save her?" Gary asked.

   "No, Gary. I never thought that." Chuck said, frowning.  He got up and reduced the distance between them.  "Gary what does the paper say?"

   "Huh?"

   "The paper.  Does it say anything about Bailey?"

   Gary reached toward his back pocket.  Then looked up at Chuck.  "I threw it away."

   "You what?" Chuck asked, raising his voice.

   "I tossed it. Why would I want it? When I needed it for something, it failed me."  Gary said between gritted teeth.

~~~~~~~~~

   The next morning, Gary woke before the alarm went off and even before the cat arrived with the paper.

   His head was still groggy from too few hours of sleep.  He looked to his left.  Bailey had gotten up already.  He knew from the scent that filled the room, she had showered.  Gary got up and staggered to the shower. Hoping it would help clear his muddled mind.

   The shower had helped some, but it didn't lift the heaviness of his heart.

   Just as he finished tying his shoelaces, he heard the all too familiar 'Meow', followed by the thump of the paper.  He got up and opened the door.  Instead of running into the room as usual, the cat trotted off downstairs.  Gary followed.

   The cat meowed as he jumped up on the counter.

   "How many times have you been told to stay off the counters." Bailey scolded as she picked up the cat.

   Cat nuzzled her neck and purred loudly.  "I love you too." Bailey told the cat.

   "How about me?" Gary asked from the doorway.

   Bailey sat the cat down and smiled cautiously at her husband.  He quickly walked to her and wrapped his arms around her.

   She sighed deeply.  "Of course I love you."

   "Good. I love you too.  How are you feeling this morning?"

   She shrugged her shoulders.  "I think I cried so much I made myself sick, but I do feel better about getting everything out in the open. Gary, the way I acted..." She began.

   "Last night is over.  We have today." He interrupted.

   "But..."

   "No buts.  I know you're sorry about the way you've been acting.  And I forgive you.  I'm sorry about how I've acted.  Do you forgive me?" Gary asked.

   She nodded against his chest.

   "Okay then.  I just want you to know whatever happens. I love you. If you get those tests and they prove you can't have kids, we'll find out what options we have.  If nothing works. We can adopt.  I've always wanted kids, but after I started getting the paper, I never really thought I'd have them.  Or a life even.  I thought I would live out my life alone, in the loft with just the cat for company.  And then you came along.  And if you're all I'll ever have, it will be more than enough."  He confessed into her hair.

   Bailey raised her head from his chest and looked at him.  "You are the sweetest man." She said, tears brimming her eyes.

   He wiped one away that rolled down her cheek.  He then rested his hand on her neck.  "Come on, Hon.  Don't cry.  We're gonna be okay. I promise." He said sincerely.

   He softly kissed her.  She moved her arms to wrap them around his neck and he pulled her close to him.

   This truly was all he ever needed for the rest of his life.  This woman, in his arms.

   "Meow!"

   Gary broke the kiss long enough to mutter, "Go away!"

   "Meow!"

   Bailey laughed softly.

   Gary had forgotten how long it had been since he'd heard her do that.

   "I think he's trying to remind you that you have a paper to take care of."

   Gary rested his forehead against hers and growled.

   "What's in it today?" Bailey asked.

   "A gas explosion around ten this morning.  It's not even 7:00.  I've got time." He explained.

   Bailey pushed away from him.  "Gary Hobson, are you trying to shirk your duties?" She teased.

   "No!  Oh all right.  Let me see if I have anything any earlier." He grumbled, picking up the paper.

   He picked up the paper and snapped it in his grasp.  "Let's see what we have. 'Gas explosion kills 7.'

   "Talbot's Appliance was the scene of a gas explosion yesterday morning at 10:30.  After receiving a truck load of televisions a semi backed into a natural gas line breaking it loose.  The gas company was called, but before they could arrive to repair the line a cigarette was tossed out a window of a passing vehicle, causing the explosion that killed 7.'

   'Pedestrian stuck by vehicle', "Carla Monte was struck by an oncoming vehicle as she exited her car on the Dan Ryan Expressway at approximately 7:45 yesterday morning.  Her vehicle had run out of gas. Mrs. Monte had coasted to the shoulder where she stopped the car. Witnesses say it appeared she tripped while exiting her car."

   "7:45, that gives you about an hour and with rush hour traffic and stopping to get gas, you need to get going."  Bailey stated.

   Gary sat the paper back on the counter.  "You're right.  But can we pick up where we left off when I get home?"  He whispered into her ear.

   Bailey stiffened and pulled away from him.

   "What?"

   Bailey picked up the paper.

    'Malpractice suit filed. Dr. Flees town.'  "A malpractice lawsuit was filed yesterday against Dr. Martin James, M.D.  The plaintiff in the case accuses that Dr. James misdiagnosed her as being pregnant when in fact she had a cancerous tumor.  Dr. James has been unavailable for comment concerning this case.  Employees at his office have not  heard from him.  Local law enforcement believes he has left the city.'" Bailey read.

   "Gary, This is the doctor I went to."

   Gary looked at the paper, then back at Bailey.

   "What if, what if his diagnosis for me was wrong also?" She asked.

   "Oh, Bailey, honey. You don't have a tumor. don't even think..."

   "No Gary.  What if I can get pregnant?"  She interrupted.

   A slow smile spread across his face. "Let's go call a doctor right now." He said excitedly.

   Bailey's cheeks hurt from smiling.  "They aren't open yet, Gary.  And you need to get going.  I'll call Marissa and get the name of her doctor.  Which I probably should have done in the first place. But I thought I was going to surprise you."

   She stopped herself.  "We shouldn't get too excited.  What are the chances of him being that wrong diagnosing two patients?"

   "You make an appointment and we'll worry about it then." He hugged her tightly.

   "I love you!" They said in unison.
 

Chapter Eleven
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

      Gary opened the door to his house and called Bailey's name. He heard no reply.

      He ran up the steps, two at a time. He entered their bedroom to find Bailey curled up on the bed.

      "Bailey?"

      "Gary? Is it that late? She asked.

      "No, it's not late at all.  Are you okay? Marissa said you came home because you were sick to your stomach."

       Bailey  nodded her head.

       "Can I get you anything?   Some ginger-ale or crackers?"

        Bailey made a face.  "No, nothing. Thanks."

        A huge smile formed on Gary's face.

        Bailey sat up.  "Well, I'm glad you're so happy I'm feeling poorly." She said sarcastically.

        "Bailey, do you think?"

         "Don't say it."

         "Why?"

         "Because. I can't get my hopes up to have them crushed again. Besides, I don't want you  to jinx it. Just in case."  She explained.

   Gary realized he was probably jumping the gun a little.

   "When is it you go to the doctor?"

   "Monday, but if an earlier opening comes up they're supposed to give me a call."

   "Could you take one of those home pregnancy things?"  He asked raising an eyebrow.

   "I took one of those before and that's what got us into this whole mess.  I think I'll just wait for the doctor."

   Gary stoked her hair away from her face.  She was still pale and had lost weight over the last month.  But the sparkle was back in her eyes.

   "It's probably just a bug, or stress.  I've felt kind of puny since the morning we found out about Dr. James." She took Gary's hand.  "Don't look so worried.  It's not the first time I've been sick.  I'm sure I'll be better by tomorrow.  Are you done with the paper for today?"

   Gary shook his head.  "No.  I hate to leave you like this."

   "Gary, go.  There's nothing you can do for me.  I'm just going to sleep.  Really. I'll be okay. You go on and take care of the paper." She urged.

   Reluctantly Gary left.
 
   Bailey curled up with a pillow.  She closed her eyes and sighed.  A slow smile spread across her face.

~~~~~~~~~~~

   "I really feel much better this morning.  I think I just needed to catch up on sleep." Bailey said as she got up and around the next morning. "I'll go start breakfast."

   "Meow!"  Thump.

   Bailey opened the door to their bedroom.  The cat meowed, hello and turned to head towards  the kitchen.  He stopped and looked back as if to say 'Are you coming?"

   Bailey stooped to pick up the paper.

   "Gary!  Look at this."

   "What is it?"

   'More suits filed.  Dr. Found Dead.'  'Yesterday morning, three more malpractice suits were filed against Dr. Martin James, M.D..  Shortly after the suits were filed New York City Police Department notified the Chicago P.D. that Dr. James had been found dead in a local motel.  A victim of apparent suicide.'

   "Can you believe this?  This is just so bizarre."  Bailey stated.

   Gary took the paper from her and read the article.

   "Do you think you should call someone about the doctor?" She asked.

   "It says here his apparent time of death was around midnight, last night."  He said.  "There's nothing I can do for him now."

   Bailey sighed.

   "Meow!"

   "Okay, I'm coming." Bailey told the cat.  She touched her hand to Gary's arm then followed the cat downstairs.

   When breakfast was finished, Bailey took the dishes to the sink. Gary walked up behind her.

   "Maybe you should stay home again today." He suggested.

   "No, I'm fine.  I'll take it easy. "

   He took her hand in his and played with the rings on her finger. "Promise?"

   "I promise." She said, kissing him good bye.  "Now go on, get out of here." She said playfully.

   The phone rang as he headed out the door.

   "Hello.  Speaking."  She answered.

~~~~~~~~~

    "Hey!" Gary said in surprise when he returned to McGinty's later that day. "You look much better."
 
    "Thank you, I think? Did I look really bad before or something?" She laughed.

     "No, you did not!"

      "How does the paper look for the rest of the day?" She asked, lowering her voice so others couldn't hear.

      "I should be done by 7:30. Why?" He asked scooting into the booth next to her.

      "Because I want to fix a special dinner for you." She explained.

      "Oh you do? What's the special occasion?

      "Do I need one? I know I haven't been the greatest person to be around the last few weeks and I want to start making it up to you."

      Gary's heart leapt. This was his Bailey. He was glad to have her back.
 
   "I thought we decided to just look forward, not back."  He said brushing the hair back from her shoulder and twirling the ends around with is fingers.

   "Oh, I'm looking forward.  Looking forward to fixing you dinner tonight."  She said smiling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      "Bailey? I'm home." Gary called out then he peeked through the kitchen door.

      Bailey turned and smiled at the sound of his voice. "Hey." She said as she reached him and hugged him close.

      "You act like you missed me or something." He teased.

      "Oh, I have missed you." She said seriously.  Go wash up and I'll have your dinner ready in a flash."

      When he came back, candles had been lit on the dining room table.

      "Go ahead and sit down." She instructed.

      He did so and Bailey brought his plate and sat it in front of him.

      He crinkled up his nose. "What's this?"

      "What? Don't you like it?" Bailey asked innocently.

      He picked up a spoon and moved the mush around his plate.

      "Is this some kind of a joke?" He asked.

      "No. That's strained lamb, mashed peas and apple sauce." She explained.

      "Where's yours?" He asked, brow furrowed. "I don't, why are you feeding me this?"

      She sighed heavily. "You're taking all the fun out of the surprise, Gary Hobson." She said impatiently.

      He looked at her intently. "This is definitely a surprise."

      She frowned. She turned and walked into the kitchen and returned with three small jars and sat them on the table in front of
Gary.

      "Baby food? Why in the world would you feed me baby......." He paused. "Why would you feed me baby food?"

      She began to smile. "It wasn't stress or a bug."
 
     "It wasn't?"

      "No."

      "Are you saying? But, but." He uttered.
 
       "Yes, I am saying." She said barely able to contain her excitement.
 
      Gary ran his hand across his face. He was dreaming again. That's what this was.

   "So there is no scarring.  No problems?" He asked in amazement.

   "Nope, I'm as healthy as a horse."

      "He's positive?" Gary said, the news finally sinking in.

      "Yes, " She said looking at him expectantly.

      He sat in the chair just looking at her.

      "Gary, say something."

      "He's absolutely sure.  He's not wrong?"  Gary tried to make certain.

      "He's very sure, Gary.  You're going to be a Daddy!"

     Gary jumped from the chair suddenly and grabbed Bailey in a hug and swung her around. "We're having a baby." He laughed.
 
    He put her down suddenly. "I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt the baby."
 
      "Don't be silly. This baby is going to be just fine." She reassured him.

      "Do, do y,y,y you know how far along you are?"

      "About eight weeks. He thinks our baby will be born sometime in mid November."

      Gary threw back his head and laughed out loud. "Our baby!  We're having a baby!  We've got to call Mom and Dad. They'll be thrilled." He said as he headed to the phone. He stopped and looked at Bailey.

      He put his hand on her neck and rubbed his thumb along her jaw line. "You know I meant what I said before?  That you'd be enough for me."

     She smiled slowly. "I know you meant it.  But now you'll have me and a baby and any other kids we will have in the future."

   Gary began to laugh with joy.  He stopped suddenly.

   "What?" Bailey asked.

   "So do we have anything to eat tonight besides baby food?"

Chapter Twelve
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
First thing I'd do is pray for time to crawl
I'd unplug the telephone
Keep the TV off
I'd hold you every second
Say a million I love you's
That's what I'd do
With one more day with you
     ~~Diamond Rio~~
***************************
 
    Marissa and Emily returned to the waiting room.

   "A nurse is going to check on Bailey for us." Marissa informed Gary.

   Emily sat down next to Chuck and took his hand and squeazed it.  He looked at her surprised.  Chuck had fallen for her and fallen hard.  But since they got back to L.A. from Gary's wedding, she had kept him at arms length.  Everytime he thought he was making progress they ended up fighting.

   "Chuck, I'm scared." She whispered.

   "Shh.  She'll be okay.   She has to be." He soothed, as he put his arm around her.

   "Mr Hobson." The nurse said as she entered the room.  I checked on your wife."

     Chuck and Emily came to stand next to Gary and Marissa.

    "The doctors are still working on your wife.  She has gone into labor and they are trying to stop it.  But she has no broken bones. Just a cut on her forehead and a concussion.  Right now the main concern is the baby." The nurse stated.

   Gary's knees buckled and Chuck grabbed hold of his arm to steady him.

~~~~~~~~~~

     "I don't want a sports motif. What if it's a girl?" Bailey argued.
 
     "Well, I don't want bunnies and birds. What if it's a boy?" Gary retorted.

      "Well, we have to decide on something. Your mom is wanting to make the comforter and bumper pads and she can't very well do it if we don't have any idea how we're going to decorate the nursery." She explained.

      Gary threw up his hands. "Go with the bunnies."

      Bailey put her hands on her hips. "They could be little boy bunnies."

      "And how in the world is anyone supposed to be able to tell if they're boy bunnies or not?" Gary said lowering his voice as a
woman passed them in the aisle.

      Bailey started to laugh.

      "What? I can't help it if the thought of having a room in my house full of bunnies gives me the willies."

      Bailey shook her head. "How about this?" She asked, pointing to material decorated with Winnie the Pooh.

      "There's still a rabbit." He said sternly.

      "Gary, Rabbit is a male bunny." Bailey said exasperated.

      "Loosen up. I'm just teasing. I kind of like Winnie." He said smiling.

      Bailey sighed and turned away.

      "What?" Gary asked innocently.

      She frowned at him over her shoulder. She pulled out the material and held it in front of her examining the pattern.

      It was a scene of Pooh under a tree with Tigger, Piglett, Eeyore and Rabbit. The colors were pastel with a beige border that had a tiny butterfly print edged in pale blue. Neutral enough to be used for a boy or girl.

      "We could paint the nursery this color." She said indicating the sage green background. "I could paint a mural with Pooh under a tree with his hunny pots, and all his friends. " She said as her eyes lit up with excitement.

      "You can do that?" Gary asked, amazed.

      "Sure, I'll just find some photo's then make transparencies of them, then trace the outline on the wall and fill it in. Just like coloring in a book. It's not hard at all." She explained.

      "Should you be painting? What about the fumes?" He asked, concerned.

      "I'll get Emily to paint the walls for me. And I can use craft paint to do all the artwork and I'll keep the window open a crack." She said as she put the material in her basket.

      She marked through material on her list and jotted down items like paint, brushes, and transparency film.

      She looked through the patterns and picked out one for the sheets, comforter and bumper.

      After she got the right amount of material and ribbon and stuffing, they headed for the paint department.

      "What do you think? Sage green or pale blue?" She asked holding up paint samples.
 
      He held the samples next to the material. "Hmm. Green or blue? The green looks good. But I think I like the blue better. It's
the same color as the sky." He mused.

      She looked at him surprised. "That's perfect Gary. The walls can be painted blue and it will be the sky for the mural. Thank you. " She said kissing him on the cheek.

      He didn't know quite what he had done and blushed at the praise. He looked down at his watch and pulled the paper from his pocket.

      "Hon, I hate to do this." He began.

      "But you've gotta go." She finished. "Okay. I'll see you tonight. Love you." She said as he quickly kissed her.
~~~~~~~

    Gary snuck up behind Bailey as she stood reading the paper in the kitchen.

   He reached across her shoulder and snatched it from her grasp. Bailey cried out in surprise.

   "Gary!  You'll cause me to go into labor doing that." She stated, grabbing the paper back from him.

   "Don't even joke about that." Gary said sternly.  He leaned down and put his mouth near her stomach.  "Daddy's sorry, buddy."

   Bailey smiled down at him.  He stood up and kissed her.  "Happy Anniversary!"

   She laughed softly.  "Now that's better. Happy Anniversary."

   He reached for the paper.  "Uh uh.  I'm not done.  Go sit down." She playfully ordered.

   He frowned at her then took his seat.

   When he wasn't looking she pulled the page out of the paper she needed and stuck it in a drawer.  She took Gary his breakfast and the paper.  "Don't make any plans for tonight.  I've already got something planned." She informed him.

   "Let me guess, you won't even give me a hint."  He teased.

   "Nope." She smiled and walked away.

~~~~~~~

   "Where is it?" Gary asked walking into the office, later that day.

   "Where is what?" Bailey wondered.

   "There's a page missing from my paper.  You didn't try to take care of anything did you? We discussed you not helping me with the paper anymore since you are pregnant."

   Bailey opened her purse and took out an envelope and handed it to him.  "Happy Anniversary, worry wart."

   He narrowed his eyes as he took the envelope.  He pulled out two tickets to tonight's Cubs game.

   "I took the sports page after I checked the paper to see if you could make it to the game.  No point in going if you know the score." She explained.

   He dropped his head.  "I'm sorry."

   "Don't be sorry.  But you do realize you are taking me to the game and not Chuck." She laughed as she hugged him.

~~~~~~~~~~~

        It had taken her weeks to finish the nursery, but she was finally done with the walls. She stood back and looked at the finished room. She was quite pleased with herself. Now she just needed the furniture delivered and for Lois to finish the bedding and curtains.

      She softly sang as she began to clean up the supplies in the room.

      Gary stopped at the top of the stairs and listened to his wife singing. He hadn't heard the song before.

    'One more day
     One more time
     One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied
     But then again, I know what it would do
     Leave me wishing still
     For one more day with you.'
 
      "Wow!" Gary exclaimed as he entered the room. He studied the scene before him. It started with Pooh sitting under the shade of a tree with his paw in a 'hunny' pot. Next was Rabbit's hole. He was standing outside tending his carrot patch. Up on a hill Tigger was bouncing on his tail, while Roo, Piglet and Eeyore were sitting near a pond. There were clouds painted up high, baby birds were flying and there were tiny butterflies here and there. She had even painted around the clock so it looked like the sun.

      "I think Baby Hobson will like his or her new room. " Gary said honestly.
 
      Bailey smiled and leaned up against him. He wrapped his arms around her. All his dreams were coming true. Everything was the way he had always wanted.
~~~~~~

      Gary crawled into bed with Bailey. He scooted up behind her and rested his hand on her stomach, which had grown considerably over the last few months.

      "Gary?"

      "Hmm?" He mumbled into her hair.

      "We need to think of some baby names." She stated.

      "I still stand by Zeke." He teased.

      She elbowed him.

      "Oof. I was just kidding." He laughed softly. "I kind of like Meghan if it's a girl." He offered.

      "Meghan Hobson. I like the sound of that. But what if it's a boy? And don't you dare say Zeke again." She said flashing him a look over her shoulder.

      "What names do you like?" He asked.

      "How about after your dad?"

      "Bernard Reuben? I don't think so." He laughed.

      "We could name him after you?" She suggested.

      "No, it would be confusing with two Gary's in the house. How about we name him after your grandfather?" Gary wondered.

      "Lucius?"

      "Nah." They said in unison.

      "How about Grandpa's middle name?"

      "Snow had a middle name?" He said amazed.

      "Yes, he had a middle name. It was Gene."

      "Gene Hobson. Hmm. It has a nice ring to it. I like it."

      Just then the baby kicked. "I think he likes it too." Gary laughed.

      "So you think it's a boy, huh?" Bailey asked.

      "I don't know. A boy would be nice. As he got older we could do guy things together, like fish and play catch. But a little girl who thought I hung the moon would be pretty great too. What are you hoping for?"

      Bailey sighed. "I'm just so happy I'm pregnant with your baby. A boy or a girl would make me equally as happy."

      She rolled over to face him. She propped up on one elbow. She ran her thumb across his eyebrows. "I do want our son to have your eyes, and a little dimple right here." She said as she ran her fingers across the cleft in his chin."

      "As long as we can have a little girl who has your nose, and your eyes and your beautiful hair." He said as he twirled the end of it with his fingers. "We'll have beautiful kids, won't we?" He said softly.

      "You think?" Bailey smiled.

      "Yeah, I think." Gary said against her lips as he kissed her.

Chapter Thirteen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

      "Maybe you should start cutting back on work." Marissa suggested.

      Bailey sighed. "Did Gary put you up to this?"

      "Did I put her up to what?" Gary asked, entering the office.

      "Suggesting that I cut back on work." Bailey stated, raising an eyebrow.

      "No, I didn't put her up to it. But it is a good idea. You are almost eight months along." He reminded her.

      "I'm still able to get up and down out of a chair on my own, barely. So I can still work. My doctor doesn't have any problem with it. And besides, I'd be bored silly sitting at home all day with nothing to do."

      Gary shook his head. "You are so stubborn."

      "But you love me that way." She smiled sweetly.

      Marissa smiled at the exchange between her two friends. She was so happy for Gary. He finally had all he had ever longed for.

      "Oh all right." Bailey conceded, seeing the look on Gary's face. "I will ask the doctor today, when I go in for my appointment, what he thinks. Fair enough?" She asked.

      Gary smiled. "Fair enough." He kissed her. "Gotta run."

      "Gary." Bailey called after him. When he turned around she handed him his cell phone. "It doesn't do you any good lying on the desk." She scolded slightly. "That reminds me, I need to charge mine." She said taking hers out and plugging it in.

      Gary clipped the phone to his waist band. "What would I do with out you?" He asked as he kissed her.

      "You don't have to worry, I'll never leave you." She replied.

      "I'll see you tonight. Love you." He said softly.

      The phone rang just as he left.

      "McGinty's." Bailey answered.

      "Hi, Bailey. It's Lois."

      "Hi, Mom."

      "I was just thinking I could come down this afternoon instead of tomorrow and I could help you get things ready for your shower." Lois offered.

      "That would be so great. When will you be here?" Bailey asked.

      "About 4?"

      "I have a doctor's appointment at 3:30. I'll call and see if I can get in any earlier, if not I should be home by 4:30. Just use the key hidden in the garage and let yourself in." Bailey informed Lois.

      "Okay. I'll see you when you get home."

      They said their good byes and hung up.

~~~~~

      Gary pulled the paper out of his back pocket.

      'Doctor trapped in elevator.' 'Local physician, Ray Forge, was trapped in the elevator of his apartment building for more than three hours yesterday afternoon. The call for help was received at 12:45 P.M. The doctor resided on the tenth floor and the elevator malfunctioned between the tenth and ninth floors.' Gary read.

      "You would think in this day and age, elevators could get repaired in less than three hours." Gary mumbled.

      Gary ran up the ten flights of stairs. He entered the tenth floor and made his way to the elevators.

      "Wait! Don't get on there!' He called to the man just getting ready to step into the elevator.

      The man stepped back startled. "Why not?"

      Gary gasped for breath.

      "Elevator not working....right. Get.....stuck." He said in between gulps for air.
 
      "Who are you and how do you know that?" The elevator door shut.

      "Ele...vator.... re..pair crew." Gary answered. His breathing becoming less labored.

      Just then the lights above the elevator started flashing and an alarm went off.

      The doctor looked at Gary. "Well, thank you. Very much." He looked at his watch. "I guess I had better take the stairs."

      Gary groaned. At least going down was easier.

~~~~~~

      'Pregnant woman injured in auto accident.' 'Linda Waters, 29 was rushed to St. John's Hospital where she is listed in critical condition, following an accident that occurred around 2 P.M. yesterday. The condition of her unborn child is not known at this time. A faulty tire on her 1995 Grand Am is suspected as the cause.' Gary scanned the rest of the article to find out where she had got into her car and the time.  The picture of the mangled car let him know what color vehicle to look for.

      Gary reached the parking lot indicated in the article and looked around for a silver Grand Am. Spotting it, he made his way to the vehicle. He knelt down and began to inspect the tires.

      "What are you doing?" A voice demanded.

      Gary stood up. "Is this your car?"

      "I asked you what you were doing?" The woman asked again, fear in her voice.

      "I, I, I was just noticing this tire is bad. See h-how it has that bulge right there. It looks like some of the radials have broken. Who ever owns this car better not drive it till that tire is fixed." He explained.

      She relaxed. "Oh my! Thank you. I'll call my husband to come get me."

      "Good. You do that." Gary looked at the paper as he walked off. Smiling because the story was gone.

       He wiped the sweat from his brow. It was an unseasonably warm October day. He put the paper in his pocket and entered a nearby restaurant intending to have a tall glass of ice tea. He hadn't noticed anything pressing in the paper that needed his immediate attention. So he would take a few minutes to cool off and double check the paper.
 
     "Hello, Anne. This is Linda Waters. I'm having trouble with my car tire. My husband is on his way to get me, but I can't make my appointment. Can I reschedule?" Linda said into the phone.

      "Well, it just so happens I had a patient who called earlier to see if we could move her appointment up. Let me call and see
if she wants to switch. Her appointment is at 3:30. Could you make it by then?" Anne asked.

      Linda looked at her watch. 1:45. "Yes, I think I can." Linda gave Anne her cell phone number to call her back.

      Gary sat in a booth enjoying the cold tea. He pulled the paper out and sat it on the table in front of him.

      "What the...." Gary stared in shock. The headline he had just changed, had changed back. Only the victim was different.

      'Pregnant woman injured in auto accident.' 'Bailey Hobson, 35, was rushed to St. John's Hospital where she is listed in critical condition, following an accident that occurred around 2 P.M. yesterday.  The condition of her unborn child is not known at this time.'

      "Where does it happen? Where does it happen?" He repeated to himself as he scanned the article. Finding the information he needed he tossed money on the table and ran out of the restaurant.

      He waved at a passing taxi. It sped on by him. He reached for his phone. He waved at another taxi. He turned in circles in
frustration. He dialed McGinty's.

      "McGinty's, How...." Marissa was cut off.

      "Is Bailey still there? Gary said quickly.

      "No, she just left..."

      He hung up and dialed Bailey's cell phone.   It rang several times.

      "Hello."

      "Marissa? What are you........?"

      "Bailey forgot her phone. Gary what's wrong?"

      "I can't talk now, Marissa."

      Gary spotted another cab. He decided to try Chuck's method. He stepped in front of the vehicle and held up his hand, palm outward. The cab squealed to a halt, mere inches from him. He hurried to the door and jumped in. He gave the driver directions. He dialed 911 on his cell phone and gave them information on the accident.

      "Hurry, hurry, HURRY!" Gary yelled.

      "I'm driving as fast as I can." The driver stated. Gary looked at his watch, 1:55. He was never going to make it.

      He closed his eyes. Trying hard to come up with some way to stop the accident. The cab  came to a stop.

      "What are you doing?" Gary asked.

      "Funeral." The driver said indicating the row of cars following a hearse.

      Gary tossed the driver the fare, got out of the cab and took off running. He ran until he thought his lungs would burst. His mind racing the whole time. He had to get there, he had to stop the accident. How? 'God help me!'

      He reached his destination just in time to see a car swerve to miss a small child who stepped out between parked cars. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. The car swerved, clipping Bailey's Jeep causing it to go into a spin. An oncoming vehicle hit the rear of the Jeep, propelling it into a light pole.

      "NOOOOOO! NOOOOO!" Gary screamed. He took off running towards the Jeep.

      "Bailey, Oh God. Don't move. I called 911 they're on the way." He said as he opened the door.

      Bailey looked over at Gary. Her eyes glazed over in shock.  He took her hand in his.

      "You knew?" She uttered before she closed her eyes.

      "Bailey? Bailey!" Gary cried out.  He could hear the sound of sirens in the background.

Chapter Fourteen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"We're gonna go get some coffee.  Do you two want any?" Chuck asked.

"No, thank you." Marissa and Gary replied in unison.

Gary turned to look at Marissa.  "Marissa. The last thing she said to me was, 'you knew.' "  Gary ran both of his hands over his face.

"Gary don't you start....."

A commotion down the hall got their attention.

"Page Dr. Forge, stat.  The patient's vitals are dropping and we may need him for an emergency c-section." A nurse yelled to the desk clerk.

"Wait!" Gary cried out.  "What's going on? I thought my wife was going to be okay."

"I'm sorry, I can't talk right now." The nurse said rushing back into the room.

Gary just stood looking at that door.  His whole body had gone numb.  He felt a soft touch on his arm and he knew it was Marissa.

"I did know. If she...if they....It's, It's....Marissa, I should have stopped it."

"Gary stop it!" Marissa warned, tightening her grip on  his arm.

"I know you are beside yourself with worry. We all are. But don't start blaming yourself for this. You cannot be every where at once." She tried to make him understand.

"It's not fair. I don't know what happened. I stopped that pregnant woman from getting in an accident and the story about her  disappeared. And another story took it's place. Then within minutes it changed to the story about Bailey. I, I didn't do anything and it changed." He said, his eyes full of sorrow and confusion.

Marissa let out a deep breath. "Oh, Gary."

"What?"

"The doctors office called. A patient had called and cancelled due to car trouble and Bailey went in early."

Gary turned on her. "You mean I saved that other woman and put my wife and our baby's lives in danger?! Why? WHY?" His voice getting louder.
 
"Gary, things happen for a reason." Marissa said calmly. "I don't know why this happened. We may never know. But the paper never has you do anything without a good reason."

"And what reason could be good enough, to cause my wife to be lying in the emergency room?" His voice getting louder with each word.  Chuck and Emily ran up, joined by Emmit.

"Tell me Marissa, What reason could be good enough. What reason?" Gary turned and began walking in circles, rubbing his hands together.

"What's going on? What happened?" Emily asked.

"Something's gone wrong with Bailey.  Her vitals have dropped and they may have to do an emergency c-section." Marissa conveyed.

"Oh my God!" Emily exclaimed.
 
"Come on Gary. Let's go back to the waiting room.  Here, take my coffee." Chuck offered.
 
Gary backed away. "I don't want to sit down and I don't want your coffee."  Gary held up his hands and backed away.

Emily softly touched Gary's arm. "Bailey loves you, Gary. And she loves this baby. I know you are worried sick about her, but I want you to know she will fight with every ounce of strength she has to get through this and keep her baby safe. I don't doubt this for a minute. I've known her for a long time. You can believe me, she's not going to leave you."
 
Gary just looked at Emily as her words registered in his mind.  Bailey was always telling him not to worry.  She would never leave him. "Thank you." He said hugging her.

All of a sudden he felt drained.
 
"Maybe you would like to be alone for a few minutes. I think I saw the chapel down the hall. It should be quiet there." Emily offered.
 
Gary looked around at his friends.
 
"You go on, Gar. I'll come and get you if there is any news." Chuck encouraged.
 
"I think that would be a good place for you to go." Marissa added.
 
Gary nodded his head then slowly made his way down the hall.

Emmit took Marissa's elbow and guided her back to the waiting room.

"I'm sorry I was so long getting here.  I didn't get your message till a little while ago." Emmit apologized.

"I'm glad your here now." Marissa said leaning against him.

Chuck looked at his watch.  "What's taking Bernie and Lois so long. Shouldn't they be here by now?"

"What time is it?" Marissa asked.

"Almost 4 p.m."

"They should be here soon.  I think it was about 2:30 when Lois called me and they were leaving then." Marissa informed him.

"Good.  Cause I think Gary's gonna need them if things get any worse."

~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gary entered the empty room and sat down in a pew. Now that he was here, he had no idea what to do. No idea what to say. Should he make promises or bargains? How did this all work anyway?
 
The only thing he knew without a doubt, was that he couldn't lose Bailey. He had lived through a lot in his life. His divorce, too many bad relationships to recall, getting the paper, not being able to save Jeremiah or Earl, being on the run from the law, being accused of a murder he didn't commit. All those things he had survived. But if Bailey and the baby didn't make it. He didn't know if he would either. She hadn't been in his life long enough yet. They were going to grow old together, see their children grow up and have children of their own.
 
"Did I tell her I loved her today?" Gary asked himself. He couldn't remember. "If I could have just one more day." He said aloud.
 
The words to that song he heard Bailey singing came to him, "One more day, one more time, one more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied. But then again, I know what it would do. Leave me wishing still for one more day with you."
 
Gary's bottom lip quivered.  In the still of the chapel he cried out. "Give me one more day! No, No! It isn't enough, I need a lifetime. I need her. Don't take her away." Gary crossed his arms on the pew in front of him and rested his head on them and let himself cry.
 
He felt empty inside except for the fear he felt.
 
"Meow!" Thump.
 
Gary's head shot up. Cat sat a few feet away from him, sitting nonchalantly on top of the paper. The cat left his perch and made his way to Gary.  Cat placed one paw on Gary's leg and patted it.  Gary looked at the cat who was looking up at him.  Gary wiped the tears from his eyes.  Sometimes he could swear the cat communicated with a look. What was he trying to tell him?

"Meow!" The cat looked back at the paper.

Gary slowly reached for the paper and held it tightly in his grasp. He shut his eyes and willed himself to open them and look at the headline.

Chapter Fifteen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
Chuck looked up to see Gary skid past the door to the waiting room. "Gar?"
 
Gary quickly returned. "She's okay! Bailey and the baby are okay!" He said almost hysterical with joy.   He grabbed Marissa in a bear hug.

"Hi, Emmit!" Gary said as he began to hug everyone.
 
"You saw the doctor?" Marissa asked.
 
"No, the paper." He said without thinking.
 
"The paper came back?" Chuck asked.
 
"Yeah, I was sitting there and the cat......."
 
"What are you two talking about? How did Bailey's condition get in the paper when the doctor hasn't told you anything?" Emily questioned.
 
Gary did a double take at Emily.  He had forgotten she didn't know about the paper.
 
"Oh boy!" He scratched his head. "Oh, uh, well." He stuttered.

Emily raised her eyebrow quizzically. "And what is this about a cat?"
 
"He could tell you but then he would have to kill you." Chuck said trying to make a joke.
 
"Chuck!" Marissa and Emmit said in unison.
 
"Soorrrrrryy." Chuck exaggerated.
 
Gary took Emily's arm and led her to the chairs, where they sat down. He let out a deep breath.

"I'm going to tell you something that is hard to believe, but right now I am going to need you to take my word for it because I just don't feel like going into a lot of detail.......... I get tomorrow's newspaper.......Today." He said and handed her the paper.
 
She looked skeptical as she opened the paper. She looked at the date and read the article on Bailey. She put her hand to her heart and sighed in relief.
 
"Is this the reason you are always running here and there?" She asked.
 
Gary nodded.
 
Emily was quiet for a moment as she digested this information.
 
"And you use it to help people?"
 
Once again he nodded. "You believe me?"
 
"I know Bailey well enough to know that if she accepts this, I should too. Your secret is safe with me." She handed him the paper.
 
"Until she gets drunk." Chuck added.

Emily narrowed her eyes at him.

"I CAN keep a secret." She insisted.  She returned her attention back to Gary.

"Did you use this to help Bailey today?" She asked.
 
"No. I couldn't get there in time. All I could do was call 911 and let them know." Gary said regretfully.
 
"That was something. Those few precious minutes may have been all that was needed to save her." Emily stated softly.
 
"Gary she is right." Marissa agreed.
 
"Mr. Hobson?"
 
"Yes!" Gary turned and was surprised to see the doctor from the elevator mishap earlier. Now he realized why the doctor that had been paged earlier sounded familiar.
 
"Well, Mr. Hobson. It's a small world. It's fortunate for your wife I wasn't stuck in that elevator when she was brought in." He laid a reassuring hand on Gary's shoulder.

"Your wife is going to be okay. She has a cut on her forehead and a mild concussion. She did go into labor which we have been able to stop. There was a moment there when we thought we might lose her, but her and the baby's vitals are good and they are both stable. I would like to keep her here for a few days to keep a check on her."
 
The doctor continued on with the particulars of what was done to help Bailey. Gary listened.
 
"When can I see her?" Gary asked impatiently.
 
"She is being admitted to a room. If you'll come with me. There are some papers to be filled out then you can see her."
 
Gary turned to his friends. "Thank you for being here."
 
"You go on buddy. We'll wait here for your parents. They should be getting here soon." Chuck offered.
 
Gary nodded and followed the doctor.

~~~~~
 
When he got to Bailey's room, she was sleeping, her hand resting protectively across her stomach.
 
Gary quietly sat down next to the bed and took her other hand in his.
 
Relief flooded over him like a warm shower. He wiped tears away from his eyes. He laid his arm on the bed and rested his head on it.
 
"Thank you." He muttered.
 
He was exhausted. He didn't know how long he had dozed, when he felt her hand move against his. He raised his head.
 
"Hey." She said sleepily.
 
"Hi, Hon." He smiled.
 
"The baby?"
 
"The baby is just fine and so are you. How do you feel?" He asked.
 
She blinked her eyes a couple of times. "A little sore and my head hurts and I'm really tired."
 
"I'm so sorry." He apologized.
 
"For what?"
 
"For not being able to stop the accident. I didn't have enough time."
 
She laced her fingers with his. "I know you did what you could."

"I was so scared I was gonna lose you." He confessed.

She gave him a weak smile.  "Didn't I promise you I would never leave you?"

"You're amazing. You know that?"

Sleepily she smiled. "I love you, Gary." She said as she drifted back to sleep.
 
"I love you too." He whispered.
 
He got up and quietly left the room. He closed the door and turned to see his parents, accompanied by Marissa, Emmit, Chuck, and Emily coming down the hall.
 
His mother grabbed him in a bear hug. "They told us they're going to be okay. Thank goodness. Your father and I were so worried. How are you holding up?"
 
"I'm okay now, Mom." Gary sighed.
 
"I'm sorry we couldn't get here sooner, son. Thank you guys for being here with Gary." Bernie stated. Bernie hugged his son, when Lois finally let him go. "Can we see her?"
 
"She's really tired, Dad. She just fell back asleep. She only woke up for a few minutes." Gary answered.
 
"How long is she going to be here?" Bernie wondered.
 
"For a couple of days. They want to keep an eye on her, just in case." Gary yawned.
 
"Let's get you home so you can rest." Lois urged.
 
"No, I'm staying here tonight. I've already made arrangements."
 
"Will you leave long enough to get something to eat?" Lois asked.
 
Gary let out his breath. "I really don't want to leave, Mom."
 
"Will you eat if we go get you something?"
 
"What do you want, Gar? I'll go get it for you." Chuck offered.
 
"A hamburger's fine. Thanks, Chuck."
 
"No prob. Can I get anything for the rest of you?" Chuck asked.
 
They all said, 'no.'
 
"I'll go with you." Emily stated.
 
"Gary, I'm going to check with the bar. I didn't even tell them where I was going." Marissa declared.
 
"Here, you can use my phone." Gary said, pulling it from his case and dialing the number before handing her the phone.
 
"Hello, Jake. This is Marissa. Yes, I'm fine. Mrs. Hobson, Bailey, was in an accident. We've been at the hospital. Yes. She and the baby are going to be fine. Yes, I'll tell them. How is everything there? Good. I'm glad. If everything is okay, I won't come back tonight.  Yes, they're here. Who was that? Sam Gibson? Okay, thank you, Jake. Good night." She handed the telephone to Gary.
 
"Sam Gibson, our neighbor?" Bernie asked.
 
"He called McGinty's looking for you. He left a message for you to call him as soon as possible."  Marissa told him.
 
"I wonder what that is all about?" Bernie stated. "Do you mind son?" Bernie asked taking the phone from Gary.
 
He walked down the hall aways and returned a few minutes later.
 
"Is everything okay? Lois asked.
 
"Yes and no. First of all Lo, it looks like you'll be getting that new car you've been wanting."
 
"Bernie, what on earth are you talking about? Did my car get stolen?"
 
"No, it caught on fire."
 
"What?!" They all exclaimed in unison.
 
"Sam said he was out raking leaves when he heard a loud whoosh. He turned to see what it was and your car was on fire. He tried to put it out with his garden hose, but he said the blaze was pretty intense. His wife called the Fire Department and they put it out, but the car is a total loss."
 
"My goodness! If I had been on the highway when my car caught fire, I could have......."
 
"You were coming today?" Gary asked.
 
"Yes, I called Bailey and told her I wanted to come early to help get things ready for the shower tomorrow. I was all ready to walk out the door when we got your call." She explained.  Gary swallowed hard and looked at Marissa who had a stunned look on her face.
 
"It wasn't in the paper?"  Marissa asked.

"No. I never say an article on Mom's car catching fire."

"Gary do you think....?" Marissa began.

"I rescued the doctor who saved Bailey." Gary said.
 
"And you stopped the pregnant woman from getting into an accident, which in turn caused Bailey to be in an accident, that caused you to call your parents." Marissa continued.
 
Lois, realizing what was being said finished, "Which kept me from being on the highway in my car when it caught fire."
 
Gary shook his head. It was almost too much to wrap his mind around.

Emmit scratched his head.  "Can someone tell me what's going on?'

Chapter Sixteen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
Gary held the door for Bailey to enter their house. There was a big banner that read, 'Welcome Home Bailey!' hanging over the dining room doorway.
 
The aroma of baked chicken and apple pie filled the house.
 
Bernie and Lois waited just inside the door and each took turns hugging her. Bernie held on a little longer than Bailey expected.
 
"I love you too, Dad." She whispered.
 
Bernie blushed slightly as he let go of her. Gary took her elbow and guided her into the living room and helped make her comfortable in an overstuffed club chair.
 
"Can I get you anything? Something to drink? A pillow?" Gary offered.
 
"No, I'm fine. Thank you."
 
"Emily and Chuck send their regards. Taping is running late. They said they would try to come by later. Marissa and Emmit are on their way over." Lois stated.
 
"Mom, I don't think we should have so many people in and out of here so soon. Bailey needs to rest." He said protectively.
 
"Gary, I've rested for almost a week. I'd like to see my friends and family." Bailey said taking Gary's hand. "You've got to stop worrying. We're going to be okay." Bailey said reassuringly as she patted her belly.
 
"I'm going to check on dinner. Are you sure you don't need anything?" Lois asked.
 
"No, thanks.  Mom?  Thank you for rescheduling the shower and calling all the guests."

"Oh." Lois said, waving her hand is if it were nothing.
 
"How did it go with the paper, Dad?" Gary asked.
 
"Everything went just fine. Your mother and I handled everything that needed handling and still had time to come back here and take care of dinner. And there is nothing else going on tonight, so just sit back and relax. But if you feel the need, the paper is right there. You can check for yourself." Bernie stated.
 
"Thanks Dad. I appreciate it."
 
"No problemo. I'll just take your bag on upstairs for you kiddo. I'm glad you're home." Bernie said, reaching out and patting her hand.
 
Bailey waited until Bernie left the room. "Gary, you're not still blaming yourself for the accident are you?"
 
Gary sat down on the ottoman and faced Bailey. He took her hands in his.
 
He dropped his head. He twisted the rings on her finger. "If you had. I mean, if you and the baby had." Gary gulped. "I wouldn't have survived."
 
"Gary we did make it. We are fine. Marissa told me all that happened. And Gary if you had been able to stop the accident, your mother might not be here right now." Her voice cracked. "You could have lost your mother, and our child wouldn't have had a grandmother. Gary, you saved your mother. You didn't fail me."
 
He looked up into her eyes. She was so beautiful and wise too. He had never thought of it that way. "Thank you." He whispered.
 
She scooted to the edge of the chair. Gary dropped to his knees. Bailey held him in her embrace.
~~~~~~~~~~~

"So, did he let you drive the new jeep home?" Chuck asked.

"Are you kidding? He didn't even want me to go look at them yet. I've been out of the hospital three weeks and who knows when I would have the time once the baby is here.  He's such a mother hen." Bailey laughed softly.

The cat was curled up on her lap, purring contentedly as she scratched his chin.

Gary came hurrying into the living room.

"What did I miss?"  He asked.

"Bawk, bawk, bawk!" Chuck teased.

"Did I miss something?"  Gary asked, clueless.

"Just a joke at your expense honey.  I'll tell you later." Bailey giggled.
 
"I'm glad I could be a source of  amusement to you." Gary stated sarcastically.

He walked over and sat down on the floor in front of Bailey.

"What's the score?"

"Like you don't know." Chuck stated.

"I don't!  Someone keeps stealing the sports pages so I'll be surprised at the outcomes." Gary said tickling Bailey's foot.

She thumped him on his head.

"Stop that!" She laughed.  "The score is 10-7. Bears.  You haven't missed much."

"Good."

Gary reached over and got a paper plate off the coffee table and began to fill it with snacks.

"I wished I could have convinced you guys to try to make it to the game tonight." Bailey said.

"It's against Gary's nature to have fun." Chuck said.

"Hey now, Chuck.  Gary's a fun guy."  Bailey defended.

Gary wiggled his eyebrows.  "Yeah, I'm a fun guy.   I can't help it if I don't want to be away from my wife any more than I have to." He replied.
 
"You are so whooped, buddy." Chuck laughed.
 
"And what is wrong with that?" Emily demanded. "I think it's sweet how he wants to be with her.  You could learn a thing or  two from your friend there Chuck."
 
"Will it get me a date with you, if I did?" Chuck asked, a hopeful expression on his face.
 
Emily cocked her head. "It might."
 
Chuck looked shocked and quickly glanced around the room to make sure he had witnesses to her declaration.
 
"Well, Chucko it's a start." Bernie laughed.

"I'll start getting some of this mess cleaned up." Lois stated. "Bernie will you help me?"
 
Emily leaned over and whispered something in Chuck's ear. They got up.
 
"You're not leaving? It's only half time." Gary asked. It was seldom he got to spend time like this with his friends and family and he hated for it to end.
 
"Naw, we'll be right back. We're just going to get a breath of fresh air." Chuck offered.
 
"When do you think those two will stop arguing long enough to see that they are crazy about each other?" He asked.
 
"Oh, I think they see it. They just don't want to admit it." Bailey answered.
~~~~~~~~

Chuck and Emily sat down in the porch swing.

"Why did you want to come out here?" Chuck asked her.

"It's a nice night."

"And?"

"And, nothing. What?"

Chuck stood up.

"Look Emily. We've been dancing around each other since Gary's wedding. Every time I ask you out, you say no. I'm just gonna come right out and say it. I like you, I really like you and with this whole ordeal with Bailey has really let me know how fragile life is and how precious time is. If I don't have a shot with you. Let me know, so I can go off and lick my wounds. But if there is the remotest possibility that you like me, don't waste any more of our precious time together." Chuck said, opening his heart to her.
 
Emily was quiet for a moment. She gazed into his cobalt blue eyes.  His emotions so evident in them. She reached out and took his hand she stood up and took a step closer to him. He stood there looking at her. His heart beating so hard he thought it might burst through his chest. Then she kissed him.  His eyes opened wide in surprise, then closed as he pulled her closer.
~~~~~~~~~
 
"What are Chuck and Emily doing outside?" Bernie asked as he and Lois entered the room and sat down.

"Probably fighting." Gary offered.

"They've been out there a while.  Should someone check on them?" Lois wondered.

"I'm sure they'll be in soon." Bailey said as she reached for her glass and tried to stand up. "Here, let me get it for you." Gary offered.
 
"No, I can get it. I need to get up and move around anyway. I'm getting stiff just sitting here."
 
Bailey entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She retrieved the bottled water and filled her glass. As she shut the  refrigerator door she felt a sharp pain in her lower back. She grabbed the counter. She stood there for a few seconds and waited for the pain to ease off. She rubbed her belly and spoke to her unborn child.
 
"I hope you come pretty soon sweetie. I don't know how much longer my back can take this. You're getting awfully heavy."
 
She returned to the living room just as Emily and Chuck came back into the house. Chuck's hair was standing straight up on the right side.
 
Gary chuckled and nodded at Chuck and ran his hand over his own hair, indicating to Chuck he needed to do the same.
 
"Wind picking up out there, Chucko?" Bernie teased. "You're face is a little flushed."
 
They all laughed. "Has the game started back up?" Chuck asked, trying to change the subject.

Bailey kept fidgeting in her chair. Not able to find a comfortable position.
 
"What's the matter?" Gary asked.
 
"Oh, my back has been hurting the last couple of hours." Bailey admitted.
 
"Why don't you go on upstairs and go to bed. Maybe stretching out will make you feel better." Lois suggested.
 
"I think I will. If you all will excuse me."
 
"I'll be right back." Gary said as he helped Bailey up.
 
He held onto her arm as they went up the stairs and he waited till she was ready for bed.  Bailey crawled in and stretched out.
 
"Better?" He asked. She nodded her head 'yes'. The cat jumped up and made himself at home next to her. Gary began to  massage her back for her, relaxing the muscles and soon she drifted off to sleep.
 

Chapter 17
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Daddy can you buckle my shoes?"

Gary looked up to see his daughter, looking every bit like a live doll, walk into the living room.

"Come here sweatpea." He said patting his leg.

She was wore a navy velvet dress with a white lace collar, the skirt full with crinolins underneath.  He lifted her onto his lap and she handed him her mary jane slippers which he put on her feet and buckled. Her hair was the color of her mothers and was as silky smooth.

"How do I look daddy?" She asked as she hopped down and twirled around.

"You're pretty as a picture, hon."

"What about me?" Bailey asked as she walked into the room, wearing a black lace dress. Her hair piled on her head.

She took his breath away.

"You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." He stated, closing the distance between them. He kissed her softly.

He felt a tug on his pants leg.

"Prettier than me daddy?"

Gary bent and picked up his daughter. "You are by far the prettiest little girl I've ever seen, sweetie."

"Gary, honey. It's time to go." Bailey said.
 

"Gary....Gary...Honey, it's time. Wake up."

"Huh? What!" Gary sat up in bed. His hair sticking up as straight as he was sitting.

"What is it?" He asked, looking at his wife sitting calmly on the edge of the bed.

He inhaled the fresh scent of her. Her face was scrubbed clean and her hair was pulled back off her face in a ponytail. He rubbed his eyes. Was he still dreaming?

"Gary, come on, get up. You need to get ready to go to the hospital."

The word hospital snapped him out of his stupor.

"Hospital? Is it time?"

He threw off the covers and stood up and literally ran across the bed. He jumped off the bed and hit the floor running.

"Gary, calm down.....Gary!" She repeated more sternly.

"Huh. What?"

"Go take a shower. I'll get your clothes ready and go wake up your parents." She informed him.

"But?"

"We have time. Just be quick about it. Now go on." Bailey instructed.

Gary grabbed her and quickly kissed her.

"I love you." He said.

"Hurry!" She laughed.

She picked out items of clothing for him to wear and laid them across the bed.

Another contraction hit and she sat down on the bed and began breathing and timing.

This one was longer than the last and closer together. When it eased off, she got up and made her way to the guest room where Bernie and Lois had stayed since her accident.

She tapped lightly on the door. "Lois?"

The door opened quickly. "Is it time?"

Bailey nodded.

"Bernie, get up. It's time to go." Lois called out.

"What time is it?" He grumbled and rolled over.

"It's 3:30 in the morning. Your grandchild is ready to come into this world. Now get you hind end out of bed this minute." Lois replied impatiently.

"Huh? What? Oh!"

Bernie got up and ran across the bed just as Gary had done. Bailey couldn't help but laugh.

"Bernie, calm down." Lois soothed.

"How far apart are your contractions?" Lois asked, retunring her attention to Bailey.

"They've been about seven minutes apart but the last one came at 6 minutes." Bailey informed her.

"Why didn't you wake us up sooner?"

"I didn't see any point in waking everybody up  to wait.  It's just been the last 30 minutes that the contractions have started coming closer." Bailey explained.

"Honey you go sit down. We'll be ready in a minute."

Bailey walked back to her bedroom. Another pain hit her as she sat down. This one harder.

"Owwww!" She cried out.

"Bailey?" Gary said as he entered the room wearing a towel.

He sat down next to her. Concern etched on his face.

Bailey was trying her hardest to remember how to breath. The pain was so intense.

Gary took hold of her hand and stroked her hair.

As it started to ease off she said. "Maybe you better hurry now."

Gary got up and quickly changed. He picked up Bailey's bag and helped her downstairs.  Lois and Bernie joined them.

"Dad can you bring the Jeep around?" Gary asked holding out the keys.

Another contraction hit Bailey and she doubled over.

"Hurry, Bernie." Lois ordered.

"Oh God, Gary. I don't want to do this any more." Bailey cried.

He laughed nervously. "It's a little late to decide that now, don'tcha think?"
 

Chapter 18
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gary yelled out loud.

"Mr. Hobson?" The nurse questioned.

Tears of pain escaped his eyes. He extracted his hand from Bailey's grip when the contraction ended. He shook his hand.  Hoping the pain would subside.

"You hurt me." He accused.

She looked up at him and wiped the sweat from her brow.

"You want to trade places?" She snapped.

Another contraction started. Gary gave Bailey his other hand.

"Okay Bailey. This is it. Give me one good push." The doctor instructed.

Gary helped Bailey sit up. As she pushed he gritted his teeth and strained with her. He didn't know how she did this. He was wore out.

Bailey screamed out and Gary heard the baby cry.

"Congratulations! You have a son!" The doctor announced.

Gary peered over to see the baby. He was crying loudly and protesting the handling he was getting.

"Can you see him? Is he okay?" Bailey asked.

Gary turned to look at her with a smile that lit up his whole face.

"He's perfect." He laughed. "Thank you!  We have a son.  We have a son!"

He leaned over and kissed her, both of them laughing through tears of joy.

The nurse wrapped the baby and handed him to Bailey.

"He's so beautiful." She said proudly. "Oh, Gary look at him."  Words could not describe the happiness she felt.

The nurse took the baby from Bailey and handed him to Gary.

"Come with me Mr. Hobson. We need to get your son cleaned up." The nurse stated.
 
"But.." He said looking back at Bailey, who had started having another contraction.

"Your job is done. The doctor will take it from here."

He quickly kissed Bailey's forehead. "I love you."

Gary looked up as he entered the nursery to see his parents, Marissa, Emmit, Chuck and Emily standing at the window waiting impatiently. He held up his son for them to see.

"We've got a son." He mouthed.

Gary had never seen his dad cry but Bernie  was wiping tears from his face. Gary looked down at his son who had his eyes wide open.

"That's your grandma and grandpa out there." He said pointing to his parents. The baby cooed.

"Mr. Hobson. May I have the baby?" A nurse asked.

"Oh, sure." He replied, handing the baby to the her.

He took off his scrubs and made his way to the waiting room.

His mother grabbed him the second he walked in.

"Mom, you're squishing me." He laughed.

Bernie shook his hand then pulled him into a hug also.

"Marissa." Gary said softly as he pulled her to him.

If it hadn't been for all of Marissa's support and sometimes not so gentle prodding he wouldn't be having this moment, he thought.

"You're welcome." Marissa whispered.

Gary pulled back. "How do you do that?"

She smiled and shrugged.

"Well, Gar. You're a dad. How does it feel?"  Chuck asked, shaking Gary's hand.

"It's the best feeling in the world, Chuck. The best feeling in the world."

"How's Bailey?" Emily asked.

"She's fine. I don't know how she did it. I don't know how any woman does it." Gary replied scratching his head. "My poor hand will never be the same." He said holding out his bruised hand for inspection.

"Well at least you got to witness it. I had to sit in a waiting room pacing back and forth wondering what the heck was going on in the delivery room." Bernie complained.

"You would have never made it in the delivery room with me Bernie. You get queazy if you cut your finger." Lois teased.

"Well, you won't find me in the delivery room when my wife has kids. No sir.  That elevator was the closest I ever want to be to child birth." Chuck stated.

"You were passed out through it all." Gary stated dryly.

"And what was wrong with that? I'm telling you there is too much fluid with child birth.  And your kid better not ever throw up on me Gary." Chuck warned.

"So you are saying you don't want to have kids?" Emily asked.

"Oh, I don't mind having kids. I just don't want them drooling, wetting and spitting up on me." Chuck shivered.

"I'll wager that's all about to change, Chuck" Marissa laughed.

"This will be the baby's first Thanksgiving.  I'll have to make something special." Lois realized.

"The baby can't eat yet, Lo." Bernie stated.

She slapped his arm.  "I know that silly.  I meant for all of us. This will be a wonderful Thanksgiving." She sighed.

"Yes, it will.  Bailey and the baby are fine.  And we have you." Gary said, hugging his mother.

"Have you given the baby a name?" Emmit asked.

"Gene Travis Hobson." Gary said proudly.

"Mr. Hobson. Your wife is in her room if you all  would like to see her." A nurse informed them.

They all headed down the hall to Bailey's room. Gary held back for a minute to look through the window of the nursery.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see his dad standing next to him.

"Quite a feeling, isn't it son?" Bernie asked.

"Oh yeah."

"I remember the first time I laid eyes on you.  I thought my chest would explode."

Gary looked over at his dad and saw him through new eyes.  He no longer saw him as the goofy guy who always seemed to be interfering in his life.  Now he saw a man who had worked, saved, and scrimped to give Gary the things Bernie had never had. Bernie had always been there for him no matter what. Just as Gary was going to be there for his son.

"Thanks, Dad."

Surprised, Bernie asked. "For what?"

"For everything."

"You're welcome, son." He patted Gary on his back.  "I hope Gene there makes you as proud of him as I have been of you."

He turned and walked down the hall to Bailey's room.

Gary sighed and leaned his head against the nursery window and looked at his son.  A small smile played across his face.

Chapter Nineteen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
One more day
One more time
One more sunset
maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still
For one more day with you
         *Diamond Rio*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Gary was propped up on his elbow. His head resting on his hand, watching Bailey sleep.

He found himself doing this a lot lately. After she would drift off to sleep he would lie awake and watch her. Afraid she might disappear. He had come closer to losing her than he ever wanted to be again.

He thought back to how empty his life had been before he met her. Sure, he had some of the best friends a guy could ever ask for. Wonderful parents, a thriving business and tomorrow's newspaper and a cat. But he hadn't been complete till Bailey walked, actually fell, into his life.

All those years he had grumbled about the paper, not wanting it, and wishing it would go away. But because of the paper and whoever sent it, he had this beautiful woman sleeping beside him and a new baby just across the hall.

Gary heard a small cry come through the monitor. He quietly got up and put his robe on and made his way to the nursery.

Gary turned on the lamp and walked over to the crib and looked down at his small son.

"Hey buddy." Gary said as he picked Gene up.

"Are you having trouble sleeping? Come here. Daddy will rock you and see if he can get you back to sleep."

Gary settled into the rocker and positioned the baby in the crook of his arm.

Baby Gene made little cooing and squeaking noises.

He took the baby's tiny hand in his.
 
Bailey slowly opened her eyes and realized Gary wasn't in bed with her.

"Are you hungry or did you just want some company?" She heard Gary say over the baby monitor.

She got up and put on her robe and quietly made her way across the hall.

"That's okay. I don't mind keeping you company." He whispered to his son.

The baby grasped hold of Gary's finger and looked up at him.

This was his son. He finally had what he had longed for most of his life.

"Would you like to hear a story? Hmm, how about I tell you how I met your mom? It happened one night when she had got herself into a little fix and she was in dire need of a hero. This is where I come in. See, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time." Gary chuckled softly.
 
"Your mom was taking pictures on the Lake St. Bridge and ended up hanging on for dear life. I pulled her back on solid ground and when she finally let go of me, she did hold on quite a while......."

Bailey stood in the doorway and couldn't help but smile as she watched her husband with their son.

"......I thought she was quite possibly the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. But, I didn't fall in love with her till the night on the ferris wheel at Navy Pier. I tell you son, I've never felt anything like what I felt that night. I knew then and there she would own my heart forever. Of course, I wasn't so sure I could win her's but fate shined on me. I just hope one day you are as lucky as I was."

The baby's eyes closed, lulled to sleep by the soothing sound of his fathers voice, his breathing became softer.
 
"Do you know how much I love you, little guy? And how much I love your mommy? And how very grateful I am to have you both?"

Gary leaned down and kissed the baby's forehead.

He ran his thumb over the baby's fingers, that were still wrapped tightly around his forefinger.

Bailey shifted her position and Gary looked up to see her leaning against the door frame. His heart sped up at the sight of her. He was such a lucky man.

"How long have you been standing there?" He asked.

"Oh, a little while." She smiled. "You never told me that."

"Told you what?"

"That you fell in love with me on the ferris wheel."

"I, I, I just thought you knew."

"No, I didn't. Why then?" She asked softly.

"Because, you didn't really want to ride it and you did anyway. You rode it because I wanted to. I don't know. It's silly." He blushed.

"No it isn't."

"Well, when did you fall in love with me?" He wondered.

"When did I fall in love with you? Actually it was when you pulled me up from the bridge railing. When I, finally, let go of you and looked into your eyes, I saw something there I had never seen in a man before. I just wanted to get lost there forever. I was so flustered all I could think of to say was here call me, I'll take your picture for free. That was just the stupidest thing to say." Bailey confessed.

"It wasn't stupid.  You were really flustered?" He asked, flattered.

"Yes, I was. But I'm glad I got past it." She said, smiling at him.

He looked back down at the baby in his arms.

"Look's like he's asleep." He whispered as he stood and put him back in the crib.

Bailey walked up next to Gary and peered in at her sleeping son.

Gary wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head.

"I'm sorry if we woke you." Gary stated.

"Don't be sorry. I'm glad I woke up. I love watching you with our son." She replied softly.

"Everyday, I think I love you as much as I possibly can and then the next day. I love you more." He proclaimed.

Bailey turned in his arms and sighed. She leaned her head against his chest.

Gary stroked her hair.

"When you were in the hospital. I prayed for one more day with you. But a million more days isn't going to be enough time with you."

She raised her head and looked at him. Her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I promised you I'd never leave you."

"I'm going to hold you to that promise." He put his hand gently under her chin. Her looked at her intently.

All the love he felt for her reflected in her eyes.  He tilted her face to his and he kissed her softly.

~~~The End~~~~

Email the author: darbyross@webtv.net
 

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