Just the Two of Us
~ * * * ~

	Jax was shaken to his very core. He looked at his new bride passed out on the settee and didn't know what to do. He put Simon down on the carpet next to him and went to Gene. He tried to wake her, but she didn't respond. He became more and more anxious and began to shout - "Gene, baby! Please, wake up! What's wrong -- Oh, God, Gene, please speak to me - Gene - Gene!" At this point Simon became frightened by the yelling and started to wail. The commotion brought Leila and Mike running in from their room down the hall. Leila came into the room and found Jax leaning over Gene, visably upset. She went over to pick up and comfort Simon to stop him from crying. Mike immediately went to Gene to see if he could help. He put a hand on Jax' shoulder and said, "I'm a doctor, let me have a look at her." Jax didn't want to leave Gene's side, but Mike insisted so he stepped aside and let Mike take care of Gene. Mike unbuttoned her shirt and checked her heartbeat, and then took her blood pressure. He told Jax that her pressure was high and was probably caused by the stress. He asked Jax when the last time she saw a doctor was and that a woman in her condition should be closely monitored. Jax was shaken and tried to concentrate, and then said, "I don't know - I didn't even know she was pregnant until about a week ago! I don't know when she saw a doctor last." At that point, Gene began to stir. She was moaning softly as she tried to focus on her surroundings. "What....what...." she began. Mike told her to relax, that she was safe and not to worry. Then he told Jax to help her get undressed and into bed and he would examine her more closely.
Jax helped Gene into her nightgown and carried her into bed. Mike and Leila returned. Jax was standing next to the bed feeling helpless holding Gene's hand. Leila, still holding his son in her arms, came over and put her hand on Jax' shoulder. Gene looked up at Mike and asked, "Who are you?" The mood in the room lightened a bit, and Mike explained that he and Leila had gotten married only 2 nights before. "Married!" Gene cried - "you got married?" At this point, Jax turned to look at Leila and asked her the same question. Leila and Mike explained that they met at the hospital Christmas party and have been dating ever since. "It happened so fast, Jax!" Leila exclaimed. "I'm so happy, Jax, and I hope you're happy for me too!" "Of course I'm happy for you," Jax said, "I just wish I could have been here to walk you down the aisle." "It wasn't like that, Jax," Leila said, "we had a very quiet, intimate ceremony here. Only Mother, Max and Madra, and Mike's sister was here." Mike finished his examination and told Gene that she needed rest. He warned them both that Gene needed less stress and that she should go see her own physician the next day. When Gene explained that she didn't have an obstretrician, Mike told her he would give her a referral. "But now," Mike said, "doctor's orders - get some rest! And, when was the last time you ate something?" He and Leila then left the couple alone.
	Jax propped Gene up with several pillows, made sure she was comfortable and then left saying that he would return in just a few minutes. When Jax returned, he was carrying a tray with a cup of hot tea with honey and a bagel for Gene. "I made you something to eat," he said. "I know it's not much, but I'm not much of a chef." "Oh, Jax," Gene exclaimed with tears in her eyes, "how thoughtful of you!" "I guess I am a little hungry." Jax placed the tray on her lap and crawled in bed next to her. "I'm so sorry Gene," he began, "I should have taken better care of you. I should have realized that you ate practically nothing on the plane, and we never stopped for dinner. I'm so sorry, baby." Gene took a sip of her tea, set the cup down, and said, "Jax, please don't worry. I'm fine, really. I didn't mean to alarm you. I promise I'll go see that doctor Mike recommend tomorrow." Jax replied, "Oh, I know you will, baby, because I intend to take you!"
After Gene finished her tea and bagel, Jax turned off the light and tucked her in and made sure she was comfy. "Gene," he began, "I have to tell you how scared I was tonight. Until now, I hadn't realized how very much you and the baby mean to me. The thought of losing you or the baby scares me! I love you so much, baby, I really do. I promise to make you happy. And, I promise I will be a good Dad to our little one." Gene was bone weary, but managed to say, "Oh, Jax.....I love you, too.....I know you'll be a good Daddy, I just know it.....I...love...you..." and then she fell asleep. Jax couldn't take his eyes off her. He was afraid that if he let go, she might slip away from him. He looked at her peacful and beautiful face and thought how fortunate he was to have her in his life. And now, she's going to give me a child, he thought. Oh, I hope it's a little girl with bright red hair just like her! He didn't know how long he lay there, just watching her sleep, reassured by the gentle heaving of her chest. He just knew that this was where he belonged, with her.

~ * * * ~

	Meanwhile, Leila had put Simon back to sleep in his crib. She returned to their room and found Mike waiting for her. She sat down on the bed next to him and he put his arm around her. "Oh, Mike," Leila began, "I'm so sorry about all of this. This is supposed to be our honeymoon, and....." her voice trailed off. "Shhh..." Mike replied, "it's OK honey, once all this is over, we'll have that honeymoon! I promise, and it'll be wonderful! We'll go somewhere beautiful and spend all our time alone together!" "Oh, Mike, you are so wonderful. I'm sure you're wondering how you got mixed up in my crazy family by now." Mike let out a little chuckle and said, "Oh, honey, your family isn't crazy - just a little, er...interesting!" They both started to laugh then, but Mike took her hand and said, "Honey, I think we do have to talk about getting our own place, though. We could move into my apartment, but it's a little small. I thought we might start looking for a home of our own." "Oh, Mike, how can I leave my mother now? She needs us! Besides, we really don't need a big place of our own, do we?"
"Well, I was hoping to tell you my news under better circumstances, but perhaps now is just the right time!" "News?" Leila began, "what news?! Are you keeping secrets from me already," she laughed. "Well, honey, I know how much you have been wanting this and I wanted to make it my wedding gift to you. I've arranged for us to adopt April! I knew you had put in the application, but I just speeded the process up a bit, and, of course, the fact that we're married now helped!" Leila let out a little squeel and in a flash she was in Mike's arms. "Oh, Mike, tell me you're not joking!" Mike laughed and pulled her into his arms, "Honey, would I lie to you! April will be our daughter!" "Oh, Mike this is the most glorious present anyone has ever given me! When.... when can we take her home?!" "Slow down, honey, it'll happen. We just have to finalize some papers and make sure she's well enough to leave the hospital...." But, Leila wasn't listening, she was so excited she could hardly contain herself. But then she looked at Mike seriously and said, "Mike, are you sure this is what you want too?"
	"Leila, that little girl has been my patient for several months now, and I have grown to love her as much as you do! When I found out you had started adoption proceedings, I just knew it was meant to be." "Oh, Mike, I love you so much. And now, we're going to be a family - I have dreamed of this for so long, never daring to believe it would ever happen for me. But now.....you have made my dream come true," she said with tears in her eyes. "Leila, I love you, too. I want you to know that I haven't forgotten about finding your daughter, either. I will continue to look until I find her - that's a promise. You and your daughter will be reunited." Leila was speechless, eyes glowing with tears. She tried to speak, but the words just wouldn't come out. Mike thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He pulled her closer and kissed her.
"That's one of the reasons why I want us to have our own home, honey," Mike began. "Not that I don't love your family, but I think we should start our own family, in our own home." Leila looked at Mike and said, "I don't mind us getting our own home, Mike, I just don't want to rush into it. I want to make sure my mother is alright before we do anything. Is that's alright with you?" Mike smiled and said, "Leila, honey, there is nothing I could refuse you." He pulled her into his arms and began kissing her again, murmuring words of love in her ear.
	Mike and Leila lost themselves in each other. For a little while all their family problems disappeared and they were the only two who existed.
Afterwards Mike held Leila in his arms and expressed again how very much he loved her. "Oh, Leila," he said, "one day we'll have a house full of children! I was hoping that after we found your daughter, we could begin on a little boy!" Leila looked at Mike with a strange expression on her face. "Oh, Mike," she began. "I thought you understood! I .... I can no longer bear any children!" She burried her head in Mike's shoulder then and began to weep. Mike held her close trying to take in what he had heard, feeling his dreams slipping away......

To be continued.......