From: The Puck This is a fic I got an Idea for from Mommy meach.. She doesn't know she did it.. but If she gets offended and I don't think she will. I can't really explain how she gave it too me but after talking to her.. I got this GREAT FIC IDEA!!! I took very special care not to offend and as I said once, If in any way I have ofended thihk but this and all is mended that you have but slumbered here, while these visions did appear, gentles do not reprehand, if you pardon I will mend. Now to scape the serpents toungue we shall make amends ere long Or else the Puck a lair call. So good night unto you all. Take my hands if we be friends and Robin shall restore amends!!! THANK YOU MOMMY MEACH!!! SMOOCHES!!! One Night Stand Disclaimer: I own no one and I have 20$ in my wallet right now.. not much youre gonna get outta me! Archivers: please ask first mkay? Jessie woke that morning with a sharp pain in her stomach. 'Ugh I bet it was Kii's chinese food!' she thought. "Uh oh, I'm gonna throw up." she thought, vaulted out of bed and projected into the bathroom. she kneeled and prayed to the porcelain god for about ten minutes. then she realized it wasn't Kii's food that was upsetting her. It was Paul. Three weeks before she'd gotten so drunk because of new years, she couldn't say one sensible word to save her life, and little pink elephants had been doing the Macerena Around her head. She was shocked when she did a home pregnancy test. And it came out positive. Oh, God I don't want to get an abortion, but I don't want to have this kid alone. she thought. Jonny walked solemnly through the SuperMart and picked out his groceries, and walked down the frozen ice cream section. He was reaching for a box of Strawberry/chocolate cream when he accidentally bumped heads with A red-headed Green-eyed woman about his age. "Sorry, I didn't look before crossing the frozen food road." She joked pushing some of her red wine hair behind her ear. She thought he was gorgeous.'He can't be any more than 27!' she thought. And with his Honey gold hair cut neatly to his shoulders and his icy blue eyes concealed by wire framed glasses she didn't know whether he was a stud accountant or a brainy GQ model. He couldn't believe his eyes. Even when his optometrist had dubbed him, His royal Nearsightedness, nothing he had seen had been this clear. She was stunning. A red cloud of hair framed her tan face. She had just a faint smattering of freckles on her nose and her green eyes reflected emerald gems. Her lips were slightly parted to reveal white teeth and a pretty smile. She wore a pair of tight overalls with a black shirt. He wore a blue t-shirt with the words "Quest Enterprising" emblazoned on the front pocket. "You work for Jonathan Quest?" she asked innocently. "I am Jonathan Quest, but all my friends call me Jonny." He said over the basket. "Wow! I mean we just did a really big merger with yo guys! I'm head of Bannon Electronics!" "You mean that new computer gig the 7402Model with all the neat little gadgets?" he asked excitedly She nodded wildly. "hey I gotta admit that I always wanted to meet the brain behind the business." Jonny said. "Really? Oh God look, at us we are business conglomerates and wer'e acting like children meeting their favorite movie star." jessie said laughing. "Hey you wanna go for some coffee?" Jonny said. "Sure" She replied and they walked out, leaving their groceries for all to see. Jessie tapped the table with her fingertips as she waited for the waiter to come with their coffee. she glanced at Jonny who was polishing his glasses with his shirttail. "Huh, a star executive using his shirttail. any other I know would have used a napkin." Jessie said trying to start a conversation. "I'm not like any star employer you might know." He remarked slipping them back on and resting his head on his palm. "Well, it's nice to meet another oddball like me." He cocked his head to the side and displayed a smile so sweet that would make your teeth rot. What do you mean 'oddball'?" he asked. "well, I am not exactly normal when it comes to business. All my employees speak slang and when I meet one in the hallway at work they always say something like, "Hey Ms. B! What's up? Or "Jessie, the printer in my cubical's busted, we really need some new ones. They're just not scared of me and that's why were'e so popular. They actually WANT to work for me." She explained. The waiter came up with their coffee and jessie said, "Oh man, Just wait a minute, ok? I'll be right back." And she streaked to the ladies room upsetting a pail of mop water. When she returned he asked her. "what was that all about?" Jessie searched her brain for a reasonable excuse and finding none, she said "I'm pregnant. Just one of life's little miracles." She said sipping the dark liquid. "Wow. Who's the father?" Jonny said. "New Year's eve. I have no earthly idea, and I don't think he knows either. Now you're probobly disgusted with me, so if you want to leave, I won't stop you." She said and bit her lip. Jonny remebered New Years. He had gotten so drunk he couldn't tell the difference between men and women. To Jessie's surprize, he didn't even flinch. He'd used his friends name that night so no-one would know it was the big shot Quest himself. "Wow Youre' brave." Jessie remarked. "Why?" He asked interested. "Because I've told you I'm pregnant and you didn't even blink. You acted as if You hang around pregant women all day." Jonny sighed and drank deeply of the dark brew and said "The office is full of them. Although most are on Maternity leave for about a month after birth, they just keep doing it, and I don't know If I'll ever see one day of my life without at least one Pregnant woman ." He said hoping it didn't offend her. Apparently it didn't. "Well, that's nice to know. At least you don't feel all sorry for me, because all my buddies are and it makes me feel like I did somthing wrong. Like it was ALL my fault and it's an undesirable state of being." She gushed. Jonny looked at his watch. He took a napkin tore it in half and wrote; "Jonny Quest 17 Newport Dr. 885-9737." He then handed it to her. Finally the message got to her that he wanted her phone # and address. She wrote "Jessie Bannon 9113 Nikita Cr. 885-2489." She handed it to him and said "I have to get going, I have a Dr.'s appointment, I'm going to get a DNA test to see who's it is, so If I ever need a reference I'll have one. I was nice meeting and seeing you and I hope we can do it again real soon." Jonny shook her hand and he said "Yeah. I'll probably send you a card or somthing. But, how about dinner? Monday?" She brightened. "Sure. What time?" He thought. "Um. how about 7? I have a biggie conference at three and I get off at 6 so you know.." She nodded. "Well. I guess I'll see you then huh?" Jessie nodded, her heart fullof hope. AS she sped down the Hyway in her silver BMW, she started thinking about a long term relationship with Jonathan Quest. She could make it work, but he wouldn't want to help raise a kid that wasn't his. Would he?" "Ms. Bannon, I found a match. I think you'll be very surprised." Jessie looked up from the seat. "So it wasn't some out-of-towner. Ok. Give me a name." She urged. Dr. Hobinski looked at his clipboard. "Are you sure you want it?" He was teasing her. "Yes damn you I want to know who the father of this baby is." she said laughing. He once again looked nervously at his papers. "You know the big Tycoon, Jonathan Quest right?" She nodded. "Yeah we just had a really big merger." She replied. "He's the only one in Rockport Maine who matches your child's DNA. You lucky S.O.B." Jessie's heart hit the floor, then went sailing up into the sky. Her brain registered this and she decided not to tell Jonny until dinner. Monday morning, when Jessie got up to get the paper, She found nine white roses lying on her doorstep. She picked them up and read the small card that was attached. "To the beautiful pregnant woman who I'm taking to dinner. Each rose stands for each month I'll be by your side to help. Jonny." She looked at her flat belly. "Look we got a card from your daddy." And to her surprise, she swore she saw a bit of flesh move slightly as if the kid inside her already knew. Jonny would be floored by the confession, but if his reaction to her being pregnant was any indication, he wouldn't even be phased. Jonny pulled up to 9113 Nikita Cr. and got out of the Mercedes Benz. He straightened his tie, and walked up the driveway, the house was well, decorated with shrubs surrounding the porch and creeper roses climbing up to the second floor balcony. The gardener stared at him before running inside the house screaming in Russian. Jonny just shook his head and admired the architecture of the whole building. It was probably seventeenth century style, with the little chinese garden on the side. With it's little bridge and systematically placed rocks, it looked quite homey and calm. He saw the columns and thought that they were probably Corinthian. The front porch was concrete and it had a fashionable oak swing on the left, and spanish moss pots on the right. He reached to ring the bell, and the door opened as if told. There stood the most beautiful woman he had seen. Jessie was dressed in her best black dress. It had a square-type neck that dipped low to show a bit of cleavage, and it's sleeves doubled back on themselves and the dress itself was long and it rained at her ankles like a waterfall. It hung loosely but still clung to each curve, and told of the personality of it's wearer. She had a tiny black bag, and one of the white rosebuds he'd sent her was pinned to the upper right corner, near her shoulder. "You look marvelous. What was the gardener so ticked off about?" he asked. She glanced behind her to the middle aged woman dusting the banisters. "Oh that was just Enya, she gets upset when I invite strangers to my house. She says they Dirty up her nice clean floors." she explained. "Yeah, but isn't Enya and Irish name?" he asked as they walked to the Mercedes. "Yeah, her mom is Irish and her dad was from Lithuania. It's along story that I don't care to tell." she said. Jonny just shrugged and opened the passenger side door for her. They pulled up to The White Piano restaurant and they were ushered in by a gaggle of waiters. They sat at the table nearest the band, and ordered their meal. "Uh, I'll have the Mock turtle soup, Waldorf salad, and the house white." He said. The waiter turned to Jessie. "I'll take Venison, with Mushroom sauce, Crouton salad and the red." she said. "You have good taste. He said Fingering the entree's and wondering whether to have the little shrimps or the mussels. The waiter returned shortly with the food. Jessie took good-sized bites and sipped her red wine. Jonny compared the red of the wine to Jessie's hair and thought to himself. 'No contest, Jessie's hair is more appealing hand's down.' Jessie caught herself staring at the rich blue of Jonny's eyes and was immediately reminded of a spring afternoon. It was after she finished her first glass of Chartreuse before she started to say something, but he said something first. "So how's your DNA test go? " Jessie nearly choked on a crouton and she managed to say; "I found out who the father is." she said trying not to burst out. He listened intently. "Who?" Jessie briefly wished that the child would look just like it's father. "By any chance did you go by the name Paul Fencer on New Years?" she said no skipping a bite. HIs adams apple grew to twice it's normal size; "Yes. I didn't want anyone to know it was me." He said trying to dislodge the bump, with a hearty swallow of Charddonay. "Then it's true. You're the father." Jonny saw Jessie leaning over him with a worried look on her face. "Are you ok?" She asked. Jonny blinked. "what do you remember?" He racked his brain for an answer. "" We were talking about the baby, and I thought you said that it was mine." He looked down at his favorite tux, which had a red wine stain right on the middle. He sighed and let his mind drift back into unconsciousness. He once again surfaced but there were different surroundings. He was in a cherry sleigh bed with a dark red satin canopy with sheets to match. He was still in his dress shirt but his shoes were off and a glass of water was at the bedside. He tried to sit up but Jessie pushed him back down. "Wha?" He breathed. "Yes I dragged you in here, took off your shoes and your jacket's in the dryer." jessie said as she smiled. She didn't have the dress on anymore. Elegant splendor was replaced by comfortable fashion. She was wearing a baggy sweater with Harvard University, sported on the front. Her sweats were dark blue and she wore cute chipmunk slippers with silly plastic grins and eyes. He put a hand to his face and noticed his glasses were missing. "Where are my glasses?" He said looking around. The only thing he could see clearly was Jessie. She picked an object off of the dark Sandalwood dresser and handed it to him. He slipped his glasses and his world was right again. As his eyes got adjusted to the dim light of the room, he could see the paintings. The Monet and the Edvard Munk. A mona Lisa replica Stood on the side, it hadn't been fully unwrapped yet. His eyes homed in on a pile of books. He nodded towards them, "You read much?" He asked. She laughed. "It's almost all I ever do. My readers are shot though." She picked up a leather case and opened it to show her reading glasses. "You wear them too?" He asked taking them in one hand. She shook her head slightly. "Not all the time, only when I read." she explained She handed him one of the thicker books. It was (Heres a cameo) Mary Rose's Dark whispers. He turned the book over to see the photo. "Do you have any more of her novels?" He asked. She nodded."I have two. On from Darkness and her new one, Mark of the witch." He thought for a minute. "Oh, Mark of the witch is with us in it isn't it? Crazy how we agreed and we hadn't even met huh?" She started to blush, but she prayed that in the darkness he couldn't se it. "You were just joking about me being the father right?" He asked worried. She shook her head profusely. "I wish I was. But when Dr. Hobinski told me you were the only match, I didn't know what to say, what to think. I hoped that after I told you, you might want to stay a friend. " She said, an unexpected and unwanted tear slipping from her eye. Jonny took her hand in his and his crystalline eyes seemed to glow with an azure flame in the candlelight. "I am a man of a certain honor. If you're carrying my baby, I have the right to help you. To keep the promise I wrote on the card. If you'll let me." He said softly, knowing that the wrong word or tone would make her believe that he was doing this out of pity. He leaned forward and captured her lean body in a hug. As he slid his arms around her body, he felt a sense of belonging, as if the entire world had stood still just for them. She welcomed his affection as a trusting friend would. She returned it when she hugged back tighter. And as unexpectedly as a winter storm, he turned his head slightly so that their lips met. The contact was feather light, but it still sent a shock wave coursing through her body. It was only a instant, then he pulled back and said, "Should you move in with me or me with you?" Part 2... From: The Puck Jessie pulled the box that contained all her books into the spare room. Jonny came up from behind and put his hand on her shoulder and said "Hey you go sit down, I'll take care of it." Jessie wiped the thin sheen of sweat off of her forehead. "Thanks, I'll go get some tea. You want some?" She asked. He nodded and said "You look great today, I really mean that." She huffed a little and said "Thank you. You know, you've been really sweet all day, are you sick?" She joked. He shook his head. He was wearing Levis with a Ralph Lauren Polo shirt, his shoulder length blonde hair was tied back with one of Jessie's ponytail holders. As Jessie ran downstairs she felt a little more than blatant friendship with Jonny. He had been going out of his way for her since nine that morning. What was so spacial about today that he would do that? She continued to stew about this as she got the pitcher of tea from the huge white Whirlpool fridge. Her red jump suit was feeling a little tight, and she knew that before long, she wouldn't be able to fit into it at all. She put a few teaspoons of sugar into the glasses and smiled to Enya, who was again dusting the banisters, the middle aged Irish-Russian mix was really a pretty sight, if you could forget her drab wardrobe. She started to walk up the stairway when she thought about her next appointment and lamaze class. She ran the rest of the way up. "Jonny! what day is it?" she said breathing heavy. "Uh, Saturday. Why?" Jessie looked at her brand new Citizen watch. "Were'e late for that Amniocentesis test! AND Lamaze!" Jonny thought for a minute. "Skip Lamaze I want to know if the kid is ok." He said, grabbing her hand and torquing down the stairs. "Wait who's car do we take!?" She gasped. Then without thinking, her fingers found their way to her BMW and they flew out the door. "Ok, now just relax, I'll try to keep it as brief as possible." Dr. Hobinski said penetrating Jessie skin with the needle. "Does it hurt much?" Jonny asked Jessie. Jessie did a combination of nod/shake, her head just wobbled. He squeezed her hand tighter. "Is there any possibility of hitting the babay with that thing?" He pointed towards the needle slowly making it's way deeper into Jessie's abdomen. The Dr. said "It's only the third month, very unlikely. How are you feeling?" The question was directed at Jessie, who was grimacing at every inch that the thing went deeper. "Kinda sick, but, other than that, menacingly in pain." The Dr. Laughed. "What does menacingly Mean to you?" She tried to smile but it was with clenched teeth. "It means as soon as I get off this table I'm going to shove a needle in YOUR stomach." she said. Jonny just glared at dr. Hobinski, who was finally pulling out the monstrosity. As Jessie dressed in the small room, Jonny's back was turned so he couldn't see her. "I hated seeing you in so much pain. Watching you lie there trying not to scream, it was my heart was being ripped out and stomped on." Jessie pulled her shirt on over her head. she felt a small pang for him. "You mean that?" she asked turning around. He turned to face her. "Yes, I could't stand it." He was interrupted by a fat black nurse with big soft eyes. The woman wrote on a piece of paper; "I can hear but no talk, I your nurse now, take very good care of you an your baby. Test results back in few days. Until then get plenty of rest and food." Jessie smiled. "Is Dr. Hobinksi still my Doctor?" She asked the nurse whose name tag said Henny. The big woman shook her head and pointed to herself. "You are her Dr. now?" Jonny asked. Henny smiled and nodded. They both sighed and walked out of the office. It had been three days since her last appt. Henny had said to get plenty of rest and food, and Jonny was making sure she got just that. "I can walk you know. And you don't have to spoon feed me. I can use my own chop sticks." Jessie said trying to complain and getting nowhere. "Jonny laughed and handed her the next plate of sweet and sour pork. "Hey, I haven't seen you without your glasses since you moved in. Take'm off." she said. He shook his head. "Not until I see you in your readers." He countered. "Fine. on three." She said getting them out of her leather case. "1..2..3." She said and slipped them on just as he slipped his off. "Wow. You look fabulous."He said admiring the way the sunlight reflected in the sturdy lenses. "You don't look so bad yourself." she remarked. Just then Enya came in with the mail and announced in her russian that she had a letter from a Hennrieta Beech MD in obstetrics. "Oh, cripes, heres what the baby is, male of female." Jonny breathed taking the envelope. "Heathy or not." Jessie added as they tore open the letter together. "Girl." Jessie breathed as she looked at the letter. "How is she?" Jonny asked wiping a bit of sweat from his trembling upper lip. "She's fine. Every things perfect. The letter says I go in for my first ultrasound on April 15. And my Lamaz has been moved to Thursdays at 11:00 in the morning." She added with a note of bitterness. "Hey, listen WE are going through this together so everything that you go through, say we. Please." He asked. She smiled as tears glistened on her sooty black eyelashes. "Ok, WE go in for OUR first ultrasound, and OUR lamaze has been moved to Thursdays." She said crying softly on his broad chest. He put one hand in her cherry red hair and pulled her closer as he leaned back on the back of the bed. "We really have something to live for now, don't we Jonathan?" Just the sound of his real name on her lips made him shiver with an emotion he hadn't known since his mother had died.... love. Jessie dried her tears with the back of er Laura Ashley pajama sleeve. "what are we gonna name her? and we need to make a room for her." She realized. He was struck by a somewhat absurd yet great idea. "what was your mother's name?" She said "Estelle. Why? What was your's?" He smiled. "Rachel. That's what we'll name her. Rachel-Estelle Bannon." She frowned. She leaned forward and said, "But don't you think it would sound better if it were Rachel-Estelle Quest?" "what are you trying to do!?" He yelled in a mock shocked voice. She pulled a magazine from under her bed, and pointed to a chiffon and lace maternity dress. It was white with little pearls sewn into the short sleeves and the train was so long... The gossamer veil was outlined in rhinestones, and Jessie had taken a permanent marker and drawn a vivid circle around the whole ensemble. "I always told myself that even if I wasn't pregnant when I got married, I'd wear this dress, or one just like it. But when She happened I wasn't sure if anybody'd want a fat business conglomerate." He took her hand in his and said "Would you go with me to the store to pick out an engagement ring?" She got a hopeful look in her eye and said "Where?" He thought and said; "Tiffany's. Now are you going to come with me or do I have to get one without you?" He said defiantly. She bounded off the bed and into the closet, and came out wearing a black velvet dress. Almost a replica of the one she had wore to their first dinner out. "Boy that dress sure brings back memories." He said licking his finger and touching her neck. "SSSSsssOwch!" He mimicked a burn. She laughed and she called to Enya to watch the house for a good three hours. The little woman was happy to be left alone in the house she adored. Jonny grabbed his keys and they walked hand in hand to the shiny silver Mercedes. As they sped down the hyway to the quickest route into New York. They weren't really far away, if they took the freeway. "In our room, was that statement about an engagement ring as close as I'll ever come to a proposal?" she asked innocently. "No, when I buy it, you'll be in for a surprise, but promise me you won't mind the price." She snorted. "Me counter a price on an engagement ring? Hah!" "No not cheapness, how expensive it is. If it takes selling everything I own and Enya I'll buy you the most beautiful ring I can find." They laughed as the little quicksilver car bumped down the road. "That one!" Jessie cried joyfully into Jonny's ear as she pointed to a beautiful ring. It was a single 4 carat diamond encircled in Sapphires. "Hey, do you have number 64 in Emerald? "Sure do!" The guy answered. "Then I'll take it. You take checks?" Jonny asked. THe man leaned forward. "Is the Pope Catholic?" He quirked. "How much?" Jonny asked. The guy whispered a sum into Jonny's ear. Jonny didn't even flinch. He wrote the check out in complete and utter ecstasy. Then he turned to Jessie, who was engaged in a conversation with a purfume seller. "Jessie?" he said tapping her on the shoulder. He got down on one knee. Jessie sucked in her breath, she had always dreamed of this moment. "Jessie, when I met you for th first time, I was so drunk, I couldn't tell whether you were a guy or a girl, but since then, I've come to know you as the most caring, sensitive, and beautiful woman God ever created. So will you grant me the one wish that God couldn't?" He was dead serious. Funny, those were the very same characteristics that she would use to describe him. "And what would that be?" she asked. "That you would marry me." He took off his glasses and lifted the box with the ring for her to see. She turned to molten pleasure as she uttered the one word that would be the future for them both, and for their child: "Yes! I will." She said bending down and kissing him right there in the middle of Tiffany's. The whole store had been listening and someone had snuck a bottle of Champagne into the box, and the popping of the cork signaled to the two to leave. "When the liquor comes out I leave. This baby's going to be perfect!" she yelled among the commotion. He took her hand and tried to make their way through the crowd. "Now all we have to do is write wedding invitations." Jessie said when they were riding on their way back to Rockport Maine, and a new beginning. Part 3... From: The Puck Jessie looked out at the crowd one final time before stepping into the bridal chamber. John Johnson was there. Jen Moss was there. Mary Durall was there. Jessie's aged father, Race was there and his wife Sarita. The first thing Jessie did was rush up to mary and Sarita, who were talking and keeping Jen away from the champagne bowl. Mary's adopted sister Mayleen was there and was hanging out with a guy named Kenneth. Mary was wearing a red and blue sequin dress and her normally wavy brownish blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail. "Are you Mary Durall?" Jessie asked. The blue eyed fifteen year old nodded gleefully. Jessie held out her hand and said "I love your stories, I have three of them, including the one you wrote about me and Jonny." Maryrose took her han, switching the crystal champagne flute to the other hand. "Thank you. I write them on impulse. I didn't know if it was ok but I brought two people who weren't invited. John Johnson, and my sister Mayleen." Mayleen waved and John Sat there admiring the wine glass champagne mountain. Jessie beamed with unexpected excitement. " It's really wonderful, and the more the merrier. And How long has it been Sarita? I haven't seen you since you got married to my father." Sarita smiled. "Thirteen years. You haven't changed a bit. You gain a little weight?" Jessie's stepmother said smiling. Jessie blushed."No, I'm pregnant. Haven't you heard? Didn't you get my letter? Oh well, I sent it to you four days ago. And it was really sweet of you to fly in all the way from Japan just to see me get married." Sarita shook her head. "No, it was my duty to love you and I begged Race to fly us in here. He didn't want to come at first. Getting a little senile perhaps." Jessie put her hands on her hips, but before she could say anything, Jen and Mayleen pulled her in to get dressed. Mayleen looked up at her. "I'm ten, how old are you?" She asked sporting a shy smile. "I'm 27." Jen said "Pull off your clothes we have less than an hour until you make that first big step! May, go put on your flower dress. And get Maryrose's blue hair clip Jessie can barrow it." Jessie gasped, "I need something old." and she rushed to the music box to remove an old pair of diamond stud earrings. "They were a kind of engagement ring. My father gave them to my mother the week before they got married." Jen shook her head. "You never change. I insisted on doing that. " she said with a sigh. Jessie smiled as the dress slipped over her head, she felt it widen as it went over he bulge in her stomach. It was just starting her fifth month. "whoo, there you go." Jen said putting the last touches here and there. She put the veil on Jessie's hair and she sighed. "what?" Jessie asked. "You are my masterpiece." She kissed her fingertips. "Wait the bouquet!!" Jessie shrieked. Jen handed the bunch of white roses. Nine white roses. Jonny waited at the end of the red carpet trail, and in his new tuxedo and dress shoes, he looked very handsome, and the only surviving member of his family, Doug Wildley, Was way back in the back, winking at him. He saw the familiar white head came around the corner, and at his arm, the most beautifull woman he had ever met. She looked spectacular. Her skin was so flawless, she appeared to have no ores, and her lips were as red as her hair. Maryrose's sister Mayleen, threw flowers in front of them, and Jessie took his arm. A shiver ran from head to toe as he repeated the vows. "Do you Jonathan Quest, Take Jessica Bannon, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?" Jonny's throat nearly clogged and he croaked. "I do." Theturned to Jessie. "Do you Jessica Bannon take Jonathan Quest to have and to hold, in richer or poorer in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?" Jessie was confident. "I do." She said with stunning clarity. The minister said "Do you have the rings?" Jonny reached on to the little pillow, which Mayleen's best friend Jake held. He slipped the gold band on Jessie's finger. She did the same to him. "I now pronounce you Husband and wife, You may kiss the bride." The man said closing the bible. Jonny's mouth closed over hers and his hand slipped into their usual places as he worked her muscles like a massage. A cork popped and Jessie turned it down. "I can't I don't want this baby to be BUI born under influence." she joked, but took a glass of milk and a carrot stick. When it came to the first dance, their song played. It was Michael Nyman's The promise. As the first strains of piano wafted through the yard of her home, he tightened his grip on her waist, but instantly released a little as if it were a minor hug. She closed her eyes and drifted to a partial sleep, in a daze. In an instant she snapped awake and was practically ordered to throw the bouquet By her stepmother. Maryrose was the one to catch it, and her gaze flitted to all the men in the room. They were like starving lions, their stares like hollow stomachs. Jessie wished the guests a very wonderful evening except her father and Sarita. "You guys are staying for a while." Jonny and Jessie said together." Her father touched her cheek with a leathery hand. "So ponchita how's it feel to be a Quest?" Jessie showed them to their room and said "So far, it makes me hungry. I'm going for more carrot sticks. You coming Jonny?" she gestured with her finger. He followed in behind. "That's my rabbit!" Jonny said catching up to her. Just as they reached the kitchen Jessie doubled over in pain. "What is it? Is it the baby?" He worried. She was shocked, she had taken so much precaution, was she going to lose Rachel Estelle now? Jessie bent at the middle groaning in agony. Jonny ran to her and he picked her up, and ran out to where Enya was washing his Mercedes and he slung the door open and laid Jessie down in the backseat. She was crying and muttering about how much care she'd taken and how it wasn't fair. He clambered into the driver's seat and started the car up, and tore out of the courtyard and down to the county hospital. By the time they reached the place, Jessie was screaming, "Jonny! I'm bleeding! Oh god, I can't stand it!" He was running towards the hospital when Jessie went limp in his arms. Her wedding dress was stiff from the dried blood, and his tux was ransacked. He ran down the hallway without acknowledging the head nurse, and kicked in the door the Dr. Beech's office. Henny made a flurry of motoins with her hands. He was suddenly glad he took that class on sign language. He said "I don't know what's wrong. I mean she was big bright and beautiful until ten minutes ago, then-" He looked up and saw Mrs. Beech's sad face. "What what's the matter?" He looked at the slow signing and stuttered "What do you mean? It's to far along for a miscarriage! I studied med for two years! I KNOW she's to far along for that!" Henny's face contorted and she wrote furiously on her little notepad. "Mr. Quest, Wife in deep trouble. Baby not strong enough for world. Better to die now than to be born THEN die! Perform ultrasound and see what happen to make little girl die." The darkskinned woman smiled encouragingly to Jessie, then wheeled her over to the next office. The tiny instrument glided smoothly over Jessie's belly. The monitor beeped in time to her rapidly beating heart. Jonny was at her side holding her hand. Dr. Beech smiled largly when the screen showed the left side of Jessie's stomach. She took out her little pad and jotted a few words down. "Rejoice! One baby not dead. Little helthy girl." Jonny took the note to Jessie who remarked, "What do you mean "One baby?" Henny showed her a cat scan of when she had gotten the amnio test. She signed, "Other doctor not tell you you have twins?" Jessie shook her head. "Then only one baby died. You still have one left." Dr. Beech wrote. Jonny fell to his knees and started kissing Jessie's hand. "Henny signed "Husband going crazy. Must keep you over night to make sure other baby ok." Jonny got up and Jessie said, "Are you quite done having hysterics?" He nodded. Henny helped her out of the stiff gown and into a ospital maternity robe. Jonny took his keys from his pocket and said that he'd be right back. That he'd forgotton his toothbrush. He rushed out of the busy hospital, and to his car. There were four pink slips sticking to his windshield. He saw the mistake. In his haste he had parked by a hydrant. "Shit," He mumbled, and drove back o the house. He walked upstairs and reassured Enya that Jessie was ok and went into the newly painted nursery. He walked over to the dresser drawers and pulucked two packages out of the mix of clothes. He stuffed tem under his arm and walked out to the car. Jessie haerd the door creak and she saw Jonny's glassses glint in the lamplight. Then she saw the bulk in his leather jacket. "What do you have?" She asked weakly. "I forgot to give you your wedding gifts. Open the smaller one first." He said soflty. She pulled the piunk and blue wrapping paper off of the small box. Then the lifted the lid. It was a tiny pair of blu pajamas with footsies. On the upper right hand corner was empbroidered, "Rachel Estelle" "So that's what Enya was doing when I saw her yestrersay." She breathed as she hugged the material close. Then she reached up to embrace him and he said "Not until you open the second one." She frowned. "Meanie." She said smiling. She tore the dark green paper off and liftyed the lid. It was a dark red velvet robe. In the pocket was a locket in the shape of a heart on a gold chain. She gasped as she saw the pictures. One of Jessie looking at Jonny and Jonny looking at Jessie. "Oh, I could never have imagined a better gift. Thank you." She managed before she laughed. He asked why she was laughing. "If you put your hand here, you v=can feel her moving." Jessie sipped her hot herbal tea in her brand new robe. She glanced up to see Jonny's face. His glasses sat on one side of his face and his chin had a little beard stubble. His jacket was draped over the back of a chair and his shirt was open and the sleeves rolled up. His pants weren't bad, just a little wrinkled. Nothing Enya couldn't handle. She looked down at his feet. His size seven shoes were beside his chair and one toe was poking through the sock. She laughed. He said "What did I do?" He couldn't help but laugh with her. "You have a hole in your sock." She said gasping. "So, all my socks have holes in them." She looked at him with justification. "As soon as we get home, Give all your socks to Enya, she'll mend them. Oh, and by the way, next week, is her four day vacation remember, we have to get her a scarf to keep her warm." Jonny scratched his chin. "Where's she going?" She looked at the ceiling. "Yugoslavia. Her family on her father's side is there. Her mother's family never cared that much. Mhnm, let me see your hands." He complied. She took the big hands in hers. "Do you solemnly swear that you will give your socks to Enya?" He laughed. "Yes! I do. Now, go to sleep, you and Rachel-Estelle need all the rest you can get." She grudgingly laid down on the pillows, and before she had a chance to close her eyes, he bent down a pressed a soft kiss to her strawberry lips. He then sat on the edge of the bed and since there wasn't another bed, and he had no intentions of going home, he laid down next to her. She instinctively flung one arm over him, and went to sleep. Dr. Beech smacked Jonny on the arm. He flustered awake and stuttered something about it being a cold day in hell when he leaves the air conditioner on that long. Then he re gathered his senses and apologized to Henny. She signed that it was ok to take her home now. He said thank you and picked Jessie up and carried her to the silver Mercedes and drove home. FOUR MONTHS LATER. . .. . The clock on the nightstand read 4:30 am. Jessie couldn't sleep. She was craving Chocolate covered strawberries like there was no tomorrow. Jonny was sleeping peacefully beside her and she envied him. "Lucky dog." She muttered. She strained to get out of bed. "Honey, You ok?" Came a sleepy voice. Jonny had never been a heavy sleeper. "Yeah, I'm o-" She was struck by a sharp pain in her stomach. "Uh, scratch that! Jonny, It's time." She said. "That's nice,- WHAT!?" He said. He clambered out of bed and shoved on a pair of Wranglers and put on his exec. shirt and helped Jessie into her robe and grabbed his glasses and the suitcase by the door and they struggled to get to the car. Jessie screamed as a white hot pain shot though her. Henny watched on as the head nurse, who could speak, took over. Jonny's bones were popping as Jessie squeezed his hand tighter and tighter. "Do you want natural childbirth or drugs?" The bulky nurse asked the shrieking banshee. "Drugs damnit! Jonathan I hate you I will never sleep in the same bed with you again!" Jessie proclaimed. The male nurse shook his head at the head nurse. "It's too late for an epidural You have to do this now!" She yelled as sweat poured from Jessie's forehead. "Limey ,son-of -a-whore-bitch, I hate you!" Jessie screamed as the nurse counted off breathing. Jessie screamed as the nurse announced that he could see the head. "I don't care if you can see the emperor of china, I want it OUT!" She yelled. She reached out to grab onto something and her outstretched hand fell and latched onto Jonny's crotch. He let out a cross of a screech and a croak. As the pain escalated she pulled down and his face contorted and he screeched in a high pitched voice. He reached down o try to pull her hand away and she screamed "I am never having another baby!" He squinted and said "If you don't let go you may not have to worry about it!" In a squeaky voice. "It's burning! Oh my God! It hurts!" she screamed and Jonny, trying not to faint and his face was red and sweat was pouring from every orifice, swore as she pulled out and down on the front of his jeans that he heard fabric ripping. He grabbed her hand and yanked it away. She grabbed his wrist and twisted. He yelled, and jumped up. A wail that did not belong to Jessie resounded off the walls of the delivery room and Jessie's sweat streaked head lain on Jonny's arm. She looked down at her child, who was wailing and shrieking, and let out a sob. Jonny cut the umbilical cord and his daughter looked up at him as if to say "Hey, that's mine!" He smiled and a tear fell onto the baby's white skin. The nurse wrapped the baby in a pink blanket and handed her to henny, who handed it to Jonny, who took the small bundle in his strong arms and his ice blue eyes took in his daughter and he saw that she was the most perfect child he had ever seen. He took his glasses off and stared deep into the sky blue eyes of his child. Just then Jessie screamed. A scream that went on forever. He spun around and she yelled "I'm not done yet!"The doctor was amazed to see another head emerging. The child glided out and into Henny's arms. The head nurse glanced over and said "It's a boy! You have twins!" Henny cleaned out the child's mouth and wrapped it in blue blanket and handed him to Jonny. Now Jonny, ever the proud father, handed them one at the time to His beaming wife, Who cried when their soft baby mouths reached her nipples. Three years later. .. . . Jonny's soft red hair and emerald eyes looked questioningly up at his father. Who told him not to pull his sister's red hair. He scoffed at the dirt and ran off to the chinese garden to see his sister. Her sky blue eyes and silky blond hair reflected the setting sun. Jonathan and Jessica watched from the porch as the two children played in the sand. They looked out at the horizon, as the sun went slowly behind the earth and the sky faded into a velvet black. They called their son and daughter back inside and they sat down to the dinner table. "Me an' Rachel Estelle made a castle in the sand today." Jonny announced. Jonathan and Jessica just nodded and ate their sirloin. Jonathan looked over at his wife, who looked back. "We have two perfect children, a perfect house, perfect lives, perfect love, what more o we need?" Jessica asked him. He shook his head. "Nothing. Just a perfect tomorrow." And they kissed and he turned out the light, ready for whatever came with the first light of dawn. The End