Well, I had a request to write a story where Joe and Rhoda stay together! This is it. It will start out with conflict but things can only get better, right? Please read and review! Thanks!

Rhoda Morganstern Girard flopped down on her sofa after coming into her appartment. She hadn't been feeling well for a few weeks now. She was always exausted and had been feeling consistantly nausiated. At first she thought she just had the flu. When it didn't go away, she chalked it up to stress. She'd had alot of it within the past few weeks. First Joe had told her he wasn't happy in their marriage and had moved out. They were trying marriage counciling. Rhoda wasn't sure yet if it was helping or not. But, they'd only been to a couple of sessions so far. After Joe had been gone for a couple of weeks Rhoda realized she couldn't afford the rent on there place. A man on the sixth floor, offered to trade places with her since his was smaller and less expensive. Gary Levy was his name, and he wanted a bigger place for entertaining. Rhoda agreed to the switch and she'd been living in the new place for about a week now. The move had worn her out more than it should have. Rhoda was still feeling sick after things settled down. Her sister, Brenda Morganstern and her best friend Mary Richards both suggested she go see a doctor. Rhoda had been aprehensive about that but eventually agreed. She had just come back from seeing Dr Sheila Grahem, the gynocologist, who'd given her some shocking news.

"So what is it, Doctor? Just the flu or a virus, right?", Rhoda had asked. The doctor looked at her and said,

Mrs Girard, I've run several tests and they all came back positive."

"Positive for what? Am I gonna be alright? Is it something serious?", Rhoda asked, getting more and more panicked.

"Nothing that nine months won't cure. Or rather six months. Mrs Girard, You're pregnant. About three months along." Rhoda's eyes had gotten very huge and she stammered.

"Pr-pregnant? What do you mean?" The doctor smiled.

"Expecting, knocked up, with child. It's all the same meaning. You're going to have a baby."

"What?! No! This can't be happing. I mean I wanted to be a mother someday but Joe and I are separated. It wasn't supposed to happen now!"

"Would he ignore his responsibility?", asked the doctor. Rhoda shook her head.

"No. Of course not! He'd be a great father. I just wanted this baby to have two parents who loved each other and preferably live in the same appartment. He or she doesn't deserve to be a last ditch attempt to save a marriage!" Dr Grahem didn't respond to that. instead she wrote out a perscription and handed it to Rhoda.

"Here is the perscription for your prenatals. I need you to make an appointment to come back in a month so we can check on how this little one is doing." Rhoda just nodded and stood to leave.

"Thankyou, Doctor." She made the appointment with the receptionest and then hailed a cab and headed home. She sat on her sofa for several minutes just staring into space. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Rhoda was jolted out of her thoughts.

"Rhoda?", a voice called.

"Yeah, Bren. Come on in!"

"Hey Rho! What did the doctor say?" Rhoda didn't answer right away as she looked down trying to hold back tears. This made Brenda kind of scared.

"Oh, No, Rhoda! Did she have bad news?! Whatever it is we'll get through it together!" Rhoda looked up at her sister and said,

"Well, I guess it depends on how you look at it. Dr Grahem said… well.. she told me that I'm…"

"What Rho?! You're what?!"

"I'm…I'm pregnent.", Rhoda finally managed to get out. Brenda stared at her sister in shock. She didn't speak for a minute, then said,

"Wow. How are you feeling?"

"I'm not really sure, yet. I don't think the shock has quite worn off yet. I do know I'm pretty scared to raise this kid alone.", Rhoda admitted.

"Rho, You aren't alone! Even if Joe isn't happy about the baby and doesn't want to help with it, you won't be alone. You'll have me and Ma and Pop and Mary even though she's in Minneappolis. And you have Suzie Albourne to go to for advice!" Rhoda reached out and squeezed her sisters hand.

"Thanks, Bren. I know that. Although Ma and Pop are touring the country right now. How am I gonna break this to them? I don't want to ruin their trip! And Ma would go crazy being long distance while I'm in this condition."

"Yeah, but she'd go through the roof if she found out later and you hadn't told her.",Brenda pointed out.

"True.",Rhoda agreed. She decided to tell her parents the news next time they called. Being out in an RV, there was no real way to contact them. Ida and Marty usually touched base on the phone once a week, though.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to talk to Joe yet. I'll go see him at work tomorrow."

"Ok. You should call Mary tonight though. She'd want to know. Besides she can always help you work through things."

"You're right,Brenda. I'll call her right after dinner. She'll still be at work now." Brenda nodded. The two sisters talked for awhile longer and then Rhoda got dinner ready for the two of them. After helping her sister clean up, Brenda left and Rhoda went over to the phone. After dialing, It rang twice before Mary picked up.

"Hello?" Rhoda sighed and couldn't help tearing up at the sound of her friend's voice. Darned Hormones!"

"Hi, Kid."

"Rhoda? What's wrong?", Mary asked. She could tell something was not right by the sound of her friend's voice. Rhoda sighed again and began.

"Well, ya know how I haven't been feeling well for awhile now?"

"Yes. I told you to go see a doctor."

"Yeah, so did Brenda. Well, I finally did, and she, um, had some news." Mary was pretty scared now.

"Rhoda, what did she tell you?"

"Well,Mare, the thing is, I'm not terminal or anything,but It's not something that will just go away it a few days or weeks either." Mary was exasperated but tried to be patient.

"So what's going on? Rhoda, you're scaring me!"

"Sorry, Kid. It's just hard for me to voice it. I guess I'll just come right out and say it. Mary, I'm pregnant." It was getting a little easier each time she said it. maybe it wouldn't be so bad with Joe tomorrow. There was a silence on the other end.

"Mare? Ya there kid?" Mary found her voice and said,

"Wow. Pregant? I-I can't beleive it."

"Yeah. Imagine how I feel.", Rhoda replied.

"Are you ok?", Mary asked.

"Still getting used to the idea.", Rhoda admitted.

"Well, have you told Joe?",Mary inquired.

"Well, I'm going to do that tomorrow. To tell the truth,Mare, I'm a little nervous about that. I'm not sure how he'll take the news. We are separted, after all."

"Rhoda, I'm sure Joe will do the right thing. And you know I'm always here whenever you need to talk. And when the baby is near, call me. I'll be on the first plane out."

"Thanks, Kid. I know." The two friends talked a little longer and then Rhoda said goodby. She was exausted and knew she should get to bed. The next day, around lunch time, Rhoda headed out to Joe's demolition company office. She was relieved that he appeared to be alone.

"Hiya Joe.", Rhoda said nervously.

"Rhoda! Hey! What are you doing here?"

"Well, I know you wanted some space but I have to talk to you about something and it can't wait. It's pretty important. Joe looked at his wife for a second, then nodded.

"Ok. Come sit down. Jason is out getting lunch but he won't be back for several minutes yet." Joe sat down in his chair and Rhoda took Jason's.

"Now what's going on? Are you ok?"

"Well, the thing is, I haven't been feeling well for several weeks now. Since before you left."

"I remember. I thought it was just the flu."

"So did I. Then I thought it was stress when it didn't go away after a week."

"It wasn't?", Joe asked. Rhoda shook her head and took a deep breath, trying to hold back her tears.

"When It didn't go away, Brenda and Mary told me I should see a doctor about it. I didn't want to at first, but after a couple of weeks, I decided to. I went yesterday."

"Well? What did the doctor say?"

"Well, Joe, There's no easy way to say this. I don't want you to feel obligated to do something, but I think you need to know. You deserve to know."

"Rhoda, spit it out!", Joe said, getting anxious.

"Joe, I'm…pregnant." The tears came then, and Rhoda couldn't stop them. Joe, for his part, could only stare at his wife in shock. Finally, Rhoda couldn't stand it anymore. She spoke up in a shaky voice.

"Joe. Say something!"

Well, That ends chapter 1. I know! I'm mean! Joe's reaction will be in chapter 2, so please stay tuned! Remember, All reviews are MUCH appreciated! Please don't forget! Thanks! Catch ya on the flip side!