A/N: To quote Ian: "This is it!" The last chapter of Something Unpredictable. It's been fun! (Longer note at the bottom)
I didn't tell Ian anything because I wanted to be one-hundred percent sure that it was true. I think he might have had an idea, though.
I went to work the day of my appointment as normal; just when I arrived, I told Todd that I had the appointment.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing. Just a check up. I think it's allergies, if anything," I lied.
"All right, just leave when you have to."
Nodding, I went to my desk to at least start some work.
When it came time for my appointment, I left the studio, and headed to the doctor's. At the office, it only took a few minutes before I was lead into an exam room.
As I was waiting for the test results, I picked up a magazine that was in the corner of the room to keep myself entertained.
When my doctor came back in, I wasn't surprised with his results...
I returned to work with a silly grin plastered on my face. Tasha, Dave, and Todd kept asking me why I was grinning like a fool, but I refused to tell them.
"I'll tell you tomorrow, probably," I kept saying with a laugh.
That night when I got back to Ian, I wanted so much just to blurt everything out, but I made myself wait until the right time.
After dinner, I was laying on the couch attempting to watch television, while Ian was at the dining room table with some bills and mail around him. Figuring that I wasn't going to get a better opportunity to tell him, I turned off the television and walked over to him, standing next to and slightly behind the chair he was in.
"Ian," I said, trying to get his attention.
"Yeah," he replied, still looking at the papers in front of him.
I rolled my eyes before trying again. "Ian."
Ian sighed, then turned his head to look at me. "Something wrong, Alex?"
I felt that chill run down my spine.
"No, nothing's wrong," I started, softly, "but I do have something to tell you."
He turned his body in the chair, and gave me his full attention...even if he looked very confused.
"You obviously know that I've been feeling like shit the past few days. Well, I went to the doctor today," I said, hoping he'd understand where I was going with this.
The confusion slowly left his face. "And...?"
I tried to hold back the smile I was attempting to hide, but it wasn't working.
"Ian, I'm pregnant."
His jaw dropped, then he slowly smiled as he just as slowly stood from the chair. Smiling wide, I kept my eyes on him as he stepped towards me. He put his hands on my shoulders staring into my eyes.
"Are you sure?" he asked, still smiling.
"One-hundred percent. At least that's what the doctor said," I answered.
If possible, Ian's smile widened. His hands left my shoulders and his arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me off the floor. My arms wrapped around his neck as he spun us around; both of us laughing.
When he set me back on the floor, he kissed me deeply. Moving my hands to cup his face, I held him there until he decided to pull away.
"So, you're okay with this?" I asked, keeping my hands on his face, looking him in the eye.
"Yes. Why wouldn't I?" he countered, reaching up and tucking a few strands of hair behind my ear.
I shrugged, taking my hands away from his face. "Don't know, but I'm glad you're happy about this...dad," I said, smirking.
Ian smirked, also, then took a step back. He lifted his right arm and placed his hand on my stomach, where our child was going to grow. I placed my hand over his, then looked up at him, grinning, as I leaned up to kiss him.
Nine months later, I was in the hospital, having just given birth to our child...son, actually.
I was reclining on the hospital bed, holding my son, with Ian laying to our right, when there was a knock on the door on the far left side of the room. It opened a crack and I saw my mother stick her head through.
"Mom," I said, smiling. "When did you get in?"
"About an hour ago," she replied, smiling.
"You can come in, you know," I laughed, then looked down as our son took Ian's finger in his hand.
"I know...I just have a small surprise for you," she said, then opened the door.
My mother walked in, followed by my Uncle Mark and Uncle Sid (my mother's brother, who I hadn't seen in years, since he couldn't make it to the wedding).
"Uncle Mark! Uncle Sid! It's great to see you," I said as the three of them walked in and over to my bed.
My mother leaned down to kiss my forehead, then walked to the other side of the bed to hug Ian. My Uncle Mark gave me a small hug, being careful of our son. Uncle Sid gave me both a hug and a kiss. Ian shook my uncles' hands.
"Oh, Ian, I don't think you've met my Uncle Sid," I said, nodding to my uncle. "Uncle Sid is my mother's brother. Uncle Sid, this is my husband, Ian," I introduced.
"I finally get to meet the man my niece is crazy about and married to," Sid said, shaking Ian's hand again.
I saw Ian blush a little, making me chuckle slightly. By then, Ian got his finger back.
Another knock sounded on the door.
All five of us looked at the door as it opened again. Ian's parents walked in carrying a bag of something each. They walked over to us, setting their bags on the floor, and hugged Ian and I, then said their greetings to my side of the family...even Sid, after I introduced them to him.
"Well, since everyone is here, we'd like to introduce you to someone," Ian said, looking from our son, to me, to our relatives, then back to me.
"Meet Patrick Ian Howe," I said, turning our son to face his grandparents and great-uncles.
My mother was the first to ask to hold him, so I gently lifted Patrick to her arms. My uncles stood behind my mother and looked over her shoulders at the baby she held.
I grinned and leaned my head against Ian's shoulder as I watched my mother interact with her grandson. Ian wrapped his arms around my shoulders, kissing my head. Lifting my left arm, I rested it on his hip, rubbing my hand on his back. I nuzzled Ian's neck and inhaled deeply; smelling his cologne, I let out a sigh, closing my eyes briefly. Feeling him laugh silently, I opened my eyes to glare at him...that didn't work too well, considering I hadn't stopped smiling since our parents arrived.
When my mother handed Patrick to Ian's mother, I smiled again.
"Could you reach over and get my camera?" I asked Ian softly.
I don't go anywhere without my camera, and a stay in the hospital wasn't going to change that.
Ian reached behind him to the rolling tray table where my camera sat. He picked it up and handed it to me. Taking my arm off of Ian, I turned on the camera, and took a picture of Ian's parents smiling down at Patrick.
"Why didn't I get a picture?" my mother half-complained.
"Because you'll get to see him more than they will," I answered.
After another few minutes, Mrs. Howe gently handed Patrick to Ian.
I was still holding my camera, so I snapped a quick picture of my husband and son while my mother's back was turned.
When Patrick started crying, Ian put him back into my arms, then got off the bed, and gave his parents a better hug than when they walked in.
"So what's in the bags?" he asked them, as he walked back over to me. He took my camera and set it back on the tray table.
"Just a few things for you, your wife, and your baby," Mrs. Howe replied with a smile.
I smiled in return, then told everyone to pull up some chairs to talk.
When the visiting hours ended, our parents (and my uncles) left the hospital to check into their hotels. Ian was permitted to stay with me. He took Patrick from me and put him in the bassinet, right next to my bed.
I took the massive amount of pillows out from behind me, so I could lie down, and turned on my side to face Patrick as I tossed the pillows onto the chairs our family sat in.
I was so tired after the family visit.
Ian walked out of my view as my eyes started to close, but when I felt him on the bed behind me, I opened my eyes again to look at him. He grinned at me, and I grinned in return, then faced Patrick again. I continued to grin when Ian threw an arm over my waist and spooned up behind me.
"How do you feel, mum?" he asked.
"Tired," I answered simply, mentally laughing at the new nickname he gave me.
"Then sleep. You need it," he said, kissing behind my ear.
"I plan on it," I responded, closing my eyes, and putting my hand over his.
As I started drifting off to sleep, I realized I was the happiest I'd ever been my whole life. I had a loving husband, a healthy, baby boy, and a great family (on both sides!).
I sometimes wondered what my dad would have thought of all this, but I knew that one day, I would see him again, and I would get to ask him.
I felt that my life was complete. And I knew that I would continue to be happy and content, no matter what happened.
A/N: I know the ending was a little corny, but it was the only way I could think of to end it...I was staring at the screen for about ten minutes, just to come up with those last three lines.
(sobs) I'd like to thank the Academy. And my parents, friends, and family. And most importantly: my reviwers! You guys were, and are, the best! (stops sobbing)
All right, enough of that shit...but seriously, thanks for reading and many thanks to all who ever reviewed! I might do a sequel, but don't expect that any time soon. I'm writing so many other things, I have no time to think about it...but I am working on another Ian fict (again, not sure when that'll be out), so keep an eye out for that.
Thanks again. It's been a hoot!