Love is a Miracle Ch. 08-09

"A group of girls went to do some laundry and heard you and Charlie talking and called campus security," Gavin answered.

"Thank god for college freshman," Serenity joked and Gavin laughed. "Where's Josh?" Serenity wanted to know.

"He's with Josie and Chris," Gavin said, looking up as a doctor walked into the room.

"Mrs. Cline, I'd like to take you down for a CT scan since you said you blacked out, but before we take you down, I need to know, is there any chance that you could be pregnant?" the doctor asked. Gavin and Serenity looked at each other. "Well, I'm on birth control, but I got pregnant on it before, so I guess it's possible," Serenity said slowly, swallowing hard.

"Okay, so I'll add a pregnancy test order to your blood work and put a rush on it. When we know, we'll let you know. In the mean time, I'll update your tetanus shot and get you started on some antibiotics," the doctor said before leaving the room.

Gavin and Serenity looked at each other again. "Gavin, what if ..." Gavin pressed a finger to Serenity's lips.

"Then we'll deal," he promised.

"I can't handle another baby right now." Gavin pressed his lips to Serenity's and when she seemed calmer, he pulled away.

"Serenity, I love you, and if by some chance you are pregnant, then we'll figure it out. I'm not going anywhere, not even if you want me to," Gavin said gently. Serenity sat quietly, fidgeting with her fingers and looked up quickly when the doctor walked back into the room.

Gavin glanced at Serenity before taking a sip of his coffee and wrinkled his nose. "The coffee machine sucks," the doctor said with a chuckle. "I have results of your pregnancy test. It was negative, so we'll get you down to radiology and get that CT scan as soon as we can," he added before leaving the room. Serenity sighed in relief. Gavin took another sip of his bad coffee to hide his disappointment. Before Serenity or Gavin could say anything, an orderly came to take Serenity down for her CT scan.

-Two hours later-

Serenity and Gavin returned to the apartment armed with a prescription antibiotic and a box of condoms. They were exhausted from the hours they spent in the emergency room. "Are you okay?" Josie asked, giving her friend a hug.

"I'm fine. He didn't cut me very deep, I'm just tired from everything that's happened," Serenity answered.

"I'm just glad he was caught," Chris said. Everyone agreed as Gavin handed everyone a bottle of water.

"Everyone's welcome to crash here, since it's so late, but I don't want to hear any body having sex out here," Gavin said. Everyone laughed.

"Don't worry, sex with my girlfriend while my sister is the room is not high on my to do list," Chris said laughing. Leslie wrinkled her nose and slugged her brother playfully in the arm.

-Meanwhile-

Ally and Bobby sat in the middle of the living room, being grilled by Jake. "Dad, this isn't necessary," Allyson said softly.

"It's completely necessary. Bobby has asked for my permission to propose to you, and I want to take the time to get to know him better," Jake said with a grin.

"He's already proposed dad, this is just you being stubborn," Allyson said, turning to her mother for help.

"I don't think he's being stubborn enough," Dylan said with a grin that mirrored his father's.

"Dylan, you are not helping!" Ally exclaimed, frustration bubbling through her.

"I'm not supposed to help, you're my younger sister," Dylan teased.

"You're only older than me by three minutes!" Allyson growled.

"Enough!" Ashira said, hiding a smile. She gave her husband a warning look and he grinned sheepishly.

"Ally, if you love Bobby, then you have our blessing to marry him, BUT, your mother and I would prefer that you wait until you graduate from college, and don't give us any grandchildren until then either," Jake said. Allyson squealed and gave her parents a big hug.

"Now let me see that ring," Ashira told her daughter.

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

-3 months later-

"Serenity, it's Mel, is Gavin around?" Serenity smiled when she heard her step-mother's voice over the phone.

"He's with Josh at the park so I can get some study time in, why, what's up?" Serenity asked.

"I just had a few questions for him. Can you have him call me when he gets a chance?" Melinda answered.

"Sure, no problem," Serenity said. "How are David and Chrissy doing?" Serenity wanted to know.

"They're doing well. David is taking a lot of college prep classes and Chrissy has started learning how to play the Violin," Melinda said.

"That's good. Did mom call and tell you guys about Ally?" Serenity asked.

"Yes, including the fact that Jake and Dylan gave Ally and Bobby one hell of a time," Melinda said laughing.

"I'm just glad dad cut Gavin some slack," Serenity said dryly.

"Yeah, but he wanted to wring his neck; Mark too," Melinda agreed.

"What is it about men giving their daughter's boyfriends a hard time?" Serenity wanted to know.

"When you and Gavin have a little girl, you'll understand," Melinda said with a laugh.

Serenity looked up as the door opened. "Here's Gavin Mel," she said, handing Gavin the phone and taking Josh who was protesting loudly over being brought home.

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

"Sere, are you okay?" Gavin asked, knocking on the bathroom door. Serenity opened the door and Gavin's eyes widened when he saw how pale she was. "You're still sick?" Gavin wanted to know, helping Serenity back to bed.

"I think I have the flu," Serenity groaned.

"Sere, you've been sick for two weeks," Gavin said pointedly.

"I've been really run down," Serenity reminded Gavin. It had been nearly two weeks since Melinda had called for Gavin and in those two weeks, there hadn't been a single day that Serenity wasn't sick for at least a few hours.

"Maybe you should see the doctor," Gavin said gently, brushing a strand of hair out of Serenity's eyes. "Do you have classes today?" he asked after a moment.

"Yeah, at eleven. I think I'm going to stay home," Serenity answered. Gavin frowned but didn't say anything; he knew Serenity never liked to miss classes unless she had to.

"I have to work, do you want me to call Josie or Les to come stay with you?" Gavin asked.

"That'd be helpful," Serenity admitted. Gavin pressed a kiss to Serenity's forehead before heading into the kitchen.

-2 hours later-

"Sere?" Josie called, stepping into the apartment. Serenity appeared in the doorway between the hallway and the kitchen. "Gavin wasn't kidding when he said you were feeling bad," Josie commented.

"Holy hell!" Leslie agreed. Serenity gave a small laugh. "I've never seen the flu make somebody look that bad," Leslie said. Serenity rolled her eyes as she grabbed a bottle of ginger ale from the fridge.

"Don't you guys have classes today?" Serenity wanted to know, heading into the living room.

"We're staying with you. Gavin said he had an important meeting that he couldn't miss and we promised to sit with you and help with Josh," Josie answered.

"Thanks," Serenity said with a yawn as she stretched out, laying her head on her pillow and pulling an afghan over her, watching her friends sitting in the two remaining chairs in the living room.

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

"Sere, is this your date book?" Leslie asked. Serenity nodded.

"Why?" Serenity wanted to know. Leslie handed the calender over to her friend and Serenity's eyes widened. "Shit." Serenity's voice was quiet and had a slight tremble. Serenity's eyes widened even more when Josie handed her a box.

"We brought this because Gavin said you've been sick for two weeks," Josie told her friend.

When Gavin returned home later that evening, he had a broad grin on his face. "Sere, I have a surprise for you," Gavin called. Serenity walked out of the living room and gave a small smile when she saw the bouquet of peach roses. "Do you remember when Mel called a few weeks ago?" Gavin asked. Serenity nodded. "We're opening a restaurant just off the strip; a little family joint. Mel's staying in Riverside and you and I will be running it," Gavin said excitedly. He studied Serenity's face. "What's wrong?" Gavin asked.

"I have a surprise for you too," Serenity said softly. Gavin waited expectantly. "I'm pregnant Gavin," Serenity said finally.