A Friendship Or More

Return to Georgia

January was long behind us and May was a all but here. Norman and I had already moved back down to Georgia. Norman had been extremely busy lately, with his scripts, learning lines for The Walking Dead, and the movie he was going to be in. This left me a lot of day time to myself. He was sure to make up for my lonliness at night though. Making me feel special untill the early morning hours. How he managed to keep going after being up all day and most of the night I'd never know.
Today, had started like any other, Norman was up at dawn, and out the door shortly after. I had been having a sick feeling all morning. I tired to hide it when Norman was around, and I was sure to only kiss his cheek. I know, that earned me a funny look, but if I was getting sick, I didn't want to give it to him.
I went to lay back down for a little while, hoping that would help. I had no more then fell asleep, it felt. When I was up and sprinting for the bathroom. I made it just in time to empty my stomach of the coffee I had drank this morning.  I sighed, I felt awful, but it wasn't like when I had the flu. I sighed, again, as I decied it was time to find a doctor. I couldn't be getting Norman sick, with everything he was doing.
I showered, that took forever, it seemed, all my energy was drained out of me. I felt like I could sleep for the rest of the day. I finnaly made it out of the shower, and got dressed. I didn't feel like doing up may hair or my make up. I put my hair up in a messy bun, then did some eye liner and a little consealer. I had to stop to dry heave a few more times, but other then that I was out the door.
I made it to the hospital, because we didn't have a primary doctor down here. I checked in. I didn't have Norman with me this time, so I waited hours. Norman called me and asked what I was doing, and how I was feeling. He told me I didn't look well this morning. I tried to assure him I was fine, was just tired. He seemed to buy it and asked if I'd meet him in a little while for lunch. I wasn't sure how much longer I was going to be stuck in the hospital, but I agreed, I'd leave for him.
After getting off the phone with Norman, it seemed like things went faster. I was in a room and a doctor was in to see me, with in minutes. They must have ran my insurance, that's all I could think of. The doctor asked what had brought me in today. I told her that I had gotten sick, and I felt run down. I had been feeling run down for a little while now, I just figured it was the move back here. She smiled and asked if I had considered a pregnancy test. I almost laughed. Telling her, that we were very careful, and that we weren't having kids. She smiled and said, just to rule it out. I shrugged, knowing I wasn't pregnant, but humering her anyways and took the test.
I waited in the room for the doctor to come back. Norman texted me telling me he was going to run over, they had fallen behind a bit. I let him know that was fine. It gave me more time to figure out what was wrong with me. The doctor had also taken some blood to run other tests . She was in a little while later with a large smile.
"Well, even the most carful people, slip up," she said happily. I looked at her lost.
"I'm sorry?" I asked, not understanding her. She smiled more.
"Congratulations, your pregnant. About two months, she  told me. I just staired at her. She was still smiling.
"But... How?" I asked in awe. She kinda giggled.
"Well I'm sure that was a rhetorical question," she smiled. I nodded.
"I just mean we are always so careful," I said. She nodded.
"Like I said, things happen. Condones are only ninty-eight percent effective," she said. I nodded solomly.
"Well thank you doctor," I said lowly. She smiled.
"Do you need help finding an OB? I saw your primary adress was New York City," she said. "Can I ask why you are down here?" She then asked. I smiled.
"My boyfriend is an actor, he lives here in the summer," I told her. She smiled.
"I assume he's on that zombie show everyone is in love with?" She asked. I smiled.
"Yes," I admitted. She smiled again.
"I'm not a fan myself, but know plenty that are. The Cop, or The Redneck?" She asked. I giggled.
"The Redneck," I said it sounded so funny, knowing Norman personally, he was the furthest thing from a redneck.
I was discharged after that and I headed to see Norman.  I didn't know how to tell him, or when. I knew not to do it at work, just didn't know when. I was so distracted when I got there. I hadn't even realize I had parked and was just sitting in the car. I finnaly got out and headed for Norman. I found him with a way to friendly brunette. Jealousy ran threw me as I saw them laughing. I wanted to punch her in the face. Then I realized she was his costar, and I needed to be nice, but I didn't want to. Norman quickly spotted me and with a huge smile, came over and kissed me hard.
"Been waiting to do that all day!" He said happily. I giggled.
"Missed you too," I said letting him hold me. We staired at each other a long time.
"Lunch?" He asked. I nodded solomly. Lunch sounded awful, I was in no mood to eat anything. For Norman though, I would, I'd suffer threw. We took my car and headed out.
"You feeling better?" He asked after we had pulled out of the parking lot. I looked over to him as he pulled my hand to his lips.
"I'm fine," I said. He nodded.
"I'm know you didn't look well this morning and I've been thinking about it all day," he said. I sighed.
"Yeah, that passed, not really sure," I lied. He glanced over to me.
"I'm glad," he said. I nodded. "What sounds good?" He asked. I shugged, nothing.
"Whatever you want," I said. I always let him pick.
"I could go for a burger, and I know a really great place," he said. I giggled.
"Baby, you always know a place," I laughed. He smiled.
"Many years living here," he chuckled. I giggled..
To the burger place," I said. He chuckled again.
"To the burger place, we go," he said. I giggled.
"Your such a dork," I laughed. He smiled at me as we pulled in to a restrant parking lot.
"You love me," he said, I nodded and we kissed.
"With all my heart," I said. He smiled and we got out.  We headed inside and we were greater by a waitress. She showed us to our table and left us with some menus and took our drink orders. We sat and waited for or drinks.
"So what ya do today?" Norman asked. Smiled, akwardly.
"Nothing," I said, shrugging. Norman eyed me.
"Ooh?" He asked, kinda smiling, I shrugged again, making an akward face. He made a face at me, not believing me. "Everything ok?" He asked. I nodded, trying not to give myself away.
"Yeah, fine," I stammered. I was odviously distracted with the news that was eating me alive. What would Norman think when I finnaly told him?
"Baby?" He asked. I looked at him blankly.
"Huh?" I asked, still staring at him.
"Are you ready?" He asked me.
"For what?" I asked. He looked at me funny.
"To order," he said plainly. I looked up to see the waitress. I nodded sheepishly.
"Um yeah," I said looking back at the menu a moment. Norman decied to order, while I looked.  Nothing looked good thought, I felt nauseous again, but tried to push it away. I decied on a chicken salad and tried to focus on what Norman was saying.
"Steph, are you ok?" Norman asked, again. I nodded.
"Fine," I said lowly. Norman looked at me, a long time.
"Babe, you don't look good," he said. I tried to smile, and push it off.
"I'm fine," I laughed it off. Norman watched me.
"Are you sure?" He asked conserned. I could tell he was starting to get really worried. I nodded.
"Positive,"I said. He watched me, but decied to drop it I guess. The rest of lunch went alright.  I wasn't able to eat much of my salad, and Norman took notice. I told him it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. He nodded, excepting my explanation. Finnaly we returned to the set and he went back to work. I went home and tried to figure out a way to tell him about what was going on.
After being home a few hours, I was back in the bathroom, I wasn't sure if it was the anxiety from wondering how to tell Norman. Or just being pregnant, I didn't know what to think as I sat on the bathroom  floor. Resting after all the throwing up what little lunch I had eaten. I sighed as I tried to pull myslef together.  I was getting up,  as my phone went off I checked it to see it was Norman.
'Coming home early' Norman texted. I made a face, why? Insted I answered.
'Yay! :) Can't wait!' I sent the text, but was seriously stressing out.
I took a deep breath. This may have not been planned but I knew stress wasn't good for me or the baby. Norman may not of wanted this baby, but I did.
I knew this could be the end of the best relationship I had ever had. Norman was the best man in the world. The only man I truly fell in love with. I was brought back to reality by my phone going off again. I looked down to see another message from Norman.
'I'll pick up dinner. What ya want?' He texted. I sighed curling up on his side of the bed. I wanted nothing, I wanted to sleep. I wanted Norman to understand what had happend. I didn't really know what had happend, but I wanted him to understand.  I sighed and picked up the phone again.
'Doesn't matter' I texted back. It was only seconds and my phone was rigning. I let out another breath and answered the phone.
"Baby girl are you ok?" Norman asked, not bothering to say 'hello' or beat around the bush. I pulled Norman's pillow closer to me.
"I'm fine," I said lowly, hugging it tight, knowing this could be the last time I could lay in this bed. The last time I got to be completely inglufed in his sent.
"I'm pulling in the drive way," Norman said. I sighed, then sat up.
"Alright,"I said getting up.
"Where are ya?" He asked. I was sitting on his side if the bed, feeling sick again. I couldn't hide this anymore, if I ended up getting sick while he was around.
"I'm coming," I said grumbled lowly.
"No, stay put, where are you?" Norman's voice was stern, but not angry.
"Bedroom," I said lowly, laying back down, and closing my eyes.
"Alright, baby. Be right in," he said and then hung up. I sighed again, hanging up and pulling his pillow closer to me. A few minutes later Norman was sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked down at me lovingly.
"Baby?" He said lowly. I looked up at him. He smiled at me, then crawled over to my side of the bed and pulled me close. I snuggled close to him.
"I love you," I said lowly. He looked down at me, smiling big.
"I love you too," he said pulling me in to a kiss. It was hot and heavy. I could tell what he was after, I just couldn't bring myself to.
"Normy," I said pulling out of our kiss, and burring my head in his chest. He started rubbing my back.
"What's wrong, baby?" He asked. I didn't want to lift my head. I burried my head deeper, maybe I could suffocate myself and not have to hear Norman break up with me.
"Stephanie," he said lowly. I looked up slowly. "Baby what's wrong?" He asked. I burried my head again. He started rubbing my back again.
"Something happend," I said lowly.  Norman pulled me closer and kissed my lips.
"What's wrong baby?" He said, being able to read me. I started to cry, I didn't want to say it, but I knew I had to.
"I'm...." I broke sobbing. Norman pulled me close hugging me tight.
"It's ok, baby girl," he said trying to calm me down.  I hugged him just as tight.  I looked up at him tear filled eyes .
"Pregnant," I whispered, not able to speak it out loud. Norman looked at me a long moment.
"What?" He asked, still looking lost. I looked back at him. I didn't want to repeat it, but I knew I had to.
"I'm pregnant," I said lowly. Norman looked at me still, his face unreadable. I watched him, holding my breath.  Then he broke in to a huge smile.
"You are?!" He asked excitedly. I looked at him funny.
"Yeah," I nodded slowly. He pulled me closer to him l kissing me hard.
"I was beginning to wonder, maybe I wasn't doing something right," He laughted as he kissed at me. I pulled away and looked at him.
"What?" I asked, he looked at me, confused.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" He asked, wiping away my tears. I looked up at him, more confused.
"Your happy," I  said blankly. He smiled.
"Aren't you?" He asked. I stared crying harder. Nodding my head and sobbing.
"Yes! I thought you would be upset," sobbed. Norman smiled pulling me in to his arms.
"I couldn't understand any of that," he chuckled, kissing my head. I tried to catch my breath. "I love you though, and I'm so happy," he hugged me and kissed me again. I looked up at him still confused.
"But," I said, he looked at me confused.
"What?" He asked with a smile. I tilted my head.
"How?" I asked. He burst out laughing.
"Baby girl, I'm pretty sure you know how," Norman said threw his laughter. I looked at him.
"I know how, but I mean, we are always carful," I said. Norman looked at me confused.
"Babe, we discussed this back in New York," he said. I was confused now too. We weren't on the same page at all.
"Yeah, we discussed, how we weren't having a baby," I said. Norman raised an eyebrow at me.
"You didn't want to have a baby?" He asked. I looked at him furrowing my brow
"No, you don't," I said. He raised both eyebrows at me.
"When did I say that?"He asked. I looked at him. Truthfully he hadn't.
"I guess I just kinda assumed, because Mingus is grown," I said with a shrug. He shook his head.
"I knew we weren't having the same conversation, when we were talking about having kids," he said with a small smile of amusement. "I've always wanted another baby, I would love a little girl. Just never thought I'd find someone to have one with, untill I found you," he smiled. I started to cry again.
"Ohh, Normy!" I exclaimed, and pulled him in to a hug. "I've always wanted a baby. I just never thought I'd find the right man. Then I found you and I got scared, because you already had Mingus. I figured you wouldn't want anymore," I was crying as I explained. Norman pulled me closer, kissing my head.
"It's ok baby girl, it's ok. It was a small misunderstanding and it's over. It happend, we are going to get the baby we both want," Norman smiled. I smiled too,  it was the most amazing thing in the world. I was finnaly going to have a baby and with  Norman, and he wanted it too. I smiled at him and rested my head on his chest.
"I feel sick,"I said lowly, closing my eyes. Nomran pulled me tighter.
"It's ok baby, I got ya," he said kissing my head. "Just relax," he whispered. I smiled looking up to kiss him.
"I love you," I said. He smiled.
"I love you too," Norman said and kissed me again. I smile as my eyes started to shut, I still felt sick, but being in Norman's arms, made me comfortable and able to sleep.
I woke up later on, in the dark, and alone. I sighed as I still felt sick, but I was also hungry. I got up and slowly waked out to find Norman. I heard him talking to someone. I listend, he must be on the phone. I made my way out to the kitchen.
"Yeah, she's sleeping. She was worked up about it. I knew when we had talked about it she wasn't excited. I knew she wasn't on the same page. Ohh, well, we are now," Norman rambled. I shook my head, as I walked in to the kitchen. Smiling at him as I entered, he smiled as he came over to me and hugged me.
"Sleep well?" He asked in a whisper, kissing my head. I nodded, with a smile.  "No that's ok I think I remeber how to change a diaper," Norman said making a face. I giggled.
"Sean?" I asked. He nodded. I smiled sealing the phone.
"We will babysit anytime," I told him. I heard Sean laugh.
"Congratulations, darlin! How ya feeling?" Sean asked excitedly. I smiled.
"Thank you, and better, I got a nap, and have stopped stressing out," I told him. I heard him breath out.
"I'm not sure why you were even stressin'. Reedustine isn't the kinda guy who would leave ya in a situation where you'd need ta," Sean said, his Texas draw fading in and out. I smiled, I should have known that.
"Your right," I agreed, Norman was smiling at me. I heard Sean laugh.
"I know a thing or two," he said. I smiled.
"I know, you know shit," I laughed. Sean laughed, loudly. Norman rolled his eyes.
"Don't encourage him," Norman said, getting a beer. I giggled.
"Aww Normy," I giggled.
"He bitchin?" Sean asked. I smiled, evily.
"You know him so well," I answered, with a small giggle. Norman strutted back over to me after taking a swig off his beer.
"Alright you two," he smiled. I smiled, and we shared a small kiss.
"I'll talk to you later, Sean," I said.
"Alright, darlin, take care of my new god child," he said. I smiled happily.
"Of course, uncle Sean," I giggled, handing Norman the phone.  Norman pulled me close after taking the phone.
"Alright, Flanery. I'm gonna make sure these two eat, talk to ya later," Norman said, and a second later he was off the phone.
"What ya want for dinner?" I asked, still hugging him. Norman smiled.
"What sounds good to you?" He asked. I made a face.
"Nothing," I answered truthfully. He smiled.
"Helena was the same way, when she was first pregnant with Mingus," he said. I kinda smiled. It was weird to hear about his ex, but then again, she was Mingus's mom.
"Ohh," I wasn't sure what to say either. "Kinda weird that we have the same symptoms, being two different people. Then again, I guess a lot of women do," I kinda laughed akwardly. Norman smiled, shaking his head.
"Is it weird for you to discuss Helena's pregnancy?" Norman asked. I bit my lip.
"Sorta. I mean, I know it happend, and i adore Mingus... It's just...." I didn't know what or how to say it. Norman smiled, pulling me in to a tight hug.
"I understand. Well, I mean, I  think I do. It's like when you were with Travis," he paused. "I know it happend, but I didn't really like to hear or think about it," he said lowly. I nodded.
"Yeah, I mean, I like hearing about when Mingus was a baby, and I can't wait to see if  our baby looks like him, but yeah, it's weird to hear about Helena," I said. He nodded, then smiled.
"So dinner?" Norman asked. I giggled.
"Whatever you want," I said. Resting my head on his chest. He smiled again, holding me.
"Pizza?" He asked looking down at me. I smiled up at him.
"Is that what you want or you just don't want me to have to cook?" I asked with a small giggled, still looking up at him. He smiled.
"Both," he said. I giggled.
"Alright," I agreed shaking my head, with a smile.
A short time later we had a pizza and we're lazily laying on the couch, watching tv. All of the shows Norman watched I had caught up on an was hooked on them too. Tonight though, I wasn't really in the mood to watch tv or eat the pizza. Truthfully the smell of it was making me sick, as I set my half eaten slice down on the coffee table, and cuddled closer to Norman.
"Not setting?" He asked. I shook my head.
"No," I said lowly, as I closed my eyes, I saw him looking down at me conserned.
"Let's go to bed," he said kissing my head. I opened an eye, to look at him.
"Finish your show," I said and closed my eyes again.  I heard Norman suck air.
"So stubborn," he muttered. "It's recorded," he said, as he shifted. I felt him kiss my head. Then tv went off. I opened my eyes.
"You love my stubbornness," I smiled. Norman cocked a half smile.
"Mmhm," he hummed, I smiled "I do," he finnaly said. I giggled. We made it to the room, Norman attacked my lips. We kissed and when we parted I could see it in his eyes, the lust. I loved that he wanted me, just not at this moment.
"Umm," I looked up at him, and then ran to the bathroom. The pizza wasn't agreeing with me. I finished and brushed my teeth, walking out to see Norman smiling.
"It's ok," he said kissing my cheek. Get comfortable," he said as he headed in to the bathroom. I smiled, he was the most amazing man in the world. I  put on a pair of shorts and a tank top. We may have had central air, but Norman kept me plenty warm, during the night. I heard the bathroom door and looked up to see Norman. We shared a  smiled, he walked over to the bed and sat beside me. He kissed at my shoulders. I giggled.
"Baby," I said squirming away and looking at him. He smiled more at me and pulled me back to his arms.
"Relax," he whispered. I gave him a hesitate look, but smiled. I trusted him. I tuned with my back to him and, he kissed my shoulder a few more times. "I love you," he said lowly. I smiled.
"I love you too," I said lowly, but meaning it more then he knew. Norman started rubbing my shoulders and then my back. I smiled. He was absolutely the most sweetest man in the world. I was almost asleep, when he pulled me in to his arms waking me up.
"Come here," he said. I nodded slowly and leaned me down to lay on my pillow. I smiled as I looked up at him. He smiled. "Gonna smoke," he said I smiled and nodded. I watched him smoke his ciggarette, between long blinks. I saw him smiling at me. Finnaly he laid down beside me.  I moved overt lay on his chest.
"I love you so much," I said lowly. Norman tightened his grip around me.
"I love you so much too," he sais kissing my head, and we went to sleep.