Sunshine (Take Two Sequel)

Chapter 31: Rory

*One Month Later*
Today was a very stressful day for me. I had a check-up with my oncologist to make sure I was still in remission. These appointments were always stressful, but what I was thinking about doing after it was even more stressful. There was something I had to ask Joe, but whether or not I asked him depended on the outcome of this appointment.

"Hello Rory," my doctor said as he walked in the room. "How are you?"

"Nervous," I said.

"Well let me put you at ease," he said. "All your levels look great. You've now been in remission for six months, which is a great milestone. We'll still keep an eye on you, but you should be very happy about this." I smiled and sighed in relief.

"I am happy," I said. "Thank you so much!" I left my appointment happy, but started to feel stressed again as I remembered what I was about to do. I drove over to Joe and Ben's and knocked on the door. Ben opened the door and smiled. He was never my biggest fan, but we were all still friends and he had gotten over the whole me kissing Joe thing, at least for the most part.

"Hi Rory," Ben said. "How was your appointment?"

"Great," I said. "I'm still in remission. Can I come
in? I want to talk to Joe about something." Ben gave me a hesitant look. "You can be here when I talk to him," I said. "Don't worry, I'm not going to try to steal him from you." Ben chuckled nervously and let me in.

"What's going on Rory?" Joe asked, walking in from the kitchen.

"Can we sit down?" I asked him. "I have something... kind of huge to ask you."

"Ok..." Joe said anxiously as he sat down on the couch. Ben sat down in the arm chair next to him as I sat on the couch. I cleared my throat as they both stared at me.

"Alright," I said. "Today, I have officially been in remission for six months-"

"Rory that's wonderful!" Joe interrupted.

"Yes," I said. "Anyway... you both know I had to terminate my pregnancy almost a year ago when I found out I had cancer. It was devastating, but I felt a little better when Joe reminded me I can try to have another baby later. So... I'm ready."

"Ready for what?" Joe asked me.

"To have a baby," I answered. Joe and Ben just looked at me for a second.

"I'm confused," Joe said. "Don't you need a man to make a baby?"

"Or just... a man's ingredients," I said.

"Ok," Joe said. "So you're going to find a sperm donor?"

"Well," I said. "I'm not sure how I feel about my baby's father being some random guy I don't know. I'd like my child to be able to meet their father some day if they want. So... I want you to do it, Joe."

"Me?" Joe questioned.

"No way in hell!" Ben snapped. "You two are not doing... that!"

"Why not?" I asked him.

"Why would I be ok with Joe cheating on me?" Ben snapped again. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

"We don't have to have sex," I said. "I don't want Joe, I just need his sperm. We can go to a fertility clinic and you can deposit your specimen and then they can combine it with my eggs."

"How very blunt," Ben said.

"Rory, this is crazy," Joe said.

"What's so crazy about it?" I asked.

"You're asking your gay ex-boyfriend to father your child," Joe said. "That doesn't sound insane to you?"

"Not really," I said. "We've known each other for years, we care about each other and we live near each other. Who better to be my baby's father?" Joe and Ben both just stared at me for a second.

"You don't have to answer right now," I said. "Just please think about it. Ok?" Joe nodded slowly and I smiled. "Thank you," I said. I got up to leave and sighed in relief. At least that's over with. Now I just have to wait for the answer.