Jessica was able to make an appointment for only two days later. Her gynecologist was currently out of town so she was a little upset that she had to settle for the doctor that was there until she returned.  Of course Jessica could wait for her regular doctor, but there was no way she could take not knowing for another two weeks.

That morning was the first morning Jessica actually threw up.  Before now it was always just nausea.
Jessica hid it as best as she could in front of the kids.
After dropping them both off at school, she and Danny went to the doctor.

Jessica sat there and her stomach was rumbling.
"I'm so scared, Danny!  I can't take it anymore!"

Danny reached over and grabbed her hand. "Baby, don't worry.  If you are, then it'll be okay!  You have me here and you know I won't leave your side."

"But my age!"

"You'll be okay."

"What if I'm not pregnant and I'm sick?  What if I have cancer again?  What if-"

"Stop with the what if's, Jessica.  Just breathe, okay?"

"Okay.."

Soon the nurse called her back.  She checked Jessica's blood pressure, weight and everything else she needed.  They then waited to speak with the doctor.

"What will the kids say?" Jessica broke the silence.

"What do you mean?"

"About the baby!  If there is a baby.." Her voice trailed off.

"I think they'll be okay."

"No.. with Nova, that was different.  That was six years ago and we had been trying for so long!  Enrique was something completely different.. I don't know if they'll be happy about it this baby."

"Honey, they will be thrilled!  Especially little Nova." He smiles.

"Heh.. yeah." Jessica looked down with the smallest smile.  For a second she was happy about the thought of a new baby.

"It's just crazy.. you know, if I am!  We tried forever to get pregnant with Nova.. now we weren't even trying.  It was just an accident!"

"Yeah, and it was your fault!" Danny chuckles.

"Ohhh!  I was hoping you wouldn't remember that!" Jessica scrunches her face.

"I remembered, little lady!  How dare I interrupt your orgasm!" He mocked her and laughed.

Jessica nodded her head and rolled her eyes, just as the doctor walked in.

"Hello Mrs. Huston.  Dr. Huston." He smiled and shook their hands. "I am Dr. Fisher."

"Nice to meet you." Jessica smiles softly.

"Now I've gone over your chart and what I really feel is the problem, well not problem, it's actually not a big deal!"

"What is it?" Jessica asks.

"I feel the you are in the beginning stages of menopause, Mrs. Huston."

"Okay.."

"It says here you had unprotected sex about two months ago.. a woman your age cannot get pregnant just one time having unprotected sex." The doctor chuckled softly at the thought.

"Oh.."

"I mean, twenty years younger, yes!  But women in their forties don't have it that easy.  Lay back for me, please?"

Jessica did what he asked and lifted up her shirt.
He felt around her stomach and said, "Mild bloating but no baby.  Have you had any hot flashes?"

"Yeah.."

"Moodiness?"

"Mhm."

"Definitely menopause. I'll proscribe you some medication for your symptoms, but mostly just relax and take it easy."

"You don't feel the need to run any tests?" Danny asked.

"No sir. Any more questions?" He smiles.

"I guess not." Jessica sighs.

After leaving the doctor Danny drove Jessica to work.

"You know, Jess. I really didn't care for that doctor.  At all."

"You didn't?"

"No. He just didn't seem concerned."

"It's just menopause, babe."

"How do we know that for sure?"

Jessica shrugs. "I don't know.. because the doctor said." She chuckles.

"I'm fine, honey. Don't worry about it." Jessica said reaching over to rub his arm.

***

A few days later.

"Danny, this medicine isn't working!" Jessica sobbed as he rubbed her back.

Jessica was sitting up in bed with a migraine and a horrible stomach ache.
"Baby, we need to get you in to see another doctor some time this week for a second opinion."

"The hot flashes are worse, I've thrown up every single meal! I didn't even know that came with menopause! AND I am so fucking bloated! Look at my stomach!  I'm disgusting!"

"Baby, don't cry! You are not disgusting, you're beautiful!" Danny says moving her hair out of her face.

"I didn't know that menopause was this intense, it's like I'm havin another baby!" She whines.

"I know, honey. I'm so sorry." Danny wraps his arm around her and kisses the top of her head.

"Got off of me, it's hot!" Jessica quickly pushes him away.

"Sorry!" Danny quickly backed off.

**

Later that day Sam came over and James did as well.
Jessica was laying on the couch napping and Danny and the boys were talking.

"Dan.. we're a bit.. concerned." James starts.

"Concerned? About what?"

"About mom."

"Oh she'll be okay, boys."

"We just um.."

"Is she pregnant?" Sam asks.

"Pregnant? No!"

"Well then what's wrong with her?"

Danny looks at Jessica sleeping peacefully then turns to the boys. "Your mother is going through menopause." He says awkwardly.

"Oh thank god!" Both boys sigh with relief.

"What?"

"We thought she was pregnant! Now we don't have to worry about it, thank you, Jesus!" James lifts his hands.

"Okay.."

"I'm sorry but.. well mom isn't a spring chicken, Danny." Sam says.

"Oh geez, don't let her hear you say that!"

"We won't.. Oh gosh, I feel so much better knowing that.. Heh, well it was nice talking to ya, Dan! I've gotta get back to my family." Sam chuckles.

"I'm glad I could help.."

"This is just great! Mom isn't pregnant! She's just old." James smiles.

"Again, don't let her hear you! She's major moody right now."

"I know, I'll stop. I'm just so happy!" He smiles.

Danny gives him a weird look as he slides on his coat.

"Well I'll see you boys soon."

"Yeah. Have fun with crabby pants." James smiles and gives him a hug.  "This is just great!" He laughs.

***

A few days later Jessica was finally starting to feel better.  Today the four of them were getting dressed up and heading over to a friends house for a little pre Christmas dinner.

"Oh Jesus, look how fat I look in this!  I'm changing, I'll be back." Jessica said just before they were set to walk out of the house.

"Mommy, you've changed three times!"

"Yeah, maybe nothing is gonna look perfect." Grayson shrugs.

"Gee, Thanks!" Jessica says sarcastically.

"Sorry, that came out wrong!"

"Baby, you don't look fat, now let's go before we're late."

"No!" Jessica shouted scaring the kids slightly.

"Let me change and I'll be down in a minute!"

Danny sighed and left her alone.

Jessica search through her clothes and nothing fit.  Finally she grabbed a pair of old maternity jeans she wore in early pregnancy with Nova.  She tried them on and started bawling. "Danny, come up here!" She shouted.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm wearing maternity jeans!" She sobs.

"Hey that's okay!  I did the laundry and everything shrunk.. that was my bad." He smiles and rubs her back. "As long as you're comfortable, that's all that matters."

"I hate this!  I've been trying to eat right!  You'd think with all the vomiting I'd lose weight!"

"It's okay, honey.  Jessie, if you don't feel well, we don't have to go."

"No, I want to go.  Maybe a glass of wine.. or two with some conversation is all I need to make me feel a little better."

"Yeah baby, I bet you'll feel so much better!" He smiles.

Jessica gives him a small smile as Danny rubs his hand on her back.

"I know the past few weeks have been hell for you, but you're honestly so beautiful you would never even know you felt like shit."

Jessica chuckles softly and hugs him.  Danny kisses the top of her head as Jessica buries her face in his chest.