Houston, Texas, in the Clarke Home, Friday, December 13th, 2030, at 4:15 am

Rachel

I wake up to an intense swirling sensation in my stomach, and a streak of warmth raced up my back and onto my neck. I jump out of bed and run into the bathroom, throwing myself over the toilet as I hastily flip open the lid. I immediately lurch forward and vomit, feeling a wave of relief wash over my entire body as soon as I'm done.

"Rach? Are you alright?" Lucas exclaims as he rushes into the bathroom and sits behind me on the floor. The gray vinyl is freezing against my bare legs, and I begin shivering. Lucas grabs a towel to wrap around me, leaving his arms at my sides.

"Yeah, I just had to throw up all of a sudden," I reply weakly, not wanting to turn towards him because of how gross I feel right now.

"You should stay home if you don't feel well," Lucas whispers.

"The feeling is gone, now," I say as I start to get up off the floor, feeling Lucas' strong arms lifting me up effortlessly. I giggle at him and head over to the sink to brush my teeth.

"Okay, but I don't want you at work if you don't feel well, Rachel." Lucas gives me a stern look, like the one my dad always gave me if I was trying to go to school sick.

"Promise!" I say through a mouthful of toothpaste. Lucas chuckles and I see him begin to get dressed. I spit in the sink and turn to him. "Are you going to work right now?"

"Yeah, we are supposed to get in at five," he yawns as he slips on a pair of black jeans. They rest just below his hips, making his torso look even longer. He catches me ogling him and shoots me a flirty grin.

"I really wish that I didn't just barf when you look like that right now," I smirk as I dramatically wave my finger in the air gesturing to Lucas' muscular figure.

He laughs loudly and blushes, buttoning up his jeans and grabbing a light blue t-shirt. It's my favorite color on him; a bright blue that reminds me of Easter. It highlights Lucas' dark hair and eyes and makes him look even more gorgeous.

"I'm not afraid to get sick, if that's what you're talking about." He winks at me and comes back into the bathroom. "I just really have to go." He loops his right arm around my hips and pulls me against him as he gives me a very wet and passionate kiss. He pulls away from me, leaving me out of breath. "I will see you tonight, beautiful. I love you." He presses another firm kiss to my lips and darts out of the bathroom.

"I love you too!" I yell out after him as he runs down the hall. I can hear him chuckling in the stairwell. I crawl back into our warm bed and snuggle under the covers. I fall back asleep within a few minutes of Lucas locking the front door.

#

I wake up with the same nauseating feel in my gut and spring out of bed. As soon as I'm finished, the sensation fades and I feel brand new again.

That's so weird.

I don't have food poisoning because I have no other symptoms and Lucas isn't sick. I could be getting the flu or some other stomach bug, but it usually starts with fatigue and my nose, not full on vomiting.

My heart skips a beat as I eliminate all of the usual suspects.

Oh my god.

I rush back into the bedroom and rip my phone off of the charger to call Anne.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up," I say audibly as I pace around barefoot. The floor is no longer cold under my feet as I feel like I'm on fire.

"Hello? Rachel? Is everything alright?" she asks quickly when she picks up. I can hear some papers shuffling in the background. I check my watch and see that it's a little after six.

"Anne, are you busy right now?" The shuffling in the background stops immediately.

"No, not at all. What's going on?"

"Are you sure? It sounds like you're at work?" I can hear more noise now; muffled voices and folders being passed around.

"I am never busy if you need something, Rach." My heart feels like it's going to leap out of my chest at Anne's words.

"I need you to pick something up for me at the drug store and come over here as soon as possible," there's a silence on the other end of the line as Anne thinks about my words.

"Do you not have breakfast? If that's the emergency right now then-" Anne cuts herself off with a giant gasp. "Oh my god! Okay, okay, I understand. I'm literally running out the door right now."

I hear gusts of wind and the jingling of keys before she hangs up the phone. I laugh out loud to myself. I throw on my work clothes for the day to prevent myself from just pacing back and forth until Anne gets here. I'm so distracted that I grab two pairs of slacks out of the closet and try to put them both on. I quickly pick out a dark purple v neck sweater and toss it on with the black slacks.

Bum bum bum bum bum bum.

A frantic knocking echoes up the stairs. I put my hair up in a high ponytail and just let my bangs decide what they want to do today as I run down. I throw the door open and see Anne panting while she holds a small plastic bag in her hands.

"Oh my god!" she squeals as she throws her arms around me.

I cough at the force of her hug and squeeze her back.

"I haven't taken the test yet, Anne!" I pull away from her and hold her elbows in my hands. "Don't get my hopes up!" I say this jokingly, but there's a twinge of pain in my heart as well.

"Okay, okay, take this into the bathroom and pee the best pee you ever have in your life," Anne's face is super serious as she says this, until her eyes crack and we both burst into laughter.

"Yes ma'am," I giggle as Anne takes a small pink box out of the bag. I see at least three others in there of all different colors.

"I thought you were supposed to take five to make sure." Anne laughs loudly again as she plops down on one of the bar stools. The air between us is full of both excitement and panic.

"I will start with one and see how it goes." I nervously duck into the half bath by the entryway and stare at the pink pregnancy test in my hands.

Results in just one minute!

Is written in bold white letters.

Okay, here goes nothing.

I sit down and open up the packaging and quickly skim the instructions before peeing on the small pink stick. I place it back inside of its plastic shield and wash my hands, counting down the seconds until it's ready. I open the door and see Anne standing right there, making me jump.

"Did it work?" she asks, bouncing up and down.

"I have about thirty more seconds," I say hesitantly.

Her eyes widen and she gives me a big hug.

"It'll be okay no matter what it says," she whispers. "You know that I'll be here to help."

I can feel my eyes welling up with tears. If I am pregnant, there's a good chance that Lucas is going to be absent for large portions of the journey.

I know that I will have Anne, though.

"I know, thank you for being my best friend." I pull away from her and smile.

A beeping noise interrupts us. I gasp at Anne, afraid to flip the test over. She looks at me reassuringly.

"Do you want me to do it?" I nod at quickly and hand her the plastic tool that is about to give me the best news ever, or break my heart.

Anne takes a deep breath and brings the pink stick up to her face and flips it over. Her face lights up as if the sun is shining directly at her.

"Rachel! You're pregnant!" Anne screams as she tackles me to the floor in the hallway.

I can't even make any noise because I'm so elated. I just silently scream and cry as Anne shakes me around on the purple runner.

"You have been spending way too much time with Cooper," I choke out as I try to find my breath.

Anne laughs with her face in the carpet before she hops up and offers me a hand. I take it and throw my arms around her.

"I'm pregnant!" I scream, as we rock back and forth together for a moment.

"Oh my gosh, how are you going to tell Lucas?" she spits at me.

"I have to think of something really cool." I laugh nervously to myself as I think about it.

Starting a family with Lucas is always something that I've wanted. Imagining him as a father fills my heart with unmatched joy. I have had vivid dreams of Lucas holding a tiny baby with a tuft of black hair like his. I start to feel anxious as I think about the possible ways he could respond to this. He could be thrilled, or he could freak out even more than last time. Dr. Wilson's words begin to replay in my mind.

Would it help ease some of your anxiousness if I said that I truly believe the conversation will go differently, this time?

He said to me, his words full of sincerity. I take a deep breath and look at Anne.

I need to think of something truly special for Lucas. Something that will prove to him that I will always be here.