BETH: I'm sorry! (crying)
Beth ran over to the sink and rinsed out her mouth. She turned to look at Mark who was covered in orange sick. Shaylynn was trying not to laugh.
BETH: Take off your pants and i'll put them in the wash!
Shaylynn glared at her
BETH: Well he can't get into his car like that!
SHAYLYNN: Why should you care?
MARK: Don't you two start arguing!
Mark stood up and began to unbuckle his belt.
BETH: I hope you're wearing boxers! (laughing)
MARK: I am today!
They both laughed.
BETH: I think there's a pair of your jeans in the laundry room
MARK: A pair you forgot to cut up?
BETH: I didn't think of looking in there! I'll go get them
MARK: You can just throw these in the trash!
BETH: Make sure you check the pockets then
MARK: Before you do you mean?
They both looked at each other and laughed
BETH: I don't know what you mean? (smiling)
Mark rubbed his head where Shaylynn smashed the vase
BETH: Is it sore?
MARK: I'll survive
Beth disappeared to the laundry room.
SHAYLYNN: You can get the jeans on then leave!
MARK: You can't throw me out!
SHAYLYNN: Wanna bet?
Shaylynn's phone rang.
SHAYLYNN: Hi,..... I won't be long! Yeah me too! Bye!
Shaylynn hung up just as Beth walked back into the kitchen. She didn't look well.
BETH: I feel so sick and tired!
MARK: Are you alright?
BETH: I just need a sleep
MARK: You should go get checked out
BETH: I will.
Beth handed Mark his jeans then he began to put them on. Beth watched him, he caught her staring and smiled at her.
MARK: Want to go out to dinner later?
BETH: No thanks, I don't feel too great.
Mark removed his belt from the other trousers then put it on.
SHAYLYNN: Is that you going now?
MARK: What are you? Her bodyguard?
SHAYLYNN: I'm only looking out for her.
MARK: I'll call you later Beth
BETH: I'll probably be in bed.
MARK: We'll discuss the divorce papers
BETH: Okay, thanks
He reached over and kissed her cheek.
MARK: I'll see you later,bye
BETH: Bye Mark
Mark disappeared out of the house. They heard the front door slam shut.
SHAYLYNN: Beth, do you still love him?
BETH: Of course I love him, it's not his fault.
SHAYLYNN: Oh my god, what the fuck have I done? No matter what happens someone is going to be hurt!
BETH: It's not your fault, its mines for cheating on him!
SHAYLYNN: I should never have introduced you to Kelly
BETH: You should have! I love Kelly, I'm in love with him!
SHAYLYNN: And what's going to happen when Mark finds out you're pregnant with Kelly's kid?
BETH: He wont find out just yet
Beth put her hand on her stomach
BETH: I need to lie down, I could sleep for a week
SHAYLYNN: Okay, I need to be going too.
BETH: I'll have a few hours then head over to the Firehouse to see Kelly
SHAYLYNN: Well take care, phone me later if you want to chat. Are you staying here tonight?
BETH: No, i'm heading to the apartment. I think i'll put this place up for sale.
SHAYLYNN: Good idea
Shaylynn gave her a kiss
SHAYLYNN: I'll see you later
BETH: Bye Shaylynn
Shaylynn picked up her rope
BETH: It's okay, i'll get the broken vase!
SHAYLYNN: Thank you! (laughing) See ya!
Shaylynn disappeared leaving Beth clearing away all the mess. Beth made an appointment with her obstetrician for the following day as she never felt too good and thought it was best to get herself checked out. Later on that night Beth found herself looking at her and Mark's wedding video. She cried all the way through it. Mark looked so happy in it.
Kelly phoned her around 7.30
BETH: Hi!
KELLY: Hey, where are you?
BETH: At my North side house
KELLY: What are you doing there?
BETH: My office is here, I had some things to catch up on
KELLY: Oh. Are you paying me a visit at the Firehouse?
BETH: Yeah, I was just about to leave. I'll be there in 15 minutes
KELLY: Okay, can't wait to see you
BETH: Me too
Beth drove her Bugatti to the Firehouse, parked up then walked inside. Kelly smiled when he saw her walk into the common room. She fell in love with him all over again.
KELLY: Beth! (smiling)
She smiled back then said hello to everyone else was was sitting there.
KELLY: Coffee ?
BETH: Em, yeah
She walked up to him and they kissed each other. Taking her hand they walked over to the coffee machine and he began to pour her out a coffee from a jug with a red lid.
KELLY: Decaf ?
He smirked
BETH: Oh! (laughing)
She looked at him as he made her coffee. He was so unbelievably handsome and she couldn't believe he was hers, everything was perfect.
BETH: I've made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon (quietly)
KELLY: Okay, am i coming?
BETH: Yeah, I want you there!
He reached over and kissed her
KELLY: Lets go to my office
The next day after Kelly had a few hours sleep they went out for lunch then went to Beth's Doctors for her appointment. Beth was given a full health check and had bloods taken.
DrMAXWELL: So, when did you last have a period?
BETH: I can't remember! I had a bit of one last month
DrMAXWELL: What do you mean?
BETH: It only lasted a day or so
DrMAXWELL: Okay, i think i'll give you an ultrasound. We might not be able to see much if you think you're only about six weeks
The Doctor handed her a bottle if water
DrMAXWELL: Drink this, you'll need a full bladder
BETH: All of it?
The Doctor nodded as Beth downed the whole bottle of water. A few minutes later Beth was lying on a bed while the Doctor left the room to get some Ultrasound gel.
KELLY: God, i want to jump on you!
They both laughed
BETH: You had plenty this morning!
Beth felt herself going red, Kelly laughed even more. When Dr Maxwell returned she had vitamins in her hands too.
DrMAXWELL: I have some vitamins for you too
BETH: Thank you
She squeezed some gel on her stomach then pushed the probe against it. It came up on the screen. Beth and Kelly smiled at each other. A few minutes of the Doctor making some calculations ...
DrMAXWELL: You're around 12 weeks Beth
BETH: I'm what?! (shocked)
She was pregnant with Marks baby
Kelly got up from his seat and just stared at Beth
BETH: Kelly!
KELLY: Not again! Did you know?
BETH: No! I swear! I never wanted kids with Mark! You knew that!
Kelly began to walk away
BETH: Where are you going?
Kelly never spoke
BETH: Kelly?!
KELLY: i don't know! (shouting)
Beth jumped then burst into tears
BETH: Don't you walk out on me! You promised you wouldn't do that again!
He slammed the door behind him
DrMAXWELL: Are you alright?
BETH: No (crying)
DrMAXWELL: Do you want me to call someone?
BETH: Shaylynn! I want Shaylynn!
Half an hour later Shaylynn picked Beth up from the Doctors. She sat in Shaylynn's car crying.
SHAYLYNN: Beth, you'll need to tell me what's happened! You're not ill are you ? Have you lost the baby?
BETH: No! I'm 12 weeks pregnant!
SHAYLYNN: Oh my fucking god! It's Marks!
Beth cried even more
SHAYLYNN: Oh for fuck sake! I don't believe this! Where's Kelly?
BETH: I don't know! He walked out on me again!
SHAYLYNN: I'm gonna kill him!
BETH: He said something about "Not again" what did he mean?
SHAYLYNN: An old girlfriend of his was pregnant and she told Kelly the baby was his!
BETH: I must've been pregnant when Kelly and I first met! I wouldn't have slept with him if i knew i was pregnant!
SHAYLYNN: I know you wouldn't have! Damn you Severide! I'll call him. What are you going to do? Are you keeping it? What about Mark?
BETH: Of course i'm keeping it, it's my baby! (crying) I don't want Mark!
SHAYLYNN: As soon as Mark finds out you're pregnant by him he'll try and take the baby from you!
BETH: I can't have an abortion!
SHAYLYNN: I'll phone Kelly!
BETH: Can you drive me back to the apartment please!
SHAYLYNN: Sure, there's kleenex in the glove compartment
Shaylynn got a hold of Kelly on the way to Beth's apartment. He was on loudspeaker.
KELLY: What do you want?
SHAYLYNN: Where are you Kelly?
KELLY: That doesn't matter!
SHAYLYNN: The hell it matters! You and Beth need to talk things through!
KELLY: We have nothing to talk about! It's not my baby! We're finished!
SHAYLYNN: You can't leave her in this state! She had no idea she was pregnant when you and her first met!
Beth held a kleenex against her mouth to stop herself from crying, Shaylynn was watching her.
SHAYLYNN: Kelly i swear to god! I'll ....
Kelly hung up
SHAYLYNN: Asshole!
Beth just stared out of the window.
SHAYLYNN: Are you okay?
BETH: Yeah
SHAYLYNN: You're not!
BETH: I've changed my mind, just take me back to North Side please
Then drove in silence till they reached Beth's house. After walking into the hall, Shaylynn shut the front door.
BETH: I'm going to splash my face with some cold water
SHAYLYNN: I'll make some tea
Beth disappeared to the downstairs shower room and locked the door behind her. She sat on the floor then burst into tears. She sat there for a good five minutes until Shaylynn was banging on the door.
SHAYLYNN: Beth, open the door honey!
Beth stood up and opened the door
SHAYLYNN: I'm so sorry
Beth nodded
BETH: So am i
SHAYLYNN: I'll phone him again
BETH: Don't bother, i'm not chasing him. I've done nothing wrong.
Shaylynn have her cousin a hug
SHAYLYNN: Come into the kitchen, i've made us some tea
As soon as Beth sat at the kitchen table she recieved a text from Mark
"Do you feel any better today?"
BETH: At least he's still thinking about me
She held up the phone for Shaylynn to see
SHAYLYNN: You're going to have to tell him
BETH: I know
Just then the front gate buzzer went off. Shaylynn got up to check the monitor.
SHAYLYNN: It's Kelly
BETH: I don't want to see him
SHAYLYNN: You need to sort this Beth!
Shaylynn pressed a button to open the gates. A few minutes later she answered the front door to him. Shaylynn just shook her head at him.
SHAYLYNN: Running away from her has become a bit of a habit Kelly
KELLY: Where is she?
SHAYLYNN: In the kitchen
They both walked into the kitchen. Beth just stared at her tea cup.
KELLY: Beth?
Beth looked up at him. Her eyes were all bloodshot from crying
KELLY: God, I came here to end it and i take one look at you and I fall in love with you all over again!
Beth started crying again
KELLY: But Mark still loves you, you can still make things work with him!
SHAYLYNN: For god sake Kelly, in the same breath you're saying you love her then you tell her to go back to her husband! How not you both just fight through this and work things out?
KELLY: No, once he finds out it's his baby he'll be like a dog with a bone. He'll be in our lives forever, then he'll probably fight for custody! It's not fair on the baby!
Kelly knelt on the floor in front of Beth and took her hands.
KELLY: You know I love you? But it's not going to work
BETH: I love you too, I always will
He kissed her hands
KELLY: God, another love lost!
He wiped his eyes then reached up and kissed her.
KELLY: I'm going,
BETH: It was nice knowing you! (crying)
KELLY: Beth! (quietly)
SHAYLYNN: I think you two are fucking crazy! You both love each other, fuck Mark!
BETH: No, Kelly's right. We need to end it. I don't need the stress!
KELLY: I'll still be here for you if you need anything, okay?
BETH: Yeah
Kelly stood up
KELLY: I'll see you around
BETH: Bye
Kelly walked out of the kitchen then left the house.
SHAYLYNN: I caused all of this! I'm so sorry!
BETH: I've just lost the best thing that's ever happened to me!
Shaylynn started crying which made Beth cry.
SHAYLYNN: I'm sorry
BETH: I'll be okay. Can you leave me now, I want to be by myself for a bit before I phone Mark.
SHAYLYNN: You're not going to do anything stupid?
BETH: No
SHAYLYNN: Well phone me later okay?
BETH: I will
Half an hour or so after Shaylynn left, Beth phoned Mark
MARK: Hi!
BETH: I have something to tell you
MARK: What is it?
BETH: I'm pregnant
MARK: You're pregnant! ....... Well I hope the Firefighter and you will be happy together!
BETH: I'm 12 weeks pregnant Mark, it's yours!
A YEAR LATER
Sitting outside at the Pierrot Gourmet cafe in Chicago , Beth, Mark and five month old daughter Bonnie were having breakfast. Mark was holding Bonnie in his arms. Beth smiled at them.
MARK: What? (smiling)
BETH: Nothing. We're in a good place!
MARK: Yeah, the foods great here
BETH: You know what I mean! (laughing)
Bonnie was sucking on a bit of toast
BETH: Put her back in her stroller so you can finish your breakfast
MARK: I will, it's getting cold.
Mark began to put Bonnie back in her stroller when something caught her eye. She turned to see a Firetruck, Squad 3 driving past. Looking at the window she saw Kelly, He smiled at her and waved. She smiled back then had to hold back the tears. It's funny how things turn out!
xxxxxxxxxxxx THE END xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shaylynn belongs to RonnaSweeney51317