At the hospital --

Zander and Emily stepped off the elevator on the 5th floor of the hospital, they were on their way for Emily's appointment with Dr. Meadows. With smiles across their faces, they walked down the corridor to the doctor's office, knowing what the results would be made it a little easier for Emily to be there, there was no stressing about what the results would be, she already knew. Her appointment was just for confirmation and to get set up on a routine of vitamins and doctor's visits for the next 7 months.

Her and Zander waited for Dr. Meadows to finish with another patient in the waiting room of the office. After a short time, Dr. Meadows emerged from behind the closed door and invited Emily in, Zander waited in his chair for her.

"So how are we feeling, Emily?" Dr. Meadows asked as she took Emily's chart in her hands and looked down at it.

"A little nervous, but fine otherwise." Emily replied as she hopped up on the exam table.

"No morning sickness, dizziness ...."

"No not this time." Emily replied as Dr. Meadows turned towards her.

"Okay then, I guess we'll take a look to see what we have and get you on the schedule. You can put this on and I'll be right back." the doctor said as she handed Emily a blue paper gown to wear.

Emily got down off the exam table and removed her clothing, so she could slip on the gown she was given. As she slipped on the blue gown, she noticed the fullness of her breasts, a sure sign of pregnancy, she had that with Devon. Emily got back up on the exam table and waited for Dr. Meadows to come back.

She waited a few minutes till the doctor returned and then she laid back on the table after Dr. Meadows closed the door. The doctor approached her and took a seat on the swivel stool at the foot end of the table. Emily could feel the pressure inside her as Dr. Meadows examined her and she relaxed her body as she breathed in deeply and exhaled.

Dr. Meadows pulled back from Emily and removed the gloves from her hands as she stood up from the stool. "Well, you are definitely pregnant, and we'll see how far along with an ultrasound at the next visit. I want to take some blood and run some tests, but from what I can tell, you shouldn't have any trouble with this baby."

Emily sat up on the table and a concerned look came over her. "As you know, the first time I was at high risk, any indications of that this time?" Emily asked as Dr. Meadows jotted down some notes.

"Well, with any pregnancy there are always risks and no guarantees. We'll take precautions now, so we can prevent the risks the best we can. We'll know more as you progress with this baby." Dr. Meadows reassured her. "I'll send in the technician to draw some blood and we'll get those tests done." Dr. Meadows added with a smile.

"Thank you ...." Emily smiled in return.

She left out a sigh of relief, all was well for now. She caressed her lower abdomen as she heard a knock at the door to the room. Zander peered in and saw her still sitting on the exam table, her feet dangling over the end of the table. She motioned for him to come in and he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He walked over to her and stood in front of her, her legs opened to let him slip snugly in between them.

"What did Dr. Meadows have to say?" he asked as he brushed back her auburn hair around her ear.

"She said all looked good. She wants to get some blood for some tests, but she said I'm healthy to carry this baby and should have no problems carrying to term." Emily said and Zander noticed the worry that filled her eyes as she said it.

"If all is so good, then why are you worried?"

"Who's worried? I'm not worried." she replied trying to hid the fact that she was.

"You are .... I can see it in your eyes, Em." Zander asked knowing that the first pregnancy was rough for Emily, she had almost lost Devon more then once and was put on the strictest of bed rest for the last 4 months before delivering him.

"I guess, I just don't want anything to happen to this baby, Zander. It was a miracle for us to have Devon and we've been truly blessed with him. I guess I'm just worried that perhaps this time we won't be so blessed." she replied as she leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She felt his arms wrap around her and his hands caress her trying to soothe her fears away.

She felt him against her and held onto him as tight as she could. She could feel the new life fluttering inside her and she smiled realizing now that all was going to okay.

On the docks ---

"You have your orders, now I don't care what you have to do, I want him dead!!" the voice ordered the dark haired stranger who stood on the docks of the Port Charles Harbor.

The stranger flipped closed the cell phone and stuffed into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a picture of the target he was paid to get rid of, and stared down at it. The picture burned into his mind as he crumbled it up and threw it into the water.

He looked up into the night sky and noticed the storm clouds were moving in as thunder could be heard in the distance. He pulled his jacket up to cover his neck as a chill came over him and he stood contemplating his next move. He pulled the 9mm gun from his jacket pocket and admired it, feeling how comfortable it was in his hand and his eyes became cold and bitter as the thoughts of killing Zander Smith filled his mind.

The dark haired stranger walked off and disappeared into the pitch blackness of the night as another storm brewed over the city of Port Charles.

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The sequel called WICKED will begin next week on Monday, May 14th.