<div class="floatleft">(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4c50/ek74xe84agd1axk6g.jpg)<br/><div align="center"><strong>Courtney</strong></div></div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">I *nod* and make a mental note, to make a note in her file at Miss Kat's office on what we just talked about.<br/><br/>"I can absolutely do that Jacyln. We usually have some down time at the end of the day .. when we talk." Almost slipped there. She doesn't need to know how literal my "down" time really is. Not sure hypnosis would be the best path for Jaclyn anyway.<br/><br/>"Sometimes that leads into a session for me, but sometimes we just have a drink and talk. And don't worry about me. It's just going to take time to regain life experiences, and therapy to keep me sane in the meantime, heh heh. Therapy and Steffy. Hard not to be happy around her!"<br/><br/>I immediately realize that saying that might not have been the best thing in the world to say after just discussing her (probably) deceased fiancée. Nice one Courtney, gawwwd. Recover. Gotta recover. <br/><br/>"And if you ever feel like giving up, you call Miss Kat, or you call me. If I don't answer, you call Steffy and <strong><em>she'll</em></strong> find me, or kick me awake or whatever. I'm serious. I'll leave my number with you. Call me if you ever feel an inkling of weakness creeping up."<br/><br/>I then *frown* slightly. Not in displeasure, or anger or anything like that, but more in an introspective, serious thinking sort of way. <br/><br/>"When I first found out that I could get pregnant, I panicked. Was still at Lacy then. The thought of getting pregnant and bringing a child into the world in <strong><em>that</em></strong> life ... uh uh ... No way in hell. Plus just the thought of being pregnant, carrying to term, going through childbirth, finding a way to make enough money to care for it, and still actually have time to raise it ... No I was dead set against it. But now though..." I trail off briefly.<br/><br/>"I don't know if it's just being out of there, or hormones kicking in orrr ...  what, but now the idea is growing on me. I can't explain it ... it's like ... I dunno ... a building want. The thought still terrifies me, don't get me wrong but, I guess someday I think I'd love it if I were pregnant. It's so weird. I never thought I'd feel this way. Don't tell Steffy I said that either! I don't need her freaking out!"<br/><br/>"And Jaclyn," I say sincerely, "Just because you can't bear children, doesn't mean you can't be a mother. You're a woman of the world, with the means to change a kid's life. You ever look into adoption? If there's one thing that could help fill that hole in your heart, the love a child would be it."<br/><br/>I smile at her as we get up to head to our separate rooms. Crazy how one's perspective of a person can change when you just sit down and talk to them. I'd had her pegged as a no-nonsense, take no prisoner businesswoman. Maybe part of that is her, but mostly, that's not her at all! She's got problems just like the rest of us, something I will definitely never forget. Well, hopefully I won't anyway. <br/><br/>A few minutes later, after having brushed my teeth and taken care of nature, I walk back out to the kitchen where Jaclyn is cleaning up a bit.<br/><br/>*Yaaawwnn* "Alright, I'm gonna turn in. Thank you for talking, and even more for listening. I really needed that." I walk over to her and give her a warm hug.<br/><br/>"Goodnight Jaclyn. See ya in the morning."<br/><br/>I walk off and find the guest room. I open the door, and there, on the bed, are a set of pj's and a robe. I can't help but smile and let out a quiet little *chuckle* One thing's for sure, no one can ever rightly accuse her of being a poor hostess. I slip out of my clothes, for the second time tonight, and slip on the pj's. Wow! Comfy! I hang the robe up, then slip into bed and stare off into the ceiling ... waiting for sleep to take me.<br/></span>