Agatha was back!

As she entered the Emergency Room at the hospital in Savannah, it was as if she had never been away. It was all so familiar. She had been gone for almost five months, but thanks to Chloe, who had never turned in her letter of resignation, returning home hadn't been an issue.

When she had called Chloe and asked for her old job back, Chloe had asked her how soon she could start. She had allowed Agatha to use up all of her vacation and sick time and then placed her on Family Medical Leave, hoping she would have a change of heart.

Agatha was slightly apprehensive as she made her way through the department, waving to people as she went. She kept expecting to see Merrick around every corner. When she entered the locker room, it was empty, and she took her time putting her stuff away; and it didn't take long for Mickey and Holly to find her.

They greeted her with hugs and made much about her return, letting her know that everyone missed her. They were catching her up on the news as they made their way to the nurse's station to begin their day.

As the day progressed, her apprehension about Merrick eased as people stopped by to welcome her back and ask her how she had been. Agatha did her best to keep it vague, saying she had needed to spend some time with her parents in New York, and that seemed to appease most people, who then quickly moved on to what she had missed in their lives.

Debby arrived halfway through the day with a squeal that caught everyone's attention. "You're back! Just in time for the party!" Debby pulled her close in a hug.

"What party is that?" Agatha asked, stepping back from the close contact.

"Dr. DeGraff is finally retiring and handing over the reins to Dr. Merrick," Mickey said before Debby could. Agatha didn't miss the irritated look that Debby shot Mickey.

"That's exciting. How is Dr. Merrick fitting in? Has he gotten any easier to work with?" Agatha asked, doing her best to sound casual.

"He has stopped making the nurses cry, so that's something, I guess. He's still not overly friendly with anyone." Holly supplied from the other side of the nurse's station.

"You know there was a rumor that you left because of him," Debby whispered.

"Was there really?" Agatha asked. She didn't have to feign surprise because she had honestly thought they had kept their friendship out of the hospital gossip chain.

"Anyway, we're glad your back!" Debby reassured her once more.

Holly snorted. "They're glad it isn't true," she softly said as Agatha joined her on the other side of the counter. "Those two have been in a tight competition for Merrick's approval and attention since you left. They say they're glad you're back, but I think they're protesting a little too much if you get my meaning." Holly elbowed her.

"I don't. What do you mean?" Agatha frowned as she thought about Holly's words.

"It's the way Merrick looks at you. It's how he's looking at you right now." Holly nodded her head to the left, and Agatha looked over her shoulder to see Merrick approaching the nurse's station. "It's always a quick look, but it's there."

Merrick was indeed staring at her, but he looked angry about her presence.

"Welcome back, Stevens," he greeted as he slammed down some files on the counter. He must not have expected it.

"Thank you, Dr. Merrick," Agatha smiled sweetly. "It's good to be back."

Merrick grunted, then pulled out his tablet to make some notes before beginning his round.

"You can accompany me on my round, Stevens." Merrick insisted.

"If you like," Agatha agreed, hiding a smile.

"Aggie!" Sam exclaimed as he exited the elevator and saw her. He didn't hesitate to envelop her in a bear hug, but after a moment, he pulled back and looked at her oddly. Then he set her away from him and looked her over before grabbing her arm and dragging her to the other side of the E.R.

"Aggie, you're pregnant!" Sam looked at her with a grin.

Agatha laughed. "No, Sam. That's an impossibility." She shook her head.

Sam frowned and looked her over once more. "Are you sure?"

If Merrick had a vasectomy as he had claimed, then she was sure. Although... she swallowed hard as her mind raced. She hadn't had her period in over two months, she was gaining weight rather rapidly, and she was always tired. But she had thought the disruption in her cycle was coming off birth control when she was in New York. Her mood swings had been bad since she had last seen Merrick, but she contributed those to her messed-up feelings as she tried to figure everything out.

"How would you possibly know I was pregnant with a hug!" She hissed, mad that Sam might have figured it out when she hadn't. But there was nothing to figure out because Merrick couldn't have children.

"So it is a possibility?" Sam asked with an arched brow.

"I don't know! But how would you know?" Agatha felt tears building. If she were pregnant, that would be game over for her and Merrick. He wouldn't believe it was his.

Sam shrugged. "Mom was pregnant three times after me. I got to know the vibe. Women kind of glow and get all soft looking, and they smell like cookies to me."

Agatha's mouth fell open at his words. "Cookies?"

"Don't ask me, but you do smell like cookies."

"Is that a bad pun about a bun in the oven or something?" Agatha hissed, looking over her shoulder to where Merrick was working at the counter. He must have sensed her look because he looked up and frowned at her.

"No, it's just a fact. I take it by that quick look in Roark's direction that he is the father."  

Agatha didn't respond as she stood looking numbly into space while she tried to process the fact that she might be pregnant.

"They sell pregnancy tests in the pharmacy," Sam supplied. 

That was all it took. "Cover for me!" Agatha said as she ran out of the E.R. and toward the pharmacy. She bought the test in record time and took it back to the lady's bathroom in the locker room.

After she took the test, she paced the tiny bathroom while she waited for it to develop. She couldn't be pregnant. She wanted to scream. With Merrick's background, he would believe the worst, and while she wanted to blame him for it, part of her couldn't.

As her phone alarm beeped, she moved toward the test and held her breath. When she picked it up and saw the word pregnant appear, she couldn't contain the tears.

What would her family say?

What would Merrick think?

Agatha pulled open the bathroom door and saw the man in question standing with his arms folded, watching the door.

"What's going on, Agatha?" Roark's voice was low and severe, and she loved it. She loved everything about the man.

Agatha wiped her tears and cleared her throat as she shoved the test in his chest. Then like a coward, she moved to the door. "I'll help you with your rounds now."

She only got a handful of steps down the hall before he grabbed her and pushed her into a supply closet.

"What's this!" His voice was cold.

"You know what it is, Roark." Agatha defensively crossed her arms. "Just don't say anything right now! Please!" If he said the worst, he couldn't take it back. "You are the only one. It has to be you!" Agatha insisted.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I had a vasectomy. It's not possible."

"I disagree, and right there is the proof!" Agatha hissed, pointing to the test he was clutching in his hand. "Perhaps little Roark is stronger than you think!'

He made a strangled sound in the back of his throat at her words.

"It's not an impossibility, and you know that as a doctor!"

"Less than one percent!" Roark's voice was cold. He didn't believe her, and it hurt. "Is this what you were talking to Sam about?"

"He said I smelled like cookies!" Agatha gulped back tears.

Roark shook his head as if telling himself he wasn't going to pursue that line of questioning at the moment.

"Why didn't this happen before? Why now?" He demanded.

"I was on birth control before. My prescription expired while I was in New York, and I don't have a doctor there. When you told me you had a vasectomy, I thought it would be fine!" Agatha felt the room begin to spin, and she leaned against a row of boxes to steady herself.

"It is yours, Roark," Agatha's voice broke as she said it. "What will my family say?" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she placed her hand on her stomach.

She had a life in there. It was part of her and Roark. Even if he didn't believe her, she knew it to be true. Agatha would do everything she could to protect it!

Squaring her shoulders, she stood up and plucked the test from his hand, placing it in her pocket. "There's one way to settle this."

"What's that?" Roark asked. His face was void of expression, and his voice was cold.

"Go get tested," Agatha moved to the door of the closet. "Are you ready to do your rounds, Dr. Merrick?"

Roark grabbed her arm before she could open the door and looked down at her as he searched her face for answers.

"You're offering me a dream, Agatha, but I'm too frightened to believe in it."

Agatha nodded as she bit her lip. "I do understand, Roark. It hurts my heart and pride that you don't or can't believe me, but I do understand. However, if you don't mind, I'm going to move past this and be glad and proud that I'm carrying our child, no matter what others say or think, including you!"

With that final statement, she turned and walked into the hall with Merrick on her heels.

"Where would you like to begin your rounds, Doctor?" Agatha asked, but as she asked it, she placed her hand protectively on her stomach.

She was pregnant!