73. A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

Thanks for all the reviews guys. I really appreciate them.

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Jay groaned as he heard the buzzing alarm go off and he reached over and turned the alarm off as he rubbed his eyes.

He closed his eyes as the light from the nightstand on Erin's side of the bed lit up and he opened his eyes slowly as Erin sat up in bed.

"We've got to start getting ready if we're going to make it to the airport on time" Erin's raspy voice was still heavy with sleep as she got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom to start getting ready.

Jay groaned and sat up in bed as he ran a hand through his hair. He heard the water to the shower turn on and he quickly made his way out of bed and into the bathroom with his wife.

Jay opened the door just as Erin was slipping into the shower and he quickly shed his pajama pants and boxers and slid in behind her.

"Jay" Erin warned as she felt him wrap his arms around her and kiss her gently on the shoulder.

"What?" Jay asked as he smiled against Erin's shoulder.

"It's way too early for that and if we start it we're going to miss our flight" Erin explained as she moved out of his grasp and moved to give him room under the hot stream of water.

"Can you believe this is going to be our last trip as a family of three?" Jay asked as he looked down at the soft swell of Erin's abdomen.

Erin ran her hand over her 4 and a half month bump and smiled. "It's crazy. This pregnancy feels like it's flying by. We're literally at the halway point now"

Jay nodded and brought his hand down to rest on top of Erin's "We're going to have to get to work on the nursery when we get back from our trip"

Erin looked up at Jay and nodded "We still have to decide on paint colors. I've been thinking about yellow or green again."

Jay shook his head "No, I don't want to go down that road again. I think we should do tan. It's neutral and when the twins come we won't have to worry about painting again until they're old enough for their own rooms"

Erin sighed and looked at Jay "I guess that makes the most sense"

Jay nodded in agreement "And then we can always paint it again if we have another baby"

Erin shook her head quickly "No, we're done after this"

Jay tilted his head and looked at his wife "You say that now, but the twins they're kind of a two for one deal"

Erin looked down at her bump and back up at Jay "Trust me Jay, they're going to be coming out of me. There are TWO of them"

Jay smiled as he looked at Erin "You don't have to be so dramatic about it. Are you sure you don't want to find out the genders again?"

Erin shrugged her shoulders "I mean, we didn't the last time and I liked being surprised"

Jay reached up and brushed a wet strand of hair out of Erin's face. "Are you sure that with this being the last time we do this, that you don't want to know?"

Erin bit her lip as she thought about what Jay was asking. Sure it would be easier to know what the twins were when it came to buying the things that they were going to need. But there was something about waiting and it being one of life's last guaranteed mysteries that she loved.

"Can I think about it?" Erin asked. "We don't go to the doctor until next week so, can I at least have until then to think about this?"

Jay nodded and stepped back from Erin. "Of course"

The two finished showering in a welcome and easy silence and got dressed before they went to finish getting their luggage together.

Erin made the bed as Jay packed up the car and she quietly made her way down to the nursery. She flipped on the small light and walked over to the crib where Everly laid still sound asleep. Erin reached in and gently ran a finger over the bottom of Everly's bare foot and she watched as Everly shifted in her sleep and raised her head up off of the mattress and she looked at her mother before laying her head back down.

"Mommy's sleepy girl" Erin said as she leaned down and picked Everly up out of the crib.

Everly sighed and laid her head down on Erin's shoulder and she whined as Erin laid her down on the changing table and started to change her diaper and pajamas.

"I know bug, it'll be so fast" Erin assured as she quickly changed Everly into a clean diaper and dressed her in a sun dress before lifting her up off of the table.

She walked over to the crib and picked up Everly's bear and her favorite pink blanket out of the crib and she draped the blanket over Everly's back as she walked down the stairs.

Kane met Erin at the bottom of the stairs his usually wagging tail hung low as he paced the kitchen and living room. Fully aware that they were leaving and judging by the full dog dish, he wasn't going with them.

Erin laid Everly down on the couch and walked into the kitchen with Kane hot on her trail.

"I'm sorry buddy, but you can't go with us to Disney World. You have to stay here. But Adam and Kim are going to take good care of you" Erin soothed as she ran her hand down the back of Kane's head as he whined.

Kane looked to the door as it opened and he went to greet Jay who walked in.

"Hey bud" Jay said as he patted Kane on the back before he looked up at Erin.

"Hank called, he and Olivia are already on their way to the airport with Noah. They are going to grab some breakfast and wanted to know if we wanted to join them"

Erin shook her head as she packed Everly a few snacks for the plane. "No, I'm not really hungry"

Jay nodded and walked over to his wife and wrapped his arms around her. "It's going to be a fun trip, Er. Please try to relax and have fun"

Erin nodded and zipped the small bag containing Everly's snacks.

"I know. I mean there's not much more we can't handle. You're right"

Jay smiled and tilted Erin's chin up and he leaned his head down to kiss her.

The two kissed for a few long seconds before Jay pulled away. "We better get on the road. Where's Ev?"

Erin nodded her head towards the kitchen "She's laying on the couch watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse"

Jay walked into the living room and sat on the couch by Everly who was laying down on the cushions. Everly climbed up on Jay's lap and cuddled into his chest.

Jay placed a kiss on top of Everly's head and wrapped his arms around her. "Sleepy girl. Are you ready to go to Disney World?"

Everly nodded and rubbed her tired eyes as she rested her head on Jay's shoulder. "Nigh Nigh?"

Jay looked at his watch and sighed at the time of 4:30. "Yeah, it's still night night"

Jay reached for the remote and turned the TV off and stood up with Everly in his arms. "Let's go"

Erin finished up the note for Adam regarding Kane and she, Jay and Evie gave their goodbye's to the dog before locking up the house and leaving.

Erin got in the car as Jay strapped Evie into her seat and covered her up.

"Let's get going" Jay said with a smile as he started the car and drove to the airport.

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"So this is the Grand Floridian?" Hank asked as walked into the front doors of the hotel.

"It sure is" Olivia said excitedly. Hank looked at his fiancee and couldn't help but smile at her. Olivia secretly loved Disney World and staying at the Grand Floridian was the icing on the cake. "This is the most amazing hotel I've ever been in"

"It is pretty amazing" Erin said as she carried a sleeping Everly. Erin looked around the lobby of the hotel. It was beautiful white interior and all the floors were open and the entire room was lit by the huge skylights. It had the most elegant southern feel to it.

"It's going to be a good week" Olivia said looking over at Hank.

"It will" Hank said pulling her into a side hug.

"I just want this to be a good trip. For all of us. We deserve it" Olivia said into Hank's chest. "Don't you think?"

"I do, Liv. Where'd Jay go?" Hank asked looking around the lobby for his pseudo son in law.

"He is signing in at the desk" Erin said as she felt Everly stir against her. She raised her head off of Erin's shoulder and rubbed her eyes before looking at her mother.

"Hey pumpkin did you have a good nap?" Erin kissed Everly's cheek softly and watched her daughter look around the lobby taking in her first experience at Disney World.

"Mama go" Everly pointed over to the big gold birdcage that set in the middle of the lobby.

"You see that baby?" Erin asked "Do you think there are birds in there?"

Everly continued to point at the birdcage and nodded her head. Everly saw something big and yellow to the side of the birdcage and looked at it before looking at her mother. "Mama"

"What's wrong pumpkin?" Erin asked as Everly turned her head into Erin.

"No no" Everly said clinging tighter to her.

"What do you see?" Erin asked but soon saw what Everly was looking at. "That's just Pluto"

"No no" Everly said again and buried her head into Erin's neck.

"It's ok, we'll go find daddy ok?" Erin soothed as she rubbed her daughter's back. Everly pulled back and looked at Erin.

"Da-dee?" Everly asked.

"Yeah, daddy" Erin set Everly down on the floor and took a hold of her hand as the two started to walk through the lobby.

"Pluto didn't go over well did he?" Hank asked as Erin and Everly walked back over to Hank and Olivia.

"Nope" Erin said. "I hope she doesn't do this at the park"

"She'll be fine" Olivia assured as she knelt down in front of Everly "Won't you Evie?"

Everly let go of Erin's hand and reached for Olivia but at the last second saw Jay walking up behind Olivia and she took off running to her father.

"Hey Eviebug" Jay said leaning down to pick his daughter up.

"Hi" Everly said softly.

"Look me got?" Noah said as he walked up to Hank and Olivia.

"What did you get sweetie?" Olivia asked.

"Dis" Noah said proudly holding his pin up for his mother to see.

"That's awesome" Olivia said. Noah clearly showed enthusiasm for the park.

"Let me see it" Hank said. Hank took the pin and looked at it. It showed an assortment of Disney Characters and the caption proudly said "FIRST TIME VISITOR" in capital letters. "That's cool, buddy"

"Are we ready to head to our rooms?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah, sounds great" Hank said handing the pin back down to Noah.

"We got you one, too" Jay said as he knelt down and clipped the pin to Everly's shirt.

"Tank ooo Da-dee" Everly said as she looked at the pin.

Noah sighed and pushed his dark hair out of his eyes as he looked at Everly who had her pin on and he reached his hands up to Hank

"Noah, you are just like your mother" Hank said as he picked Noah up and kissed his forehead. "And you had an accident in your pull up. That means it's time to go see your mom"

"Thank you, Hank" Olivia said as she reached for her son who shook his head no at his mother and held onto Hank tighter.

"I guess he wants you to do it" Olivia said smiling before patting Hank on the shoulder..

"Daddy poop" Noah said "I poop"

"Of course you do" Hank said as he pushed the stroller with one hand and carried Noah in the other arm. "Let's go to the room"

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"She's finally asleep" Jay whispered as he pulled the door that led to the room Everly was in and looked over at Erin who was lying on the bed that was in their room. Erin smiled and reached her hand out for her husband.

"She had a big day" Erin whispered back as Jay turned the bedside light off. He looked over towards the cracked door and he sighed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. Jay dreaded fighting the crowds he really did. They were going to meet Hank and Olivia for breakfast at 7 then go to the park as soon as everyone got ready. They had agreed to just hit two parks tomorrow Animal Kingdom for the first half of the day and then The Magic Kingdom for the evening and the fireworks.

"So, you've got me all to yourself, in the place where "Dreams Come True" Mrs. Halstead. What do you want to do?" Jay asked as he moved towards Erin and started to kiss down her neck.

"Jay" Erin said with a sigh as she felt her husband kiss her neck.

Erin pushed Jay over and moved to straddle his waist as she continued to kiss him.

Jay's eyes which had been hungrily scanning the beautiful features of her face closed and he leaned forward and captured her mouth in a deep kiss.

Erin sighed and opened her mouth as she pressed her core against his cock which was straining against the fabric of his sweats.

"Erin," he moaned into her mouth as her hand slipped between them and into the waistband of his boxers.

His hips bucked toward her as his hand cupped her ass, holding her against him.

He nibbled her bottom lip softly before his lips moved over her chin to her neck. Erin continued to stroke him, her grip firm against his hard flesh. She swept her thumb over the head of his cock, spreading the little beads of moisture bubbling at the tip.

Jay pulled his lips away from her neck, where he was sucking her warm skin and she pulled his t-shirt over his head. Erin pulled her hands out of his sweatpants and Jay groaned at the loss of contact.

Erin giggled as she lifted her shirt above her head and tossed it to the floor beside the bed.

Jay immediately moved back to her and took one hard, rosy nipple in his mouth. He lapped at her nipple with his tongue and then bit the tip gently.

Erin cried out softly as she moved her hands to the waistband of his sweats again. She pushed them over his hips, freeing his throbbing cock from the confining material.

Jay moved his lips to her other nipple and lavished it with the same attention as his hands grasped her pajama bottoms and pushed them down her thighs. His fingers immediately speared through her and found her hot and wet. His index finger found her swollen center and he began to tickle it softly.

Erin pulled his lips away from his breast and she pushed him onto his back, his hand slipping from her. She pushed her pajama bottoms off her legs and then pulled Jay's off as well. She straddled his thighs and leaned down to nibble on his chin.

Jay sighed softly, loving the feel of her silky lips on his stubbled chin. Erin ran her tongue along the pulse point on his throat and he slid his hands into her hair, letting the soft strands surround his fingers.

Erin placed open mouthed kisses along his chest, stopping briefly at each nipple to nip it gently with her teeth before she soothed it with her tongue. As she moved lower, the tips of her breasts brushed against his aching cock and Jay moaned.

Erin finally reached her destination and she looked up at Jay as she blew softly on his cock. It jumped and she smiled as he looked down at her through desire-lidded eyes. Erin engulfed him in her hot mouth in one motion and Jay's hips lifted slightly off the bed.

"Shit" The sound that tore from his lips was one of both pain and pleasure. Erin smiled around his flesh as she sucked him, her hand holding the base of his cock steady as her lips slid up and down rapidly. She flicked her tongue across the head every time she slid up and Jay would moan softly at the sensations she was creating.

Jay used his hands to guide her motions gently and Erin could feel his legs begin to tremble beneath her. Erin increased the pressure of her lips and within seconds, Jay groaned loudly as he came in her mouth. Erin continued to suck on him as the tremors in his body subsided and he softened in her mouth.

She released his cock and sat up, his hands slipping from her hair and dropping gently at his sides. He smiled up at her, his eyes full of love and he reached for her hand and tugged her up to him.

Jay rolled them over so she was on her back and he kissed her deeply, his tongue sliding between her lips and he tasted himself mixed with the unique taste of her.

Erin's thighs fell open and he settled himself between them. They continued to kiss hungrily as he slid his hand between them to tease her again. His fingers slid into her as his thumb massaged her clit softly. Erin rocked against his hand as Jay added another finger to her core.

Erin tore her lips away from Jay's and she cried out softly as her orgasm started.

Her walls gripped his fingers and Jay moaned against her neck. Her legs shook as his name slipped past her lips.

"Jay...Baby...please"

Jay pulled his fingers from inside her and moved his cock to her entrance. He slid into her slowly and smoothly as another orgasm instantly overtook her and she cried out much louder than before as she felt her eyes going blind.

Jay covered her lips with his own to keep her from waking Everly as he pumped in and out of her body.

Erin wrapped her legs around him, holding him captive as her body welcomed him. Her heat surrounded him and her body swallowed him with every thrust.

Jay tore his lips away from her and buried his face in her neck as he felt his orgasm approaching.

"I love you Er," He whispered against her neck as he felt his balls tighten. He burst inside her, his thick semen pulsing from his tip in short spurts.

He continued thrusting into her, knowing she was close and he brought his hand between them again. As soon as his finger touched her clit she came hard, her thighs clamping around his waist as tightly as her velvet walls clamped around his cock.

Jay collapsed on top of her and they held each other as their bodies calmed down.

"I love you Jay," Erin whispered as she kissed his ear softly.

Jay slipped from her body and rolled onto his side so he wasn't crushing her. He pulled her close and murmured her name softly. The two laid in silence for a few minutes after getting dressed. Jay's hand tracing different shapes on the tiny swell of Erin's abdomen.

"This is going to be the best vacation ever"

Erin watched him for a few moments before she leaned forward and kissed his forehead softly. Then she finally started to nod off.

"Hi" A small voice said beside Jay's side of the bed and Erin and Jay's eyes both shot open.

"Everly?" Erin asked as she sat up in bed.

"How the hell did you get out of your crib?" Jay asked.

"Babe" Erin said smacking his shoulder.

"I cwimb" Everly explained.

"What?" Jay said as Everly held her arms up to him.

"Up Up" Everly said

Jay shook his head as he looked at his daughter. "No, let's put you back in your crib"

Erin watched as Jay got out of bed and reached for Everly. "No no da-dee"

Erin reached for Jay's arm and sighed. "Just let her stay. She'll be fine"

Jay looked at Everly whose blue eyes shined up at him as she pouted.

"Come on you little crib climber" Jay said picking up Everly off the floor and tossing her onto the bed as she laughed.

Erin smiled and pulled the covers over Everly as she brushed the hair off Everly's forehead.

"One of the last times we'll have this as a family of three" Erin said as he gaze rose to meet Jay's.

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"This looks delicious" Hank said as he walked back to the table carrying his plate.

"Hank, you're going to be sick eating all of that" Olivia said before she took a bite of her scrambled eggs.

"I need energy, Olivia" Hank explained as he cut his breakfast pizza with a fork. "We'll talk when you don't have three cups off coffee in one sitting"

"It's going to be a long day" Olivia shot back.

"You're not kidding" Jay joked as he looked at Olivia.

"Jay" Erin said as she tugged on his shirt. "You should do this with Everly"

"What?" Jay asked.

"The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique" Erin smiled.

"No" Jay said shaking his head.

"You should do it, Halstead" Hank said

"She'd love it, Jay" Olivia said with a nod. "It would be a nice bonding experience for you two"

"Yeah" Erin assured."I'm taking her to the tea party at Cinderella's Castle. You should take her to the Botique.

"I just don't think she's going to sit still that long" Jay explained.

"Halstead, she's almost 2…she'll be ok. She's got better table manners than you half the time" Olivia took a drink of her coffee and looked at Noah who was eating different things at his plate

"Noah, you have to eat buddy" Olivia said.

"I wike dis" Noah said as he took a sausage link and took a bite of it before handing it to Everly. "Here Evie"

"She's got her own food. You eat yours" Olivia looked at Erin who was cutting up fruit and toast for Everly.

"Are you looking forward to the Princess Tea Party, Erin?" Olivia asked.

"I'm getting there. I'm actually really excited, you just can't tell cause Everly decided she'd keep mommy up all night" Erin said looking at her daughter who was busy eating a strip of bacon to notice being talked about.

"She not sleeping in her own crib?" Olivia said

"She is, I think last night was just an adjustment for her being in a new place" Erin yawned as she picked at her bowl of fruit.

"Erin, you need to eat more than just fruit" Jay said as he watched his wife take a bite of watermelon.

"Jay, I don't want anything else, I'll eat in the park when we have lunch" Erin assured.

"You and the twins need it. I'm going to go and get you some real food" Jay said wiping his mouth before getting up from the table.

"I don't know why he has to insist on things like this" Erin sighed as she set her fork down on the table.

"Erin, you really need to eat more than just a few pieces of fruit. It's going to be hot and you need to keep your energy and strength up. Especially since you're pregnant" Olivia said before talking a glance at Noah.

"Look mommy" Noah said patting Olivia's leg with one hand and pointing with the other. "It's Donald Duck"

"I see that buddy" Olivia smiled at the happiness that shown in her Noah's eyes. She watched as Donald Duck made his rounds around everyone's table and then finally made his way to the their family table.

"Look Everly" Erin said to her daughter as she pointed behind her. Everly turned her head backwards and saw Donald duck blow her a kiss. She looked back at Erin and let out a loud cry before sobs overtook her entire body. She reached her arms out for Erin and she frowned before picking Everly up from the highchair and pulling her close. Donald Duck reacted by covering his eyes and then peeking at Noah who burst out laughing at the duck in front of him.

"It's ok Everly. It's just Donald Duck" Erin soothed as she rubbed Everly's back as she cried.

"No mama no" Everly continued to cry as Jay walked back to the table with a plate of food for Erin.

"What's wrong? I heard her crying all the way over there" Jay asked concerned.

"Nothing, she hates Disney World and we haven't even been to the park yet" Erin sighed as she swayed with her daughter in her arms. "This is already a disaster. Maybe I should just take her back to the hotel"

"I'll take her" Jay said holding his arms out to Everly. "You finish eating"

Erin handed a still whimpering Everly to Jay and sat down at the table.

"Where Jay goin?" Noah asked looking at her mother.

"He's taking Everly for a walk. You eat your breakfast" Olivia explained.

"I go too" Noah pouted as he sat back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest.

"Noah you need to eat" Olivia said.

"I go wif Jay Jay" Noah narrowed his eyes at Olivia and pointed to where Jay was walking with Everly.

"Noah Porter Benson, if you don't finish your food, you're not going to go to Disney World" Olivia explainied in a harsh tone as she talked to Noah.

"Me sowee" Noah said as he looked at his mother.

"So far, this is far from the happiest place on Earth" Erin sighed.

"We could've went to Hawaii" Hank added.

"Thank you Hank" Erin looked at her plate and rolled her eyes.

"You ok?" Olivia asked looking at Erin.

"Yeah, I'm just not hungry" Erin assured pushing the plate of bacon, potatoes, and scrambled eggs away from her.

"I done" Noah said looking at Olivia.

"Okay. Good job" Olivia said looking at Noah's almost empty plate

"We go?" Noah asked looking at Olivia.

"Yeah, we're going to go" Olivia said as Jay walked back to the table with a now calm Everly.

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Kim sat in the doctor's office as she looked down at Jackson in her arms. She hadn't planned on being there this morning but when she went to check on Jackson, he was laying in his crib really lathargic and refused to take a bottle.

So to be safe, she decided to bring him in to urgent care while Adam went to take care of Erin and Jay's dog.

Jackson grunted and Kim turned her gaze back down to him.

"You ok, buddy?" Kim asked as she ran her hand over Jackson's dark hair.

She tried to give him the binky he'd spit out and she sighed in defeat when he turned his head away from her and started whining.

Kim stood up as Jackson started to fuss and she slowly walked around the waiting room while they waited to be called back to the back.

"Shhhhh, it's ok Jack. Mommy's here" Kim tried to soothe as she rubbed Jackson's back.

"Jackson Ruzek?" The nurse called as Kim looked over towards the back room.

"That's us, Jack" Kim said as she walked over to her chair and grabbed Jackson's diaper bag and his car seat as she made her way to the exam rooms in back.

She followed the nurse to one of the empty rooms and she laid Jackson down on the table and stripped him down to his diaper.

"And what are we seeing Jackson for today?" The nurse asked as she started to make a note on Jackson's chart.

"Well, the past few days he's been extremely cranky. He's been treated for an ear infection but, he's just been really lathargic and not wanting to eat and he has times when he gets overly fussy and it's like he is gasping for breath. I don't know if it's just because he's upset. Or if there's something wrong. So I wanted to get him checked out" Kim explained.

"Ok, we can take care of that. Let's get him weighed and his measurements and the doctor will be in" The nurse explained.

Kim nodded as she moved out of the nurses way and let her do Jackson's stats and once she was done, Kim quickly stepped back and wrapped Jackson back up in his blue blanket with police cars on it and sat down in a chair with him.

"The doctor will be with you shortly" The nurse said as she left.

Kim was only waiting a few minutes before Jackson's doctor came in.

"Hi Kim" Dr. Goldwin said as he walked in and shook her hand. "Hi Jackson"

Kim smiled down at Jackson and bounced him on her lap as she looked at Dr. Goldwin. "HI"

"So I see that Jackson is having a few issues you're concerned about" Dr. Goldwin said

"Yeah" Kim said "I'm probably just being paranoid but I would rather know it's nothing than for it to be something and me ignore it"

Dr. Goldwin nodded and made a note on Jackson's chart. "When the nurse did Jackson's stats, his heart rate was a little elevated. So, I'm going to take a listen"

Kim nodded and stood up and laid Jackson down on the exam table. She stood at the head of the table and held each of Jackson's hands in her own as she watched Dr. Goldwin work.

She watched as Dr. Goldwin listened to Jackson's heart and lungs and she continued to watch as his brow furrowed.

"Jackson sounds like he has a heart murmur. I'd like to do send you over to the hospital to do some tests"

Kim nodded as she felt her heart drop. "Do you...do you think it's serious?"

Dr. Goldwin looked at Kim and sighed "I don't know. And that's why I want to do the tests to see. It's like you said. It's better to be safe. I'll get you the order form and you guys can head on down"

Kim nodded as Dr. Goldwin shook her hand and walked out of the room. She quickly picked up her cell from Jackson's diaper bag and called Adam.

It only took Adam 15 minutes to make it to the hospital where Kim and Jack were. By the time he'd gotten there they already had Jackson back doing his tests. And he was met on the cardiology floor by his wife who didn't cry until she was in his arms.

Adam held Kim and let her cry until the nurse carried Jackson back out to them.

"Hey buddy" Adam said as Jackson smiled at him. "What's going on, Jack? You're not supposed to be scaring us like this until you're in your teens and raising hell with your friends"

"Adam" Kim said as they walked over and took a seat in the waiting area.

Adam smiled and looked down at Jackson who was smiling up at his daddy.

Adam took a seat next to Kim and they waited for Jack's results. Once they were back, Kim and Adam were sent back up to Dr. Goldwin's office and were looking at a picture of their son's chest x-ray on the screen in front of them.

"As I suspected, Jackson has a ventricular septal defect. Commonly known as a hole in the heart" Dr. Goldwin explained.

"What?" Adam asked. "I don't understand"

Dr. Goldwin nodded and pulled out a picture of a heart

"The heart has four chambers: The two lower pumping chambers of the heart are called the ventricles, and the two upper filling chambers are the atria. In a typical healthy heart, blood that returns from the body to the right-sided filling chamber is low in oxygen. This blood passes to the right-sided pumping chamber, and then travels to the lungs to receive oxygen. The blood that has been enriched with oxygen returns to the left atrium, and then to the left ventricle. It's then pumped out to the body through the aorta, a large blood vessel that carries the blood to the smaller blood vessels in the body. The right and left-sided pumping chambers are separated by shared wall, called the ventricular septum. Kids with a VSD have an opening in this wall. As a result, when the heart beats, some of the blood in the left ventricle is able to flow through the hole in the septum into the right ventricle. In the right ventricle, this oxygen-rich blood mixes with the oxygen-poor blood and goes back to the lungs. The blood flowing through the hole creates an extra noise, which is known as a heart murmur"

Kim and Adam nodded as they looked at Dr. Goldwin.

"So what do we do?" Kim asked as she looked at her son who was happily chewing on a teething ring.

Dr. Goldwin looked at Kim and Adam and cleared his throat.

"In most children, a small defect will close on its own without surgery. Some may not close, but they do not get any larger. For kids with medium to large VSDs, like Jackson, surgery is necessary. In most cases, this takes place within the first few weeks to months of life. In this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the chest wall, and a heart-lung machine is used to do the work of the circulation while the surgeon closes the hole. The surgeon can stitch the hole closed directly or, more commonly, sew a patch of manmade surgical material over it. Eventually, the tissue of the heart heals over the patch or stitches, and by 6 months after the surgery, the hole will be completely covered with tissue"

Adam's breath shook as Kim started to cry and he reached his hand out and placed it on her knee. "So you're going to stop his heart?"

"To repair the hole? Yes. But it's a surgery that I have full faith in Dr. Williams, the pediatric cardiologist I'm referring you to, will do with ease" Dr. Goldwin explained.

"Is he going to be Ok?" Kim asked.

Dr. Goldwin nodded "With the surgery, Jackson will have the same quality of life as a child who didn't have the hole. I suspect that he had it from birth and it's just went undiagnosed until then"

Kim looked down at Jackson and kissed him on the head as her tears continued to fall.

"Um..." Adam said at a loss for words "Wh...when...when would we do this?"

Dr. Goldwin looked down at his notes and back at Adam.

"He's been set up with an appointment with Dr. Williams for next week. They'll do some more testing and give you an answer then"

Dr. Goldwin stood up and shook Kim and Adam's hands before making his way out of the room.

As the door to his office shut Kim broke down in sobs and cradled Jackson to her chest.

Adam looked over at her still not sure what to do or say. All he could do was look at his wife and son with nothing but a broken heart.

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