Aurora knew she wasn't the best at dealing with people but after talking to her brother William, she knew she couldn't leave the matter of a certain Left-Hand Man ignored for the foreseeable future.  This woman was a very big part of Billy's life and she wasn't going anywhere any time soon.  That meant it would either continue to be weird forever... or eventually, they would have to talk about that day in the park.

This was how Aurora found herself sitting in the living room of what was Billy's new orphanage, looking at an out of date copy of Marie Claire magazine and occasionally making faces at a small child.  There was probably a dozen places she could have 'run into' Eva but the fact of the matter was... Aurora was afraid of Eva not wanting to talk to her.  She couldn't blame the woman if that was the case.  All things considered, she'd made some bold assumptions about the other woman and even if she'd been right and Eva liked Billy... well, she'd certainly been cruel enough in pointing out that Billy had been ignorant of it all.

It seemed to Aurora that maybe if she asked the woman to give her a complete physical before the trip to Sicily then the woman would have to spend at least a short period of time with her.  At least long enough to give her a clean bill of health, then there would be time enough to say two words:  I'm sorry.  And maybe, if William was right, it would be enough to make it so they could be in the same room together without it being terrible weird.

She hoped.

Now all that remained was for one of the children who had run off to find Ms. Eva to come running back with the good doctor in tow.

"Dr. Hadley! Dr. Hadley!  Miss Aurora is here to see yooooou!!!"

A gaggle of children were suddenly surrounding her, as they often did, with bright-eyed excitement at the news they brought. To the children, Aurora was an angel on earth- a title well deserved. She and Billy had single-handedly saved more poor children in a single transaction than every local charity combined. 

While the children giggled and twittered about, Eva's stomach did about seven flip-flops in a row. She forced a smile on her face as little Elizabeth led her by the hand down the hallway and down the stairs.

"I found her, Miss Aurora!" the little girl shouted with an adorable lisp. She let go of Eva's hand and darted off in another direction when they reached the bottom of the stairs. Eva hesitated for a moment as her eyes fell on the dark-haired beauty standing there. Her expression was much more even this time. Straightening up, Eva approached.

"Miss Byrne- I'm sorry, I didn't know you were coming by. What can I do for you?"

Her voice wavered just a bit, hard as she tried to keep her expression professional and polite.

"Would you like to speak here, or perhaps in my office?"

"Perhaps your office is best.  Some topics might not be appropriate for little ears... well, that and I was hoping I might be able to trouble you for a physical?  I need to be cleared for travel into another country and ... well, I figured why not kill two birds with a single stone.  Chat with you about some things I need to touch on and... um... get this stupid physical over with."

She shrugs.

"That is if you don't mind?"

"Of course not, I don't mind at all. Please- follow me."

Eva gestured toward the stairway and began to lead Aurora up to one of the rooms she'd set aside as an exam room. In a way, she was more than grateful that the visit included need for her medical expertise. She thought of her earlier conversation with Billy where she'd mentioned that medicine seemed to be the only thing she didn't screw up. Maybe that would be her saving grace today.

Holding the door for Aurora to step inside, Eva gave her a soft smile and then shut the door behind her.

"Thank you for coming by. To be quite honest, I've wanted to speak with you; I just haven't managed to find the courage."

"Yeah, well, I figured it fell to me to open the conversation since I was the one who handled the last encounter with all the delicate grace of a bulldozer in a china shop."  She rolled her eyes.

"I'm horrible when it comes to these sort of things... I'm far better at handling physical problems or puzzles than people."  She shrugged.  "And, I want you to know that despite what it probably sounded like that day at the park I did not really feel any anger towards you.  I... felt jealous, I suppose, jealous but that's not quite the same thing as dislike.  I can't well dislike someone I don't know and... well, you obviously didn't know about me so there was no malice in what you were doing there."

She looked at the floor, "To be honest I made a lot of assumptions that day... and I feel embarrassed that I put you through that.  I wanted to come here and say I'm sorry and to introduce myself."  She offered her hand.  "I'm Aurora Byrne.  Dumb thug for Dona Byrne, my mother.  Jealous girlfriend and dreadfully bad socialite ... creator of the world's worst first impressions."  She gave a smirk that mirrored that of her somewhat infamous father Gavin.

"I hope you can forgive me and let me have a fresh start with you... I swear the second meeting with me is always better than the first, just ask Billy."  She laughed and then looked around.

"Do I need to put a gown on?"

A small smile crept across her face as a hundred pound weight was lifted off her shoulders.

"And I'm Eva Hadley. General surgeon and professional miscalculator of romantic situations. I also specialize in worrying far too much about everything." 

With a fresh breath of relief, Eva shook her head.

"The gown won't be necessary. Besides, at the moment all I have is children's sizes. Just have a seat on the table. We'll make it work."

Eva began with basics; heart beat, breath sounds, pulse. As she opened a cabinet to reach for a blood pressure cuff, she reminded herself of her promise not to hide behind the lab coat. 

"To be fair, Aurora, I made a few assumptions about you as well that day. Most of them were that you were going to have me drawn and quartered, but...also that I was some kind of home wrecker. Believe me, that's not the kind of woman I am."

She produces the cuff and began to secure it around Aurora's arm. 

​​​​​​"The truth of the matter is that I am painfully awkward when it comes to dating. I had one boyfriend in college. I really thought he was the one, but he was unfaithful. Several times. After that I swore off love completely. When I got out of medical school, life got complicated. Frankly, I needed a hero and Billy swooped in and saved me. Looking back, I realize that my brief infatuation was most likely because of that."

She stopped talking long enough to get a good measure, then continued as she took the cuff off. 

​​​​​​"For what it's worth, Aurora, I don't think you're a dumb thug at all. I have heard quite a bit about you, and I think you're quite extraordinary. And, Vasser? You certainly don't get into that school having ever been called dumb."

Aurora smiled as the Doctor looked at the gauge on her arm, quickly determining her blood pressure was a touch on the high side, though perhaps it was the stress of this meeting?

"Well, I suppose dumb is a bit harsh, but I am terrible at knowing what to say and when to say it.  I can't say that's left me feeling smart of late.  I try to make friends with people but as nice as it is to say I'm an honest person, sometimes I'm too honest perhaps and end up really upsetting people."  

Aurora's temperature was somewhat high as well, now that couldn't be attributed to stress.  Usually, it meant that someone was fighting an infection, or they might be early signs of diabetes?  Her body type didn't seem to indicate she'd be a candidate for the disease but if it ran in her family then perhaps a blood test might be needed to rule it out.  A small blood draw sent off to a hospital to look at could rule out or confirm any number of possible ailments.  

"As for dating, believe me, I understand that hardship.  I've had a few serious guys, but all of them ended badly.  Some real creeps in that mixed bag of nuts.  Billy is honestly the first real true-blue one I've dated.  Maybe that's why it hit me so hard that I might not be what's best for him.  Billy's wants to marry and have a house full of children, and a little wife at home cooking in his kitchen."  She shook her head.

"I can burn water."  She laughed.  "And I tried to take him to show him the plight of these children and why it might not be wise a mobster even has children and ... well, you can see how he handled that.  He decided enough money will solve any problem."

She rolled her eyes.

"Well, I saw you and him out there with those kids and I ... I got scared that I might not be the best match for him.  I second guessed everything we've been through together so far and well, I guess I lost my damn mind for a minute.  I've been doing that a lot lately.  Just being more moody than normal."

High basal body temperature.  High blood pressure.  Mood swings. Pregnancy?  If she were pregnant she wasn't showing yet.  Things were early but the high blood pressure was a bad sign.  That was potentially dangerous.  A blood test could prove or rule that out too.  If it was pregnancy then she'd need a urine test too.  Best to look for high levels of proteins.  

"I'll get my shit under control though.  I this vacation to Sicily is going to be just the thing to get all the kinks out of my system I'm sure."  She tilted her head to the side, "So how did you come by working with Billy anyway?  Do you have family in the Cosa Nostra?"

Eva wasn't completely listening to Aurora's conversation, instead thinking about the chance that the young and clearly unsuspecting woman before her was, indeed, expecting. 

"Hm? Family in...oh, no. To be honest I never intended to be anything more than a doctor. You could day I got into it to save lives. But that's a long story for another time."

Standing back just a bit, Eva have Aurora a soft look.

"Aurora, I'm not sure how to approach this, exactly, but is there a chance that you might be...pregnant?" 

Aurora paused and looked at Eva like the woman had surprised her with a slap across her face. 

"Technically ... I mean, I suppose but, I only recently stopped taking precautions.  I mean.  There's only been one or two times since I stopped drinking that tea after being with Billy.  And... well, I'm only a few days late.  I mean, there's been a lot happening and sometimes when I'm worked up about something I've missed a cycle.  I just assumed..."

Her words trailed off as she thought what Eva was saying again.  

"I... I..."  She tried to find the words but the thought of it, the enormity of the concept and how it would impact her life and how her life would ruin a child's hit her like a ton of bricks and suddenly Aurora was seeing stars.  She wavered and nearly fell over as she had a momentary black out - the shock of it all just being too much for her.

She put out her hand to catch her balance on the table beside her.

"Oh my... I think I'm a little light-headed."

Quickly, Eva took her hand as it flew out, and she put her hand supportively behind her back. 

"Why don't you lie back here for a moment and let's talk. Sarah?" 

A young nurse appeared at the door. 

"Can you please fetch a glass of cool water, please, and then bring me a draw kit?" 

The nurse nodded and hurried to her task. Eva turned back to Aurora and gently smiled. 

"We will draw some blood and do another test to be sure, but with your temperature and blood pressure, I suspect you're probably several weeks along."

The nurse returned with the water and the items for a blood draw. Eva handed the glass to Aurora. 

​​​​​​"Have you been eating regularly? Full meals?"