What To Expect When Liz Lemon's Expecting (Part 1/4)
Pairing: Jack/Liz
Spoilers: Season 4ish. Avery is not a thing (no offense to Elizabeth Banks!).
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine. Everything belongs to Tina (as it should).
Month #1:
When Jack gets promoted to CEO, Liz decides to try artificial insemination. Normally, the two events should not be related. After all, on the surface, Jack’s ascent in the corporate world and her ticking biological clock are two wildly disparate things. But Liz sees the connection immediately: Jack has successfully achieved his dream - the one thing he’s always wanted. Liz now wants to do the same.
Surprisingly, she succeeds on her first try. It’s probably the first time she’s succeeded at doing anything the first time around. What’s even more surprising is that the happiest moment of one’s life should not take place in a public bathroom. But when Liz sees the bright pink line on the home pregnancy test while sitting in the bathroom stall at work, she’s pretty sure she’s never felt more exhilarated and optimistic about her future. She’s not sure how good of a mother she’ll be, but she hopes the fact that she wanted this so badly gives her a leg up as a potential parent.
Month #2:
Jack’s promotion forces him to move to Connecticut. The distance between GE headquarters and 30 Rock is not great, but Jack gets consumed with his new role and the two inadvertently lose touch. When Liz finds out she’s pregnant, she contemplates calling him to let him know - it would certainly be a valid reason for contacting him - but she’s figures, you know, he’s an important CEO now and has other things to worry about.
She never calls. It’s probably for the best.
Month #3:
As someone who never discriminates when it comes to food and embraces any strange culinary oddity with open arms, throwing up in public is a pretty run of mill experience for her. But throwing up in front of your former boss (Or wait, he’s still her boss, isn’t he? He’s the boss of everything now) is an experience that leaves Liz completely shame-faced.
“Lemon!” She hears the familiar voice before she sees his face as she’s about to enter the building.
“Jack!” She whirls around, and instinctively wraps her arms around his neck in a brief enthusiastic hug. She immediately steps back when she notices that he’s flanked by several other men in dressed in business suits. “I mean…hello, Mr. Donaghy.”
Jack smiles at her awkward attempt at formality and says, “Gentleman, this is Elizabeth Lemon, head writer of TGS.” He steps closer to her and casually rests his hand on her shoulder. “I mentored this woman for four years and, aside from being unable to influence her inferior wardrobe choices, I am extremely satisfied with the results.”
Liz opens her mouth in an attempt to deliver a witty quip in response - something about how you don’t need to wear designer duds to be good at your job - but before she can utter a word, it happens. She briefly contemplates running into the lobby and using the bathroom there but she knows she won’t have enough time. So she makes an executive decision and grabs a coffee cup from one of the pedestrians passing by on the sidewalk, ignores the man’s indignant cry of protest, lifts the lid and vomits into the cup. The men clad in business suits and the pedestrian gasp and take a dramatic step back.
Jack’s face is a mixture of concern and disgust, but to his credit, he slowly takes the cup from her and disposes it in the nearest trashcan. “Are you okay?” He whispers in her ear, one hand slowly rubbing her back. Liz grimaces and nods in response. Her eyes are fixed on the sidewalk because she’s pretty sure she’s never going to be able to look Jack in the eye ever again after this.
Once Jack is satisfied that Liz isn’t going to hurl again, he tells his business entourage to meet him upstairs. He then slips $20 to the man whose coffee was unjustly stolen and says, “Ah, and I’m sorry for my friend here. She is not well.”
“Well, that was awesome.” She mutters, after the witnesses leave and when Jack directs his attention back at her.
“What happened to you? Did Georgian chuckle find its way to New York City? Or did you consume some other abominable food item?”
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry to say the blorching is not food related.”
“Then you must be really sick. We have to take you to a doctor.” Jack is about to pull out his cell phone to make the necessary phone call, but Liz’s hand on his wrist stops him.
“No. I’m okay, really.”
“Liz, I find that hard to believe. Spontaneous vomiting is only normal if you’re pregnant.”
Liz’s finally does look up at him, and the slight twinkle in her eye causes him to gape in surprise. “Really?”
She nods excitedly, relieved that she’s finally able to share the news and that the first person she tells is the one person she’s wanted to confide in most of all. Jack’s hands unexpectedly lift her up in the air and she lets out a surprised giggle. When he sets her down gently, his warm smile makes her regret not telling him when she first found out.
“So, who’s the father?” Her smile falters when he asks this unavoidable question.
“Donor #583.” His smile fades slightly, which causes her to add a reassuring, “Hey, at least it’s not Dennis, right?”
He ignores her attempt at deflection and asks, “You’re happy? With the artificial insemination route?”
She sighs. “I actually am, Jack. I didn’t want to miss out on the experience of being a mom just because I don’t understand anything about dudes. So…I decided to go ahead and do this alone. And this is the most excited and happy I’ve been in my entire life.” He’s searching her face and she braces herself for an interrogation, but luckily his phone begins to buzz just in time.
“You probably need to go.” She says, pointing to the phone. “Do important CEO stuff.”
He dutifully checks his phone and grimaces at the screen. “Unfortunately, I actually do.” He places his hand on the small of her back and says, “I’ll walk with you to the elevator.” During their walk, they easily slip back to the their effortless rapport and Liz realizes how much she missed interacting with him like this on a daily basis. When they reach her floor, Liz mutters an awkward and reluctant goodbye and exits the elevator. Before she rounds the corner, Jack hastily shoves his arm in between the doors to prevent them from closing and calls out after her, “Liz, I believe a celebratory dinner is in order. Don’t you?”
Baffled at the unexpected - but welcome - invitation, she jokes, “I’m not sure you can afford to take me out to dinner - I’m eating for 2 now after all. Which for me really means 20.”
“Well, luckily for us I run a fortune 500 company and, as such, I earn an obscene amount of money.” He smirks.
“In that case, buddy, I wanna go someplace where people call you ma’am and sir and it’s not said sarcastically.”
Satisfied with her response, he steps back into the elevator and before the doors shut in front of him, he says smoothly, “Be ready at 8. I’ll pick you up.”
Spoilers: Season 4ish. Avery is not a thing (no offense to Elizabeth Banks!).
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine. Everything belongs to Tina (as it should).
Month #1:
When Jack gets promoted to CEO, Liz decides to try artificial insemination. Normally, the two events should not be related. After all, on the surface, Jack’s ascent in the corporate world and her ticking biological clock are two wildly disparate things. But Liz sees the connection immediately: Jack has successfully achieved his dream - the one thing he’s always wanted. Liz now wants to do the same.
Surprisingly, she succeeds on her first try. It’s probably the first time she’s succeeded at doing anything the first time around. What’s even more surprising is that the happiest moment of one’s life should not take place in a public bathroom. But when Liz sees the bright pink line on the home pregnancy test while sitting in the bathroom stall at work, she’s pretty sure she’s never felt more exhilarated and optimistic about her future. She’s not sure how good of a mother she’ll be, but she hopes the fact that she wanted this so badly gives her a leg up as a potential parent.
Month #2:
Jack’s promotion forces him to move to Connecticut. The distance between GE headquarters and 30 Rock is not great, but Jack gets consumed with his new role and the two inadvertently lose touch. When Liz finds out she’s pregnant, she contemplates calling him to let him know - it would certainly be a valid reason for contacting him - but she’s figures, you know, he’s an important CEO now and has other things to worry about.
She never calls. It’s probably for the best.
Month #3:
As someone who never discriminates when it comes to food and embraces any strange culinary oddity with open arms, throwing up in public is a pretty run of mill experience for her. But throwing up in front of your former boss (Or wait, he’s still her boss, isn’t he? He’s the boss of everything now) is an experience that leaves Liz completely shame-faced.
“Lemon!” She hears the familiar voice before she sees his face as she’s about to enter the building.
“Jack!” She whirls around, and instinctively wraps her arms around his neck in a brief enthusiastic hug. She immediately steps back when she notices that he’s flanked by several other men in dressed in business suits. “I mean…hello, Mr. Donaghy.”
Jack smiles at her awkward attempt at formality and says, “Gentleman, this is Elizabeth Lemon, head writer of TGS.” He steps closer to her and casually rests his hand on her shoulder. “I mentored this woman for four years and, aside from being unable to influence her inferior wardrobe choices, I am extremely satisfied with the results.”
Liz opens her mouth in an attempt to deliver a witty quip in response - something about how you don’t need to wear designer duds to be good at your job - but before she can utter a word, it happens. She briefly contemplates running into the lobby and using the bathroom there but she knows she won’t have enough time. So she makes an executive decision and grabs a coffee cup from one of the pedestrians passing by on the sidewalk, ignores the man’s indignant cry of protest, lifts the lid and vomits into the cup. The men clad in business suits and the pedestrian gasp and take a dramatic step back.
Jack’s face is a mixture of concern and disgust, but to his credit, he slowly takes the cup from her and disposes it in the nearest trashcan. “Are you okay?” He whispers in her ear, one hand slowly rubbing her back. Liz grimaces and nods in response. Her eyes are fixed on the sidewalk because she’s pretty sure she’s never going to be able to look Jack in the eye ever again after this.
Once Jack is satisfied that Liz isn’t going to hurl again, he tells his business entourage to meet him upstairs. He then slips $20 to the man whose coffee was unjustly stolen and says, “Ah, and I’m sorry for my friend here. She is not well.”
“Well, that was awesome.” She mutters, after the witnesses leave and when Jack directs his attention back at her.
“What happened to you? Did Georgian chuckle find its way to New York City? Or did you consume some other abominable food item?”
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry to say the blorching is not food related.”
“Then you must be really sick. We have to take you to a doctor.” Jack is about to pull out his cell phone to make the necessary phone call, but Liz’s hand on his wrist stops him.
“No. I’m okay, really.”
“Liz, I find that hard to believe. Spontaneous vomiting is only normal if you’re pregnant.”
Liz’s finally does look up at him, and the slight twinkle in her eye causes him to gape in surprise. “Really?”
She nods excitedly, relieved that she’s finally able to share the news and that the first person she tells is the one person she’s wanted to confide in most of all. Jack’s hands unexpectedly lift her up in the air and she lets out a surprised giggle. When he sets her down gently, his warm smile makes her regret not telling him when she first found out.
“So, who’s the father?” Her smile falters when he asks this unavoidable question.
“Donor #583.” His smile fades slightly, which causes her to add a reassuring, “Hey, at least it’s not Dennis, right?”
He ignores her attempt at deflection and asks, “You’re happy? With the artificial insemination route?”
She sighs. “I actually am, Jack. I didn’t want to miss out on the experience of being a mom just because I don’t understand anything about dudes. So…I decided to go ahead and do this alone. And this is the most excited and happy I’ve been in my entire life.” He’s searching her face and she braces herself for an interrogation, but luckily his phone begins to buzz just in time.
“You probably need to go.” She says, pointing to the phone. “Do important CEO stuff.”
He dutifully checks his phone and grimaces at the screen. “Unfortunately, I actually do.” He places his hand on the small of her back and says, “I’ll walk with you to the elevator.” During their walk, they easily slip back to the their effortless rapport and Liz realizes how much she missed interacting with him like this on a daily basis. When they reach her floor, Liz mutters an awkward and reluctant goodbye and exits the elevator. Before she rounds the corner, Jack hastily shoves his arm in between the doors to prevent them from closing and calls out after her, “Liz, I believe a celebratory dinner is in order. Don’t you?”
Baffled at the unexpected - but welcome - invitation, she jokes, “I’m not sure you can afford to take me out to dinner - I’m eating for 2 now after all. Which for me really means 20.”
“Well, luckily for us I run a fortune 500 company and, as such, I earn an obscene amount of money.” He smirks.
“In that case, buddy, I wanna go someplace where people call you ma’am and sir and it’s not said sarcastically.”
Satisfied with her response, he steps back into the elevator and before the doors shut in front of him, he says smoothly, “Be ready at 8. I’ll pick you up.”