Two days later, Soo Ryeon waited nervously in the office of her OB/GYN. After a discussion of symptoms and a thorough pelvic exam, Dr. Goo had sent her to the hospital next door for an ultrasound, MRI, and sonohysterogram. Now Soo Ryeon sat alone in a consultation room, waiting for Dr. Goo to look over the test results and return to discuss them with her. There was a soft knock on the door, and Soo Ryeon looked up with surprise when Logan walked in. He was wearing his dark blue scrubs and a white lab coat with his hospital ID clipped to the pocket.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I got off work a little early, and I thought I'd stop by and see how things are going," he told her with a charming smile.

Her eyes narrowed. "Now who's not being totally honest, Logan?" she asked pointedly, gesturing at his attire. "You usually change before you leave the hospital."

He raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, you weren't answering your phone, so I called to see if you were still here, and Dr. Goo told me about the tests and suggested that I come and keep you company while you're waiting. If you'd rather be alone, I can leave."

"No, stay," she answered quietly. It did make her feel better having him there. Though she didn't want to admit it, she was nervous about what Dr. Goo might find. The ultrasound had strengthened her hope that she might be pregnant, although the technician who'd done the procedure had refused to give her any information about what he'd found.

Logan settled into the chair beside her and reached for her hand, noting her nervous expression as he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. "Don't read anything into it, sweetheart. Dr. Goo just thought it would make you more comfortable to have me here." He glanced at her sideways. "Which I would've been in the first place if you hadn't insisted you could do it alone."

"There was no need for you to take time off just to sit here and listen to me talk about my menstrual cycles and fertility issues," she insisted with a hint of irritation in her voice.

"It affects me too, though, if there's some kind of problem," he pointed out. "Besides, I want to be here with you. There's no need for you to deal with this alone."

"I'm going to the bathroom," she suddenly announced, obviously attempting to flee the uncomfortable conversation.

By the time she returned, they gave up trying to hide their nerves from one another. Soo Ryeon's hands knitted together in her lap, while Logan paced the perimeter of the small room. Worst-case scenarios careened through his mind. He knew that Soo Ryeon still clung to the hope that she was pregnant, but his medical training suggested that there was another reason that the doctor had called them both in.

They were pulled from their reverie when Dr. Goo entered the room and closed the door gently behind her. Logan returned to his seat and took Soo Ryeon's hand in his. She forced a smile at him before turning a hopeful gaze on the doctor.

Dr. Goo shook her head sympathetically. "You're not pregnant, Soo Ryeon. I'm sorry."

Soo Ryeon sagged in her seat, and Logan slid his arm around her.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting so long, but I wanted to get a clear picture of what's going on. I found some abnormalities during your pelvic exam. That's why I ordered the other tests," Dr. Goo explained. She paused to pull several images from her folder and slid them into the lighted display beside her. "Soo Ryeon, you have several myomas, or fibroids, in and around your uterus." She pulled out her pen to point to the images on the screen. "Fibroids are non-cancerous, but they can affect your ability to become pregnant." Beside him, Logan heard Soo Ryeon inhale sharply.

Logan cleared his throat. "Why haven't they shown up in her routine exams before?"

"Most likely because of their location," Dr. Goo continued. "There are at least five that the tests revealed. Only one has grown into the uterine cavity. There are two subserosal tumors, meaning that they are projecting from the uterine wall to the outside of the uterus. The other two are pedunculated tumors. They grow on stalks outside the uterus."

Soo Ryeon glanced between Logan and the older woman. "I don't understand. Where did they come from? Why now?"

"Fibroids are generally dormant; many women never even know they have them," the doctor explained. "I suspect that in this case, their growth was stimulated when you stopped taking birth control. It's related to the change in hormone levels. The symptoms you've had since going off of birth control are consistent with these types of fibroids, and the symptoms have gotten worse as the fibroids have grown."

"What about the fertility problems you mentioned?" Logan asked carefully, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

"Well, each type of fibroid has the potential to interfere with pregnancy, but the submucosal tumor, in particular, is most often related to fertility problems, because it can interfere with the implantation and growth of an embryo." Dr. Goo leaned back in her chair, tenting her fingers in front of her. "The pain that you've been experiencing lately, though, is my more immediate concern. The pedunculated tumors are attached to the outside of your uterus, but they can move around in the abdomen. If they twist on their stalks and cut off their blood supply, they can rupture and permanently damage your reproductive organs."

Logan swallowed hard to control his emotions as he felt a shudder jolt his wife's body, and he rubbed her back in an attempt to calm her. She was speechless, her eyes shimmering with tears. "So what's the plan?" he asked Dr. Goo. "Where do we go from here?"

She leaned forward. "I want to do exploratory surgery as soon as possible," she told them. "I can remove the pedunculated fibroids and get a better look at the other tumors so I can determine the best course of action. It's a straightforward laparoscopic procedure, with just a few small incisions in your abdomen. You'll only have to stay in the hospital overnight."

Soo Ryeon finally managed to push past her shock to speak, albeit softly. "Then what?"

"Well, once I have a better idea what we're dealing with, we'll discuss our options," Dr. Goo answered.

"Such as?" Logan pressed. He had an inkling of what the options were, and he didn't like any of them.

"Again, I won't know until I get a clearer picture of how the tumors are situated, so I can only speak in general terms," she replied cautiously. "Removal of subserosal and submucosal fibroids is more complicated because it requires cutting into the lining of the uterus. There's a higher risk of damage and scar tissue." She paused, glancing between the couple in front of her. "The worst-case scenario would be if a large percentage of the uterine wall is affected. In that case… we might have to consider a hysterectomy." Logan's jaw dropped, and Dr. Goo held up her hand. "Again, that's the worst-case scenario. I'm optimistic that I can remove all of the fibroids without taking out your uterus."

"Taking out…" Soo Ryeon gasped. "No! Then I won't ever be able to have children." She looked desperately at Logan. "Please, Logan, there has to be another way! We can't… I can't…" Her tears overflowed, and Logan shifted to take her in his arms.

Dr. Goo leaned forward and placed her hand on her patient's knee. "Soo Ryeon, I know this is all scary for you, but I'm hopeful that it won't come to that. It's my responsibility to make you aware of all possible outcomes, but rest assured, I've done hundreds of procedures like this, and I am optimistic that we'll be able to get them all out with little or no lasting damage. If everything goes as planned, you should be able to get pregnant within just a few months."

Soo Ryeon trembled in Logan's embrace as tears poured down her face. Logan's voice pushed past the thickness in his throat. "When… when can we schedule the exploratory procedure?" he asked somberly.

"As soon as we can get the arrangements made," Dr. Goo told them. She pushed to her feet and squeezed Soo Ryeon's shaking shoulder. "I'll have my nurse set it up and then contact you to give you the details. Please call me if you have any questions."

Logan nodded numbly. "Thank you."

After checking out, Logan walked Soo Ryeon to her car, knowing that she was far too upset to drive. He opened the car door for her and waited until she was settled before circling the car to climb into the driver's seat. He slid one arm around her shoulders and pulled her towards him, brushing his thumb across her tear-stained cheek.

"Soo Ryeon…" he began before realizing that he had no idea what to say. She looked at him miserably, silently begging him to make it better. So he did what came most naturally—wrapped his arms around her again and held her as she cried silently. Finally, she pulled away, signaling that she was ready to go home, and he slid the key into the ignition.

By the time Logan pulled into the driveway at home, Soo Ryeon had retreated into herself, her arms wrapped protectively around her waist. Her tears had been replaced by a vacant expression that scared Logan. He helped her out of the car and led her into the house. She moved like a zombie, and he guided her to their bedroom, pulled back the covers, and laid her down. He pulled off her shoes and his own and laid down beside her, pulling her back into his embrace. At that moment, she broke, and Logan held and rocked her as deep, painful sobs wrenched their way out of her small body. Her pain was nearly more than he could bear, and tears stung his eyes as he whispered comforting words into her hair. A few times he tried to pull back, to get her to talk, but she only burrowed her face more deeply into the soft material of his scrubs.

It seemed an eternity, but finally Soo Ryeon cried herself to sleep, and Logan eased out of bed, pausing to make sure his movement hadn't wakened her before he crept into the living room. By then it was nearly dark outside, and he absently turned on a lamp and wandered over to the bookshelf. He scrubbed his hands over his face, trying to focus his troubled thoughts, before his gaze landed on his medical textbooks. Desperately needing an escape from the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him, he pulled several volumes from the shelf and deposited them on the coffee table.

For a couple of hours, he allowed himself to detach, his analytical mind working as if he was studying for an exam rather than learning about the masses that threatened to destroy his dream of having a baby with Soo Ryeon. On the Daegu high school basketball court, Logan's dad had always told the team that the best way to prepare to face an opponent was to learn about them and adjust the game plan accordingly. So Logan read about Soo Ryeon's condition and scribbled notes on scrap paper, making columns and lists of symptoms, pros and cons of various procedures, and possible outcomes. When she calmed down, he knew Soo Ryeon would have questions, and he wanted to be prepared to answer them, to better understand the situation so he could help her get through it.

Finally mentally and physically exhausted, and he closed his books and turned off the light. Then he returned to bed and curled up with his wife. He considered waking her so they could talk, but he couldn't bear to pull her from the sanctuary of her slumber. After his research, the uncertainty was a little less frightening, but the weight of the situation won over, and his eyes burned with tears as he slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.

...~«ώ»~...

The next morning, Soo Ryeon woke just after sunrise, before the alarm clock went off. She eased out of bed and dressed quickly, anxious to get out of the house before Logan's alarm went off. She watched him sleeping peacefully for a moment before she pulled the bedroom door shut, and she had to fight back a fresh bout of tears. She wasn't ready to face him yet, to see the disappointment and pity in his eyes, to hear his reassurances that everything would be all right when she knew that if they couldn't ever have a baby, nothing would be all right. What if Logan didn't want to be with a woman who couldn't give him children? She couldn't stand the thought of being infertile and losing Logan. It was too much to bear.

She wrote him a quick note to tell him that she had to get to school early to grade some papers, and then, realizing that Logan's car was still at the hospital, she added a message that she would call Yoon Cheol and ask him to pick Logan up on the way to work. It felt strange, leaving the house without sharing breakfast and kissing Logan goodbye. More tears stung her eyes as she quietly shut the front door on the way out.

When Logan's alarm went off, he immediately noticed that Soo Ryeon wasn't in bed with him. Most days, he got up before she did, and on the rare occasions that she got up first, her movements always stirred him awake. He got up to go to the bathroom, and then walked to the kitchen, hoping she was there. Instead, he found her note, rereading it several times to try to detect how she was feeling and why she'd really left so early. He returned to the bedroom to retrieve his phone and dialed her number, and was a bit surprised that she answered. He'd almost expected her to ignore his call, although she probably knew that he wouldn't give up until he knew she was all right.

"Hi," she answered softly.

"Hey, sweetheart," he replied. "I missed seeing you this morning."

"I left you a note," she told him, her voice small.

"I saw it. I just wish we could've talked before work," he said. "We need to talk about this, Soo Ryeon."

She sighed. "I know, Logan. I just need some time to… to process everything. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed by the whole thing." Her voice quivered, and she cleared her throat.

"I'm sure you are… I am too, but we need to stay positive, okay?" he soothed. "I really believe that Dr. Goo will be able to get this taken care of." She was silent on the other end of the line, and Logan guessed that she was fighting back tears. "Soo Ryeon, I need you to know that whatever happens, we're going to get through it together. Please don't shut me out. I want to be here for you. I love you."

She sniffed, and the tremor in her voice was unmistakable. "I love you too, but I have to go, Logan. Dr. Lim just got here, and we need to go over our class lesson plans for today. I'll see you tonight."

"I'm going to call you later this morning to check on you," he insisted.

"You don't have to…" she began, but he cut her off firmly.

"I don't have to, I want to," he told her. "I love you, baby. Be strong, and have a good day. Bye."

...~«ώ»~...

Logan actually called several times throughout the day to check on her, and Soo Ryeon tried her best to bury herself in her work so she wouldn't have to think about the frightening possibilities. She also got a call from Dr. Goo's office, setting up the exploratory surgery for that Friday. When Soo Ryeon came home from school, Logan was already there. She'd been holding back tears all day, and when he held open his arms in invitation, she walked into them and let herself cry.

He held her there for awhile, and as she began to calm, he guided her to the sofa and handed her some tissues. His arm slid around her shoulders, and his hand rested on her thigh. He waited until her chin lifted and her gaze met his before he spoke.

"Sweetheart, yesterday was pretty overwhelming," he began. "I understand why you're upset, but I'd like for you to tell me what's in your head. What's scaring you the most?"

She laughed bitterly. "What's scaring me? The possibility that we may never be able to have a baby together. There are these… things… growing inside me, and I want them out, but not if it means losing my uterus."

"A hysterectomy is a possibility, not a certainty," Logan pointed out. "Dr. Goo seems confident that it won't come to that."

"But the possibility still exists," she argued. "It's a possibility that I have to face, and you have to face it too, Logan. What if I can't carry your baby? What if we can't have a family together?" More tears slid down her cheeks, but she held his gaze.

He touched her cheek tenderly. "Soo Ryeon, I want to have a baby with you, but if that doesn't happen, there are other ways to create a family. My biggest concern is your health, and if the only way for you to be healthy is to remove your uterus, then that's what we need to do. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We don't have to worry about that yet. One step at a time, sweetheart. We'll get you through your exploratory procedure, and then we'll deal with whatever comes next. As long as we're together, we can do this."

"Are… are you sure you…? I mean, maybe you should think about…" Her eyes dropped and she sighed as if gathering strength for her question.

He knew what she was trying to ask, and he lifted her chin again. "There's nothing to think about. I love you, Soo Ryeon. You're my wife, my soul mate, my lover, my partner. We are going to do this together, because that's what we promised each other on our wedding day. Understood?"

She nodded silently, and for the first time since her doctor visit, she managed a small smile. "That's my girl," he praised, leaning in to kiss her tenderly.

Soo Ryeon allowed herself to relax into her husband's embrace, to believe his assurances that they would get through this together, and to think that maybe, just maybe, things would turn out all right.

...~«ώ»~...

On Friday, Soo Ryeon was prepped for surgery, and as she waited to be taken to the operating room, she watched Logan. He held one of her hands in both of his and glanced frequently at the clock. Her giggle pulled him out of his reverie.

"Are you laughing at me?" he asked, feigning hurt.

"Never," she lied with a smile. "What are you so nervous about? You're not the one who's about to be poked, prodded, and scoped."

"It would be easier if I was," he admitted. "Sitting out here while you're in there… I know everything will be fine, but surgery is surgery, and there's always a risk…"

"Logan Lee," she interrupted. "You've been telling me all week to be positive and not assume the worst."

He grinned sheepishly at her. "I did say that, didn't I?" She nodded patiently. "Okay, well, let's just say I'll be glad when it's over."

"Me too," she agreed.

The curtain was pulled back then, and the nurse announced that she was there to take Soo Ryeon to surgery. Logan stood, reluctant to release her hand, and bent to kiss her.

"I'll see you in a couple of hours, baby," he told her huskily. "I love you."

"I love you too, Logan," she answered easily. "See you soon."

...~«ώ»~...

As Soo Ryeon started to regain consciousness in the recovery room a few hours later, she was instantly aware of Logan's presence beside her. Her hand again rested in his, and his other hand stroked her hair and face, coaxing her awake. She was too tired to open her eyes, but she mentally took inventory. Her head hurt, and her throat was painfully dry. Her abdomen hurt too, quite a bit. The beep of a machine beside her seemed unusually loud, and even through her closed eyelids, the lights overhead seemed far too bright.

"Mrs. Shim?" a harsh female voice called from somewhere in the room. "Mrs. Shim, it's time for you to wake up." Soo Ryeon moaned softly in response.

"Hey, sweetheart," a much kinder and more familiar voice spoke. "Can you open those beautiful eyes for me?" She forced her lids open a sliver, and was rewarded with a bright smile. "Hi," he murmured.

She attempted a 'hi' in return, although it came out sounding more like a grunt. Her eyes slid closed again.

"Would you like some ice chips?" Logan continued. "Your throat's probably dry from the anesthesia." She nodded weakly, and his arm slid under her shoulders to raise her up. She opened her mouth when she felt the spoon touch her lips, and he dropped a small piece of ice in and then lowered her back to the bed.

"Thanks," she managed, taking another peek at him.

"Anything for my favorite girl," he smiled. It was probably just the anesthesia, but Soo Ryeon thought she saw the nurse roll her eyes behind Logan.

Her eyes dropped shut again, just for a second, or so she thought. When she reopened them, she was in a private hospital room and the grumpy nurse was gone. Logan sat reading nearby, and when she turned toward him, her movement caught his attention. He snapped his book shut and reached for her hand.

"Hey, gorgeous, how are you feeling?" he asked solicitously.

She attempted to shift positions in the bed and grimaced. "Ow," she gasped.

He reached over and pressed the call button by her bed. "You're due for some pain medication," he told her. "They wanted to wait until you were more awake to give it to you."

Sure enough, the nurse came in with needle in hand, and wasted no time injecting the fluid into Soo Ryeon's IV. Logan nodded his thanks, and she left as quietly as she'd come in. Then his attention returned to his wife, and he helped her shift to a more comfortable position before sitting on the bed next to her hip.

"What did Dr. Goo say?" she asked cautiously.

"She got the two pedunculated fibroids out with no problems," he told her, his voice neutral. "And she took biopsies and measurements on the tumors that are still in your uterine lining."

"And?" Soo Ryeon pressed, pinning him with her gaze.

"Sweetheart, maybe we should talk about this later," he hedged. "When you're feeling better."

"Logan, I don't want to talk about it later," she insisted. "I've waited all week, and I want to know what she found."

He smoothed his thumb over her hand. "Well, the subserosal fibroids—the ones that project outside the uterus—seem to be removable. They aren't embedded as deeply in the uterine wall as she thought, so that's good news."

"What else?" she pushed.

He glanced down briefly, and then seemed to force his gaze back to hers. "There are two submucosal tumors projecting into your uterus. They've grown together, which is why Dr. Goo thought there was only one there. She's pretty confident that those two fibroids are the reason you haven't been able to get pregnant."

"So she can take them out, then, right? And then I can get pregnant?" Soo Ryeon's voice quivered as she sought Logan's reassurance.

"Most likely, yes," he answered carefully.

"'Most likely?'"

"That's all she said," he told her. "She wants to consult with another surgeon, and go over the test results, and she said she'd come back to talk to us in the morning."

Her eyes narrowed. "You're not holding out on me, are you? Is there anything else you're not telling me?"

His hands raised in surrender. "That's all I know, promise. But sweetie, I really think it's going to turn out okay. Now, I don't want you to worry any more about this tonight. You need to get some rest."

Her eyelids were feeling heavy again, but she fought fatigue for one more minute to squeeze her husband's hand. "Is it really going to be all right, Logan?" she asked dreamily.

He smiled then, a genuine smile at how cute she looked hovering between consciousness and sleep. "One way or another, Soo Ryeon, I promise you, we're going to be just fine."