Katelin stared at her watch, tapping her foot as the seconds ticked by. Why the hell did five minutes seem like an eternity? Instead, she got up and started to busy herself, straightening the bedroom. Nick had tossed all of his clothes all over the place, of course, and she went around picking them up and throwing them in the hamper. She glanced at her watch, knowing her five minutes had passed but not allowing herself to look at it yet. She walked back into the bathroom but stopped just short of reaching the counter. She took a deep breath and reached for the stick, sighing when she saw the minus sign instead of the coveted plus sign that just refused to show up.

The phone rang in the bedroom, causing Katelin to jump in surprise. She tossed the stick in the trash and ran in to answer it. “Hello?”

“Hey,” Ang’s voice flowed through. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing,” Kate sighed. “I just…” Her words got caught in her throat as tears started to slip from her eyes.

“Kate?” Ang asked, worried. “What’s wrong?”

“Negative,” Katelin all but whispered. “Again it’s negative.”

“What are you talking about, Kate?” Ang questioned.

“The damn test, Ang!” Katelin cried. “We’ve been trying forever and I can’t get pregnant. What the hell is wrong with me?”

“Maybe it’s not you,” Ang pointed out. “Maybe it’s Nick. Have either of you seen a doctor?”

Katelin shook her head and then rolled her eyes as she realized Ang couldn’t see her through the phone. “No. I know that I have to. I just don’t want to hear that I can’t have anymore children.”

“You’re not going to hear that,” Ang tried to calm her best friend’s fears. “You just want it so much. It’ll happen when you least expect it. Did you tell Nick?”

“No,” Katelin mumbled. “He took Aidan to the beach.”

“Why didn’t you go with them?” Ang asked.

“I wasn’t invited,” Katelin answered, simply. “He got up this morning, said barely two words to me and then told me that he and Aidan were going to go the beach and jumped in his car. I didn’t get an invitation.”

“What’s going on, Kate?” Ang sensed that something else was wrong. Katelin sounded far-off. Distant. Of course she was upset about not being able to get pregnant but something else was bothering the girl.

Kate sighed. “I don’t know. It’s just…we’ve been arguing a lot lately.”

“You and Nick?”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “I don’t know what it is. I know he’s frustrated. He wants another baby so bad. He wants to be around for a pregnancy. To be there when the baby’s delivered. He never got to do all of that with Aidan.”

“Well sure he’d be upset…” Ang began. “But that doesn’t give him a reason to fight with you. It’s not your fault you can’t get pregnant.”

“He’s blaming me though,” Katelin whispered. “The other day, we were arguing about it, and he told me that I had no backbone. That if I just would’ve walked away from my father and came to him…told him that I was pregnant with Aidan…then he wouldn’t have lost two years of his son’s life.”

“What?!” Ang exclaimed. “He’s fighting with you about that like it’s your fault? What a jerk. You were freaking seventeen years old at the time.”

“I know,” the tears began slipping from her eyes again. “I don’t know what’s wrong with us, Ang. We haven’t even been married two years yet and all this fighting lately…. I mean, we haven’t even slept in the same bed in a week now. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I should’ve just come to him in the first place. Then none of this would be happening.”

“Stop it,” Ang ordered. “None of this is your fault. Screw Nick, Kate. If he’s blaming you then he doesn’t deserve you.”

“I think I hear him,” she told her, hearing Nick’s car door slam through the open window. “I should go.”

“Alright,” Ang sighed. “Call me later. Let me know how everything goes.”

“I will,” Katelin replied. “Say hi to Bri and kiss J.R. for me.”

“I will,” Ang smiled at the mention of her eight-month-old son. “Bye.”

“Bye.” Katelin clicked off the phone and collapsed on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She could hear Aidan’s footsteps clamoring up the stairs and Nick’s slower, heavier ones behind them.

“Mommy!” Five-year old Aidan yelled, launching himself on to the bed next to her.

“Hey baby,” Katelin reached out and brushed his blond bangs out of his eyes. “Did you have fun at the beach?”

He nodded, enthusiastically. “Yup! Daddy and I went swimming.”

“Cool dude,” She laughed, looking up and catching sight of Nick standing in the doorway with an unreadable expression on his face. She looked back at Aidan. “Baby, why don’t you go downstairs and watch some cartoons or something, okay? I need to talk to your dad about something.”

Aidan rolled his eyes and reluctantly slid himself off the bed. He knew that meant “grown-up” talk. He slapped Nick’s outstretched hand on the way out the door and disappeared down the hallway. Nick watched him until he descended the stairs and then turned his head back to his wife. “What’s up?”

“Thanks for inviting me to the beach,” Katelin snapped.

“You didn’t say you wanted to go,” Nick defended, stunned by the anger in her voice.

“Like I had a fucking choice,” she hissed, jumping off of the bed and angrily picking the rest of Nick’s things off of the floor. “God…can you not be such a slob?”

“What the hell is your problem?” Nick yelled. “You could’ve come to the beach if you wanted to. You never said you did. Don’t go blaming everything on me. And I’m sorry but I’ve always been messy. You know that. If it’s such a problem for you then you should’ve thought of that before you married me.” He expected her to yell, scream, tell him what a jerk he was. He did not expect the tears. She just started bawling, the clothes in her hand slipping from her grasp. In two seconds he had crossed the distance between himself and her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, Kate. I didn’t mean to yell.”

“Yes you did,” she whimpered. “That’s all we ever do lately.”

“Shh…” He smoothed her blond hair down her back. “No it’s not. What else is going on?”

Katelin pushed back from him and wiped her eyes before grabbing his hand and leading him into the bathroom. She pointed to the trash can where she had tossed the test stick. Nick looked at her, confused, not knowing what she was indicating. “What?” Wordlessly, she reached into the garbage can and pulled it out.

Nick’s eyes widened when he saw what it was but then his face instantly fell when he noticed the result. He didn’t even react. No words to her. No comforting gestures. He just stood there, a blank look on his face.

“You could say something, you know,” she tearfully whispered.

“What did you want me to say, Kate?” He finally mumbled. “How many times is this now? Why don’t we just face it? We’re not meant to have another baby.” He didn’t look at her anymore before turning around and fleeing the room. Katelin stood rooted in the same spot as she heard his footsteps walk down the stairs and out the front door. Her heart broke as he started the engine to his car and sped out of the driveway.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

“Nicky, Nicky, Nicky, Nicky,” Kevin shook his head, walking into the room and handing Nick a glass of water. “What are you doing here? And why do you look like your dog just died?”

Nick shrugged. “God, I’m such a jerk, Kev. I left. I fucking left.”

Kevin chuckled, unsure of what Nick was talking about. “Okay, buddy. Back up a second. Left who where?”

Nick leaned his head back on the couch and closed his eyes. “I left Katelin. Just standing there in the bathroom with tears streaming down her face. I didn’t even do anything to make her feel better. I just turned around and walked out of the bathroom and out of the house.”

“What happened?” Kevin was worried. This did not sound good. The other night when he, Adrienne, and little Ashley had all been over there, he could tell something was up. Adrienne had noticed too but neither Nick nor Kate had said anything to either one of them and they didn’t want to pry. But Kevin noticed that something was a little off. They were short with each other. And that was only if they spoke to one another at all.

Nick sighed, running his hand over his face. “We’ve been trying for so long to have a baby. And we haven’t been able to. And…I don’t know…I guess I’m just getting frustrated. We both are. And we’re starting to fight with each other. It’s just…I didn’t get to be there the last time…I want to share it with her.”

“Why don’t you just tell her that?” Kevin questioned.

“I have,” Nick took a deep breath, knowing where he was wrong in the situation. “I just…I didn’t go about it the best way. Instead of telling her how I felt calmly and rationally, I blamed her for being weak. For not walking out on her father when he gave her an ultimatum.”

“Jesus.” Kevin shook his head. “Have I not taught you anything? First of all, you don’t ever blame the girl. Don’t ever make it their fault.” He chuckled, trying the lighten the mood a little bit. “But seriously, Nick. She was seventeen and pregnant. I’m sure she was terrified. What if she had walked out on her father and you had turned her away? Then she would’ve been out on the street. Now, I know that you would never have done that but she was scared, Nick. You can’t blame her for that. None of that was her fault.”

“I know, Kev,” Nick sighed. “It just hurts, you know? It hurts that strangers had my son for the first two years of his life and I didn’t even know he existed.”

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

“Thanks so much for watching him tonight,” Nick told Adrienne as he helped her load his stuff into her car.

Adrienne smiled. “Don’t mention it. What do you have planned?”

“Quiet, little romantic dinner,” Nick raised his eyebrows. “I figured whatever happens…Maybe this will be the night.”

“Does she know?” Adrienne asked, climbing back into the front seat of her Pathfinder.

Nick shook his head, grinning. “Nope. She and Ang are out shopping or something. She should be back in an hour or so. I should get a move on if I want everything to be ready.” He leaned into the back of the car and gave his son a kiss on the cheek. “Bye little guy. Be good for Aunt Adrienne and Uncle Kevin.” He waved to Ashley. “Bye Ash!’

“Bye Unca Ick!” “Bye Daddy!” The two little ones chorused from the backseat. Nick chuckled and shook his head before slamming the door shut and watching as Adrienne backed out of the driveway and began the short drive to the Richardson household. As soon as they were out of sight, he high-tailed it back inside the house so he could set his plan in motion.

“Hello?” Katelin called, entering the dark house. “I’m home!” It looked as if no one was home but Nick’s car was parked in the garage when she pulled in. “I guess they’re out…” She thought aloud, shrugging.

“Didn’t anyone tell you it’s unhealthy to talk to yourself?” She spun around on her heel in the front hallway and saw Nick standing at the foot of the stairs with a rose in his hand. “What’s this for?” she asked, stepping towards him and taking the rose when he handed it to her.

“For you,” He answered, simply. He grabbed her hand and pulled her through the house. “Follow me.”

“Where are we going?” She asked, confused. And where was her son? Nick was acting so strange. It had been a month since their blowup that day when Nick left her crying in the bathroom. And since then, things hadn’t really been any better. They still argued all of the time. It had now escalated from the fact that Nick wasn’t around when she was pregnant to every little thing that either one of them had ever done wrong. Becca, Lanie, Jay, Katelin’s father, Nick spilling Kool-Aid all over her the first time they met. The bet. They hadn’t slept in the same bed in over a month and there was no chance that she would even be pregnant now, considering the fact that Nick hadn’t touched her in God knows how long.

Katelin followed Nick through the kitchen and on to the back deck. She gasped when she saw what was waiting for her. A candlelight dinner. “What did you do?” she breathed.

“For you,” he answered, looking at her as she stared in awe at everything around her. There were flowers and little candles all over the place. Some floating in the pool. On the railings.

“Why?” Katelin looked at him confused. Not that she wasn’t appreciative. It was just so different than how he had been acting.

Nick grabbed her hand and led her over to the table. He pulled her chair out so she could sit down and then took a seat himself across from her. Grabbing her hand in his, he began to explain. “Because I can’t stand the way things have been going.” Katelin felt tears prick her eyes and she looked down. “God, Kate, I love you so much and I don’t know what’s been happening to us.”

“I love you too,” she whispered, staring at him with tear-filled eyes. “You have no idea, Nick.”

He smiled. “Yes I do because I feel the same way. I can’t stand not being next to you when we sleep. Half the time, I just stand outside the door in the middle of the night and watch you. And I want so bad just to crawl in beside you.”

“Then why don’t you?” she tearfully asked.

He shrugged, also feeling the water in his eyes. “Because I’m scared? I know it’s not a good reason, Kate. But I’m so scared you’ll push me away. Face it, we’ve both pushed each other away before in the past. I’m just afraid that one of these times, it’s going to be for good.”

Katelin reached up and wiped a tear off of his face. “That’s never going to happen, Nicky. At least, not if I have anything to do with it. God, I’ve been in love with you for six years, baby. We’ve been through so much. I would never throw that away.”

Nick smiled. “I know you wouldn’t. And I don’t want to either. I’m sorry I’ve been such a jerk about this whole baby thing. It’s just that I missed so much. I want to get a chance to be there for everything. To celebrate with you when you find out the news. To be there for late night cravings. To watch you bring our child into the world. I didn’t get to do that and I know that wasn’t your fault. And I’m so sorry I’ve been blaming you.”

“You’re upset,” she whispered. “It’s understandable.”

“Stop it,” he ordered. “Don’t make excuses for me. I’ve been a jerk and I’m sorry. I know this doesn’t cut it and won’t make up for the last month but it’s a start.”

A smile broke out on her face and she pulled one of his hands up to kiss it. “Yes it is, Nicky. And who knows, maybe one of these days, God will bless us with another baby.”

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

They walked out of the doctor’s office in silence, both consumed by their own thoughts. Upon reaching Nick’s BMW, he helped her in and then walked around to the driver’s side so they could begin their fifteen minute trek home. “You still up to going to Howie and Christine’s tomorrow night?” he asked, as he navigated them through the streets of suburban Tampa.

She nodded. “Yeah. Do they need me to bring anything?”

He shrugged. “I have no idea. I guess I’ll give Howie a call later.” Katelin nodded again before gazing out the window again at the passing scenery. And that was the extent of their conversation for the rest of the ride. When they got back to the house, Katelin went straight up to bed while Nick went into his office to check his messages. Aidan was at Kevin and Adrienne’s house, playing with Ashley. He would probably end up spending the night there and then they would all drive to Howie and Christine’s house in Orlando for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night.

After playing his messages, he walked back into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. He wasn’t sure what to do. The house hadn’t been this quiet in a while. He slowly made his way into the foyer and glanced up the stairs. It was quiet up there too, a sure sign that she was probably already asleep or at least halfway there. He shrugged and took his shoes off, kicking them into the hall closet. He quietly made his way up the stairs and down the hallway, stopping in the doorway to the master bedroom. Her back was to him, laying on the bed. He made his way inside the room, stripping his shirt off as he went. Pulling the blankets back on his side of the bed, he slid in beside her, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulling her back towards him. “You asleep yet?”

“No,” she whispered.

“Do you mind if I take a nap with you?”

“No.” She rolled over and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “I love you, Nicky,” she told him, wanting him to be reassured of that fact.

“I love you too, baby,” he whispered, his hand absently tracing circles on the small of her back. “So much.”

****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******

“Let’s eat!” AJ yelled, throwing Taylor up on his shoulders as he walked out of the den and into the dining room. “My boy is hungry!”

“You mean you’re hungry.” Krista playfully smacked AJ on the arm and then grabbed her son out of his arms. “Come on, monkey. Into the booster you go.”

“Who are we missing?” Ang asked.

“Brian and Nick,” Kevin answered, rolling his eyes. “Who else?”

“Brian!” “Nick!” Ang and Katelin both yelled, summoning their husbands away from the football game and into the dining room.

“We’re coming, we’re coming,” they grumbled. “God, there’s only like three minutes left and you make us eat,” Brian whined.

“So sorry, baby,” Ang pouted, mocking him. “And three minutes in football is never just three minutes. Now, sit.”

“Yes ma’am!” Brian saluted his wife and sat in between she and Nick.

“Chris!” Howie called as he walked into the dining room holding the huge Thanksgiving turkey. “You got the wine?”

“In my hands,” she answered, following him in from the kitchen. She walked around the table filling everyone’s glasses.

“None for me.” Katelin held her hand up to stop Christine from filling her glass.

Nick glanced over at her knowingly and then held his glass up for Christine. “I’ll take some, Chrissy!” Christine filled his up and then the rest of the table before sitting down again. “Everything looks delicious, Chris,” Adrienne commented on the food in front of them.

“Thanks.” Christine grinned, grabbing Howie’s hand in hers. “Shall we say grace? Howie?”

“Heavenly Father,” Howie began. “We thank you for the food before us. For the family and friends all gathered here tonight. And we pray for those less fortunate than us. Amen.”

“Amen,” The rest of the group chorused.

“Let’s eat!” AJ yelled again, causing the group to erupt into laughter.

The conversation started again as everyone began to serve themselves and began eating. Nick leaned over and whispered in his wife’s ear. “Should we?”

Kate playfully shoved him away. “I already told you the answer to that. I know you’re excited and all but it’s bad luck to say it so early.”

He nodded, smiling at her. “True. And we don’t need any of that.”

“Definitely not,” she grinned, before leaning in and giving him a soft kiss on the lips.

“Hey,” Brian chucked roll at Nick. “No PDA at the dining room table. Didn’t your mother ever teach you that?”

“Brian!” Ang scolded. “No throwing food during dinner. Didn’t your mother ever teach you that?” She rolled her eyes at her husband before turning her head to Katelin and grinning. She was so happy that Kate and Nick seemed to be back to normal. And she had an idea of why that might be.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Katelin staggered into the restaurant and collapsed into a chair where the rest of the girls were sitting. “Where’s Nick?” Krista asked, an amused expression on her face. “I thought he was bringing you.”

“He did” Katelin answered. “He didn’t want to come in. I think he just wanted to get rid of me.”

“Why?” Ang chuckled. “Pissing him off again?”

“Shut up.” Katelin glared at everyone. “It’s the middle of fucking July in fucking Florida. I’m hot. I’m uncomfortable. I’m a goddamn week late! See how you feel when you’re past your due date.”

Christine shuddered, totally not wanting to be in Katelin’s position. She and Howie had done things the better way. She got pregnant in May. Therefore, she would be as pregnant as Katelin was now in February. Perfect pregnancy weather.

“You’re already a week late?” Ang asked. “You’re not gonna go into labor right now, are you?”

“I wish,” Katelin sighed, a hopeful expression on her face.

“I don’t,” Krista made a face. “I would like to enjoy my lunch in peace.”

“Yeah, well that’s pretty much out of the question for me,” Katelin retorted. She glanced down at her swollen stomach. “Get out!” She barked. “Get out! Get out! Get out!”

The rest of the girls laughed. “Yeah. That’ll work,” Adrienne commented, smiling. “Have you and Nick…you know…tried…”

Katelin shot her a look. “You obviously haven’t been around my husband lately. He won’t come near me out of fear that I may bite his head off, let alone have sex with me.”

“I’ve heard it works,” Krista nodded. “Actually, AJ and I tried it.”

“Thanks for the mental picture, Kris,” Christine tossed a napkin at her. “That’s all I need to have in my head before I start eating. You and AJ going at it…”

“Hey,” Nick sighed, collapsing in a chair next to Brian.

“Dude,” AJ chuckled. “Who died? Why do you look so miserable?”

“I’m tired,” Nick replied, grabbing his glass of water and taking a sip. “Another false alarm last night. Are you guys sure I said that I wanted to experience all of this?”

Brian laughed, throwing his arm around Nick’s shoulders. “Sure did, bud. Isn’t it wonderful?”

“I swear to God,” Nick began, rolling his eyes. “If she whines to me one more time that she’s hot, that she’s tired, that she’s uncomfortable, whatever, I’m going to cut her open myself and deliver that baby.”

“Welcome to the joys of pregnancy, Nicky,” Kevin laughed. “You asked for it.”

“Yeah yeah yeah,” Nick rolled his eyes again. “Do you guys know how freakin’ cold my house is right now? I think we’ve got it down to about forty-five degrees. Poor Aidan’s been sleeping in winter pj’s every since April.”

“You know what you should do?” AJ began. “Sex, man. That’ll make the baby come out.”

“Can we do that?” Nick questioned, his eyes huge. “That won’t…like…hurt it or anything?”

AJ shook his head. “Nope. Kris and I asked the doctor. She said you could do it all the way up until her water breaks.”

“Yeah,” Brian chuckled. “Better get it in now because once she gives birth, you won’t be hittin’ that for six weeks.”

“I’m home!” Nick called, slamming the door to the house.

“Shhh!!” Katelin hissed from her spot on the couch in the den. “Aidan’s in bed. Where have you been?” She glanced at the clock on the VCR. “It’s pretty late.”

“I went to lunch with the guys and then played a round of golf,” Nick answered. “And then hung out at Bri’s for a while. What have you been up to?”

Katelin shot him a glare. “You’re lookin’ at it. Considering I’m too fat to move.”

Nick leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. “You’re not too fat baby. You’re beautiful.” He tugged on her hands, trying to pull her up into a standing position so they could go upstairs.

She looked at him warily as he dragged her out of the room and up the stairs. “What do you want?”

Nick raised his eyebrows, feigning innocence. “What are you talking about?”

Kate allowed her husband to, literally, drag her up the stairs and into their bedroom. “You just called me beautiful. Normally, you don’t even come near me. Now, what gives?”

Nick chuckled. “I do too come near you. I guess I’m just afraid to crowd you. I know how uncomfortable you’ve been.” He directed her to sit on the bed. “Here, sit down. I’ll get your pj’s for you.”

“Can I just sleep naked?” She asked, pitifully. “It’s too hot for pj’s.”

Nick glanced at her, again, his eyebrows raised. “Baby, I would love it if you slept naked. But I don’t think Aidan would appreciate it very much and we can’t very well lock him out.”

“Nicky, get it out,” she whined. “Please?”

Nick came over and knelt on the floor in front of her. “I wish I could help babe.” He so desperately wanted to try what AJ and Brian had told him earlier. Not only for the reason that he wanted the baby to come but also because they hadn’t been together like that in so long. So long Nick could barely even remember. Maybe back in April?

“Well, there is one thing…” she trailed off, looking at him hopefully. Did he know what she was talking about? She saw his eyes light up and knew he knew exactly what she had in mind.

“Are you sure?” Nick asked, trying not to sound too hopeful. Katelin nodded and Nick didn’t need anymore encouragement than that. He leaned up and kissed her softly on the mouth. Katelin pulled him closer to her and he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth. She gratefully accepted it and began to grab his shirt in balled fists, sliding it up his torso.

Nick broke away from the kiss just long enough to pull his shirt over his head. “Take this off,” he whispered, tugging on Kate’s tank top.

“You do it,” she instructed, breaking away from him again so he could pull her shirt off. He leaned down and began pulling her shirt up, kissing her exposed belly. “God, I can’t believe how beautiful you are.”

“Stop,” she admonished, rolling her eyes. “I’m fat and gross.”

He leaned in and placed another lingering kiss on her belly. “You are not. I always heard how gorgeous pregnant women were but I never believed it until you were.”

Katelin grabbed his face in her hands and made him look at her. “Make love to me, Nickolas.”

Nick didn’t need to be told twice. He quickly shed his own clothes and then helped his wife remove the rest of hers. He laid her back on the bed, crawling over her. He stopped at her entrance and looked at her again, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You ready?” She nodded, gazing at him lovingly. Nick slid the tip inside of her and they both gasped.

“Oh God, Nick,” Katelin squeezed her eyes tight. She had no idea how good this would feel. Every nerve ending was on fire and he felt amazing.

“Jesus Kate,” Nick gasped. “Oh my God, it feels so good.” He slid in a little a further and gasped again when he felt something pushing back against him. “Oh my god. I can feel it. Holy shit.”

“You’ve gotta move, Nick,” Katelin practically begged him. Nick began to, slowly, move all the way out and then back in again. He knew it wasn’t going to take long for either of them. He couldn’t believe how amazing it was. Had he known they could have done this and it would’ve been like this, he would’ve been doing this every night during her pregnancy.

Katelin began moaning, loudly. Nick leaned down and kissed her, trying to drown out her sounds so they wouldn’t wake Aidan up. His lips hovered over hers, he tried to kiss her but he couldn’t seem to do anything but focus on the unbelievable feeling of sliding in and out of her. He saw her squeeze her eyes shut. “You ready, baby?” She barely nodded, biting her bottom lip. Nick slid in and out of her quickly a few more times before they both came, gasping for breath and crying out each other’s names, until Nick collapsed in an exhausted heap, half on top of her body, though careful of her swollen belly.

“That was amazing,” Nick breathed. He leaned up and brushed her hair off her sweaty forehead. “You alright?”

Katelin nodded, barely able to form any words. “Oh my God. Why didn’t we think of that earlier?”

Nick chuckled, kissing her neck. “I was thinking the same thing.” He leaned his head on her chest, gazing into her eyes. “You tired?” She nodded, again. Nick rolled off her and pulled her into his arms. “Go to sleep, babe.”

Katelin woke up in the middle of the night, feeling as if she had to go to the bathroom. She glanced at the clock: 2:22 a.m. She carefully slid out of Nick’s arms and slowly swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She carefully stood up and then it happened.

“Nicky…” she whispered, shaking him awake.

“Hmm…” he mumbled, still stleeping.

She shook him again. “Baby…wake up.”

“What?” He opened one blue eye to look at her. Seeing that she was no longer in bed with him but standing up next to the bed, he fully woke up. “What’s wrong?”

“My water just broke,” she told him, wanting to laugh at the expression on his face.

His eyes widened and he jumped out of bed, throwing his clothes on. Once he was dressed, he helped her with her own. “Should I call Adrienne?”

Katlein nodded. “Yeah. Just ask her if she can come over here and stay with Aidan. We can’t really take him to the hospital with us, can we?”

“I’d rather have Adrienne here.” Nick reached for the phone on the night table. “She can bring him over later.” He dialed the number and waited for either Kevin or Adrienne to answer the phone.

“Hello?” he finally heard her mumble after five rings.

“Adrienne? It’s Nick. Kate’s in labor.”

“Finally!” She exclaimed, sitting up in bed. The sudden exclamation and movement caused Kevin to wake up. “You need me to watch Aidan?”

“Yeah,” Nick answered. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all,” she replied, already jumping out of bed, wanting so badly to laugh at Kevin’s confused expression. “Let me just throw on some shorts and I’ll be over in five.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. I’ll be there in a minute.” She tossed the phone on the bed and finally did laugh at Kevin’s expression. “Kate’s in labor, babe. I’m going to go over there and stay with Aidan while Nick takes her to the hospital. Go back to sleep and I’ll call you as soon as I hear anything.” She leaned over and kissed him, rolling her eyes as he fell right back asleep.

Fifteen minutes later, Adrienne was already back to sleep in the Carter household while Nick and Katelin were off to the hospital. They pulled up to the Emergency Room door of Tampa General and Nick helped Kate get settled into a wheelchair. “How far apart now?” He asked, glancing at his watch.

“Five minutes.” She took a deep breath, trying to get through another contraction. “God, it hurts.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “So I guess we had a pretty good idea earlier, huh?”

Katelin brushed. “Yeah we did. Or, actually, I did.”

Nick rolled his eyes as he wheeled her inside the hospital. “Whatever babe. Couldn’t have done it without me.”

“God I hate you!” She cried, two hours later, as she was pushing. “I didn’t get to do this when I had Aidan but I’m milking it for all it’s worth now.”

Nick gasped as she squeezed his hand tighter and tighter. “Just a few more, babe. I swear.”

“You are never touching me again,” she glared at him. “Be glad you got it tonight because you ain’t getting’ it for a long-ass time, buddy.”

The doctor chuckled. “He’s right, Kate. Just a few more.” He glanced over at Nick. “Would you like to see?”

Nick’s eyes widened. “Can I?” The doctor nodded and Nick walked down towards Katelin’s feet. “Oh my god…” The doctor pointed out the head. “Oh my god, baby, I can see the head.”

“Alright, Kate,” The doctor began. “Two more big pushes…that’s all you need and it’ll be out. I promise.”

Nick walked back up to her head and grabbed her hand again. “Come on baby. Two more.”

Five minutes later, the sound of a baby crying filled the room. “It’s a girl!” The doctor announced, handing her over to the nurse so she could cut the cord.

“A girl?” Nick whispered, his eyes filling with tears. He placed a soft kiss on his wife’s lips. “You did it, honey. A baby girl…” The nurse came over and placed the tiny little girl in Nick’s arms. “Oh god, she’s so beautiful. Isn’t she, Kate?”

Katelin looked up, grabbing her daughter’s tiny hand in hers. “She is,” she replied. Tears were fully streaming down her face. Tears of relief that the baby was finally born. Tears at seeing Nick’s reaction to their daughter and tears at hearing the emotion in his voice.

Nick carefully placed his daughter in his wife’s arms and placed another kiss on Katelin’s lips. “You’re so beautiful. I know I said that earlier but you are. I can’t believe you just did that. That you just brought her into this world…”

They sat in silence for a few moments, watching their daughter as she slept. Finally, her eyes slowly opened and they could both see that her eyes were a bright, sparkling blue. Like they could have expected anything else. “What should we name her?” Katelin asked.

“How about what we were talking about the other day,” Nick suggested.

“Emma…” Katelin breathed.

“Emma Grace Carter,” Nick announced, proudly.

“I love it,” She grinned.

Nick leaned down and kissed her. One more time. “I love you.”

A few hours later, after Katelin had slept a little bit and Nick had called everyone under the sun to tell them the good news, they sat back in that room. Adrienne and Kevin had brought Aidan to the hospital so he could see his new baby sister. He was cuddled up in bed with Katelin, as they waited for Nick to bring Emma down from the nursery. He walked in behind the nurse, who was wheeling Emma’s little bassinet.

“There she is,” Katelin pointed. “That’s Emma, Aidan.”

Nick picked up his new daughter and carried her over to the bed, placing her in Katelin’s arms. He grabbed Aidan and pulled him into his lap, so he could fit on the bed with the rest of the family. Aidan was fascinated by how tiny his sister was. Nick looked back and forth between his son and his daughter, looking for the similarities between the two. They had the same eyes. That much was for sure. He couldn’t believe he did that. He helped create them. He glanced at Katelin and saw that she was staring at him with so much love in her eyes. He leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips, slowly, but discreetly, sliding his tongue inside her mouth to play with hers. Pulling away, he rested his forehead on hers, the look in his eyes saying everything. He loved her. Only her. Always.

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