Chapter 18

The May morning dawned clear, not a cloud in the sky. The trilling of CC's phone woke them both, and CC groaned at such a rude end to her slumber.

She'd had an appointment late the previous afternoon, but the blood test hadn't come back in time to get the results before the office closed for the day. Sitting straight up, she realized this could be the call she'd been waiting for. For months, if she thought about it. She shook Niles's shoulder to make sure he was awake, then reached for her phone.

"CC Babcock," she answered, all signs that she'd been sleeping wiped from her voice. "Yes. I understand. Okay, I should follow up when? With my… right. Okay, thank you, Jane. You have a good day, too."

Niles watched the emotions dance across her face, and knew he must be mirroring them on his own.

CC placed the phone carefully on her nightstand.

He waited for her confirmation. She turned to him. "Well. You're going to be a daddy, old man."

He released a sigh that could only be described as theatrical. "What have I gotten myself into? You, pregnant. God, you'll be even more impossible than usual."

"At least there'll be no more forced abstaining," she pointed out.

His lips quirked. "There is that."

"And pregnancy hormones will make me want you all the time for the next few months."

"This is sounding better and better."

"And when the cravings kick in, god knows you can cook anything."

"I see how it is. You only want me for my body and my kitchen skills," he pouted.

She clambered on top of him, straddling his hips, physically incapable of not smiling. Just as he leaned up to kiss her, she whispered against his lips, "Thank you."

Feeling his eyes fill with tears, he kissed her. "It was… as it were… my great pleasure." He lowered his head to the pillow and reached to caress her flat belly, and as she watched him, she wondered how her life had changed so monumentally in a few months' time. And how much more it would change come February.

"Hate you," she said, her voice cracking.

"Hate you more," he responded and flipped her over gently, claiming her mouth with his own.

THE END

A/N: I don't even know how to thank you all for all the wonderful reviews you have written. Each and every one of them makes me grin, and I appreciate them more than I can say. Thank you so much for being so warm and welcoming to a new fan!

If you enjoyed this story, you can read the sequel to it (Love or Smallpox) on this site.