-1Chapter One

"You don't have to do this you know." Lauren said as she settled herself more comfortably into the couch cushions.

"You're right. I don't have to," Michael said as he took his wife's feet and gently placed them in his lap, "I want to. You're having my baby, the least I can do is pamper you a little." Lauren smiled warmly at him and wiggled her toes.

"I'd paint them myself if I could actually see my feet." she pouted, straining her neck to try and see past her protruding belly. Michael leaned forward and kissed her just below her belly button, his new favourite spot.

"Well then, until our little angel is born, I'll just have to take care of everything below the waist." he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"You're insatiable," Lauren sighed in mock frustration, "Just paint my toes already!"

"Bossy, bossy." Michael teased as he picked up the bottle of polish and slowly began applying gentle strokes to each of Lauren's tiny toe nails. The room grew silent as Michael devoted all of his attention to the task at hand. Lauren tried not to giggle when she saw the look of sheer concentration on his face. You would think he were painting a masterpiece or something! He was such a perfectionist. Lauren wondered if their baby would inherit that trait.

"What are you thinking about?" Michael asked suddenly, without looking up from her toes. Lauren jumped a little at the sound of his voice, having grown used to the silence. He looked up at her then and smiled apologetically.

"You." she said simply. He openly gazed at her as he lifted her right foot and brought it close to his lips, gently blowing on each freshly polished nail. Lauren felt a shiver run up her spine.

"What about me?" Michael finally asked when it became clear that she didn't plan to elaborate on her thoughts any further.

"About how amazing you're going to be with our baby," Lauren said as she instinctively placed her hand on her stomach. "I can't wait to see the two of you together." Michael placed his hand atop her's and they both smiled when they felt the baby's movements underneath. He'd felt the baby kick before, but that didn't stop Michael from getting teary eyed once again.

"Thank you." Michael whispered, his voice almost inaudible. Lauren didn't ask what for. She didn't need to. Her own eyes began to well up with tears as she sat up straighter and bent forward to cup his cheek in her hand. She mouthed 'I love you' to him as he slowly brought his lips to her's...

And then the phone began to ring.

"Let the machine get it." Michael mumbled in between kisses.

"It could be important." Lauren insisted, though she couldn't bring herself to tear her mouth away from his.

"Nothing's more important than this." Well, she couldn't argue with that. Just as she was about to suggest that they move into the bedroom, the sound of frantic knocking on the front door joined the shrill ringing of the telephone. Michael groaned in frustration. "Why can't we ever catch a break?" Lauren smiled at him sympathetically and gave him one last peck on the lips before moving out of his embrace.

"You get the door, I'll handle the phone."

"Deal."

And just like that, Michael's world came tumbling down around him.