AN: Finally finished. Been working on this since like October. This is an expansion on a ficlet I had written before called Waiting. Thanks to LightLeadingMe for helping inspire this. And thanks also to klaineanummel and abakerstrilogyhas4books for being cheerleaders. :)

It was quiet.

Which was not a bad thing in Holtzmann's opinion. They had gotten a lot of research and development done. They finally had gotten some upgrades finished on the firehouse just so things would run a little more efficient. Also, they needed a new fridge and more cabinets in her and Abby's living space upstairs (for all the junk food Holtz's little heart desired). New generators had been installed in the basement just in case they ever lost power. They really didn't need the containment unit to blow. That would be a disaster of untold proportions.

Work was steady. There were no apocalypses to live through at the moment, and they were happy to have money coming in for the work they did for the city and their own private contracts.

Holtzmann was enjoying the quiet.

But something was making her want to get up and do something. It wasn't like she wasn't doing anything at work. They had enough tools and the equipment she had invented, even some stuff that Erin and Abby had thought up. And Erin had helped her get patents for all their stuff so no one could ever steal their designs, like someone by the name of Rowan had.

And it wasn't like they couldn't go anywhere they wanted. Holtz and Abby had gone to England and Ireland on vacation, and had ended up in Scotland by accident on bad directions. Their honeymoon had been in Paris, fulfilling her dream of standing in the Eiffel Tower during a thunderstorm. The group all together had been to a lot of states on business calls, and Abby and Erin had taken on a lot of speaking engagements about the Ghostbusters. Not to mention their books was selling quite well and they had done a good bit of talking about it and how they had come up with their theories. Holtzmann herself had spoken a lot on the tech. It had been amazing to see fresh young faces in a classroom accepting what she had made as a standard and being enthralled by it.

Patty also had taken a lot of speaking engagement on the history of New York, especially on subjects like Hart Island and the various old graveyards around the city. It was a bit of a morbid subject, but colleges liked having Patty come talk about them as a guest speaker. She had even written a couple of books. Doctor Patricia Tolan was becoming a well loved local historian.

Holtz hadn't realized what it was that was making her antsy till one day she was sitting outside a coffee shop with Abby on a warm sunny morning. They both were watching a mom holding a newborn baby at the table next to them. Holtzmann had wrapped an arm around her wife and Abby was laying her head on her shoulder. They both had aww'd when it had yawned and squinched it's eyes closed in the bright sun.

"Dammit, I hate my biological clock. I think it makes my ovaries ache every time I see newborns."

Holtz blinked at that, realizing Abby had spoken. She scratched her ear.

"I don't know, I think babies might be a good thing."

She felt Abby stiffen, but she lifted her head up and turned to look at Holtzmann in the face.

"Holtz... please tell me you're joking around."

The engineer shook her head.

"Abby, you know I like kids. I don't have a problem with having a couple."

"But in the firehouse?"

"It's safe."

"Except for you know, a fire pole running through the whole entire building."

"Gates can be put up, you know. And we're up to ten hours on the containment unit."

"So we're actually talking about this?" said Abby, looking at Holtzmann like she was searching for some sort of secret that needed to be found.

"Why not?" she shrugged. "I think it's time. It's quiet uptown."

"That was the worst possible Hamilton reference you could make Jills."

"I'll build them some dueling pistols for their first birthday."

Abby groaned, shaking her head. Holtz grinned.

"What? A baby would be fun."

"Do you want to adopt or...?" said Abby, taking a drink of her coffee. Holtz took the cup from her, making Abby squeak at the lack of caffeine in her hands. She reached for the cup, but Holtzmann placed it out of her reach.

"I think we should take the 'or' of that sentence and try it ourselves."

Abby leaned back, looking at Holtzmann.

"Who are you and what have you done with my wife?"

Holtz rolled her eyes.

"Abs."

"You actually want to have a baby?"

Holtz shrugged. "It would be the simplest option. We are still relatively young. Fertility problems shouldn't be a big issue. Sperm banks are easy enough to find."

"Have you been thinking about this?" asked Abby, curious.

"Just right here on the spot."

Abby sighed. "We'll have to register, probably have to do fertility tests..."

"Then we'll do fertility tests," said Holtz. "We'll find a donor. Preferably someone with a 170+ I.Q."

"I still can't believe you, Jillian Danielle Holtzmann, of all people want to get pregnant."

"I never said anything about it being me?" humored Holtz, her eyes dancing a little. She grinned at Abby.

"Oh no," said Abby, pointing at her wife. "You are not even thinking that Holtz."

Her grin went wider.

"Oh I have. It's in my head right now." She hummed, looking at how delicious Abby's neck was. She laid her head on her shoulder, looking up at the bright blue sky. Holtz held up a hand in the air, gesturing like she was a game show host presenting a prize.

"Just picture it."

"Adoption?" said Abby, a tiny bit of hope in her voice.

"A baby, our baby," said Holtzmann. That was what had been making her antsy, and she was glad she had identified it. Now all she had to do was get her wife on board.

Abby sighed. Holtzmann chuckled and kissed her neck. She handed Abby back her coffee, knowing she would need the caffeine to process it all.

"So she actually wants to have a baby?" said Erin in disbelief. She and Abby were sitting on the couch downstairs in the firehouse. Erin had just gotten back from speaking to a group in Geneva about their work and they had been catching up with the coming and going of their lives of the past week.

"She's all in on the idea," said Abby. She sat down the stack of paperwork she had shown Erin that they had to get filled out for the city. Even though they were getting paid for existing and taking care of New York, they still had to report in as to what their expenses were. "Holtz has already been looking into the donor lists at some places. I think she's really serious about this."

"She wants an addition to our family," said Erin. "I mean, Patty's wife has been saying the same thing. She want kids too."

"Yes, but..." began Abby, but Erin cut her off.

"Abby."

"I'm not ready. Not in the least."

"Well, children are definitely a commitment," said redheaded physicist. "But it's not anything you're not used to. You are a committed person Abby."

"I think I should be committed for even thinking about it," said Abby. "This isn't exactly the best place to raise kids Erin."

"Then move out," she said with a shrug.

"Go back to an apartment?" frowned Abby.

"I'm surprised you haven't before now," said Erin. "You and Holtzmann were in a relationship before Patty and I. You were married before us too. And we have our own places now."

"We like being in the firehouse in case of trouble," said Abby, shaking her head.

"You two are the most dedicated to the cause," agreed Erin. "But maybe it is time for you to take a step back. It's not like there's that many emergencies. And we have been talking about starting another team since the state is interested in having their own."

"No," said Abby. "This place is us. I couldn't-"

"Mmhmm," said Erin. "There's the problem. Creature of habit, Dr. Abigail Leslie Yates, party of one."

Abby sighed.

"I don't want to change again Erin. Life, this life... I'm happy with it."

"But would it change that much Abby?"

"By adding tiny little human to it? One that's dependent on me and Holtzmann? Have you seen the two of us?"

"You would need a home," said Erin. "Not just a place to hang well, your proton pack."

"I'm not sure we're cut out to be parents," Abby said, grimacing.

"No one is at first," shrugged Erin. "You do have to learn and take one day at a time."

"You're not even going to try to be on my side in this, are you?"

"Nope," said Erin, smiling. "I think it'd be something you'd enjoy, Abby. Maybe not at first with the medical part of having a baby, but having a place again that you can make your own? And with Holtzmann there, you two can make it home for a family."

"It would be nice to be able to have a place that doesn't feel so public," agreed Abby. "I know this building is our shield against a doubtful world, but it just so static."

"That's because it's a building for work, not a home... home."

Abby sighed.

"And the other?"

"Homes can lead to families," shrugged Erin. "You two are going to have great kids. Who possibly might have an addiction to salty parabolas."

"Oh geez," said Abby, laughing. "There will always be one very large cabinet in the apartment dedicated to Holtz's chip collection."

"See?" said Erin. "You're already thinking about it."

"It would be a good thing to get Holtz away from her workbench every once in awhile," agreed Abby. "If she's not asleep or actively eating a meal, she's there."

"Possibly doing a combination of all three if she could pull it off."

Abby shook her head, thinking of her wife. Erin laughed.

"I can't wait to see her taking care of a baby."

"Soon enough, if she keeps on looking."

"I need to know there's a little Abby running around," said Erin, smiling.

"Erin, no."

"Oh come on, Abby. You're not even going to give me the satisfaction of being able to throw my best friend a baby shower?"

"Since when have you ever wanted to throw a shower? You don't even like being invited to them because then you feel obligated," huffed Abby.

"Right now while I'm picturing Holtz being a dutiful wife to her pregnant spouse who just happens to be the first person to believe in me."

"I can't believe you two. It sounds like you're in cahoots already," said Abby, shaking her head.

"At least give it some serious thought Abby," said Erin. "The whole thing. Maybe it is time for you and Holtz to take a step back away from being a double overtime to just a full-time Ghostbuster."

She frowned at that, wondering if Erin might be right.