The usual disclaimers.

A/N: Wasn't totally satisfied with the first submission.

Chapter 1

Labor of Love

The alarm went off. Why haven't we switched it to his side of the bed, I'll never know. Alex thought as she reached over to hit the snooze button. She nudged him with her elbow. "Up Sleeping Beauty."

He moaned into his pillow. "It can't be morning already. Wife, get up, and get me a strong cup of coffee."

Alex laughed. "You know I haven't been able to get out of bed out on my own for the past two weeks."

Bobby raised himself up on his forearms and looked at her. He reached over and put his large hand on her belly. He felt a kick against his hand. "Whoa, good kick. I think the doctor's wrong. It's gotta be a boy."

She turned her head and looked at him. "Girls can have a strong kick too. Just ask my brothers."

He moved over and caught her on the lips. She sighed contentedly. He smiled into her lips. "Goren, this is how it all started."

He laughed and rolled out of bed. Walking to her side of the bed, he helped her out. He padded down the hall to the bathroom. She quickly made the bed. She felt a dull ache in her lower back and put her hand on it. "Must have slept on it wrong."

She quickly fixed coffee and breakfast. He was just straightening his tie as he came into the kitchen. "What's your plans for today?"

Putting her hand on her lower back, she furrowed her brow. "I was thinking of doing some light house work."

He smiled. "Sounds like nesting to me."

Fifteen minutes later he was walking out the door. Alex rested in the recliner before she began cleaning.

It was late afternoon when Alex hung up the phone. Sitting on the edge of their bed, another wave went through her body. Breath, breath, breath, she reminded herself. It passed slowly. She glanced at the LCD on the alarm clock. Fifteen minutes apart. Where the hell was he?

The suitcase was open on the bed. She looked at the contents. She tried to focus on what she might need over the next few days. Running through the mental checklist, she confirmed that she had everything she needed. Everything, but him. She didn't dare lay down, she didn't think she could get up by herself. She glanced at the clock again. Sighing, she got up and waddled to the kitchen.

She poured herself a glass of milk and sat down at the table. Taking a sip from the glass, her mind drifted to the past. The brass, as her sister and Bobby had predicted, were fairly amiable to the union of the two detectives. They did have to make the tough decision of splitting their partnership at work.

Bobby opted to move to another precinct, giving Alex the opportunity to move further up the ladder, if she chose. He seemed quite content working in the Crime Scene Unit. His expertise had proven invaluable, and earned him a lot of respect from even the most seasoned CSU members.

Another strong wave hit her. She closed her eyes tight. Breath, breath, breath. She gasped when the wave passed. Glancing at the clock, she noted the waves were now twelve minutes apart. Grabbing a napkin, she wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead.

She smiled weakly. The wedding had been a simple ceremony, performed by a friend of theirs. Lewis and Captain Deakins had been the witnesses. She had borrowed her sister's wedding gown, new shoes, her grandmother's pearl necklace, and a light baby blue garter belt. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Her family had attended. Sadly, none of Bobby's family had showed up. She remembered how quiet he was that day. Happy, but quiet.

She braced herself for another wave.