"Gillette...Gillette?...Are you awake?" Rose whispered into the night. They were upstairs in the extra bedroom her parents made up for them.
"Gillette, honey?" She whispered, touching his arm. "Claire Gillette Lane!" She said, this time a little louder.
"What...sweetheart?" He asked, whispering. He was still half-asleep.
"Are you happy?...About the baby, I mean." She asked, turning her head to meet his. She could see his blond hair glistening in the moonlight.
"Rose?...Why would you ask such a thing as that?" He asked turning over on his side, facing her. "Of course I'm happy." He smiled at her, taking her hands in his.
"It's just...we've only been married ten months...and I...I just don't know if we're ready to be parents just yet..."
"Well,... you're already pregnant,...so we must be..." He said smiling and laying his hand on her thin belly. "I'm so happy about the baby. Overjoyed even!...I can't believe we're going to be parents!"
"I love you, Gillette." She said, smiling at him.
"And I love you,...my beautiful Rose...Goodnight." He said, giving her a sweet kiss on the lips, and she kissed back. Then he turned over on his back, she layed her head on his chest, and they fell asleep.
The next week, Laura and Almanzo put Rose and Gillette on a stagecoach travelling to the train-station, for there still wasn't a railroad in Walnut Grove. Everyone said goodbye to them personally.
"See you four months from now, sweetheart." Laura said, hugging her daughter goodbye.
"Thank you, Mama...I won't have to worry as much about my first pregnancy,...cause you'll be with me." She smiled. "I'll miss you all." She said, looking at everyone there.
"And if you need anything, you can always telegraph us." Almanzo said.
"Yes Papa,...of course I will."
"Soon as you get back here,... I'd come in for a checkup, young lady." Albert said to his neice.
"Yes Uncle Albert." She says, smiling and hugging his neck.
"You'll be contacting a doctor in San Fransisco, correct?" He asked.
"Of course." She said, releasing him from their hug. "Just in case."
Gillette helped his wife into the stagecoach, and got in after her. As the stage drove away, they waved to Rose's family, and they waved back.
"Goodbye,...I love you!" Rose called to her parents.
"We love too, sweetheart!" They called back. "Take good care of her, Gillette!"
"I will!" He called back. "See you in four months!"
The stage was rolling away from Walnut Grove, till it was no longer in sight.
"You ready to go home, Mrs. Lane? Gillette asked his wife.
"Yes...are you Mr. Lane?" She asked, smiling and laying her head in the crook of his neck.
"Yes." He says and kisses her. "You ready in there, Baby Lane?" Gillette asked, laying his hand on his wife's still flat belly.
"Gillette, you're so silly...but I love you." She laughs and then with her hand caressing his cheek, she kisses him and he kisses back.
