Chapter One

Through a haze of sleep and nausea I noticed a presence in the room but couldn't care less who it was. All I knew was that if I didn't make it to the bathroom within the next half a second there would be an unpleasant slime on the carpet (not that there is such a thing as pleasant slime, but you know what I mean). I'm not even sure I opened my eyes before I was dashing through the door and kissing porcelain.

The bile burned my oesophagus as it rushed towards the nearest exit. Nothing ever prepares you for the taste of the previous nights half digested dinner, not even the fact that you were just throwing it up a minute ago. As soon as you gut starts to contract you're thinking, this is gonna be disgusting and then you amaze yourself at just how right you actually were

Whoever it was had followed me into the bathroom and was now rubbing my back as I gave my offering to the porcelain god. Oh, what a sight I must have been, my hair bedraggled and sweaty, eyes crusty from sleep, body spasming, very little clothing (it had been hot the night before), sweat pooling all over my skin, grasping the sides of the almighty receiver so hard my knuckles were white.

"Are you alright?" they asked.

Yeah, I'm fine. I just thought I'd introduce the inside of my stomach to the s-bend. Wanna join me? Gee I didn't think it was possible to feel anything other than self-pity while hurling your guts up, but here I was managing sarcasm with a hint of hostility. Yay me!

As the person continued to murmur soothing words in my ear, and I continued vomiting, I realised the voice was feminine. That's weird; I could have sworn I had come home alone last night. I hadn't invited anybody over, or had I? Shit, what happened? I'd gone out for a few drinks after a stressful day at work catching bad guys, I'd gotten totally shit-faced (that could be the source of my problem), then I'd come home and eaten the left over sub from the fridge (hmm, when was the last time I'd had a sub before last night…) Oh crap, not good A) I was thinking about food while tossing my cookies and B) I can't remember when I bought the sub.

"God this was not the morning I had in mind when I got up this morning," said whoever it was. "I'm, having a hard enough time keeping my own breakfast down. I don't even know why I came here."

All I could think was don't talk about food. I gave a final dry heave and collapsed on the tiles. I heard the toilet flush, the cupboard door open and close, the faucet turn on and then off again and felt a moist cloth on my face wiping away what I imagined was spew residue. This was followed by the faucet on and off and a dry cloth mopping up the moisture left from the wet one.

"What did you do lat night? I came in and all I could smell was… on second thought, I don't think I want to go there. But Baby, you have to take better care of your body. You poison it with alcohol and all this junk food. You're digging yourself and early grave. I suppose it's a good thing you don't smoke, that would make it ten times worse."

I moaned, clutching my head in response, hoping she would get the hint and shut up, but she continued talking.

"I actually came over with some exciting yet terrifying news, but seeing how poorly you are I'll wait until you're better before I lay it on you."

Several hours later I woke up, completely naked except for the sheet tangled around my middle. Shocked, I sat bolt upright, my eyes darting around the room. It was dark, I couldn't see much, the door was closed and the curtain drawn. I didn't remember returning to my bed or even removing what little clothing I had been wearing. The female someone, the one who had rubbed my back and whispered comfortingly earlier, she must have stripped me and carried me to… preposterous! She'd have to be Wonder Woman! Maybe she half woke me and made me walk. But why would she have de-robed me? Hmm, this was quite a pickle I was in.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the wall, focusing on my breathing. Hoping that whoever the woman was she hadn't done anything to me while I was unconscious, or robbed me… Cripes I hope she didn't take my TV, there was a ball game on tomorrow I wanted to watch.

As I swung my legs off the bed I reached for my robe and put it on, not bothering to fasten the belt, chances were high that the house was empty anyway, I mean, who would wait around for the person you had just robbed to wake up? I padded to the bathroom to relieve my bladder before heading downstairs to the kitchen for coffee. Nearing the bottom step I smelled the much-coveted aroma of coffee already brewing. Uh, can we say slightly disoriented?

I picked my gun up off the sideboard in the hall before entering the kitchen with it at eye level, robe flying out behind me. What I expected, I can't really say, but it certainly wasn't what I was faced with right now. There at my kitchen table sat my darling fiancé, reading the paper with her coffee mug frozen halfway between the table and her mouth. Her eyes widened as she took in every inch of me, and I mean EVERY INCH.

I was slightly embarrassed, not because I was standing buck naked in my kitchen with my fiancé's eyes glued to me over her mug, but because I hadn't even considered the possibility of my future wife being the one who had taken care of me and now here I was pointing a gun at her!

"Felling better, I see," she said, eyeballing my lower extremities. (AN: His toes, guys! Geez, you have such dirty minds!)

My gun lowered with out thought and I groped around for the belt of my robe. She stood, rounded the table, removed the gun from my hand and placed it gently on the table before stilling my hands.

"I like it," she told me in little more than a whisper. Running her hands over my chest she asked, "How do you feel?"

"Fine. Steph, what are you doing here?" yeah I know, stupid question, but what can I say? I was still half asleep.

She laughed and shook her head. "Morelli, you're a worry. I'm here to look after you. Do you really think I would have left you alone while you were spewing your guts into the dunny? I'm not even gonna ask what happened last night. After cleaning this kitchen I don't want to know.

I groaned. It was a god thing she didn't want to know, because I couldn't remember. With the way she talking I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

"I knew there was a reason I decided to marry you." I leaned down to kiss her but she pushed me away.

"Whoa there, Vomit Breath, I think you need to shower and brush your teeth before that mouth is coming any closer to my face." Can we say cut? "I'm ordering from Pino's, you want a sub?"

My stomach turned at the dreaded word and she stepped back quickly, worried I might slime her. Can't say I blame her there.

"Joe! Your mother's here! Why don't you come down and greet them!" I stood at the door with Mrs Morelli and Grandma Bella, my two favourite people in the entire universe… Not!

"No, he's sick, he should stay in bed," Said Mrs Morelli. "Besides, we're here to see you."

Just great. The one thing I couldn't have wanted less. "Oh?" I managed.

"Yes," she said. "Bella has had a vision. A strong vision. Stronger than any other."

"I've never had a vision so strong," Grandma Bella put in, as if I didn't already get that it was powerful.

"I tried to sound interested. "And what was this vision about?" I really didn't need her to tell me, but you know, had to be nice to the future in-laws.

"You." Like I couldn't see that one coming. "You carry the unborn child of my grandson this very moment. Do not deny it, I know it is true, for I have seen it," she added.

A small smile crept onto my face as both women watched. "Yes, I am," I said simply, then adding, " I haven't told him yet." At their shocked faces I felt the need to explain. "I only found out this morning and then when I got here to tell him he was so ill, it was pushed from my mind until the two of you turned up." When I finished their eyes moved to something behind me, assumabley, Joe.

"Joseph, what are you doing up?" Mrs Morelli asked sternly. "You should be resting."

"Mom, I'm fine, really. I'm much better than this morning." He came to my side and wrapped an arm around my middle.

"Well, if you insist. I made you a canolli; I figured once you were better you would want something home cooked instead rubbish you order from Pino's." Hand him a dish covered in gladwrap, which he took with a smile.

"We should be going," Bella said. "I need to take a nap." Both women gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek before leaving, which left me looking like a stunned mullet.

"What was that?" Joe asked, closing the door. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my head, but did not answer him. "Steph? You okay? You don't look so good, maybe you should sit down." He turned me toward the kitchen and led me forward. "Come on."

He sat me down at the kitchen table and poured a mug of coffee, which he set down in front of me. I pushed it away and looped my arms around my stomach. Joe looked confused, but took the mug away anyway. I couldn't tell him now, he would think I'd given in to Grandma Bella's shenanigans, but I would tell him eventually. Or maybe I could drop a really obvious hint like taking another pregnancy test and leaving it "in the trash." No, that would be mean and heated discussion evoking. I definitely had to tell him, face to face, just not now.

Joe pulled a chair up beside mine and embraced me in a reassuring hug. "What's up," he asked.

"I guess I'm just tired," I replied, and I really was. "I'm going to bed."

"Okay, I'll be up in a minute. Goodnight darling." He kissed my forehead and I made my way upstairs.

The next morning I awoke to a shudder running through my lower belly. It was only a minor flutter, barely worth mentioning, but it was the reason I woke up. I rolled over and found Morelli smiling at me. He pulled me to him and his look became serious.

"Do you have any idea why I pulled you over?" he said in his cop voice.

"Um, I don't know officer, was I speeding?" I asked innocently, battling my eyes.

"I have it on good authority that you are hiding something on your person. I'm going to have to administer a full body search."

"Please don't arrest me, officer."

"I'm sorry, standard procedure."

I sighed and flung my hands above my head. "I surrender!"

Morelli covered my body with his own, claiming my lips. His tongue lingered on mine as his hands roamed south of the border (down Mexico way). He pushed my t-shirt up and buried his head in my breasts, taking my breath away. Slowly, he kissed a trail down my abdomen, drawing little circles on my thighs with his thumbs. My panties, I realised, were around my ankles, how they made it down there I had no idea and I didn't have time to find out. A stronger more urgent flutter ran through my stomach and this time couldn't ignore it.

I sat up quickly, startling Morelli, and ran to the bathroom, making it just in time. I was on my knees bowing to the ceramic deity with Morelli behind me, holding my hair out the way.

"The tables have turned," he said, bemused. "Twenty-four hours ago our positions were reversed. Are you okay?"

I gave a final shudder and sat back on my heels reaching for the towel Morelli handed me. I wiped the chunks from around my mouth, stood and grabbed the toothpaste, squirting it straight into my mouth before picking up my toothbrush.

"Honey, are you okay?" Morelli was behind em rubbing my back.

"I'm fine," I managed around a mouthful of toothbrush and toothpaste. I was leaning heavily on the vanity counter gripping the edge tightly with my free hand in an effort to stay upright. I spit, rinsed and stumbled back to bed, collapsing on the covers and not bothering to move into a more comfortable position.

"Baby, are you going to be alright if I leave you to go to work?"

I nodded. "Mmm hmm."

"Okay, well, I'll call you later to check up on you. Do you want me to call your mother?"

I sat bolt upright, nausea completely gone but a headache presenting itself. "No!" I swayed a little and Morelli lay me gently back down on the bed