Disclaimer: don't own

"Elliot." 18-year old Kathy said. 18-year old Elliot looked up from where he was doing his homework.

"Yeah, Kathy?"

"I'm pregnant."

"Oh. Wow."

"Are you… upset?"

"No, I'm just worried about what our parents are going to say."

"I am, too."

A few months later, at their parents insistence, they had married, and a few months after that they became parents. They smiled as they held the baby girl, Maureen.

George bolted upwards and then rubbed his head awkwardly. Elliot, having been woken up by the sudden movement, turned around and hugged George.

"What is it, baby?"

"I had the strangest dream ever."

"What was it?" Elliot asked. He eased George back down and used one arm as a pillow for George's head, while the other arm wrapped around the smaller man's waist.

"I… " He sighed. "I dreamed I was Kathy and you and I had a child together." Elliot stiffened. George gave him a sympathetic look.

"I'm sorry. I know it's still painful for you to think about her."

"No, it's been a long time, I'm over it." George gave him a look.

"Elliot, you and I both know that no one ever truly gets over it." Elliot sighed.

"Ok, mostly over it. In any case, you have the strangest dreams, George."

"Yeah, I do. Maybe it's because, me being a psychiatrist and such a sane person during the day time, I need to be a little crazy sometime." Elliot gave him a wry smile.

"Well, let's go to sleep."

"Ok."

They stopped talking, but neither one fell asleep for a long time. Both were thinking about the dream and its possible symbolism.

Kathy and Elliot had dated in high school, but a tragic car accident had killed her. Elliot had been torn apart by grief, and George had stopped him from committing suicide and had eventually made him happy again. Elliot told him how good he was at helping people, and George decided to pursue a degree in clinical psychology for that reason. A year after the accident, George and Elliot had started dating, though Elliot never stopped loving Kathy. But that was natural. George didn't mind, even though they were both in their forties now.

"I love you George." Elliot eventually said with a tiny yawn.

"I love you Elliot." George mumbled. They fell asleep, arms securely fastened around each other.