Disclaimer: I don't own Army Wives and never will. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Note: Based on what I think will be the surprise in tomorrow's episode, First Response. This is a two-shot. The epilogue will be up soon.
When Claudia Joy Holden came from the hospital after her car accident she sat down on the couch and stared at the couch. She still couldn't believe she was pregnant. Claudia Joy still remembered the pregnancy scare she had a few months after Amanda's death and had never expected to actually end up pregnant again.
"Are you okay?" asked Michael. He was worried about his wife and unborn child. When he got that phone call about Claudia Joy being in a car accident, his whole world had stopped. What if she had died like Amanda? Instead, she had just been badly injured and was pregnant. Both Claudia Joy and the baby were okay, and that was all that mattered.
"I'm fine," Claudia Joy replied. She would just have to get used to the fact that she was pregnant for the third time. She did have seven months left in the pregnancy, anyway.
"I still can't believe I'm going to be a big sister." Emmalin still missed Amanda and it hurt a lot, but she would try to be the big sister that Amanda was.
Claudia Joy laughed nervously. "I can't believe your father and I are going to have a baby in the house again." 3:00AM feedings and diaper changes were going to make a return. At least Roland and Joan had Sara Elizabeth. They could bring her over to play with the baby.
Michael sat down next to his wife and kissed her. "I love you, Claudia Joy. We can definitely do this. We're older, but Emmalin can help us. Won't you?" There was no doubt in his mind that Emmalin would end up spoiling her younger brother or sister.
Emmalin nodded. "I'll change a diaper, even if it's gross." She didn't anticipate getting woken up in the middle of the night, but at least it would be practice for whenever she had kids.
Both Michael and Claudia Joy laughed. Emmalin would no doubt change her mind the first dirty diaper, but the two weren't about to tell her that. "I need to make an appointment with my OB/GYN. I need an ultrasound so soon. " Claudia Joy didn't want to even think about maternity outfits (Although they were supposed to much better than they had been during her pregnancies with Amanda and Emmalin) or the nursery yet.
"I'll make it for you." Michael didn't want Claudia Joy to get up off the couch when she was still hurting this badly. He would do everything he could to make sure that she was comfortable in the next few weeks and for the rest of her pregnancy.
"Are you sure? I can do it, Michael," she assured her husband. Michael was probably going to treat her like glass for awhile. The accident had really scared him.
"Okay," Michael reluctantly agreed. He couldn't help but be overprotective of Claudia Joy and the baby. She, the baby, and Emmalin were his family. Michael had to be there for them.
"I can't wait until you're feeling better," Emmalin informed her mother. She hugged her and then went upstairs to work on some homework. She had missed school for a few days when her mother was in the hospital and had to catch up.
"How are we supposed to raise another baby? Emmalin's going to be out of the house in a year. We were almost done," Claudia Joy said to Michael. A baby was somewhat of a good thing, but she and Michael were older. They were almost done with raising kids. Now they were starting over.
"Yes, we're older. And yes, Emmalin will be out of the house in a year, but who cares if we have to start over with another baby? We have enough money to raise another child. Stop worrying. We'll be fine." Michael knew that he was going to have be a rock for Claudia Joy for the next few months, but he didn't mind. He'd be there for the cravings and mood swings. They hadn't bothered him too much with Emmalin, since he had missed a lot of Claudia Joy's first pregnancy.
"You do know what to say to calm me down," Claudia Joy murmured. She leaned against her husband and reached for the remote. She turned on the TV, and the couple watched sitcoms for a few hours. Michael had his hand on his wife's stomach the entire time. She didn't say anything about it, however.
Against her better judgment, by the time the couple got to bed, Claudia Joy already had several names running through her head. She couldn't sleep because all she could think about were baby names.
"Go to sleep. You need it," a tired Michael told Claudia Joy. He knew what she was thinking about, but they had seven more months until the baby came.
"I can't sleep. My mind's on overdrive. What are we going to name the baby?" Claudia Joy had had these types of nights during both of her pregnancies, and it had hit her early this time around. She and Michael had to get used to lack of sleep, anyway.
"I love you, Claudia Joy, but you're thinking too much. Go to sleep and we'll talk about this in the morning." Michael was exhausted from worrying about his wife for several days on end. He couldn't go to sleep if Claudia Joy didn't. It was a byproduct of being together for so long.
"I love you too, Michael. Just let me write down the names I like first. At least there's a notepad here so I don't have to get out of bed." Claudia Joy knew how much Michael would marry if she stepped out of bed. He and Emmalin had been doing everything for her today. She couldn't wait to be back on her feet and taking care of everything herself.
"What are your favorites so far?" Michael didn't know why he was asking Claudia Joy this, but he figured it might get her to go to sleep sooner.
Claudia Joy began going over the list of names she had so far, and wrote them down on the notepad as she was talking to her husband. After awhile, she did fall asleep. The exhaustion and pain she was still in the accident caught up to her.
The next morning, Emmalin had breakfast ready for both of her parents. "I figured it's the least I could do," she explained to them. She would most likely make breakfast for them after the baby was born. Emmalin would have college soon after the baby was born, but that didn't matter. She would do as much as she could for them before she left.
"Thanks so much. I'm starving." Claudia Joy couldn't believe the cravings were already setting in, but maybe it had something to do with knowing about her pregnancy and the power of suggestion.
Michael grabbed a piece of toast and sat down at the table. He began to eat. Claudia Joy sat down next to her husband and daughter, and started to eat with them.
Claudia Joy and Michael had never expected to have a third child, but it had happened. Both were excited about meeting the new baby, even if the pregnancy had been a surprise.
The Holden family had a lot to look forward to in the next seven months.