-Part 1-
"Abbie, where have you been all day?" Adam asked, getting up from the chair and walking over to his wife as she walked in the door.
"I'm sorry, Adam. I didn't mean to worry you. I just had something I had to take care of, and..." Abbie stopped talking as she looked around the room, noticing that the house seemed empty.
"Where is everyone?" she asked.
"Pa and Joe had to go into town for a little while and Hoss and Sarah went fishing. I'm pretty sure Hop Sing is around somewhere." Adam said, putting his hands on her shoulders, "Now what was it you were saying?"
"Oh, right. I had something I had to take care of. I... had to see the doctor." Abbie said.
"The doctor? Are you sick?" Adam asked, looking her in the eyes.
"No, no. It's nothing like that." Abbie said.
"Well, are you going to tell me what is is?" Adam asked. He was both confused and anxious to find out what she could possibly be talking about. A small smile crossed her face.
"Adam, I just found out, you're going to be a father." she said. Adam stared at her for a moment, his mouth hanging open in shock.
"Abbie, do you mean you're..." he said, smiling. She nodded.
"Yes, Adam. I'm carrying your child." she said. Adam took her into his arms, hugging her. She smiled as she hugged him back.
"I can't believe this." he said, "Wait until we tell pa and the others." He stumbled backwards slightly, grabbing the table. Abbie chuckled. Most of the time, Adam didn't show much emotion, but this was one of the rare times he did. Hop Sing came running out of the kitchen.
"What all the noise in here, Mister Adam? Why always yelling! Yell, yell, yell, yell! Too much noise always." he said.
"Hop Sing, I just found out Abbie is going to have a baby. I'm going to be a father." Adam said, smiling proudly and putting his arm around Abbie.
"Baby! Enough noise around this house with just you people!" Hop Sing said, throwing his arms in the air, mumbling in Chinese as he walked back to the kitchen. Adam and Abbie just stood there, laughing. Abbie always found Hop Sing to be amusing, especially when he overreacted as he often did. A few moments later, Ben and Joe walked in the door.
"Pa, Joe, we have something we want to tell you." Adam said.
"We were going to wait until everyone else got back, but, well, we decided to tell you now." Abbie said.
"Well, alright then. What is it?" Ben said.
"Abbie is going to have a baby. I'm going to be a father." Adam said, smiling.
"Adam..." Ben said, a huge smile slowly crossing his face, "Congratulations, son. And you, Abbie." Ben hugged his oldest son, then his daughter-in-law.
"You're kidding. I can't believe it! I'm going to be an uncle!" Joe said, clapping his oldest brother on the back, "Congratulations, Adam!"
"So, no one else knows yet?" Ben said.
"No one besides us and Hop Sing." Abbie said.
"Hop Sing?" Ben said.
"Well, he came in to yell at us for being too loud, as usual, and we told him what all the shouting was about." Adam said, grinning.
"Adam, this is great news." Ben said, putting his hand on his son's shoulder, "And, Abbie, if there's anything you need, just let one of us know."
"Thank you, Ben. I will, but only if it's something I can't get on my own." Abbie said, grinning, "I don't want anyone treating me like I'm crippled or anything. I'm plenty capable of taking care of myself." Ben laughed slightly at Abbie's usual stubbornness.
"Abbie, you should sit down. You need to rest." Adam said, taking his wife's hand and leading her over to the chair. She laughed at how overly concerned Adam was being. She sat down in the chair, though just to appease Adam.
"Adam, it's alright. I'm fine. You don't have to worry so much." she said.
"Abbie, you have to take care of yourself. Are you hungry? Have you eaten at all today?" Adam said.
"Adam, I'm fine. Will you stop fussing? I had breakfast this morning. I guess I am a little hungry, though." Abbie said.
"I'll tell Hop Sing to fix us some lunch. The others should be back soon, too." Ben said. A few moments later, through the door walked Hoss and Sarah, hand in hand.
"Well, you guys are just in time for lunch." Ben said.
"Yeah. Funny how Hoss always shows up just in time for food." Little Joe said.
"Just what are you imlpying?" Sarah said, cocking her head to one side and placing a hand on her hip. Sarah was usually easy going, but she could get defensive when it came to Hoss.
"Hoss, your brother and Abbie have something they'd like to say." Ben said.
"Of course. We're sorry for being so inconsiderate." Sarah apologized.
"What is it you want to tell us?" Hoss asked.
"Abbie is going to have a baby. I'm going to be a father." Adam said, putting his arm around Abbie.
"Oh my goodness!" Sarah said, smiling, "That's so wonderful. I'm so happy for both of you. Congratulations." She hugged Abbie, then, Adam.
"Well, I'll be... If that ain't just the darndest thing! Congratulations, Adam!" Hoss said, clapping his older brother on the back, "Congratulations to you, too, Miss Abbie. If you need anythin', just let me know."
"Thanks, Hoss. I will." she said.
"I'll tell Hop Sing to fix us some lunch." Ben said before leaving the room.
The next morning, Adam awoke to find that Abbie was not laying next to him. He sat up, looking around frantically to find Abbie sitting on the edge of the bed with a hand on her stomach. He moved over next to her, placing a hand on her back.
"Abbie, are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm alright, Adam. I just felt... sick." she said, "I think I'm alright now." she said. She managed a smile as she lay back down on the bed.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Adam asked as he lay next to her.
"I'm fine." she said.
"I can't believe I'm going to be a father." Adam said.
"You'll be an amazing father, Adam. You were raised by a great father." Abbie said, smiling at him, "But, I know what you mean. It's still hard for me to see myself as a mother. I guess I'd better get used to it."