Chapter 1.

Bex paced back and forth in front of the bathroom mirror, her arms crossed over her chest. "Bowie," she rehearsed. "There's something I need to tell you. I know we just got married, and we weren't planning on expanding our family so quickly, but…"

"That sounds dumb," she sighed to herself. She paused, glancing down at the positive pregnancy test on the bathroom counter.

"Bowie," she said again. "Remember a few weeks ago, when we had unprotected sex, and we said one time wouldn't matter? Well, funny story. Turns out we were wrong!"

Focus, she told herself. She took a deep breath. "Bowie-"

"What's up?"

Bex turned around, startled to see her husband standing in the bathroom doorway.

"I heard you say my name," he told her, leaning in to give her a kiss. "Did you need me for something?"

"Um, no," she told him. "I was just hoping we could talk about something."

"Okay," he nodded. "Just let me finish putting the groceries away. I know you haven't been feeling well, so I got the stuff to make you my famous chicken soup. It'll cure what ails you," he winked.

"I highly doubt it," Bex said to herself, following him into the kitchen.

"What was that?" he was reaching up to put a box of broth in the cupboard.

"Bowie, it's sweet that you want to make me soup," she said. "I really appreciate it. But I don't think soup is going to help my condition."

He paused. "What's wrong?" he frowned, concerned. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I'll be fine. In about eight months, give or take a week."

"What are you saying?" he asked.

"I'm saying that that Universe of yours loves to give us surprise babies. Bowie… I'm pregnant!"

Bowie's jaw dropped.

"Say something?" she pleaded after several seconds had passed, the longest seconds of her life.

"Are- are you sure?" he stammered.

"I'm sure," she smiled. "I took a home test and I went to the doctor to confirm it. I'm about six weeks along."

Bowie's face was still frozen in astonishment.

"Could you say a little more?" she asked, half-jokingly. "You're kinda making me nervous here."

He shook his head. "I don't know what to say. I'm just so happy."

She breathed a long sigh of relief. She should have known he would be pleased. How many men would be happy to find out their high school girlfriend had had a baby she never told him about? Not many. But Bowie had been over the moon when he found out about Andi. If he resented her for it even a tiny bit, he never showed any sign of it. And she didn't believe he did. His heart was too big. He was one in a million."Really?"

"Of course!" He grinned, taking her in his arms and kissing her again. "How could I not be? I love being a dad. Being Andi's dad has changed my life. And the chance to be a father again sounds incredible. I'm the luckiest man in the world."

Bex rested her head on Bowie's shoulder, letting him rub her back softly. When they parted, she saw that his hazel eyes were wet with tears. Her heart squeezed with love for him.

"I'm happy too," she admitted, drying the fallen tears from his cheeks. "I know we weren't planning to have a baby yet. We've only been married a few months, and money is tight, with Cloud Ten and all…"

"Don't worry about any of that," he said calmly, taking her face between her hands, and looking her in the eye. "We'll get by," he promised. "We have each other, and Andi. We can do this."

"Andi!" Bex breathed. "I can't wait to tell Andi! She'll be so excited."

"I know," Bowie grinned, pulling her back to him. He nuzzled her cheek, his whiskers tickling her face.

"We'll tell her together tonight," she decided. She reached up to give Bowie one more kiss. "I love you."

"I love you, too," he said. He bent down and planted a kiss on her stomach. "And I love you too."

"Hey Bowie?"

"Yeah?" he asked.

"If you still wanted to make me soup, you know… I wouldn't object."

He laughed. "I'm on it."

Andi came in the door, set her backpack down, and inhaled deeply. "Something smells amazing!" she sighed, grinning. She took off her wet shoes and went into the living room, where Bex was resting on the couch.

"Your dad's making soup," Bex smiled.

"Perfect," Andi said happily. It was a chilly September day, and the gray sky had been spitting rain on and off. It was a perfect day for comfort food.

She sat down beside her mother, who was snuggled under a blanket, drinking a cup of tea. "How are you feeling?" She asked, concerned. She knew her mom had been fighting some kind of stomach bug since the weather had turned colder, and hadn't shown any sign of getting better. She couldn't help but worry about her a little. Bex never got sick.

"Much better, now that you're home," Bex told her. "Come here." She held out her arms, and Andi curled up beside her. "How was school? Did you have fun today?"

"School was good," Andi confided. "I still can't believe Buffy, Cyrus, Jonah and I ended up in the same homeroom again."

"That's so cool," Bex smiled, smoothing back Andi's hair. Andi had just started eighth grade, and seemed to be enjoying it.

"I think this is shaping up to be my best year yet," Andi smiled, reclining against her mother. "School's going good, I have my friends, Jonah, you and dad are finally married. What more could a girl want?"

"Is there anything else you want?" Bex asked her, not so subtly. "Like… I dunno… something little and cute?"

"A Puppy?" she asked hopefully.

"Oh no, we're not getting a puppy," Bex replied quickly, suppressing a laugh. "I'm just saying… there are always new surprises ahead. You never know what life is gonna bring."

"Okay…" Andi said, eyeing her mom suspiciously.

Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, except the fact that the term "morning sickness" was misleading, Bex felt overwhelmingly nauseous. She put her hand over her mouth and stood up. "Excuse me for a minute." She hurried out of the room and to the bathroom. Andi cringed when she heard her vomiting. Bowie ran into the bathroom after her.

Andi went to the stove and stirred the soup with a wooden spoon, sneaking a taste. But after a few minutes had passed, she started to become concerned. She went to the bathroom, where the door stood ajar, and peeked in. "Mom? You okay?"

"I'm fine," Bex called back. "I'll be right out."

Andi shrugged and went back to the kitchen, and a few moments later, Bex came out, Bowie following behind her.

"I really hope I don't catch what you have," Andi told her. "I can't afford to get sick this week. School just started, and I already have a book report due."

Bex and Bowie giggled, smiling knowingly at each other. Sometimes it seemed to Andi that the two of them had their own secret language only they could understand.

"What did I say?" She asked, as she set three places at the table.

"Nothing," Bex laughed, tousling her daughter's hair. "But you don't need to worry, Andi. There's no way you can catch what I have. I promise."

Bowie served the soup with Saltine crackers, and they sat down to eat. Andi observed that while they ate, her parents never let go of each other's hand, even though it meant her dad was forced to use his wrong hand to eat with. And they hardly spoke during the meal, except to giggle nervously every now and then, and share a not-so-discrete smile.

"Why are you guys acting so weird?" Andi finally asked, setting down her spoon. "I can tell you're hiding something."

Bex gave Bowie a panicked look, her dark eyes wide, trying to convey some kind of message to him. "Ummm…" she finally uttered, still not meeting her daughter's eyes.

"Ummm?" Andi cried. "Now I know something is going on. Can someone just tell me?"

"We really should tell her now," Bowie told Bex. "We've tortured the kid long enough."

"Yeah," Bex agreed, pushing her empty bowl aside. "I suppose you're right." She stood up, and Andi and Bowie followed her to the living room.

"Come here, Andi," said Bex, sitting down and patting the couch cushion between herself and Bowie. "Come sit between Mommy and Daddy."

"Mommy and Daddy?" Andi repeated, raising an eyebrow, but she did sit down, hesitantly. Her stomach felt like it was full of butterflies, trying to fight their way out. "What's going on? You're starting to freak me out here."

"Everything's fine," Bex assured her, placing her hand on Andi's arm, rubbing it comfortingly. "Andi, how would you feel about becoming a big sister?"

Andi looked between her parents. "Why? Are you guys saying you're thinking of having a baby?"

"Not just thinking about it," Bowie offered, looking past his daughter to smile at his wife.

"Andi," said Bex. "I'm saying we're going to have a baby. We just found out I'm pregnant!"

Andi squealed loudly, and Bex and Bowie laughed.

"Are you happy?" Bowie asked, putting his arm around his daughter's shoulders.

"Yes!" Andi cried, hugging herself. "I can't believe it! I'm so excited!" She threw her arms around Bex's neck. "Congratulations, guys!"

"I'm so glad you're happy," Bex breathed, burying her nose in Andi's hair. "Because you're gonna be important in this baby's life."

"You're going to be an amazing big sister," Bowie agreed, joining in the hug. "We love you so much, kiddo."

"I love you guys, too," Andi told them, still smiling. "When is the baby coming?"

"Well," said Bex. "I'm about six weeks along. The baby is due in mid-May."

"How am I ever going to be able to wait that long?" Andi asked. "This is so exciting!"

To Be Continued