Barek leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes, willing a wave of nausea to pass. "How did you do this three times, Alex?"

"I loved being pregnant."

"Yeah, well, you wanted to be pregnant and you wanted Bobby to be their father."

"And you don't want Mike to be this baby's father?"

"It's not that. I just...never expected to have a baby. It's not Mike. It's the whole thing. I hate feeling sick half the time and totally exhausted all the time."

"That will pass."

"And then I'll enter the beached whale phase."

Eames laughed. "It may seem like forever, but it only lasts a short time, Carolyn. Then you'll have a baby to love for the rest of your life."

"Bobby went to the doctor with you, right?"

"A couple of times when I was pregnant with Maggie because I asked him to. Then after the first visit when I was pregnant with Tom, he never missed an appointment. The nurses all thought he was sweet, but my obstetrician was very relieved when Tommy was born. He said he'd never known a dad with more questions than Bobby."

Barek laughed. "I wonder if Mike will even want to go. He hates doctors and hospitals. I think I'll be lucky if he's even there for the birth."

"He may surprise you."

"I don't know. Mike is pretty predictable."

"But this is something he's never experienced before. When I went into labor with Maggie and I couldn't find anyone to take me to the hospital, I could have called a cab and just gone through with it all by myself. I was already prepared to do just that. At the last minute, though, I realized I didn't want to be alone. So I called Bobby and he came right over to get me. I told him he only had to stay until someone else came. If I had called Dad, he would have done what he had to in order to be there when I needed him. But Bobby said he'd stay, and I wanted him to. The poor guy had no idea what to do to help me. He wanted to do something...anything. He hated to see me in all that pain. But when they brought Maggie in and laid her in his arms...something in him changed, Carolyn. I've never seen anything like it."

"Don't tell me you think that could happen with Mike. Come on, Alex. He's not much more than a big kid himself half the time."

"Don't let Bobby fool you. He's not much better. I think that's one reason he's such a great dad. He can get down to their level. His childhood was taken from him so early. Now he gets to live it again through them and he's very good at it."

They laughed and Barek finally sighed. "But look at how he is with you. Tell me he leaves anything to be desired as a husband."

"No, he doesn't. I couldn't ask for more from him in any regard. Don't you think that could happen with Mike?"

"Are you kidding? Hell will freeze over before he ever asks me to marry him."

"Do you want to marry him?"

"I don't know. But it would be nice if he just asked."

"So you can shoot him down? That seems kind of cruel."

"I guess a lot would depend on how he asked. I don't want him to be all sappy--that's just not Mike and I'd feel like he was making fun of the whole thing, which actually would be Mike. But I don't want him to be flippant about it either, and I can see him going either way."

"So what do you want?"

"Sincerity would be nice for a change. This is something I would want him to be serious about. Bobby was sincere, wasn't he?"

"When isn't he? He never pressured me. One marriage ended in tragedy. One marriage was a tragedy. He understood, but he was still willing to give it a shot if I'd have him. After all I'd put him through, he was still willing to marry me. If I live a thousand years, I'll never understand him. But this third time has been a charm. You can't judge a book by its cover, Carolyn. Mike deserves a chance."

Barek sighed. "Well, the ball is in his court now. If he asks and he's not an ass about it, I might just say yes. If he is an ass about it, though, I might just shoot him."

----------------------------------------

Logan handed Goren a beer and sat down on the opposite end of the couch. "Is this couch comfortable to sleep on?"

"Yeah, it is. Haven't you ever slept on it?"

"Not too often. But something tells me I will be." Goren laughed. "I'm glad you think it's funny. Don't you ever have to sleep on your couch anymore?"

"Only if I happen to fall asleep there."

"How do you do it? Don't even try to tell me you never get in trouble."

"I get in trouble plenty. I'm just very good at apologizing."

"Even if it's not your fault?"

"Even if it's not my fault. I'm not too proud to tell her I'm sorry, and I always mean it. I don't care whose fault it is. I hate to see her upset."

Logan took a drink of his beer. "You're a better man than I am. When she's wrong, I want an apology."

"Then it's a good thing your couch is comfortable. You need to get over that, man. Believe me, it's worth it when you're the one to give in."

Logan flipped his bottle cap up in the air and caught it. "So what about this one, Bobby? Do I say I'm sorry for getting her pregnant?"

"Do you think you should? Is she angry about it?"

"I have no idea how she feels."

"Don't you think you should find out?"

"I'm afraid to. Having kids was never really a part of her life plans. She was always content to be an aunt to Maggie and Tom."

Goren shrugged. "These things happen."

"Did you ever plan to have kids?"

"No. Never."

"But they're the best thing that ever happened to you."

"So is Alex."

"I would never have said that a few years ago. I thought her marriage to Ricky was gonna be the end of you, until Maggie was born. Maggie changed everything for you."

Goren took a long drink and shifted uncomfortably. And he did what he always did when he wanted to avoid a topic; he changed the subject. "Have you given any more thought to marriage?"

Logan let him get away with it. He understood how uncomfortable it was for him to talk about the time his wife had spent married to Ricky. He let him turn the subject to one he was uncomfortable with, hoping it would help to lessen the discomfort for him. "Let's face it, Bobby. I drive her up a wall. Why would she want to be saddled with me, too?"

"How do you feel about it?"

"Getting married? It scares the hell out of me."

"So you're opposed to it?"

One more drink and his beer was empty. "I don't know what to think." He got up and went into the kitchen, returning with two more beers. He handed one to Goren and opened the other. "I listened to Lennie grouse about marriage for years. I've watched marriages fall apart left and right all over the place. Then I see Deakins and his wife, and there's a couple that made it and they still love each other. And when I see you and Alex...well, you guys are more the exception than the rule."

"You told me it's different with Carolyn."

"It is. But will I ruin a great thing by asking her to marry me? I have no idea what the hell she expects from me."

Goren rubbed his jaw then opened his second beer. "I think you need to decide first if you want to marry her. Then you give her the option of saying yes or no."

"What did you do?"

"I'd have married her anytime. That was a no-brainer for me. But I didn't put any pressure on her. I know what a hard time she's had with marriage. I just told her I was willing if she wanted to try it one more time."

"I can't see Barek wanting to be stuck with me for the rest of her life."

"She already is stuck with you, Mike. She's having your child."

"I can be a great dad without being married. You were."

Goren raised his hands. He wasn't going to argue. "Whatever. It's your relationship."

Logan was quiet for a long minute. "So you really think I ought to ask?"

"Yeah. I do."

Logan finished his beer and heaved a sigh. His life was now more complicated than he had ever wanted it to become.