A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews, Jackie, leya, zenfrodo, Caranath, unobtrusive, Vinsmouse, bhar and Maddi! I can't tell you how much I appreciate them! Even though this story takes place in the late 1970s, I have fast forwarded obstetrical tools and technology a few years beyond that to facilitate the story line. It's just easier that way. LOL Thanks to everyone reading!

Chapter 2

The next afternoon, Joe sat in the living room of his home with Fenton, Frank, and one of two federal agents assigned to the adoption fraud case.

"So, you only want us to go in there and talk to these people? That's it?" Joe asked. That didn't sound too bad. He would be right there with Emily the entire time.

"Well, what happens next will be determined by the situation," the agent explained. "We want you and Emily to be very evasive and non-committal with them. You are only looking into relinquishing your baby."

Joe nodded and grinned. "Okay, so don't sign anything."

"No." The agent's tone was firm. "In fact, we want you to ultimately tell them that you've decided to keep your child and you're not interested in adoption."

So go in, have an interview, say no, and leave. Joe thought maybe that would be fairly safe. If any part of this adoption agency was legitimate, he doubted they'd be threatened during a first interview. Especially since Emily wouldn't be there alone.

"Hmm," Frank said from his position on the couch. "This is heavy stuff here."

"Yes, it is," Agent Brown agreed. He turned from his chair in front of the chess table and pinned Joe with his gaze. "And these people do not play games, so you have to be careful. Do not let Emily out of your sight when you're there. And especially do not allow them to give her a medical exam under any circumstances."

The agent didn't have to worry about that. Joe wasn't going to let anyone even get close to her, let alone try and give her an exam. "Do you really think they'll want to do that?"

"It's a possibility," Agent Brown reached into his briefcase and removed a manila folder. "We've drawn up medical records for her, in case the adoption agency asks to see them. We'll wait for Emily to come downstairs to fill in some additional information." His pen was poised over the file. "She's not currently pregnant, is she?"

Joe turned crimson as he glanced from the agent to Fenton. Talking about his sex life in front of his father wasn't at the top of his list of favorite things to do. "No, she's not pregnant. She's on the pill."

"Good. Then don't let them examine her."

A female voice was heard from the top of the stairs. "Okay, everybody," the other federal agent called down. "We're ready."

Joe looked anxiously toward the staircase as his girlfriend and the agent walked down. Emily was wearing a specially designed pregnancy simulating apparatus under her new maternity jean shorts and loose top. Her face was full of trepidation as she entered the room.

"Well, what do you think? She's about five months along," the agent announced with a smile on her face.

Joe couldn't breathe for a second. He hadn't known what to expect, but this caught him completely off guard. She definitely looked pregnant. Just like she would if she were really having their baby. Their baby. The thought actually made him smile.

Fenton stepped over and hugged her. "You look wonderful, sweetheart."

Emily gave him a timid smile. "Thanks. I feel a little awkward."

"Well, I second what Dad said," Frank told her. "You're gorgeous."

"Thank you." Emily turned to Joe, and he could see by her expression that she was nervous. "You haven't said anything."

Joe slipped his arm around Emily's shoulders. "You're beautiful." He smiled and tentatively placed his hand on her now bulging tummy. A feeling that he could only describe as some sort of mixture of wonder and awe coursed through him, and he kissed her on the temple.

"Beautiful", he whispered in her ear. Something moved underneath his fingers. Startled, he pulled back. "What was that?"

Agent McClafferty laughed. "That was your baby kicking."

"What?" Joe was dumbfounded.

The agent smiled. "This suit is the absolute latest in technology. It's designed to replicate an actual pregnancy as nearly as possible. So, your baby will kick regularly at unpredictable intervals. Just like the real ones do."

Fenton chuckled. "Well, since that's Joe's baby, I think you'd better turn the kick frequency dial up to high. He kicked as much as an entire soccer team."

Joe gave his dad a look, then turned to Emily. "Can you feel that?"

She nodded. "It's a little strange. The entire thing is going to take some getting used to."

"Yes, it will," Agent McClafferty spoke up. "Wear the suit around the house for a day or two. The tummy is filled with water, but I promise, you won't slosh. What you will feel is the extra weight. It's about twenty pounds, and it might make you tired and a little short of breath. Not to mention awkward at first."

"It's a lot to take in," Emily said.

"May I?" Frank asked, extending his hand.

Emily nodded, as Frank settled his palm over her abdomen. "Wow, that feels real. You'd never know she wasn't pregnant."

"Did you feel that kick?" Emily asked.

"Yeah." Frank grinned. "I think you have a little linebacker in there. Amazing how realistic it is."

"That's the whole idea," Agent Brown spoke up, rifling through some papers while Joe helped Emily over to the couch. "As long as you don't have an examination, nobody will know the difference. Okay, Miss Clark, I have a few questions for you."

Emily nodded as Joe helped her to sit down. He took the spot next to her and slipped his arm around her shoulders.

Agent Brown held up what appeared to be two different ultrasound photos. "First, do you want your baby to be a boy or a girl?"

"Oh, I don't know," Emily said. "I have no idea. I didn't think you usually got to choose."

"Well, in this case you do," Agent Brown responded. "So, what'll it be?"

"I know what I want." Joe smiled at Emily tenderly. "A baby girl. A sweet little girl who looks exactly like her beautiful mother."

Tears filled Emily's green eyes. "Oh, Joe."

Joe pulled her close to him, and kissed the side of her head gently. "I love you," he whispered in her ear.

Agent Brown checked off a box on his form and announced dryly, "A girl it is, then. Congratulations."

Agent McClafferty sniffled. "Oh, this is going to be so perfect. You two are the cutest couple I have ever seen in my life."

Agent Brown stared hard at her, and she mumbled, "I'm sorry. That wasn't very professional."

Emily smiled. "I don't mind. Thank you for the compliment."

"Okay, well then, Miss Clark, if you wouldn't mind filling out some of these forms for me, we can get you a very realistic looking medical file," Agent Brown continued.

"Um, sure." Emily went to stand up and stumbled backwards. She giggled. "My center of gravity sure has changed in the last ten minutes."

Joe helped her up and then walked over to his father and brother while Emily sat at the chess table next to Agent Brown.

Frank gave Joe a friendly cuff on the shoulder. "So, how does it feel being a father to be?"

"Really weird."

"Not unlike most real new fathers-to-be," Fenton said with a chuckle.

Joe shook his head. "Is it just me, or does she all of a sudden seem fifty times more vulnerable now then she did this morning?"

"Normal again, Joe," Fenton reassured him. "It's natural for you to want to protect the mother of your unborn child."

Joe exhaled deeply. "I guess I wasn't expecting this part of it. I mean, I didn't know what to expect, but it definitely wasn't all of this...emotional stuff."

Frank put his arm around Joe's shoulders. "Well, I will say this. She is incredibly cute with that little tummy bump."

"Yes, she is," Fenton echoed. "And as much as I want you two to give me a granddaughter in real life...let's not rush things, okay?"

"No, Dad. Don't worry, you're safe from being called 'Grandpa' for a few years, at least," Joe assured him.

"But I do want this," Fenton added. "And with that girl as your wife, got it?"

"No problem there." Joe smiled. "I'm one hundred percent with you on that one."

"Good," Fenton patted him on the back as the doorbell sounded. "I'll go get that."

Frank grinned at Joe. "So, I guess this means I'm going to be an uncle." He looked over to the front door as Callie Shaw, Fenton's office assistant, entered. "Joe?" he nudged him in the ribs. "Let's have some fun."

Joe chuckled. "You're cold."

"Aww, come on. Callie will be your litmus test on how authentic Emily looks." Frank waved at her. "Hey, Cal, come here for a minute."

Callie walked into the living room. "What is it Fr...?" She stopped short as Emily stood up. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open.

"Hi, Callie," Emily called out cheerfully. "I haven't seen you in a little while. How's it going?"

Callie looked from Emily to Joe, then back to Emily.

"Callie?" Emily's brow furrowed. "Are you okay?"

"You're...you're...pregnant!"

Emily looked down at her bulging stomach, then up at Callie's expression of total shock. "No. No, I'm not."

"Yes you are. You're pregnant. I'm not blind." She glared at Joe. "How did this happen?"

Joe struggled mightily to keep a straight face. "Pretty much the usual way, Cal."

"Joe!" Emily chided him. Then she burst out laughing. "I'm not really pregnant, Callie. It's only pretend. It's for a case."

"For a..." She turned to Frank and Joe, and her gaze narrowed. "You two are horrible!"

"Sorry." Frank laughed out loud. "But we really did need to see if Em was believable. Thanks for helping us out."

Callie's face softened. "Okay, I guess if you were being horrible for a good reason." She furrowed her brow. "Although I'm not entirely sure you were...exactly."

Joe chuckled. He knew there would be payback for that little joke, but it was worth it just to see the expression on Callie's face.

Agent Brown approached Joe. "Well, that takes care of our end for now. We'll contact you as soon we have more information to give you, and as you begin your assignment."

"Thank you, sir. We'll be waiting." Joe shook the man's hand as Emily and Agent McClafferty joined them.

Agent McClafferty hugged Emily goodbye. "You two really are just the cutest couple."

"Thanks," Emily said with a smile as Fenton led the agents to the front door.

Joe hugged Emily and patted her stomach. "You okay with this?"

She nodded. "I keep thinking of Amy Baxter. She must be terrified, Joe. She's so young to have to deal with this."

"Yeah," Joe agreed. "I'd like to punch her so-called 'boyfriend' right in the mouth."

"He's probably terrified, too." Emily looked up at him. "Are you okay with this?"

"For now. I only agreed to have us do one interview at the agency. We'll see what happens after that."

Emily nodded as Fenton entered the living room.

"Well, I guess we'd better keep Emily in the house tonight if we don't want the Bayport rumor mill going into overdrive."

Joe laughed. "That's for sure."

"Then I say we order some pizza for dinner," Fenton said with a smile as he picked up the phone.

OOOoooOOO

"Hello? Is anyone home?" Aunt Gertrude let herself in the front door of the Hardy home around seven that evening.

"Good grief, no one is ever around to help me with my suitcases," she muttered. "Fenton? Boys?"

Gertrude shook her head and left her luggage in the entrance hall. She walked into the kitchen to see Emily and Joe standing behind the open refrigerator door. "Oh, so somebody is here."

OOO

Joe looked up to find his aunt near the swinging door in the kitchen entryway, her hands on her hips.

"Oh, sorry Aunt Gert," he began as he shut the refrigerator. "I guess we didn't hear you come in."

"Well, that's obvious," she said, moving into the kitchen. She walked over to the table as Joe and Emily stepped around the counter to greet her. "Maybe you could find your brother and get my suit–"

Gertrude paused, her eyes widening in obvious shock as Emily came into full view. She pointed her finger at her nephew. "Joseph! She, she's... How could you let this happen?"

Joe looked to Emily and then back at his aunt. "Aunt Gertrude, no."

Gertrude continued to stare at Emily's mid-section, a horrified expression coming over her. "I warned my brother. I told him...and now, now..."

She collapsed to the floor in a dead faint.

"Oh my gosh!" Emily exclaimed.

Frank and Fenton hurried into the room. Fenton looked down at his sister, passed out cold on the kitchen floor, then up at Joe. "Let me guess, she saw Emily."

"You got it," Joe said, kneeling behind his aunt as he tried to raise her to a sitting position.

Chuckling, Frank came over to help him, while Emily filled a glass of cold water from a pitcher in the refrigerator.

Fenton ran his hand through his hair. "Aw, hell. Why did she have to pick today to come back from the beach? Move her into the living room, boys."

Joe held his aunt under her arms while Frank lifted her feet, and they carried her awkwardly into the other room, placing her on the sofa.

Joe looked up to see his father and Emily right behind him. Fenton took the glass of water from Emily's hands. "Joe, maybe you and Em should go somewhere else until I can explain this situation. She's liable to pass out all over again if she sees one of you."

Joe laughed, as he took Emily by the arm and led her back to the kitchen. "Okay, Dad. I'm fine with that."

"I feel terrible, Joe" Emily said. "I don't think a shock like that is very good for your aunt."

"She'll be all right." He went to pull Emily in for a hug and was stopped by her bulging belly.

Emily giggled. "Ooops, I guess the baby's in the way."

Joe adjusted himself to one side of her. "Yeah, this is going to take some getting used to."

He hugged her close, jumping as he felt a kick from Emily's tummy. "That is just too weird."

Emily's face clouded. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm not very sexy like this."

"What are you talking about?" Joe leaned back and looked in her eyes. "You are incredibly sexy like this." He placed his hand on her stomach. "This is my baby, right?"

She giggled. "Of course."

"Then that is very sexy, because I know how it got there." Joe winked, then leaned in and kissed her gently. "I love you."

"I love you," she said softly, tilting her face up to his for another long kiss.