Chapter 2

A week later, Nathan, Kristin, Lucas, and Jasmine were all staying at Nathan's house in New Cape Quest. Nathan couldn't have been happier. He had his beautiful girlfriend, her lovely daughter, and the young man whom he desperately wished was his own son. Although perhaps not the most ideal family, it was a family nonetheless, something Nathan found with his crew of the seaQuest. And, having lost that last week, having these people around him made him realize the future was bright and that he would have his submarine family once again.

As rooms were chosen and bags were unpacked, Nathan placed an arm around Kristin. "See, I told you this would work out."

"You did," and it was a good idea, "Jasmine is really excited to be here, you know."

"When was she in the states last?" Nathan asked.

"Well, she just visited Cynthia a few months ago. You know that she is in California now working on building a school for the refugee children." Nathan nodded, and she continued, "And she visited her father and his wife in Nevada last year. She didn't have the best time."

Nathan nodded with understanding. He knew Jasmine did not get along very well with her father. "Well, we'll just have to make sure she does have a great time here."

Kristin was about to answer, but the sound of laughter from the other room interrupted. "I think she's already doing that." With that, she and Nathan went to check on the two teens to make sure they weren't having too much fun.

Lucas noticed them in the doorway first, "Yes, everything's fine in here," he said. "We're behaving ourselves," he added with a hint of sarcasm.

"No one said you weren't," Nathan said.

"Really, Uncle Nathan, I want to thank you so much for inviting Mom and me for the summer. This is a dream come true, being on the ocean," Jasmine said in a melodic British tone that mimicked her mother's.

"You're welcome, Jasmine, but I really want you just to call me Nathan now...now that I'm dating your mother," Nathan said gently.

"I'm sorry, Unc-, I mean, Nathan. Old habits die hard, you know," she explained.

"It's alright," Nathan said, "I just want you to feel comfortable here. So, do you kids want to check out the beach?"

They nodded, and they all went down to the beach. Lucas was happy that Darwin was already waiting for them. He and Jasmine played in the water with the dolphin while Kristin and Nathan snuggled on the beach, watching and laughing.

"Feel like going for a swim?" Nathan asked her.

Kristin shook her head. "I'm actually a little tired."

"Are you feeling OK?" Nathan asked.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine," she assured him.

"That's good. I certainly don't want you getting sick," Nathan said, "Do you want to go lie down for a nap?"

Kristin looked towards the water with a look that told Nathan that she did but didn't want to leave the kids alone.

"Don't worry; I'll make sure they stay out of trouble," Nathan told her. "You go upstairs and rest. I'll wake you later if you sleep too long."

She gave Nathan a kiss on the cheek. "See you later," she said.

Nathan flashed her a smile and went to join the kids in the water.

Kristin went upstairs to rest. She couldn't believe how tired she was lately. With these thoughts, she fell into a deep sleep.

She woke up to the sound of Nathan calling her name gently.

"Kristin, Kristin, wake up, Honey," he said as he shook her awake.

"Hmmm," Kristin mumbled sleepily as she opened her eyes, squinting at the light Nathan had turned on.

"Are you going to sleep through dinner too?" Nathan asked her.

"What do you mean?" Kristin asked him.

"I mean it's 6:00-PM. We're hungry, and we're wondering if you are going to eat dinner with us. You must have been really tired."

Kristin nodded. "I can't believe I slept all day." She yawned, "I feel like I could sleep for another three days, honestly."

Nathan looked at her with concern. "Are you sure you're not getting sick?"

"Nathan, I'm a doctor. I should know if I'm getting sick or not. I'm just catching up on some much-needed sleep, I guess." She got up and walked to the bathroom to freshen up. "And, yes, I'm eating dinner with you," she called.

"Doctors also make the worst patients," Nathan called back to her. As she came back into the bedroom looking more refreshed, he grabbed her arm gently. "Kristin, I'm serious. If you really think you're getting sick, you need to be checked out."

Kristin looked at him in disbelief. Was she feeling sick? She told herself of course not, she was just tired. It meant nothing. People get tired all the time. But, then, she knew that illness was a sensitive subject with Nathan considering how he'd lost his wife.

"Kristin, I just don't want to lose you," Nathan said, wrapping her in a hug.

"Nathan, that won't happen. I'm fine. But, I promise that if I keep feeling tired, I'll see a doctor, OK?"

Nathan was satisfied with this answer. He gave her a kiss, which Kristin returned gratefully. "Let's go eat; the kids have probably started without us," Nathan said.

A few days later, Kristin was still feeling more exhausted than ever, no matter how much sleep she got. What's more is she started feeling sick to her stomach. She had a problem keeping food down. After vomiting in the bathroom one morning, Nathan approached her about going to the doctor again.

"Kristin, it's been a few days, and you're not getting any better. I think it's time you-"

"Nathan, I'm fine," Kristin interrupted him, "It's just a touch of the flu."

"That's what Carol thought," Nathan said miserably, certainly not happy with Kristin's stubbornness.

Despite her fatigue, Kristin felt her blood boil, "Would you stop comparing me to Carol? I am not her, and I am not going to-" Kristin's thoughts were cut short as she fell into a dead faint.

Nathan immediately rushed to her side. A few moments later, Kristin awoke with Nathan mopping her forehead with a damp cloth. "Are you alright?," Nathan asked her.

Kristin was confused. "Y-yes, I think so. What happened?"

"You fainted, Sweetheart. Look, I don't want to argue, but I think-" Nathan paused as a sudden thought came to him, and he started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Kristin asked, annoyed.

Nathan tried to stifle his chuckles, "I-I'm sorry, Honey. It's just that I think I know what's wrong with you."

Kristin was confused. "And it's something to laugh about?"

Nathan helped her sit up. "Think about it, Kristin. You've been tired, so tired you feel like you can't get enough sleep. You get sick, especially in the morning. And, now the fainting..." Kristin was still confused. "Come on, Kristin, you're the doctor here. Don't you know what I'm hinting at?"

Kristin shook her head. She really had no idea.

"You're pregnant!" Nathan shouted happily.

"And you're crazy. You don't need to shout it. What would Lucas and Jasmine say if they heard you? And, a baby? At my age?" Kristin said doubtfully.

"It's not impossible though, is it?"

Kristin shook her head. Nathan was right about that.

"Have you been late?"

Kristin nodded. "I just thought it was stress...or maybe even menopause. I just never thought that I'd be pregnant."

Nathan caressed her stomach gently. "Hello, Little One, I'm your Daddy," he whispered.

Kristin still wasn't convinced. She gently brushed his hand away. "Nathan you need to understand; this could be a false alarm. Don't go saying anything to anyone until we know for sure."

"As long as you'll make a doctor's appointment."

"Agreed."

A few more days went by. Nathan and Kristin never let on to the kids what may be going on, but when they were alone, Nathan was a doting, would be father. He caressed Kristin's tummy and talked to what he believed to be a baby.

Kristin began to wonder that maybe Nathan was right. Maybe she was going to have a baby.