Nico knocked on the door since the doorbell looked like it had been smashed in with a hammer.
Malcolm opened the door, "Hey, Nico, come on in. Maybe she'll listen to you."
"Listen to me?"
"She's supposed to be on bed rest but she keeps getting up and baking." Malcolm shook his head, tying his tie, "And I can't stay to monitor her. Try to get her to stop?"
Nico smirked, "Do my best. But Cassie has a will of her own."
"Don't I know it." The son of Athena chuckled slightly, then led the way into the kitchen.
Nico relaxed at the delicious smell of freshly baked Challah bread, chocolate chip cookies, and bacon.
Cassie turned and grinned, "Hey, Nico, thanks for visiting me."
Nico chuckled, "Because you're on bed rest and shouldn't be baking?"
She rolled her eyes, "I'm fine."
"The midwife says you aren't. Please, Cass. Try to rest?" Malcolm gave her a kiss, "I love you."
"I love you, have a nice day at work."
"I will if you rest."
"Nice try." She called in a sing-song voice.
Nico examined his friend, his very pregnant friend. Honestly, if her stomach wasn't so huge, he wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Her golden-brown hair framed her face the way it had for years, and she didn't seem to have gained weight.
The only thing he really noticed was how right the midwife was. He could sense the possibility of death.
"Cassie, seriously, you need to rest." He said, grabbing a hot-pad and taking the pan from her. "Now. Go."
She met his gaze, and he realized that she was already afraid. She was afraid of what would happen if she didn't rest. She feared losing the child more than he had seen her fear anything else.
"Go," He said more gently, realizing how fragile she actually was at the moment. He didn't want her to be too afraid, he just needed her to know it was serious enough.
She blinked a couple times and went into the living room, carefully lowering herself onto the couch, "How's Will?"
Nico got the last couple of cookies off the pan, "He's good. We're good. He hasn't lost any patients in a while, so he's doing really good."
"But?" She always could tell when something was wrong.
"Well, we were talking about…kids."
"Ah, because of that time you were arrested you can't adopt or foster."
"Right," Nico sighed, trying to figure out how to convey what he wanted to ask her.
"You should talk to Megara about having a surrogate." Cassie suggested as if it was logical.
"What?" Nico was surprised that Cassie had said it so easily.
"Well, she's an ideal candidate for you and Will. She gets the half-blood problems, and she's super sweet and kind. Her mother is the goddess of childbirth and midwifery, which has given her some really useful abilities." Cassie shrugged, "She would do it if I told her you're a friend."
Nico sat down in the armchair next to her, "Are you sure?"
She smiled and nodded, "Like I said, she's super sweet. And there would be a fee, obviously, but she's pretty fair about it all. She's checking on me around lunch if you want to talk to her about it." Cassie's hand went to her stomach and she smiled.
Nico grinned, "Kicking?"
She took his hand and placed it where the baby was kicking.
He grinned, "So, I'm the god-father, right?"
She laughed, "Sorry, Nico. Not for this one. Maybe the next."
He made a face, "Don't tell me one of the Stolls is the godfather?"
"Connor, and yes." She relaxed back on the couch for a moment, "I cannot wait for this little guy to get out."
"When are you due?" Nico readjusted in his chair.
"Two or three weeks. Meg is hoping three. I'm hoping two."
"I would have to agree with the midwife. Just because she should know what's best."
Cassie sighed, "I know, she's been amazing. Malcolm's been amazing. He finished decorating the nursery, and he's made sure to keep his summer schedule to a minimum for when the baby does come. Sure, our income takes a small hit, but he's here and I'm happy."
"Plus your next book comes out in a couple days."
"Yeah, that will pad my income quite a bit." She winced, "Okay, I don't need that lung."
He snickered, "Sounds like he's having fun. Too much sugar?"
"Cookie dough was my craving this morning." She explained, "But back to the kids thing. You said Will wants kids. What about you?"
He put his feet on the footstool, "I want them too. Not just because they'll make him happy. I just…feel like that's the next logical step. And, I don't know, I guess it is partially because he would be so happy and excited. That's part of being in a committed relationship, right?" He found himself staring at the wedding photo on the wall, the one with Cassie, Malcolm, Will and himself. That had been a fun day. A really happy day.
"I guess that depends on your beliefs. Mine say marriage, then sex, then kids. But you know how I am."
He did know how she was. She was one of the most frustratingly firm people: she knew what she believed, why she believed it, and while she would listen to your arguments, most of the time she could not be convinced otherwise. She had this mix of beliefs that she held onto, and Nico respected it. She respected him. She was a little old-fashioned, but Nico didn't know the extent of it. He knew that some of the gay stuff made her uncomfortable, but she still respected him and Will. She never said anything to make him feel judged. He was pretty sure it just surprised her sometimes.
"Yeah, I know how you are. Old fashioned." He teased lightly, "And I'm the one from the forties."
She grinned at him.
The front door opened, "Hey, Cassie. Sorry I'm early."
"Hey Meg, we're in the living room!"
Nico quickly whipped out his phone and shot Will a text, asking if he should ask her.
"Alright, I'll be in in a sec, I've got to use your bathroom."
"No problem."
Nico tapped his foot impatiently.
Finally his phone beeped.
If you're sure it's what you want, too.
Nico grinned, suddenly more certain than ever. The world needed more Wills.