After a quick nap, Emma was feeling better, and with dinner just around the corner, she was looking forward to showing off all her pictures from her vacation.
It had been her first vacation with her mother, and her first real vacation ever. She had gone on some holidays with the Morans, but compared to the lavish trips her parents took without her, they weren't all that exciting. While Emma still cherished the memories she made with the Morans, this trip had to be the best experience of her life. She had gotten to see so many new plants, animals, met a lot of new people on her trip, saw beautiful buildings, beaches, towns.
It had been everything she had ever dreamed of and she had taken hundreds of photos to capture it all. She would only show her very favourites, knowing her friends were likely to get bored if she went through all of them.
She was at her mother's place, trying to hook up her camera to the television. Noah had already called to let them know he would be a little late, so she was on her own figuring it out. Vanessa and Claire were working in the kitchen to get dinner ready, Jordan was out running a few errands to pick up some last minute supplies.
"Have you tried changing the source?" Gia asked as she walked into the room, Ryan on her hip. Emma picked up the TV remote and did as her best friend suggested. She blushed when her picture showed up on the screen.
"I've been fiddling for half an hour! If you knew what to do, why didn't you just do it?"
"I was getting baby McPoopy pants dressed," Gia set Ryan down and the little girl ran over to her box of toys.
"For half an hour?"
"I'm calling her poopy pants for a reason," Gia sighed. "If someone doesn't potty train her soon, I just might have to get my hands dirty."
"She's not even two. Let her enjoy shitting herself for a little while longer," Emma said as she turned off the TV. She didn't want anyone seeing her pictures until she could present them. She sat on the couch and watched Ryan play on the floor with her toys, "So, what's it like having a sister?"
"You mean a baby sister?" Gia shrugged. "It's kinda weird hearing someone else call mom, mom. You never did."
"Yeah, we heard through skype. How did Troy and Rebecca take that?"
"Let's just say, I played referee for a few days," Gia said. "It was hard on them, but they came around. They find it kind of cute, now."
"Do you think Ryan understands what's going on?" Emma asked. "I remember being a little confused about the whole thing."
"I remember you crying on mother's day because you didn't know who to give your present to."
"I was four."
"It was funny."
"Not to me," Emma pouted and the frowned. She looked to Ryan and then back to Gia, "Um, we might have that problem again, though."
"Already sorted," Gia said. "We all go out to lunch. Our moms, Jake, Jordan, Ryan, Troy and Rebecca. I buy mom a gift. You buy your mom a gift, and we both chip in to get them both a little something from Ryan. Then Rebecca gets to take her for dinner with the Hollings."
"Sounds like a lot," Emma said.
"Yeah, but father's day is a breeze," Gia smirked. "We pass Ryan off to Troy and I sulk for a day that dad's gone."
"Gia..."
"You can sulk too."
"It's been almost two years but you're still allowed to grieve."
"I know," Gia shrugged and then shook her head. She turned to Emma with a smile, "But hey, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. You have a whole vacation to tell me about..."
"Nahuh, not until the presentation," Emma said. "I want everyone here when I talk about it. You'll just have to wait. In the meantime, you tell me what you've been up to since I left. Namely, why Jordan isn't dead?"
"You really thought I'd kill him?"
"You live and work with him," Emma nodded. "I know you both like each other, but seriously, I'd thought you'd crack."
"He's a pretty good partner," Gia shrugged. "Always has my back, does most of the paperwork, drives the car. If he's dead, I gotta do it all myself."
"Anything you two do I need to worry about?"
"EMMA!"
"No! Not like that!" Emma shook her head. "I trust you both, Gia. I meant on the job. You're law enforcement. Do people... you know?"
"I've been shot at twice," Gia said. "Jordan once."
Emma felt her stomach turn. This time it wasn't the morning sickness. Gia put her arm around her best friend and chuckled.
"Hey, relax. It's nothing we can't handle. We've got the vests. Even Tiger wears one when she's on the job. And compared to some of the blasts we took in battle, bullets are nothing."
"Just, promise you'll be safe, alright?" Emma said. She put her hands on her stomach, "I want this baby to have a dad and an aunt."
"This little guy won't be able to get rid of me," Gia smiled. "Not that he'll want to. I'll spoil him rotten."
"Him?"
"He's a boy."
"You don't know that," Emma shook her head. Gia shrugged.
"I've decided."
"You can't decide gender, especially when it's my baby."
"Too bad. I want a boy."
"What if she's a girl?"
Gia shook her head, "No."
"No?"
"I'll love her, but no. She can't be a girl."
"He or she will be whatever he or she is. And you'll love him or her no matter what."
"But it's a boy."
"Gia..."
"I've decided. That's what he is. End of story," Gia offered a little smile to Emma, squeezed her shoulder gently and then got up. "Mind watching poopy pants? I'll go see if our moms need help in the kitchen."
Emma nodded and then rolled her eyes when Gia was gone. She rubbed her stomach softly.
"Don't listen to Gia. She'll love you no matter who you are."