Disclaimer: same as chapter one (prologue)

Please Note: This fic sometimes takes the situations that have happened in the show into consideration and sometimes disregards them completely.

Warnings: AU, MPreg, Slash

A/N: Yay! My dream of writing a fic that scored more reviews than my LOTR fic "It's Not You, It's Me" fic has finally come true! (honestly I don't see what people see in that particular fic of mine, I personally think it sucks... then again it was one of the first things I wrote... kinda...) Well, anyways, here's the new chapter!


My Generation

06 – Naming Names

Greg had never been so glad to be in Vegas. He was sitting in the passenger seat of Nick's Denali with a protective hand on his stomach. Sara and Amy were seated in the back.

"How you holdin' up over there, G?" Nick asked as he navigated the streets to where Greg's apartment was.

"Much better now that we're finally home again," Greg said with a sigh. "If I can help it, I'm never setting foot in the state of California again."

"I don't blame you there, Greg," Amy said with a laugh.

"I mean it. And even if I do, at the very least I won't permit my child to go there."

"It'll be okay, Greggo," Nick said with a comforting smile.

"I know it will, Nicky," Greg returned the smile. They reached the apartment complex and Nick carried Greg and Sara's suitcases in for them. Sara and Amy quickly followed. Greg had offered to let them crash at his place – though Sara was going to have to share a bed with him and Amy was going to be stuck on the couch, but the girls didn't mind.

"Man I can't wait until the rest of the team gets a look at you Sar," Nick said as he placed Greg and Sara's luggage in the front room.

"I only wish I shared your enthusiasm," Sara commented as she lowered herself onto Greg's couch.

"Are you afraid of how they'll react?"

"I guess you could say that."

"I could, but somehow I get the feelin' that I'd be wrong," Nick replied with a smirk. "I promise I won't tell anyone, especially not Grissom. I'll leave that for you." Sara looked at him startled.

"How'd you pick up on that?"

Nick shrugged. "I know I'm dense, but I'm not completely stupid." Greg hid his chuckles with clearing his throat as he felt his cheeks flush.

"I think I'm going to get something to drink, how about you guys?"

- - -

Nick invited the other three over to his house for supper that night. After the meal, Greg was found sitting on the porch swing looking out at Nick's backyard. "Hey Greggo, what you doing out here?"

"I just wanted some fresh Las Vegas air," Greg replied. He was feeling even more guilty over the fact that Nick still didn't know. Nick took a seat beside him.

"Greg, I want to ask you something, but if you think it isn't a good idea that's fine," Nick asked softly as he cradled Greg's body to his.

"What is it Nicky?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to move in with me," Nick replied quietly. Greg rose and eyebrow. "If you don't want to I'll understand. I was just thinking, uh, I mean, your apartment is nice and all, but it's startin' to seem a bit on the small side."

"You want me to move in with you?"

"Well, um… yeah," Nick blushed.

"Why?"

"After Sara told me what happened between you and your parents, and what they'd suggested, I felt… honestly, I felt like I needed you here," Nick said, looking down at his hands. "I was so worried about you, and about the baby. I kept thinking what it would do to you if you lost the baby, and what it would do to me if I lost you both." Greg reached over and slid his hand into one of Nick's. "With the time we've been spending together lately, I've realized that I want to be a part of your life, and your baby's life, in a more profound way… if that makes any sense."

"You'd raise someone else's baby?" Greg asked tentatively. For some reason Greg found that he needed to know how Nick felt about raising a baby that wasn't his. If he was truly fine with that, Greg could find a little assurance that the truth wouldn't be taken so hard. Nick looked into Greg's eyes.

"It's yourbaby, Greg. How could I not want to raise your baby with you?"

"Okay, Nicky," Greg said after a moment.

"Really?"

Greg turned his head away to look around the yard then back to look at Nick with a grin on his face. "Yes. I think I rather like that idea," he said.

"I think I like it too." Nick smiled back and softly placed a kiss on Greg's hand. He kneeled in front of Greg to bring his head to the level of Greg's rounded belly, placing his hands on either side of it. "So what do you say? I know I don't have any experience being a daddy, but I'd love to give it a shot," He spoke to the baby. Greg could feel it turning towards the sound of Nick's voice. Nick grinned as he felt the child move. "I think that's a yes. See, I knew you'd agree with me!"

"Nick," Greg said, rolling his eyes. "Stop corrupting the baby."

"It's not corruption, it's quality time between the non-carrying parent and the unborn child. It's very delicate, we must bond. Now, if you'll excuse us," Nick quipped as he turned back to the baby inside Greg and Greg raised an eye-brow at how easily Nick accepted parenthood – Nick seemingly completely oblivious to the full meaning of the statement.

"Oh sure, I'll just go into the house and leave you two to your "bonding" corruption," Greg sarcastically chuckled. "Deviants," he muttered with a smile.

- - -

"Just so I'm clear, why exactly is Greg moving in with you?" Warrick asked as he helped Nick move Greg's things into Nick's house two days later. The darker man had formed a suspicion in his mind the moment Nick asked him to help move Greg's things, he was just looking for confirmation. Nick placed the box in his arms on the floor and sighed.

"When Greg went back to California, his parents were less than enthusiastic about the baby."

"How much less?"

"They were arranging for him to have an abortion," Nick replied. Warrick let out a low whistle.

"That bad? But it still doesn't explain why he's moving in with you."

"Well, Sara – who's been living with Greg's cousin in San Francisco – called me the evening he left Vegas and explained to me what happened. After she told me it was like everything fell into place in my mind. I didn't even have to think about it when I booked a flight out there, I just wanted to be with him and be there for him."

"You love him," Warrick stated. Nick blushed and gazed at the floor, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah, I've kinda loved him for years. I've just never gotten up the nerve to tell him," Nick said as the two went back out to the moving truck to bring in more boxes. "Truthfully, I still haven't told him, or rather I haven't said the exact words. I mean, I have told him that I want to be a big part of his life, and his baby's life, I just haven't told him I love him."

"You should, man," Warrick said. "I'm sure he feels the same way."

"How do you know that?"

"He's moving in with you and is willing to raise his baby with you," Warrick pointed out. Of course he left out the conversation he'd had with Catherine at the date/breakfast they'd had earlier today. They'd been secretly dating since Sara's going away party and this morning Catherine had shared a little theory of hers she'd had for a while now.

Her theory? Greg – who'd been single for over a year before getting pregnant – had gotten pregnant at the same party she and Warrick had gotten together at. She'd also keenly picked up on Nick and Greg's attraction for each other (which had become easier to pick up on ever since they'd all found out about Greg's baby). Her little theory also went as far to say that Greg and Nick were in denial about their attraction and at the party, well, in vino veritas: truth in wine. This, obviously, meant she figured Nick was the biological father of Greg's baby – and by the sound of it Warrick figured Nick was intending on playing the father of Greg's baby, who quite possibly was actually his own baby as well. In all honesty, Warrick hoped Catherine's theory was true. Little did he know he wasn't the only one currently in the room who wanted the theory to be true – even if one of them wasn't aware of the theory's existence.

"I see your point," Nick responded. "And I will tell him. But regardless of the circumstances, I'm still a bit nervous."

- - -

Two weeks later Greg was officially on maternity leave and comfortably settled into what was now his and Nick's house. Amy had flown back home – for the time being. Sara had decided to transfer back to the Las Vegas Crime Lab but she was holding off on submitting her transfer request forms due to the fact that she was currently on maternity leave herself. Also, for the past two weeks she'd been hiding out at Nick and Greg's place – swearing them both to secrecy about her own pregnancy as she struggled with a way to tell Grissom. Nick was planning a 'Welcome Back Sara' party that he would throw once she finally decided to fess up.

Nick's family had been thrilled to learn of his new relationship – and who it was with. His mother had immediately wanted to come to Vegas for a long visit to "spend some quality time with that future son-in-law of hers" as she put it. But Nick was able to fend her off saying that marriage between him and Greg was still uncertain. Of course his mother didn't care and said she'd travel to Las Vegas after the baby was born. Two months prior Nick's brother – who already had twin girls – had given birth to a baby boy. Greg had been spending some time since his return to Las Vegas having phone conversations with the experienced Carrier and was able to shake off any lingering fears he still had.

"So have you and Nick thought about names for the baby yet?" Sara asked as the two lounged around Greg's living room watching romantic comedies, eating caramel popcorn, and drinking orange juice one evening after Nick had gone to work. Even though Nick was still as clueless about his baby as Grissom was, he was taking a more active part in helping Greg make decisions about the baby. They were a couple after all.

"Well, if it's a girl, we kind of like the name Quilla," Greg replied as he popped some popcorn into his mouth. (1)

"Quilla? I'm not even sure I want to know what you'd name a boy," Sara teased. Greg grinned in reply.

"Nick wants to name a boy either Austin or Dallas, which I'm against. Personally I'd like Coleman, Kyle, Chesney or Manson." (2)

"Austin? Dallas? At least he didn't suggest Houston." Greg made a face at this and Sara laughed.

"Thank God, 'cause then we'd have a problem and I'd have to reconsider this whole relationship."

"On the other hand, while I understand Coleman and Kyle I have to question Chesney and Manson."

"What can I say," Greg shrugged. "I like my music." He took a sip of his orange juice. "And the baby likes Nick's" he added. Sara just shook her head and returned her attention to the television. "So what have you considered?"

"Well, I like Andrew for a boy, and I'm not sure about whether I prefer Kari or Danielle for a girl." They watched the movie some more before Sara asked the question she'd been wanting to ask for a while. "So, what last name you giving the baby?"

"Hmm, we haven't decided yet. Honestly we haven't even broached the subject. I was thinking that we could either go with the hyphenation of Sanders-Stokes or just go with Stokes," Greg replied. "But I'm not sure what Nick would want."

"You're still holding off telling him, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I'm not sure why though. He's been so wonderful since he found out about the baby in general, and now he's willing to raise a baby he thinks is someone else's as his own. I don't know why I'm holding off still."

"It's been so long that you're afraid it's too late," Sara said quietly.

"You too?" Sara nodded.

"So, you'd stick with Sanders? I know it's none of my business, but your parents are certainly more than slightly off centre."

"Yeah, well, they may be Sanders' too, but I kinda like the name. It's part of who I am, I mean they may share it but the name's not what makes the person," Greg explained and Sara smiled. "But I'd love to have the excuse of hyphenating," he added after a few moments. They finished the movie they were watching and popped in another one. "Hey Greg, can I ask you a personal question?"

"Since when do you seek permission before you ask?" Greg grinned and Sara just smacked his arm.

"I'm serious."

"Okay, shoot."

"How did you not know you were a Carrier?" She tilted her head to the side. "I mean, with women we know we're able to conceive children because of the menstruation cycle we go through."

"Did you just ask me if I get a period every month?" Greg raised his eyebrow and Sara blushed.

"Um, yeah?" Greg burst out laughing at her somewhat embarrassed expression.

"Sorry, Sar, but the answer is no," Greg chuckled then elaborated. "As you're well aware, women ovulate every month, and basically when the released egg is unfertilized the blood that's built up in the uterus walls is released and washes out the unfertilized egg." Sara nodded. "With Carriers, on the other hand, the ovulation is triggered by the presence of sperm, meaning that if a Carrier engages in unprotected sex as the submissive partner he will, without a doubt, become pregnant – unless, of course, he's already pregnant."

"So you're saying that if a man is completely unaware he was a Carrier, like you were, and he "bottoms" – no pun intended – he will get pregnant and not even know it? Again, like you were."

"Yep. And on average, women are born with about one million eggs in their ovaries. You ladies already come fully equipped for conception. Carriers, though, don't have ovaries per se."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when we're born, we have all the parts of a, shall we say "normal" man. As we get closer to puberty, our uterus is formed, our skeleton somewhat reshapes itself – I still haven't been able to figure that one out – and this complex little tube system connects one of the testicles to the uterus."

"Like a fallopian tube?"

"Kind of, it's more complicated though. Its function has been found to take a sperm cell from the Carrier's testicle and mutate its structure from a sperm to an egg. As you can imagine, a sperm and an egg come together much like a lock and key – you can't get far with only two keys."

"But I'm sure you can have a lot of fun," Sara joked.

"Hey, I have it on good authority locks have just as much fun," Greg retorted. They threw a bit of popcorn at each other before turning back to the movie.

"So, you'll get pregnant every time guaranteed?" Sara asked after an hour.

"Sucks, don't it?"

- 30 -

End Chapter Six


A/N:
Whoops… I just re-read this chapter and noticed a little slip from the original plotline where I refer to Greg as Nick's lover but at the same point in this version that's not what they are to each other. I fixed it.
Footnotes:

(1) Quilla is a name I'd like to use in the re-make of my Exchange Student's fic (it's a Harry Potter fic).

(2) Coleman and Kyle are the middle names of actors George Eads and Eric Szmanda (respectively).


chapter updated:
January 07, 2008