A/N: I thought this story was done but this idea wouldn't leave me alone, so here is another chapter. I'm tossing around a sequel ...
Steve leaned against the shopping cart and watched Callista as she debated which lettuce to choose. He grinned as he realized he was so domesticated these days.
She continued to work at the base as he continued to lead his team. They managed to balance their personal lives in between, including Saturday trips to the commissary, Sunday outings to church and home-cooked meals during the week.
In less than six months, diaper changes and bottle feedings would be a regular occurrence in their household. His sister and her sister were already jockeying for position of favorite aunt. The moment he found out about the pregnancy, Danny had declared he was the baby's godfather.
Steve couldn't be more content with his life. He never thought he would have it this good.
Callista caught Steve looking at her and blushed. She automatically fingered her slightly swollen abdomen, her thoughts swept away by how lucky she was. She tossed a couple of cucumbers in the cart followed by a pineapple. She was inspecting onions when she noticed her husband stiffen and his smile fade.
Turning around to follow his gaze, she saw his ex-girlfriend Catherine Rollins coming around the end cap.
It wasn't that his former lover was shopping at the commissary at the same time as they were that had Steve's attention; it was the dark-haired, blue-eyed toddler in her arms. The boy was a spitting image of him at that age.
Callista was so stunned, the onions in her hands slipped to the floor and rolled. The commotion momentarily distracted Steve but caught Catherine's attention. Her eyes locked with his and she knew there was no use in trying to flee.
Steve gripped the shopping cart handle so hard his knuckles were white. Callista mustered up a smile, ignored the onions at her feet, and stepped forward. The two had never formally met but were aware of each other's existence.
"Hi, Catherine," she said. Catherine returned the greeting, shifting her son to her other arm. He shyly looked at Callista with his fingers in his mouth.
It was in that moment Callista knew without a shadow of doubt that her life was about to take an unexpected turn.
"Who is this little guy?" Callista asked, touching the youngster's arm. He laid his head on his mom's shoulder but didn't stop looking at Callista. Callista cooed at him and gave her a sloppy smile.
"This is Riley," Catherine answered, lovingly glancing down at her son before finally meeting Steve's accusing glare.
When they had parted ways nearly three years ago, she discovered weeks later she was pregnant. Her birth control had been unwittingly compromised by medications to battle a lingering infection.
Catherine had known even then the baby was Steve's but he had made it clear during their relationship he wasn't ready to be a parent. Hell, he hadn't even fancied making a commitment to her. F*** buddies was really all they had been.
Ultimately Catherine had decided not to tell him. The likelihood of them crossing paths again seemed minimal and she didn't want his charity to care for a child he probably didn't want.
Women raised babies alone all the time, she had convinced herself. When she heard he was getting married, she had temporarily re-considered telling him but hesitated since Riley was already over a year old.
However, now standing in front of Steve and his wife, Catherine instantly regretted that this was how he was finding out he was a father.
"Look, I know it's too little too late, Steve, but would you like to meet your son?" Catherine tentatively asked, temporarily squeezing Riley, almost afraid of how Steve would react. Callista reached for Riley and he leaned toward her with arms outstretched.
Callista tried not to cry as emotions overwhelmed her. Steve had a firstborn son and it wasn't with her. She knew she had no right to be jealous of Catherine but it still hurt. Riley was innocent and she knew she would love him because he was Steve's. She buried her nose in Riley's hair and inhaled his scent as her eyes drifted shut. Her unborn child had a sibling …
Steve's shock and anger waned as he watched Callista accept the son he didn't know he had. It made him love her even more.
"I don't know what to say," Steve finally voiced as he skirted the cart and moved behind Callista. "I can't believe you'd deceive me this way, Cath. I thought you knew me better than that."
Catherine lowered her face in shame and softly spoke.
"I'm sorry," she said. "All I can do now is let you be in Riley's life. We can work out the terms of visitation and custody whenever you're ready."
"Damn right," Steve said, cussing for the first time in ages. Callista brought her head up and swatted him with her free arm.
"Language!" she scolded him. "Your children don't need to be hearing that."
It was Catherine's turn to look stunned.
"You're expecting," she stated, barely above a whisper. Callista nodded.
"I'm entering my second trimester," she replied as she beamed at Riley, who had discovered the sunglasses on her head.
"Congratulations," Catherine said, looking between Steve and Callista.
"Thanks," Steve replied, proudly glancing down at his wife and the boy in her arms. His world was obviously off its axis at the tangible revelation before him, but Callista was teaching him a thing or two about grace and forgiveness.
"Why don't you stop by the office later this week? We can iron out the details then," Steve asked Catherine as he gingerly took his son from Callista. Riley stared at him with curious interest, striking a chubby hand against Steve's chin.
Catherine sighed with relief and nodded. Maybe this wouldn't be as hard as she thought it would be.