As promised...fluffy preggo Teslen goodness. Enjoy it! And don't forget to review!

"Damn it!" Helen cursed from her closet.

Nikola couldn't help but grin. Slowly but surely Helen was outgrowing her wardrobe. As of yet she had stubbornly refused to make the transition to maternity wear, but she was running out of options fast. Personally, he didn't understand her reluctance. He knew she was fastidious about her outfits, almost as much as he was, but he was sure she'd be able to find suitable replacements. The maternity fashions today were quite inventive and there were so many options for her, much more than women had back when they were growing up.

Suppressing a chuckle, he made his way into the closet to see what the problem was exactly. She was stepping out of a dress just as he came around a corner of her massive walk in, leaving her in only a matching pair of lavender undergarments. Hearing his approach she leveled him with a steely glare, fury in her eyes.

"This is your fault," she accused, hanging the dress back up.

"What did I do this time?" he teased.

"That was one of the last dresses I had that still fit me and now I can't get it zipped," she told him hotly.

He sniggered.

"It's not funny, Nikola! None of my pants button anymore and I'm tired of wearing the same dresses, a selection that's quickly dwindling by the way," she ranted.

He tried to school his face into a careful mask. He knew this was a touchy subject for her.

"So just don't wear any clothing. You look better like that anyway," he leered.

She rolled her eyes.

"You could just buy new clothes. Erika's offered to take you to that maternity shop she loves," he suggested, his tone turning back to serious.

"Yeah, I guess it's time," she mumbled, looking down at her feet.

He crossed the distance between them, wrapping her up in his arms and tucking her head under his chin. Without her heels she was the perfect height for him to hold in this manner. He felt her sniffle into his chest.

"What's wrong, ljubav?" he crooned, stroking her hair.

"It's stupid," she murmured, grateful he couldn't see her face.

"Tell me."

"I feel like I'm getting fat," she admitted softly.

He couldn't help the little laugh that escaped his lips. She pulled back angrily and slapped his shoulder. She went to stalk out of the closest, but he was too quick, catching her around the waist and pulling her back against him.

"Let me go, Nikola," she demanded.

He held her tighter, pressing her against his body. His lips descended on her shoulder, kissing his way across and up her neck. She squirmed under him, still trying half heartedly to escape his grasp.

"You. Are. Not. Fat." He told her, punctuating each word with a soft kiss. "You're pregnant. There's a difference."

She huffed.

"You are the most beautiful woman in the world. And this," his hands slid over her slightly swollen tummy. "makes you even more beautiful. Something I didn't think was possible."

His warm breath washed over the skin of her neck and he nipped at her earlobe. He felt her relax into his embrace, leaning back against him.

"You really think so? I'm only going to get bigger you know...much much bigger."

"Yes, ljubav, I really think so," he reassured her.

"You say that now, but what about five months from now when I'm huge and swollen and bloated?"

"You will always be beautiful to me."

She sighed, knowing it was pointless to continue arguing. He knew she didn't really believe him, but it was true. There was no way he'd ever think of her as anything less than beautiful. Seeing her grow with his child only made him more attracted to her.

"Will you please go with Erika to buy some maternity clothes? Stop torturing yourself by trying to squeeze into clothes that aren't made for pregnancy. Find things that fit you and make you feel beautiful."

"Fine," she grumbled.

He sighed in relief. This would be good for her, whether she knew it or not. He turned her around in his arms, taking her face in his hands so that he could kiss her soundly. Bending down, he kissed her tummy tenderly before sauntering out of the closet to go find the young HAP in question.

"I'm so glad you finally agreed to this, Helen!" Erika gushed as they walked into the maternity store.

"Yeah, me too," she said honestly.

She'd had plenty of time to think about what Nikola had said to her this morning in the closet. She put alot of value in how she looked, as conceited as that was. Her wardrobe was filled with clothes that made her feel sexy and confident, when she couldn't fit in them anymore her confidence wavered. She knew it was silly, but she couldn't help it. Perhaps Nikola was right, she just needed to find new clothes that made her feel just as good while also accommodating her growing belly.

She had gone through something similar when pregnant with Ashley. Back then it had been James reassuring her of her beauty and giving much the same advice that Nikola had. But even knowing this about herself from the first time around, it didn't help squash the feeling she was having.

"I did the same thing, you know," Erika said quietly, breaking through Helen's train of thought.

"Pardon?"

"You're clothes aren't fitting anymore. You don't feel pretty like you used to. You're getting self conscious, thinking he won't be attracted to you anymore. Am I close?"

Helen nodded, a blush creeping into her cheeks.

"I don't think there's a pregnant woman out there that doesn't go through that. Don't worry. This will help, I promise."

She let the girl lead her deeper into the store. Helen had always loved shopping and she quickly lost herself in the process. The maternity styles nowadays were much different than they had been when she was younger, even different than when she'd been pregnant with Ashley. They were all stylish and trendy, basically the same as regular clothing but made slightly differently to accommodate for pregnancy. They had everything from casual wear to business attire to lingerie. Erika saw her eyeing the lingerie section and giggled.

"You'd be surprised what they have in there," she told the older woman. "Henry and I have quite enjoyed several of the pieces I found here."

Helen didn't necessarily want to think of her adopted son in that manner, but knew that hadn't been Erika's intention. The two of them had actually grown quite close over the last month. Erika was thrilled to have another pregnant woman in the house to talk with and confide in. Helen had found it comforting as well. As much as she loved Nikola there just were some things that only another woman could understand fully. And she had enjoyed getting to know Erika better. The girl was part of the family now and their babies were going to be very close in age so they were basically going to be going through much the same things for many years to come. She hadn't really had any girlfriends to share with when pregnant with Ashley. No Mommy and Me groups or play dates or the like. She was rather looking forward to such things. There were several new experiences she planned to enjoy this time, mainly the fact that she'd have a father to help her share the burden.

"I think I'll just go check it out then," Helen told her with a wink.

They spent several hours in the store, each trying on a variety of outfits. They had pads that Helen could strap across her midsection to see how the clothing would look as she got bigger and she found several things she liked. The sight of herself rounded under the dresses made her happier than she had expected. She really did love being pregnant and was looking forward to being a mother again.

By the time they walked away they both had several bags worth of goodies. Helen hadn't realized how much she had needed a good girls' day out. And her new wardrobe had enhanced her mood significantly. She was happy with her finds and confident that they would make her feel much better about herself as the pregnancy progressed. Nikola had been right, all she'd needed was a good makeover.

On their way back to the Sanctuary they made a quick detour to another of Erika's favorite store, Baby's R Us. Henry and Erika had long since completed their nursery, but they couldn't help continue to pick up little pieces here and there as they got closer to the due date. Considering the extended time they had to wait, they were developing quite a collection. There was no doubt that their little baby would have plenty of toys and clothes.

Walking into the store, Helen's heart throbbed painfully. All the little baby clothes and toys and other miscellaneous items stirred something inside her. She was even more overwhelmed than she'd been in the maternity store. She had always loved the adorable little outfits you could dress babies in. She'd dotted on Ashley shamefully. Sometimes James would tease her saying the girl never wore the same outfit twice. She had waved him off, but known that he was right. The women riffled through the racks, oo-ing and aw-ing at the adorable little clothes.

"So do you just buy neutral clothes since you don't know the sex of the baby?" Helen asked Erika curiously.

"We were going to, but gradually we both starting buying more gender specific things 'just in case'. Until now we have a bunch of stuff for both," Erika laughed, confirming what Helen knew she herself would be guilty of in their situation.

"So what will you do with the extras?" She teased.

"Well I guess they can be passed over to you now," Erika shrugged.

"That's assuming we have opposite genders. What happens if we both have girls or both boys? Then you'd be stuck with a bunch of extra baby stuff."

"We'll stock pile it for the next one then I guess."

"You want more? Does Henry know that?"

Erika laughed.

"He's all for a big family. It's a bit more of a challenge considering the nature of my extended pregnancies, but we hope to have at least one more. What about you and Nikola?"

She honestly hadn't thought about it. Would Nikola want more kids? This one hadn't been planned and they'd never discussed kids before finding out she was pregnant. They'd both just kind of accepted the situation and moved on. They were happy, of course, but they hadn't talked about the option of more than one baby.

"I...we haven't talked about it actually," she admitted.

"Well what do you want?" Erika prompted.

"We'll see how this one goes over first," she teased, dismissing the subject casually.

She really hadn't thought about it. Would she want more kids in the future? The thought of little Nikola's running around the sanctuary made her smile and she found that she wasn't totally opposed to the idea. But she'd been right when she said they'd need to see how this one went first.

They wondered further into the store, looking at cribs, strollers, highchairs, and all the other millions of things a baby needed. Helen had forgotten just how much stuff was required. They came to a section with a bunch of stuffed animals and she glanced over them quickly. One caught her eye; it was a small little teddy bear. She'd bought an almost identical one for Ashley when she was a baby. It had been her favorite stuffed animal. When she was about three it had been eaten by a new arrival and Ashley had cried for hours. She snatched up the little bear and held it in her hands, lost in the memories of all the times she'd used it during bedtimes and naps.

"You should get it," Erika encouraged. "It can be the first piece of your nursery."

"I think I will," Helen told her, cradling the little bear against her chest.

They spent awhile longer with the stuffed animals, joking that a few of them looked like various residents back at the sanctuary. They were both laughing hardily by the time they made it to the check out. Erika had refrained from getting anything, saying they had plenty already. The girl at the counter put the little bear in a bag and the two women headed for their car, ready to get back to the sanctuary and their men.

"Hello ladies," Nikola drawled. "Fun day out shopping?"

He was waiting for them when they returned, ready to help with all the bags of their purchased treasures.

"Yes, we had a very good time," Erika told him.

He came over to Helen, kissing her lightly, glad she was home. She knew how he felt. She'd only been gone for the afternoon, but she had missed him nevertheless. Ever since the little scare he'd given her, she rarely strayed far from his presence for long. It was silly, but she had accepted her new dependence on him. Plus, she knew he felt the same way, which took away any embarrassment.

"Feeling better?" he asked, looking her in the eye, searching for any hint of her previously sour mood.

"Yes, much. Thank you for suggesting this."

He smiled broadly at her, truly glad she seemed to be feeling better.

"Did you buy the whole store?" He teased, taking the bags out of the trunk of her car.

She rolled her eyes at him. It was true, she might have gone a little overboard, but she'd always been like that. She never bought just one or two things when she went out. It was a nasty habit, but not one she planned on giving up.

"Cheeky monkey," she laughed, kissing him on the cheek as the three of them made their way into the complex.

"Where's Henry?" Erika asked.

"Down in the labs. He's working on some kind of new weapon. Wouldn't tell me what though, says he wants it to be a big surprise. I'm sure he wouldn't mind being interrupted if it was you."

"Thanks, I think I'll go put my bags in our room and then go check on him," she told the pair of them before heading off towards their side of the complex.

Nikola had been making the effort to be nicer with the remainder of her staff lately. The softer, more sincere side of him that up until now she'd been the only one privy to had finally come out in regards to her team. It was nice seeing them all get along so well.

Ever since Will had left a month ago, things had been quiet and peaceful. There was a definite increase in the work load for everyone as they had to pick up the slack in his absence. But they had all stepped up marvelously, even Nikola and Erika. She missed Will sometimes, but she was glad for the absence of drama. She often saw him in her weekly video conferences with Declan, but other than that they hadn't had much contact since he left. She wanted to give him his space and she still needed some herself. What he'd said had been mean and hurtful and she was still trying to work past it. She hoped that he would be able to return, that things would go back to the way they'd been before, but she knew it would take time.

"So what all did you get?" Nikola asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

"How about a fashion show?" She suggested.

"I'd love that," he said honestly and she smiled sweetly at him.

She dutifully tried on every article of clothing she'd bought. He gave his opinions, complimenting the color of this one or the neck line of that one. She knew he meant every word he said. He wasn't just humoring her like most men would; it was one of the many things she loved about him.

"Is that everything?" he asked after the final bag was unloaded.

"Not quite," she told him, mischief in her eyes.

She'd purposefully hidden one bag away in the bathroom, saving the best for last. He raised an eyebrow at her and she couldn't help but smile.

"Why don't you save it for tonight," he suggested.

It caught her a little by surprised. Usually he was all over her. A tiny streak of the fear from this morning ran through her. Was he not attracted to her anymore now that her body was beginning to change? He'd been sitting on the bed watching her as she showed off her new clothes. She climbed up beside him, snuggling into him. She rubbed her leg up his and fiddled absently with the buttons on his shirt. He traced light patterns on her hip.

"Nikola?"

"Yes?"

"Do you still find my attractive? Even though my body is changing? Some men don't," she tried to keep her voice steady.

"I thought we'd already covered this in the closet this morning?"

"Well there's a difference between thinking me beautiful and still being attracted to me...still wanting to touch me, be with me," she tried feebly.

He sighed, lifting her chin up so that she was forced to look him in the eye.

"Can I be honest with you, ljubav?"

She tried not to wince; here it was, what she'd suspected, what she'd feared. She nodded silently, steeling herself for what was coming. He leaned down so that he could whisper in her ear.

"I've never been more attracted to you than I am right now."

He nipped at her ear and she gasped, taken completely by surprise by his words.

"Really?" she breathed as his lips worked up her jaw.

"Really," he whispered, his lips inches from her own.

He closed the gap between them, kissing her with so much passion that it took her breath away. She fisted one hand in his shirt, the other in his hair, pulling him down on top of her. His hands slipped under her top, caressing her stomach, working his way higher up. He cupped her breasts as he continued to kiss her. She gasped at the sensation. Her breasts were so sensitive that the lightest of touches sent thrills through her body. He'd always had a particular appreciation for her generous bust, but ever since the pregnancy he'd become increasingly enamored with them. He worked them gently but firmly and she moaned into their kiss. She felt his lips curl into a smile. She shifted so that her thigh rubbed against his already prominent bulge and the smile was wiped off his face.

"Helen?"

"Mmm?"

"Wasn't there something you wanted to show me?" he prompted, moving off of her.

She whimpered at the loss of contact, but then remembered the little piece of lingerie she'd purchased that day and smiled alluringly up at him. She kissed him quickly before sliding off the bed and heading for the bathroom. It didn't take her long to get into the outfit. She checked herself in the mirror, satisfied by her appearance, she returned out to the bedroom.

The lingerie didn't last very long, but was a huge success. He spent the remainder of the afternoon proving to her just how much he was still attracted to her until she was fully sated, no qualms left in her mind.

I asked in a previous chapter for opinions/thoughts/wishes on the gender of the baby but only got one or two responses. I'm giving you another chance to put in your votes. Speak now or forever hold your peace.