"Mom? Can we have a woman to woman talk?"

"Sure Casey. What's up?" Nora put her folder down on the kitchen counter and leant on it.

"I have to confess. You know how you were all saying that I needed a boyfriend, badly? Well I have one already."

"Great! Who is he?"

"Please don't blow my head off. It's Derek." Casey bit her lip hard waiting nervously for the blow.

But it didn't come. Nora didn't even look surprised. "Knew it would happen someday. Is that it?"

"No. We've been going out for six months and I'm…I'm…pregnant." Casey stumbled over the words.

Nora gasped. "Are you sure?"

"I took three pregnancy tests and went to a clinic. All positive. I'm already in my fourth month."

"Really? You kept that hidden well."

"So you don't have a problem with this? With Derek and me, and the baby?"

Nora smiled and came around to Casey's side of the counter. Giving her daughter a squeeze she said "Of course I'm alright with it. You're only related by marriage. As long as you love him and want this then I don't have a problem."

"Are you sure, mom?"

"As long as you're happy. And having kids, as long as you have a support system, it makes you so happy. Just wait until the baby grabs your finger for the first time. You'll get to watch it grow, and change, and live. And you'll know that you gave it that life. It's such a wonderful feeling being a mother. And I'll help you through it all the classes, the cravings, all of it."

"Thank you mom." Casey gave her mother a kiss.

"Do the kids know?"

"Lizzie and Edwin do. Edwin, because he's known about us all along thanks to Derek, he's been helping us keep it hidden. He's been so good over this; we have to do something for him. I might make him the godfather. Lizzie has her first adolescent crush, and it's Edwin. She came to talk to me and confessed that she'd seen Derek and I after our date on Saturday. She wanted help about Edwin. Edwin likes her back so maybe we can do a little setting up."

"Hold your horses. Let's concentrate on you and your belly. Do you know what you're having?"

"No." Casey shook her head.

"Shall we go find out?" Nora's eyes were twinkling with excitement. It was easy to tell that she was overjoyed at being a grandma.

Casey laughed and they went to get their coats.

Derek was talking to his dad in the lounge. He watched Casey as she and Nora took their coats off the hook and waved goodbye as they left. Looks like that one had gone well.

"You don't mind?"

"No Derek I don't. I'm a little disapproving because your so young, but if you love her there's nothing I can do."

"I do love her dad. I love her more than I do my own life. I'm gonna propose to her."

"When? And how are you going to afford a ring?"

"I was going to do it on her birthday. But with the baby coming I think I might have to push it forward a bit. I had to wait until my birthday had gone because of grandma's ring. I can't get it till I'm eighteen."

"Ah yes. The oldest son of the oldest son. Well, if you need advice on how to be a dad then you've only got to ask."

"Thanks, I've had a really good model in you."

"She turned you into a nice guy didn't she?"

Derek laughed. "Yes, and I'm glad she did. You used to say 'what goes around comes around' and if you're nicer to people then they are nicer to you."

"I don't think I know my own son anymore. You're so different."

Edwin and Lizzie came downstairs not looking at each other. Derek gave his brother a look asking him what had happened. Edwin wiped his mouth unconsciously.

"The game's about to start. Can we watch it?" Derek noticed that Lizzie's lips were a little redder than usual. Could it be?

"Sure, but I want a word with Edwin in the kitchen for a minute." He said quickly grabbing Edwin by the collar and dragging him off. "Dude what happened?"

"I kissed Lizzie."

"Alright! Go you. So are you a thing now?"

"No. Yes. I don't know."

"It's alright to be confused. I was too. Just take it easy and don't push her."

"Do I talk to her about it?"

"Not unless she brings it up. God you need lessons in dating! Luckily for you, your brother happens to be an expert. We'll talk later." Derek finished as Lizzie and George were heard cheering at a goal. The boys returned to the interesting hockey match.

About half an hour later Casey and Nora came back in looking thoroughly exalted.

Derek got up and kissed Casey. "What's with the grins?"

"Yeah, you're putting the Cheshire Cat to shame." Lizzie put in.

"We just got a sonogram done. We're having twins." Casey said with her arms still around Derek.

"We are? Boy or girl?"

"Both. One of each."

Derek laughed and hugged her tightly. "That's wonderful! P.S. dad's alright with it." he whispered in her ear.

"Mom is too." Casey whispered back as Nora showed the others the sonogram.

"Also, Edwin kissed Lizzie."

"This day gets better and better!"

They broke apart and the rest of the family engulfed them in a group hug.

"What are you going to call them?" Edwin asked.

"For now I don't care. They're healthy and that's all that matters at this point." Casey leaked a few happy tears into her mother's shoulder with Lizzie pressed to her in a sisterly hug.

Derek gazed at her and smiled to himself. At that point he felt that he was a very lucky man indeed.