Chapter Fourteen

Danny has to admit it's a mindsnap to go from his income to their income. Clearly one for her too and he's not quite sure how to handle it...

"I got an idea…' she says softly, and he raises an eyebrow. 'We do a budget… every bill for the house.' She points at him, 'including the boys school."

"Maria… that's not your responsibility…'

"Neither is this.' She says as she points to her stomach, watching as his jaw tightens. 'I'm not going to try and replace their mother but I'm here and an adult and responsible for their care if we're a family. Right?"

She has a point,

"You're right… of course you are right." He presses a kiss against her temple and blowing out a slow breathe. "Let me get my book."

She breaks it down into 'house' bills. His bills (personal credit cards/loans) and Her bills (the same).

Dividing it down easily from there for mortgage, utilities, food, gas, boys. "So we're looking at roughly 4000 a month? House stuff." He asks and she nods,

"We create an account together for the house, we both deposit 2500 on the first of the month. Set up the payments to be taken out of it automatically. Don't have to worry about it the rest of the month."

"Why the extra?"

"Just something I have always done... Build it up… use it as emergency oh shit fund."

"Oh shit fund?" Danny asks softly, watching as Maria gives a half smile,

"Oh shit the fridge died. Oh shit the car needs a tire.' Watching as Danny chuckled lightly, 'you call and break a bone."

"Smart…' Danny says softly, 'colorful... but smart."

"You keep 250 back for spending… we can have a 'go out' fund if you want."

"Okay… that leaves a lot unaccounted for… I mean… that's not even an entire check for me Maria."

"Save half… use the other half to pay your credit cards off. I'll do the same."

"That's not accounting the pension.' She scowls slightly but nods… 'that's a lot of extra money."

"We put the pension in a savings account… let it bank…'

"Wow…' he ran a hand over his forehead, 'been so used to just scraping by."

"It was tight on your own. Was for me too,' she said softly 'but it doesn't have to be now."

—-

Maria slides into the dress, smiling as Danny presses up behind her. His hands wrapping around her. "You look beautiful."

"You're biased."

"I know…' he presses a kiss against her cheek, 'still beautiful. Come on."

"Wait…' She grabs his hand, pulling it down low on her side. Feeling his hand spread far and press firmly. Turning her head to watch the smile spread over his face 'feel that?"

"Wow…' he smiles as he moves forward to press a kiss against her lips 'there's our baby."

—-

"You look good.' Erin says as she slides up beside Maria at the stove.

"I feel good."

"Boys told me you moved across the house…' Maria smirks slightly, nodding, 'how is that going?"

"It's going good… they both are over the moon… Danny has been great."

"Heard Danny is all in…'

"We both are.'

"That's great. Really Maria, it's great."

"They can't get a better father."

"No they can't."

—-

"She smiles as Jack drops beside her. "You should find out."

"What?"

"About the baby…' she smiles, pulling her leg up underneath her. 'I want to know if we need to buy girl things or boy things."

"Could always get neutral colors."

Jack wrinkles his nose at her. "Narrow down the list of names too."

"Good luck with that." Maria cracked, "But no, we're going to find out. Want to plan myself. Everything else has been unexpected, the baby."

"You and Dad.' Jack says with a smile.

"Yeah…' she gives a small shrug, '... I know that probably seems sudden to you guys."

"It makes sense though,' Jack interrupts, watching as Maria tilted her head to face him. '... You've been friends forever. Things change."

"Yeah."

—-

They get a call out at 0515, Danny groaning as he answers his phone. "Reagan…'

She's already pushing herself up, "Yeah… we're on the way."

It's a straightforward case but it still keeps them out until nearly 10 chasing leads and finishing paperwork.

She's leaned back in the seat, eyes closed as she catches a nap. They have a doctor's appointment in the morning and hopefully they are learning the sex of the baby.

They practically fall into bed that night and the next morning he has to smile as she growls at the alarm. "Come on Mama… let's go find out if boy or girl."

"What do you want?"

"I don't care… Healthy Mom. Healthy Baby. That's what I want."

—-

She feels Danny's hands wrap around her own, his lips pressing against her knuckles as he stares at the image. "Everything looks perfect Maria, let's see if the baby cooperates with us."

Both eyes are locked on the screen. "There they are… see the hand? Are you feeling it yet?"

"We both can." Danny answers,

"So soon… that's awesome. Let's see if we can get the money shot." The doctor moves it around her stomach slowly, focusing on the screen before getting a wide smile. "There it is…' She reaches forward with her other hand. 'That there… little girl."

"What?" Danny smiling as her voice cracks, eyes filling with tears. 'You're sure?"

"Perfect position to see it. Leg,' she traces the leg, before down the other one before back up. 'See the hamburger… no t?" Maria and Danny both nod. "At 22 weeks… it's a girl."

The doctor smiles at the kiss before Danny presses a second one to her forehead and settles in the chair again, pressing a third to the back of Maria's hand. "She's gonna be so spoiled…' Danny cracks and Maria snorts as she brushes away the tears even as more take their place.

"I'm just gonna do a quick weight check and then we're gonna listen to her heart."

"Awesome."

—-

**********SOOOOOooooo?*******

Maria chuckles at the text and turns the phone to Danny who raises an eyebrow as well.

"Gotta wait until dinner." Is what she texts back and gets an angry face in return, watching as Danny smirks,

"We gotta think of names… maybe work in our brothers… your Mom…'

"I want her to have her own name…' he says softly, 'That's why Jack's not named after me."

"Okay…' she picks at her nails slightly and he casts a glance to her, 'I want her to be a Reagan, I want you to be her father and I want her to have your name."

"I would love that…' Danny says softly, tears forming in his eyes as he focuses back on the road before pulling over and putting the car in park. 'I would really… really love that."

Now they both are crying and Maria blows out a shaky breath as she holds his eyes. "Day for tears."

"I want you to have my name too…' he watches as her eyes widen, 'I'm in this Maria… all in this."

"Danny…'

"And I don't have a ring but I'll get one, we'll get one, but I want you to be my wife. My partner."

"Yes…' she meets the kiss, feels his hand slide into her hair. Both taking a moment to breathe, 'I can't believe you asked me to marry you in our squad."

"Hey you asked me to be her father… name and all first. You started this."

"I love you." She says softly, "I really. Truly love you."

"I love you Partner."

"Dooley is gonna kill us."

"Pretty sure he already knows." Danny says with a smile.

"Come on… we gotta get to the station."

—-

He smirks as the boys are both standing in the living room, eyes wide as they stare at them. "Alright. Boy or girl."

"You can't tell anyone else until Sunday." Maria says firmly and they both nod. "Promise. No matter what."

"We promise!"

Danny pulls out the sonogram… turning it to the boys. "Meet your sister."

"Really!"

"Really! And I am gonna need both of your guys help to keep her single until she's 30." Maria snorts, Sean and Jack both storming her.

"Gotta think of names." Maria says and Jack smiles as his hands press against her stomach. Sean doing the same.

"Family members off the table!' Danny says as he heads towards the kitchen. 'We ordered Pizza for dinner!"

—-