For the next eight months my pregnancy progressed like normal. The only thing besides the symptoms and phases of pregnancy that bothered me was Lester. Lester has me all stressed out and I know the guilt and the stress had to of made each symptom ten times worse for me. When I got morning sickness I didn't only get sick and puke in the mornings but I was sick everyday all day long. Bobby being a Medic tried to help me but nothing he tried seemed to help.

I also got very paranoid and panicked. I would constantly watch to see if Lester would go in and talk to Ranger alone and then if they did meet I would worry myself to death until I knew it was nothing more than shop talk. My doctor warned me that I needed to relax because she could see that I was so tense. I told her it was just preparing for the baby and becoming a first time mother. No way was I telling her that I slept with my friend to get his sperm so that I could get pregnant and pass along the baby as my husbands. Lester never did act any differently towards me, if he had any thoughts on the baby he never let on or said a word which makes me wonder does he have any thoughts and he is just abiding to his promise that he wouldn't say anything or does he not really know that it could be his?

When Carlos found out I was pregnant he told me right away that I no longer would be allowed to do any type of field work by myself or with him or any of the guys, he had desk bound me. Me being me wanted to fight him over this but he brought out the big guns when he told me that me and now our baby were the loves of his life and he wouldn't be able to live if he knew I was in harm's way or injured somehow. I then knew anything I said or did wouldn't change his mind so I chose to humor him and his men. It was nice to know that he and the guys loved me so much but it did have a limit when I have to go shopping for maternity bra's and undies, then it's not so nice to have a two hundred plus pound man shadowing you.

The Guys at RangeMan were great. They accepted and welcomed this baby with open arms. After we announced that we were expecting the next morning I came down to work there was a huge banner hung up that said congratulations Ranger and Stephanie. There were even talks of how they would train their new recruit to be a RangeMan. This worried me, I knew what these men went thru and I didn't want my baby to have to go thru this but I know with it being part Carlos it will be its decision to follow in its father's footsteps or not. These big guys were so excited and so looking forward to this baby's birth. They loved every minute of my pregnancy from the puking to the weird food cravings and the just being awkward stages. They all loved to come and lay their hands on my stomach and feel how firm it was getting and when it started kicking they all tried to be the one it would kick first. I never minded them touching my stomach it was sweet to watch these hard as stone men's faces when a flutter or a foot could be felt. They only time I really minded and became uncomfortable about it was when Lester would do it.

When Lester would put his hands on me my heart rate would speed up. He wasn't doing anything that the others weren't doing but just because it was him and because of what went on between us I just couldn't handle it. I never forgot the night we shared but when he had his hands on me and my baby I could see it so clear. I tried to read him when he would sit and touch me but all I could see was nothing. He would just smile and fell my tummy. Lester always seemed like Lester, enjoying the experience with the rest of the guys. I only the other hand was a basket case inside fearing that someday his eyes would be opened and he would figure out that the baby inside of me could very well be his. And when that happens our lives would be destroyed.

"I'm not going to let that happen" I said as I rubbed me own belly as I sat in the examing room waiting on Dr. Masso to come in "you are Carlos's baby no one else's no matter what"

Dr. Masso opened the door to the room and came in smiling at me. She was always thrilled to see me since I was one of her success cases. She walked over and read my chart and then turned her attention onto me.

"Well how is Mom feeling today? She asked

"Huge" I answered her rubbing my hands on the sides of my large eight month pregnant belly

"Yea about every woman says that right at the last of the pregnancy but think of what will come soon, your beautiful baby boy. How are the contractions?"

I thought of my son soon coming into this world "they are still there I get a few each day"

When Carlos and I found out we were having a boy he was ecstatic, he was on cloud nine. He would have a son to carry on the Manoso name and be a little replica of his father. My husband has a daughter but with circumstances he's not all that involved in her life. He is closer to her in the past few years but still not what you would think a father and daughter would be. I guess for Carlos this baby, our baby would be his chance to start over and redeem himself for not being in Julie's life.

"Ok Steph lie back and let me take a look" She said and I grimaced. I hated this exam more than anything. I couldn't figure out was this exam worse than the dentist or was the dentist worse? Sometimes I hated being a woman.

"So where is Daddy?" Dr. Masso asked as she helped me place my heels into the stirrups. Ever since I had gotten pregnant Carlos had never missed an appointment.

"Work" I said looking up to the ceiling as my gown was brought up over my knees leaving me to feel so exposed "He was all set to bring me and be here but at the last minute a client unexpectedly showed up and he had to deal with them"

"Ahhh so one of those big men of his is chauffeuring you around this morning"

"Yea I haven't been able to drive in forever thanks to my belly not allowing the wheel to turn"

"Yea, ok Step him going to start now"

Dr. Masso rolled up between my legs and I closed my eyes and held my breath when I felt her start to push and prod with her fingers. I tried to relax but I hated this part, I hoped it would all be over soon. I felt everything stop and then saw Dr. Masso stand up.

"Well I'm going to make you another appointment but I don't think it will be here that I will see you" she said snapping off her latex gloves

"Huh?" I asked turning my head on the table trying to look at her

"Let me get washed up and I'll tell you what I saw"

"Ok " I said getting scared. She saw something and I felt it wasn't something good

Dr. Masso came back drying her hands on several brown paper towels. After tossing them into the trash can by the sink she helped me to sit back up. "Stephanie" she said sitting back on her little rolly stool "you have dilated a few centimeters. Now don't worry you could go on like this for weeks but you also could go into active labor anytime. This is all perfectly normal so please don't get scared"

"I'm in labor?"

"Pre labor. Like I said ill set you up another appointment but I don't know if you'll make it until then. If you do then great but if not I'll be seeing you and Daddy in the hospital"

"Oh" it all hitting me what she was saying

"It's not exact, we will just play it day by day and if it happens it happens. I'll be on call" she told me writing in my chart

"Wow"

"Yea" she said smiling at me "you're gonna be a mommy soon. My suggestion for you and your Husband is get prepared. Pack your bags with stuff you'll need at the hospital, get all your affairs in order, and RELAX"

"Thank you Doctor we will" I said slowly siding off the table to get redressed

"It's my pleasure" she said as she walked with me up to the front of the office where I stopped and made my next appointment. When I stepped out into the waiting room, Bobby came to stand by my side.

"Oh and Steph if you want walking can help labor progress and a lot of women swear by sex" Dr. Masso said and I looked up to Bobby who looked down at me shocked

"Dr. Masso has found that I am a few centimeters dilated" I told him

"Oh God you're in labor?" he asked and I could see his wheels turning. Code Stephanie was about to be sounded.

"Pre Labor" my doctor told him coming to my rescue and successfully disarming the alarm "it means she could stay like this for a few more weeks or she could go at any time"

I watched as my friend and the RangeMan medic paled at the mention of me going into labor. This man has seen horrific things and lots of blood yet the thought of me doing it had him panicked. Everyone knew this was coming, it was going to happen and the only way they could see this baby was for it to happen, but I didn't blame them who wanted to have to hear and deal with a screaming banshee. It was something were all were not looking forward too. Placing my hand onto Bobby's large arm he looked down at me.

"I feel ya big guy. I'm thinking the same things" I told him and watched as his eyes softened

"We'll be ok Bomber. When the time comes we will all be there for you, you just concentrate on our next recruit" he said laying his big hand onto my stomach

"Oh I am" I said looking down at his hand

"Bye Steph ill see you soon" Dr. Masso called out as I wrapped my arm around Bobby's as we walked out of the office door