Vince moved quickly helping Shea to the bed. "Take deep breaths Baby, deep breaths."

"Oh my god. I can't believe it. I always thought he'd just threaten a lot. I didn't think he'd actually follow through."

"Shea, for god's sakes, calm down. It can't be that bad. We survived through Louise."

"I know, I know, and I don't want to come off as if I don't love him, and sure I'll be glad to see him, but he'll probably bring Missy with him. Missy is a nice enough lady, but dumb. And when I say dumb, I mean DUMB. She'll drive everyone crazy. She takes great care with my Dad, but she's mental. He's mental too, which is probably why they're a perfect match."

"Okay, calm down and tell me why him coming to visit is a bad thing."

"Well, it's not exactly a bad thing. It's more of a scary thing." She said taking deep breaths. "Look, remember how I said he used to be abusive?" At his nod she continued. "Okay, well, I can say that we've put that all behind us, and I'm telling the truth. He isn't violent anymore, but Dad, well, he likes to be in control… A lot. Half the reason Rick and I moved in together was so that I wouldn't be living under Dad's roof any more. We butt heads a lot. At least we used to."

"Well, maybe he's mellowed a bit. When was the last time you saw him?"

"When I went home for Kell's sister's graduation. That was two years ago. We talk on the phone occasionally."

"Didn't you say your Dad's sick now?" Vince was absently rubbing her back. Shea felt herself getting drowsy and laid back on the bed. Vince laid on his side and began rubbing her belly.

"Yeah. His autonomic system is shutting down. That's the system that regulates his blood pressure. He also has diabetes, glaucoma, gout, and a heart condition. He hasn't taken great care of his body, but some of that stuff is attributed to Agent Orange from the Vietnam War. My Dad was a marine for eight years. To hear him tell it, once a marine, always a marine. That was something else I never heard the end of growing up. Marines this, marines that. Don't misunderstand, I'm very pro military, hey they keep us safe, but the way Dad talked was almost fanatical."

Vince loved feeling the fluttering under his hand. His baby letting him know he or she was in there. "Don't worry about it Baby, we'll make sure everything goes smoothly, and your dad will have a great time."

Shea sighed. "I'm sure those were someone's famous last words." She muttered.

Shea was eight and a half months pregnant by the time her father's trip plans were finalized. She was restricted from work, and wasn't allowed to drive, but everything was looking good. So far the baby hadn't cooperated and they hadn't been able to tell gender. She'd just managed to waddle into her kitchen to get a glass of water when the doorbell rang. She knew it was her Dad. Vince was already moving out to meet her as she headed towards the door.

Opening it she saw her father sitting in a wheelchair. Good grief, the man looked like he'd just made a sequel to that Born on the Fourth of July movie. His hair was shaggy and past his shoulders, he'd grown out a full beard, and he'd lost a lot of weight. Behind him stood her stepmother Missy, and Missy's daughter Elyssa. Shea bent and hugged each one as well as she could manage and then moved to let everyone in. "You look radiant." Missy gushed.

"Thanks Missy. You all look good too." Shea smiled and reminded herself to be kind. As soon as everyone was settled in the living room Shea introduced Vince. He shook her Dad's hand, Missy hugged him, and Elyssa shook his hand.

Vince had finally started to feel a little nervous. He'd pictured her dad differently.

"So, Shea tells us you're a mechanic?" Missy asked brightly.

"Yes ma'am, I work in a shop owned by my best friend."

"Dom's more like your brother." Shea smiled at him.

"Yeah, we've been friends for a real long time." He returned her smile.

"I used to fix helicopters when I was in Vietnam." Walker told him.

"Yes sir, Shea told me how here daddy was in the marine corp." Vince pushed his attention back to Walker. "She's real proud."

"So, when is this baby due?" Missy wanted to know as she waved off all military talk.

Shea beamed. "Two weeks until the due date."

"So far the baby hasn't been working with us, so we don't know what the sex is yet."

"Well, son, if you don't know what sex is yet, I gotta wonder how my little girl ended up pregnant." Walker stated with a grin and started chuckling.

Shea and Vince sat in shocked silence, and then Vince began laughing hysterically.

They got together for a barbeque at the team's house that evening. Her father was in his element surrounded by all of the men and telling stories. Everyone seemed to be having a good time so she didn't worry too much. Even her dad seemed to be on good behavior. At least she thought so until she approached and heard part of his conversation.

"She was always a good eater. Not like her brother at all, it was impossible to get him to eat. But Shea would eat anything we gave her. I called her my little Shea-pig, or piglet. She didn't mind it so much when she was little but she hated it when she was older."

"Dad!" Shea scolded. "I'm sure they don't want to know my nicknames growing up."

"Oh, but we do." Leon waggled his eyebrows at her.

"One of the funniest times," her father continued, paying no attention to his oldest daughter. "Was when Shea was in second grade. We went to her class's open house. The little book about me was in her spot and she put that when she grew up she wanted to be a cocktail waitress."

Letty grinned. "Such high aspirations even as a seven year old."

"Stuff it." Shea told her friend with a smile. "It looked cool, and all of those women looked beautiful." She took a seat between her father and Vince, and let out a small groan. She winced as she felt little feet kicking into her ribs. "Pumpkin here is gonna either be a kicker for a football team, or play some mean soccer."

Elyssa stared at Shea's belly enthusiastically. Elyssa was fifteen years old. Shea loved the kid but they weren't close like she and Anda. Mainly because her father and Elyssa's mother lived down south so she didn't see her all the time. "Have you picked out any names?" the younger girl asked.

Vince smiled at the girl. "Well, we decided on Vincent Walker De Laurio if it's a boy, and for a girl we chose Nora Suzanne De Laurio."

Her father seemed extremely pleased and sat straighter in his chair. Shea smiled. "Suzanne was Vince's mom's name."

"They both sound good." Missy chirped. "I really like Nora."

Vince had stood and pulled a small foot rest over for Shea, who put her feet up immediately. His hand moved automatically to caress her belly. "It was Shea's idea, but I think it's real pretty. If we have a boy this time, maybe next time we'll have a girl and we can use it then." His words caused Shea's head to spin towards him, and the team went silent. Dom was the first to look away and smile.

Later in bed that night, after getting her family put in bed for the night Shea lay staring at the ceiling. "Did you mean it? What you said about having more babies?"

Vince started kissing her swollen belly. "I sure did. I think we should have lots of the little cubs."

"Cubs?"

"Well, I am a Coyote." He grinned.