THIRTY-FOUR.

Laying back against the pillows, his arms folded behind his head, Fulton smiled as he watched Caitlin twisting and turning in her underwear in front of the full-length mirror.

"Come back to bed, beautiful." he coaxed. Even though he could generally spend all day just watching her, keeping his hands off her was proving harder than usually lately.

"In a minute." she said over her shoulder, before turning back to reflection with a critical gaze. "Will you still love me when I'm fat and ugly?"

"Never going to happen!" Fulton laughed, "You won't be fat! You're pregnant and gorgeous and I actually can't wait until you start showing – you're gonna look even cuter with a bump!"

"You, Fulton Reed, always know the right thing to say." his fiancée smiled, tearing herself away from the mirror to crawl up the bed until she was leaning over him. "I love you. And you're going to be such a good daddy … Honey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, babe." he said, trying to look convincing as she lay down on top of him comfortably, her head tucked under his chin.

"Talk to me …" she whispered, knowing him too well to be fooled.

With a little sigh, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head and then shifted so his arms were draped across her back as he stared up at the ceiling. "What if … What if I'm not a good dad?"

"What? Fulton, that's crazy!" Caitlin frowned.

"Is it? I mean, it's not like I had such a great role model to set an example for me …"

"Oh Fult …" she said softly, "You're not your dad – you're a wonderful man, that's why I fell in love with you. The very fact it worries you shows you care. I said I know you'll be a good dad and I do."

"How can you be so sure?" he smiled at her, grateful for her faith in him – if still a little sceptical.

"Because I see how you take care of me and I just know." she told him, pressing her lips gently to his. "But I do understand, sweetie – I'm scared too, you know. What if I turn out to be like my mom?"

"Not much scares me, but that … yikes!" Fulton pretended to shudder, laughing as Caitlin poked him in the stomach in protest. "You know I'm kidding, baby – you're gonna be an amazing mom. Come here …"

And, shifting so she could slip under the covers with him, Fulton took her in his arms and cuddled her close as they kissed. "So are you really scared, honey or were you just trying to make me feel better?"

"No, I really am scared." she admitted, "It's all right for you – at least you don't have to go through the whole giving birth thing!"

"I know, babe. And I know it's easy for me to say, but just think how it'll all be worth it when you're holding our baby. And I'm gonna be right there with you, probably being completely useless, but at least you can concentrate on crushing my hand."

"Deal." she smiled, laying her head on his chest and relaxing as he ran his fingers soothingly through her hair.

"Hey, I just realised something …"

"What?" Caitlin asked, seeing him look somewhat distracted and with a little grin that wouldn't quite go away.

"The first Duck to have a baby." Fulton beamed proudly, "Never thought it'd be me …"

"So, truth or dare, Portman? Uh, earth to Portman?"

"Do we really have to do this?" Portman growled from where he was slumped in an armchair, his legs draped over one arm. Not appreciating being distracted from his moody – but hopefully discreet – staring at Julie, he wasn't exactly embracing the evening's "fun".

"Come on, man." Luis sighed, "It's not like you to be such a downer."

"This is stupid – it was stupid when we were kids and it's stupid now."

"You weren't saying that back at Eden Hall when it meant you got to make out with Amber Jeffers …" Adam recalled.

"What's the matter, Cake-Eater? Still jealous?" Portman smirked, actually cheering up a little at the memory – not of making out with the stacked cheerleader, but of the look on a certain goalie's face when she clocked him with his tongue down the tall brunette's throat. That had been the moment he knew for certain his crush was not entirely one-sided, however much she wanted to protest. And judging by her current expression, Julie wasn't any happier about it now. "Okay, okay – fine! Truth."

The question came after a moment's conferring between Luis and Adam, their disappointment that he didn't choose a dare not quite hidden.

"What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you when it comes to the opposite sex?"

"I don't embarrass myself like you lot." Portman said confidently. "Especially not with women."

"Oh, come on – there must be something. Even if it's just getting stood up or something."

"A Bash Brother getting stood up – get real! Umm … I called a girl by the wrong name one time." he offered, hoping too many details wouldn't be required.

"That's not so bad …" Luis began to protest.

"We were having sex at the time." he said, actually having the grace to blush.

"You didn't!"

"Dean!"

"You're a total dog, dude."

"Who was the chick?" Guy asked.

"Uh, you lot wouldn't know her – Jenn?"

Blank looks from everyone, until a thought struck Charlie. "What name did you call her?"

Thrown for a second, Portman recovered well with a laugh. "It hardly matters, man – it wasn't hers! Oh hang on, that's my cell – it's probably Fult checking in … Yo, dude, what's up? How's Chi-Town?"

Getting up and strolling over to the window as they chatted, Portman inadvertently signalled the end of the game as the group broke up to simply lounge around the place lazily, making the most of the calm. Calm which was broken by a sudden exclamation from Portman which made them all jump.

"You what?! Dude, oh my god – you're gonna be a dad? That's awesome!" the hockey player practically yelled, "I'm gonna be a Bash UNCLE! You want to keep it quiet? Uh … oops."

"Linda, honey …"

"It's not fair, Charlie." his wife sobbed as he sat helplessly on the edge of the bed. "We've been trying for a baby for so long and nothing … and they … they didn't even plan it and …"

"Come on, sweetheart, I know it's hard but they're our friends and we should be happy for them." Charlie sighed.

"I know, but … how can she just get pregnant by accident when we've been trying constantly? Haven't they heard of contraception? They don't even want that baby!"

"Hey, that's a bit harsh, Linda. I know you're upset and I know they didn't plan for a baby, but that doesn't mean they aren't happy …"

"How are they going to bring up a baby? They're like a couple of teenagers! And Cait's always working, Fulton's got his hockey … We talked and Cait admitted she wasn't ready for that!"

"They're so in love with each other, babe – they want this. Maybe it's not the way they expected it to happen, but marriage and kids were always on the cards for those two …"

"I know it makes me sound selfish, but … Charlie, they've got everything and what've we got?"

"Each other?" he tried helplessly, getting up from the bed in defeat as she turned her back on him. "I wish that could be enough for you … I'm sorry it's not."

to be continued ...