One Week Later

All their friends and Charlie's friends got together for his first birthday party. Alex made him a Cookie Monster cake and tons of noticed Piper was sitting most of the party, not lifting Charlie, which was so unusual for her.

After the party Juli stayed and helped Alex clean up while Piper relaxed on the couch with Charlie.

"Is Piper pregnant again already?"

"You won't tell?"

"No."

"We're waiting to talk about it until we know but two days ago we did an embryo transfer, so she might be. It's still too early, even if she is."

"Who's the bio mom?"

"I am. We had four leftover embryos. I just keep praying it took. I wanted Charlie bad but there was something to fall back on if those embryos didn't take. I'm almost forty-three, I don't have another egg retrieval cycle in me. So, this is it for me having another bio child. I'm so in love with it already, if I didn't know heartbreak it would be harder but I don't know how I'd deal if it didn't take. Piper can do cycles with her eggs and we will and I'll be thrilled when that happens but this is it for me."

"I get it, every failed cycle for the two years it took to make Jude it felt like losing a child. I'll be praying for you too. Good luck."

"Alex! You didn't just tell Juli we're trying," Piper yelled.

Alex popped out of the kitchen, "She asked. Was I supposed to lie? Its not my fault your following the rules perfectly. I'm sure Juli wasn't the only one of our friends that noticed. They want to support us. Stop worrying so much."

"It's hard. So much could go wrong. You were 39 when we retrieved the eggs."

"Stop thinking like that."

"Piper having a moment," their friend interrupted.

"She's a little hormonal and scared."

"Its scary to be even possibly pregnant. Even more so over 35," Juli answered.

"And even more knowing Alex is the bio mom. I've failed her so many times and if this doesn't take it would be one more f-ing time," Piper added.

"Don't worry. Stress isn't good for the potential baby. Alex, you take care of your wife and I'll finish cleaning."

"Thanks Juli."

"So when do you find out if it took?"

"The 26th, so we have to wait ten more days but I don't think we'll be able to wait that long. I think we'll end up cheating and buying some tests, even though we know we could have a false positive. We can test the Saturday before."

"Yeah that could be a long weekend, especially if you already had a feeling."

"Is it weird that I think I might be? I haven't even told you this baby, but I had spotting earlier this afternoon. And I don't know if its cause I want them to be or cause they are but my boobs seem fuller and my sense of smell was on steroids. Plus I had so much sugar, it made me sick but I couldn't stop. All I can do is hope. I want this so bad, for all three of us. I'd love to give Charlie a full sibling. To maybe have a little girl who looks like my gorgeous wife."

"Sounds like its quite likely. I'm gonna head home. Let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks Juli," Alex answered as she led their friend out. Once she locked the door she sat back down next to Piper and gestured for her to cuddle.

"So spotting?"

"I know its new but every pregnancy is different. But yes. Implantation bleeding."

Alex put her hand on her pubic bone, "I so hope it is. This next week can't pass soon enough."

"But I'll let you know what's going on, of course."

"You better. That's my baby or babies in there."

"You mean ours?"

"No mine."

"Alex! What am I a surrogate now," Piper teased as she playfully swatted at her wife.

"No, of course not. I'm just kidding with you babe. Biology is meaningless in this family, no matter who's egg created them they are all ours, they all have to be carried in your womb and there's no one else I ever trust more with my, our children. I don't even think I could carry them better than you."

"I know you could. And once they finally exist, no one could ever love them deeper or more than you do. I couldn't imagine raising kids with anyone else. You are an amazing mother. I remember how scared you were and now you couldn't imagine your life not surrounded by as many children as I'm willing to have."

"I can't imagine life without these beings we're going to make and the one we have already. And I'm grateful you don't have atrocious pregnancies that make you say never again.."

"Me too, Charlie was pretty easy and if I'm pregnant this one is so far so good."

"Or ones."

"Al! You again!"

"I have a crazy sense. It was a joke when I said it at the transfer but I've been having crazy dreams."

"It wouldn't be anywhere near the worst thing to happen to us. We'd be blessed on top of blessed."

One Week Later

Piper came in from work with a bag and kissed Alex.

"Hi babe. Whatcha got?"

"I stopped at the pharmacy on the way home for some pregnancy tests."

"Still think your pregnant?"

"I don't think, I know. I just need confirmation. I woulda tested days ago but I knew I couldn't handle even a false negative. I bought them for the morning but I think I'll take one or two tonight after Charlie goes to bed."

"Pipes, how many did you get?"

"Eight," she answered with a sheepish grin.

"Your crazy but I love you like crazy," she answered with a kiss.

Four hours later they were finally standing in their bathroom with a box of First Response pregnancy tests and a paper cup from Charlie's birthday party.

"We finally got him to sleep."

"I don't know what's going on with him. He's been real unhappy the past couple days. I don't know if it's teething or has an ear infection or his first cold. I feel like I should know which it is, like I'm a bad mother if I don't."

"You are an amazing mother but he's also our first child. I'll call the pediatrician in the morning."

"Speaking of the pediatrician, how is it going with the job offer?"

"I start medical assistant classes next month and in July I should start as a receptionist at his office. I can't wait, it'll be a seven dollar raise and our business is taking off. We'll be designing our dream home before we know it."

"As if we don't already. A five bed, four bath home in the country with a pool and spa. Space for animals and a garden."

"Yes, that's the one, babe. So pregnancy tests, you ready?"

"Close."

"How bout if I tickle you," she teased as she reached her hand out which turned into chasing each other around their room until Piper stubbed her toe on the bed.

"Ow! Ow!"

"Sorry babe. Are you okay?"

"It just hurts."

Alex folded her into her arms and kissed her. They stood there until Piper's head popped up, "I think I'm ready, Al."

"Alright," she said as she broke contact with her wife.

"I'm a ball of nerves."

"Me too."

She instantly had to pee when she sat down and then she handed the cup to Alex as she flushed. When she opened two of the three tests in the box Alex turned to her, "Can I dip them?"

"Of course. Count to ten seconds, you don't want them in too little or too long. And then put the cap on and put it on the counter then I'll set a timer for five minutes and we wait."

"How do we know what the result is?"

"One line is negative but two lines, no matter how faint the second line is we are pregnant. It's still early so it might be pretty faint. You might not even be able to see it with your low vision."

"Can I try?"

Piper came up behind Alex and put her arms around her, "Of course. I didn't say that to discourage you trying, I would never do that."

They stood there and watched the test as time passed, after what felt like forever the timer on Piper's phone went off, "Alex, what do you see," she asked as her wife picked up one of the tests.

"There's two lines! It's a little faint but no doubt two clear lines! We did it, Pipes! Oh, precious baby we did it!"

Piper turned around to see for herself, "we're really pregnant! Oh Alex! I love you so much! I'm so happy," she cried as tears streamed down both their cheeks. Then they turned off the light, put on their pajamas and snuggled under the covers until they fell asleep. The next morning's tests would also all be positive.