October 15th 1990…

Maria didn't want to get out of the bed that morning, grabbing her pager when it vibrated and seeing a message from Carter.

'Hey, you feeling any better, Babe?'

'Not too much. I was out in the heat too long yesterday, helping Tommy with a shipment of guns that were smuggled in.' Maria responded before she heard Tommy shouting for her.

"Maria, get up already!"

'Gotta go, Tommy's yelling.' Maria responded, Carter replying quickly.

'Okay, please be careful. Love you.'

'Love you too.' Maria responded before she got ready for the day and headed downstairs. "You know, there are times you're more like a father than a brother." She replied as she and Tommy hugged for a few seconds… and Tommy saw how pale she was.

"Are you okay, Maria? You look like hell." Tommy asked.

"I didn't sleep much." Maria responded, Tommy checking her for a fever and finding none… and noticing her looser fitting clothing.

"Might be this heat or whatever. But if I were you, why don't you get checked out by a doctor?" Tommy suggested.

"I will. And give little Angeline a hug from me." Maria responded before she got her pager and purse.

"Ria, be careful." Tommy replied.

"I know, crazy drivers in this town." Maria responded before she left, Tommy seeing Ken walk over.

"Is she alright?" Ken asked.

"I have no idea. She was wearing loose clothes. And she looked pale as a ghost this morning." Tommy responded.

"Mercedes was similar and now you and your wife have a 2 month old." Ken replied, Tommy going wide eyed.

"Wait. My only sister is pregnant?! With some clown?!" Tommy retorted in shock.

Maria was in front of the OB/GYN clinic, outside of her red Infernus and hesitating on going in… and then felt a hand wrap around her right one, seeing Carter.

"I'm back." Carter responded with a smile.

"If this turns out to be true, how are we gonna tell Tommy?" Maria asked before they hugged.

"I'm not afraid of Tommy now. We have no other choice but to find out for ourselves, Ria." Carter responded.

The two kissed and walked into the clinic, knowing that they had to…

Present time…

Maria had finished the paper work and turned it back to the nurse behind the front desk, who smiled reassuringly and Maria headed back to where Carter was and sat down… and Carter lightly rubbed her right knee.

"Nervous?" Carter asked.

"Yes. I don't know why, I just… I have memories of young girls walking in here, completely terrified out of their minds." Maria explained, Carter lightly rubbing her back.

"But you're not that young anymore. You're an adult. And you have me, Babe. We'll get through this together." Carter responded.

The two kissed and were thankful that Maria was called into a room quickly, Carter and a nurse guiding her to it as shouting was heard outside followed by bricks hitting the glass doors.

"Sorry about them, they're an anti abortion group who've been targeting every women's health clinic in the city." The nurse explained once they were in the room. "Everything's gonna be okay, we're gonna go through all the usual tests to make sure you and the baby are okay, Miss Vercetti." She responded kindly before she let Maria change into a gown and Carter helping her.

After the tests, they waited and Maria and Carter held hands.

"I know you never would have an abortion, no matter how scared you are." Carter responded.

"A baby is small and innocent, its life has just begun. There are choices and every situation is different." Maria replied.

"Yeah. But hey, when this baby comes, I'll still be with you and our little one. Even if I have to give up being who I am for you and the baby." Carter explained.

It was after confirming it with the tests that the ultrasound was performed and they heard the heartbeat.

"Oh my… that's our baby." Maria responded as she and Carter smiled.

"He or she is very tiny, Babe." Carter replied before he looked down at Maria and kissed her.

"I'd say about 8 weeks. Congrats, you two." The doctor, a woman in about her 30s and with long dark blonde hair and grey eyes, responded as she smiled. "My husband and I have two kids ourselves, our oldest is 5 and youngest is 3. Kids are miracles, no matter when a couple starts a family." She replied.

It was after the appointment and getting prenatal vitamins that Maria took one and closed the bottle, putting it in her purse as she and Carter walked into the mansion… and heard Ken and Tommy.

"You've gotta stay calm about this, Tommy!" Ken responded.

"I will. But that's my sister." Tommy repiled.

Maria managed to stay calm, her right hand on her stomach… and Carter's left hand resting above it.

"We have to do this. We have no other choice, but to get past your brother." Carter responded quietly.

Maria nodded and the two walked into the office… and Maria handed the ultrasound photo to Tommy, who went wide eyed.

"So, you're pregnant with my niece or nephew?" Tommy asked.

"She is. But we'll take full responsibility. You don't have to worry." Carter responded.

"I know but I still worry." Tommy replied.

"Baby's due around May 20th from what the doctor estimated." Maria responded.

"So tell me, what are you planning on doing after my niece or nephew is born?" Tommy asked as he was looking at Carter after nodding to Maria.

"I have more than enough money saved up, I've been planning for years to open up a restaurant." Carter explained, Tommy realising what his real motive had been for robbing places over the years and how similar it was to his own for being a mafia boss… to try to make a better life.

"Sounds like a great start. You're planning to open one here in Vice City?" Tommy asked.

"Here is where I planned on starting." Carter responded, Tommy turning to Maria and pulling her into a hug.

"If he does anything wrong to you or to my niece or nephew, don't hesitate to call me, Maria." Tommy repiled.

"I know he won't. We're gonna be okay." Maria responded quietly as they let go.

Tommy went to check on Angeline, who was in Mercedes arms… and the newborn reached her arms out, Tommy smiling as he held her.

"Guess what, Angel? You're going to be having a little playmate soon. Auntie Maria is having a baby." Tommy responded.

Angeline squealed and clapped her tiny hands together… and Tommy thought back.