A/N: Thought this would be five chapters, but it ended up only being three. I hope you enjoyed this little arch :) xx Mariah

"Agh, I feel like I'm gonna burst." Katie groaned in annoyance, taking another sip from her bottle of water.

"You know they need your bladder full for the ultrasound," Ned reminded her, idly drinking the small coffee he'd gotten on his way out of the hotel, watching out the window for the red light to change to green before the cab could start driving again.

"Yes," she sighed and ran a hand across her abdomen. "I'm going to piss my pants if we don't get there soon, Ned."

Eight weeks ago they had started a journey toward IVF. It was pricey and their insurance wasn't the best, but thankfully her parents had helped them out when they had finally had a sit-down conversation with them about it.

Jim and Melinda had always had open arms for their children and helped them if they asked, especially for something as important as this.

It was an almost final attempt to finally have a third child they had talked about wanting for years. Now they take a trip to the city twice a month to do regular tests for the optimal implantation time at a clinic.

"Did you remember to take your vitamins?" She asked him, taking another sip of her water before the light turned green. "You forgot to twice this week."

"It's sort of hard to keep track of every vitamin Dr. Spradlin has put me on," he chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"Honey, I'm being serious," she said. "The doctor said you have to be sure to take them all."

"I know, Katie, and yes I took all my vitamins. I took them with that god awful smoothie you made me this morning at the hotel." His nose crinkled in disgust. "Seriously, who mixes just cauliflower and watermelon together?"

"You always used to mix fruit and vegetables right after you went to the gym." She reminded him.

"That's different, my smoothies actually tasted decent." He huffed. "You cook wonderfully, but those smoothies are terrible."

She took another sip of water. "What about the fish oil supplements, did you take those?" She asked.

"No way, did you see the size of those things?" He shuddered at the very thought.

"It's good for you, Ned!" She groaned.

"Well, I don't think choking is good for me. Look, I get it, you're worried about all of this, but I'm perfectly fine." He chuckled and shook his head, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "But for real though, if you don't stop worrying you won't get a chance to enjoy how horny your hormones have been making you."

Katie's face turned red with embarrassment. "Ned!" She gasped.

"Hmm?" He said, glancing over at her as if he was oblivious, but his eyes told her otherwise.

Ned was always so blunt and possessed so little tact, not to mentioned he could be very vulgar. He was most definitely the fun and easy dad, but she knew he always had her back when things got rough and they needed to be stern.

"I swear you better start watching your language once the baby is born," she muttered as the cab driver finally began to drive. "Asher already said his first curse words because of my dad. We don't need Willow to follow suit or the next one."

"He or she isn't even born yet, so don't be such a prude." He sighed. "I want to have some fun before your back pain renders you bedridden, plus that may be sooner than you know..."

She smiled, looking over at him. "I hope so," she whispered.

When they go back to the hotel after being told yet again by Dr. Spradlin, that it wasn't the "optimal time" for an egg transplant, Ned shoved his disappointment down deep; whatever he's feeling, his only job right now was support. He won't add to her devastation by admitting how much he'd wanted it to happen today, too.

She sniffled against his chest as they laid together on the bed, and he stroked her back in what he hoped were reassuring circles. He kissed the top of her head and held her as the sniffles turn to sobs.

Nearly two more weeks of cautious hope was dashed again in an instant this afternoon, and it poured out of her. No matter how hard she tried to prepare herself - no matter how hard they both did - of course it still hurts, and his heart broke for his wife as she cried herself out.

When she finally pulled back from him, puffy-eyed and red-faced, she excused herself to go use the bathroom, and he went over to the coffee pot and put on some water for tea.

The front of his shirt was damp; he pulled it over his head and hung it over a chair, letting his hands linger for just a moment to grip the chair back.

He's helpless to take away Katie's pain, though if there was anything he could do, he would, of course, do it in a heartbeat. He's just pouring hot water into a coffee cup by the time she comes back, dressed in the flannel pajamas she'd brought along with her face scrubbed clean and teeth brushed.

He set the coffee put down and picked up two boxes of tea from one of their opened bags on the other queen bed. "So, are you feeling chamomile or peppermint?"

The smile on her face doesn't make it all the way up to her eyes, but it's a start. "Peppermint, please."

"Coming right up." He said.

She walked over and sat at the foot of the bed, tucking her feet up on the bed. He brought the steaming mug in front of her and handed it over. She's still all sort of pulled in on herself, and he watched her for a minute, then set his hand palm-up toward her, offering.

She brought her other hand to rest on it, curling her fingers lightly around his as she took a sip of her tea. "Is it okay if I don't really want to talk about it?" Her voice sounded so small, and his heart broke for her all over again.

"Of course it's okay." He stroked her palm with one fingertip, unsure if silence was any better.

He knew it all too well that not being ready to talk about something doesn't mean your brain will shut up and play along. Still, he would follow her lead for the time being.

If she wanted to just sit together quietly and doesn't seem to be suffering for it, he was absolutely fine with that. Whatever she needed to feel better.

She released his hand to place it on the other side of her cup, blowing gently across the top before taking another careful sip. She closed her eyes, breathing in the steam and letting her breath out with a long sigh. "This is really good," she whispered. "And this trip hasn't been all bad. Maybe next time."

"Yeah, uh, maybe next time," Realizing that doesn't sound especially convincing, he fumbled a bit for something to add, resorting (as ever) to deadpan humor. "But maybe we can try the good old fashion way too?"

"Well, duh." She said with a smiled. "I'd much rather the doctor tell me, uh, we can't do the transplant because you're pregnant a lot more than it's a go."

Her crinkly-eyed smile might have been a laugh under different circumstances, but he'd take the little victories in life.

Once she finished her tea and they laid down for bed, Ned's arms wrapped around her in the darkness, his protective warmth against her back as she tried desperately to quiet her mind enough to fall asleep.

Every time she felt herself start to spin out of control again, his arm tightened around her, and he pressed a kiss to her shoulder. She doesn't know if he's responding to a change in her breathing or tension in her body or what, but he seemed to know exactly when she needed.

After the fifth time, though, she rolled over to face him, needing more. Her lips brushed against his gently, at first. But soon enough his tongue was caressing the roof of her mouth, her teeth, her gums, and his mouth was all but devouring hers.

As they kissed and twined together in the darkness she ran her hands down the flat planes of his chest that she knew so well and had kissed so many times, and down along his arms that were strong and muscled from years spent lifting heavy weights at the gym – arms that arrest criminals and pin them up against walls and cars - arms that wrestle playfully with their children and hold her close.

She reached down and clutched at his large hands fiercely. Possessively. Wasting no time, Ned entwined his fingers – fingers that had touched and pleasured every inch of her body countless times over – with hers.

He pulled away from her mouth and began pressing desperate, open-mouthed kisses down her neck and along the fading scars along her collarbone, humming against her skin, making her knees shaky.

"We'll get through this," she said, ignoring, for the moment, the flicker of desire that was settling in the pit of her stomach. She gently cradled his handsome face – the face she loved so much – in her hands.

He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. "Will we?" he asked, weakly.

"Yes. I promise." She kissed him again, on the mouth, but very gently this time. "It's what we do."

Eventually, she was the one who asked more. She was the one who brought his hand to her chest and hers between his legs. When she asked for more, he gave without taking, showing without words exactly what he felt for her, exactly what she was worth to him. He brought her to the heights of pleasure again and again with his fingers and with his mouth.

As she laid boneless and panting beneath him, he hoisted himself up and slid into her – relentlessly, gently, and inexorably – until at last, he joined her in sweet, blissful oblivion. He collapsed on the bed next to her in an unceremonious heap a moment later.

He laughed a little, breathlessly. "This is what we do," he grinned.

"Yes," she giggled. "This is what we do."

That night, wrapped up in each other's arms, they enjoyed a dreamless sleep.

They both woke very late the next morning. The sun was already high overhead, and the room was cool from the air Ned had put on in the middle of the night. Katie lifted her head a little and smiled at the sight before her. She and Ned were little more than a tangle of sweaty limbs and rumpled bed sheets.

"Morning," he said, from the pillow next to hers, his voice throaty with sleep.

She laid back down, resting her head on his chest. She nuzzled his shoulder and kissed it. "It seems like another hot day," she murmured into his shoulder. "And I think we've gotten too late a start to go down to breakfast."

"Mmm," he said sleepily. "That's a shame."

But he didn't sound disappointed at all. He grinned wolfishly at her and waggled his eyebrows, confirming her suspicions. She swatted at his shoulder, making him laugh.

"It's our last day in the city. I didn't plan to waste it in bed," she chided. "When do we ever come here anymore?"

"Fine, fine," he conceded. "Maybe we can go out in the early afternoon? That way we'll miss most of the tourists and can get something to eat."

"Okay," she conceded. "That's not a bad idea."

"Sounds like a plan," he said as he slowly climbed out of bed, still naked from their activities the night before. "We should probably find a restaurant and call for a reservation though."

Katie smiled to herself as she admired her husband's backside, strong and muscular from the heavy lifting his work at the police station required of him.

She watched as he walked over toward the dresser, legs flexing as he moved. She loved the little dimple he had in his right buttock. She wondered, briefly, if he even knew it was there.

"Ned?" she asked.

"Hm?" he said absently as he pulled his suitcase open and took clothes out of it, seemingly at random.

"I was thinking maybe… you come back to bed?" she asked, scratching the back of her neck. "Just for a little bit."

He chuckled, "Always, Katie." He dropped the jeans he'd picked up to slide back into bed with her, claiming her lips. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, and then he pulled back and said, "I know you didn't want to talk about it last night but I need to say something, and then I'll never mention it again. Okay?"

"Okay." She braced herself.

"Katie, I want us to have more children. I want it so desperately." He slid his hand down her arm and took her hand in his. "I know it's been hard and we are supposed to try and have absolutely no expectations of success for this. I just want you to know… I need you to know… that I'm hoping and I'm in the long haul for all of this." His voice failed him.

He started to move away, to go and lay beside her, but she pulled him back to her. "Ned, I really needed to hear that because I was starting to get in my head and worry about-"

His lips were on her before she could finish her sentence. "I know. A little hope, it's everything," he whispered between kisses. "Everything."

As if she forced back the rusted lock on a heavy, forgotten door in her head, suddenly there was more than just the light of possibility.

Katie felt like she could dream again and pictured a little girl, and she wanted to name her something strong.

It wasn't until after the new year when they were told it was a good time for the egg procedure. The procedure was painless, just as Dr. Spradlin had said it would be, but she did feel a bit sore afterward.

Katie didn't care though; it was going to be worth it. She knew that this was probably their last shot at being parents again. She had promised Ned that they would possibly look into adopting if this didn't work. But it just had to.

Once Katie had an idea, it was very difficult for her to move past it.

Three weeks after they inserted the embryos back into her uterus, she locked herself into their bathroom and took out the pink box she had become so familiar with. She had been feeling different that past couple of days.

In all honesty, she couldn't explain what it was, but she knew that her body wasn't the same. She'd just felt different.

So Katie stopped at their local drug store after she finished her Valentine's day shopping for Ned. The holiday was right around the corner and she still needed to get valentines for the kids to do for school, but at least she'd gotten a gift for Ned.

However, there's still one thing at the top of the list that she hoped to cross off with the best gift she could ever give him.

She waited until her timer went off to see the results. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the test from the counter and held her breath.

It was now or never.

When she saw the two pink lines, a grin spread across her face.

They're having a baby.

The IVF had worked.

Then Katie burst into tears because she's terrified; so, so terrified of losing the baby, but she's also happy and there was no way those two emotions were staying inside of her without some kind of release.

She was pregnant. This was really happening.

"Happy Valentines Day," Ned said as he handed her a small box wrapped with a red bow on top.

She offered him a smile as she unwrapped it. There, lying on a soft pillow was a heart pendant that hung on a thin white gold chain. There was a single diamond that was encrusted in the middle of the heart. It was sweet, simple, and she loved everything about it.

Ned had always enjoyed buying his wife jewelry, especially since he'd gotten promoted to Sargent at work a few years back.

However, she was never one to show them and always loved the more simple pieces. This was the reason why after so many years, Katie still wore the simple diamond necklace that Ned had given her before they'd gotten married.

"This is beautiful, Ned!" she exclaimed as she quickly took it off out of the box to put it on, "I love it. Put it on please?" She pulled her hair to the side as he came around to put the necklace around her neck. "I love you," she said as she turned around and kissed him.

"I love you too," he replied before she pulled away and he returned to his seat across from her.

"Ok," she said as she reached for a small box that was sitting on the chair beside her, hidden under the table. "My turn," she handed him a beautifully wrapped box.

"Katie," he began, "you know you didn't need to get me anything."

"I know," she replied with a sly smile.

He sat back in his chair and went to work on unwrapping his gift. Once he got the wrapping paper off, he quickly opened it and was confused at first about what he found.

Inside, he found a pregnancy test. "What is this?" he asked, as he held it up, "W-What…" But before he could ask anything else, he turned it around and noticed the small screen with a pink plus sign. His eyes glanced up at her, wide and hopeful. "Is this yours?"

Her eyes filled with water almost instantly and she let a few of her tears roll down her cheeks. "Happy Valentine's day, Ned," she said.

He suddenly looked up and met her eyes with his again. "Katie," he began, "is this…is this real? Are you pregnant?"

She nodded her head as tears of joy started to fall from both of their eyes. "Yes," she said.

She was suddenly so glad they'd done this at home and not in a restaurant. This was too emotional for the both of them to be done in public and thankfully her mother was babysitting the kids overnight.

"H-How long?" He asked.

"I just found out a couple of days ago," she answered.

"Oh my god," he said as he quickly stood up and engulfed her with his arms. He began plastering kisses all over her face. "This is amazing. I can't believe this is real."

"It's real," she whispered, "We're going to be parents again. It's finally going to happen."

His hands slowly touched her face and touched her forehead with his own. "Thank you, Katie," he whispered, tears still falling from their eyes, "This is the best gift anyone could give me."

"I love you, Ned," she said before she lightly pecked his lips.

Ned let go of her face and suddenly kneeled down in front of her stomach and lightly kissed it. The scene made her heart flutter. "I love you too," he said, "Both of you. So much."

When Katie couldn't fit her feet into her usual ankle boots, Ned would rub her swollen feet and ankles until she was purring in contentment.

"You can't be enjoying this, Ned," she stated one evening as she dug her spoon into a pint of strawberry ice cream. Willow sat beside her, idly picking at it too before going back to her coloring at the coffee table.

Looking up from where Ned was running his hands up her left calf, he smiled at her. "But I do. I like knowing that my touch can make you sound like that."

"Like what?" She hummed, squinting her eyes at him.

He demonstrated by kneading the arch of her foot with his thumbs.

She was unable to keep the sound of her pleasure in. "Mmm, my feet have been hurting all day. That feels incredible," she practically purred, scooting toward him on the couch.

"Like that," he chuckled.

"I make those noises all the time when we..." she trailed off, still unable to put a name to their lovemaking despite having him in her bed since she was eighteen. Especially with their daughter in the room. Asher was still as hockey practice.

"I know," he responded with a smile, pulling her foot up to drop a kiss on the arch. "And I still love it all same."

She knew he did. He showed her almost every night.

When she developed cravings for strange things like salted and pickled items or potatoes stuffed with cured bacon and cheese, he'd either go into the kitchen and whip it up for her or present it to her a few days later with no fanfare. It got to the point that she thought he'd had a supply of every possible food item hidden in their pantry just in case she might possibly want it.

She remembered the first time she had a craving.

"Ned..." she said, standing in the doorway of the kitchen a little nervously, a bowl of uneaten chicken noodle soup in her hands.

He looked up from where he was standing, washing out the dishes from their dinner. "Is there something wrong with the soup?" A little wrinkle formed between his eyebrows.

She shook her head. "I just want something to go with it. Something with cheese." She turned her eyes to him pleadingly. "Please?"

"As you wish." He winked at her.

That was all he ever said. 'As you wish.' No matter how strange the request. It was a little maddening and endearing at the same time.

The labor was even worse than she'd ever had before. Her labor with Asher had been hard and long, but she'd gotten off easy with Willow and wasn't in labor for more than a few hours and the pain was minimal compared to before, but she'd still gotten the epidural. This time, Katie was hoping to prevail and go all the way with no drugs.

But all of her talks with her mother and Delia in no way prepared her for the abdomen-piercing, back-splitting, pain.

Katie thought she was going to die. And if Ned and her mother weren't there with her for the whole twenty-eight hours, she probably would have.

The entire time Ned sat behind her, keeping a cool, wet rag on her forehead while he held her hands, telling her to squeeze them with all of her strength with each contraction. Katie was sure by the time her ordeal was over that she'd broken or at least bruised every bone in his hands.

But when their daughter was born, the smile on his face was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. It lit up the room, and it made her fall in love with him all over again.