Several months later...
At 10 o'clock one evening, Christine left her bedroom to answer a knock at the door.
"Who's there?" she called out, tying her robe.
"Sullivan, it's Tony," answered her ex.
Christine was taken aback at the return of the man who broke her heart months before. But wait until he sees her little surprise.
When she opened the door, Detective Tony Guiliano's face dropped when he noted his ex-girlfriend's baby bump.
"Sullivan, you're-you're-"
"I think the word you're looking for is 'pregnant'," she said, with a straight face.
Christine was inwardly thrilled that now he was the one to be caught off-guard by astonishing news.
He pointed at her belly. "That couldn't be mine, could it?"
"Obviously, your math skills need improvement, Detective Guiliano. This is not your baby. It's my fiancé's."
"Oh. Well, congratulations," he said, laughing nervously.
"Thank you," she smiled. "To what do I owe this sudden visit?"
"Well, uh, I thought that we could go out for a late dinner to talk and...well, obviously, you have other plans. I'm sorry about how everything ended between us, Christine."
"I'm sorry, too, Tony. Well, it's nice seeing you again. Take care of yourself, okay?" she said.
"Yeah, thanks. You too. See ya around."
After he left, she closed the door, proud that she had overcome that man.
"Honey, who was that?"
Harry stood at the bathroom door, brushing his teeth.
"That was someone looking for the Neilsons upstairs," she answered, not wanting Tony's presence to spoil Harry's mood.
"Oh. Hold on."
Harry went to gargle and wipe his mouth, ready to turn in for the night. He switched off the bathroom light and happily took his expecting fiancée into his arms.
"You know, I miss you as my public defender," he smiled.
Since Christine was assigned to another courtroom, Harry ended up with a replacement who was less than cheery as Christine but was able to put Dan on his A-game. However, the benefits outweighed the loss for Harry since he moved in with Christine and was now planning their wedding to come before the birth of their child. Christine would have loved to be married first before her pregnancy, but she didn't want a quicky courthouse wedding to save face. They decided on a small, intimate setting in a private hall for their nuptials. Christine wished that she could have had an elaborate wedding like her royal idols, only with less pomp and circumstances. She still planned to buy a tiara from a costume shop for her wedding attire.
"How's everyone adjusting to the new public defender?"
"Ah, she's growing on us, but I think that she's too much for Dan. Every time she comes into the courtroom, Dan literally hides under the desk until Bull coaxes him out," said Harry.
"Wasn't she a champion weightlifter?" asked Christine.
"Yep. And I thought at one point she was going to break me in half when I ruled against her client."
"Then she'll have to deal with me, Your Honor," grinned Christine.
Harry beamed as they went hand-in-hand into their bedroom where her Charles and Diana memorabilia lived in harmony with Harry's Mel Torme records and collector items.
As they settled in bed, Christine said, "I've been thinking of names for the baby."
"Yeah?" he smiled, caressing her midsection while propped up on one arm.
"Yeah," she replied. "If it's a boy, would you like for him to be a junior?"
Harry cringed. "What? And curse him with being 'Harry, Junior'? No, Christine."
"So, what do you have in mind?"
"Something masculine and practical...like Melvin," he smiled eagerly.
"Over my dead body we'll name our child after Mel Torme," said Christine, with finality.
"But Mel's a good name, Christine."
"No!"
Harry sulked.
"I have a good one: Charles," smiled Christine.
"As in Prince Charles?" asked Harry, with another cringe-worthy look.
"Yes. That's a good name and we could call him...Charlie. Charlie Stone. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
"Charlie Stone," said Harry, thoughtfully. "You know, that's not too bad. Charlie Stone. His Honor, Charles M. Stone, the son of the wittiest, yet charming, Judge Harold T. Stone."
"And what does the 'M' stand for, pray tell?" Christine asked, arms folded.
Harry smiled. "Melvin!"
"Oh, brother!" sighed Christine. "Okay, Harry. I'll allow it. Charles Melvin Stone, it is."
"Oh, thank you, darling!" he exclaimed, showering Christine with kisses.
"Okay, Harry, we need to think of a girl's name." she stated, playfully pushing him away.
"Melody!"
"No!"
"Awwww!"
After running down a few girl names, with Harry vehemently protesting against 'Diana,' the couple settled in for the night. Harry, who was too excited to sleep, laid a hand on his future wife's belly and caressed it.
"Whatever you turn out to be," he whispered, "just know that we'll love you all the same. Good night, Baby Stone."
He kissed Christine's stomach and turned over. Thinking about the months that passed by, Harry felt no regrets or angst for what took place between he and Christine. Yes, he admitted to being afraid to love her, but now he was glad that he took the chance. It may not have been ethical, but it felt so right to be with the woman he longed for. And Christine felt the same way for the judge who now constantly made her smile.
