Jackie sat on the edge of the bed. She and Booker had just bought their new apartment, and their things were still being brought in from Wilsted.

They had had a long discussion concerning staying in the city. Jackie didn't want to take Booker away from Wilsted, and Booker didn't want to leave Jackie in New York.

"What about your job?" Jackie asked.

"I can always find a position at the precinct," Booker reasoned. "I want to be wherever you are, and if it's New York, then here I am."

So here they were, in an apartment on Lexington Avenue. The cost of the house was surprisingly lower than they had expected, and the view was amazing. They were on the next-to-top floor, and below them was spread out all of Midtown and Upper Manhattan. Central Park was like a vast green spread. Hunter College, a local university, was pretty close. Hell, NYU was just a train ride away. Jackie loved New York.

She had always preferred Wilsted to New York, though, and now that sense of homesickness was pulling at her again.

She hadn't been feeling well lately, and she wondered if she had the flu. Jackie had already gone to the doctor the other day, and now she was waiting for Booker to come back with some aspirin.

The phone rang, but Jackie didn't pick it up. She was too tired. Rehearsal had just ended an hour ago, and she was exhausted.

The answering machine beeped and the message started to record. "Yes, hello, Miss Laine. This is Doctor Schumann. Um, apparently you do not have the flu. But, congratulations, Miss Laine, you are five weeks pregnant. Call me if you have any questions."

Jackie stared at the little blinking red light on the machine. "I'm what?!" she asked aloud as the door opened.

"I don't know," Booker said as he came into the room.

"Listen." Jackie pressed the small blue button again. The message played itself through, and Booker's shocked eyes met Jackie's. Jackie looked down at her flat stomach, her eyes wide. "How... we've only been in New York a month... That means I was pregnant when we left Wilsted."

"Um...how could you not know?" Booker asked delicately.

Jackie flushed red. "I'm irregular sometimes. But I thought my body had adjusted itself years ago."

Booker sat for a moment more. "Do you know what this means?" he asked softly.

Jackie's eyes met his. "We're gonna be a family, Jackie," Booker whispered, taking her hands in his.

Jackie's eyes filled with tears as Booker hugged her. "This is... unbelievable," Jackie said. "I'm a mommy. You're a daddy."

Booker laughed for the sheer joy of it. "I know. Isn't it great?" Jackie joined in his laughter.

Then she sobered suddenly. "I can't be Belle."

Booker's smile dimmed a little. "Oh, Jackie."

Jackie lowered her eyes to her lap, tears spilling over for a different reason.

Booker slid both arms around her. "Oh, Jackie. I'm so sorry."

Jackie let out one sob. "I'm so happy," she managed, surprising Booker. He thought she was disappointed. "I'm so disappointed, but so happy."

Booker smiled. "So I guess we better get over to Lenox Hill," he said, referring to the nearest hospital on Lexington Avenue. "And get those birth forms filled out early."

Jackie shook her head. "I'm not having the baby here."

Booker looked over at her. "What?"

"We're going home," Jackie said. "Remember what I said a long time ago, back in high school? If I ever wanted a family and home, it was going to be right there in Wilsted."

Booker couldn't help the huge smile that bloomed on his face. "Are you serious?"

"Of course," Jackie said, a smile of her own coming to light. "I just have to tell them that I can't do the Broadway thing. I can still use my police certification back in Wilsted, maybe become an officer. Once the baby is born, of course."

"Yeah," Booker said, drawing her into his arms. "Once our baby is born." This was said with great satisfaction.