Title: Holidays Spoiler: This FF is going to go through all of the holidays, starting with Halloween. Chapter 4, Chapter 5, and Chapter 6 Takes place on 11/10/03. Chapter 7 Takes place on Veterans Day.

Rating: PG-13 Disclaimer I have nothing to do with The Agency and receive no compensation

A/N I will be updating with a new chapter each day until Veteran's Day.

Chapter 4: Only 1/2 Inch

On November 10th Stiles woke up before Terri. He couldn't help smiling as he was watched her sleep. He couldn't believe that he would be happy just sitting in bed next to her watching her, knowing that inside her a part of him was growing. He moved the covers and gently rubbed her stomach.

He was happy that Terri was sleeping, she had been having a terrible bout with morning sickness. He was able to make her laugh last night when she was so sick, he asked her. "Why do they call it morning sickness, you seem to have it all the time?" Stiles didn't know what he could do for her.

He couldn't fall back to sleep. He picked up the book on his nightstand it was all about having a baby, and what to expect. Stiles looked up 6 weeks, that was how far along Terri was.

He began reading. The embryo is the size of a small bean, about a half an inch long, this week. Stiles smiled 1/2 inch. He took out a ruler that was in the drawer next to his bed he looked at that in amazement. It was almost impossible to comprehend.

The fetus has an oversized head in proportion to its body. The embryo's facial features are forming with dark spots where the eyes are, openings where the nostrils will be, and pits to mark the ears. Protruding buds that will become the arms and legs are even more noticeable now. The embryo's hands and feet look like paddles. Again Stiles just looked at the ruler, so much was happening to his baby, it was so small.

He continued reading, You can't hear it yet, but the heart is now beating between 100 and 130 beats per minute. He thought about that. It's little heart was beating. The baby was only 1/2 inch long.



Halfway through this week, the embryo makes its first movements. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until sometime in the second trimester before you get to enjoy feeling your baby's calisthenics. He put his hand on Terri's stomach. He couldn't help thinking about their baby moving around in there, he was disappointed that he would have to wait so long to be able to feel it moving around.

He couldn't believe Terri was willing to go through this, that she wanted to have a part of him inside her, especially since she had been so sick. He really felt bad about her feeling so sick. He read in the book that it usually started about 6 weeks but could start as early as 4 weeks. It had just started getting bad in the past few days. Stiles read something that he could do to help her. Stiles got out of bed and went down to the kitchen. He brought up a package of crackers, and put it on Terri's nightstand. He couldn't help just laying there watching her. Terri finally started to wake up. "Good morning, Gorgeous." Stiles said as he kissed her. "Terri I was reading that book, it said when you wake up you should nibble on a few crackers and then rest for a half hour before getting out of bed." Terri just smiled at him as he fed her a few crackers. Terri noticed that it seemed to help. She laid next to Stiles as he read to her about the baby's development. She loved watching him as he was so excited telling her it was only 1/2 inch. She laughed when he took out his ruler to show her exactly how big that was.

Terri was so amazed at this side of Stiles, he was so excited about the littlest things, literally only 1/2 inch things. The 30 minutes since Terri ate the crackers just flew by. It really seemed to help her. She kissed Stiles, "Thank you for caring so much." Stiles just laid in bed as Terri went to take her shower.

************************************************************************** Stiles couldn't help but think about his own relationship with his father. He always swore it would be different with his own child, now he was afraid, what if he wasn't a better father than Frederick. He hadn't talked to him much since he joined the Marines when he was 18. For 15 years, him and his father had been strangers. His mind drifted back to that day. The day he became his own man and for the first time in his life stood up to his father.

Frederick just couldn't understand why his son wouldn't follow in his footsteps and join the Air Force. Stiles never thought that he could live up to his father's expectations. He knew that if he had joined the Air Force he would have always lived in his shadow. Everything he did, he would be compared to the Great General Frederick Stiles. He was the youngest General in the Air Force. How could Stiles compete with that?

Stiles came back into the present, he couldn't believe Terri had invited his parents to stay with them. Stiles and his mother Hannah had always remained very close, in spite of the problems between father and son. It broke her heart that the two men she loved most couldn't stand to be in the same room. When Hannah called last week to tell them they were coming to DC for the Veteran's Day Festivities, Stiles wasn't home and Terri insisted they stay with them. She wasn't about to have her future mother-in-law and father-in-law stay at a hotel. She wanted to get to know them.

Stiles was furious, but he couldn't be mad at Terri, she didn't know about his father. Hannah should have known better. When he called her back Hannah told him it was time for them to work things out.

Terri came out of the shower. "I don't know what to where?" Stiles looked up, he was so lost in his thoughts he didn't realize she was standing there. "Stiles are you ok?"

"Terri, I haven't really talked to Dad in 15 years. He usually just gives me the generic how you doing, then hands the phone to my mother."

"Stiles things are different now." Terri said as she pointed to her stomach. "He's going to be a grandfather."

"I don't know Terri." he told her shaking his head.

"Stiles you better get ready we're picking them up at the airport." Stiles slowly got up and went to take his shower.

Once again he was lost in his thoughts. He remembered when his paternal grandfather died. He was able to get a bereavement leave and go to the funeral. Stiles showed up dressed in his Marine Uniform. He had just been promoted to rank of Captain. His father just looked at him. "Go change out of that uniform. It's a disgrace to me and your Grandfather. Stiles men have always been Air Force."

Stiles remembered how low he felt. It was shortly after that he went to Hopetown and met Dacia. His father would have never approved. Looking back Stiles wondered if that was part of the reason he got involved with her. He knew that he wasn't really in love with her, he walked away too easily. He was sure he could never walk away from Terri, and he proved it the day he disobeyed orders and went to rescue her from that barn, last May.

"Stiles hurry up or we're gonna be late."

Stiles walked out of the bathroom, "Sorry, I'll be ready in a minute."

Terri was now feeling bad that she invited them. "I'm sorry I asked them to stay."

"It's not your fault. My mother wants us to try to get along. I'm just afraid too much time has gone by." he said the rest very quiet but Terri couldn't help hearing it. "I'm afraid I'll be the same type of father he was."

Terri walked up and hugged him, "Stiles tell me again what our baby is like right now."

Stiles smiled and started telling her word for word what he read from the book. "I just can't believe he or she is only 1/2 inch."

"Stiles you could never turn your back on this baby. Listen to yourself."

Stiles just put his arms around Terri. He couldn't help but wonder if his father was ever that excited about him.