July 25th, 2003

Week 36

Sweat poured off of her body. Her hair clung to her back. It was almost a hundred degrees outside and mixing that with being pregnant didn't help Ronnie one bit. The pregnancy was taking a toll on her body and she was ready to get it over with.

"I can't do this." Ronnie groaned. Danny made sure the air conditioner was on the highest it could go.

"Want me to go get you some ice cream?" Danny asked.

"I want this baby out." Ronnie moaned. He smiled and sat behind her. He ran his thumbs down her back, "That feels good."

"The magical Hanson hands." He snickered.

"Is the air conditioner on?" Ronnie started to groan again.

"Yeah it is." Danny said. Ronnie growled and got up.

"This is fucking ridiculous." She growled stalking to the air conditioner, "Why the hell doesn't it work right?"

"It's working just fine, Ronnie." Danny said. Ronnie shot him an evil look and stalked to the bathroom, "Ronnie?"

"I'm taking an ice cold shower." Ronnie said pulling her shirt off and turning the water on; "I hate being pregnant."

"You know you love it." Danny said as he watched her climb into the shower. She shook her head as she soaked her hair.

"I do not love it." She said, "We're only doing this once."

"We'll see. We do need a daughter." Danny said.

"Maybe Christopher will come out Christine." Ronnie muttered and let the water chill her large body. Why did this suck so much?

"You look gorgeous." Danny said. Ronnie opened her eyes up.

"I can't believe you're looking at me!" She snapped.

"Why shouldn't I look at you?" Danny asked.

"Because. That's why." Ronnie said. Boy was Ronnie moody.

"Want me to get in there and massage your back?" He asked.

"There'll be shrinkage." Ronnie said. Danny chuckled gently.

"That's okay. I'm not trying to impress you." He said taking his shorts off. Ronnie couldn't help but to giggle.

"I can't believe this is almost over." Ronnie said. "Soon we'll be holding him in our arms." Danny smiled as he climbed into the shower with her.

"We survived the pregnancy. We did pretty well." Danny said running his hands down her back. She groaned slightly.

"You think Christian will make this labour go okay?"

"Yeah, he will be holding your hand through out the whole thing." Danny chuckled. Ronnie smiled softly as she leaned back against him.

"This is nice." She whispered. Danny wrapped his arms around his fiancée and placed his hands on her stomach.

"Very nice." Danny said, "So we have everything all ready and everything?" Ronnie nodded and closed her eyes.

"Nursery done and Hospital bag is already in the car. I don't think there's anything else left for us to do but wait." Ronnie said.

"Good. I can wait well." Danny chuckled. Ronnie smiled softly. She hoped she could wait well. She was sure this pregnancy would go even slower now.

August 9th, 2003

Week 38

Ronnie felt like a boat. No, she felt more like a house with a whale inside of it. Two weeks…She was counting down the days. She really hoped she would go earlier. Ronnie had been trying all the wives tales she could think of. She and Danny had sex a lot more. She had eaten an entire jar of hot peppers. She and Danny had driven down bumpy roads. She would have gotten down on her hands and knees to scrub the floor, but she couldn't get all the way down there. They had concluded that Christopher would could when he was good and ready.

"Danny? You out of the shower?" She asked as she waddled down the hallway. The sound of water seeped from the bathroom. She sighed softly as the doorbell rang. "Coming." It took her a lot longer in the last few weeks to walk. She opened the door and her face fell. A very well dressed, Vicki and Edward Cook stood in front of her. Ronnie's heart pounded. "Mom. Dad."

"Veronica." Vicki smile brightly, "Oh look at yourself. You're as big as a house." She wrapped her arms around Ronnie's shoulders.

"Thanks." Ronnie mumbled.

"Be kind Vicki." Edward smiled, "Pumpkin, how are you?"

"In shock." Ronnie pulled away, "Why are you here?"

"Well, your mother was in town for a conference so we decided to see our baby." Edward said as he walked into the apartment.

"Oh." Ronnie rubbed her neck. She heard the water shut off.

"So…This apartment…It's very quaint." Vicki said as she looked around.

"That's what I was going for, Mother." Ronnie said softly, "I'll be right back. Make yourselves at home." She rushed down the hallway and burst into the bathroom, "Oh my fucking god."

"Are you okay??" Danny wrapped a towel around him.

"No! My parents are here." The colour drained from Danny's face.

"Your…Your parents?" He stuttered. Ronnie nodded.

"They're sitting in our living room right now." Ronnie said, "Oh Danny. I can't deal with them right now. They've been here for three minutes and I've already been insulted twice." He nodded.

"Um…okay…Let me get dressed." Danny mumbled and rushed to the bedroom. Ronnie shivered as she walked out to the living room. Her mother was flipping through a photo album.

"Danny will be right out. He was in the shower." She said. Vicki nodded.

"You're a lot paler than you used to be. You need to get more sun." Vicki said. Edward chuckled softly at his wife.

"I know, Mother." Ronnie sighed softly as Danny walked out.

"Ah…Hi." Danny said. Ronnie took Danny's hand.

"Mom…Dad, this is Danny." She said softly. Edward stood up.

"Pleased to meet you, Son." He extended his hand.

"Likewise, Sir." Danny said shaking it. He looked at Vicki.

"Don't min my wife. Her bark is worse than her bite." He chuckled. Vicki narrowed her eyes and stood up.

"It's nice to meet you, Daniel." Vicki said not extending her hand.

"Same here, Ma'am." Danny said. Boy was he nervous. Ronnie had always told him her parents were difficult, but this was ridiculous. "May I get you some iced Tea or lemonade?"

"Ice tea would be fine." Vicki said as she sat back down.

"How was your drive?" Ronnie asked as she eased herself down.

"Vicki complained the whole time." Edward laughed.

"What's new?" Ronnie asked.

"Veronica." Vicki frowned deeply. Ronnie chuckled.

"Sorry, Mother." Ronnie said.

"So…Daniel…He's….different." Vicki said. Ronnie shook her head.

"He's from Brooklyn if that's what you mean." Ronnie said.

"Yes…I suppose it is." Vicki said. She still looked uncomfortable.

"Mother, you don't have to stay." Ronnie said, "You made your appearance." Vicki breathed out deeply.

"Thank you." Vicki chuckled as she stood up. Danny walked back in, "Oh Daniel, I'm so sorry to cause so much trouble but Edward and I really must go now. Thank you for the lovely time."

"Oh." Danny stood there with the ice tea. Ronnie chuckled.

"I'll drink it all, Sweetie." She said leading her parents out.

"Ronnie, cal us soon." Edward said, "Before you're wedding."

"I will, Daddy." Ronnie chuckled giving him a kiss.

"Let us know when…that baby comes." Vicki said. Ronnie smiled softly.

"We will." She said.

"Make sure you eat right before you get married." Vicki said, "We want you to fit into your dress." Ronnie nodded.

"I'll be sure to." Ronnie said, "Goodbye."

"Bye, Ronnie." Edward took his wife's hand and walked to the elevator. Ronnie shut the door and looked at Danny.

"I hope we don't turn out like that." She said. Danny chuckled.

"We wont. I promise." Danny leaned over and kissed her softly. He caressed her stomach softly. No matter what her parents would throw at her, she would be strong. She would be a good mother and a good wife…not like her mother.