A/N: Just wanted to say thanks for the kind reviews. Yes, there will be eighteen more. I'd also like to thank KateM for beta-ing for me. That's pretty much it. Enjoy. Alexandri

March 27, 2017

Adam jogged up the stairs toward his and Joan's apartment. It was late, almost nine. As much as he liked teaching at NYU, he hated the late nights. Joan would be tired; she might even be asleep already. The pregnancy had taken a lot out of her. Unlocking the front door, he figured he'd slip in quietly, just in case.

He laid his briefcase on the sofa. She wasn't in the living room and a glance told him she wasn't in the kitchen. Tugging at his tie, he went to their bedroom. The only light came from the bathroom, something she often did when he was late and she couldn't stay up any longer. But she wasn't in bed. Adam opened his mouth to call her name as he turned toward the bathroom.

Joan stood nude in front of the sink. Her chestnut hair gleamed in the light as it framed her serene, smiling face and caressed her back, shoulders, and breasts. Slowly, reverently, she slid her hands over her swollen belly. With infinite delicacy, her fingers traced across her taut skin as if she were stroking the baby inside.

Adam's breath caught at the sight of her. He stood in the middle of their room, shrouded in shadow, not daring to move or even breathe for fear of spoiling the moment. His eyes glided over her, taking in the changes the pregnancy had caused. Her arms and legs were softer, rounder like the women in Renaissance paintings. Her breasts were fuller, something he'd taken full advantage of the last few months. But it was her stomach that fascinated him. He'd spent hours caressing it, kissing it, talking to the baby while she laughed at the silly stories he made up. Sometimes he'd simply pressed his ear to her belly and listen while she ran her fingers through his hair. Watching her, he once again felt the awe he'd experienced when she'd first told him they were going to have a baby.

Suddenly, she turned toward the shower and checked the water. She adjusted it, checked it again and then twisted her hair up before stepping in, closing the curtain behind her.

Adam stood motionless after Joan got in the shower. He knew his wife was beautiful. He'd known it since the very first time he laid eyes on her. Yet there were moments when her beauty surpassed his experience, when her radiance took on some heretofore-unknown dimension that left him breathless and enchanted. He waited for his captivation to subside, then took off his clothes. Quietly, he slipped into the bathroom and got in the shower with his wife. Slipping his arms around her burgeoning waist, he pressed against her back and nuzzled her neck. "Hey."

"Hey," she returned as she leaned back in his arms. "How was your day?"

"Long. You?"

"Same," she sighed. "I'm glad you're home."

He turned her in his arms and kissed her. "So am I."

April 3, 2017

My precious Jane,

There are times when I wonder how I got so lucky. What did I do to deserve a woman like you? How is it possible that I inspire the same look of timeless love in your eyes that I feel in my heart? Why do you smile when I touch you, moan when I kiss you, melt when I hold you, and sigh when I leave you? What have I done to merit the devotion that you bestow on me? I often ponder the answer to these questions but I've yet to find any answers. So I've decided to stop questioning Fate, destiny, God, all of it. I do have you. You do feel the same timeless love that I feel. You do smile when I touch you, moan when I kiss you, melt when I hold you, and sigh when I leave you which I never want to do. I do have your devotion whether I deserve it or not. I'm grateful for that every day. I'm grateful for you.

But more than anything, I'm grateful for what you've shown me. With you, the world is a place of wonder and joy, possibility and hope. There is no greater example of that than the baby you're carrying. I never thought about having children before you, never dreamed that I'd be someone's father. How can I ever thank you for constantly showing me how multi-faceted, how very rich life can be? I guess the only solution is to make it as multi-faceted and rich for you as I can. I think, though, that you have me outmatched in that department.

People often talk about the miracle of childbirth and how life-altering it is to hold your newborn child, especially your first one, for the first time. I suppose we'll find out soon enough. But this past year has been awe-inspiring. Watching your body change, going to classes with you, all of it—sharing this pregnancy with you is by far the most amazing experience of my life. I wish I could share the pain with you as well as the joy so that you wouldn't have to do it all by yourself. I can't share the pain of pregnancy with you, but know that you will never have to raise our child alone. I will always be with you, both of you. There's no other place I'd rather be than by your side.

With All My Love,

Adam