Part Four

Sydney tucks her son into bed that night, brushing his brown hair away from his forehead. She has just read him a story, and now it is time to say goodnight.

"Goodnight, sweetie," she says fondly. She has a soft spot for her little boy; he is so sweet, has such a good heart. "I love you very much."

"I love you, too, Mommy," he says. "I'm happy you're having a baby."

"Thank you, sweetie." She kisses the top of his head and moves toward the door. "You want me to leave the door open a crack?"

"Yes, please."

"Okay. Goodnight, Mommy."

"Goodnight, Jack."

She can hear Michael's voice in Emily's room and figures that he has not finished tucking her in yet, so she moves to join them. She reaches the doorway just in time to hear Emily ask, "How did the baby get in Mommy's tummy, Daddy?"

Sydney leans against the doorjamb, interested to hear how he'll answer this one.

There is a long moment of silence before he begins, "Well, Emily, when two people really love each other--"

"Michael," Sydney says, rolling her eyes.

He glances at her. "Hmm?"

"I think we can save the birds and the bees speech until she's at least four, okay?"

Michael blushes. "Okay. Goodnight, Emily."

"Goodnight, Daddy. Come here, Mommy," Emily demands. "I want to say goodnight to you and Sam."

Sydney smiles and approaches the bed. "Goodnight, sweetheart," she says, smoothing her daughter's hair.

"Goodnight, Mommy. Goodnight, Sam," Emily says, patting Sydney's stomach.

"You're so sweet," Sydney tells her. It's true. Her daughter can be bratty, but she, like her brother, has a heart of gold.

"I love you, Mommy."

"I love you too, sweetheart." She and Michael take turns giving their little girl goodnight kisses, then they leave the room together.

"Grace and Jack asleep?" Michael asks as she slips her arm around his waist and lays her head on his shoulder.

"Grace was before I put her in the crib, and Jack's all settled in," Sydney reports.

"Do you want to go downstairs and watch TV for awhile, or do you want to go to bed?" he asks.

"Let's just go to bed," she says with a yawn. "It's been a long day."

"Yes, it has."

"So," he says as they go about the business of changing out of their clothes-- he sleeps in an undershirt and boxers, she in pajama pants and a tank top. "You know we're going to have to name that baby Sam whether it's a boy or girl now."

"Actually," Sydney says, moving into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. "I was thinking I'd like to call it Maggie, if it's a girl. Short for Marguerite, for your mother." Jack William is named after both of their fathers, and Grace was Sydney's mother's middle name, so they have the rest of their parents covered.

"That's a great idea, Syd," Michael says with a smile. "Maggie Michelle Vaughn."

Sydney rolls her eyes. "Determined to get your own name in there, aren't you?"

He smiles, moving behind her to go about brushing his own teeth and washing his own face. "Well, this is probably going to be the last baby."

"Probably?" she repeats. "Nuh-uh. No probably, Michael. Is. You're getting a vasectomy after this."

"What, you're serious?"

"You don't really want to try for five, do you?" she asks, horrified.

"Well…no," he says. "But a vasectomy?"

"It's a very simple procedure," she informs him, spitting out a mouthful of toothpaste. "Outpatient surgery."

"You asked the doctor about it, didn't you?"

"Maybe," she says, moving back to their bedroom. "Anyway, it's either that or never have sex again."

The look on his face is so horrified that she has to laugh. "Okay. Vasectomy. Do you want me to call and make an appointment tomorrow, or--?"

She giggles. "You can wait till after the baby's born, if you want. I don't think I can get pregnant again."

"In that case," he says with a devilish smile. He leans over to kiss her, and within a few seconds, she is kissing him back with abandon.

"Love you, Mike," she breathes as his lips travel down her neck.

"Love you, Syd."