Disclaimer: see first chapter

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, but I've been getting over the flu the past couple days. By the timeline I'm following, Sara is at 22 weeks (five and a half months) by this chapter. I'm not exactly sure how this chapter turned out, so let me know what you think about the direction it took. On with the story!

Four weeks later

Sara leaned her head against the passenger side window of Nick's Denali, absentmindedly singing along with the radio while Nick drove her home. This was their usual custom: Nick would drive her home, they would have dinner, watch TV or a movie, and Nick would either fall asleep on her couch, or head home for a couple hours of sleep and a shower before returning to pick her up before shift. She found comfort in this routine, but since her conversation with Catherine at the Christmas party, she was unsure of exactly what it meant. The awkwardness had continued between Nick and Sara for a few days, but then they fell back into their old routine, though this time they were each aware of their feelings for the other.

Thinking back, Sara couldn't remember the last night that Nick hadn't spent with her. She knew for a fact that he had declined several invitations from Warrick and Greg to go out for a beer after shift, or to catch a game on his day off. Surely, she couldn't be as good of company as they were, night after night.

She was so lost in her thoughts that it was several minutes before she noticed Nick chuckling at her from the driver's seat.

"What's so funny?" she asked self-consciously.

"Nothing…It's just nice to see what an influence I've had on you." She furrowed her brow and glanced over at him, waiting for him to clarify. "Well, you just sang nearly all the way through 'Suds in the Bucket.' Glad to see I've changed your taste in music so much that you actually know the lyrics." Nick was by no means a stereotypical country boy, listening only to music that twanged, but Sara had noticed, more often than not, that his car radio gravitated to the local country station when they were in the Denali for extended periods of time.

Sara rolled her eyes at the pleased look on Nick's face and turned back to the window, trying to suppress a smile. It was then that she realized he had passed the road they normally turned down to get to her apartment.

"Hey Nick, you missed the turn back there…"

"No I didn't. I want to show you something at my place, you don't mind, do you?"

Sara gave him a confused look, but shook her head. "What's at your place?"

"You'll just have to wait and see," Nick responded with a grin. He saw Sara begin to pout next to him and chortled. "Nope, that's not gonna work on me today. Trust me, I think it's worth it."

Sara pouted the rest of the way to Nick's house, earning her a few chuckles from Nick. Soon they were parked in the driveway, and Nick led her to his front porch before turning around and halting at the door.

"You've gotta close your eyes, Sar."

"Nick, I'm gonna fall on my ass," she protested, crossing her arms in emphasis.

Nick rolled his eyes. "Do you really think I'd let you trip? Now come on Sar, you don't close your eyes, you don't get your present."

Sara squealed, surprising Nick and causing him to laugh. "It's a present? For me?"

"My god, if I had been standing any closer to you, you might have blown out my hearing," Nick teased as he placed his hand over Sara's eyes. When he was satisfied that she would keep her eyes closed, he moved his hand from her face to the small of her back and guided her through the door.

Sara felt him walk her through the living room and stop her at some doorway; either his bedroom or his office. He brought both of his hands up to her shoulders, and Sara felt his hot breath tickle her ear as he whispered, "Okay, you can open your eyes now."

When Sara opened her eyes, she saw the most beautiful glider sitting in the middle of Nick's office. It was an oak, mission style glider, shining lustrously with matching ottoman. Sara opened her mouth to speak, but each time her voice caught somewhere in the back of her throat. Instead she turned around, noticing the expectant look in Nick's eyes. She gave him a watery smile before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close.

"Did I actually render you speechless?" he whispered in her ear, before planting a kiss on the top of her head.

"It's beautiful Nick," she finally managed to get out, drawing her hand across her face in an attempt to wipe away the few tears that had escaped.

"It was supposed to be here in time for Christmas…but that fine Amish craftsmanship can't be rushed by time I guess. I saw the display down in Laughlin, and I thought it would be perfect for you. And it even matches that crib and dresser set we were looking at…"

Sara had already walked over to the glider and was running a hand over the smooth wood of the arm. "Oh Nick, I can't believe you did this…it's gorgeous," she murmured, finally easing herself into the glider to try it out.

"It came with the padding too, but it's still packed away. I got it in beige, that way it shouldn't clash with whatever other stuff you decide on. You really like it?"

Sara just looked up at him and grinned. "Nick, I love it, it's absolutely perfect! Oh!" Sudden movement in her abdomen startled Sara. She had been able to feel the baby move around for about two weeks, but it was still a surprising sensation each time it happened. Both Catherine and her doctor had explained to her how it would feel, but she wasn't quite used to the butterfly sensation against her abdomen. And this time she thought it might finally be enough for someone else to feel. Everyone had been waiting, not so patiently, to feel the first kick. "And I think she likes it too. Nick, come here," she called excitedly.

When Nick just looked at her, she rolled her eyes. "Get over here, don't you want to feel her kick?" Nick's eyes lit up and he knelt next to her, letting her guide his hand to the spot where she had felt the baby's movement. When she had his hand in place, she pressed on it gently with her own.

Sara knew the second he felt her kick, as a huge grin spread across his face. "I think that's her way of saying thank you to her Uncle Nick for this wonderful present."

"Well, this is the present for her mom. She hasn't seen hers yet…"

"Nick, tell me you didn't….this is enough, more than enough really. I can't imagine how much…" Sara was cut off by Nick's finger pressing firming against her lips.

"Don't even Sara. I wanted to do this, and nothing is too good for my girls, okay?" Sara's eyes widened as she nodded mutely, her brain trying to process the full impact of his statement. Her mind was still fuzzy as Nick reached behind the glider and pulled out a small box, and then handed it to Sara. Her head began to clear as she examined the small oak box and its ornate swirls and grooves on the top. Nick turned it over in her hands, bringing her attention to the fact that it was a music box. He wound it a few times, and then Sara turned it back over and opened the lid. Strains of Somewhere Over the Rainbow filled the room.

"I thought you could put it in her room, and play it for her sometimes, and then when she gets older, she can use it to put, well…I guess whatever girls put in music boxes."

Sara watched as Nick placed his hand on her abdomen again, noticing the hopeful look on his face that she would kick again. She couldn't help the tears that began to stream down her cheeks, and she tried to wipe them away before Nick noticed. Unfortunately for her, he chose that moment to look up at her and grin. His happiness turned to concern and he took the music box from her hands, setting it on the floor next to him, and enveloped her in a hug. This only caused her to sob.

"Sar, what's wrong?"

She looked up at him for a moment, sniffling, before dissolving into tears again. "Nick, you're just so good to me…to both of us. You're wonderful…"

Nick rubbed circles on her back giving her a confused look. "And that's a bad thing?"

"No," she hiccupped, "but…I don't know what's going on anymore. Everything has been turned upside down these past few months."

"Sar, you're having a baby, yeah, it's gonna change your life…"

"I'm not just talking about the baby Nick," she snapped back, pulling away from him. Nick sighed and sat back on his heels, running his hand over his head in frustration.

"Sara, what's confusing you so much?"

She could see the hurt and worry in his eyes, and Sara took a deep breath, afraid that she was just about to ruin everything between them. She paused for a moment, wondering if she should just blame hormones and get out of the situation, but Nick probably wouldn't buy it, and in the long run, she needed to know.

"Why are you so good to me Nick? Why?"

That earned Sara another confused expression, though she noticed the tiniest bit of panic flash across his face first. "Sara, you're my friend, I care about you…"

"Warrick and Greg are my friends too, but they don't spend their time helping me pick out baby furniture, or rubbing my feet. They aren't giving up their social life to stay at home and watch movies with me. That's not it Nick, and you know it. Why won't you tell me?"

Nick leaned forward, reaching out tentatively to grasp her hand. He looked up into her eyes, and she saw the fear being reflected from her own eyes, and a hint of sadness. "Because I don't think you're ready to hear it yet."

"Nick," she sniffled, but he cut her off with a weak smile and a squeeze of her hand.

"No, Sar, it's okay. I know you're scared and confused, and your hormones are on overdrive, and the last thing I want to do is give you any more stress, okay? I can wait, I'm not going anywhere…" To emphasize his point, Nick embraced her again, stroking her hair as she sniffled into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, wiping away the last of her tears.

"Nothin to be sorry about, darlin. Besides, I know you'll come around…no girl can resist the old Stokes charm."

Nick grinned at her, and Sara could feel a smile tugging at her own lips. His smile was sincere, and though she could still see the pain in his eyes, she knew he understood her hesitation. In an uncharacteristic move, Sara leaned towards him and planted a soft kiss on his cheek, before trying to push herself up out of the chair. Her sense of balance was beginning to change, and it usually took her a few tries to get up. Nick offered her his hand, and she entwined her fingers with his as they walked towards the door.

"You want to pick up some Chinese on the way to your place?" Nick queried as he locked the door to his house. Sara nodded and started towards the car. Part way there, something occurred to her, and she turned back to seem him grabbing the mail from his mailbox.

"Nick?" she called out, walking back towards him. He turned around, waiting for her to finish. "I just want you to know…I really appreciate everything you've done for me…" She paused for a moment, gathering the courage to finish. "I'm confused…these feelings…I don't know what to do about them." She knew he understood, but she couldn't help but try to explain, especially since he was being so great about the situation.

Nick quickly caught up with her, lacing their arms together as he propelled her carefully towards the car. "Sar, you don't have to say anything until you're ready. Like I said, I'm not going anywhere, okay?" Sara nodded, allowing him to open the passenger door and offer her a hand as she climbed into the car. "Now, how about that Chinese…"

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