"How are we doing today, Mrs. Scott?" Dr. Zierke asked as he washed his hands and put on rubber gloves.

"Fine, thank you", Megan answered politely as she tried to relax on the examining table.

"You are here today for your 17 week routine check up?" he verified.

"Yes."

"And everything has been going okay? Nothing too out of the ordinary?"

"Um, I'm fine, it's just that with the books I've been reading and all, they say I should have been able to feel the baby kicking by now…and I haven't. Um, I was just wondering if that's normal. Is everything okay?"

"Depending on the size and position of the fetus, it varies the exact timeframe when the mother can feel the fetal movements. Just because you don't feel it, doesn't mean it isn't happening but we'll check the heart rate and then do an ultrasound to see what's going on."

"Thank you", she said nervously as he called in the female assistant.

Megan wished she had her Rosary beads as she mouthed a silent prayer. Her baby had to be okay.

"Just relax, Mrs. Scott", Erin, the nurse soothed her.

Megan took a deep breath as they lifted her shirt and exposed the growing bump of her middle. She closed her eyes and jumped, startled as the door to the private examining room burst open. Mandy, the receptionist smiled.

"Sorry to interrupt but I found someone roaming the halls. Does he belong to you, Mrs. Scott?"

Megan looked up. To her surprise, it was her husband.

"Nathan! Oh my God. What…what are you doing here?"

"I didn't want to miss the appointment", he said, hands shoved inside the practice shorts he was still wearing.

She couldn't believe it. Over the past few months, he had barely seemed to be aware of her very existence. She was literally blown away that he had been listening when she had mentioned the Obstetrics appointment.

"Well, come in, Mr. Scott. We're pleased to have you join us today. I'm Dr. Zierke. It's nice to finally meet you."

They shook hands and Nathan awkwardly stood by his wife.

"You okay?" he whispered.

"I'm better…now that you're here. I can't believe you came. What about practice?"

"Practice can wait", he said. "This is more important."

Hearing him speak those words, then proving them with his actions made her feel an amazing sense of security she hadn't felt in a long time. She couldn't take her eyes off her husband's handsome face, oblivious to everything going on around her…that is until she heard it.

"There you go", the doctor grinned.

"Is that…"

"That is your baby's heartbeat, Mr. Scott."

Nathan and Megan looked at each other in awe as the loud, steady noise mesmerized their attention. It was real. Of course it had been real all along but this made it even more real. The sound was tangible, solid proof along with her expanding waistline that there indeed was a child they had created together.

"Oh my God", she whispered. "It's so strong."

"Fetal heart rate is normal. Now Mrs. Scott, please forgive me for cold hands and cold lubricant but it is needed to perform the ultrasound. If you and your husband will turn your attention to that monitor over there, in a few seconds we should be able to get our first look at Baby Scott."

The couple waited an anxious few seconds then sure enough the screen displayed the fuzzy image. The picture wasn't clear but something was moving and it was their baby.

"Everything looks great. Physical development is good for the gestational period. There is the heartbeat right there, and that's the head and the outline of the body and there's the feet and an arm right there…"

"Where's the other arm?" Nathan asked in a frightened tone.

The doctor and nurse laughed.

"Right there. It isn't extended. Your baby is sucking its thumb."

Tears of joy spilled down Megan's cheeks.

"Look", she pointed. "That's our little baby, Nate."

He couldn't peel his eyes away. It was the first time he was seeing his beloved child. It was nothing more than a funny looking fuzzy image on a computer but already he was in love.

"Mr. and Mrs. Scott, would you like to know the sex of your baby?"

"You can tell already just by looking at that?" Nathan wrinkled his nose.

"Yes", Dr. Zierke chuckled.

Nathan and Megan looked at each other for a moment.

"No", the both said in unison.

"Meg, if you want to…"

"It's okay, Nate", she smiled. "Let it be a surprise."

He nodded, staring at her. She was absolutely glowing and he had missed that contagious, mile wide grin on her face. A stray, blonde curl of hair had fallen into her face and he lovingly brushed it aside. She reached up and grabbed his hand, interlocking her own into it, rubbing the fingers gently. They have each other a smile…a real smile.

The appointment went as well as to be expected. Mother and child were in perfect health. The mood was good and lighthearted as Nathan waited outside for Megan to dress. She was once again stunned when she found him standing next to her car.

"Hey. Um, don't you have to get back?"

Nathan shrugged.

"Coach won't mind. What about you? You going back to work?"

"That was the plan."

"Well plans change", he grinned.

"What?"

"There's a great little Vietnamese place around the corner. I know I haven't been much of a husband lately but I was wondering if you'd have lunch with me anyway."

He looked like a shy little boy. But she had never been able to resist those baby blue eyes before.

"Okay", she nodded. "Um, I'll follow you over."

She trailed behind him in her vehicle a few streets over where they parked in the lot and he helped her out of the car and into the building. They were ushered to a corner booth in the near deserted restaurant, making small talk until the food finally came out.

"Mmmmm", she said, looking down at the feast for two in front of her.

"Maybe I shouldn't have let you order for me", he joked. "What is all this?"

"The chicken salad is called Goi Ga and all that stuff in it is just white cabbage, carrots, onions, and cilantro with a peanut topping. That is squid sautéed with mushrooms and broccoli. Try the soup, babe. It's spicy sour and it's really good."

"I'll take your word for it", he dug in.

He watched her eat, knowing the nutrients going into her body were for his child. From the minute he had found out she was pregnant, for Nathan it had been all about the baby. Now he was seeing things in a different light. Megan was a huge part of the process. She was the mother of their child…and she was his wife. Not only did he love the baby, he loved her for having it.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" she laughed.

"Huh?"

"You're staring. Do I have food all over my face or something?"

"No", he said quietly. "You're beautiful."

She blushed as she hadn't heard those words come out of his mouth in what felt like forever. They finished their meal in comfortable silence and he paid the tab. It was still fairly early when they exited the place. Neither drove back to work but found themselves heading home in their respective cars. Tired, Megan headed upstairs to the master bedroom for a nap. After blundering around downstairs for a few minutes, Nathan joined her.

"Listen, I know you have to go soon but I really wanted to thank you for being there today, Nathan. That was really great."

"I should be thanking you", he sighed. "Hearing the heartbeat and seeing the pictures…that was pretty incredible."

"I know", she smiled.

"It got me thinking. I should have been there for that Meg and I should have been there for the other appointments and I should be there for the rest of them. I will. I promise you that. I know I haven't been acting like it but I do care and I'm gonna try harder."

"Okay", she nodded.

"I…I love you, Meg."

"I love you, too", she said softly.

He leaned down to kiss her and she met his lips with her own. It felt so good to be in his arms again like that. Her right arm encircled the back of his neck, drawing him to her. Gently he balanced his weight on top, his lips never leaving hers. It was nice. It was familiar. It felt natural. They hadn't been that way in a long time. For the first time in a long time, Nathan didn't have to force anything. His body reacted to her kisses and touches.

She removed her maternity blouse and camisole, exposing the rounded, smooth flesh. He touched it, the sacred place that cocooned his precious son or daughter.

"Nathan", she whispered. "Make love to me."

He just looked at her for a moment, not sure what to do or say.

"Are you sure it's okay? You know, for the baby, I mean."

"Dr. Zierke says it's fine."

Nathan nodded.

"Meg…"

She stroked the side of his face tenderly.

"I need it, babe. It's been so long. I want you."

He looked into her blue eyes and saw a cloud of lust hidden behind love, passion, emotional need and want. He saw the person that had always been there for him. He saw the mother of his child. He saw his wife.

"I want you, too", he breathed.

He finished disrobing her and himself, covering her quivering body with gentle caresses. They sighed and moaned as they pleasured each other. It had been a while but neither had forgotten the little tricks, the sensual hot spots that, with a little attention, drove the other wild. Then, with his hands all over her body and their eyes locked, he slowly entered her. Megan whimpered out loud, her nails digging into the skin of his shoulders. He held her tightly and found a slow but steady rhythm pumping in and out of her. He had forgotten what it was like to have his eyes fixated on hers as they made love. He had forgotten what it was like to make love.

After an hour or so, when he was sure she had reached her release, he allowed himself to climax deep inside her. He buried his head in her damp but sweet smelling chest and she rubbed his head.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine", she nodded.

"You sure? Is your stomach okay?"

"Yeah."

"Then why are you crying?" he asked.

"I'm just happy", she shrugged. "I just feel so happy right now. Everything at this moment right now is so perfect. God, I wish all our lives would be this way. I feel like I finally have everything I want. The baby is healthy and now you…"

"I'm healthy", he joked.

"No, babe. I'm serious. You…well, I finally feel like you're back. It's like you went away somewhere for a while and I lost you for a little bit but now you're back…and that feels good."

He used his thumb to wipe away the tears, leaving kisses in their place.

"I'm sorry I hurt you", he said huskily.

"Don't apologize. Just hold me. Just stay here with me. Just enjoy this moment with me."

He nodded as he complied, slowly starting to drift off until she jerked away from him.

"Nathan!"

"What?" he sat straight up. "Meg? Is everything okay? What happened?"

"Oh my God!"

"Megan!"

She grabbed his hand and put it to her stomach.

"Sweetie, do you feel that? Feel…right there."

He jumped when he felt the tiny flutter, a poke pushing back through her stomach.

"Is it…"

"It's the baby", she squealed. "The baby kicked."

A broad grin broke out on Nathan's face. Their baby was moving. It was the single happiest moment of his life. He could have spent all day just waiting for any sign of movement and that's exactly what he did. Megan lay back on their bed and he lay with his ear to her stomach. And that's how the three Scotts fell asleep.

It was the perfect end to the perfect day.