"This would be so much simpler if you two knew whether or not you were having a boy or a girl."

Megan smiled.

"We don't want to know. We like surprises."

Her younger sister rolled her eyes. With long, straight and slightly darker hair, Samantha Powell was just three years younger than her older sister. Following in her sister and brother in law's Duke footsteps, the quiet but pretty college junior had her eye directed towards the pre med department. But despite the usual underlying sibling rivalry, she had always been close to Meg and had jumped at the chance to spend a few days in Charlotte with her.

"Aren't you curious? I mean, just a little bit."

"Of course but that just adds to the fun and excitement."

"What about names?"

"We've thought about it. We pretty much have something picked out for both a girl and a boy."

"What if it's twins? Or triplets? Or quads? Or quints? Or…"

"Sam!"

"What? It totally happens."

"Yeah with odds like one in a billion."

"Actually, among the general population, in the 21st century, your chances are about roughly 1 in 300 which equals out to 3 percent and the latest study from the National Center for Health Statistics show that twins represent 30.1 of every 1,000 births."

Megan rolled her eyes as she tossed a stuffed elephant at her little sister.

"You are way too smart for your own good, you know that?"

"That's what my professors say. Did you know right now at six months pregnant, your fetus is just now starting to put on baby fat? The lips, eyebrows and eyelids are beginning to become more distinctive and teeth are developing underneath the gums."

"Okay…"

"And the baby's length from crown to heel is…"

"Samantha, okay! I get it. You're so…so…"

"Technical that it borderlines annoying?"

"Yes."

"I get that a lot."

"So shut up then", the older sister laughed as she folded a blanket. "Can we talk about fun stuff? Like toys and maternity shopping and baby clothes?"

"Well, you look great so it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you spent probably tons of money on maternity fashion. And the nursery is awesome…"

"Thank you. I did it myself."

The nursery was beautiful. Megan had devoted a lot of time and attention to detail to it. It had been a welcome distraction, a project to keep her mind away from many of the other less joyous aspects of her life. When Nathan was away, the house was too quiet and lonely. When he was around, his physical presence was known but mentally and emotionally there was a distance. Things had only grown worse since the incident with the stripper pictures and Megan's impromptu cry for help with a kitchen knife. They had barely been able to look at one another.

So the nursery had been her fun little experiment. She had dressed in sweat pants and an oversized tee shirt and tied a bandana around her hair. She had patiently hand painted the walls a unisex color of soft sage green. She had decided early on to go with a Nursery Rhyme type theme. She had spent hours online shopping for favorite characters and now beautifully colored and detailed wooden cut outs lined the room. Baa Baa Black Sheep, Georgie Peorgie, Humpty Dumpty, Hickory Dickory Dock, Jack and Jill, The Muffin Man, Old King Cole and Little Bo Peep lined the walls creating a magical wonderland. Stuffed animals and dolls neatly surrounded the room. The crib, a posh marble ensemble she's had custom made and imported from Sweden was the centerpiece along with the matching rocking chair beside it. A high chair, changing table, walker, and swing were already in place but by far Meg's favorite item so far was the rocking chair. It had an antique air about it and she could imagine sitting in it with her baby in her arms.

"You put a lot of thought into this, Meg. I just want to say that I think you're going to be a wonderful mother."

"Thanks", she smiled.

"And Nathan is going to be a great dad."

She looked away sadly.

"Yeah…I know."

"Look, I know things haven't been easy for you. I read the papers and I…um, I heard Mom and Dad talking about some stuff…"

"Sam…"

"It's gonna be okay."

Megan laughed to herself.

"Yeah…everybody keeps saying that."

"It will. You just have to believe it, Meg."

"And if they don't? If things don't get better with Nathan?"

"Then maybe they will be better without him."

Megan closed her eyes. The truth really hurt.

"I can't leave…"

"You can do anything you want."

"I'm not strong enough to do that."

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not. Besides, I really love him, Sam. I mean, what else am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know. Look, if you think you and Nathan still have a chance, then fight like hell for him. Don't give up. Do whatever you have to do to make this marriage work. But if it's over…if it's truly over, then let it go and bow out with some dignity. Don't worry about Mom and her Rosary Beads or even Daddy. You have to take care of you and your baby. I know we've had sheltered, happy, privileged lives but the real world isn't like that all the time, Megan. This is probably the first time you've had to deal with something major like heartbreak that didn't go your way. It's the first time something has really gone wrong for you. I know you don't know how to deal with it but you have to learn. You have no choice. You deserve better…and so does your baby. You should be happy."

Megan bravely fought back tears.

"Maybe I'm the fool because I feel like there's still something left saving. Is that crazy? Especially when I'm the only one in the world who probably thinks like that."

"It's okay to listen to your heart, sis. Just don't ignore what's in your head altogether."

Megan smiled as the two sisters hugged.

"When did you get so smart, you know, in matters of the heart?"

"I have my ways", Samantha shrugged.

They were interrupted as Nathan, sweaty and straight from practice passed by.

"What's up, Sam?" he mumbled.

"Hey, Nate", she nodded.

"Hey", he finally said to Megan.

"Hey."

There were a few seconds of silence as Nathan's blue eyes surveyed the room.

"When did you have time to do all this?"

"I've been working on it", Megan said softly.

Nathan nodded.

"Looks good."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I like it. You did a good job."

She smiled, utterly thrilled by any attention or compliment he would bestow upon her.

"Thanks, babe."

Nathan shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Well, I'm gonna go take a shower. I stink."

"Okay. Samantha and I are just finishing up in here. Dinner will be on in a bit. I'm broiling chicken and broccoli and I'll bake that homemade bread you like."

"Sounds good. Thanks."

He bent down and placed a quick kiss on her stomach before he was off. Megan closed her eyes as she could feel her sister staring at her.

"I can't let go, Sam. You might not understand that now…the love and the bond that's driving me to do this but one day when you're a little older, you might."

Sam touched her arm.

"You're in love with him. He has your heart. You've given him a lot. And when things are good, they're perfect. And he's the father of your child. I do understand that, Meg. I just hope you know what you might be in for. Be prepared if it doesn't work…or what it means if it does."

"Sam, that's not fair."

"Whoever said love was?"