I was laughing as I spoke to Chocol.

"Is he alright?"

"Yes he is. He's just a little shaken that's all. I have never seen him faint like that."

"And the doctor wanted him to stand behind me! The poor thing, I'll go see how he is."

I went into his room where he was lying in bed with a bag of ice on his forehead. He was rather pale too, like he had just seen a ghost. When he looked at me, he smiled slightly, but uneasily.

"The doctor wanted me to stand behind you. How funny."

"Well it's a good thing you did. If you were to be in front of me, I would probably end up in bed instead."

"I can't believe it though. I never imagined this happening. Never in my life have I imagined this. I don't know what I'm supposed to do! I'm really scared, Bridget."

"Don't be afraid. You're going to be a father now. You said that your father was gone a lot when you were little. Now you have a chance to give a child of your own a father that will be there. You will give a little baby somebody who will be there. You can treat it like you would have liked to be treated."

"I suppose you are right. I never thought of it that way. But what about you? Aren't you afraid?"

"Of course I am. But I can sing to this baby and play with it like my mother used to. I'm looking forward to it."

He got up and took my hand.

"I'm afraid to hug you, I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt the baby."

"Honey, you aren't going to hurt the baby. Its ok, believe me."

He sheepishly gave me a hug, but once he did he realized that he was really not going to harm anything. I could tell how scared he was in the way he held me. He had every reason to be afraid; he was a different kind of man. He didn't know about fatherhood. I knew he was going to be fine though, because he had all the aspects of a good father.

"You are going to be a great father. You are going to love this child so much."

"I'm still scared."

"I know you are. But you have to realize that fear doesn't help with raising a baby. You have to be strong, and willing to care for a human being. This is serious."

"Why did you have to go and get pregnant anyway?"

"I'm not the one to be asking now am I? Perhaps you should ask yourself. I didn't get myself pregnant on the beach."

"Yes, yes I know that. Jeez."