The week after Liz's office party was much more pleasant. Though they were still busy with work, and Christmas on its way, they would always greet each other and show affection. The fights disappeared, but Liz

was still not quite morning sickness free. The medicine was making it more bearable and she felt a bit happier. Gordo had even once mentioned something about how it looked like she was glowing. And after that comment, she positively was. Gordo continued to worry about her stomach flu but he dismissed it when Liz told him that the doctor said it would take a few days to clear up. The Friday before Christmas the boys had one more basketball game. Liz agreed to come and help out the team by taking stats for them. Gordo had long since taught her how. Now the game was over and the boys had smoked the other team. The long practices Gordo grulled them through had obviously paid off.

Gordo was talking to his assistant coach as the last fans were milling out of the stands. He'd just come back out to the gym after having their post game meeting in the locker room. Gordo shook hands with the opposing team's coach who was just leaving, and congratulated him on a nice effort and wished him luck for the rest of the season. Then he looked over at the score table where Liz was still sitting, waiting patiently of course. His eyes locked on hers and he smiled. "Ready to go home?" he asked her.

Liz stood up, "Sure," she said grabbing her coat and her purse. She waited for Gordo to give his last goodbyes to parents and staff members and they left together.

Twenty minutes later he was walking into the house behind Liz. He flicked on the light switch and walked to the kitchen, then leaned down as he peered into the fridge, and finally brought out a carton of orange juice. He was just about ready to tilt the bottle up to his lips but he remembered that Liz was standing right there, so he set the juice down on the counter while he fished around in the cabinet for a cup. He poured himself some. "You want any?"

"No thanks," she said sitting down. She played the answering machine messages. Her sister had called telling her that she wanted her to call her back, asking about if she told Gordo the "surprise" yet. Liz quickly erased the message looking over at Gordo. Liz silently cursed her twin. She should have never told her. She was sure Gordo would find out before she even had the time to tell him!

Gordo heard the message. Well technically he had drowned it out the second he heard that it was Isabelle's voice, but when he heard surprise and Gordo mentioned, he began listening. He drained the cup and looked at Liz, and grinned. "What surprise!" he asked her getting a little excited.

"Nothing," Liz said ducking her head. She listened to the next message. It was her mom finalizing the last minute details for their Christmas dinner. At the end she quick congratulated her and she said that she couldn't wait to tell Steven. She also mentioned that Gordo should feel very lucky. Liz was thankful that her family was so close, but they sure didn't know how to keep a secret! She was about ready to clobber her sister.

Gordo was gonna grill her more to try and get the "surprise " out of her when he heard Mrs. McGuire and stopped talking. He scrunched up his face quizzically at her. He seemed to be missing something. Gordo poured himself some more juice, then leaned back against the kitchen sink, looking down at Liz who was sitting. He racked his brain. Then it clicked. "I know what it is." Gordo said, smiling cattily at her.

Liz heard Steven's voice come on, this was just too coincidental. She quickly stopped it before he could say anything about her being pregnant. She did want to tell Gordo about it by herself. Liz blushed when she heard Gordo's voice become know-it-all, "Y-ou d-oo?" Liz said gulping.

"Uh huh! Sure do." he said, taking another gulp. "You bought me some great present, which Isabelle figured I'd somehow get you to tell me about before Christmas even got here. Which will probably end up being correct by the way. And apparently it must be pretty spectacular, cause even your mom sounded impressed." He put his glass down and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "But Liz- I'm kinda of disappointed that you didn't share something else with me" he said, his voice turning a little more serious.

Liz relaxed. Of course, that's what Gordo would think, she had never been good at keeping a surprise at him, he was always so persistent that she gave it away. But then she tensed up again. Did Gordo know that she was pregnant? Surely not! She had been careful not to let any hints away. She waited for Gordo to continue.

Gordo stared at Elizabeth for a second, before his stern face transformed into a wide and proud smile. "You're mom said congratulations.

You got that Paris trip for the Tribune didn't you? You were chosen. You should have told me!" In two quick strides he was at her chair, and he bent down and gave her a big bear hug. "I'm so proud of you Liz. I know you beat out a lot of other journalists for that coveted position!"

Liz was speechless she was about ready to start apologizing for not telling him first that she was pregnant, but then she heard Paris and once again relaxed, "Oh right, that, yea," she said suffocating in Gordo's hug. Boy he sure knew how to hug! She stepped out smiling at him wearily and went to the fridge. Keeping secrets really makes someone hungry, she thought to herself

Gordo laughed as he watched her. "You sure don't sound too thrilled for just finding out that you're going to be going to Paris for a week next month." he said, stripping off his sports jacket. He always wore a sports jacket when he coached a game.

She'd have to call her mom, and the way it sounded her whole family to let them know that she was going to Paris and that that was the big "surprise". She would also need to inform them to not spill the beans about the baby till she did. "Oh I'm excited!" Liz said sticking a grape in her mouth. She raised her hand above her head, "Yippee," she said leaning on the counter.

Gordo snorted. "What the heck was that? Never mind, I know. You're just all cheered out from cheering at the game tonight." He nodded his head assuredly. "Since there was SO MUCH to cheer about tonight." he added, tooting his own teams horn.

The phone rang suddenly and Liz dropped the grape dashing for the phone before Gordo could even look at it, she couldn't afford to have someone say something.

Gordo's eyes were wide as he watched his wife move into turbo speed for what must have been the first time in a month. Since when had Liz been so obsessed with being the one to get to the phone? He rolled his eyes and sat down, to take his shoes and socks off. He just hoped she wasn't turning into Isabelle.

"Hello," Liz said looking at Gordo, hoping he wasn't too suspicious. She heard Isabelle's energetic voice on the other line, "Did you tell him?" she asked impatiently. "No I did not tell him yet!" Liz said getting annoyed. she was about ready to tell Isabelle to mind her own business when Isabelle interrupted her, "What are you waiting for? I mean if you wait any longer the baby will tell him for you!"

Gordo immediately knew by his wife's tone that it was Isabelle on the other line. He finished with his shoes and stood up, shoes in hand. He placed his free hand right on the small of her back. "I'm going to go shower." he told her in a quiet voice as he stepped away.

Liz put a hand on the mouth piece. She could still hear Isabelle going on, "No wait!" she said. She turned back to the phone, "Isabelle listen I'll call you tomorrow, Gordo and I are going to try and enjoy this Friday night alone, please do not call again!" she said. As she hung up the phone she could hear her sister's voice still blasting her protests. Obviously her sister hadn't heard a word she had said.

Gordo had paused in the doorway to the kitchen. "Wow, you blew off your sister- for me." he said, not masking his grin. Then he laughed. "But really Liz, you didn't have to do that, I was just gonna go take a quick shower, you could have kept talking-" he paused, "Unless it's because you wanted to join me?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Liz rolled her eyes and laughed, "Oh yeah that's what I look forward to during my day," she went over to him glad that he dismissed the certain surprise so easily. Men and sex she thought, easy to please them.

"I'm sorry, but I'm still not quite to sure what your answer is" Gordo said smiling, as he walked with Liz down the hall, their arms around each others waists.

Liz mind had drifted. She was thinking of the things she had to do for tomorrow. She had just added to the list calling everyone, "Answer for what?" she said looking up to Gordo.

Gordo chuckled. "You knowwwww..." he said, moving the hand that had been around her waist under her shirt caressing her stomach right around her navel. "The shower. Will it be a shower for one or a shower for two?" he bated her.

Well actually a shower for three Liz thought to herself. But that was besides the point, "Only if you promise not to take advantage of me!" Liz said smiling punching him lightly on the chest. She knew that was exactly what he intended to do.

"I don't know if I can make that promise. It would be very, very, very, hard to keep" he said, winking at her as they continued to flirt and stepped inside of their bedroom. "We both know there's no change of that happening!" In the end it was a shower for one, Liz decided she'd just take hers in the morning. So Gordo went into the bathroom and took his, then came out in a pair of gray sweat pants and a black t-shirt.

Liz was looking over a book one of her co-workers had suggested she read. Her co-worker had read it when she was pregnant and told Liz that it was a great read. She heard Gordo come out of the shower and quickly hid it under her pillow.

Gordo totally missed that. "Man that was a great game tonight wasn't it!" he said, jumping on the bed, shaking it. "Our three point shooting has never been as hot as it is right now."

Liz smiled. Thank god Gordo was acting dense. She added sports to the list of things to distract a guy, but she agreed, "Yea we were awesome," she said turning the tv off and looking at Gordo.

"Yes, WE were." he said nuzzling her neck.

Liz sighed happily. She leaned back in Gordo's arms closing her eyes. His touch did wonder for her nerves. She almost considered telling him now.

"I love it when you're at my games." he told her. "I think having you there is good luck or something."

Liz laughed good heartedly, "There's no such thing as good luck, you guys are just good!" she laid down pulling Gordo with her. They both stared into each others eyes making a stronger connection with eyes for about a minute than they ever could with words.

"I love your eyes." Gordo said softly as he didn't break the intense eye contact, but moved one hand up behind her head to pull out the hair thingy that was keeping it tied back. He pulled it out then ran his fingers through her hair. "Just one more week 'till Christmas" Gordo murmured, closing his eyes and kissing her nose.

"Thank god!' Liz said with a little bit more emphasis then she meant. She took the hair binder and put it on the nightstand. She had lost so many hair bands in bed than she could count. She closed her eyes and enjoyed Gordo's butterfly kisses. She wrapped her arms around his waist and put her head on his strong chest. She took in the smell of his body. There was still that fresh soap smell that she loved.

Gordo had only a brief second to look at Liz's head against the pillow with her now free hair all around it, as she brought her head and his chest together. Gordo loved it when she wore her hair down in bed, there was just something so sexy, and almost even special about it, since she almost always wore her hair up of some sort, which was totally ok with him. But when they were in bed together, nine times out of ten if she had her hair pulled back, he'd free it for her. For him. With her head pressed against his chest Gordo was able to only kiss the top of it, but he tightened his grip around her, making it even more of a complete wrap around. Gordo could tell she wanted closeness tonight, intimacy. And yes, he realized that intimacy and sex weren't necessarily the same thing.

Liz smiled as she nuzzled Gordo's cheek. She rubbed her cheek against his, giggling.

"What's so funny?" he asked her, playing footsies with their bare feet on top of the covers.

"Nothing," Liz said tickling him. She pushed him down and sat up on top of him.

Gordo grinned up at Liz, then brought his knees up so that they were supporting Liz's back, with the flat of his feet on the bed. He enjoyed this nice view of his wife. She had on one of his old t-shirts and it made her look sexy and innocent at the same time. She didn't have a bra on and he was content just looking at her perfect breasts through it. They seemed bigger than usual, it may have just been that she didn't have a bra on though. He reached up caressing them through the soft and thin fabric, they felt softer and more tender. Liz pushed his hands away laughing. He quickly dismissed it taking one of her hands and kissed the fingers, then dropped it and tickled her stomach, which was very accessible from this position, with this view. "So who ya taking to Paris with you?" he asked smiling, playing dumb.

"Pierre," she said with a French accent. Liz moved his hands away from her stomach. Both her breasts and stomach were tender and very sensitive from the increased hormones. She didn't really like the feeling of them being touched . She laughed when she saw Gordo's hurt look.

"Pierre!" he exclaimed. "Wait, I thought you were going to Paris to find some hot French guy so you could dump me and run away with him. But if you've already found a French guy..." Gordo said, tickling her side then with one hand taking the back elastic of her pants and pulling it out then snapping it back in.

"Ouch!" Lliz said when the elastic hit her back. She slapped him playfully, "Well in that case I guess I better go tell him its okay with you," she pretended to get up.

Gordo tensed his legs up so that she couldn't get out of his encompassing body, even if she really wanted to. "Does he were a little beret?" he taunted her. Then he brought one of her hands to his mouth and started kissing the back of it.

"No only you do!" she said, "You don't know where that hands been!"
Gordo rolled his eyes as he pictured himself in a nerdy little beret. He laughed at the mental picture. "Ya I do, they've been taking the stats for my team, for which I'm very grateful for." he told her, her hand still in his, then he brought it to his mouth once again and licked one of the fingers.

Liz laughed, "Well as your loving and dearing wife I feel honored." she watched Gordo put one of her fingers in his mouth, suck on it gently, and slowly pulled it out. "You're so kinky" she joked.

"No I'm not" he defended himself softly, then took a different finger within his mouth and did the same thing, sucking on it. "I'm romantic. There's a difference" he clarified once he had extracted it from his mouth.

Liz laughed softly, "What's the difference then? Maybe you should show me!"

Gordo grinned up at her. "Look who's being kinky now." he told her. He began playing with the waist of her pants, the front of them, just kind of absently moving his fingers over them. "So with the deadline one week away, are you about done with special Christmas edition feature?" he asked her, since he knew how hard she'd been working on it for nearly a month. "Or is it going to come down to the wire?"

"Most of its done except the finishing touches. I wanted to get it done so I would actually have a break to get ready for Christmas, You never did tell me what you wanted for Christmas," Liz said her eyes twinkling. She leaned down hovering over him.

Gordo took advantage of this opportunity and captured her lips with his, then spoke against them. "I want you all to myself for a week, maybe that week in Paris."

"I already said I was going with Pierre, my second husband," she smiled against his lips, "Are you sure you didn't want anything special?" besides your surprise Liz mentally added as she thought once again about being pregnant. She was going to tell Gordo Christmas day as a surprise, but she thought he deserved something materialistic at least.
"Forget about Pierre..." Gordo murmured then kissed her again, one hand sliding up underneath her hair behind her neck. "You...I only want you Liz. I don't need anything else to make me happy." Gordo told her. It had been one of the roughest months of their marriage, and he was happy to see them moving past it. They'd repaired already, sure, but Gordo still wanted a chance to make it up to her, to really put them back on cloud 9, and with a week with no more basketball games or other AD stuff for him, or a week without crazy deadline work for Liz, with no stress for either of them, well Gordo wanted and was planning on taking full advantage of the situation. "All I want it you." he repeated, sliding his hands up to her ribcage under the shirt as they kissed and he massaged.

"Well that's great!" Lliz said laughing, "cause Isabelle gave me her Christmas list cause Nick would not buy her everything, so well I guess I can just buy everything for her." She winked at him, "All we need is love?" she said in the sing song version.

Gordo nuzzled her neck. "You got it babe. Uh oh, now we're both reciting song lyrics. But regardless, you're right, we don't need anything more than love." He brought all of Liz's body down on top of his, and wrapped his arms tightly around her, and they remained like that until they dozed off to sleep, completely in love.

a/n i'm going to stop updateing because i start school tommorrow, thursday so bye