Betty turned sideways in front of the full-length mirror to study her profile in her yellow sundress. Archie was laying out on her bed in the master bedroom in a simple pair of denim jeans as he admired her. She was glowing more with each day the pregnancy progressed, and he was falling harder and harder for her. He woke up with her in his arms that morning, and he just wanted to spend the entire day in bed.
"Do I look pregnant?" she turned away from him, so all he had was a view of her backside.
"Babe, you are pregnant," he chuckled as she turned back towards him again.
"Yes, I know I'm pregnant, but I don't want to look pregnant until after we tell our mothers," Betty advanced towards him, climbing up beside him on the bed.
"I think you're safe," he told her, his hand flying to her belly like a magnet was pulling it.
Betty's hands covered his. "Even though we're now in the second trimester, I still can't believe this is happening."
"Did the morning sickness not make it real for you?" he asked.
"Small price to pay," she replied.
"Still no movement?" his hands circled her belly, hoping to feel some movement.
"Not yet," she shook her head, "At least nothing I've been able to feel. The doctor said that's normal. I may still have a month or more before I'll feel anything."
"Can't wait," his smile widened.
"What time are we connecting with your mom?" Betty asked.
"Soon," he glanced at the clock on the nightstand, "I should get the computer ready."
"It's too bad we can't tell her in person, but I don't want to wait any longer in telling people," she replied, "A quick trip to Chicago is just not in the cards right now."
"Not with that creepy ex of yours still on the loose," Archie agreed.
"No mention of the creepy ex in the bedroom," she stuck out her lip in a pout.
"Yeah, this room is haunted enough as it is," Archie glanced around. His crew still hadn't gotten the time to start working on the second level with all the other work they had lined up. Archie was about ready to pull rank and demand his project go next. He wanted everything done well before Betty went into labor. They would need time to get the nursery set up. With Betty in the second trimester, he finally had the ability to use the baby as an excuse to cut in line.
Betty bent down and kissed his lips. She'd been so understanding about his feelings on the master bedroom, willing to sleep in the cramped quarters of his childhood full-sized bed rather than the spacious king-sized bed in the master until he'd finished the remodel. "Let's go set up."
"Do you mind if I tell Mom by myself?" Archie slid from the bed.
"What? Seriously?" Betty paused.
"I guess I'm just a bit nervous," he admitted, "Naturally, she'll be over the moon about being a grandma. She's made no secret about wanting that, but how we've come about it…I guess I'm just worried about how she'll react because we're not married. She doesn't even know that we're more than roommates."
"Archie," Betty looked a bit exasperated by his confession, "We've been together for two months."
"I know," he groaned, "I'm so unbelievably happy about us. You have no idea. Mom and I just haven't discussed much, even when she came for the wedding. I could tell she was distracted by her current case, so it was safe topics and quick check-ins when she has a few minutes."
"Fine, I'll head over to my mom's place and see if I can help with dinner," Betty frowned.
"Hey," he tugged her into his chest. He loved that she fit perfectly tucked under his chin so he could kiss the top of her head, "I love you. Nothing my mom says will change that."
"I know," she smiled into his chest. "I want you to remember a few things. One, the baby, and I love you. Two, no matter what either of our mothers say today, it's not going to change us. Three, I'm so glad this is happening to you and me now and not me and Jug or you and V back in high school."
"Me too," he kissed her forehead, "I'll get another conversation on my mother's schedule for as soon as possible so she can gush to you about how excited she is to be a grandma."
"What if she's not?" Betty asked, "What if I'm not the woman she wants to be the mother of your kids? I have so much baggage with my father, my brother, my stalker…."
"That's just too damn bad," he cut her off, "You're the one for me."
She pulled away slightly to look into his eyes, "This all feels too good to be true sometimes. I mean, we're finally together and with this baby. I'm not used to all this happiness. I'm used to serial killers and snuff filmmakers and jingle-jangle and demented role-playing games."
"I know; it's new for me too," he smiled.
Betty rose on her toes to put her arms around his shoulders, guiding his lips to hers. He took the kiss deeper. He desperately wanted to blow off the rest of the day and spend it worshipping Betty, but he was cursed with the incessant need to do the right thing, which included telling their families about the baby. His deep-throated groaned precluded him pulling away.
"Damn," he glanced at the clock again.
"The thought will keep," she assured him with a breathtaking smile.
"Damn right," he growled out as he made his way downstairs to the office.
Betty stood off to the side for a few moments as Archie navigated to the screen to start the Skype call with his mother.
"Hey, Mom," Archie was comforted to see her smiling face.
"Gosh, Archie, it's so great to see your face," Mary gushed, "Seems like Riverdale is agreeing with you even more now than when I visited a few weeks ago. I take it business is still going well?"
"Really well," Archie replied.
Betty left the house to his discussions of how busy the crew was with work.
"I'm glad. I know how much the business means to you," Mary replied, "Is the crew getting used to you running things?"
"It's an adjustment, but it's going pretty well," Archie admitted.
"That's good to hear," Mary smiled, "And Betty? How are things going with your roommate? I bet that's been weird."
"Uh, not as weird as maybe we first thought," Archie replied, "She's doing great at the Gazette."
"And that sensitive situation with the restraining order you had me work on?" Mary asked.
"Calm for the moment," Archie stated, "We're sort of in a wait and see mode with him."
"Just be smart, Archie," Mary advised him, "You've got a bright future ahead of you."
"Yeah, I mean, I want to give the guy what's coming to him, but not at the expense of everything good going on in my life," Archie admitted.
"Oh," Mary raised a curious brow, "Archibald Andrews, have you met someone?"
"I wouldn't say 'met' exactly," Archie cleared his throat as he prepared to deliver the news to his mother.
"You and Betty have finally crossed out of the friend zone, haven't you?" Mary concluded.
"Yeah, Mom, just as we were leaving Penn State, we had a moment where we finally decided we wanted to give us a try," Archie stated.
"Archie, that was two months ago," Mary scolded him, "Why is this the first I'm hearing of it? I just saw you a few weeks ago."
"I guess because I was scared," Archie admitted, "This thing with Betty and me has been building for years, and it feels so huge. I guess I thought if I told you, it might just implode, and I'm so happy. I haven't felt this happy and free in a long time, since before Dad died, actually. It feels really good."
"Oh, Archie, I'm so happy for you and Betty," Mary smiled widely, "I thought I saw something in your eyes when I saw you, but I figured it was a quick trip. We barely had time to get more than a meal together. I figured I'd wait until you brought it up. Gosh, to think that what's been going on between the two of you started in the second grade…oh, it's so sweet."
"There's more," Archie stated.
"Oh, I'm sure," Mary replied, "With that abusive ex of hers, I'm sure things have progressed slowly. Archie, you need to be patient with her. She's still incredibly vulnerable."
"Oh, I'm very aware," Archie assured her, "I'm doing everything I can to make sure she feels safe and comfortable, but that's not what I'm talking about. Um, before we left school, Betty and I had a night. It was beautiful and complicated, and we agreed not to talk about it."
"Okay," Mary spoke slowly.
"She's pregnant, Mom, with my baby," Archie stated, "She just entered the second trimester."
Mary's hands came up to cover her face as the surprise hit her, "Oh my god, Archie!"
Archie waited for something more to tell if she was angry or happy. It was the longest twenty seconds of his life.
"You're going to be a father," Mary laughed as the joy hit her.
"Yeah, and we're both so excited about it," Archie's face split into the widest of grins, "Obviously, it was a huge surprise, but from the moment she told me…honestly, I don't know if I've stopped smiling since."
"Wow," tears of joy trailed down his mother's cheeks, "Is she there? I want to congratulate her."
"Ah, no," Archie admitted, "We're having dinner with Alice and FP tonight to break the news to them, so she went over to help her mom get dinner ready. I didn't want her here if you were going to yell at me for being irresponsible or anything negative. She's got enough going on, and she still has to deal with Alice's reaction."
"That's so very sweet of you to want to protect her, Sweetheart," Mary smiled, "Yes, it probably would have been best to develop a solid foundation of a relationship, maybe even be married, before the two of you jumped into parenthood, but you can never be mad about a baby entering the world. They are always gifts to be celebrated."
Archie bobbed his head as he swallowed hard on the lump of emotion that hit him. He'd felt the exact same way in very instant Betty told him she was pregnant. "I wish Dad was here to celebrate with us."
"I know, Sweetheart," tears sprung from her eyes, "He would have been so excited. When we found out we were going to have you, wow, it lit him up like nothing else ever did. He always said every day he got to be a father was a gift, no matter how challenging the times were. He loved you so much, and he would be so proud of you right now."
"I hope so," he fought to contain his tears. "We have ultrasound pictures of Baby Andrews. I'll send them to you first thing tomorrow morning."
"You'd better," Mary wiped away more tears, "Oh, I can't wait. What's the due date?"
"Mid January," Archie stated, "Betty has the exact date."
"I'll make sure to put in for some time off, so I can be there for the first couple of weeks," Mary replied, "Trust me when I say that you cannot have enough help those first few weeks while you adjust to parenthood."
"That will be great, Mom," he bobbed his head, "I told Betty I'd schedule another Skype call with you for tomorrow so that you can congratulate her. Are you free?"
"Even if I'm not, I'm going to make the time," Mary laughed.
"Thanks, Mom," Archie replied.
"I love you, Archie," Mary stated.
"I love you too," he bobbed his head, "We'll talk more tomorrow. Right now, I have to go face the music with Ms. Smith-Jones."
"If Alice gives you a rough time, you let me know," Mary stated, "I have no problem putting her in her place. We're going to be co-grandparents now. That comes first."
"I'll let you know," Archie chuckled.
Archie arrived at the Cooper house with a bouquet of flowers, which he promptly handed to Alice.
"Thank you, Archie," Alice grinned as she inhaled their sweet scent as she turned to bring them into the kitchen to put them in a vase, "You didn't have to do that. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were buttering me up."
Archie chuckled nervously as Betty went to hug him, whispering in his ear, "Nice touch."
"Figured it couldn't hurt," he shrugged.
"How'd it go with your mom?" she whispered.
"About as well as it could," he smiled as he kissed her forehead.
"Alice is in a good mood today," Betty smiled.
"Let's hope she stays in that good mood," he caressed her shoulder.
Betty smiled at him and then put her arms around his neck in a loose hold, "No matter what, we love you, okay?"
"Yeah," he bobbed his head.
"Hey, Arch," FP greeted him with a handshake as he and Betty entered the kitchen, "Are you trying to make me look bad with the flowers?"
"Hey, FP," Archie shook his hand and then flushed, "Sorry."
"Oh, leave him alone," Alice smiled, "It's nice to get flowers for no reason."
"I'll keep that in mind," FP smiled.
"Betty said you were chatting with your mom," Alice replied, "How is she?"
Archie was taken aback by Alice's sudden interest. It was no secret that Mary Andrews and Alice Smith had never been on the best of terms. "She's good, always busy with the next big case. It's hard to get her on the phone, let alone in a Skype call."
"I remember when you guys went up against Mister Honey to get the prom reinstated," Betty smiled, her hand wrapping around Archie's, "It was so much fun to watch you guys intimidate him. I think he was more scared of you and Mary than FP and Tom."
"As right he should have been," Alice smiled, "It's been a while since the Mom Squad had something to stand up against. It felt good."
FP smiled, "I think Tom and I definitely could've taken him."
"No doubt," Archie nodded.
"Where's Jelly tonight?" Betty asked as FP offered Archie a beer, which the younger man turned down.
"She's on a date," FP's voice tensed in response.
"And FP hates every guy she brings home," Alice appeared to be teasing her husband.
"With good reason," FP stated, "He's some preppy north sider who wears khakis and those sweaters with the crocodiles on them. Seemed like a punk to me."
"Jug's following them, isn't he?" Betty noted the absence.
"If he knows what's good for him, he is," FP replied.
Betty and Archie traded a chuckle.
"I'm glad FP wasn't as protective of Jug when we were dating. After all, I was the preppy north sider," Betty teased.
"Yeah, but your sweaters didn't have animals on them," Archie chimed in.
"True," Betty nodded, "I guess I'm lucky Mom never followed me around on dates."
"Who says I didn't?" Alice smiled.
"Betty, did you want a glass of wine?" Alice held up an opened bottle.
"No, I'm good," Betty shook her head, "I'm on call tonight with the news desk at the Gazette. You know how it goes."
"That I do," Alice nodded. "Archie?"
"No, I'm good, thank you," Archie smiled.
FP again offered him a beer as an alternative.
"FP, really, I'm good," Archie shook his head.
FP shrugged as he took a drink from his non-alcoholic beer. Though he'd been sober for several years, he'd missed the taste, so Alice suggested the alternative, which he found much easier to swallow than a simple soda.
"Smells good, Alice," Archie tensed as he used Betty's mother's given name. He'd addressed her as Mrs. Cooper for so long, and then it was Ms. Smith. She'd told him recently to start calling her Alice, but it felt odd.
"Thanks, it's FP's favorite," Alice smiled.
"Hot dogs and baked beans?" Betty teased.
"You're a funny one, Elizabeth," FP scowled playfully at his stepdaughter.
"I try," Betty giggled as FP's phone rang.
"It's Jug," FP announced.
"Five bucks says JB busted him," Betty whispered to Archie.
"Ten bucks says Jughead lost track of them," Archie responded back.
FP left the room to take the call, leaving Alice to pick up the conversation, "Archie, I've heard that Andrews Construction is quite busy these days."
"Yeah, we've got a steady stream of jobs lined up," Archie bobbed his head, "Mom and I feel very lucky that my uncle, Frank, turned into such a capable foreman to man the business until I was ready to take over. I can only hope to keep things going now that it's me running the show."
Alice smiled at him, "I hope you don't mind hearing this from me, but Fred would be so proud of you right now."
"Yeah, I've been hearing that a lot lately," Archie bobbed his head.
"Archie's talking about renovating the second level of his home," Betty chimed in, "You should see the drawings he's come up with. He's very talented."
"You must get that from Artie," Alice said, "I remember seeing drawings of his when I went to the house after he passed away."
"Yeah, maybe," Archie bobbed his head as Betty squeezed his shoulder.
"So, what is for dinner?" Betty asked as Alice pulled the dish from the oven, "Smells like Italian."
"I made lasagna," Alice smiled, "There's also Caesar salad."
"Sounds delicious, Mom," Betty smiled.
"Betty, have you gotten any juicy stories yet at the Gazette?" Alice asked.
"Not really," Betty shook her head, "Still earning my stripes and all. FP said a while back that you were working on a pretty juicy story."
"Oh, yeah, that," Alice waved away, "It was an investigative piece, but the story dried up. I wasn't able to get the confirmation for my editor to be comfortable running it. You know how things go when these small-town papers get bought up by larger firms. They worry that every word can lead to a lawsuit."
"That's too bad," Betty frowned, "I guess I'm lucky the Gazette has maintained its independence, at least for now."
"Yeah, it's my fault, really," Alice sighed heavily, "If it wasn't for my expert reporting, the paper never would have come to the attention of the investors, and we'd be free to report as we wish."
"Well, then you should start sucking at your job," Betty said, "Or write for a tabloid."
"I'm a journalist with integrity. I would never lower myself to working for a tabloid," Alice scoffed.
Betty chuckled in reply. She'd heard that speech many times growing up.
FP returned to the kitchen, looking perturbed.
"Everything okay, Sweetheart?" Alice looked towards her husband.
"That darn Jughead," FP grunted, "He lost track of Jellybean. I knew I should have gone myself."
Betty hid her chuckle by burying her face in Archie's shoulder.
"You two just wait until you're parents," Alice said, "It won't be so funny then."
Betty looked at Archie and tilted her head a little before looking at her mom, "Funny you should say that, Mom."
"Speaking of kids," Alice interrupted her daughter, "Archie, the twins are loving the boxing classes you're teaching. You should see how cute Juniper was punching her way around the house when they came over a couple of days ago, and Dagwood is reciting some sort of boxing credo about only fighting in the ring and never hitting women."
"Yeah, they're picking it up pretty quick," Archie cleared his throat.
"Mom, Archie, and I have something to tell you," Betty interrupted her mother's attempt at a response.
"If it's that you're together, I figured that out at Cheryl's wedding."
"That's not it," Betty shook her head, "You're going to be a grandma again."
"I'm going to be a what...who...huh?" Alice stammered in reply.
"I'm pregnant," Betty grasped Archie's hand.
Alice continued to sputter in reply as she leaned against the kitchen counter like her legs were about to give way.
"Are you okay there, Babe?" FP looked towards his wife.
"I'm sorry," Alice shook her head to clear the cobwebs, "Pregnant, how did this happen?"
"Sperm met egg," Betty nodded.
"Don't try to get cute with me, Elizabeth," Alice scowled at her, "You and I have had the safe sex talk."
"Yeah, we have," Betty agreed, "And I was on birth control all through high school and most of college, but when I left Northwestern, I forgot my pills."
"Oh, good grief," Alice looked to her in exasperation, "And you always use a condom as a backup."
"And we did," Betty added, "It just didn't work."
"So, the two of you are having a baby?" Alice looked at them.
"Yes, we are," Betty nodded, "FP, you're pretty quiet. Anything you want to say?"
"Congratulations," he put his hand out for Archie to take, "I'm happy for you,"
"That's all you have to say," Alice scowled at her husband.
"What else is there to say?" FP asked, "It's already done, so what good does scolded them do?"
Alice scoffed and left the room. FP was about to go after her, but Betty stopped him. "This is between Mom and me."
Betty found Alice up in her old bedroom, sitting on the bed. She was crying.
"Oh, Mom, I'm sorry I disappointed you," Betty sat down next to her.
"You could never disappoint me, Betty," Alice wiped at her eyes, "I just can't believe that my baby is having a baby of her own. I know I'm already a grandma twice over, but I thought I had time...time to help you prepare for a wedding and then a baby. I wanted at least one of my daughters to have all of that."
"And maybe I still will," Betty replied, "Archie and I might make that walk down the aisle. We're just going to have the baby first."
Alice nodded, "I'm just glad it's now and not when you were still in high school. I'm glad one out of the three of us got educated before being impregnated."
Betty laughed, "See? Bright side."
"Any ideas on if it's a boy or a girl?"
"No, not yet. We don't care either way. Healthy is our main concern."
"Of course," Alice continued to push tears away.
"But Andrews tend to produce boys," Betty said.
"Another grandchild with red hair," Alice sighed heavily.
"Yeah, probably," Betty laughed, "It's not so bad. Archie was a cute little boy."
"He was trouble with a capital T," Alice replied.
"Come on, Mom, he's a good man," Betty stated.
"Yes, he is," Alice sighed heavily, "And if he's anything like his father, he'll be a great dad."
"Yeah, I think so too," Betty smiled.
"Fred would've loved the chance to be a grandpa," Alice said, "I know he and I had our problems, but I miss him. I still walk out the door sometimes and expect to see him loading something into his truck."
"Yeah, Archie and I talk all the time about how much we expect to see him tooling around the house," Betty agreed, "Archie still won't sleep in the master bedroom. I think he's convinced it's full of ghosts."
Alice nodded, "I can understand that. Be patient with him, Betty. Stepping into shoes that big isn't easy."
"Yeah, I am," Betty replied.
"How's the morning sickness?" Alice asked.
"Killer," Betty huffed, "Whoever first called it morning sickness should be strung up by their eyelids, and is it normal to be tired all the time?"
"Pretty much for the next however many months. How far along are you?" Alice asked.
"Three months, I just crossed into my second trimester," Betty's hands fell to her stomach. "Archie and I waited to tell everyone until then because of all the risks and such."
"And you're sure it's Archie's and not Louis's?" Alice asked.
"Without a doubt," Betty bobbed her head, "We were waiting to get into the second trimester to do a paternity test. We want to get ahead of any shenanigans Louis might plan if he thinks the baby is his."
"Have you told Jughead?" Alice asked suddenly.
"Last night," Betty nodded, "It didn't go well at first. I left Pop's because I was so mad at a comment he made."
"I'm sure he was plenty hurt," Alice replied.
"He came around," Betty replied, "He says he's working on being okay with us."
"It's a hard thing to come to terms with," Alice tuck a strand of hair behind Betty's ear.
"What that?" Betty frowned in confusion.
"Realizing you've lost your chance with Betty Cooper," Alice smiled. "She's the best woman there is."
"Thanks, Mom," Betty smiled.
"You're welcome," Alice smiled, "I'm happy for you."
"Could you maybe tell Archie that?" Betty asked.
"I definitely will," Alice bobbed her head, "If you ever have any questions as you go through this, I'm only a door away."
"Thanks, Mom," Betty leaned her head against her mother's shoulder, "Can we eat yet? The baby and I are both starving."
"Yes, we can eat," Alice smiled, leading her youngest back downstairs.
"Is everything good here?" FP asked.
"Just one thing," Alice walked over to Archie and made him face her, "You ever hurt my daughter or my grandchild, you will rue the day you ever laid eyes on my little girl."
"I love your daughter, Alice," Archie swallowed nervously, "And I love this baby already. I will never hurt them."
"Good answer," Alice smiled and then hugged him, "Congratulations, Archie."
"Thank you," Archie returned the hug.
"You'd better put a ring on her finger before this baby arrives," Alice whispered in his ear.
"I heard that," Betty said, "We will get married if and when we are ready."
Archie chuckled in reply as Betty went to his side and hugged him.
Betty woke to the strangest feeling on her belly. She raised her head when she heard the whispers of her boyfriend. "Arch, what are you doing?" Betty's fingers tangled in the short hair at the crown of his head.
"Do you mind," he glanced at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "I'm having a private conversation with my child."
"Oh really?" Betty rose on her elbows with an amused grin, "Sharing secrets already?"
"Yes, so go back to sleep," he lowered his lips to her belly.
"How about I just stick my fingers in my ears?" she suggested.
Archie kissed his way up her body until he devoured her lips, leaving her a whimpering mess, "These pregnancy hormones are fun."
Betty tugged at his shirt, "Why are you dressed?"
"We're supposed to call my mother in thirty minutes," he told her, "I didn't think it was appropriate to be naked."
"More stripping, less talking," she tugged again at his clothes.
After a satisfying wake-up call and a lightning-fast shower, Betty and Archie huddled together in front of his computer to call his mother. Mary Andrews was waiting with the biggest smile Betty had ever seen.
"Oh my god, Betty, I'm so excited," were the first words out of Mary's mouth, "Congratulations. How are you feeling?"
"Thank you," Betty laughed, "Morning sickness was a bitch, but it's getting better now that I'm in the second trimester."
"Are you showing yet?" Mary asked.
"Only a little," Betty's hand fell to her stomach, "It's not noticeable to anyone yet, just Archie and me. It looks more like I'm bloated."
"Yes, I remember that transition time," Mary laughed, "Everything I wore felt tight."
"Yes, that's exactly it. I've been wearing a lot of stretchy pants," she replied.
"I told Archie that I want to be there for the baby's arrival and for a few weeks after," Mary stated, "I hope you're okay with that."
"Archie already told me of your offer, and of course, you're welcome to be here," Betty replied, "I think we'll need all the help we can get."
"Have you signed up for the Lamaze classes yet?" Mary asked.
"Not yet," Betty shook her head, "It's one of many things we have to look into."
"We're reading lots of books," Archie chimed in.
"You can read everything ever published, and you'll still feel woefully unprepared when the baby arrives," Mary replied.
"Yeah," Betty bobbed her head, "It's exciting but also nerve-wracking."
"Call me anytime you want," Mary offered, "I'll help any way I can."
"I've been getting a lot of offers," Betty smiled, "I'll add you to the list."
"I could hardly sleep last night," Mary admitted, "I wish I was there to give you both a big hug. How did things go with Alice last night?"
"There were a few tense moments," Betty replied, "She seemed okay with it by the end of the night. She did insist that Archie put a ring on it before the baby arrives."
Archie scowled at her.
"Speaking of rings," Mary began.
"Don't even start," Archie warned his mother, "Betty and I are just starting to figure out this coupledom thing, and she's still got some baggage from her previous relationship to work through. If we decide to go down that road, you'll know then."
"I guess maybe I see it as inevitable," Mary admitted, "You two have been two peas in a pod since grade school. Part of me assumed that you'd have to skip a lot of the relationship steps because you've been part of each other's lives for so long."
"And we have skipped a few steps," Archie admitted, "That awkward get to know you stage…"
"That's such a pain," Betty chimed in, trying to change the conversation to a lighter tone, "And that pesky first kiss. We got that over ages ago. Being with Archie like we are now is wonderful, and planning to have a baby with him makes it even more so, but he's right when he says we still have things to work through."
"You're right," Mary nodded. "I want to be the first to know when you two get engaged."
"If we go down that road, I will make you our first call," Archie assured her.
"Any names yet?" Mary turned the conversation.
"We were thinking Alexis for a girl or Frederick for a boy," Betty smiled.
Tears welled in Mary's eyes, "That sounds perfect. Boy or girl, this baby is going to be so loved."
"Already is," Archie chimed in.
"We're supposed to find the sex at our next appointment," Betty added.
"I want to be your first call after you find out," Mary stated, "I don't even care if I'm in court. I'm still taking the call."
"Bet the judge will love that," Archie chuckled.
"I mean it, Archie," Mary was quite insistent.
"You'll be our first call, I promise," Betty assured her.
"I have a ton of work to do, but I'm so happy to be able to tell you in person how happy I am for you both," Mary replied.
"We'll keep you posted on all the baby news," Betty replied. She and Archie waved and then disconnected.
Archie wrapped Betty in his arms and kissed her deeply. "How about we head back to bed and satisfy more of those pregnancy hormones?"
"Yes, please," she wrapped her arms around his neck and waited for him to carry her up to bed.
TBC…