Danny was busy narrowing down a paint sample from a crime scene when he saw Lindsay rush down the hallway. As a woman about to enter her 7 month of pregnancy, Lindsay didn't usually rush anywhere anymore. His first thought was that something was wrong, but then he saw the smile on her face. The smile that could light up all of New York during a power outage.

"Danny, give me your hand." She squealed.

"What?" He was a little confused.

"Give me your hand. Quick!" Without waiting for him to comply, she grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly. And then he felt it. It was gone before he registered what it was, but when she quickly moved his hand to another location he knew.

"Was that…?" He trailed off, knowing that she would know what he meant.

"Yes." She beamed up at him. Within seconds he had wrapped his arms around her, embracing her in a tight hug.

"How long have you been able to feel that?" He asked her as he released her.

"A few weeks, but it was more like butterflies until just now." She said as they went into the office and sat down. "When it started this morning it was much stronger, I really hoped you'd be able to feel it."

"Why didn't you tell me you had started to feel the baby?" He asked her.

"I didn't want you to feel jealous. You get so excited about things that I feel badly when it's something you can't experience." She told him.

"You're amazingly sweet, you know that?"

"I know. I am amazing. I've got to get back to work. See you later?" She asked as he helped her up.

"Yeah. Chicken and rice for dinner?"

"Sounds good."

Danny had been waiting outside the department store for 20 minutes. Lindsay was rarely ever late, and when she was she always called to let someone know where she was. It was very unlike her and he was starting to worry, an emotion that he seemed to be battling constantly. Every time she called him, he was worried that something horrible had happened.

When he finally caught sight of her, she looked like she was dragging.

"I'm sorry I'm late. I forgot to charge my cell phone battery and my meeting with my realtor ran late. Can we sit down for a little bit? My back is killing me." She said. As he led her toward a bench, the word realtor hit him.

"Sure. You had a meeting with a realtor?" He asked as they sat down.

"Yeah. After the baby shower that Stella and your sister threw for us, I realized that I have nowhere to put all of this stuff, let alone a baby. I should have started looking the minute I found out I was pregnant, but there was just so much going on. And now I'm just so frustrated, I don't think I'll find a place before Peanut arrives. I've only got about six weeks left." She looked like she was about to cry.

"Well, what're ya lookin' for?" He asked as an idea slowly began to form in his mind.

"I want a place with two bedrooms, close to you, close to work, doesn't cost me a fortune, and the real kicker, I want a back yard. Somewhere that Peanut can play and be safe."

"That's quite a list, Ms. Monroe." He told her with a smirk.

"I know. This would have been so much easier in Montana." She told him.

"Listen, let's go pick out the stroller we want, and then I think I know a place that will meet all of your requirements." At that, she perked right up.

"Really? Oh, Danny, if you can find me a place, I'll love you forever." As soon as she said it, a blush formed on her cheeks.

"Bring on the love."

"I can't believe that we just spent that much on a stroller, Danny." Lindsay said as the cab they were in slowed to a stop outside Danny's brownstone.

"That's nothing. Nicky spent $375 on a stroller for Paul. $200 is a walk in the park, considering that we're gonna use the hell out of it." Danny lifted the box containing the stroller out of the trunk of the cab.

"Everything is so expensive. Babies are so tiny; I don't think I ever realized how much stuff they actually need." As they entered the house, Danny put the stroller next to the sofa. "Is this place you're going to show me nearby?" Lindsay asked.

"We're here." He told her. Her mouth opened in shock.

"This is your place, Danny."

"I know."

"Danny, I can't live here." She told him.

"Why not? It meets all of your requirements, plus I'll be here to help with late night feedings and diaper changes. Just let me show you around, and then you can decide." He said.

He showed her the bedrooms, and the backyard, and the space that the last occupant had turned into an apartment. It was fantastic, but it was Danny's overview of the situation that sold her.

"Danny, this place must cost a fortune to rent. I don't think I'd be able to pay half the rent, I don't even want to know how you can afford the whole thing." She told him.

"I don't pay rent. I pay property taxes and utilities, and that's it. My grandmother left this to me when she died. She was so happy that I joined the force, and didn't follow in my father's footsteps, that she wanted to reward me. This place was paid off years before she died. She rented the third floor out to make some money, but I never have. For the time being, you can move into the other big bedroom and we can make the small room a nursery. Then, once Peanut is older, you can decide if you want to take the apartment or stay where you are. It'll save us both some money, if we each pay half the household expenses. Plus, when you go into labour, I'll be able to take you. We won't have to worry about meeting each other their. I'll be with you the whole time."

"What if living together doesn't work out? It was a horrible idea for Ross and Rachel."

"If it doesn't work out, then we find you another place. And you'll have been able to save money while you're living here." He replied.

"OK." She said. "I'll move in."

"How did we get stuck with painting?" Flack whined.

"Because Lindsay can't be near the paint fumes, and Stella's helping her finish packing up her apartment. I don't want her lifting anything heavy." Danny told him. "You missed a spot."

"Shut up. I'm taking from the green paint that you and Little Miss Carrier of Messer Spawn don't know if you're having a boy or a girl."

"Nope. We figure that since the actual pregnancy was a surprise; why not finish it the same way it started. You missed another spot."

"Thanks, Messer. You know, you could be doing this by yourself." Flack told him.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, we're very glad that you're helping us out with this."

"We, huh? When're you gonna tell her that you're in love with her?" Flack asked.

"What? I'm not…in love with her. I mean, obviously I love her because she's the mother of my child, but I'm not in love with her. It's complicated."

"Complicated, my ass. You're in love with her. She's pregnant with your child, you two are always together, and you convinced her to move in with you. Those are not the actions of two people who aren't in love."

"We're not in love."

"Whatever you say, man."

The paint in the nursery had finally dried, and all of Lindsay's things had been moved from her old apartment to Danny's. This would be the first night that they would be living together. When she arrived home from her prenatal yoga class, she was surprised to find Danny in the kitchen unpacking Chinese food.

"What's this?" She asked as she grabbed a fork and speared a baby corn cob.

"I figured we could celebrate our new living arrangement with some Chinese food and a couple movies." He told her as he placed the cartons on a tray and grabbed two plates.

"Sounds good. Let me go clear my books off the coffee table."

"That's the crappy TV. The good TV is in my room. My bed's way more comfortable than the sofa." He proceeded to pick up the tray and make his way up the stairs, leaving Lindsay with her mouth hanging open in the kitchen.

They had completely devoured the Chinese food and watched two movies when Danny noticed that Lindsay was having trouble getting comfortable. She was propped against the headboard with a few pillows behind her, but was constantly adjusting them. She had tossed the afghan she was using off and pulled it back over her so many times, that Danny had lost track. Her legs were constantly moving; from out in front of her, to crossed beneath her, curled to the side, and bent up in front of her.

"Do you want me to pause the movie?" He asked her. "I can clean up the food while you go to the bathroom."

"At the moment, my bladder's okay. It's my back that's bothering me. It starts to bother me around this time every night." She explained.

"D'you want a back rub?" Danny asked. Off her look he explained. "I read that your abdomen pushing forward causes stress on the spine."

"No, thanks. I'll be fine in a little while." She told him.

She was still squirming by the time the movie ended. Lindsay picked out the next movie while Danny took the food back to the kitchen. On his way back, he stopped by Lindsay's room and grabbed her maternity pillow. When he got back to the room, he approached the bed with the pillow and handed it to her.

"Lie down and get yourself as comfortable as you can." He said.

"Danny, I told you I don't need a back rub. I'm fine."

"You're not fine. You're obviously uncomfortable, so let me help you." Grumbling the entire time, she did as she was told.

As he started, she was tense, but he felt the tension release from her body as he ran his hands along the areas on either side of her spine. After awhile he realized that Lindsay had fallen fast asleep. As gently as he could, he pulled the covers from beneath her and pulled them over her. He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and dropped a kiss on her forehead, before changing into an old pair of sweatpants and a wife beater and getting into bed.

He looked over at her one more time before removing his glasses and turning off the light.

"Goodnight, family."

He dreamt that night. Dreams full of Lindsay and their family. A family that was constantly changing, never the same. Different children, different numbers, different places, but always with a smiling Lindsay. Little girls in beautiful dresses. Little boys with ball gloves. Lindsay rocking a baby to sleep. Him pacing the floor with a wailing baby. He could feel the weariness of dream Danny, but also the love. A love that he realized mirrored his own. Love for the child he couldn't wait to hold and love for the woman that was currently home to that child. It wasn't the fact that she was carrying the child that made him love her, it was her. Her kindness, her gentleness, the way she moved, and the things she said. It was everything about her.

When she awoke the next morning, she realized that she wasn't alone. Her mind flashed back to that morning nine months ago, when she had woken up in the same room with an arm around her considerably smaller waist. Now she had no waist, but there was a hand resting gently on her ever-expanding belly. She placed her hand over Danny's and slowly began to move her hand up and down his hand and arm. She heard him stir behind her.

"Good morning, sleepy head." She said quietly as she twisted herself around to face him. His hand remained on her body as she turned.

"Mornin'." He drawled as he drew patterns over her side and then her belly. "You fell asleep last night. I didn't want to wake you, so I left you."

"It's fine. Peanut likes that." She told him as she placed his hand in the right spot to feel the baby move.

It was right then that she knew. Lying in bed with their morning hair, and their hands moving together over their baby, she knew she was in love with him.

It would be any day now. The due date was less than a week away and they were as ready as they were going to be. The nursery was finished, their bags were packed, and their route to the hospital was planned. The only left to do was wait for Peanut to start things rolling.

Lindsay had officially gone on maternity leave the week before, while Danny was working in the lab waiting for a call from Lindsay letting him know it was time to take her to the hospital.

So Danny wasn't surprised when at 1:00 pm on Tuesday afternoon, his phone rang.

"I think it's almost time." She said, her voice sounded shaky.

"Really?" He asked.

"No, I just thought I'd call and play a prank on you." She snarked. Then her voice went back to shaky. "Yes, it's almost time. The contractions are getting longer and coming closer together."

"I'm on my way." He quickly hung up his phone and raced to the locker room to hang up his lab coat. On his way to Mac's office, he ran into Stella.

"Stel. Lindsay's contractions have started. I'm heading home." He informed her.

"Go. I'll let Mac know. Tell Lindsay that we're thinking about her." She said with a smile.

"Thanks, Stel."

Lindsay had just gotten settled in her room, when another contraction hit her. Danny held her hand and told her how well she was doing.

"You're doing so great, Linds. Before you know it Peanut's gonna be here and it'll all be worth it."

"I know. I've got a little while before the next one, distract me for a bit." She asked as he gave her some ice chips.

He ran a cool cloth over her forehead before deciding on a topic.

"I'm in love with you." He whispered.

"What?" She asked, clearly startled.

"I'm in love with you." He repeated.

"Why are you telling me this now?" She asked.

"I couldn't let you go through this not knowing that I love you. I don't know if you feel the same way, but I'm in love with you. Powerfully, painfully in love with you. I need you to know that whatever happens, I love you and I love our baby." Lindsay was silent while she digested the information, and then while she went through the next contraction. When it was over, she spoke again.

"How long?" She asked him.

"I don't know. I didn't realize until Flack brought it up and then that night a few weeks ago, when you fell asleep. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything." He said as he turned away, pretending to look at the magazines they had brought with them.

"I'm glad you did. It makes it easier." She said. "Look at me." He turned around but wouldn't look directly at her. "I love you, too. That morning, when we just laid there talking about the future. I knew. I could spend every morning for the rest of my life like that. With you and our baby." He looked up then as she smiled at him. Another contraction happened before they spoke again.

"We never do anything the easy way, do we?" He said.

"No. But we still get there in the end." She said as he bent down to kiss her.

The labour had lasted longer than they had expected, but it flew out of their minds the minute the baby was placed in Lindsay's arms. The baby had been taken to be cleaned and weighed and measured. All Lindsay wanted was to hold the baby again.

"Danny, she's beautiful." Lindsay said as she held her daughter in the privacy of her room. Tears were falling down her face.

"She's perfect." Danny responded as he kissed the top of Lindsay's head and then their baby's head. He too had tears forming in his eyes. He hadn't expected to be this emotional. "Welcome to the world, Hannah Grace Monroe."

"Messer." Lindsay said.

"What?" He asked, moving his eyes from his daughter to his…she wasn't sure what she was, but to Lindsay.

"Her name. It's Hannah Grace Messer." She stated as she looked right into his eyes. She held his gaze for a minute before turning back to her daughter. "We're so glad that you're here. Mommy and Daddy have been waiting for you for a very long time."

"We have been waiting a long time." Danny said as he took a picture of mother and daughter.

Author's Note: So I wasn't really expecting for Peanut to make her arrival quite so soon, but the muse had different ideas. I have one more chapter after this. It'll tie things up, I hope. Also, please note that I have never had a baby. So any discrepancies in the story are because I've never experienced this before. As always, I crave reviews like a junkie craves smack, so please review.