Steele Dreaming
by Tanya Reed
Disclaimer: I still don't own Remington Steele, and I doubt that I ever will.
-------------------------
Laura sat in a comfortable blue chair. Her hands were clutched nervously in her lap. She hated going to the doctor and had hated it ever since that time her mother had dragged her, kicking and screaming into her pediatrician's to get a needle. Trying to forget that she was ill, her eyes wandered around the room, inspecting diplomas, gazing at pictures of blond haired children.
Where'd he go, China? Laura thought crossly.
Just as she thought that, the door opened and her middle aged doctor came through it. He smiled to Laura, noticing her impatience with a twinkle in his eyes. He walked slowly, taking his time getting to his desk. Laura waited for him to sit down, though she was in a hurry to leave. There were things she'd rather be doing. She wouldn't even be here if her husband—that still didn't sound quite natural, but it was nice—hadn't insisted, saying she looked horrible.
Finally, Dr. Barrett sat, and Laura said, "Well?"
The smile the doctor had grew into a grin, "Well, Laura, my dear, you don't have the flu."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she started, then stopped. A shocked look went over her face, "You don't mean…no…You can't be serious…"
"Yes, Laura. You're going to have a baby."
"A baby? Oh, my God, a baby."
Automatically, Laura's hand went to her stomach. The shocked look turned to a frightened one. Fear flooded over her, making the hand on her belly start to tremble. The idea of a baby was just so overwhelming. She had begun to think about having children lately, but she hadn't thought of having them so soon. She had assumed that she and Mr. Steele—Remington—would plan it out before hand. With this thought came a slightly amused thought behind it. It was: Knowing how long it takes us to make a decision, it might have been twenty years before we actually got around to making a baby. Laura wondered how she could be so scared and still have a sense of humor.
Then a picture came to her mind. It was a picture of her holding a baby and singing. My baby. Our baby. Thoughts whirled through her head. She was going to have a baby! Slowly, the scared feeling melted away. It was replaced by happiness. A slight smile graced her face and her dimples appeared.
The doctor watched the different emotions come and go on Laura's face without speaking. He patiently waited for her to roll the idea around in her head, get used to it, embrace it. Dr. Barrett was just getting ready to speak again when there was a tap on his door. A puzzled look came to his face. He looked at Laura, but she just shrugged.
The doctor got up and went to the door. Laura noticed that he seemed to move a little faster when he wanted to know what was going on. Then again, that perception could have been influenced by the fact that Laura had been impatient the last time the doctor had made the trip between his door and desk.
Dr. Barrett opened his door. "Mr. Steele!"
"Hi, is Laura here?"
The doctor's eyes began twinkling again. "Yes, come in. I was just leaving."
Steele looked confused as he watched the doctor sprint out and down the hospital corridor. When the doctor disappeared around a corner, Steele frowned and entered the room.
Laura looked at him, not knowing what to say. She didn't know whether she should tell him now or wait until later. What would his reaction be? They hadn't been married long, and they had never really talked about having children. What if he was angry? Even worse, what if he was disappointed?
Remington saw a strange look on Laura's face. It was a look of uncertainty, of hesitation. Concern went over Steele's own face, and he crossed the room with quick strides.
"Laura, what's wrong?"
Laura got up to face him. "There's nothing wrong."
Remington captured Laura's chin in his hand and raised her head to look in her eyes. "What did he say?"
Now, Laura saw that there was no way that she could keep this from her husband. No matter what his reaction, for better or for worse, she had to throw the news out there. He would be a good father. She was sure of that. She clasped a hold of that certainty and held on tightly. Anyone as gentle and as caring as he was, underneath the armor that he had built to face the world, would be able to show his children all the love that they needed.
"Remington," even now, the world seemed strange to her, but she liked using it, "Remington, I'm going to have a baby."
Laura thought she had been shocked, but her surprise was nothing compared to the shock that went over Remington Steele's face. His mouth opened slightly, and his face got slightly paler. Pain went through Laura. He wasn't ready. Then she noticed tears filling his beautiful blue eyes.
"Laura…" his voice had a slight shake in it.
Then, Remington grabbed Laura's shoulders in a tight grip. He pulled her to him and threw his arms around her. She felt his lips gently touch her temple. Stunned, she stood there for a moment. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him. He was warm and firm against her.
"Remington?"
"Oh, Laura," he said, his voice still shaky, "Finally. Finally, I will have the family I always dreamed of."
Tears came to Laura's own eyes at his words, and happiness, love, and a protective feeling filled her heart. She loved him, oh, how she loved him, and now, more than ever, she was sure he was hers forever.
