Danny woke up. Knowing perfectly well where Sam was, he set about making breakfast. It was a few minutes later when he heard Sam's keys in the door, home from her now daily morning jog. Of course, they were both glad that her morning sickness had subsided a few weeks ago.
"Hey hon. Hmm, that smells good, what is it? I'm starving"
"French toast, it'll be ready shortly."
Danny gazed at Sam, his beautiful wife. Something about the pregnancy had changed her whole demeanor a little. She was still a little Goth, a phase she had never really grown out of, and was as independent as ever, but there was something new about her that Danny couldn't quite put his finger on.
Perhaps it was the glow she received whenever she put her hand on her belly, which by now had become rather pronounced. Maybe it was the way she smiled a little as she slept. Now that he thought of it, it seemed to come from that sparkle in her beautiful indigo eyes that she felt whenever the baby moved. Whatever it was, he loved her for it.
"So, doctor, can you tell what gender the baby is?" Danny asked DR. Clemenza as she ran the ultrasound device over Sam's stomach.
"No, not yet. Why, do you want to know?"
"We haven't discussed that yet."
Sam gave a little gasp as they sat on the verandah of a local Italian restaurant.
"What is it, Sam?" Danny asked, looking up from his chicken ptarmigan.
"The baby's kicking. Want to feel?"
"Sure." Danny said as he put his hand on her belly, feeling a small shove in response. "Hey, what do you know?"
"Oh, Danny, don't forget that we're having Tucker and Valerie over for dinner tonight."
"That's right. What kind of wine do you want?"
"Danny, you know I can't drink that stuff when I'm pregnant. What are you trying to do, kill the baby?"
Danny smacked himself in the face. "That's right, I forgot."
"I'm sowwy. Daddy doesn't think sometimes, does he? No, he doesn't." Sam spoke to her tummy.
"Don't tell me you ladies are going to start ganging up on me this early."
"'Ladies?' What if it's a boy?"
"Then him and I can gang up on you." Danny replied, lightly poking her in the shoulder.
"Hey, Tuck." Danny said that night as he opened the door.
"Hey, Danny. Is Valerie here yet?"
"No, she's not. Hey, Sam and I have something to show you." Danny said as he led Tucker to the living room where Sam was standing.
"Hey, Tuck."
"Hey, Sam. You look…wow." Tucker said as he noticed her physique.
"'Wow? Wow?"
"Now, Sam-" Said Danny.
"He means I look fat!"
"He didn't mean it that way." Danny said, trying to placate her as she ran past them, up the stairs, and into the master bedroom, sobbing. "You wait here." He said, pointing to Tucker.
"What'd I say?" Tucker asked himself as Danny bolted after her.
Danny remembered the last time she'd had a mood swing this hostile. It was a couple of weeks ago, when they were watching "Casablanca." Danny had said something about Ingrid Bergman being a very pretty woman. Bad move. Sam didn't let him back for a week. Thankfully his parents let him use his old room.
"Sam? It's Danny. Listen, Tucker didn't mean what he said that way. He was just surprised is all." No matter how much he pleaded, Sam wouldn't budge. It was only when Valerie rang the bell that Sam decided to head downstairs.
"Hey, Val."
"Hey, Sam. You look great!" Valerie said as she, too, noticed Sam's condition
"Thanks. Tucker said I look 'wow,' which I took totally the wrong way."
"I know. Men can be so insensitive." Danny and Tucker exchanged here-they-go-again-ganging-up-on-us-men looks.
"Actually, Danny can be pretty sensitive. I don't know how I'd have gotten through the morning sickness without him."
"Thanks, Sam." Danny said, wrapping his arms around Sam, kissing her on the neck.
"Oh, get a room, you two." Tucker and Valerie chorused. Tucker and danny behaved like perfect gentlemen that night, pulling out the seats for the ladies, filling their drinks, etc.
"Sam, dinner was wonderful." Valerie said over dessert.
"Thanks."
"No problem. By the way, what are you going to name the baby?"
"We were planning on announcing that on the day of its birth."
"Speaking of announcements," Tucker replied, getting up from his seat, kneeling by Valerie's side, producing a small, dark box, "Valerie Rebecca Grey, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?"
"Oh, Tucker. Of course I will!"
