Thanks for all the feedback - I may not have internet over the next week but here's chapter 3. Hope you like it!

Chapter 3

Beth gave Rio a disapproving glare. "Actually," she said, tapping her foot, suddenly feeling livid, "seen as you just made a pregnant woman - about to enter her third trimester - walk down a whole bunch of stairs, I think I'll need to use your restroom first. I mean… who does that?!"

Rio's grin seemed to broaden at this, which only served to further enrage Beth. She gave him a face like thunder and he had the decency to rearrange his features into a more solemn expression.

"I'm very sorry 'bout that Elizabeth. Of course, you can use the restroom. I'm warning you though, it ain't pretty"

"Just lead the way" she muttered through clenched teeth.

He was right, it wasn't pretty. The smell was dis-gust-ing and the toilet seat was loose. She returned to the little room, thinking I'm going to need a long shower to wash this place off of me, drenching her hands with antibacterial gel. She attempted to sit down gracefully, failing miserably.

"You need a hand?" Rio asked, sounding almost sincere.

"I'm fine" she spat, "now tell me what you want so I can crawl back up the stairs and out of this hellhole"

Rio gave her that disarming smile, causing her to blush again, damn it I just can't help myself! she thought, raging internally.

"You don't like it? It's an old speakeasy, a lotta history went down here…" He could tell Beth wasn't up for a history lesson by the scowl on her face. He made a nevermind kind of hand gesture, and swiftly changed the subject. "So, you tell anyone where you were goin' tonight?", he asked casually.

Beth's eyes narrowed. "No…" she said, feeling like she maybe should have lied and said yes… perhaps this was a trap after all.

"What? Not even the other two mouseketeers?" Rio smiled playfully.

"No" replied Elizabeth, sitting up a little straighter, trying to look in control and wondering whether there was any cell phone coverage in this dungeon.

He clicked his tongue and gave her a look that could melt a glacier. "I bet you didn't even tell them you saw me, did you Elizabeth?

He knows me too well,thought Beth, suddenly feeling a hot flush – pregnancy or just the Rio effect? Maybe both.

He leaned back, hand rubbing his chin as if in deep thought, and said "yeah, they'd probably just think you a crazy pregnant lady, right?"

Beth looked up at the ceiling, starting to feel annoyed as Rio chuckled at her.

Suddenly he got up and walked the couple of steps to the cabinet behind him, his back to her. "I got you somethin'", Rio said. Beth stiffened and hoped this gift didn't turn out to be a gun.

He bent down, opened the cupboard and turned around holding the largest pickle jar she'd ever seen with a massive bow around it.

She wondered if he could see the relief flood her face. She hoped not. Knowing Rio, he probably had.

"Thank you" she said, stiffly. All in all, it was a nice gesture, but there'd better be a better reason he dragged her pregnant ass down here at 11pm on a Friday night.

"Now, what is it you want!? I thought I'd imagined you in my kitchen, yet here you are King of the fucking Pickles!"

Rio sat down, took a deep breath and stared at her, eyes narrowing, sizing her up. Beth started to feel really uncomfortable, his eyes were on her like a tractor beam, drawing her in. She was just about to break the silence, when he asked, "Did you know?"

"What?!" she snapped, feeling confused.

"When you shot me. Did. You. Know?" he asked dangerously and leaned forward, staring pointedly at her belly.

"No! No, of course not!" she said indignantly. "Well, I was late, but I thought that was just… stress… the doctor told me I couldn't have any more children so that was the last thing on my mind… Apparently the odds of this happening were like - a million to one, or something".

He nodded and smiled a little "Okay" he said.

"Okay… "she replied with emphasis, hoping that had settled the matter.

He then chuckled, looking quite impressed with himself. "I mean, current circumstances not being ideal and whatnot – I'm pretty impressed with myself on that score"

Beth's eyes narrowed. Typical man, she thought. "Yes, thank you, I was there too, you know" she scoffed.

He tilted his head, his mind clearly taking a trip down memory lane. "Yeah… ", he said and smiled his sexy crooked smile, his eyes wandering down her body "you were…"

Beth felt like she was naked before him, damn him he knows how to get under my skin, she thought.

"So, ummm…. When would this have been, then Elisabeth?" he asked with faux modesty.

"Errr…." she said, feeling flustered, "well, date-wise it would have been when…" she cleared he throat, feeling suddenly awkward and shy, "when we went back to mine… you know, that afternoon"

"Mmmm" he replied. Only he could make that noise sound so obscene. "Yeah I remember" he said, licking his lips. "That was some afternoon… I mean… we just went at it for hours"

Beth rolled her eyes at this and thought is this why he brought me here for Chrissakes?"

"Hey, don't be rolling them baby blues at me", he said, smiling, "I honestly enjoyed that last afternoon we had together… I mean, I had no idea what you were planning… had you been thinking about that for a while, Elizabeth? Us together, in your bed? I tell you it was a nice surprise when you took me upstairs… looks like the surprises didn't end there" he said eyeing her belly and clicking his tongue.

"Are you quite finished?", she asked in a withering tone, yet she felt like her face was on fire. "I'd like to take my pickles and go home now"

"Oh, you got someone waiting there for you?" said Rio in a less than friendly tone, his face suddenly deadly serious. "Nah", he continued, "that was just small talk… We need to talk about Agent Turner"

Beth felt like she'd been slapped. She had hoped to never hear that name again. She hadn't seen or heard from him since that day he turned up at her kitchen, announcing he was going on a long vacation. "What do you mean?" she asked, color draining from her face

"Well… who d'ya think called 911 and saved my sorry ass?" said Rio, with a ruthless smile, shoulders shrugging.

"He… told me you were dead" Beth replied, feeling faint.

"Nah, he saved my ass, as long as he got something in return… turns out he still got a hard-on for you, Boss Bitch".

Beth closed her eyes and tried to remain calm. What did this mean?! she thought.

"So, FBI is my new boss, I'm their bitch now, see?" Rio sounded bitter.

"But… but all this?!" she exclaimed, "do they know about all this?!"

"They know what I want them to know" said Rio, cryptically. Beth took a deep breath. "You okay mama? asked Rio. You lookin' kinda pale. Even for you".

"Do they know… about me?" asked Beth, feeling desperation creeping in. "I've… I've been so careful"

"He knows you up to somethin'", replied Rio, "but no details. Yet."

Beth nodded solemnly. "It's just been… so expensive. I have a plan, I'm going to quit, go completely legit… but the pregnancy… It's slowed me down. I'm considered high risk so there's lots of extra scans and… I have to have a c-section at 8 months…", she trailed off under the weight of Rio's gaze.

She wished he would stop looking at her like that or she might burst into tears. Yes, the pregnancy had been difficult, but she was going to be okay… unless I have to have my baby in prison chained to a bed, she thought. She looked down and took a deep shuddering breath, keeping the tears at bay, cradling her stomach.

She didn't hear him move, but suddenly Rio appeared next to her chair. He took her hand and held it. Beth's eyes welled up. He looked at her belly, at his child within. Beth looked at him, could sense his hesitation, so she took his hand and placed it firmly on her belly.

"She's been kicking up a storm in there ever since I got here" she smiled, brushing an errant tear from her face. Rio's features softened as he felt her hard stomach and was rewarded with a kick.

"Whoa!" he cried. Beth started laughing – actually, it was a strange mixture between crying and laughing. Rio joined in and another kick followed shortly.

"Is that a – ", he started.

"Yeah" interrupted Beth "I think that's her foot".

Rio smiled warmly and looked genuinely happy. Beth looked at his face and wished she could kiss him. It was such a lovely moment they shared, any normal couple would have hugged and kissed each other. She looked away, saddened by this thought.

"Hey", said Rio softly and tucked her hair behind her ear "what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?!" she cried, her head snapping back to look at him, "this should be a beautiful moment… but guess what?! You're a gangbanger turned snitch and I'm the hustling criminal who shot you three times in the chest and I'm probably going to have to give birth chained to a prison bed!"

Rio blinked at this sudden outburst and then said with a few moment's hesitation "hey… nobody's perfect…"

There was total silence for about five seconds, when suddenly Beth started laughing hysterically - the kind that can easily turn into tears.

Rio laughed along but after a few seconds cupped her face and looked her straight in the eyes. "Stop worryin'" he said, kissing her gently on her forehead.

Beth closed her eyes god I missed him, she thought. She could smell his cologne, the soft hint of bourbon, but mainly – just him. She felt embarrassed as she remembered sniffing the pillows before she changed the bedding that afternoon. No one smelt quite like him.

She opened her eyes, his warm, dry lips were still on her forehead. She stared at that sexy tattoo on his throat. She wished she could kiss him there, start there and work her way down.

She took a deep breath and became aware that she was weeping again. Rio pulled back and looked at her with a concerned expression on his face.

"I do this all the time" she sobbed, gesturing at her face and then sighed heavily.

"Come on", Rio said, "let's get you home". He helped her up the stairs, carrying her pickles for her, and walked her out to her car.

"See you soon?" she asked, as she eased herself into the car.

He nodded, looking serious for once. "I'll try, but I'm being watched closely"

She nodded in understanding, then suddenly exclaimed "Oh! I almost forgot". She rummaged in her handbag and took out a scan picture and handed it over. "It's from last week…" she said "I have lots of them at home, so…"

She had never quite seen Rio's face like that before. "Thanks" he muttered, gazing at the photo. The baby's head was so clear, with a button nose.

"They asked me if I wanted a 3D one" she said "but I prefer the old-fashioned ones… makes for a better surprise" she smiled.

"Um… yeah…" Rio said, distantly, his eyes still glued to the scan photo.

"Okay… bye Rio" she said softly.

He looked up, his eyes a little misted over. "Yeah, goodbye Elizabeth, see you soon".

She drove off feeling inexplicably happy. The reason she brought the scan picture had been far from altruistic. She'd planned to use it to extract sympathy in case she got into a tricky situation. She arrived home and went to bed, dreaming of their last afternoon together.