December 16th

Dear Silver Belle;

Sounds like you've really been through it... I sincerely hope it wasn't anything I did, but if it was, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I'd hate myself if I inadvertently ruined whatever's between us without even realizing it.

I'd also hate it if you were to lose your faith in humanity because, I promise you, in spite of everything, there are good people in the world. I'd like to think I'm one of them, though I will admit that I'm certainly far from perfect.

I'd like to tell you all the wonderful things I've done that might prove my point, but I fear that doing so would inadvertently give away my secret identity and ruin the surprise. Please, just trust me when I tell you that there is good in this world and you're proof of that.

(Not to go all nerdy on you, but isn't there some big speech about this in the second Lord of the Rings movie?)

Just hold on for a little while longer and I promise to show you just how much good there is on the day we meet.

- Pilgrim

By this point in her pregnancy, Emily really should've been used to getting ultrasounds, but she still found herself getting nervous each time. Especially when she found out that JJ wasn't going to be able to attend with her.

She wasn't entirely sure why she got so anxious... Maybe it was because she was afraid that she would lose the last thing she had of Clyde. Or maybe part of her thought she was cursed. All she knew was that she couldn't face the appointment alone.

She was pacing the hallway, picking at her nails when she heard a familiar voice booming, "Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!"

Whipping around, she came face to face with Santa... "Derek?" she asked, confused, "What are you doing here?"

Glancing over his shoulder in search of innocent little ears, he whispered, "I'm Santa."

She rolled her eyes. "No, really?"

Smirking, he said, "The hospital called and said their Santa couldn't make it, so I filled in to read to the kids and hand out gifts."

"Wow... That's sweet of you," she said. "I didn't know you were so jolly..."

"I keep telling you, Princess, I'm full of surprises," he teased. "So, what are you doing here?"

She nodded over her shoulder. "Yet another ultrasound." She attempted a smile.

He raised a brow. "You don't seem happy..."

"Nervous," she admitted. "JJ's at work and I've never been to one of these appointments alone."

He nodded thoughtfully. "You know... I've never been to an ultrasound before – would you mind if I came with you? You know, so I could see what a growing baby looks like?"

"Oh, umm..." she stammered. "Sure. I guess. If you really want to."

"Can I give you a lift home?" Derek asked as they left the appointment. "It's the least I could do after you let me share that private moment with you."

She rolled her eyes. "You can stop pretending it was a favour to you – I know you were trying to make me feel better."

He shrugged, but admitted to nothing. "So, do you need a ride?"

She sighed, irritated. "Well, JJ and I were supposed to go shopping for baby things after the appointment, but she's at work, so..."

"I'll take you," he offered immediately. She didn't seem to believe that, though. "Really," he insisted, "I've got no plans."

"But you're dressed as Santa..."

Apparently, he'd forgotten, judging by the way he glanced at his outfit. "I've got a change of clothes in the car."

She chewed her lip for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. I could use the help moving heavy furniture anyway."

He chuckled. "Your wish is my command."

"Why do they make these strollers so fucking complicated?" Emily griped. "You practically need an engineering degree to work them..."

"Maybe that's because you're trying to work it with one hand," he pointed out.

She gave him a pointed look. "Well, I'll have the baby in one hand, which only leaves me one free one," she said.

He indicated the next stroller. "Well, what about this one? It looks fancy..."

The store clerk approached them with a cheerful smile. "Shopping for your first stroller?" she asked. "It can be really overwhelming, huh? They have so many really cool models these days. Personally, I recommend a twin stroller – you may only have one now, but it will save your sanity when you have a second!"

Emily's eyes went wide and panic-stricken. "Oh, we're not..." She gestured between her and Derek. "We're not together."

"Oh, I'm sorry," the clerk squeaked. "I just assumed..."

"We're just old friends," Derek assured. "I'll be the one putting the crib together."

The clerk giggled. "You're the manual labour? Are you a handyman?"

He shrugged modestly. "Well, I'm a man and I am handy... Why? Do you need some renos done?"

"Maybe," she said with a grin. "Do you have a business card or something?"

Emily cleared her throat. "Could I get some help with this stroller?"

As Derek drove Emily back to JJ's place, he said, "That was kinda funny..."

"What was?" she asked, brow raised.

"You getting jealous."

She glared at him. "Jealous?" she repeated dangerously.

"Of the store clerk hitting on me," he teased.

Her glare turned positively icy. "I wasn't jealous," she insisted, "I just thought it was rude – I was trying to prepare for my baby and she was all over you like I wasn't even there."

"I think it was jealousy," he maintained. "But it's okay because you're cute when you're jealous."

"And you're annoying."

He just shook his head smiling because it was just like when they were kids for a moment. But only for a brief moment before she was suddenly tensing and wincing, letting a hissed breath out through her teeth.

"Em?" he asked, suddenly concerned. "Are you alright?"

She shook her head firmly once, twice. "No," she said slowly. "No, I'm in labour..."