Valentine's Day 2020

Thirty-One Weeks Along

"Honey, I'm home."

Propped up on the bed, Veronica looks up from the case notes she's perusing as Logan enters the bedroom, dressed in his flight suit, with a playful grin on his face.

"Hey." She smiles back. "Good day?"

"Pretty good. Spent the afternoon running training sorties." He crosses the room, leaning down to give her a kiss. "Happy Valentine's."

"Happy Valentine's," she returns, watching Logan as he unzips his suit and tugs it down his arms, before stepping out of it and moving around to his side of the bed.

Clad in his regulation black t-shirt, boxer-briefs and socks, he settles down beside her on the mattress, scooting down so his head is level with her belly, and supporting himself on one elbow.

"Hey, there, Bud, it's Daddy," he says, running a hand across her stomach. The baby kicks in response and Veronica smiles. "You're awake, I see."

In the last couple of weeks, since he read that babies can recognise their parents' voices in the womb, Logan's started talking to Bud. It was amusing to watch at first, because he was a little awkward with it, but now it warms her heart to see and hear him telling the baby all kinds of cute things.

"Guess what, Daddy went flying today, in his fast plane," he says softly. "One day maybe I'll take you up in a plane, too."

Be still my beating heart. Veronica catches her lower lip between her teeth in an indulgent smile as she turns her attention back to the case notes before her. After all, knowing Logan, he'll be talking for a while, so she might as well get some more work done in the meantime.

She doesn't usually bring work home with her these days, but this one case has her stumped, and she can't stop puzzling over it. Don't tell her dad or Mac—or Logan, for that matter—but she snuck out on a little surveillance run this afternoon, justifying that it's not her fault that the subject of the case is an obstetrician and her pregnancy gave her the perfect opportunity to go undercover to gather information. Of course, now she's exhausted and her ankles are all swollen after being on her feet for so long, which is why she's working in bed and not at the dining table.

She spends a few more minutes reading through the case notes, as Logan keeps up a running commentary of his day to the baby, before yawning and reaching out to run her fingers through his hair.

He looks up at her with a closed-mouth smile that borders on a smirk. "Everything okay?"

"Uh huh." She smiles lazily, running her thumb across his temple. "Well, other than the usual backache, swollen ankles and constant need to pee."

"It'll all be worth it, though."

"Yeah, it will." She nods in agreement. "But I hope you weren't planning anything elaborate tonight, because I don't think I have the energy."

He shakes his head, then presses a kiss to her belly and sits up. "Don't worry, we're staying in tonight. I'm gonna prepare you a delicious home-cooked dinner."

"Really?" She hides a smirk. "You? Home-cooked dinner?"

"Hey, I can cook," he says in protest. "You know that."

"I know, I'm just kidding." She reaches for his t-shirt and tugs him in close for a kiss. "You go cook the hell out of that dinner."

She pulls him in and kisses him again.

"I will if you let me go," he says with a grin when they part.

"Sorry." She releases him, smoothing down his shirt.

"You just relax, okay? Take a nap, even." He slides off the bed. "I'm gonna shower first. You need anything before I do?"

"Nope." She shakes her head. "I'm good."

"Okay."

As he heads for the bathroom, Veronica moves the case notes to one side and relaxes back against her pregnancy pillow, her eyes sliding closed. Maybe she will take up Logan's suggestion for a nap…. just a short one, though.

Late February 2020

Thirty-Two Weeks Along

"You're not serious?" Mac stares at Veronica incredulously. "Veronica, you have to."

"No, I don't," Veronica retorts, shifting on the sofa opposite Mac's desk while they're taking a mid-afternoon break from casework.

"But it's tradition," Mac replies. "You can't not have a baby shower."

"Well, maybe I don't want one, Mac," her friend responds with a shrug.

"Aw, come on…" Mac tries to reason with her. "You don't wanna take advantage of all your friends showering you and your baby bump there with love and gifts?"

"I don't know… the whole thing just seems so contrived, you know?" says Veronica. "I mean, can you see us surrounded by streamers and banners, cooing over baby clothes and gossiping about impending motherhood? I don't think so."

"Okay, fair point," Mac concedes, wrinkling her nose at the thought. "But it doesn't have to be that kind of party. It'll be your day; we can do whatever you want."

"Mac, just leave it, yeah?" Veronica says then. "I don't need a baby shower, and I don't want you guys to waste your money on one."

"It wouldn't be like that—" Mac starts to protest, but stops at Veronica's stern look. She sighs. "Okay, fine. No baby shower."

"Thanks, Q." Veronica shoots her a grateful smile as she eases herself up off the sofa. "And on that note, I need to get back to work."

Mac's gaze follows Veronica as she heads back into her office and closes the door behind her. It doesn't seem right for Veronica not to do anything to celebrate the impending birth of her child. Maybe the usual sugary-sweet, baby-themed party isn't really her friend's thing, but surely there has to be something they can do for her.

With a thoughtful frown, she reaches for her phone and scrolls through the contacts. She hits the call button and brings the phone to her ear.

"Hey, Logan, it's Mac," she says when he answers. "You have a minute? I'm hoping you can help me with something."

Early March 2020

Thirty-Four Weeks Along

Veronica lets out a long exhale as she surveys her appearance in the bathroom mirror. She fluffs her hair, marvelling at how much longer and thicker it's become in the last few months—she's gonna miss it after the baby comes and her hormones return to normal.

Satisfied with her hair and make-up, she smooths her hands down over her dress, feeling self-conscious as she turns to the side, cradling her large belly in her hands and eyeing her reflection critically. She's seven-and-a-half months pregnant now—geez, where did the time go?—and feeling every inch and pound of it. If she's honest, all she really wants to do tonight is get into bed, put up her swollen feet, and veg in front of the TV. Instead, however, she's agreed to put on a dress and squeeze her feet into a pair of nice shoes, so she can accompany Logan to the base for a dinner to open the new F/A-18 unit at North Island and welcome the instructors and students to the squadron.

There's a light knock on the door and Veronica turns her head towards it just as Logan pokes his head into the bathroom.

"Hey, you just about read—?" He stops, moving fully into the bathroom as he takes her in. "Wow. You look amazing."

Veronica glances down at the long evening gown she's wearing. It has a sweetheart neckline, with a lace overlay which reaches her collarbone, then there's a red ribbon which sits just below her breasts and ties at the back, giving her a pseudo-empire waistline, and from there the dress flows over her stomach and down to the floor.

"Yeah?" She turns to face the mirror again, pursing her lips and tilting her head to the side in consideration. "I don't know."

"I'm serious," says Logan, coming up behind her, his eyes locking with hers in the mirror as he lowers his mouth to her ear. "I don't think you've ever looked sexier."

Veronica shivers in response to both his words and the feel of his warm breath against her skin, though she can't quite bring herself to believe it.

"Believe me, right now I feel far from sexy," she says softly. "Look at me, I'm huge. Logan, I don't even walk anymore, I just waddle."

"You're beautiful," he says, letting his fingers trail down her bare arm before resting his palm against the side of her belly.

"Thank you."

With an appreciative smile, she turns her head for a kiss, to which he eagerly complies. She doesn't realise her mistake until they part and she sees the red smeared across his lips.

"Shit. You've got lipstick…"

She turns toward him, reaching up to rub a thumb across his lower lip. When that doesn't work, she grabs a face-towel and wets it, then takes his chin in her hand and starts cleaning it off. His lips switch with amusement, but he doesn't say anything.

"There we go, all gone."

"Thanks." He shoots her a grin. "So, I just had this perfect image of you doing that with the baby." He reaches for her hand, before adding sincerely, "You're gonna be a great mom, Veronica."

She looks down, embarrassed and a little self-conscious. "Oh, I don't know…"

"I know you don't think so, but I do," he says. "I'm not saying it's gonna be easy, or that we'll even know what we're doing, but what I do know is that we're gonna love this baby more than anything, and we're gonna do everything in our power to give him or her the best life we can."

"Wow, that was…" she murmurs softly, touched by the sincerity in his words, then adds emphatically, "Yeah, you're gonna be an awesome dad."

"I hope so." His smile is almost nervous and Veronica brings her palms to his chest in reassurance.

She frowns, though, when her fingers brush over the medals pinned to his jacket, and she takes a step back to give him a once-over, her gaze travelling up and down his form appreciatively.

"Wow," she murmurs, fanning herself. "How do you manage to look so good in uniform?"

He holds his hands out, glancing down at himself. "You like, huh?"

"God, yes." She catches her bottom lip between her teeth as she looks him up and down again.

He's clad in his dinner dress blues, which consist of black shoes, pressed navy blue trousers, a formal white shirt with gold cummerbund, navy bowtie and fitted navy blue jacket with gold trim and the aforementioned medals pinned to the left breast panel. He looks delectable.

"Hmm, think we've got time for a quickie?" she wonders, shooting him a grin.

"No. We don't," he says quickly and firmly, shaking his head as he takes a step backwards. "So, please, don't tempt me."

"Aww, come on," she teases, closing the gap between them and running a finger down the centre of his chest. "Remember what they said in Lamaze class about sex being a good way to prepare the body for labour?"

A smirk tugs at Logan's lips, but he's quick to suppress it. "Be that as it may, we seriously don't have time. We have to be in San Diego by seven."

As he turns towards the bathroom door, Veronica gives a long-suffering sigh.

"All right, fine," she says. "But when we get home later—if I'm still awake—I am going to fully appreciate you in those dress blues."

He spins on his heels, spreading his arms with a flourish. "Appreciate away, my dear."

Just over an hour later, they arrive at the Officer's Mess building on the base. Logan helps Veronica out of the car and then escorts her into the bar area, where the evening's reception is being held. As Veronica understands it, there will be drinks and a few speeches first, including one from Logan, since he's been heavily involved in getting the unit off the ground, followed by a sit-down dinner to welcome the transferring pilots to the new squadron.

Logan makes sure she's set up with something to drink, then heads over to his new Commanding Officer, to get ready for the speeches. Veronica has never felt completely comfortable at these kind of events, but tonight she's feeling extra conspicuous, given that not only is she wearing bright red, but she also looks like a beached whale. She finds herself a spot near the back of the room and sips at the glass of orange juice she's holding, trying not to draw attention to herself. Normally, this would be the point where she'd pull out her phone and busy herself with it, but it seems inappropriate to do that at a formal military function like this.

As the CO steps up onto a small podium at the front of the room and welcomes everyone to the evening, Veronica lets her gaze roam the crowd. There are maybe fifty people here, more than half of them wearing the same dinner dress blues as Logan, and most of them accompanied by a wife or girlfriend, though there are two women standing in front of her and just to the side, who are dressed in what she assumes is the female version of dress blues: navy blue jacket, long, straight navy skirt, low black heels, and hair tied back in a low bun. Veronica has to admit that, even though it shouldn't be, it's a little odd to see female pilots here, and it strikes her as kind of sad that the armed forces are still so male-dominated, even in today's society.

The Commanding Officer finishes his short speech—which Veronica wasn't actually paying much attention to—and then introduces Logan to the podium to a warm applause.

"Thank you, Commander Williams. Good evening, sirs, ma'ams, ladies and gents," he starts formally, though his lips quirk slightly at the end… something Veronica's sure everyone else thinks nothing of, but she recognises it as one of his trademark amused smirks.

"It's a pleasure to see you all here tonight." His gaze travels around the room, stopping briefly on Veronica for a moment, before he continues speaking. "I recognise a few familiar faces, but there are a number of new ones, so I'd like to welcome you all to the new unit. As the Commander said, I'm Lieutenant Echolls. I'll be one of your SFTIs here at North Island."

He goes on to explain a little more about how the new F/A-18 unit has been put together and what the aims of the squadron will be over the coming months. As much as she enjoys listening to Logan's smooth timbre and admiring how comfortable he is in this environment, Veronica finds herself tuning out when he starts throwing in acronyms and various other references she doesn't have a clue about.

He wraps it up a minute or so later, and catches her eye as he starts to make his way back across the room. Unfortunately, the baby decides to press down on her bladder right at that moment, so she gestures to him that she's going to the bathroom and he nods in response, stopping to chat to a couple of people instead.

She enters the bathroom, heading for a cubicle to relieve herself. As she struggles to pull up her underwear without the baby getting in the way and everything getting all caught up in her dress—why did no one tell her how hard it is to use the bathroom when you're over seven months pregnant?—she hears two women enter the bathroom.

"Have to say, I'm definitely looking forward to training starting now," one of them says as Veronica hears them lock the other two cubicles.

"Now?" the other queries. "You weren't before?"

"No, I was, but did you get a look at Lieutenant Echolls?" the first replies. "He's hot. I mean, I certainly wouldn't kick him out of bed."

Unlocking her cubicle door, Veronica's eyes widen in surprise, even as she smirks. Well, the lady's not wrong.

"Uh, Sam, he's your superior, remember?" the second voice adds.

"Is he, though?" Sam responds. "I mean, we're all the same rank."

"You know what I mean," the second girl sounds slightly exasperated. "He's an instructor. He'll be our instructor."

If only Logan could hear this, Veronica muses, suppressing a chuckle as she washes her hands. Bet crushes aren't something he has to deal with often in the Navy… ooh, unless any of his male students ever had a thing for him. I'll have to ask sometime.

The toilets flush almost simultaneously, and then both women emerge from the cubicles. As they head for the sinks, they nod and smile briefly at Veronica, who smiles back in greeting.

"Okay, so he'll be our instructor," Sam concedes. "It's not ideal."

"No, it's really not." The second woman gives her friend a disapproving look and Veronica can't keep quiet anymore.

"He is kinda hot, isn't he? That uniform? Wow," she says, leaning towards them conspiratorially, as she flashes a smile. "I mean, if I wasn't happily married, and you know, pregnant and all…"

"See, Jess?" Sam gestures to Veronica. "She gets it."

"He's probably got a girlfriend, though," adds Veronica casually. "Or maybe a wife."

"You think?" Sam tilts her head to one side in consideration.

"A guy that good-looking? Probably." Jess replies, as Veronica tries to keep a straight face.

She's surprised they don't recognise her, actually. Although she and Logan have managed to mostly stay under the radar, now and then, there's still the odd gossip column entry about him—like when they got married, and after he was accepted to Top Gun training. Luckily, it seems that unless celebrity offspring are running around getting drunk or high every week… or arrested for murder, of course… the tabloids don't much care about them.

Veronica dries her hands, mentally congratulating herself for not even feeling the slightest hint of jealousy over these women finding Logan attractive, then gives herself a once-over in the mirror before nodding to the two women and heading for the door. Pulling it open, she finds Logan pacing the mess lobby a few feet away. He stops when he sees her, giving a relieved smile.

"There you are, I was getting worried," he says, coming to a stop in front of her.

She shoots him a bemused look. "I was checking my hair and make-up."

"Right. Hair and make-up," he mutters. "And here I was concerned something might be wrong with the baby."

"Logan, I'm fine." She reaches for his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Everything's fine."

"Sorry," he apologises, leaning down to kiss her lightly. "It's just getting close now, you know?"

"I know." She smiles in understanding. "But if something was wrong, I would have called you."

"Yeah, I know."

"Come on." She tugs on his hand. "Let's go back in."

They head back into the bar, and Logan goes to get them more drinks while they wait to be called into the dining hall for dinner. Across the room, Veronica spots Sam and Jess reappearing from the cloakroom. She watches in amusement as Sam's interested gaze first lands on Logan, then slides to Veronica standing beside him. Logan slips his arm around her waist, dropping a kiss to the top of her head, and Sam's eyes widen in surprise and realisation. Trying to keep a straight face, she gives Sam a smile and a nod, raising her glass of orange juice in acknowledgement. Sam returns the nod, but frowns, looking a little miffed, before turning to Jess… presumably to share her discovery with her friend.

"You okay?" asks Logan then, noticing her distraction.

"Yep." She smiles up at him. "I'm fine… just looking forward to dinner."

"It'll only be a few more minutes," he assures her with a smile.

"Good." She nods. "'Cause I'm starving."

"Thanks for coming tonight," Logan says, tugging off his jacket as they enter their bedroom later that night. He drops it onto a chair, then removes the cummerbund and bowtie, and starts unbuttoning his shirt. "I know you'd have preferred to stay home."

"It was nice," she says, kicking off her shoes and sighing with relief as her bare feet sink into the plush carpet.

She turns her back towards Logan and brings her hair over one shoulder. Taking the hint, he steps up behind her, hands coming to the back of her dress as he undoes the satin tie and then lowers the zipper.

"You know, this dress really does look amazing on you," he says softly.

He slides his hands under the lace, his palms flattening against her shoulder blades, and the touch of his warm hands causes her to shiver. He eases the material over her shoulders, his hands sliding down her arms as he goes. Veronica's eyes slide closed at the feel of his fingers brushing across her skin and his warm body pressed up against her back. It's late and she's exhausted from the effort of socialising tonight, but her nerves are suddenly tingling with anticipation.

As Logan eases the dress down over her large stomach and lets it fall to the floor, leaving her in just her underwear, she murmurs, "You know, you caused something of a stir yourself tonight."

"I did?" His hands come to rest on her pregnant belly as he nuzzles her neck.

"Uh huh." Veronica tilts her head to the side to give him more access. "I bumped into a couple of female officers in the bathroom who were discussing how hot you were."

He smiles against her skin. "I hope you told them I was very much taken."

"Well… first I agreed that you do look very hot in that uniform," she informs him, "and then I casually suggested you might have a wife or girlfriend."

"But you didn't tell them it was you?" He sounds amused.

"Now, where would the fun in that be?" she retorts.

'You're weird sometimes, you know that?"

"I know." She grins. "But you love me for it."

"I do," he confirms, though he hesitates, like he wants to say more.

"What is it?" she questions softly, her curiosity piqued.

"Nothing," he says vaguely, hands gently curving around her stomach.

"Seriously, tell me," she insists.

Logan shakes his head, though he appeases her anyway. "It's just… well, there was a time you'd have been reaching for the piano wire after hearing a conversation like that."

Veronica tilts her head thoughtfully, pausing before she answers. It's true; she can't deny that. A few years ago, even just the thought of another woman being attracted to Logan would have made her irrationally jealous, but things are different now. She's a mature adult; they both are. They're married, with a baby on the way… and if she's honest, she's never felt more secure in a relationship, or more loved, than she does right now. Because now, she knows Logan loves her more than anything in the world, just like she loves him; and now, she can accept that as the truth without always looking for hidden meanings or waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"I trust you," she says simply. "I trust that you love me and want to be with me, and that you would never cheat on me."

Behind her, Logan is silent for a long moment and the words seem to just hang suspended in the air, until he eventually murmurs, "Wow."

"You sound surprised," she muses, turning her head so she can see him.

"No, I—it's just…" His hands move across her stomach and Veronica feels the baby move in response. "It means a lot to hear you say that."

Veronica presses her lips together, pushing down the lump that's beginning to form in her throat, before forcing a smile. "You doubted it?"

"No," he says. "But sometimes it's reassuring to hear."

She nods. "Yeah, it is."

He lowers his mouth to her ear again. "Just so you know, I love and trust you completely, too."

She smiles. "I know."

Logan's hands slide up to cup her breasts over her bra and the atmosphere between them changes, the conversation forgotten. A sigh escapes her lips as he massages them gently, thumbs brushing across her nipples. Her body begins to hum with desire, suddenly aching to feel him inside her.

"Hmm, feels good," she murmurs softly, leaning back against him.

"You're not too tired?" he queries.

"Well, I am," she acknowledges, "but I want you more."

He drops a kiss to her neck. "If you're sure?"

"I'm sure." Veronica nods, turning her head towards him. "Make love to me, Logan."

He smiles, then angles his mouth over hers, his answer evident in the kiss. When they part, he steps back and sheds the remainder of his clothes, before returning to her again and gently unhooking her bra, then sliding her maternity underwear down her legs. It's not the sexiest of undergarments, but Veronica couldn't care less these days; comfort is key right now.

"What's tonight's preference?" he asks, his fingers running lightly across her shoulder-blades

"Hmm, let's see…"

Veronica considers her options; they've been somewhat limited with positions lately, given the late stage of her pregnancy, and while her being on top was their go-to in the second trimester, in the last few weeks, she's been finding it too tiring to maintain. The most comfortable positions lately have been doggy-style or spooning. Neither are as intimate as she prefers, but sometimes you just have to work with what you've got.

She's tempted by doggy-style, but she's not sure she has the energy for even that tonight, so that means it'll be option number two.

"Be my big spoon?" she asks softly.

"Sure." He smiles, taking her hand and leading her over to the bed, helping her get settled before removing the rest of his clothes and getting comfortable behind her.

He slips a hand between her legs, making sure she's ready for him, before carefully sliding into her. Veronica grips the pillow with one hand as he makes slow, gentle love to her, punctuating each stroke with kisses to her shoulder and back of her neck. His hand comes to the underside of her belly and she covers it with her own, slipping her fingers between his. The air is filled with gasping sighs—mostly hers—and soft grunts—mostly his, and when she comes, Logan following just seconds later, the euphoric sensation of orgasm rolls through her entire body like a wave.

Of course, it's just at that moment that the euphoria twists into something else entirely. Veronica gasps as her belly tightens uncomfortably, a cramping ache rolling through her mid-section.

"Ow," she manages between gritted teeth, extracting her hand from Logan's and rubbing her stomach. "Shit."

"What's wrong?" Logan is immediately on the alert, quickly releasing her and rising up on one elbow. "Fuck, did I do something?"

"No, it's not you," she says. "I think it's just Braxton Hicks again."

"Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure." She nods, pressing her lips together as the cramping continues. "The doctor said they can be caused by sex, remember?"

"Yeah…" He sounds uncertain.

"It's okay, I looked it up," she assures him. "It said they can be triggered by the release of oxytocin, which makes the muscles contract, and by prostaglandins in sperm, which soften the cervix."

"Really?" he murmurs. "I didn't know that."

"I thought you'd read the pregnancy books?" she replies, running her hand over her belly as the tightening begins to subside. "It's all in there."

"Ah, well…" he says awkwardly, his hand joining hers. "I may have skipped over some of the more… intimate details."

Veronica gives a soft chuckle at that. "Logan, you know you're gonna be in the delivery room with me, right? You're not gonna be able to escape those intimate details."

"Yeah… I know," he agrees, a little uncomfortably. "Guess I'd better get back to reading then."

"Yes, you should," she replies, though her eyebrows draw together in a frown.

She only has a few weeks to go now, and sure, they've attended a couple of Lamaze classes already, and she knows the basic mechanics of what's going to happen when she goes into labour, but she doesn't know if she's ready for the reality of it all yet. She's been conveniently avoiding watching any childbirth videos, subconsciously deciding she's just going to take things as they come… for as long as she can anyway. Because if she actually sees it for real, she might never want to actually go through with it.

She sucks in a sharp breath as she feels another contraction tighten her belly; it's not painful, exactly, but it is uncomfortable, like really bad period cramps.

"Can I do anything?" asks Logan softly.

Veronica shakes her head. "I don't think so. It'll pass. I just need to relax." She licks her dry lips and then clears her throat. "Uh, actually, on second thought… think you could get me a glass of water?"

"Sure." Logan breaks their contact and slides out of the bed. "I'll be right back."

He pulls on a pair of boxer-briefs and heads into the bathroom. Veronica can hear the toilet flush and then the water running for a couple of minutes, before he returns with her requested water in hand. He places the glass on the nightstand and then helps her into a nightshirt and panties, and gets her settled against her pregnancy pillow.

"You good?" he asks softly, joining her in the bed.

"Yeah," she replies. "Think so. Thanks."

"No problem."

"Night, Logan."

"Goodnight, Veronica."