I hope you enjoyed my last chapter! Here's another chapter! Enjoy!

…

(December 23; Higgins-Newsome House)

Ever since last Christmas Nina and Ruth became such great friends, more like best friends. Nina helped Ruth see that you don't need money to be happy, and how to budget herself since losing all her money.

Ruth was just getting ready for their afternoon tea; she had some exciting news to tell Nina. She hasn't told the exciting news to Henry; she's going to wait until their double date tonight.

There was a knock at the door, "it's open" Ruth shouted.

"it's, me Ruth" said Nina

"I'm coming down"

Ruth goes downstairs and sees Nina and they hug and go into the living room and sit down on the couch.

"so how have you been, Ruth? You know with all the budgeting?"

"well luckily, Henry has such a great friend like George to offer him a 2nd job at the car shop. Other than that were doing quite well, and well there's something I need to tell you but I'm just getting the tea first."

"of course, need help?"

"no. it's ok"

Ruth gets up and goes and gets the tea and puts it down on the table. They begin drinking their tea and eating scones. Nina notices the Christmas tree in the corner and describes how beautiful it. Ruth mentions that Henry wanted a tree for Christmas and she had some decorations and ornaments from her childhood that weren't sold when the Newsome's went into debt.

Nina keeps looking at Ruth and notices how pale she is and asks her "Ruth are you feeling ok? You look quite pale…are you?!" Nina asked with a smile

Ruth nods "I am…I'm with child!"

They hug and squeal.

"how far along?"

"3 months…I haven't told Henry. I am going to tell him tonight."

"wow I am so happy for you…but um…"

"Nina what is it?"

"I have some news too…"

"are you pregnant as well, Nina?"

She nodded "I am and I almost 4 months…"

"well that's amazin…wait almost 4 months?"

Nina nodded, "we got pregnant before we were married. But I had just found out a couple of days ago."

"is this why you decided to just be clean up girl at the dance hall?"

"yes. The costumes don't fit anymore"

"are you happy about the pregnancy, Nina?"

"actually, I am. At first when I found out I was so scared and didn't know what to do, then when I was heading back to the dance hall a lady was coming out of a shop and she had a bunch of packages in one arm and a crying baby in the other. She asked me to take the baby while she was putting the packages in the basket under her pram. While she was doing this I tried to calm the baby and sung it a Lully-a-bye that my mother sung to me when I was a baby. While I was singing the baby stopped crying and looked at me and I just knew I was meant to be a mother."

"Yes, we both will be great mothers. Does George…"

"no, he doesn't since I just found out yesterday and he got home late and got a call from detective Murdoch early this morning."

"he's going to be thrilled."

"yes, I wanted to tell him on Christmas day, but…"

"how about you tell George tonight on our double date. Just imagine it two best friends going to be first time fathers within a few weeks apart."

"great idea, Ruth."

The girls finished their tea and Ruth shows her the already almost prepared nursery that she is planning on showing Henry. The furniture she bought was for the nursery, but she needs help putting the change table and crib together. Nina leaves and tells Ruth she will see her tonight.

(Double Date)

Nina and Ruth were both in the ladies room doing some touch ups and figuring out how they were going to tell George and Henry that they were going to be fathers.

"We have been giving them hints, all night and nothing." says Ruth

"Their men, why don't we just tell them together?"

"how, though?"

Nina takes 2 things out of her purse, "with these, maybe they will take a hint."

Ruth takes the small wood plaque that reads "any man can be a father; it takes someone special to be a dad."

Ruth looks at Nina "let's do it."

"George, is it me or do the girls look rather pale tonight?" asks Henry

"that's what, I was thinking. Hopefully their both not coming down with something, just 2 days before Christmas."

"speaking of Christmas, any plans George?"

"Nina and I are having Christmas dinner with Detective Murdoch, Dr. Ogden, little Mary and the Inspector and Mrs. Brackenreid."

"why wasn't I invited?"

"well the detective told me they wanted Mary's first Christmas to have her parents and God parents involved and I am co-godfather. But sadly Rebecca isn't attending, due to Christmas in Chatham."

"I sometimes wonder why I wasn't chosen as a god-parent."

"Henry, Nina and I will be over for a Christmas breakfast with you and Ruth on Christmas morning, and you will be having your dinner at the country club anyway."

"that's true."

The girls come back and sit down, "so gentlemen, miss anything?" asked Nina

"no, just wondering if you two are feeling alright. You both look a little pale."

"HENRY" says George and kicks him

"OW, George. Well that's what we were talking about."

"well gentlemen, Nina and I do have something, but it won't go away for a few months." Says Ruth

"Ruru? My dove, are you alright?" says Henry and caresses her

"I'm fine Henny Penny. But Nina and I have an early Christmas gift to give you both."

They both hand them their handkerchief and George and Henry open their gifts and looked at the plaques and read."

"WHICH ONE OF YOU!" they both ask with their eyes wide

"both of us." The girls both said

"George I am 4 months. Just found out yesterday."

"and Henny Penny, I am 3 months. That's what the furniture we bought was for; the nursery."

The men are both shocked and are speechless; they don't know what to say. First their jobs are on the line and now they find out they are both going to be fathers.

"George, Henry, say something."

"uh, Nina, there's something I need to tell you." He says and grabs her hand

"you're not excited?"

"oh no I am thrilled it's just um…"

"the case we are working on with the girl missing, her parents told the inspector if we don't find her by tomorrow night or Christmas morning, they're going to inform the Board of Control and get us all fired." Says Henry

"Henny Penny, why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't know how, but George didn't the detective come up with an idea?" asked Henry

"yes, Dr. Ogden came up with the idea, to match the guests, maids and butler's writing to the letter but, we didn't find a match."

"So what are you going to do George?" asks Nina caressing his hand

"uh, I don't know Nina. If we do lose our jobs, we still have the car shop." He says with a smile

Will the men lose their job or find Emmy in time?

To be continued