Lou woke to a peculiar feeling behind her navel. She placed her hand over her gently rounded belly as it happened again. Frowning, she thought for a minute as to what it might be. But then it hit her.
"Scott!" she whispered excitedly, reaching behind her to grab her slumbering husband's hand and placing it over her stomach.
"Hmm?" Scott groaned sleepily, propping himself up on his free arm, "What is it, Lou? Is everything --?"
He was cut off when he felt the tiniest of taps coming from underneath Lou's skin. He looked down at his wife's face and found her beaming as though she was never going to stop. He couldn't help but grin back.
"He's kicking…" she whispered, "It all suddenly feels so real."
"Doesn't it?" Scott asked, laying back down and pulling her closer to him, "Feeling her move…. Was that the first time?"
"Mmhmm…" Lou said, rolling over to face him, "He probably won't do anymore tonight, though."
"Still, she has pretty good timing," Scott said, looking over Lou's body at the digital clock.
"Hmm?" Lou asked, following his gaze just in time to it strike midnight. She smiled and looked up at Scott who merely kissed her forehead.
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart."