Three hours later, Greg Nadine Nick and Renee were lounging in the main living room of the mansion that overlooked the lake. Greg was stretched out on the leather couch on his stomach, while Nick and Renee were cuddled into its matching chair beside the roaring fire in the marble hearth.

"So, Marie-Fantine has checked into her hotel, she called while you were in the bathroom."

Nadine smiled as she sat down on the floor, so her face was near Greg's and stared at the ceiling. "I really hate to yell, I do. But sometimes there is no other way to get through to people."

"Well, you were a champ, sweetie," Greg kissed her cheek. "Even I was scared of you. You two missed her; she was like Medora the Dragon Lady or something."

"Well I think a little celebration is in order."" Renee nodded in approval, then got up to grab her tote. Three cheers went up as she pulled out the bottle of tequila and wiggled it enticingly. Tumblers and mixer was found, but when the drinks were passed around, Renee noticed that Nadine didn't even touch hers. "Nadine sweetie, you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fine."

"You're not touching your drink."

"Yeah, well…" Nadine blew out a breath, hoping she could keep her face composed. "I don't know if it's such a good idea for us."

Greg choked in mid-sip, the alcohol burning his throat. "Us? Us?" He repeated incredulously. He scrambled up, nearly dropping his drinking in the process. "Seriously?"

"Seriously." Nadine leapt to her feet to wrap her arms around Greg, then pulled a white stick from her pocket. "Take a look."

But Greg didn't even bother to glance at it. Instead he kissed his girlfriend deeply, his hands trailing over her shoulders, her back, pulled her hips close to his, not seeming to care that Nick and Renee were staring open-mouthed at them.

"What's going on, now?" Nick said under his breath.

Renee looked at him like he'd lost his mind. "Are you blind?"

"What?"

Renee rolled her eyes, tugged Nick to his feet. "You dumb ass, she's pregnant!" She let out a little cry as Nadine spun out of Greg's grasp and into her arms. "I'm so happy for you!"

"I didn't even know you two were trying to have kids." Nick looked more than a little dumbfounded as he slapped Greg on the back. "Or were you trying to avoid them?"

"No, we definitely want them," Greg replied, the grin never leaving his face. "But there was a chance we might not have been able to have them, if we'd waited awhile into our relationship."

"How come?" Nick asked, concerned.

"My boyfriend before Greg thought I might be pregnant so he kicked me in the stomach and it ruptured my uterus," Nadine explained. "My doctor told me that my chances of natural conception were put at thirty-five percent at best after that. Greg and I talked about it, and since we know this is the real deal, we didn't see any reason to not give having kids a shot."

"And now you're goign to have one. Dude!" Renee punched her brother in the arm. "I'm going to be an aunt! That's so cool! Are you hoping for a boy?"

"How about let's get used to the idea of being a papa first?" Greg looked at Nadine. "When did you find out?"

"Just now, while I was in the bathroom. I brought an extra EPT test with me just in case that last one I'd taken was wrong."

Greg nodded, the tears well up. He'd seen the look of utter disappointment when she'd taken it the last time, wished there'd been something he could do to make it better. As he looked at the smile on her face as she hugged Renee and Nick, Greg had never been prouder of her.

Nadine lay on the bed of their room in the mansion, staring down at her wiggling toes. She studied each one carefully; giddy with the knowledge they'd be invisible to her in a matter of months.

This was how Greg found her after he returned from brushing his teeth. He watched her lift one foot three inches off the bed, lower it, then raise the other one.

"I'm appreciating my feet, Greg, since I won't be able to look at them in six month's time," she said, craning her neck to look at him before he stretched out beside her. "Do you think I'll make a good mama?"

Greg thought of Marie Fantine, thought of their child so new inside her. "Absolutely."

She turned onto her side, pillowing her head on her shoulder. "You're awful quiet."

"I'm just enjoying watching you."

"Well, watch all you want, since along with the feet this gorgeous figure will also be on hiatus while I grow Pierre or Esme in here."

"Nadine, don't think like that."

"I can't help it."

"Look at me." Greg just shook his head, gestured to his scars. "You love my body, war wounds and all. Why would you think I'd feel any different about yours when you're cooking Greg Junior or Astrid in your belly?"

Nadine wrinkled her nose; she hated knowing he was right and she was being silly. Instead she arched an eyebrow at him. "Astrid? Really?"

"Pierre? Really?"

"Peter was my dad and I'm half French."

"My people are Norwegian and Astrid was my grandmother. I know." Greg grinned suddenly, starting to get a kick out of the idea of being a daddy. "Let's ask him or her."

Nadine laughed as he scooted down the bed so he was talking to her belly. "You're such an idiot."

"Quiet, I'm talking to my kid in there. What do you say, big guy? Are you a Pierre or a Greg, or an Oliver? Or if you're my little princess what about Nadine or Sonja or Astrid. Wait, what's that?" Greg cocked his head, as if he were being whispered to. "Yeah I think that's a good idea."

"What?" Nadine asked, as he slid back up the bed. He began to undress first her then himself, kissing her the entire time, in short quick pecks between his words.

"Junior thinks I should show this mama just how much I love her."