Chapter 5

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Andrea was lying on her side under the warm covers and she was smiling. It felt nice to be held by someone again and she was enjoying the feeling. But as her mind got around to think about what was going on, she opened her eyes and looked at the clock on the night stand. It was almost 07:00 and she turned slightly to see over her shoulder, who exactly was in bed with her. She couldn't help but smile as she saw Mike's head on the pillow next to hers, mouth open and a small puddle of drool on the pillow. It was definitely not a sight to remember and this was now the third time when he had gone to the bathroom during the night and walked straight into her bed instead of the couch.

She knew he wanted to be there for her, and show he was all in, but this weird thing they had going on, had to stop. Even though for the third time now, she woke up with a smile on her face. Her memories of Bill and him holding her were fading away as the days went by and she felt she needed the closeness. It was probably the hormones kicking in, but she couldn't help but think about the family she had lost. And the family that she would have, although she and Mike were just friends.

Not that they had talked about the future that much.

"Why did you kiss me that night?"

"Why did you?"

The words from a few nights before were on her mind as she laid there quietly, thinking about his question. She never gave him her answer. Why did she kiss him back when she knew it wasn't Bill.

Commander Mike Slattery. She has known Mike for a long time as they both have been serving under Captain Thomas Chandler. He's been a friend, a close friend and he has always been there to help her push through the hard times during their deployments. He has always been there to support her, to motivate her when she was homesick. He has always been there. Even when they were back home, it has always been him she called if she had a fight with Bill. He always took her for drinks and talked the argument through with her.

She let out a slight sigh as she knew why she had kissed him back. He was always there for her, no matter what. It made her heart ache as she thought that she hadn't always been there for her own family. She chose the Navy over them and it tore her heart apart right now. Her eyes felt teary and she just hoped she would get it to together before Mike would wake up and see her like this.

She felt him move a bit and what got her to move was the sudden hardness pressing against her lower back. She turned around and gave him a slap on the cheek. Feeling rather blushed at the situation.

He woke up with a start and looked at her in wonder. "What the hell?" Mike rubbed his cheek and she looked at him with sharp eyes.

"You know perfectly well what."

"I was sleeping." Mike said and she had to consider the fact that he hadn't known about what was going on.

"Oh.." If she wasn't blushing before, she was now.

"Care to explain?" Mike looked at her and she was embarrassed. How could she explain to him that his junior part had been 'awake' without him knowing about it. Something that happens with all men, she should have realized what was happening. She was beating herself up in her mind. Apparently her wisdom had jumped out the window the minute she got pregnant.

"It's nothing." Andrea was brushing the covers and avoiding his look.

"Well if you slapped me for it, it had to be something." Mike said honestly. Wondering what was going through her mind, but then again pregnancy did do crazy things to women, he reasoned.

"Well your.." Andrea started, still avoiding his gaze.

"Just never mind. I'm sorry." He heard her say.

"Oh come on. You can say it." He was pushing her buttons, knowing exactly what was the problem here. But it made him smile in secret, to know she was blushed over the situation.

"You're intolerable!" Andrea shoved him a bit on his shoulder and he chuckled. But the laugh was cut short when his mind remembered how he used to joke around like this with Christine.

"What is it?" He heard Andrea's more serious voice this time and he stared at her light blue eyes. Looked at her frizzy red hair that had morning hairdo all over it. He moved his hand under the covers to her belly, tracing the roundness of it. Smiling at the thought that there was baby growing inside of her.

"Mike."

He heard her but remained silent, only giving her a faint smile in return as he thought about everything. He felt her hand on top his as he rested his hand on her round belly.

The warmth spreading through his body when he felt her hand on his, was a strange mixture of excitement, joy and a sign that he needed some beta blockers as his heart was taking extra loops.

It also made him sad as he knew things with Christine were over. Her departing words to him hadn't kicked in before now.

"It was over long before you left." No matter how hard he tried to wish it wasn't, it was.

Suddenly he felt her hand on his cheek and she was looking at him.

"I'm fine." Mike said finally as he came back from his haunting thoughts.

"You?" He asked in return, knowing she was dealing with stuff too.

"You have always been there for me." He noted Andrea's caring words and the tone of her voice gave him comfort.