A/N Sorry it took so long to post this next chapter...had a slight case of writers block but it passed thankfully...I'd like to thank L.T Freak, ICPinkFuzzyBunnies and H6p8gv for reviewing the last chapter...you don't know how much I appreciate it guys and I'd like to thank H6p8gv for his help with this chapter....I hope that you all enjoy!!

6.

A Christmas Surprise

"Pregnant!" Tracy said again.

Dr. Sacks nodded.

Tracy left the office in a fog. She was still trying to wrap her head around the news. Memories from that day replayed in her mind the entire drive home.

"What did the doctor say?" Link asked when he got home that night.

"He said it was nothing to worry about," Tracy answered. She had decided to wait a couple days till Christmas to tell everyone the news.

He sighed in relief. "That's great isn't it?"

"It is."

Tracy spent the time before Christmas shopping. She needed the distraction since it got harder and harder to keep the news from Link. When Christmas arrived Tracy awoke filled with anxiety as to what everyone's reaction would be. She was greeted by Beebe and Brian who wagged their tails and licked her hand. She got up and walked downstairs finding Link and Lizzie in the kitchen. Link was making pancakes and sausages for breakfast.

"Merry Christmas Doll," he said as he saw her.

Tracy kissed him. "Merry Christmas, smells so good in here."

He placed some pancakes and sausages on a plate and handed it to her. "Lizzie helped me," he said motioning to her. She was sitting in her high chair.

"I like to help," she said.

Tracy took a bite. "Hmm you two did a wonderful job! These are delicious!"

"Thanks Trace."

Lizzie smiled then put a small piece of sausage in her mouth. Link got a plate for himself as they sat down. As they ate they fed small pieces to Beebe and Brian. Beebe sat by Tracy. Brian sat by Lizzie. She would toss him a piece of food every so often. After they washed the final bits of food down with a glass of milk they brought Lizzie to the living room. Five stockings sat by the fireplace. They were filled with gifts. Link gave Lizzie hers first. She found a stuffed dog among a few other toys. Tracy gave the dogs theirs. They had bones, chew toys and doggie treats in theirs. Tracy got hers next. She received perfume, a can of hairspray, and gift coupons to Mr. Pinky's. Link discovered cologne, a can of hairspray and gift coupons to his favorite store.

That afternoon Edna, Wilbur, Katie and Eric came over. Penny, Seaweed, Amber and Corny followed soon after. They all had arms full of presents. When the presents were placed by the tree and everyone was sitting Tracy stood and looked at them.

"Before we open presents there's something that I want to tell you all."

"What Tracy?" Penny asked.

She looked towards Link and smiled.

"Remember when I was told that I could never have children?"

Everyone nodded.

"Well the doctor was wrong. I'm pregnant!"

Link jumped up and ran to Tracy. He kissed her. "You're really pregnant?"

Tracy nodded.

"I can't believe it!"

He had to sit for a minute "Me a father again!"

Katie walked over to him and leaning down pulled him into a hug. "You'll do wonderfully."

Penny, Seaweed and Edna ran over to her and hugged her. "It's a miracle!" Edna said.

"That's great Trace," Corny added hugging her.

Amber hugged her next. "This is a nice surprise."

"Are you feeling alright sweetie?" Katie asked after she hugged her.

Tracy nodded. "I have morning sickness but nothing I can't handle."

Wilbur hugged her next. "Of course you can handle it sweetie."

"I didn't know Cracker Boy had it in him," Seaweed teased.

"Seaweed," Link told him.

He smiled. "I'm just teasing. I'm happy for you guys."

Link clapped his shoulder. "Thanks man."

"Are the doctors worried about the pregnancy with what happened with the accident?" Eric asked.

Tracy shook her head. "He didn't seem worried or concerned about anything."

"What's pregnant?" Lizzie said. She had been so quiet playing with the toys from her stocking.

Tracy bent her legs so that she was nearly level with her. "It means that you will have a new brother or sister."

"Brother or sister? But I like it being just me," she told her.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy having a new brother or sister sweetie," Penny said as she bent down next to Tracy.

"Auntie Penny play with me?" Lizzie asked.

"Sure sweetie." Penny smiled as she picked up one of the stuffed animals and made conversation with the one in Lizzie's hand.

Tracy stood. She smiled as a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. Her hands instinctively went to his. In his hand he held a small box. He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear.

"I guess we'll need to get another picture for this."

Tracy turned in his arms and gave him a questioning look.

He smiled. "Open it."

Tracy took the box and opened it. In it she found a beautiful gold locket with a musical note engraved on it. She unhooked the lock and saw a picture with her, Link, Lizzie, Beebe and Brian. Lizzie was sitting in her lap on the couch. Link sat besides her with an arm wrapped around her waist. The dogs sat by their legs.

"Remember when we took this?" Link asked.

Tracy nodded. "We had trouble getting Lizzie to sit still and Brian kept bringing his tennis ball over wanting her to throw it for him."

"And this was the final picture the photographer took," Link said.

"Thank you." She captured his lips in a tender kiss.

"You're welcome."

"Present time?" Lizzie asked, making Tracy giggle.

She looked at her daughter. "Yes, its present time."

Lizzie smiled and clapped her hands. Amber walked over to the tree and handed her a gift. "From me and Uncle Corny," she told her.

Lizzie ripped off the paper and found a doll dressed as a ballerina. "Thank you," she told them.

Penny gave her a present from her and Seaweed next. She opened it to discover a scarf and hat that Penny knitted for her and a new blanket. She received new clothes from her grandparents. Tracy and Link gave everyone gift coupons to their favorite restaurants. They received hats and scarves from Penny and Seaweed along with gift coupons to the new department store. Edna and Wilbur gave them a new set of pots for cooking and Katie and Eric gave them a nice platter for cakes and cookies.

As the New Year inched closer snow fell on Baltimore. Lizzie hopped up and down, excited at the prospect of playing in the snow.

"Mama play in snow?" she asked Tracy.

"Alright sweetie but we need to put a coat, hat and gloves on you first."

Lizzie smiled and ran to where the coats hung. Tracy followed and grabbed her coat, putting it on her daughter.

"Where are we going?" Link asked as he and the dogs came into the room.

"Play in snow," Lizzie stated.

Link smiled. "Can I come too?"

Lizzie nodded and tugged at his pant leg. "Come dada."

Link chuckled and nodded. "After we all put our coats on sweetie."

He helped Tracy into her coat before shrugging into his own. She placed a tender kiss on his lips. She took Lizzie's hand and along with Beebe and Brian headed outside.

"Hi Tracy, Link," Brenda and Fender's son Ben said.

"Hi Ben," Tracy greeted. He looked a lot like Brenda with the same hair and eyes.

"Ben!" Lizzie said running to him. He laughed as he hugged her.

"Ben wanted to play with Lizzie," Fender said as he walked up to them.

"I'm sure she'll enjoy playing with him," Tracy responded.

Lizzie took Ben's hand and led him to a pile of snow. He smiled as he helped her make a snowman. Beebe and Brian ran over and tried to help.

"Let's make our own snowman doll," Link said smiling.

Tracy smiled. "Alright."

"I'll go see if the kids need help," Fender said sensing that Tracy and Link would like alone time.

Link took Tracy's gloved hand and they found an area near Lizzie and Ben. They made two snowmen and some smaller snow dogs.

"With the snowman Lizzie and Ben built you have a snow family," Fender commented.

"It's not totally complete yet," Tracy said. Link and Fender watched as she made the snow woman look like she was holding a baby.

She smiled. "Now it's complete."

Link kissed her but pulled back when he felt something cold on his back. He turned to find Ben laughing. Lizzie was too.

"Snowball fight," he shouted.

Link grinned mischievously as he picked up some snow and flung it at Ben. It missed.

"Hey you know you really shouldn't try to attack my son with snow," Fender said as he threw a snowball at him. Link ducked and Tracy threw one at Fender. After that an all out snowball fight erupted. Even Lizzie and the dogs participated though the dogs just tried to catch the snow.

After the New Year began Tracy began to feel less nauseous. She also began craving pizza or anything Italian. She sometimes ate pasta in the middle of the night.

"I don't see how you can eat that every night," Link said after about a week.

"It tastes so good to me," Tracy answered him.

"But every night?"

"Wait till you're pregnant and get cravings," Tracy said as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Link stared at her panicking inside. "Shh I'm sorry doll," he said wiping away the tears.

She frowned. "I'm not sure what's come over me Linky."

"It's ok," Link said trying to calm her. He cupped her cheek and she leaned into him.

"I should talk to ma about all of this."

Link nodded and wrapped his arms around her pulling her close to him. "I think that's a great idea Trace. After all, your mom was pregnant herself once. If she wasn't then I wouldn't have the most amazing woman in my arms."

Tracy smiled as she looked up at him. She leaned up and captured his lips in a passionate kiss. "How is it you always know how to make me feel better?"

Link shrugged as he kissed her again. Tracy walked over to the phone while Link went to check on Lizzie. She was happily playing in her play pen. She then dialed her parent's number.

"Hello," Edna said.

"Hi ma."

"Hi Tracy is there anything wrong? You sound like you've been crying."

"I was but I'm not sure why I burst into tears. It has never happened before like this."

"It could be your hormones hun," Edna told her.

"Hormones? Did you get all moody when you were pregnant with me?"

Edna laughed. "Yes, but bless your father. He was so loving and patient with me. I could have sworn that he'd want to leave because of all my moodiness but he never did."

"I'm afraid that you'll have to just try and deal with it. I hope Link is like Wilbur when it comes to you and the mood swings," she added.

Tracy looked up and saw Link. He smiled back at her. "I think he'll do just fine ma."

They chatted for a few minutes before Tracy hung up the phone. "She says its hormones and that it's normal," she told Link.

He sat down and Lizzie followed climbing in her lap. "Feel better doll?"

She nodded.

A month later Tracy was beginning to think Link was a saint. He had endured her mood swings time and time again but he always comforted her. Of course sometimes her moods swung in a way that would make her pull him into the bedroom. The dogs had jumped on the bed with them on several occasions when this happened. The last time they had was different.

"Beebe! Brian!" Tracy yelled forcefully. They whimpered as they jumped off and ran down the hall.

"Are you alright doll? You never yell at them like that."

After a moment Tracy calmed down. "Yeah stupid mood swings." The dogs came and stood in the doorway looking at her. "Sorry guys I didn't mean to yell like that," she said.

They looked at her and wagged their tails.

"I think you are forgiven," Link said.

She grinned. "Let's take them to the park when it gets a little warmer as an apology."

"They'll love it Trace."

As spring arrived Tracy had started cleaning every inch of the house. Katie had told them that it was part of a nesting period where Tracy was getting ready for the baby. They knew that they had to get the nursery for the new baby done in the near future. Penny had suggested that they have a baby shower in April. Tracy would be six months along by then.

"Why can't we use Lizzie's old clothes?" Penny had asked.

Seaweed laughed. "What if they have a son? I don't think Link would want his son wearing a pink shirt."

"No, pink is more of Lizzie's color," Link agreed.

When the day arrived for the baby shower Tracy received a new crib and dresser from Katie and Eric and a changing table and diapers from Edna. Tammy and IQ bought her a new car seat and Corny and Amber got her a highchair. The others gave her unisex clothes and toys, pillows and blankets. Penny, Amber, Edna and Katie helped Tracy with the nursery. It was finished by the middle of May. It was also becoming increasingly warmer.

"Ugh why does to be so hot?" Tracy asked one day. The temperature had reached ninety.

"Summers coming Trace. Here I put more fans on," Link answered.

"Thank you," she said as she lay on the couch in the fans path. Beebe and Brian lay on the floor next to her.

"You're welcome. What say you to a nice foot massage?" he asked sitting besides her.

"I'd say that would be heaven."

Link smiled as he began to massage her right foot gaining a happy moan from Tracy. He moved onto the left not long after.

"Do you think we'll be able to handle another baby?" Tracy asked.

"It's a little late to ask that now isn't it?" Link answered.

Tracy started to tear up. Link immediately pulled her to him and kissed her forehead and cheek. "I'm sorry Trace. I didn't mean that. It's just that we have done a pretty good job with Lizzie. I think we can handle this one," he said laying his hand on her stomach. She reached over and pulled him into a kiss.

"I'll be glad when my hormones are back to normal."

"I like some of the mood swings you've had," Link said waggling his eyebrow.

Tracy playfully hit his shoulder giggling. "Link!"

Near July fourth Corny and Amber were holding a picnic. They invited everyone from the show along with their friends and family. The moment Tracy stepped into the yard she felt something wet. She looked around to see if anyone had a hose or if there was anything that would have gotten her wet but found nothing.

"Um guys I think my water just broke!" she shouted.

TBC...