Month 5

"By far the most common craving of pregnant women is not to be pregnant."

~Phyllis Diller

Diamonds, gold, jewels, earrings, necklaces, and galore, everything a woman would want. And all of them were scattered on Natara's vanity desk. She picked through the jewelry and pulled out a pair of pearl earrings to wear and a matching necklace. She stood up and smoothed out her blue dress. Her fingers ran over the famous pregnancy belly bump, where she could feel Baby kicking and assuming different positions.

"Natara, you ready?" Mal called from outside the room. "We don't have all day…and we're already running late! And you're taking forever! We're gonna be really, really late if you don't…" he complained.

"…Mal, I'm a woman. I'm supposed to take long to get ready." The door opened, and a very classy-looking Natara Fallon stepped out. Her coffee-colored hair flowed gracefully behind her back as she took another step forward. Mal stopped blabbing and got a good look at her immense beauty, which completely took his breath away for a few long moments. Natara smiled. "You can put your tongue back in your mouth now, Mal."

He snapped out of it and embarrassingly shut the door behind her. "…right. So, uh…you know there's gonna be wine tonight at the party, huh?"

Natara frowned. "I'm well aware of that." She grabbed her purse and began to walk downstairs.

Mal couldn't help but grin. "I won't drink in front of you, Nat. That would be just mean. It's been four months since your last glass of wine, hasn't it?"

Natara whirled around and smacked her purse at him. "…are you trying to make me feel bad? Because I feel accomplished."

"Oh, that's great, honey!" Mal kissed his wife's cheek, even though she was still not amused. "So now I've decided to drink my wine while you spend the party time at the dessert table, so I won't make you feel bad."

"…you're really funny." Natara rolled her eyes as she made her way to the kitchen for a quick snack. "Besides, I don't get cravings anymore!" She dug into the fridge and pulled out a jar of store brand pickles, unscrewed the lid, and stuck a spoon inside.

Mal laughed as he straightened out his tie. "No, Nat…you're really funny. You say you don't get cravings anymore?" He pointed to Natara, who was busily munching on pickles. She was smiling and rubbing her belly.

"Oh, that hit the spot…ahhh…" she munched, and screwed the lid back on top of the jar. Placing the jar back in the fridge, she caught a glance at Mal's suspicious facial expression. He shook his head and linked his arm with hers.

"Ready, Mommy?" he asked playfully as she grabbed her coat.

Big mistake.

Natara took a swing at Mal with her coat and hit him in the arm. "Ow! Natara, why do you enjoy hitting me so much with the randomest household items?" He winced and held his arm tightly. Nat just smiled and slid into her leather boots, feeling a sense of accomplishment tingling down her spine.

"…I'm pregnant, Mal. I have my advantages…" she walked outside, Mal struggling to catch up with her. She opened the car door and sat inside, glancing at herself in the passenger seat mirror to reveal slightly smeared eye makeup. "…oh damn. Never again am I buying cheap mascara."

Mal slid inside the car and pulled out of the driveway. "Nat, if you don't feel well while we're at the party, tell me and we'll go home." He sincerely told her as he turned left on Jacobson Avenue.

Natara rolled her eyes. "Mal, I'm done with the morning sickness phase. Besides, I really miss socializing with our co-workers. It's been awhile since we've done that, hasn't it?"

Mal nodded. "I know. Can you believe Kai is crushing on Amy?"

Nat gasped. "…he is?"

"Yeah!" Mal couldn't stop himself from softly laughing. "We were drunk the other night, and he totally spilled all his secrets to me and Ken…" The cold glare on Natara's face made him stop smiling.

An awkward silence hung over the car.

"Mal, was this the same night that Amy and I were at the movies?" Natara broke the ice and glared at her embarrassed husband. He shuffled uncomfortably in his seat as he drove to Adele's, the Italian restaurant that the work party was to be held at.

"…maybe?" he shrugged. "Ok, so I haven't visited the Drunk Tank in awhile, but it's the first time I've gone in weeks, trust me!"

Natara could only sigh. "I honestly don't think Kai and Amy would make a very good couple. Kai is definitely not Amy's type!" she laughed. "Even now, those two bicker more than a married couple."

Mal agreed with a brisk nod. "I know, right?"

The awkwardness passed, as well as the party. Natara was surprised that she had much more fun than she thought she would have; joking around with Amy, eating chocolate cake with Kai, and slow dancing with Mal made her night extra special. She felt the baby kicking even more, but merely smiled. Dr. Johnson was right…it was really exciting to be pregnant. Everything she went through would pay off when Kristin/Claire/Beth/Katelyn would be born.

It was raining after the party, so Mal gave Natara his jacket because hers was too thin and was made of poor material. As they were trading jackets, a bunch of people exiting the party pointed at the couple and said: "Awwww…" or "Oh, how sweet…"

Mal took Natara's hand as they walked a few blocks back to the car; they couldn't find a parking because there were so many people at the party, even though there were officers who couldn't make it because they were on the night shift.

Natara gave Mal's hand a gentle squeeze, and he returned one. They made their way to the car, just as the sky began releasing little droplets of rain that covered the car in water. You could hear gentle tapping noises as the drops beated against the windows as the couple stepped up to their car.

As soon as Natara was inside, she felt a small kick and smiled. "Mal, put your hand on my belly."

Daddy-to-be did as he was told and grinned when he felt the baby's gentle kick. He pulled Natara closer and sweetly kissed her forehead. Then his smile turned to a frown. "Sorry, Natara."

Nat was confused for a moment. "For what?"

Mal could only sigh. "For teasing you about your cravings. For not always being there for you when you need me. For going to the Drunk Tank. And, most of all, for not being a good husband."

Natara smiled and gently wrapped her arms around his neck. "Mal. I'm fine with the teasing. You are always here for me. I forgive you about the Drunk Tank. And most of all, you're the best husband ever." She let her lips softly meet his, and they shared a long, passionate kiss for a few minutes. Mal gently pulled away and brushed his hand across her cheek.

"I love you, Natara."

"Love you more."

"Love you most." And he gave her another long kiss, placing his hand on her swollen belly. This time, Natara pulled away after a long moment and rubbed her cheek.

"…Mal, your lips don't taste like beer, wine, or champagne…or any alcoholic beverage," she laughed sweetly and smiled.

Mal held her close and let the raindrops fall onto his suit…he didn't care. "I know. I don't want to drink if you can't. Beers just aren't the same if they're not being shared with you…" He could feel another kick given by the baby.

Natara sighed softly, resting her head on Mal's shoulder and letting out a laugh of relief. She then brushed her cheek against his, feeling the raindrops on his face. He kissed her head, and she flashed a white smile.

Mal returned a grin. "Hey, Nat, can I ask you a question?" He innocently changed the subject as Natara lifted her head. She nodded quietly.

"You read the pregnancy packet that Dr. Johnson gave you, right?"

Natara let out a small groan. "Of course…even though it was kind of boring."

"Well, I was just wondering…" Mal began and stared at Natara's belly bump. "…Can pregnancy and labor pain cause depression? Just wondering, cause…"

Natara could only laugh as she cut in and stopped Mal before he could finish. "Mal, pregnancy causes anything you want to blame it for."