"Bing," Laura said to their client. "It is our recommendation that you steer clear of A Hand Up-LA. We have no solid proof, but we feel very strongly that Brian Prescott is running a scam. He has the history, and it appears that A Hand Up–LA was just a scam to raise enough money to take his girlfriend to Hawaii."

"Hawaii?" Bing asked.

"Right," Remington answered. "And he thought he was being really clever about it. He named the "organization" A Hand Up-LA. It's an acronym for A Hula, a play on the fact that he was going to take your money and run to Hawaii."

"But he had a really nice office and he showed me the books and some other stuff. It showed that they'd been around for a while…"

"Right," Laura said. "He had to make the charity look legitimate if he hoped to get any money from you."

"You see, Bing," Remington explained. "It's the classic long con. When a grifter decides to target a mark, they try to get him to donate a large sum of money to a very worthy cause…"

"… Like a community center," Laura interjected.

"But then the contributor might become skeptical, like you did Bing. And decide to do some digging…"

"…or send someone, like us, to do it for him," Laura said. "And lo and behold, it happens to check out."

"That's what takes so long in an investigation," Remington went on. "Sometimes it's hard to catch this kind of con because it's so effective."

"Until he gets greedy," Laura said with a smile.

"So it was all a scam?" Bing asked, standing up and knocking a pitcher off the table in front of the sofa.

"I'm afraid so, Bing," Remington said, shaking his hand.

"But it was good that you came to us," Laura said. "And you were really trying to do a good thing. We did some more checking for you," she paused as they led Bing to the outer office. "Mildred has a list of great local charities, including a few community centers. Any one of them would be deserving of your support."

-----

"Delightful as always, Remington," Abigail said as she finished her white chocolate mousse.

"Thank you, Abigail," he said. "New twist on an old favorite."

"I prefer the chocolate chocolate," Laura said testily.

"Duly noted, Darling," Remington said, standing to begin to clear the table.

"I'm sorry," Laura said. "It really was good. I don't know what's gotten into me lately."

"I do," he answered. "And it's all right."

He leaned over her shoulder and kissed her cheek before taking the dishes to the kitchen.

"Mother," Laura said. "Are you sure you want to do this now? I mean, if you just wait a few days until after our trip, Remington and I will go with you."

"No dear," Abigail replied. "I'll be fine. The girls from my bridge club are going to help and I'm going to hire movers for most of it anyway. I'd like to do it while you and Remington are away."

"Mother, there's no rush. Really."

"I know," she said and Laura thought she noticed a warmth from her mother that she hadn't seen since she was a little girl. "And I appreciate that, but I've been underfoot long enough. You and Remington are still practically newlyweds and you'll never get any alone time once the baby comes. No, I think it's time I find a place of my own."

"You're welcome to stay here until you find one," Laura said.

"Thank you, dear," Abigail said, "but I'll be fine at the condo. Thank you for letting me use it."

"You're quite welcome, Abigail," Remington said, coming back to the table. "But Laura's right. You're more than welcome to stay here with us."

"I'm actually looking forward to living in the condo," she said. "Hancock Park is such a lovely area. And when I was over there measuring the other day, I met the nicest man. He's a widower who lives in the building…"

-----

"This is incredible," Laura said, leaning back in the chaise lounge as she sipped a tropical drink. "I used to make fun of my mother for drinking virgin daiquiris. I mean, really, what's the point? But this is amazing. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Mrs. Steele," her husband said. "Would you like me to get you another?"

"No," she said, smiling. She set her drink down and reached across to take his hand. "I'm fine. I meant thank you for bringing me here. This is nice."

"Anything for you, my love."

"We have to take advantage where we can."

"Well," he said, looking around. "The beach isn't exactly secluded, but whatever my bride wants…"

He stood up and acted as if he was going to climb on top of her. Giggling, Laura pushed him away.

"You incorrigible!" she said amid her laughter. "I just meant that once the baby comes, it will be even harder for us to get away." She smoothed her hand over her belly and adjusted the sarong tied around her waist. "And even at home, it will be months before the littlest Steele sleeps through the night. There will be midnight feedings… diaper changes…"

Remington, who was now back in his own chair, held his wife's hand as she spoke. He looked at her adoringly. Every once in a while, he got lost in his thoughts – amazed that he was happily married and about to become a father. This was someone else's life.

"We'll just have to get creative, Laura," he offered. "As I recall, ingenuity has always been one of your strong suits."

"Yours as well," she said. "I think we'll do fine."

"I've no doubt."

He watched as she closed her eyes. She looked tired.

"Sleepy?" he asked.

"A little," she admitted.

"Why don't we go up to the room and take a nap?"

He didn't want her falling asleep on the beach. The sun wouldn't be kind to her fair complexion.

"Sounds good," she answered. "But let's take a walk on the beach, first."

He stood and reached out his hand to her. She reached down to pick up her hat as he helped her up. She carried it in one hand as he held the other and they walked down the beach. They didn't talk much as they walked, each lost in their own thoughts.

Laura smiled at a little boy building a sand castle with his father. Her heart swelled when she thought of the man by her side. She couldn't have found a better partner or a better father for her child. She was so happy that the baby would have Remington, because she sincerely doubted her own abilities when it came to parenting. She would love the child with all her heart; she already did-almost as much as she loved his father. But she'd never felt very "maternal," at least not in the traditional sense. Remington was the "nester" in the family. Sure, she'd had some input in the decorating-she had great taste. But it was her husband who made their house a home.

A little girl splashing in the surf with her mother caught Remington's eye. He thought of Daniel and all the times he'd "encouraged" him to leave Laura and come back to the life. He suspected that his father had always known what he did --- that from the minute he laid eyes on Laura Holt, he was never going to leave her. It was as if they had been put on this earth for each other. Who else but his ever-grounded Laura could put up with his flights of fancy? She was going to be an incredible mother---giving their child the perfect blend of discipline and freedom. He wasn't sure he could be the kind of father the baby would need him to be. He pictured a little girl, beautiful like her mother. He was sure she'd wrap him around her little finger pretty easily and they'd both have to rely on Laura to make sense of things. His daughter was so lucky to have Laura for a mother.

Still holding hands, Laura leaned against her husband's side and Remington held her close.

"Ready to head back, Mrs. Steele?" he said softly.

She nodded. Suddenly, her eyes flew open and she gasped.

"Laura?" he asked with alarm. "Are you all right?" His panic lessened as he saw the bright, dimpled smile that spread across her face.

She took his hand and held it flat against her abdomen, much the way she had done when she first told him she was having his baby.

There it was again. She looked up at his face as his look of fear faded into confusion and then a huge smile. He burst out with laugher as he realized he'd just felt his child move for the first time.

"Oh this is incredible," he said. "YOU'RE incredible!"

He was still laughing as he picked Laura up off her feet and spun her around. Their laughter stilled as he leaned in to kiss her. They forgot about everyone around them as they got lost in the passion of the kiss.

"Let's go upstairs," Laura said, nodding toward the hotel.

All thoughts of a nap were quickly forgotten.

-----

Laura was feeling positively decadent as she sat across the table from her husband on the balcony of their suite. They'd spent the entire afternoon in bed and were now enjoying a private dinner along with the beautiful Hawaiian sunset. She leaned back in her chair, giving Remington an enticing view as her robe slipped open.

"Darling," he said his voice low and sultry. "If you want to make it through this meal while the foods still hot, you might want to cover up."

He pointed to the opening of her robe.

Laura laughed out loud in that deep, throaty way that was unmistakably "Laura."

"What's the matter, Rem? Getting a little too hot out here for you?"

"You might say that," he answered with all seriousness as their eyes locked.

Without breaking eye contact, he stood and walked around the table. Silently, he picked her up in his arms and carried her through the open door into the bedroom. He gently laid her down on the bed and covered her body with his own.

Soon, dinner was the last thing on either of their minds…

-----

Laura lay against Remington's shoulder and lightly ran her fingers across his chest. She was exhausted---completely sated, but exhausted. She smiled to herself. She couldn't remember the last time they'd had such a marathon of lovemaking.

With her reluctance to make love with her mother in the house and her ever-expanding waistline, she'd begun to wonder if Remington would start to lose interest or find her unattractive. Today he'd proven to her that she was as enticing to him as ever.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep in his arms with a smile spread across her face.

-----

Sitting in the hotel restaurant Laura sipped her coffee, decaf of course, and sighed.

"Do we really have to leave today?" she asked.

Remington looked up from his Eggs Benedict with surprise. His wife never wanted to extend their vacations. She was usually champing at the bit to get back to work.

"I could change the reservations," he offered.

"No," she said. "We do need to get back. Mother should be back from Connecticut in a few days and I'm sure there's plenty of backlog at the office. But this has been lovely."

"Yes, you are," he said.

"Sap," she teased.

He laughed and went back to his breakfast.

"You know," he said between mouthfuls, "It's probably time we start thinking of hiring a nanny."

"A nanny?" she asked.

"You know... someone to take care of the littlest Steele when we're not around?"

"No way," she said, setting her fork down.

"What?"

"Remington, I may not be the greatest mother who ever lived, but I won't have someone else raise my child." She stopped as her eyes began to fill with tears. "Do you really have so little faith in me?"

"What?" he asked in total confusion. "No, Darling, of course I have faith in you. You're going to be an incredible mother. But we can't be with the child twenty four hours a day. Do you plan on taking her with us to the office? How about on stakeouts?"

"Of course not, but…"

"Or maybe you plan to stay home with the little tyke, eh?"

She was reminded of a conversation they'd had so long ago when he'd asked her what she planned to do about work if and when she had children….

"Supposing you had children, would you continue working or would you feed the little tykes breakfast in the morning and then run off to some nice juicy murder? Or would you call them up at school and apologize because you couldn't pick them up because you were being held hostage?"

He had at a point then, and she assumed he did now, too… but being a detective was such a big part of who she was. Was she supposed to give that up because she was also now becoming a mother? Did she really have to choose one over the other?

"No," she said, slightly annoyed by his tone. "You know I don't. Of course I thought of hiring someone to help. I guess," she said, her own tone softening. "I guess I just felt a little guilty. I don't want to be like Frances. I don't want to stay at home and bake cookies and drive carpool and have bridge parties."

"And no one wants you to," he soothed.

"My mother does," she said sadly, the tears starting to return.

"Well," he said. "I don't. And the last time I checked, you and I were that child's parents. WE will make the decisions as to how we raise her."

She smiled and sniffed back her tears.

"Laura, you are a dynamic and beautiful woman, and sexy as hell," he said, forcing her to look into his eyes. "One of the things I love about you is your passionate devotion to our work. I don't expect you to change who you are just because we're having a baby. Hell, I think I'd be pissed off if you did."

At that, she laughed and his expression softened.

"Tell me how you really feel, Mr. Steele."

"How I really feel?" he asked. "I love you, Laura. Just the way you are. And I thank God every day that you love me, too. Beyond that, nothing else really matters."

"Why, Mr. Steele. You do say the sweetest things."

-----

Remington followed Laura through the front door of the apartment. The place bore little resemblance to the home they'd built in the first two years of their marriage, and even less to the "bachelor pad" where Remington Steele had come to life. It did however, look surprisingly like Abigail's house in Connecticut.

"Well," Abigail said, taking their coats. "What do you think?"

"Wow," Laura said.

"I love what you've done with the place," Remington said, hoping to hide his surprise.

"I hope you don't mind," Abigail said. "I wanted to make it a bit homier."

"Not at all," he said. "It's lovely, isn't it Laura?"

"Wow," Laura said.

Remington gave her a quizzical look that clearly said, "Thanks, Dear."

"And we certainly want you to feel at home," he said to his mother-in-law.

"Thank you, Remington," Abigail said. "And I do. But I don't plan to be here long. I'm going to meet with a realtor next week."

The three had a nice dinner. Laura was relaxed and felt more comfortable with her mother than she had in a very long time. It was a good feeling. After dinner, they sat in the living room.

"Mother, what do you plan to do now?"

"What do you mean, dear?"

"Well," Laura said. "I mean, with your time. What do you want to do now that you're living here full time?"

"Frances invited me to her bridge club," her mother answered. "But I don't think I'm going to go."

"Why not?" Remington asked.

"They are all young mothers," she answered. "I'd feel out of place."

Laura understood that. Although she'd always thought her mother and Frances were cut from the same cloth, the "Lavender Ladies" of Tarzana were not her mother's style.

"I thought about volunteering," Abigail went on. "Maybe at the Huntington or the Getty… maybe the children's hospital…"

"All great choices," Laura said.

"And I'm hoping that you'll want me to help out when the baby comes."

"Of course," Laura said sincerely, surprised at how much she meant it. "We're definitely going to need your guidance and expertise."

"But there is something else," Remington said, taking Laura's hand.

"Mother," Laura said. "We, Remington and I, are thinking about hiring a nanny."

"A nanny?" Abigail repeated.

"Yes," Remington answered.

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Abigail said.

"Really?" Laura asked.

"Yes, of course," Abigail said. "You don't plan to quit working, do you?"

"Well, no…"

"Then a nanny is the best solution. You don't want to use one of those day care centers…"

"We thought you might…" Remington began.

"What?" Abigail said. "Want to babysit?"

"The thought had occurred," Laura said.

"I moved back here to be closer to you and your sister, Laura. And I want to watch my grandchildren grow up. But didn't come here to raise your child for you," her mother told her. "That's your job. I'm just here to make sure you do it right."

Laura just smiled and rolled her eyes.

To be continued…