I've always wanted to use this piece as a story soundtrack and I think this chapter might be the perfect time. Not a song but a poem by Pablo Neruda, Ode to a Beautiful Nude. The Rufus girls out there will know I picked this particular poem because he performs it absolutely beautifully - and it's available on youtube for any of you who would like to hear his wonderful (natural) voice. On the youtube site search for "Ode to a Beautiful Nude Rufus Sewell" and you will easily find it – sorry I can't give you the direct link.

For all of his wonderful qualities, Jacob is not really a poetry man so I haven't gone as far as to have him narrate the poem for Rachel, but as he lays naked on the bed examining her body, I'd like to think he was thinking it. I like both the exploration of "the fine and firm feminine form" and the references to the sea made in this poem. I think Jacob would like it as well. Although after the previous chapter, I don't think his heart is particularly chaste!

"It is not only light that falls over the world

Spreading inside your body

As suffocated snow

So much as clarity

Taking its leave of you

As if you were on fire within

The moon lives in the lining of your skin"

...

"Rachel?"

"Mmmmmm?"

"Is there something you need to tell me?"

She tore her eyes away from the book she was reading and looked down at him.

They were lying naked on the big white bed, the rain beating against the big picture windows. The sea was dark and angry, and instead of being outside swimming, Jacob was laying with her late on this cold Tuesday afternoon, his head on her belly. The open fire in the bedroom fireplace made the room warm and snug and she was feeling very, very relaxed.

He'd been up and about disgustingly early after sleeping since the previous lunchtime, but trapped inside by the relentless rain, he was quickly bored. He'd read the newspaper from cover to cover, done the crossword and other assorted puzzles, played an assortment of video games and watched TV. He'd answered his emails, pottered around in the kitchen, made breakfast and lunch, rearranged his Star Wars collection in the outside shed and made love to her for what seemed like hours. Not that she was complaining of course. But she did want to get back to her book.

Rachel could tell, that despite his assurances that he wanted nothing more than to spend time with her sleeping and relaxing and making love here at the beach house, that in reality he was ready to go back to work. He already needed something to occupy his restless mind. And his restlessness was starting to annoy her.

She was absorbed in her book and didn't want to put it down. No matter how much she loved her man, there were sometimes that a good vampire book was more irresistible than he was. 'Good lord Jacob, can't you just drink beer and watch sport like other men,' she had grumbled to him. He'd just snorted and had occupied himself lazily kissing her belly.

"Rachel, I asked you if there's something you need to tell me?"

She looked down at his broad open face, he had a look of concern, eyebrows knitted into a frown.

"Not as far as I know," she said, surprised. "Can you give me a clue? What would I possibly need to tell you? You know I already tell you everything."

"Have you been feeling ok?"

"I've been feeling fine, you know that. If I was sick I'd tell you."

"Mmmm"

"What Jacob?"

"Well…" he looked a little apprehensive.

"What"

"No, it's OK, don't worry.

"Stop it Jacob. If you have something to say, just say it." She was getting impatient with him now.

"Um, well, OK then." He hesitated. "I think you should take a pregnancy test"

"A what?"

"You heard me"

"Why would I take a pregnancy test? You know I have an implant." She stared at him, incredulously.

"No form of contraception is 100% failsafe, we've talked about this before"

"I know that, but why would you possibly think…?"

He looked up at her, his green eyes fixed unfalteringly on her face.

"I just do"

She slammed down her book and got up off the bed. "I'm going to have a shower," she snapped and disappeared into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Sometimes, sometimes, he just made her so fucking mad.

She stared at her face in the mirror. No, she wasn't going to put up with this crap from him.

She stuck her head out the door of the bathroom. He was still laying naked on the bed as she had left him, on his stomach, eyes closed.

"Just so we're quite clear, I am not going to be doing a pregnancy test. So you can get that stupid idea out of your head right now."

He shrugged, his eyes still closed. "Ok, it's up to you beautiful. But as long as you're quite clear as to what I think."

"When I come out after my shower, I don't want to hear any more about it."

"Fine. Not a word."

"And don't keep looking at me."

"I'm not looking at you. How am I looking at you? I have my eyes closed."

"I know that, but don't start looking at me later."

He smiled. Eyes still closed.

"I'm serious Jake. Don't start with me later."

"Ok, Not a word. Or a look. I promise. How about I start dinner. You can have a bath if you like. I'll bring you a glass of er, juice and your book."

"Can't I have some wine?"

"No, I think we're all out." He didn't mention the bottle of merlot that Sofia had left for them.

"Ok." She never could stay angry with him.

"Do you want me to run the bath for you?"

"I think I can manage to do that."

"Don't make it too hot though," he said opening his eyes.

"Why? You know I like it hot."

"Just don't. No hot baths. Not until we're sure."

"Jacob!"

"Sorry." He held up his hands apologetically. "Not another word."

...

Later they sat at the table together and enjoyed Sofia's excellent lasagne and tiramisu. They hadn't eaten it the previous day, had both slept through dinner. While she was in the bath, Jacob had quickly thrown on jeans and a light sweater, and secreted the wine away in the outside shed. He didn't need to be having that argument with her right now.

They chatted over the meal, and he made a big effort to not bring up the baby issue. Although it was burning in the centre of his mind with the intensity of a clear blue flame. Since he'd put all the clues together, he was absolutely certain. And he wanted her to do a test so that she was as certain as she was. And then he was going to get her to the doctor so she could get that implant in her arm removed. It was nagging at him. It needed to be removed. Now.

He was trying not to mention it though. Knew his best bet was to just let the conversation drift naturally in that direction.

They started talking about Frank and Felix and the FBI, how they were going to work together.

Well, he talked and she listened. Tried to, anyway. Her mind kept wandering back to the conversation they had earlier. She was still annoyed with him for suggesting such an outrageous thing.

"We do have a lot to consider you know. I need to go and see the accountant, see what he recommends as far as the structure of the business goes. It may actually be better as a partnership rather than you as an employee. But then I need to talk to Frank to see how the Bureau prefers us to structure it – whether they can contract us as a business or whether we have to be individuals. And we need to decide how we're going to structure our personal finances as well. I mean, I don't want to push you one way or the other because it's completely up to you, but we need to decide whether we're going to keep our finances separate or whether we just combine everything. Maggie & I just lumped everything in together, but what would you rather do?"

"I haven't really thought about it. It's all a bit sudden Jake."

"I know sweetheart, but if we're going to be in business together, we need to make sure that it's set up properly."

"Um," she had a sudden thought. "Jacob, are you asking me all this because you want a pre-nup?"

He looked at her, surprised, "a pre-nup? Are you joking? Why would I want a pre-nup?"

"Well, you've got, you know, assets. This house must be an expensive piece of real estate Jake and I know you have shares and stuff, and all I have is a rented apartment and a shoe collection."

He shook his head. "As far as I'm concerned, everything that I have becomes yours when we marry, in fact it's already yours. Including the seahorses. Don't know if i can let you have my first edition Luke Skywalker though."

He winked. "Of course, speaking of getting married, we should probably think about setting a date you know, because everyone's going to ask when we tell them."

"Mmmm, I guess they will," she said thoughtfully. "When do you think we should do it? In the spring when the weathers nice?"

He shrugged. "I don't really think the weather's got a lot to do with it. The real decision is whether you want to get on and do it straight away, or if you want to wait until after."

"After what?"

He raised his eyebrows,

"Until after the baby's born, Rachel."

"The baby, oh my god Jake. I told you not to keep on at me about this. There is no baby."

He raised his eyebrows again. Tilted his head to the side.

She stared at him.

He bit his lower lip. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Are you really sure?"

"Yes." She said it firmly, trying not to lose her temper. "I'm really, absolutely, positively sure."

"Come on Rachel, let me go to the drugstore and pick up a test. We'll know one way or the other in like, half an hour."

"No Jake, there is no fucking baby. I am not fucking pregnant."

"See. You're very emotional."

"I'm not emotional, I'm just fucking mad with you."

He shook his head. "That's just silly. There's no reason to be mad with me"

She snorted. "I will be unbelievably mad with you if you're right."

"Aaaah, so now you're thinking that I might be right"

"No, I'm not thinking you might be right. How could you possibly have got me pregnant when I have a contraceptive implant in my fucking arm."

He shrugged. "I'm just incredibly talented I guess."

"Or incredibly determined"

"Determined? What you think I did this on purpose?"

"Well, didn't you?"

"Ok, emotional and irrational. I thought you were maintaining that you weren't pregnant. In which case you're blaming me for something I haven't actually done. As if I could have done it on purpose even if I'd tried." He laughed. "This is the funniest fight I've ever had."

"It's not funny."

"Oh come on, it is a little funny."

"Babies are not funny, Jacob."

"Oh, yes they are, they're very funny with their cute little faces and their little bare bottoms."

She shook her head. "Oh I get it now. You love babies don't you? I remember that roomful of little cloned babies. You couldn't wait to pick them up could you?"

"Come on Rachel, those little guys were very, very cute. Of course I love babies, what's not to love about babies? Anyhow, I'm sure when you have your own that you'll love babies too."

"I am not having my own."

"Aaaah, but see, you're not entirely sure now are you. Just let me go and get the test."

"No."

"Come on. It won't take me long. There and straight back."

"No, Jacob."

"Well I'll tell you what." He got to his feet and walked over to the door. "I'll go anyway. Whether you say it's OK or not. Because I'm a grown man and can actually do whatever I like. And if and when you feel like taking the test at any time over the next, what seven and a half months…"

"Even I know it takes nine months."

"Well forty weeks to be exact. But you're already what, six to eight weeks at least, so you only have seven and a half to eight months left. So if any time you start to think I might be right, probably when you can't see your feet anymore, then the test will be there for you to take."

"It's pouring with rain."

"Rachel, it's only water. I've been wet before."

She stared at him.

He bit his lower lip.

"OK," she sighed, "but drive carefully."

"You know I will." He grabbed his keys and was gone in a flash.

She sat on the couch, stared out at the sea, grey and restless. The rain had eased off a little and she could even see a couple of patches of clear sky amongst the clouds.

This whole thing was crazy, she thought. There was no way he was right. She'd never had any scares or false alarms or late periods. And she'd had no trouble with the implant before. Not that she had periods with it, so she wouldn't know one way or the other. But, surely she'd know. Would feel something, would feel different. Weren't you supposed to like, glow or something? Or start vomiting? Or faint? She felt completely fine and completely normal.

No, this was one time that Dr Jacob fucking smart ass Hood was not going to be right.

He strode through the door barely 20 minutes since leaving, a large paper bag in hand. "That's a big bag for a single pregnancy test," she commented dryly, "have you been buying hair product again?"

He flicked his eyebrows and cocked his head at her, tipped the contents of the bag out onto the coffee table. There were three different early pregnancy tests and a collection of vitamin supplements.

She shook her head. "What the hell is all this?"

"Well, I knew that when the first test was positive, you would just say that it was faulty so I got three different ones. That way you might be convinced of the result. And I've got you some supplements; folate, general pregnancy and iron."

"You've got to be kidding me, Jake."

He shrugged.

"You're only going to be disappointed you know."

He sat down next to her, put his arm around her and hugged her into his chest. "I won't be disappointed sweetheart, whatever the result. I mean it's not like it's really a good time is it? We're still trying to get our heads around what's happened in the last couple of weeks. I'm not being hopeful. I just think I'm right."

"Why though Jake? What makes you think this? Why now all of a sudden?"

"Well," he sat back into the couch pulling her with him, looked out of the window to the sea. "I know things have been a bit tumultuous lately, but I don't think I've ever seen you so emotional as this weekend. I don't really know why you flew all the way to Geneva like you did when I was going to see you the next day. It's not like you to make a decision like that based purely on emotion. And you've been hungry. And you've been sleeping a lot. But also, and I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but also I realised this afternoon that I can feel your muscle tone has slackened slightly, especially across your lower abdomen. That's the effect of the relaxin and progesterone starting to relax your muscles and ligaments, even this early on. And your breasts are a little bigger, and I think they might be a tiny bit sensitive because you keep flinching when I touch them. And then…" his voice trailed off nervously.

"What?"

"Well…"

"What Jacob?"

"Well," he shrugged. "I just think you've been very responsive lately."

"Responsive?" She looked up at him, confused.

He looked at her. "Responsive… in bed."

"I still don't know what you mean."

"Well, all I have to do is look at you and you have an orgasm Rachel. And I'm not that conceited to believe it's all my doing or, what did you say yesterday, my endless supply of gorgeous erections," he laughed.

She didn't laugh.

"What's that got to do with you thinking I'm pregnant?"

"Well, your blood supply would have already increased slightly which serves to increase your arousal and the sensitivity in your vaginal region."

"Jesus Christ Jacob!"

He shrugged, "well you did ask."

She shook her head. "I think you're just clutching at straws. Surely I'd be the one noticing these things."

He raised his eyebrows. Shrugged.

"Now I know a lot of stuff about a lot of things, and even though I still have no idea how your mind works, if there's one thing I'm an expert on, it's your body Rachel. I'm sure I spend much more time examining it than you do. Plus you're not really a details person are you, you're more big picture."

She threw a cushion at him, whacking him on the side of the head.

"If you want to be really sure, I can give you an internal exam."

"A what?"

"An internal exam. By 6 weeks of pregnancy, which of course is only actually 4 weeks since conception, there's a swelling of the uterus which can be clearly felt by a vaginal exam. I've got gloves in my lab kit."

She looked at him incredulously.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me Jacob. Why would I let you give me an internal exam? Why can't I just do a pregnancy test like a normal person would?"

He smiled and handed her one of the three. "What a good idea," he said. "Why don't you do all three at the same time and then you'll be sure. One way or the other. Or I can get my gloves"

She stared at him fiercely.

His eyes softened. "Just go and do the test sweetheart. It's stupid for us to be arguing about this. Either I'm right or wrong, but either way, the test will tell us."

She shook her head. Got to her feet. He handed her the other two tests. "I cannot believe I'm doing this."

"Do you want me to come and help?"

She looked at him icily. "I think even I can manage to pee on a stick without too much drama."

He held his hands up. "Ok, go and do your worst then."

She stalked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She laid the boxes out on the bench. What was she doing this for? What was she thinking? What was he thinking? She was only having to do this because he had an idea. Christ, it's not like he hadn't had a million ideas over the time she'd known him.

She stared at her face in the mirror. A baby. Good god, she couldn't manage to look after a freaking goldfish, let alone a baby. This was not in her plan. Not at all. Regardless of what Jess might hope, leaving her job to have his babies wasn't what she had planned for herself. Marrying him she could cope with. Leaving her job to work with him, but still doing FBI assignments, she could cope with. But marrying him and leaving her job to look after a freaking baby, was another thing altogether.

Shit, shit, shit. What was she thinking. This was crazy.

She almost opened the door and went back out to tell him where he could stick his pregnancy tests and his internal exam.

"You're very quiet in there," he called. "I haven't even heard you open the boxes yet."

"I hope you're not listening at the door," she called back.

"No, no, not at all."

"Oh just come in," she sighed. She knew he was standing right there. He swung the door open and she saw him leaning against the door frame, hands in pockets.

He looked at the unopened boxes. "It's understandable to be nervous," he said. "I'm nervous too. This is a big thing. If these tests are positive, our lives will change forever."

"And if they're not?"

"Well we can both breathe a sigh of relief and get on with sorting out our jobs, and planning this wedding and spending some time together."

"Are you saying you don't want the test to be positive?"

He rolled his eyes. "No, I'm not saying one way or the other. All I know is that either it's positive or it's not positive. Whatever you or I may think about it, makes no difference to what the result will be. So lets stop agonising about it and just do the tests. Here, let me help," he began opening the boxes.

"I don't need any help. And you're not staying in here while I pee."

He smiled. "You make me laugh Rachel. I've seen you naked from almost every conceivable angle, but I can't stay in the same room while you pee on a stick."

She sighed, looked at him grumpily, "Ok, but you have to turn around."

He opened all the boxes and emptied all the tests out onto the bench. Lined them up for her.

"There's six?"

"Yep, 2 per box."

"And have you read all the instructions?"

"I don't need to read the instructions Rachel. Here's the stick. Just pee on it. If it's positive it will go pink or have a plus sign or a tick or something. If it's negative, it will stay blue or have a negative sign. Of course, you could pee in a sample jar and then I can transfer it with a pipette if you'd prefer."

"I could quite happily kill you right now," she growled.

"Well what would be the point in that? You'd just be a single mother then."

"You're just so fucking smug and we haven't even done the tests."

"I told you before. I know the answer. The tests are just for you."

She sighed. "Oh for gods sake, come on then. But you're going to have to give them to me pretty quickly if I'm going to do all six."

He knelt on the floor next to her and as demurely as she could manage, she peed on each stick as he handed them to her in quick succession. She handed them back one by one and he laid each completed test on the floor in front of them.

"So, how long will it take?" she asked as they stared at them.

"Oh, not long. It should be any time…now…" his voice trailed off as one by one each test changed from blue to pink. As all six tests changed to a strong and quite unmistakable positive, she stared at them unbelievingly.

"No," she said finally. "No. They must be faulty. They must be a faulty batch of tests"

She looked at him.

He was staring at the tests on the floor, his hand over his mouth, clearly trying to stifle his laugh.

"It's not funny Jacob"

He moved his hand and she watched a big smile bloom over his quite obviously delighted face.

Still on his knees, he moved in front of her and hugged her as she sat on the toilet. Hugged her hard and tight, kissed her hair. Held her.

Eventually he took her face in his two hands and looked deep into her eyes. "I love you my beautiful girl. And there's nothing that would make me happier than for you to be my wife and the mother of our children. Don't be mad Rachel. This is a wonderful thing."

She felt like crying. "I'm not so sure Jacob. Is it really? Is it really wonderful or is it a complete disaster?"

"Of course it's wonderful, sweetheart. It's a baby. A brand new beautiful little person."

She sighed. Looked at him silently. Looked at his earnest, open face, looked into his green eyes. The eyes of the father of her child. Her future husband. The man she would raise a family with. The man she would grow old with. Shit. Why was she suddenly terrified?

"I love you with all my heart Jacob, but this is all just happening way too fast. Five days ago I was alone and lost, didn't even know if we had a future. And now we're getting married, I'm leaving the FBI to work with you, and we're having a baby. It's just too much for me to comprehend."

He kissed her forehead.

"That's how life is sweetheart. No matter how we plan, how we imagine things to be, life has a way of showing us who's boss. Come on, lets go for a walk along the beach. The rain's stopped. We might even see a rainbow."

...

They slipped on their jackets and silently wandered along the sand, hand in hand. The wind picked up a little and he hugged her in, close to his body, as they walked.

"I'm frightened Jake. I don't know what to do. What am I supposed to do now? Am I supposed to do something?"

"No, there's nothing you can do. We just have to wait now. All you can do is look after yourself. Take your folate, stop drinking, give up caffeine, eat well, get some exercise, rest. That's it. And wait. Oh, there is one thing, and you do need to do this. We need to get you to your ob/gyn and get that fucking implant removed. The hormones that thing is pumping round your body are totally incompatible with the developing foetus."

"The developing foetus? That's not a very fatherly thing to say."

"I'm serious about this Rachel. Do you have their number on your cell? Call now and make an appointment. I think we should leave here first thing tomorrow. We can get this implant sorted and then on Thursday I can do a zoo shift. Then on Friday we have to meet with Frank. Although, I have to say I'm thinking maybe I should have a little talk with Frank before hand. Over a drink or two."

"Back up, back up Jake, you're moving too fast again. Firstly, it's the FBI physician who arranges the implants and she said that it could be removed by any doctor. There's just a special tool they use. And I thought we were staying here and relaxing for a few more days. And what the hell is a zoo shift and do you really think it's a good idea to go out for drinks with Frank? You know the pair of you just get smashed every time you get together."

He laughed, "ok, I know the implants can be removed by anyone, but I thought you'd rather have it done by your ob/gyn because then you can have blood tests and an early ultrasound done at the same time. To check the heartbeat and see if it's twins."

Her head snapped towards him at the mention of twins. He winked.

"Anyhow, I think we've relaxed for long enough and if I have to stay here much longer I'm going to go insane. We've just got too much to do in DC. I go and volunteer at the zoo whenever I get a free day and because it's midweek, they might have a school group for me on Thursday. And I'd really rather go and see Frank one on one before we have this official meeting on Friday. We should probably give him some time to think about our proposal before the meeting. And we won't get smashed. We're responsible adults."

She raised her eyebrows.

"What?"

"This is my look of extreme scepticism."

"We will not get smashed. I assure you. Just a few drinks and a chat at the club."

"Not the club."

"Why?"

"Because the pair of you get ensconced in there with your smelly cigars and 10 year old malt and before you know it, we're having horny drunk sex again."

"Oh, you love the horny drunk sex."

"I know I love the horny drunk sex. I love all the sex. But that's not the point."

'What's the point then?'

She glared at him. "I just don't want you going out with my boss and discussing me when I'm not there."

"Sorry Rachel, but that's how it is. I won't make any decisions on your behalf but Frank & I should talk about this. That phone conversation we had in Geneva was pretty testy."

"Mmmm, I'm still not sure I like it. And explain to me about the zoo. Because I'm really not understanding that."

He shrugged. "I told you. I volunteer at the zoo when I get a chance."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "I love the zoo. Usually they'll give me a school group. I give them a lecture about whatever it is they're studying and then a behind the scenes tour in that area. Otherwise if there's no school groups, I go and help out the keepers or I wander round as a docent."

"You are unbelievable Jake. Why have I not known about this?"

"Well, I haven't been able to over the last few months because I've been spending all my free time with you. Which is why I'd like to put in some time on Thursday. Before that I guess I used to do it when we weren't on a case. I volunteer at the aquarium if I have time as well."

She shook her head. "I don't understand why they'd just let you come & go like that. Surely you have to be on a roster or something?"

"I'm on the Board of Directors Rachel, so they pretty much let me do as I please."

"The Board of Directors?"

"Have I never mentioned that?"

"Um, no Jacob. You've never mentioned that"

"Sorry. Well my grandfather was, and when he died five years ago they offered me his position. There are parts of the zoo named after him you know. He was a major benefactor."

"A benefactor?"

"Uh-hu."

"Like a money type benefactor? I thought your dad was a high school football coach?"

"Oh he was, they didn't really get on. Dad walked away from the old man when he was about 20. Moved to California, met my Mom, took up teaching. It's a long story. I'll give you the full version another time"

"God, this is all too much for me today, Jake. I think my head's going to explode."

"Come here sweetheart." He stopped walking and pulled her into him. Hugged her tight into his body.

"I love you Jake," she murmured into his chest.

"And I love you my beautiful girl. Don't ever doubt that for a single second." He paused. "You and this baby complete me, you know that don't you?"

"Please don't Jake."

"Please don't what?" He looked at her, frowned slightly.

"Please don't love it already."

"Why? This baby is real Rachel. This is really happening. How can I not love it already?"

"But there's so much that can go wrong so early. I don't want to be responsible for breaking your heart. Don't put that weight on me Jake. I couldn't bear it. I couldn't bear to let you down like that."

"Sweetheart, you could never let me down" He wrapped his arms right around her. Held her tightly to his chest. Kissed the top of her head. "Whatever happens, you could never, ever, let me down."

They stood for a while wrapped together on the sand. The bracing afternoon breeze ruffled their hair. It had clouded over again and a few drops of rain began to fall. It was getting cold but she didn't want to move, just wanted to luxuriate in the warmth of his body. She wanted the world to stop. But she knew her life's path had been irretrievably altered that afternoon. It would never be the same again and she was scared. She didn't want to have to face what lie ahead. She wanted to spend the rest of her life in this very moment. On this very beach. Wanted to spend her life wrapped up safe and warm and protected in his arms.