A/N: Not much character dialogue in this chapter, I kind of wanted to do something a little cheerful and fun.

19 weeks

The alarm clock on Alex's nightstand was blaring at full volume, alerting its owner that it was time to start another day. Alex reached over and turned the alarm off, noticing that the digital readout proclaimed that it was 7:15 AM. He has been enjoying a good, restful sleep and was sorry for it to end. He pushed the covers back and sat up on the edge of the bed, picking up his glasses and putting them on.

One glance toward the window, outside of which, were swaying tree branches that told Alex it would be a windy and cloudy day. He was glad for the less than desirable weather since it afforded him the ability to wear a large and baggy sweater without it seeming odd. His abdomen wasn't huge, but there was definitely growth that would be noticed by those around him if he wore well-fitting clothes. And at this very moment Alex needed to fly under the radar of all those around him. Eventually he would have to tell Larry, but for now he still wasn't quite ready to admit to his colleague what he had done.

Alex stood up and began stretching his muscles that had become stiff overnight from lack of activity. The white t-shirt he was wearing clung slightly to his growing abdomen, and Alex absentmindedly brought a hand to rest on the small mound as he walked to the bathroom. The gesture had become a habit in the short time since Junior had made its existence outwardly visible.

After showering and getting dressed for the day, Alex ate breakfast, and grabbed the grocery list off the fridge. He planned to pick up the items he needed on the way home from the lab to avoid another trip out of the house.

Once at the lab and planted firmly in front of his computer Alex set to work on typing up his current lab results, keeping an impeccable record of his current condition. A couple of times he found himself looking in Diana's direction, remembering how much fun he had had with her a few weeks earlier during that short time they shared together on the dance floor. He would quickly put it out of his mind and get back to work, knowing that a relationship with Diana was impossible for the time being if he were to keep his secret safe.

After leaving the lab, Alex headed to the grocery store, packing his cart with the healthiest of options, and a couple of foods he enjoyed at the moment. He made sure to get lean cuts of meat for protein, and also plenty of fruits and vegetables so that he would still be getting all of the nutrients he and Junior required. And on top of that he added a couple half gallons of ice cream for the sweet cravings he'd been having in the last week.

Alex headed over to the small area with books before heading to the checkout. He had read in one of the pregnancy books that it was a good idea to talk to the baby, as well as read to it. Ever since then, on his weekly shopping trips he had picked up a new book to read to Junior. Alex had already bought several Dr. Seuss books carried by the store, and today decided to grab one of the Curious George options.

At home that evening Alex made baked chicken for dinner, eating while he read that day's newspaper. By 8:00 PM he was already feeling tired and decided to change into pajamas for the evening. He fixed himself a cup of herbal tea and sat down on the sofa for the evening ritual of reading to Junior. Alex often wondered if the baby could actually hear him. It seemed like it had been so long since he had been under the direct care of Larry, that he sometimes worried about the baby's health. Not to mention that all of the pregnancy books he had been reading said that women generally start to feel the baby move anytime after 16 weeks. Since Alex hadn't felt anything of that nature yet, that was another worry to heap on his already very full plate. Pushing aside all the negative thoughts, he leaned back into his seat and opened the book.

"'Curious George,'" read Alex softly. "This is George. He lived in Africa."

Alex brought his hand up to gently rest on his stomach while he took his time reading the new book to Junior.

"'He hurried through the building and out on to the roof.'" Read Alex. "And then he was lucky to be a monkey: out he walked on to the telephone wires. Quickly and quiet-"

Alex stopped reading abruptly, trying to figure out if he had felt what thought. And then it happened again: a small wiggling inside his abdomen. It was too light to feel on the outside with his hand, but it was undeniable, he was feeling his baby moving.

"So you're much fonder of nosey little monkeys than you are of rhyming," said Alex, a smile stretching across his face as he looked down at his stomach. "I'll keep that in mind."

Alex finished reading the book, happier than he had ever been before. Alex made a note in his journal of the day and time he had first felt Junior move, but he had a feeling that he didn't need to since it wasn't something that would soon be forgotten.