Thanks for all of the reviews—I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Growing closer

Lou admitted to Catherine that he didn't mind if they had a boy or a girl while Catherine admitted to wanting a boy. She also told him that she didn't know what to think about her pregnancy at first but when she heard the baby's heartbeat at the hospital everything changed right there on the spot. She was excited to be pregnant and was thrilled that he was the father.

Over the next few months Lou went out of his way to make sure that Catherine had plenty of visitors while she was home on bed rest. Her doctor had decided to keep her home until the baby was born. At first Catherine was disappointed but ended up enjoying all of the attention that she was receiving. Lou had decreed that her house was to be the home of Monday night football. Her crew would meet every week to watch the game before heading off to work. Catherine never much cared for football but she knew that Lou loved the game and she loved that he had her friends come to visit her every week.

Lou and Catherine were growing closer every day. Each day when he would get home from work they would lie in bed and talk for what seemed like hours. They would both share stories from their past with each other. Catherine told him all about her past as an exotic dancer and her cocaine habit while Lou told her about coming home from work one day to find his wife in bed with another cop. She realized then why he had been so jealous when he saw her hugging Jared at the Eclipse; she knew firsthand what it felt like to be cheated on.

Catherine was now six months pregnant and she was scheduled for an ultrasound. Lou was going with her and she was hoping that today would be the day they would learn the sex of their baby. She had been instructed to drink several glasses of water and was complaining to Lou about having to go to the bathroom.

"I sure as hell hope that Dr. Moore isn't behind schedule, I have to pee like a racehorse" Catherine complained on the way into the Dr's office. Lou laughed at her, "relax baby and try to think of something

else. "Whatever", she replied. "

Fortunately for both of them the doctor was right on schedule and Catherine was taken into the exam room right away. When Dr. Moore was ready to start the ultrasound Lou came into the room and was holding Catherine's hand when he saw the image appear on the monitor. They could see the baby pretty clearly and it appeared to be sucking its thumb. Catherine let out a small gasp and squeezed Lou's hand at the sight. They both were teary eyed seeing the miracle before them.

"The baby looks great and appears to weigh between 3 ½ and 4 pounds right now. That is normal. Now do you want to know what the baby's sex is"? Dr. Moore asked them both. "Yes", Catherine blurted out before Lou could say anything. Lou chuckled and answered "absolutely".

"Okay", the doctor replied "see this" pointing at the screen? "It's a boy".

Lou looked down at Catherine and saw the tears rolling down her face knowing those were the three words she had wanted to hear.