Reviews were so supportive and it got my brain going, so I decided to add to the story.

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He opened the door quietly to enter the dark house. She was probably asleep and he didn't want to wake her. Tiredness often drove her to bed early these days. That was okay with him though, she had a good reason. Being seven months pregnant couldn't be easy, he thought, lugging all that extra weight around….and she was so tiny to begin with.

He kicked off his shoes and tossed his jacket over the chair. Flipping on the light in the kitchen, he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and downed it quickly. His shoulder was bothering him, so he popped some painkillers, flipped off the light and headed for bed.

The light from a full moon filtered into the bedroom, casting a glow over her sleeping form. Pausing to look at her for a moment, he smiled. Coming home to her in his bed, even if she was asleep, was worth all the crap he put up with at work. Heading into the bathroom, he brushed his teeth and changed into one of the tee shirts he usually slept in…well, if she didn't take it off him first. But lately, he'd been sleeping in the shirts a lot. She was too tired for anything else. But that was okay with him; she was carrying his baby.

Stopping beside the bed, he watched her sleeping. His head tilted and a smile crept across his features. She was so beautiful. It struck him at least once a day that he was a very lucky guy; he had seen the other guys at the station drooling over her. She could have any guy she wanted but for some strange reason that he couldn't grasp, she wanted him….enough to let her body grow round with his child. She was having his baby; he still couldn't believe it.

The pregnancy had been accidental but she was happy about it. It was a permanent connection to him, she said. They had dangerous jobs and bad things could happen to either of them. It was a reality that they lived with daily. But this little person that they shared, it would connect them for eternity….that's the way she saw it. He didn't think that deeply about it. He was still stuck in amazement; amazement that she was with him, that she loved him enough to want his child, that he still had what it took to make a baby.

When he slipped between the sheets, she stirred a little, wiggling back towards his body. It amused him that she always did that, seeking him out in the bed even in the deadest of sleep. He knew what she wanted, the feel of him next to her. He knew it because it was he wanted. Snuggling up against her, her felt her motion stop as she relaxed into him. His hand settled on her hip, fighting the temptation to caress her silky skin. He didn't want to wake her. Her hair was spread out all over the pillow, tickling his nose as he nuzzled in closer. He loved the smell of her shampoo…hell, he loved anything that was to do with her.

She did a lot of complaining lately about what was happening to her body. She was in the "I feel fat," stage. He tried to assure her that she was nothing of the sort, but she didn't buy into it. He smiled as he remembered their conversation a couple of days ago. She had been standing in the bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror, consternation on her face. He'd walked up behind her and put his arms around her, patting her tummy. "I'm fat," she had whined. Normally she wasn't a whiner. "You are not," he had insisted. The look she shot him could stop a train. "Liar." He'd chuckled. "Baby, you are drop dead gorgeous anytime…so slender but with really nice curves in all the right places. And a little bit of tomboy appeal added in for good measure. But now…being pregnant adds interest to those curves… giving you a very 'hot mama' look." He had smiled, thinking she would like his assessment. She had frowned at him in the mirror. "Hot mama?"

"Well, you're becoming a mama…..and you are most definitely hot. Sometimes just looking at you …well, let's just say you're giving life to more than the bundle you are carrying around." That had done the trick. She had smiled and then told him what she planned to do about his new life…and then she had given him a sample.

The guys at the station were having a lot of fun, teasing him about becoming a father. Most of the time he took it in stride, knowing that he was an easy target. He had resigned himself to the idea that most people who would see him with his child would think it was his grandchild. He just hoped it didn't warp the kid too much.

The other day, one of the guys had made a comment about Sofia and the mailman. Jim wanted to deck him. The comment sent Jim into the past, his elation when Nancy had announced her pregnancy and his heartbreak when he discovered that Ellie was another man's child. He knew that he didn't have to worry about that with Sofia. She was one of the most honest people he'd ever met. It was one of the things that he loved most about her.

He drew in a deep breath as he once again fought the urge to caress her awake. She needed her sleep. Just then she moved, wiggling closer into him and then rolling onto her back. He knew that wouldn't last long….since she'd been pregnant, she didn't stay on her back long because the baby didn't like it. Soon Sofia would get a petulant kick on the inside and she'd move again. He grinned as he realized how in tune he'd become with her discomforts. About five minutes later, he was proven right. Sofia rolled over onto her side, now facing him.

His heart was swelling as he lay there, looking at her. It was still a wonder to him that such a beautiful creature could love him. And she was so very beautiful. The set of her eyes seemed exotic to him yet, they were also very open and friendly. And they were a bright, clear blue that sparkled when she was happy, which was most of the time. Another thing he loved about her, her disposition. She was a naturally happy person with a keen sense of humor that blended well with his own. Just being around her made him feel good.

He was feeling very good right now. She had nuzzled into his chest, her long legs wrapping themselves over his. He had always enjoyed playing hockey, a contact sport. Sleeping with Sofia had become his new favorite contact sport….even when they just slept. He wrapped his arms around her and gently kissed the top of her head.

She moaned softly. "Jim?"

"No, it's McDreamy…" he whispered.

"Then go away."

"Never baby…."

Her eyes opened lazily. He could see her sparkle even in the dim light. "Not McDreamy, but definitely the man of my dreams."

"How you feeling?"

"Hmmm…let's see. You're holding me in your arms….I feel fine." Her smile melted him.

"Yeah, you do."

"You okay?" she asked.

"You kiddin'? I'm holding you in my arms. I'm in heaven."

He held her as she drifted back to sleep. Listening to her soft breaths, his eyes grew heavy and he was soon asleep also.

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So did chapter 2 measure up?