Kristen paced nervously waiting for Charlie to show up. She called right after they took Kathleen back for emergency surgery. Her cervix had opened and they needed to do an emergency cerclage to keep her from going into full blown labor and keep the baby safe.

"Kristen." Charlie said

She spun around, "Oh, thank god."

"What happened?" he asked

"I don't know. We were talking, well arguing and then all of a sudden she was having severe pain and started bleeding."

"What were you doing there?"

"Charlie, after what she did to you I had to see her again. She told me she lied."

"Yeah about the baby being mine."

"No, she lied about it not being yours."

"What?"

"She thought it was causing so much pain that if you believed it wasn't yours it would be better for everyone. She never cheated on you Charlie."

"My God, why would she think she had to do that?"

"Because of me." She said, "I was combative from the start and she felt like you felt obligated to be there for her and that you'd end up resenting her and the baby."

"Charlie." Dr. Levine approached

"Doctor, is she alright?"

"She's fine." She assured him, "Her cervix opened and that's what caused the bleeding and the pain. But we've done is an emergency cerclage. We stitched up the cervix and will leave the stitches in until about the thirty eighth week. It's a very common procedure."

"What about the baby?" He asked

"Well, it doesn't appear she experienced any real fetal distress. But we'll keep her monitored."

"She?" He asked

Dr. Levine smiled, "I'm sorry I should have asked if you wanted to know. But yes, you have a girl."

"When can I see her?" He asked

"She's in recovery now. But we'll be moving her to a room soon so we'll let you know." Dr. Levine advised looking at her watch, "It's about lunch time. Why don't you go get a bite and we should have her in her room by the time you get back."

Charlie nodded, "Thank you, Doctor."

"Well, I'm glad the news was good." She smiled and walked away

Charlie turned to Kristen, "You don't have to stay."

"No, that's okay. Why don't we take her up on her suggestion to get something to eat."

"Okay." He agreed

/

Charlie sat in a chair in Kathleen's hospital room. He wasn't sure what her reaction would be when she saw him there. He convinced Kristen to go home and let the kids know what was going on promising to call her once Kathleen was awake and he had talked to her. His head buried in his hands he heard movement from the bed.

Kathleen opened her eyes an scanned the room seeing Charlie, "Charlie?" She said still groggy from the medication

He got up and brought the chair close to the bed, and took her hand, "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"What are you doing here?" She asked

"Kristen called me." He said

"Is the baby okay?" She asked placing her hand on her belly

"She's fine." He said

"She?" Kathleen asked

Charlie smiled and squeezed her hand, "We're having a girl."

"We..." She began

"Kristen told me everything." He said

She began to cry, "I'm sorry, Charlie. I..."

"Knock, knock," Dr. Levine walked in

"Hi, Doctor." Kathleen said wiping hr eyes

"Well, you gave everyone quite a scare." She said

"Is my baby really okay?"

"Everything looks good but we want to keep monitoring her so we want to keep you her until at least tomorrow."

Kathleen nodded, "What happened? I don't remember much after being brought to the ER."

"Well, we did a procedure called a cerclage. Your cervix opened up a little so we went in and stitched it up. That's what was causing the bleeding and the discomfort. We'll leave them in until almost the end of your pregnancy. Then take them out and you should deliver as normal."

"Thank you, doctor." She said

"You should thank your friend." She said, "If you hadn't gotten here as soon as you did things could have been very different."

"My fr-" Kathleen stammered, "Yeah I guess she is a friend."

Dr. Levine smiled, "Well, that's the good news. Now for the bad news. You need to stay in bed for at least the next week."

"What?" Kathleen protested, "I have work to do, responsibilities."

"Not this week you don't" Dr. Levine said, "We need to make absolutely sure the stitches hold. You're only twenty weeks. We can't risk the cervix opening again. So no getting out of bed except for the bathroom and I know you won't like it but you need to wait a couple of days to shower."

Kathleen nodded, her mind feeling like it was full of cobwebs.

"Well, I have to run. I'll be back in the morning to see how things are and if the baby's vitals are still strong you can go home." She looked at Charlie, "You make sure she follows orders." She said with a wink and turned to leave

"Oh, I will." He called after her then turned back to Kathleen, "You heard the doc. It's bed rest for you and Kathleen Jr."

"Charlie, if I can't get out of bed I can't stay by myself." She said, feeling utterly helpless

"You won't be by yourself. You're going to stay with me...us."

She shook her head, "Oh no, Charlie, I can't. You can't put your family out like that. Not to mention Kristen."

"Hey, look over there." He pointed to the machine monitoring their daughter's heart, "That little heartbeat is all that matters." He caressed her belly

She placed her hand over his and felt a flutter, "Oh, did you feel that?"

He smiled, "Yeah. She must know we're talking about her."

"Yeah." She smiled and nodded

/

Charlie arrived home late afternoon to find his family anxiously waiting for him.

"How's Kathleen?" They all seem to ask in unison, "And the baby?"

"Well, she's okay and the baby is doing fine. They just want to monitor her until tomorrow to make sure."

"Her?" Bailey asked

He looked at Kristen, "I thought you should tell them."

"Yeah, they baby is a girl." He informed them, "Now, there is something we need to talk about."

"What is it?" Julia asked

"Well, even though Kathleen is and the baby are okay, the doctor wants her to stay in bed for a week to make nothing happens. But since she lives by herself and will need some help. I've asked her to stay here, with us."

"Without discussing it with us first?" Claudia asked

"Claude, it's to make sure the baby is okay. The doctor doesn't want her getting out of bed."

"Can we talk, privately?" Kristen said

"Yeah." He got up and they walked into the kitchen

"Charlie, how could you decide this unilaterally?" She said, "There are other people in this house."

"Kristen, we're talking about my child. I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure she's okay. It's not forever just a week."

"And who is going to be here during the day? We are all gone at work or school." She reminded him

"Kristen, this is my baby. I'll rearrange my schedule at the restaurant to be here." He said, "Joe can handle it."

"This is asking an awful lot of me, Charlie." She said, "To have her stay here."

"I know." He took her in his arms, "I know."

/

The next day Charlie went to pick up Kathleen and brought her back to the house. She braced herself for a lukewarm reception at best. They had stopped by her apartment so she could get her clothes and toiletries after she protested when Charlie offered to get her settled then get her things for her.

"We're here." He called out

Kristen and the others came out of the kitchen and eyed Kathleen with suspicion. Charlie helped her off with her coat and her t shirt and yoga pants accentuated her rounded belly.

"She really is pregnant." Bailey said and Claudia smacked his arm

"Oh, I'm sorry." Bailey said, "It's just..." He stammered

Kathleen smiled slightly, absent mindedly caressing her belly, "It's okay."

"Well, Kathleen's going to stay down here in Jake's room. That way she'll have her own bathroom and all." Charlie explained

"Look, I know this is strange but I do appreciate it. I don't want to disrupt your lives." She locked eyes with Kristen but couldn't quite read her

"Okay, let's get you settled and off your feet. Claudia, why don't you help put her things away?" Charlie suggested and Claudia dutifully followed behind them

He put her suitcase on the bed, "The bed's pretty comfortable I think. Jake never complained."

She sat down and kicked off her flats, "Feels pretty good but I have trouble getting comfortable these days." She rested her hand on her belly

Claudia took her toiletries to the bathroom, "So are you hungry? It's almost lunch time." He looked at his watch

"Yeah, a little." She said, "In fact, I'm craving a peanut butter and banana sandwich."

He laughed, "I'll see what I can do." He headed to the kitchen

"Is it okay if I put these in here?" Claudia asked taking some of her clothes out of her suitcase

"Claudia, you really don't have to do that." She insisted

"I know." She came back and sat down on the bed and sighed, "Charlie said the baby's a girl."

"Yes it is." Kathleen smiled caressing her belly again

"Are you scared?" She asked

Somewhat taken aback by the question she took a moment to answer, "A little I guess. I suppose everyone is the first time."

"But you and Charlie..." Claudia began

"Claudia." Kristen said from the doorway, "I think Owen is up from his nap. Would you go check on him please?"

"Okay." She said, "They always make me check on Owen when they want to talk 'grown up' stuff." She said to Kathleen

Kathleen couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head, "You know that won't work much longer. She's growing up."

"I"ll handle Claudia, thank you." Kristen said, "I think I know her a little better than you do."

"Of course, I'm sorry." Kathleen said. "Look, I know you don't want me here and I don't really want to be here. But I don't want to argue with you. I'll stay out of your way. It won't be that hard. I can't even leave this bed."

Kristen's expression softened slightly, "I know this isn't easy for you." She turned to leave

"Kristen." She said and Kristen turned around, "Thank you. If you hadn't been there..."

"I'm glad the baby's okay." She said flatly then turned and left as Charlie was walking in with her sandwich

"Well, this isn't Salingers but I think you'll find it acceptable." He quipped

She sat back against the pillows and he sat the tray in front of her, "You know, your belly is almost in the way."

"Thanks, a lot." She replied, "If it weren't for you it wouldn't be."

He looked at her, his expression growing serious, "You really never saw Jeff? That was all a lie?"

"No, I never did." She said, "I'm so sorry Charlie. I thought it was best for everyone."

"I know. But I don't want you worrying about how I feel. I love our baby." He reached over the tray and placed his hand on her belly

Those words meant more to her than she realized and she fell apart, "Now why did you go and say a thing like that. You know I'm just one big hormone."

"Because it's true." He said and their eyes met for a moment but he changed the subject, "Now, that sandwich isn't gonna eat itself."

"Yes Sir." She gave him a mock salute.

He looked at his watch, "Crap, I've got a supplier coming to the restaurant. I really have to be there."

"Oh, please go. I'll be fine."

"You sure?" He asked getting up off the bed

"Yeah, I've got books, a TV and my cell phone. I'm set."

"Well, you've got plenty of people around if you need anything."

"I know. Now get going." She insisted

/

After she finished lunch she decided to read for a while. She could hear the sounds of the others milling about the house. Bailey had gone out to meet Sarah but the rest of them were there. But no one had checked on her and that was okay. She didn't want them to feel like they had to. As she was reading she sensed someone was watching her and she looked up to find three year old Owen smiling at her.

"Hi there." She said

He walked over to her, "Hi." He said

"What do you have there?" She asked

"Book." He said

"Oh yeah, me too." She held up the book she was reading and he handed his to her, "You want me to read this to you?"

He nodded, "Yes."

"What about your sisters?" She asked, "Or Kristen."

He shook his head, "Uh uh."

"Well, can you get up here? I can't lift you." She said , "He climbed up and crawled over her, "Uh, okay." She had no idea what she was doing

He looked up at her expectantly, "Oh, the book." She looked at it, "Good Night Moon. Good Choice but isn't this for bedtime?"

He shook his head, "Alright, Good Night Moon it is." She opened the book, "Good Night Moon, good night stars. Good night..."

"Kathleen, I need to..." Kristen appeared in the doorway, "What's going on here?"

"Oh, he came in here and wanted me to read to him." She explained

"Owen, come on. You're not supposed to be in here." She said and Owen crawled over Kathleen again and got down

"It's okay." Kathleen said, "It's good practice for me."

"I've got run some errands but the others are here if you need anything." Kristen said, "Oh and the next time Owen comes in here, call for one of us."

"I...I didn't mean to interfere. I'm sorry."

Kristen picked Owen up and walked out without a word.