AUTHOR"S NOTE:

Thank you so much everyone who is reading this story, it means a lot.

Enjoy and reviews are appreciated :)

Chapter 3 – Pain

Evie rushed to Denny's side as Denny attempted to get up from the couch. She was now four months pregnant and her abdomen bulged.

"Here, let me help you."

"Evie I'm fine really." Denny pushed herself up, ignoring her lower back pain.

"I would love a peanut butter and pickle sandwich though."

Evie scrunched up her nose and Denny laughed.

"I know. It sounds gross right?" Denny said.

"Yeah you could say that." Evie replied.

Denny walked into the kitchen and made her sandwich before sitting back down on the couch.

"So when do you next have to have an Ultrasound?" Evie asked sitting down next to Denny.

"I have another check up appointment in two weeks."

"Can you find out the sex of the baby then?" Evie asked.

"I'm not sure, but I don't know if I want to know, I mean I think that's what Casey would have wanted. He would have been happy with just having a child." Denny explained sadly.

Evie gave Denny a sympathetic smile.

"It'll all get easier as time moves on." Evie advised.

Evie stood up and headed to the table to grab her books.

"I just have to go to the library for a bit, are you going to be okay?"

"Evie I keep telling you I'm fine." Denny smiled.

"Well Hannah and Zac should be back soon anyway." Denny nodded and laid down on the couch to rest.

Denny was resting on her side when she felt a stabbing pain in her lower abdomen and rose to a sit. Hannah and Zac had just gotten home and were unpacking groceries in the kitchen.

"Denny what's wrong?" Hannah asked as she approached Denny who was now standing and clutching her abdomen.

"I don't know, it just hurts!" Denny replied in a panic.

"Let's get you to the hospital." Zac said as both Hannah and Zac helped Denny to the car.

"Please let my baby be okay." Denny pleaded. "I can't lose the last piece of Casey I have left." Denny said desperately.

Nate looked over at Zac and Hannah, knowing how hard this was for Denny.

"Let's just have a look shall we." Nate put the gel on the ultrasound probe and applied it to Denny's abdomen.

Denny tried to see the ultrasound picture but it was too difficult to understand.

"You're baby is perfectly fine. In fact I can tell you the sex if you want." Denny felt relieved.

"No. I want it to be a surprise."

Nate nodded. "Okay then."

Nate gave Denny a health check too. "Well all seems normal for both you and the baby. You have nothing to worry about." Nate explained.

"Then why was I in so much pain?" Denny asked.

"The pain was from the movement of the baby and a response to your body's growth, stretching the ligaments and muscles."

Denny lied back down on the hospital bed and rubbed her abdomen feeling the part of Casey inside her.

After Denny was released from hospital she took a walk along the beach to get some fresh air. Denny was approached by a more heavily pregnant Ricky accompanied by Brax who had his arm wrapped around her.

"Hi Denny, how are you?" Ricky asked.

"I'm fine thanks. Actually I just had a scare this morning when I felt stabbing pains in my stomach. I thought something had happened to the baby."

Brax looked up, concerned.

"Turns out everything's normal." Denny smiled.

"That's great. I remember feeling like that when I was only four months." Ricky smiled up at Brax.

"Brax and I were just going to grab some lunch, why don't you join us." Ricky suggested.

"Would you mind? I wouldn't want to impose." Denny replied.

"Don't be silly, we'd love you to join us, right Brax?"

"Yeah, besides Ricky here needs to talk pregnancy things with another one who knows because she's been getting frustrated with me not following along." Brax said with a smile.

Ricky slapped his chest. "Oi, watch what you say Braxton."

"In that case I'd love to." Denny replied and walked with Ricky and Brax up to the diner.

After taking a seat, Brax went to order some teas and cake.

"When are you due?" Denny asked.

"Two weeks." Ricky relied.

"Wow that must be exciting that it's almost here."

"Yeah. I love being pregnant but I can't wait to hold my little one in my arms and care for him, watch him grow."

"I bet the two of them will be great friends, seeing as I'm only four month behind you." Denny said.

"Imagine that." Ricky smiled.

"Have you and Brax thought of a name yet?" Denny asked.

"Well we know we're having a boy so we don't have to choose a girls name. Brax's first thought was Slugger or James. I like the name Arlo, it has meaning and would represent our boy as someone strong."

Denny nodded. Brax placed down the drinks and cakes.

"Here we are beautiful ladies. What are we talking about?"

Ricky smiled up at Brax. "Baby names."

"Oh." Brax replied taking a seat.

"Ricky told me about Slugger." Denny said.

"Yeah well that's a good name." Brax defended.

"Not for our son." Ricky replied firmly.

"Sure it is. Slugger Braxton, it's a classic." Brax stated proudly.

Ricky raised her eyebrow at Brax. "When the time comes, I'm the one giving birth to this baby and I say he's not getting called Slugger."

Denny gave a small laugh.

"Alright, alright, only because I love you." Brax replied, giving Ricky a kiss.

Denny looked away. She missed that relationship she had with Casey. Ricky took note and pulled away from Brax.

"What about you? Have you thought of any names?" Ricky asked.

Denny shook her head. "I'm just gonna wait until the birth and decide on intuition."

The three finished their cakes and drinks and Brax helped Ricky to stand.

"We'll see you around Denny." Brax said.

"Take care and drop by and visit us anytime." Ricky added.

"Thank you and thank you for the invite today it was just what I needed."

"Not a problem." Ricky replied.

"Good luck with the baby." Ricky gave a final smile and left with Brax.

"Everything alright Love?" Irene asked.

"Yeah just thinking, thanks Irene."

"How's everything with the baby?" Irene asked.

"It's healthy as far as I can say." Denny replied.

"Well you look after yourself."

Denny nodded and stood up, exiting the diner to head home.