I quite like this chapter, it was fun to write, but it's probably a little bit boring! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, especially Cassie, because I couldn't PM you, but I've used some of your ideas, hopefully that's okay! Please let me know what you think, or if you have any suggestions (would be nice to hear what you think the baby should be called). Okay, I'll shut up now, enjoy!

Sam bit her nails in the pre-dawn gloom of the bedroom. She turned her head to try and make out Tom, still asleep on the other side of the bed. She bit down hard as a third cramp throbbed in her belly. She knew it was normal to get cramps at around five months, she had checked that there was no bleeding, and the pain was not too bad, just a dull ache, like she was about to start her period, so she was not worrying yet. What did worry her, however, was Tom finding out. She massaged her bump, trying to soothe herself back to sleep. She and Tom had a scan booked for today, which, she remembered, was Christmas Eve. She realised that this time next year, she could be filling a stocking with silly, meaningless toys for her baby. She had to admit, the thought made her smile. She looked at her phone. It was only six o'clock, and they had nothing to get up for today; the scan wasn't until two, but she couldn't lie here doing nothing for another minute. She lifted the duvet up quietly, and slipped out of bed, going to the wardrobe to find something warm that she could go outside in. She wasn't allowed to run because of the placenta praevia, but, although it was still pretty dark outside, she needed some fresh air.

When Tom woke, it was still shadowy in the bedroom, and the bed next to him was empty. He checked the time. Seven o'clock. He froze for a second when he heard a door close downstairs. Had Sam gone out? He had better get up and check that that was her downstairs. When he reached the bottom, he found Sam, rosy-cheeked and red-nosed from the cold, pulling off her trainers.
"Are you nuts?" he exclaimed. She jumped and turned to look at him.
"I just needed to get out for a while," she explained.
"But it's seven o'clock in the morning, still dark, and freezing cold!" He looked amazed.
"It was quite cold," she considered.
"Anyway, I thought you weren't allowed to run, in case you jolted the placenta?"
"I just walked, don't worry. I just wanted to do some exercise - I feel so fat."
"Sam-"
"I know, I'm not, it's normal, blah, blah, blah, but I still wanted exercise."
He shook his head. "Actually, I was just going to say you beautiful this morning," he grinned as her cheeks reddened further. He pulled her to his chest and kissed her deeply. "But you are so cold that you're making me shiver, go back to bed, I'll bring you a cup of tea and some breakfast."
Sam smiled. Thankfully, the cramps had become fainter as she walked, but they still made her wince as she turned away from him.
"Sam?" Tom called, still standing by the door.
"Yes?"
"What was that face for? Are you in pain?"
"No," she said automatically. He looked sceptical. She hesitated. She was going to have to tell him at some point.
"I'll tell you in a minute, I really want a shower and that tea you were talking about. I promise," she added, before heading upstairs, not waiting for his reply.

Sam emerged from the bathroom and, tying her wet hair up behind her head, crawled back into bed with tom, who handed her a steaming mug and a plate of toast, and put his arm round her.
"Come on, what's happening?" he asked.
"I've been getting cramps," she admitted. "Just since I woke up," she said, noticing the fleeting look of horror on his face before he composed himself.
"How bad are they?"
"Not that bad, and they've almost stopped since I went for my walk. And no, there's no bleeding."
"Do you think we should go to hospital?"
"No. We've got the scan later, and unless they get worse, I'm happy to just wait until then."
"Okay, if that's what you want." He rubbed her stomach gently. "What do you want to do until the scan?"
Sam looked up him. "Just stay here," she placed her tea on the bedside table and put her hands on top of his on her bump. "No, I suppose we should do something. We could finally decorate that Christmas tree?" she suggested. Tom had brought with him a small plastic Christmas tree from his flat, but although it had been put up at the start of December, it had been sitting in their living room looking rather sparse, as they had both been so busy with work.
"We can stay here if you want. This is nice," he grinned.
"No, come on, I need to be doing something, let's get those decorations out," she said, laughing and pulling him out of bed.

After they had done up the Christmas tree, which, considering it was only half the normal height, had taken quite a long time, and had had some lunch, they set off once again for the hospital. Sam felt a sense of déjà vu; they drove in silence, and if she had thought the tension between them was tangible on their last visit, it was nothing compared to now. She wondered where the earlier lighthearted mood had gone. The cramps had stopped now, but the closer they got to the hospital, the more anxious she became.
"Do you want to know the sex?" Tom asked, thankfully breaking the silence.
"I don't see the point in not knowing. Do you want to know?"
"Yes." She could see his face light up with excitement.
"What do you want?"
"A boy, I suppose, but I don't mind either way. You?"
"I thought I'd want a boy, but I actually really want a girl."
"What, so you can play dressing up and do her make up?" he snorted.
"Shut up! It's probably just stupid hormones talking. I'm sure I'll love whatever it turns out to be."
"Ahh, how sweet Sam," Tom chuckled. Sam narrowed her eyes and turned away from him to face the road in mock annoyance, ready to playfully ignore him for the rest of the journey, but they had reached the hospital. Sam got out, and this time, they both walked in together.

After a short wait, Sam's name was called and they were led to the same cosy room as before. They shook Dr Grant's hand again, and Sam was asked to sit on the bed.
"Shall we get this scan done?" Dr Grant suggested. She squeezed gel onto Sam's prominent stomach, and pushed the probe around. The picture of the foetus appeared, now looking much less bean-like and much more like a baby.
"Do you want to know the sex?" the doctor asked.
"Yes, please," Sam replied.
"Okay, before that, I'm pleased to tell you that your placenta has moved upwards, you can see it on the right here." She pointed with her free hand to the screen. "So you won't need to have a C-section, unless you want one." Sam grimaced and shook her head. Just then, a young nurse appeared at the door. Dr Grant motioned for her to come in. "This is Nurse Davies, she just needs to take your blood pressure and temperature, while I take some measurements of the foetus. You can stay lying down."
Sam rolled up her sleeve so the nurse could put the cuff round her arm, and caught Tom's eye. She grinned. Neither of them could have looked happier.

When the nurse had finished, she told Sam that she was in perfect condition, thanked them, and left.
"Excellent," the doctor smiled. "It is normal to feel a little light-headed sometimes, as your blood pressure can drop a little, but that seems fine. Have you been feeling okay recently?"
"Yeah, mostly fine, I had some cramping this morning, but there was no bleeding, and it stopped after a while," Sam reported.
"Well, that is quite common, as I'm sure you're aware. Your baby is developing absolutely normally, from what I can see on the scan, so it was probably just the uterus contracting. Have you felt any movement yet?"
"None yet that I've noticed," Sam replied.
"Okay, that's fine. Now, do you still want to know the sex?"
The both nodded once more.
"Okay, it looks like your going to have a little girl!" the doctor smiled. Tom grinned, and laughed at Sam, who seemed to be on the verge of tears. The wide smile on her face told him that she was happy. After the doctor performed a few final checks on Sam, she printed a picture of their baby girl swimming in a pool of comforting blackness, and they were able to leave.

When they had collected the photo from reception, Sam held it up, taking in every detail. Unexpectedly, Tom put a hand on either side of her face and kissed her, just outside the doors of the hospital. Sam moaned against his lips. Then she laughed.
"What was that for?" she murmured.
Finally he broke away. "Can't I just kiss my gorgeous girlfriend?" he paused. "No, I just felt unbelievably proud of us. I don't know why," he beamed, and put his arm around her as they walked to the car.

Christmas day next chapter! Please review :D