AN: I apologize for taking so long. Please don't hate me. I had half this chapter done for a while...just couldn't finish it. This story will be ending soon. Hopefully updates won't be too infrequent.

read and review...thanks for the patience (Directed at one reader in particular...you know who you are)!

Chapter 17

The next morning…

Shannon laid on his side watching Karen sleep. He couldn't believe they were going to be parents. He brought his hand to rest on the small bump rising from his torso. He smiled as he felt his girl stretch under his hand.

"Morning," she mumbled sleepily. She turned her head and brushed her lips across his cheek. "What are the plans today?"

Shannon sat up rubbing his face. "I was thinking we could stay in bed all day but I think we should go see some friends and let them in on our news."

Karen smiled as she rested her hand on her swell. "I think that is a great idea."

Later that day…

Shannon and Karen pulled up in front of Matt's house. Shannon grabbed her hand as they walked up the steps. He leaned over and kissed her quickly as the door flew open.

"What's wrong," Matt asked as he pulled them inside. Matt, Jeff and Beth had all been pacing the house since Shannon called saying they had something they needed to tell the group. "Does it have anything to do with the Doctor yesterday?"

"Slow down Matt," Shannon said shaking his head. "We have something to tell you and we wanted to tell you all together." He looked down at Karen who smiled at the puzzled Jeff and Beth. "Tell them Bane."

"Well," Karen began as Shannon wrapped his arms around her waist. "Shannon and I are having a baby."

After a moment of silence, Beth ripped a huge, ear-shattering scream. She pulled Karen from Shannon and started hugging her as she jumped up and down.

Karen laughed as Shannon pulled her from the hyper Beth. "Calm down Beth," Jeff said as he pulled Karen into a hug. "Way to go Mama."

"Share the love Jeff," Matt said pulling Karen into his arms for a hug. "Congratulations."

Karen smiled as she left Matt's arms and went back into Shannon's. When she first moved to Cameron, she never imagined that she would meet the man of her dreams and have a baby. Life constantly was a surprise.

"So when can we expect the little reject to arrive," Matt asked after they all moved to sit in the living room.

"We have five months to plan," Shannon replied kissing Karen on the cheek and rubbing her small, just there, bump. "Bane is four months along. Needless to say, she was a little surprised yesterday, as was I."

"How the hell didn't you know you were pregnant," Beth asked. "I mean, isn't that something you should know?"

Karen laughed. She had asked the doctor the same thing. "I only really missed my last period." She rolled her eyes as they boys all gagged. "Please, grow up! I didn't suspect anything. The doctor said it happens."

"It figures," Jeff said causing everyone to look at him. He shrugged his shoulders. "Only Shannon would have a kid that was slow at letting everyone know it was there."

Karen giggled as Shannon ran at Jeff and they started play fighting.

"Ever feel like you already have a kid," Beth asked wrapping her arm around Karen's shoulders.

Looking at her man and his friend she couldn't help but agree.

Two months later…

Karen sat in the office at GCI going over the months expenses. With a sigh, she stood up and stretched. She smiled as she felt a gentle movement under the hand she placed on her ever expanding bump. She gasped as she felt a harder kick from her frisky baby.

"Easy little one," Karen said rubbing a hand over the sore spot not noticing the man who entered in the room behind her. "I know you are excited cause Daddy is coming home today but you need to calm down. Bruising your poor Mommy from inside out isn't going to make him come back faster."

"I don't know," Shannon said from behind her causing her to jump. "Maybe it did work."

"Shan," Karen exclaimed rushing to wrap her arms around him. Shannon laughed as she placed kisses all over his face.

"Slow down honey," he said pulling back from her. "I never thought you'd be this happy to see me." Shannon carefully got on his knees and placed a hand on her bump. "Hey little one, you can stop beating Mommy up now."

Karen looked down at Shannon. His voice did what she had been trying to do all afternoon, calm their baby down. He or she wasn't even here yet and already had them wrapped around its fingers.

"We missed Daddy," Karen said placing her hands on his shoulders. Shannon looked up at her. "How much," he asked wiggling his brows causing her to giggle.

"Not office sex enough," she replied slapping his shoulder.

"I missed you both too," Shannon said as he stood on his feet pulling her into another hug. "Wrestling is great but I love coming home to you."

Karen kissed his nose. "Well, at least you don't leave again for a while so I can sleep while you calm your spawn down."

Shannon laughed and shook his. "This is half your spawn, don't play yourself Bane." He pulled her into a deep kiss. "I love you Bane."

"I love you to Moore. More than you will ever know."

Shannon looked into her eyes. "Marry me?"

Karen pulled back and looked him in the eye. "Didn't I already say yes to that question?"

Shannon rubbed his hands up and down her back. "Let me be specific. Marry me tomorrow?"

Karen couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What brought this on, not that I mind."

"I want to be your husband before the spawn is born."

Karen pulled away from him. "That was really romantic. 'I want to marry you cause I don't wanna call you my baby's mama."

Shannon rubbed a hand down his face. "That's not what I meant. I want us to be legal before this kid is born."

"Want a shovel," Karen asked as Shannon looked at her puzzled. "so you can dig a bigger hole for yourself."

Shannon watch as Karen grabbed her purse and waddled out of the office. He stood there mouth open, trying to figure out what he did wrong.