Wonderful Sensations

Aimee tried hard not to feel or appear as surprised as she was when her husband told and showed her that he found her post-pregnancy body sexy. The new mother hadn't let herself worry too much about the first time after giving being painful. It wasn't for her, whether it was because she was just fortunate or because of Horatio's gentleness and care. Getting to lay in bed naked in each other's arms (thanks to a no housekeeping sign) was also a pleasant reprise. Both slipped into clothes only briefly to accept the order of steaks and caramelized potatoes.

And chocolate-coated strawberries.

They lay in bed, dozing in each other's arms after eating and again making love. This in itself was a rarity. To avoid getting caught in the buff by Kyle and the fact that Faith had one of awake every two hours at the moment sleeping without pajamas wasn't an option.

It was a good thing that pyjamas didn't prevent cuddling.

"She looks like her dad for sure."

Lacy was showing off her grandchildren to a friend who had dropped by the following morning. Kyle had become bored fast and went to play on the swings in the backyard.

"That she does."

"She and Kyle have the same eyes," the other woman commented.

Even though she were just six weeks of age, there was already a half wall of framed photos of her on one side of the kitchen wall. (Kyle's were on the other side.) The first three photos in the top row on Faith's side were Aimee showing off her bare, pregnant belly. Aimee's mother was old-school. She still couldn't understand why woman showed off and even took photos of their bellies. Even if they were only for your private memories. Lacy adored her grandchild before she were even born but she still didn't like looking at such photos. Her friend Shanny was not the same; her occupation aside, she was a professional photographer who often did sessions of the type herself (though she hadn't done this one), she believed you only try to hide things you were ashamed of. And a pregnant belly at any stage was a beautiful thing and absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Lacy had sometimes complained to Shanny of Aimee wearing tight tops, even if they covered her whole belly while she were pregnant and especially when she went to the beach in a maternity bikini. She believed that her daughter should do more to "hide" her "condition."

Shanny's attitude towards how Aimee showed no shame in her pregnancy?

You go, girl!

She snorted once when Lacy had told her Horatio rubbing Aimee's belly was one thing but she found it oddly uncomfortable seeing him tenderly kissing Aimee's belly.

"I think that's sweet," Shanny had replied. "He wasn't shy to show he already loved his little baby."

"I bet Horatio is a very involved daddy," Shanny said.

She had listened to Kyle chattered about his dad for a good ten minutes before the boy went outside.

"Oh he is. Nothing phases him. He changes diapers and does feeds at three a.m. even he can get up at 6:00. Says he likes the time because of what he misses during the day."

Calleigh Duquesne-Delko's palms shook as she looked at the objext in front of her.

A pregnancy test.

A positive pregnancy test.

Finally! Her mind said.

She had decided against taking the test at work because she thought either result would bring emotion in her, be it disappointment or joy. Eric would be home soon. He had stay later at the lab to finish running a test. Calleigh had got the pregnancy test from the pharmacy, the pharmacist told her it was the most accurate one and the same one used in hospitals. It was ninety-nine percent accurate.

Calleigh planned to get a blood test to confirm this first thing in the morning.

"Calleigh?"

The voice jerked out of her thoughts.

Eric were home early.

"In here!" She called from the bathroom.

"Hey," he said, kissing the top of her head entering the bathroom. His eyes noticed the stick in her hand. "Is that.."

Calleigh handed him the object. The digital test read "pregnant"

Eric's eyes lit up and he kissed his wife.

The two would have called Aimee and Horatio right away but they considered since the couple was on a "24 hour child break" it could wait.

"Ya think we're missed yet?" Horatio asked his wife as the two were taking a leisurely stroll on the path of a local botanical garden.

Aimee laughed.

"I doubt it. Faith's list of demands are limited right now and with poppy and Bailey staying over at the house? Please. I think Kyle would have us stay away another few days."

Horatio cocked his head to one side and smiled.

"True," he said.