Chapter 4

Zach smiled at Caleigh as he pulled up to the curb at Gutierrez home. Lex happily barked in the backseat wagging her tail. Rashad and Miguel dashed out the front door. Caleigh got out and opened the back door to let Lexie out. Lex raced at the boys and then sat down. Rashad looked at Miguel with his large smile as they got to her. "That's for you my friend."

"Hi," Miguel smiled, rubbing Lexie down. Pedro, Alec, Josh and Moesha came out the front door as well. After Miguel finished, Lex looked at Rashad and loudly barked. Rashad gently rough housed with her while giving her loves. Lexie happily ran around and then back to Rashad.

Caleigh got to Miguel. "Hi you," she smiled rubbing his shoulder.

"Hi," Miguel said, patting her back.

"Your hugs are the best my young friend," Caleigh smiled.

Zach crouched down. "You got some of that for me my friend?" They shared a fist bump. "Good to see you again pal," Zach smiled, rubbing his shoulder as Caleigh hugged Rashad.

"Cob!" Rashad shouted, running towards him. Zach grabbed him and lifted him into the air like he did with Jack and then put him down and hugged him.

"Missed you too kiddo," Zach smiled. "Jack said to tell the both of you hello."

"Miss Jack," Miguel said as the two sets of parents joined them.

Miguel looked at Zach. "Do that too."

Zach smiled. "What I did with Rashad?" Miguel nodded. Zach smiled more. "Take five steps backwards and then run at me." Miguel hesitated. "Trust me pal," Zach smiled. Miguel took the steps back and then ran at Zach. Zach pulled him off the ground with his muscular arms as Lexie loudly barked wagging her tail. Zach then gently set him back down. "We good?" Zach asked looking at Miguel.

Miguel nodded. "Fun."

"I'm glad pal," Zach said, rubbing his shoulder.

The two couples got to Zach and Caleigh and the hugs were heartfelt. "The house looks amazing," Alec said to Caleigh.

Caleigh shook her head. "Mike and his crew have done an amazing job. It's beyond our dreams," she smiled.

"When do you move back in?" Moesha asked.

"Not for another six to seven weeks," Zach said, hugging her. "They've got to do the little stuff now. And it's time consuming from the building perspective."

"Little stuff?" Josh asked.

"What we want for flooring, tiling, carpet and painting," Caleigh said, while Zach hugged Pedro. "That's why I'm down here now. I make those decisions and start ordering some furniture."

Zach smiled at the two couples. "She gets to spend some money." Caleigh smiled.

"Gee, you can't afford it with that new contract," Josh kidded.

Zach smiled. "You sound like my brother-in-law." Josh laughed. "But hey man, help me with the cooler so I don't blow out a muscle just before spring training."

"You got it Zach," Josh smiled.

Zach, Andy, Josh and Pedro were gathered around the two Weber grills cooking chicken. The two boys were playing fetch in the backyard with two tennis balls for Lexie and Dani, the Minton's female black lab. The ladies were in the kitchen.

"Caleigh," Alec asked, "you sure you don't want a glass of wine?"

"I'm sure," Caleigh smiled.

Moesha looked at her. "Are you pregnant?"

Caleigh smiled. "You mean having a huge throw up session every morning between five and seven, sleeping in until ten like my husband, eating a huge breakfast and taking a nap in the afternoon?"

Victoria smiled at the two mothers. "She is soooo pregnant," rubbing her belly.

Caleigh smiled. "We find out tomorrow afternoon for sure." Vic looked at her. "I've got a Doc Laura appointment tomorrow afternoon." Victoria smiled. Caleigh looked at her friends. "You southern neighbors know; our family in DC doesn't. Let's keep it that way. Please."

Moesha looked at her. "There's that much pressure from them?"

"No," Caleigh said, shaking her head. "Just expectations and hopes." She smiled. "They can wait a bit. But my mom has already figured it out," Caleigh smiled. "You can't fool a nurse."

"No you can't," Alec smiled. "But Cal, what's the tipping stone?"

Caleigh shook her head and smiled. "There's really not one. Zach just really wants to make sure before telling his dad. It's the Uncle Dave affect," she smiled. "Dave will be all over Aaron about this," she beamed. "And so will the rest of his team when they find out. We want to hold them off as long as we can. For Aaron's sake. In case you haven't noticed, the straight laced FBI Unit Chief will be quietly thrilled and proud. But he will take a large ration of crap from his team about becoming a grandfather. We want to give him that space."

"That's Aaron," Victoria smiled. "With Beth backing him." Caleigh smiled.

Alec shook her head. "But there's Uncle Dave," she smiled. "He won't be quiet about this." Caleigh pointed at her with a smile and a sad shake of her head.

"And Morgan," Caleigh smiled.

"I need to have a stern talking to," Moesha growled, "with that home boy."

"You rock Moesha," Caleigh smiled as the ladies laughed together. "Take on Dave please."

Moesha smiled. "That's all you girl. Good luck with that." The ladies all laughed.

"Ooo don't make me do that," Victoria moaned, rubbing her abdomen, getting out of her chair. "It makes me need to pee again." The remaining three laughed as Victoria headed towards the bathroom.

Alec looked at Caleigh. "What's it like with her and spring training?"

Caleigh smiled. "Lex and I move in with her and Dani when the guys leave. She's not going through the final weeks alone."

"You've got friends," Alec said.

Caleigh smiled. "Zach and I talked them into a sleep number bed when we bunked with them after the fire. I'll be fine. But thanks for the back-up," she beamed. Caleigh thought for second. "When she does go into labor, we may need the boys on dog patrol though."

Moesha smiled. "Just get us a key. You know we'll back you."

Caleigh smiled. "This is why Zach and I are re-building here instead of the high dollar neighborhoods around Atlanta where the rest of the players are. We like it here." She looked at the ladies with her bright smile. "And more importantly, our neighbors."

"So do Andy and I," Victoria smiled, re-entering the kitchen.

-00CM00-

The next day, Zach sat in the waiting room of the OB-GYN section of the mega clinic. His knee was bouncing. As usual. Kari, Dr. Laura's nurse walked into the area and smiled at him. "You're allowed back."

"It's about damn time," Zach growled.

Kari got Zach into the room as Dr. Navarro wheeled in a machine. "Doc?"

Navarro smiled at him. "I heard a heartbeat. This is an ultrasound machine. I'm gonna see if I can chase down that little peanut so you two can have a look."

Zach kissed Caleigh. "It's a new year babe," he smiled.

It took some seconds before Dr. Navarro could find the fetus on the ultrasound. She smiled. "There's your peanut. We just get to watch it grow," she smiled.

"It's official?" Caleigh asked.

Navarro smiled. "I told you two this would happen. You've got a happy and healthy baby growing." Zach kissed Caleigh.

She prescribed an OTC vitamin supplement for Caleigh and looked at the couple. "Caleigh, that two hour regime of puking is probably going to last through your first trimester. It should ease as you get further along. In the meantime, try to get as much sleep as possible with the baby growing and please eat. Once the morning sickness stops, I need you in here again. We'll talk more about the second trimester. Which you'll love," Navarro smiled.

Caleigh smiled back. "I so get the third. With Zach and Andy heading to spring training, I'm bunking in with one of your other patients." Navarro looked at her. "Victoria Minton."

Navarro smiled. "Caleigh, just a heads up on Victoria."

"Doc?" Zach asked.

"She is not going to make it two weeks," Navarro smiled.

"Good to know," Caleigh smiled.

Zach smiled. "I'll give the Braves' brass a heads up to have the corporate jet ready." Navarro pointed at him.

-00CM00-

Ten days later, Andy and Victoria Minton welcomed into the world a blonde headed, blue eyed daughter that they named Alexandra Jenna. The Jenna was in honor of one of Victoria's close cousins that passed away after battling a form of childhood cancer.

Caleigh smiled at the bundle of joy in her arms as Victoria and Andy slept. "Hi AJ. I'm your Aunt Caleigh." She pulled out her phone and called Zach. "Hey you."

"Hi babe," Zach smiled back walking through the stadium tunnel to batting practice. "How's our girl?"

Caleigh smiled, talking quietly. "Look." She held up her phone, sending him video.

Zach smiled at the video with Swannie and Freddie looking over his shoulder. "That's amazing babe."

"That's a keeper," Dansby smiled.

"Ya think," Freddie added, with his large smile, slapping Dansby on the shoulder. "You need one of them."

"Sharon and I aren't ready," Dansby smile. "At least not yet."

"Please send that to my wife," Freddie smiled.

"Chelsey is in this room dude," Caleigh whispered.

"Hi Fred," Chelsey Freeman smiled over Caleigh's shoulder. "Charlie is with grandpa and grandma. I'm backing my ladies," she smiled.

"You two rock," Zach smiled.

###

A/N: Dani is Andy and Victoria's lab that Andy gave to Victoria for Christmas that I mentioned in one of my stories after Zach got Lexie for Caleigh.

OTC is over the counter medication. You don't need a prescription for it.