Author's Note: Sorry for the delay! In regards to Sam4life 's review about any upcoming sex related chapters, I have written separate companion fics that have been posted as one-shots :) feel free to read and review. The first one 'Take Me' is the companion piece to an very upcoming chapter called 'Freezing Cold Feet' and 'Eighteen' is the companion piece to a later chapter called 'I'll Always Be Your Princess', both are rated 'M' and contain the 'unseen' moments of my story. They've been posted for awhile and I've been told that they turned out pretty decent ;)

Disclaimer: I own nothing :'(

Taking a deep breath, Denise Sherwood walked into her living room. The area in her home where her husband and son where, accompanied by her son's girlfriend. Frank sat on one indigo couch and Jeremy and Emmalin occupied the slightly smaller one. They were chatting casually, discussing Jeremy's new responsibilities at work since his promotion to Specialist. He looked so happy, his fingers intertwined with Emmalin's. She sighed it was now or never.

"Jeremy, Emmalin. Hey, thanks for stopping by." Denise smiled, wrapping her son in a tight hug. She kissed his cheek gently, feeling a light coating of stubble on his face. Smiling the Army Wife moved on to hug Emmalin.

"Hey Mom." Jeremy chuckled, reaching for his seventeen year old girlfriend's hand again. He wondered briefly why his parents had asked him here, as he gently stroked the back of Emmalin's smooth hand.

"It's so good to see you. I wish you'd visit more. I'm so lonely since you moved into the barracks full time." Denise confessed. It was true, she missed her son terribly, he was her baby after all. It had been at least two weeks since his last visit. Honestly he lived just across post, he didn't have five minutes to stop by and visit his mother? Geez, she only spent thirty hours in labor to bring him into this world!

"I'll try, but I'm busy at work." Jeremy apologized.

"You always make time for Emmalin." Denise accused, raising an eyebrow. She winked at the Army Brat teasingly.

"You're right. I'll visit more, 'kay." the Specialist promised. He stroked Emmalin's hair gently as she scooted closer into his chest. The nineteen year old kissed his girlfriend's forehead lovingly.

"I'd love that! And umm…I have really important news to tell you." Denise said, nervously. She reached for her husband's hand seeking comfort. What if Jeremy wasn't happy for her? His opinion meant a lot to her and if he wasn't happy then she didn't know what she'd do.

"What is it? Is everything all right?" Jeremy's deep baritone voice was now filled with worry. It wasn't like his parents to be so cryptic like this. Were they sick? Did somebody die?

"Yeah. It's not bad news…though I nearly had a heart attack when I heard it." Frank sighed nervously. They had decided it was best to tell their son first and he just for the life of him couldn't figure out how. He could lead hundreds of soldier into combat but didn't know how to communicate to save his life.

"What is it?" Jeremy repeated. Emmalin could feel Jeremy's nerves through his hand. She wrapped her arms around him to reassure him, rubbing his back sweetly. What ever it was, they'd get through it.

"Jeremy…remember when you were little and you wrote that letter to Santa Clause? You said you wanted a little brother and a dog, remember?" Denise asked, fidgeting slightly.

"Yeah. I was like five." the Specialist chuckled, not quite sure where his mother was going with this. He'd rather get back to that serious news.

"Well congratulations, sweetheart, you must've finally managed to get off the naughty list!" Denise smiled enthusiastically, patting her husband's knee.

"What?" He glanced into Emmalin's eyes to see if she had any idea what was happening. Her amber eyes reflected the confusion in his own. Jeremy's grip on the brunette's hand tightened.

"I'm pregnant!" Denise smiled. Wow. That felt good to admit. She watched her son carefully for his reaction.

"With a baby?" Jeremy gasped. Shock covering his face. Weren't his parents a little to old for a baby?

"Of course it's with a baby!" Emmalin laughed, kissing his cheek. She had been worried there for a second that one of the Sherwood's might be hurt. She smiled with relief. Wow. A baby. Jeremy was getting a little brother or sister.

"You mean you and Dad are having a baby?" Jeremy asked, still shocked. Emmalin rubbed his tense shoulder comfortingly. Slowly the hard cords of muscle in his shoulder relaxed.

"Yes! Are you happy for us?" The EMT asked taking in a deep gulp of air. It would break her heart if Jeremy wasn't happy for them. But Emmalin was happy and that was a great sign.

"Of course. I'm just a little shocked…I mean, you guys are old. People my age are having kids." Jeremy laughed, his hand moving to rest on Emmalin's knee. In a few years they'd hopefully be married with a baby of their own.

"You had better not be having a baby any time soon boy. Especially out of wedlock." the Colonel muttered, throwing accusing glances at Emmalin's stomach. The seventeen year old just laughed and said that wasn't even an issue. And it wasn't, they hadn't even had sex yet. They had only shared the same bed once. They had been dating five months and Emmalin wasn't quite ready to go there yet, but when she was they had a collection of birth control packets waiting for them in Emmalin's nightstand. Jeremy was willing to wait as long as it took, she was worth it.

"Okay I am not old! Emmalin, tell him I'm not old." Denise laughed teased. She was NOT old…and even if she was (which she wasn't) she looked a good ten years younger than she really was.

"She's not. Now the Colonel…" Emmalin trailed off teasingly, stroking Jeremy's hair.

"Hey!" Frank argued. He wasn't old…but he was admittingly getting there.

The rest of the night continued on in this manner. Denise and Frank were so relieved that their son was happy for them…even though he thought they were 'old'. In a few short months there would be another addition to the Sherwood family.