Remember- I'm not a medical profession and I haven't had kids so if I get something wrong, let me know and I'll change it. I got all my information from the internet. Hope you enjoy!

Not mine.


When I did wake, Carlos was nowhere to be seen.

"Carlos?" I called. I quickly found my robe and went to search the rest of the Condo. When I found him in the study, I knew that something was wrong. He was standing with his back to me and all of his muscles were rigid.

"I understand, sir, but that is no longer part of my job description." He said. He listened for a few moments and finally said, "I'll take it into consideration, but I have other lives to think about. It's not just about me anymore." And he hung up.

"Is everything all right?" I asked when he turned around.

"Fine. The government is trying to get me back in." He shrugged. "I won't do it now that I have you."

"But you shouldn't stop doing anything you like because of me."

"I'm not doing this because of you, Stephanie." He said. He came around the desk and hugged me into his side. "I'm doing it for us. Me, you and the baby. I don't want to put you or our child in the position of doing everything alone or growing up without a dad because I didn't know when to stop playing army." He nuzzled my neck. "I don't want to miss out like I did with Julie."

I nodded and sniffled.

"Babe," he said, taking my chin in two of his fingers. "Don't cry."

"I can't help it! It's the hormones! They're all out of whack."

"Speaking of the baby, have you set up a doctor's appointment?"

I nodded. "I had one before we left just to make sure everything was going okay and to get the prescription for my pre-natal vitamins. I have another one when we get back."

He nodded. "I want to go."

"I want you to go too." I replied. He smiled and kissed me.

The rest of the honeymoon went by in a blur and before we knew it, we were heading back to Trenton.

"Welcome back, guys." Tank said when he met us at the airport. He looked at me. "Uh, Lula wanted to come, but she had a not so good morning."

"Is she still throwing up?"

"And cursing you because you're not spending as much time in the bathroom as she is."

"Oh I am." I muttered "Just in another way." Carlos and Tank chuckled. I rolled my eyes. "Tell her as soon as I get over the jet lag and I'm all settled in, I'll come visit her."

"She'd love that."

Tank drove us to RangeMan where the guys had set up a little welcome home party for us. I was glad because I was going through Ella food withdrawal and couldn't wait to eat her scrumptious food.

"No thanks," I said when Lester tried to hand me a glass of champagne. He looked confused for a moment, then his eyes widened.

"Congrats, Beautiful. That kid is going to be hell on the world and you two will be the only ones to keep it on track!"

I smacked him in the arm and rolled my eyed. "Gee, thanks Les."

"Not a problem." And then he raised his glass. "To Bombshell and Boss, hopefully they won't go nuts after the baby is born!" He yelled.

The entire room went silent for a beat and then the cheering erupted from every corner of the room. I was passed around to each Merry Men, giving them a hug until I reached my husband again, who kissed me passionately on the lips. After the catcalls died down, we made our exit.

"Don't forget tomorrow, Carlos." I said when we got into the car. I was already yawning. Sheessh, you'd think I'd gotten enough sleep already.

"What's that?" He asked, grabbing my hand and stroking my knuckles soothingly.

"Tomorrow we get to see the baby."

His face broke out into a wide grin. "I'd never forget that." He brought my hand up to his lips.

The next morning, he was like a kid in a candy store.

"Come on, Babe. Get up." He half whined half said, practically dragging me to the bathroom.

"Jeez. Get a grip. We won't be late because you woke me up two hours early."

"It takes you two hours to get ready!"

"Carlos, it's five in the morning! Our appointment isn't until nine!"

He grinned sheepishly at me. "I'm just so excited."

"I know," I replied, a smile growing on my own face. "But the baby isn't coming out an hour after that, so take your time. I kissed him once and went to take my shower.

Four hours later, I was sitting in the waiting room with a People on my lap and one hand on Carlos's knee. He decided to start bouncing it impatiently and if I hadn't stopped it, he might be in the emergency room with a missing leg.

"This is so not like you." I said.

"I'm not all bad ass, mystery man, you know. I do get excited about things."

Boy did I know that.

He wolf grinned at me. "But your body still makes me the most excited."

I blushed and returned to my magazine.

"Stephanie Manoso?" The nurse called. I shivered a little because it was the first time that my married name was said.

Okay, said out loud.

So sue me! I liked saying it my head.

We followed her back and she took my weight and urine sample. I was never gladder to get to the little white room. Knowing that the nurse was standing outside the door while I peed was a little unnerving.

Carlos helped me up onto the bed.

"Hello Stephanie." Dr. Craigs said, shaking my hand. "And you must be Carlos, the husband."

"And excited father." He replied, big smile on his face as he shook her hand.

"Of course, how could I forget?" She said. "Well, your labs all look fine so let's just take a peek and make sure everything else is fine." She raised my shirt and squeezed the cool gel onto my stomach. She placed the probe onto my stomach and gently moved it around.

"Everything is looking fine here." She said, pointing to the picture on the screen. "You can see the spine and ear starting to form."

Carlos and I just nodded, too stunned to say anything.

And then we heard it.

The heartbeat.

It filled the room with its strong and fast thudding. I felt the tears well into my eyes and I looked up at Carlos, who also had tears in his eyes.

"Oh my God." I whispered.

Dr. Craigs smiled at us. "It's amazing when you hear the heartbeat for the first time."

Carlos nodded. "It makes it all so real."

I nodded. I knew that I was pregnant, but when I heard the heart thudding away, I realized for (maybe even the first time) that I was going to be a mother. It was the first time that it dawned on me that the little person growing inside of me is going to come out and need me 24/7.

Looking at the picture of our baby, I couldn't wait to meet him or her.

Carlos read my face and kissed my hair. "I can't wait either."