I know this is short, but hey, something's better than nothing. Let me know what you think!

Not mine.


"Come on Babe, it'll be fun."

"No, it won't." I said, crossing my arms and pouting like a petulant two year old.

"Babe, we have to go see them sometime."

"Why?"

"Because we barely leave the house except for work." He grabbed my hand, laced our fingers and put them on his thigh.

"But I like staying home. I can do all sorts of dirty things to my husband."

He grinned at me. "I like that too, but Mama's been bothering me for weeks and I caved."

Which is Carlos talk for Carmen threatened his manhood or some other body part in order for us to come. I sighed. I really had no choice since we were already halfway to Newark.

"Stephanie! Carlos! I'm so glad you could make it tonight!" Carmen said to us when we got to the house. She hugged Carlos and hugged me.

"Congratulations!" She said to me.

"What?" I said. We weren't telling anyone that I was pregnant yet, so I had no idea why she was congratulating me.

"You're pregnant!"

I gasped. "Wh…what?"

"Don't try and hide it. You've got that pregnant glow about you!"

I looked at Carlos, who shrugged his shoulders.

"We're not telling anyone yet."

"Don't worry, I won't say anything."

"Say anything about what?" Celia asked.

"About Stephanie's pregnancy."

Mental head slap.

"What? You're pregnant? Congratulations!" Celia came over and hugged me. "How far along are you?"

"About seven weeks." I replied.

"Are you getting sick? You're boobs sore? Are your hips widening?"

"No, yes, and um, I don't think so." I looked down at my hips. They didn't look any wider.

"Wait until you're ankles swell and you start to waddle. It's the beginning of the end."

I paled a little.

"Don't scare her!"

"Scare who?" Consuela asked.

"Stephanie!"

"What would scare her?"

"Don't!" I blurted.

"She's pregnant!" Celia said.

Ugh. This was going to be a long night.

"This is all your fault." I said to Carlos. He just looked at me sheepishly and shrugged as if to say, 'hey, I didn't know they'd react like this'."

The sisters pulled me in and began grilling me on my pregnancy. There wasn't much for me to say since it was still pretty early, but I got to hear all the horror stories for later on.

Dinner smelled good…That is, until it hit the table.

"Excuse me." I said, gagging at the table and running for the bathroom. As soon as I hit the toilet, I tossed my cookies. A few minutes later, I felt a warm hand rubbing up and down and holding my hair out of my face.

When I was done, Carlos pulled us back and cuddled me into his chest as he sat back on the tub.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"I think so."

"What happened?"

"I don't know. Baby doesn't agree with the spicy food, I guess."

He stroked my hair. "Maybe coming to dinner was a bad idea."

"You had the right intention. You didn't know I was going to throw up."

"Do you want to go home?"

"No, I think I'm good. Let's go back out there."

He nodded and helped me up. Everyone was looking at me sympathetically when we came back to the dining room.

"Sorry." I said.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. How are you feeling?" Carmen said.

"Okay. I think the spices just hit too hard."

Carmen nodded. "It happens to us all."

I was relieved when I made it through dinner without throwing up again. We were back in the car, heading home, when I yawned. Big.

"Tired, Babe?"

I nodded. "All the time."

"You're supposed to be taking it easy."

"I know, and I am." I grabbed Carlos's hand and brought it into my lap. "I only work when I feel up to it and take naps on seven whenever I'm tired."

"I just want you to take care of yourself and the baby. I love you both."

He was scared that we were going to lose this baby. "I know you're scared. I am too. We won't lose this baby. I promise."

He smiled at me. "I love you."

"I love you."

He pulled my hand over and gave my knuckles a kiss, staring into my eyes.

The next morning, I woke up to two Cuban eyes staring at me.

From my stomach.

Not that this was unusual.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I think…"

"What?"

"I think your stomach is growing."

"Yeah?" I looked down. "I don't see it."

"It's not much, but it's something." He smiled big at me.

"It sure is." I said, smiling back.