Lover's Eyes
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI.
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Sorry, I haven't updated in a while. It's finals week... eeek! Anyway, I hope this makes up for my absence. Enjoy!

Ch6: Change in Pace

Mandy opened the box and pulled the stick out causing the instructions to fall on the floor. Nick eagerly picked it. This was his first time doing this last time Mandy had done it on her own, now they were sharing the moment. They had practically locked themselves in bathroom downstairs. Lily was down for a nap and everyone else doing their own thing. Mama Stokes was preparing some meals because the rest of Stokes children were coming later on, and Tucker was preparing a bonfire.

"You dropped the instructions." Nick said opening it up so he could read it better. Mandy just shook her head as she prepared the stick.

"How long do we have to wait?" Mandy said putting the dirty stick on the counter by the sink as she washed her hands. Nick smiled as he sat on the edge of the bathtub.

"Remove the EPT digital pregnancy test from the foil wrapper. Use the test stick right away." Nick said reading the directions keeping an anxious Mandy in waiting.

"Nick…" Mandy said less then enthused.

"Remove the purple cap to expose the absorbent tip. Hold the test stick by its thumb grip. Keep the absorbent tip pointing downward. Throughout testing never hold the test stick with the absorbent tip pointing upward." Nick continued ignoring Mandy. "Urine Stream…"

"Nicholas, this isn't my first rodeo. Please just tell me how long we have to wait?" Mandy said turning his face so that he was facing her.

"Ah… Place the test stick on a flat surface with the display facing up. If you wish, replace the cap to cover the absorbent tip. Important: to avoid affecting the test result, do not lift the stick while the hourglass symbol is flashing. The hourglass symbol will flash to show that the test is working. When the hourglass symbol stops flashing, your result will appear…" Nick read as he continued to search the page for the time that they had to wait. "Oh okay… within 3 minutes, the display will show your result. Some results may be shown in as little as 1 minute." Nick said looking at Mandy as she sat next to him on the edge of the tub.

"1 to 3 minutes?" Mandy asked looking for confirmation.

"Yeah, so if you are super pregnant it'll only take a minute." Nick asked smiling a little at Mandy.

"Super pregnant?" Mandy chuckled, causing Nick to laugh.

This was a much better experience then the last time she had to do this. She remembered pacing around their house thinking she would have a heart attack before the test even spit out an answer. A gazillion scenarios ran through her brain at the time, she remembered thinking what if the test came back positive and he found the stick and became angry with her for not letting him know. Or what if he came home while she was testing. He was due back any moment she had to race home to beat him so she could do this. She had been in a panic since she bought the test earlier that day.

However this was totally different. This time they were joking with one another, even though they were nervous they could rely on each other for comfort and stability, while maintaining this certain level of giddiness that their relationship in a long time.

"I'm really glad you talked to me today." Mandy said touching Nick's face. He couldn't help but give her a nervous smile as he looked down before meeting her gaze.

"I didn't mean to keep you in the dark…" Nick said genuinely. "I just… I thought that if I talked about it that I'd have to relive it and I didn't want to pull you in on my nightmare." Nick said grabbing her hand.

"I want to be able to help you… every queen protects her king." Mandy said raising her eyebrows at Nick. Nick gave her a relieved smile, as he looked down shyly. Mandy kissed his cheek, just as the alarm on his phone went off.

"It's been three minutes." Nick said, Mandy stood first and Nick followed. They were only a step or two away from the counter that had the pregnancy test on it. However before Nick could even see the test Mandy engulfed in a tremendous hug, Nick excitedly hugged her back. "What does it say?" Nick asked not letting go of her. Mandy pulled away for a moment and handed him the stick.

"Congratulations, big daddy." Mandy said as a heartfelt smile spread across his face. He put the stick back on the counter and picked Mandy up hugging her.

"I love you." Nick said and Mandy kissed him.

"I love…" Mandy said but was interrupted by them falling. Nick had taken a step back and stepped on the instructions causing them to fall backwards. Luckily the shower curtain had caught them and eased there fall into the bathtub. They fell however into a giggly excited mess. "Are you alright?" before Nick could answer the door flew open, as Lily ran in and Mama Stokes looked confused.

"Dog pile on daddy!" Lily said jumping on them as Nick tried to untangle him and Mandy from the shower curtain. As Nick and Mandy tried to untangle each other and Lily tried to wrestle with them Nick was totally oblivious to the fact that his mother was still standing there.

"Nicholas… what is this?" Mama Stokes asked and Nick and Mandy both blushed and looked at each other.

"That's a wand, grandma." Lily said as if educating her grandmother. "That one is too small for you though. You need a big one. I have one in my toy bag, you can use it." Lily said hopping out of the bath tub as Nick and Mandy climbed out. Nick put his arm around Mandy.

"We're pregnant… well, I'm not she is… and I'm the father… I don't know why I'm rambling… I just got this surge of energy…"

"Nick, shut up…" Mandy said elbowing him in the ribs. Nick just put his hands in his pockets and smiled at the ground.

"Mama!" another man yelled from upstairs.

"You're lucky your brother is here. Congratulations… I need to talk to you later, Nicholas." Mama said leaving.

Even though Nick's jerk of a brother, Matt, was here nothing could wipe the smile on Nick's face as he hugged Mandy again. Nick felt a sea of mixed emotions and the majority of them were goo and strong enough to drown out any little negative nellies.

Later on… Mandy joined all the Stokes children outside as Tucker prepared a little campfire. Nick's sister Laurel was the stereotypical classy southern woman. Her accent thick but her hair so perfect that even a tornado wouldn't be able to move it. Luann was definitely a trophy wife to someone but dumber than a box of rocks, but she was gorgeous. All of the Stokes' were, but Mandy did have the best. Tucker was the biggest and had to work a demanding job, Mandy thought, because he was built like a horse. Matt was built like a used car salesman, it wasn't because he was big but the way he carried himself. However Matt… He was a bit of a bully, to everyone. He was trying to scare people with some fireworks he brought. His tone was condescending to his wife to be and siblings, so Mandy avoided him. Mandy was a spitfire and didn't want to light Nick's brother but she would if she had too.

Nick opted to put Lily down for bed, it had been a long day and the three year old was too tired to fight her father. Nick felt like a sense of urgency and been filled in his heart, he'd never felt anything like it before it didn't scare him because it was a warm and welcoming feeling, but he wasn't use to it.

"How's my baby girl?" Mandy asked Nick as he joined her on the wooden log that served as a small bench. Nick placed his sweater across Mandy's shoulders as he gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"She's good. She's out like a light. She had a busy day, I'd be tired too if I did all the work she does." Nick chuckled as he searched for a stick to poke the fire. "I read her there's a wocket in my pocket and she was asleep before I was done." Nick said smiling at her.

"How are you feeling?" Mandy asked.

"I'm fine…"

"No, I mean really. You have had a… unique day, kind of stressful. I just want to make sure you are alright." Mandy asked embracing Nick's arm resting her head on his shoulder looking up at him.

"I'm alright, for real… If anything I'm excited." Nick said smiling.

"I hope you still say that when I'm seven months pregnant and everything you do annoys me." Mandy chuckled, as Nick laughed.

"That's the best part…" Nick said but was interrupted by a loud pop of a firecracker. The next thing Mandy knew she was laughing then she was pinned underneath Nick and pushed against the log.

What do you think? What do you think happened? Please Review!