35.

*Katelyn*

"Hey, are you ready?" Zach asked from the doorway.

I finished straightening my hair and unplugged my Chi. "Yeah, I'm ready."

"Why'd you wear actual clothes?" he asked. "What's wrong with sweatpants and a T-shirt?"

"I don't really want to look like crap while I'm at the doctor's office," I answered as I stood. My stomach fluttered and I put a hand over it in surprise.

"You okay?" Zach asked, instantly concerned.

I smiled. "Yes, Zach. And even if I wasn't, we're about to go see the doctor anyway."

Zach smiled. "Guess you're right. Let's go."

"So," I asked as I got into the car. "How's Cammie?" Zach had revealed his feelings towards Cammie to me one night when we'd been talking. I thought that it was absolutely adorable, of course. And when he said that he couldn't marry her because of what he was, I just told him to look at Joe and me.

"She's safe," he answered. "For now."

"None of us are safe all the time, Zach," I answered. "Not even civilians. There are muggers and diseases and...Well…look at nine-eleven."

He shrugged. "I guess you're right. I just get worried, ya know?"

"Yeah," I said with a knowing smile. "I know." Zach had come to be something like a little brother to me and we had a teasing sort of relationship.

"What's it like?" he asked after about twenty minutes of just listening to songs on the radio.

I looked at him and raised my eyebrows. "What's what like?"

"Being pregnant," he answered.

I laughed. "Why would you want to know that?"

"If Cammie and I ever…" he took a deep breath, concentrating far too hard on the road. "I just… Are you scared?"

"Every day," I answered. "But for Joe. And for my kid, I guess. I mean, it's going to be dangerous for them, going to Blackthorne or Gallagher and growing up in this kind of life. And I'm scared that maybe Joe won't…" I took a shaky breath, "make it back. I don't' want my child to grow up without a father. But it's a risk you take."

He nodded slowly. "I just wonder…"

"Being pregnant is amazing," I said, answering his first question. "It feels great to have this baby growing inside of me."

"And you're okay with sitting out of all of this fighting?" he asked with disbelief.

"I wish that I could be with Joe," I said. "But I don't want to endanger our baby. And he doesn't want that either."

Zach pulled into the hospital's parking lot and we found a space near the door. It didn't take long for me to get in since I had an appointment, and I quickly changed into my green gown. Dr. Currie came in, looking the same as always: white coat over green scrubs, salt and pepper hair, and a wide smile. "How are you feeling today?"

"Good," I replied with a smile.

"Great," he answered. "And everything's okay with the pregnancy? No complications?"

"No," I answered. "Everything's fine."

"Good," he said. "Ready to find out the gender?"

My smile turned into a grin. "Most definitely."

During the prep time, I kept trying to guess, but it just went back and forth about a jillion times. It didn't matter what the gender was, but I knew that knowing would make me feel even closer to it.

"Okay," he said. "Just a couple of seconds…"

I held my breath, my muscles tensing in anticipation.

And then Dr. Currie smiled and said, "Congratulations, Mrs. Henshaw. It's a girl."

And then silent tears of happiness ran down my face.

"Are you okay?" Zach asked as we walked out to the car. "You look like you've been crying. Is everything okay with the baby?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "It's a girl."

He smiled. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," I replied and got into the vehicle. "Will you… I mean, would you mind telling Joe the next time that you two meet?"

Zach nodded. "Of course I will."

"Thanks."

"Sure," he said as he backed out of the parking space. "Anything else you want me to tell him?"

I shook my head. "No. I think that news will be overwhelming enough."

*Joe*

I waited on the park bench, wearing my disguise. I was dressed as an old man, in a big red winter coat and a mustache that was beginning to itch. I made sure to stretch a lot, too, like old men often did. And I was doubly aware of my surroundings, just in case. I already had several escape routes planned.

And then I saw Zach, except he didn't look like Zach. He was wearing that same disguise from Pennsylvania, the crazy white hair and wild eyebrows. He wore a suit, and I personally thought that he looked like a professor. He plopped down beside me. "Hey there, Joe."

"How's my wife?" I asked immediately.

"Good," he said. "Let's get business through first, though. I have big news for you today. Have you found anything out?"

I turned serious. "Not much, I have to admit. But I hear that Cammie will be out in the open sometime soon and I have to go out too. I have to make sure that she's safe."

"When?" Zach demanded. "I'm going too."

I knew that I wouldn't be able to keep him away, so I told him the date, time, and place. He nodded. "I'll be there. Anything else I should know?"

"Katelyn's parents died."

"What?" Zach asked in shock. "How?"

I recounted the tale to him and he shook his head slowly. "That's sad, really."

"Yeah," I agreed. "It is."

"Do you want the news from Katelyn now?" he asked me, managing a smile.

I smiled, too. "Is it about the baby?"

He nodded. "She had another appointment. The baby's healthy."

"That's great," I said eagerly. As long as the baby was healthy, everything was fine.

"Yeah," Zach agreed. "And it's a girl."

And I had to take a few breaths before I could say, "Thank you," in a choked up sort of voice.