AN: I will be uploading a few of my stories on archive or our own, if you'd like to see them there. I have the same user as I do on here but in all lowercase. Just waiting on the last :) Just wanted to let you know. Enjoy! xx Mariah

Ned and Katie arrive back home within the hour from when they left the hospital. Melinda hasn't had any contact with the blonde from the hospital or heard of her, but she tells them she'd keep an eye out and have her father look up patient records and fax them over if he found anything.

So naturally, Katie is irritated that she hasn't found anything and hangs her bag up on the coat rack, kicking her shoes off before plopping down on the couch with a dramatic huff.

"You'll find a lead. You always do," Ned reassures her and kiss the top of her head. "Want some tea?"

"Yeah," she sighs and reaches for the remote and absentmindedly turns on the tv and clicks through the channels. "Tea sounds great."

"Herbal?" He asks walking toward the kitchen.

"I'd like some of that new stuff we got at Teavana." She pressed violently on the remote, eventually settling on a rerun of a soap opera. other people drama, even fiction, made her feel better somehow.

"Lemon Ginger?" He asks, opening a cupboard.

"No... it had berries in it." She mutters and flicks the tv off.

"Oh! Yes, I remember." He says. "It was Berry Kiwi something."

"That's the one," she replies and walks over toward the door and grabs her bag before walking back toward the couch.

She reaches into her bag and pulls out her laptop. She turns it on and pulls up Penthius and types in:

Amber Britton - Grandview, NY

You'd think the young woman would at least have a social media page, but alas, nothing. Absolutely nothing.

She idly begins typing in searches for recently deceased young adults and teenage girls, but her hands freeze when she notices Amber sitting in the recliner holding the air like it were a baby. Her muscles tense as she sets her compute aside and sits up. Amber looks up and locks eyes with her, unblinking.

Her eyes are a clear, lively, shocking blue. She stares back apprehensively and looks at her wrist to see a Mercy General hospital band. It had the old logo back from twenty years ago.

"You don't know what it's like," Amber sobs.

"Know what?" She replies softly.

"You don't know!" Amber answers and stands up, walking toward her slowly. "Oh, but I'll show you..."

Amber presses her hand on Katie's forehead and she sucks her into a vision. She finds herself lying on a hospital bed and feels as if her stomach is being ripped open.

"No... this is not happening." She groans and pulls the blanket away to reveal her enormous stomach. She quickly tries to get out of bed and almost falls over as the pain spreads throughout her whole body.

"Amber... you need to stay in bed." A man says trying to push her back onto the bed.

"No Jake! I need to get some air... walk somewhere." She pleads as he tucks her back in, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Please... I'm begging you to just let me get some exercise."

"You're in no condition to walk," he sighs and touches her stomach carefully. "Our son will be here soon and all of this pain will be over and done with."

"I don't care, Jake! I need to get some air," she cries and winces in pain.

"Then at least let me push you in this," he says pushing a wheelchair toward her.

"As long as I can get out of this hell hole of a room..." She says taking his hand and sitting down just as another rippling contraction appears. She yells out in pain as he pushes her out of the room.

"Where to?" He asks.

"That way," she winces and touches her stomach. "Why does this have to be so damn painful...?"

"You're about to push a human baby out of you... it's going to hurt Amber." He chuckles and turns the corner slowly and pushes her toward the nurse's station. "Where's the cafeteria?"

"Go down the hall and to your left there will be an elevator. Go to floor three and walk straight down that hallway and you'll find it," a nurse says nicely.

"Thank you," he says and begins to walk again.

"Food? Really Jake?" She winces as a few nurses rush past them with a wheelchair.

"I thought food would help you calm down..." He says pushing her down the hallway. "What do you think is going on?"

"I have no clue," she sighs. "Let's just go eat..."

"Someone is probably just arriving." He replies as the nurses come pushing in a woman who's crying from labor pains.

"Melinda Clancy, 2 centimeters dilated and counting. Husband is on the way. She's here with her friend." A nurse says and she looks over her shoulder. "It's her first born."

"Mom..." She mutters softly under her breath as the world started to fade.

Katie opens her eyes to see Ned in front of her with a steaming cup of tea. He grinned when she saw him, but when couldn't catch her breath, he sat down immediately, pulling her into his lap.

"You look shaken up... was she here?" He says, touching her forehead. "You're burning up." He kissed her cheek then, wiping the bit of sweat of her forehead. "What happened?

"A vision," she says, her voice shaking still as he places the cup on the coffee table. "Amber is not recently dead. I believe she died the night I was born because I saw my mom in labor with what what the nurses said was her first born."

"Was it a bad one?" He asks hugging her tightly and rubbing her back softly as he sits down next to her. "You're not hurt right?"

"No. I'm fine," she breathes, reassuring him. "It wasn't too bad other than the fact that I was having my stomach ripped apart by an unborn child that wasn't mine." She sighs and leans back. "But I guess it's payback... my mom was in a lot pain for the few seconds I saw her."

"Are you sure she was having you?" He grabbed the still steaming cup of tea. "Here, have a sip."

"Yeah... the nurse said it was her first born. So unless my mom had another baby before me that I don't know about..." She gave Ned a look and then laughed, kissing his cheek before she takes a sip. "This hits the spot. Thank you." He begins nuzzling her neck with delicate kisses. So faint, they are whispers. "Ned..." She sighs, setting the cup on the table. "I have to call my dad and get info from him on this ghost." She settles against his warm chest as his hand mindlessly traces lines against her skin. "And I might have to run over to my parents house anyway to talk about all of this with mom."

"Later," he begs and tries to pull her atop him. "Just let me help you relax?"

He slowly leans in, kissing her into a reclining position. She slides her body further under him, allowing his weight and warmth to settle over her. She could tell he was hesitant to rest all of his weight on her, but she wanted him flush against her body, and so she wrapped her arms around his broad back and pulled him closer. The symphony of tongues and limbs built to a frenzy.

"If I didn't love you..." She gasps as he kissed her neck then, adding a bit of teeth as he suck on her. "You would so be out of luck."

His hands drifts up her dress and cup her ass. "I'm lovin' this dress..." He chuckles and presses his lips against her collarbone, his fingers unzipping the dress and pulling it away from her body.

"Oh yeah?" She whispers against his lips.

"Definitely," he kisses her harder, silencing her as his hands roam over her body slowly, alighting a fire inside her even as he just traced over her. Her skin is like bright silk, yet without a light on her, she is glowing. As always she is wearing black lace, so soft over her skin, mahogany hair tumbling to the small of her back.

Her hands cup his face, moving down past his collarbone. Already his brain is on fire, she's his angel, his angel with fingertips of flame. In these moments, she loves him with her eyes as much as her body, their souls mingling in the quiet moments between action and stillness. The cool living room already feels warm, even as he raised his body away from hers and removed his shirt. She reaches up and runs her hands over his hard abs, loving her husbands fit body. As he leans forward and begins applying soft, sloppy kisses to her stomach, she keens against him.

He is moving agonizingly slow and it is driving her insane. He dips his fingertips under the cups of her bra and slowly lifts it over head, kissing all the way up until he finally reaches her nipples. She is sure her moans from that initial contact of his lips to her breasts would've been heard if anyone is nearby their house. He alternates his kisses and ministrations from one side to the other until she is begging him to just fuck her already.

It's hard to hold back, to make a moment last, but Ned is on a mission.

"Ned. Please."

She can feel his lips contort into a grin. "No." More kisses. More nips. Lower. Slower. "I have a plan... kinda hungry for you baby." Lower. Slower. She understands now.

"What are you..." Her breath quickens, "..hungry for?"

A low growl exits his throat. He loves being teased with her words. "A little Katie would be good."

"I hear...ah..." He sucks on her thighs, making her there. "It's pretty good this time of year. And plentiful." Another moan. Is it hers? Or his?

"I like it warm." His tongue flicked around the waistband of her panties. "And moist." He slid her soaked underwear down her thighs, with her eager help. "Are you moist, Katie?"

"Yes!" She felt his strong hands slide beneath her bottom and lift her to his mouth just before his tongue slid. Ever. So. Slowly. From the top of her sex to the very bottom. And back up again. She knows she is embarrassingly wet, but she didn't care. The feeling of his tongue circling her center, makes her thighs quiver and her hips buck, is one of her favorite things.

He knows every curve and crevice in her that makes her scream. She can hear and feel the vibrations of his moans against her skin as he laves her clean and makes way for more juices to cover her folds. He nibbles on her soft, slick center before latching onto it that one last fateful time before she screamed his name in ecstasy. Her thighs quivered. Her hips bucked forward. She comes against his mouth with a writhing that nearly makes her fall off the couch if it wasn't for Ned's steady hand pressing down on her abdomen.

He quickly pulls his pants off and falls back against her, kissing her. Every nerve ending in her body is on fire as he enters her. He kisses her again, gently and slowly, allowing her time to adjust to the differing sensations. She can see the tension in his face, thick with the desire to move and find some relief himself. He begins to move painstakingly slow inside her. She can still feel herself coming down from before as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Ugh! Fuck, Katie." He carefully moves her legs higher until the backs of her knees made contact with the crooks of his shoulders. "I'm so deep inside you." He says, shuddering as if in disbelief.

The sensation of her slick softness wrapped around him is so deliciously painful. He moves inside her and tries to maintain his composure. He grunts and moans through each thrust, rocking the couch. She braces her arms overhead and against the arm of the couch, pushing her body further down beneath him. Closer. Deeper. His body is slick with sweat, creating shadows across his chiseled arms and torso. Just looking at him could get her off. But, having him inside her is beyond description.

She releases her hands to claw at his back and holds on for dear life. His face hovers just above hers as he tries to form a kiss on her lips but, fails as he continues to pulse away inside her. She tilts her hips upwards to meet his thrusts, creating an intensity for them. Each pulse of him inside her massages a place that can only be reached like this. With him.

"I love you," she gasps and pulls him close.

And with that, he went harder. The knot that has been building in his stomach all day, ever since he saw her in that damn dress, undid itself as he feels himself climbing towards release. She pants and moans each time his hips slap against her thighs as her calves hung, forgotten, over his shoulder. Only one thing existed: the place where they connect with each other.

He felt his arms weakening just as the tidal wave hits him. His final groans are released into her mouth along. The feel of him tensing against her, sent her over the edge with him for a second time that night. He slumps forward and completes the kiss before resting his shaky weight on top of her. He releases her legs from their precarious positions and they stay joined until their breaths even out. The nearby fire light illuminates their satiated faces as they look at each other and simultaneously burst into happy grins.

"You're too good to me," he groans and then smiles.

"I think that was where you were supposed to say that you love me too," she replies and then pulls on his hair, pulling him in for another kiss.

It was sloppy, neither of them had much energy right now.

"I love you, too," he rests his head in the crook of her neck, pressing another soft kiss there. "I really do, Katie. Never think I don't."

Even at twenty-one she was like a little kid for her birthdays. But not this year, this year, she just wants to sleep.

"Rise and shine, birthday girl." He whispers softly against her cheek.

"Is it my birthday?" She giggles sleepily.

"I believe that July 18th is your birthday!" He pulls the blanket off of her. "Now come on... time to get up."

"I don't wanna..." She mutters sleepily and grips the blanket tightly and covers her face.

"Come on babe," he says tugging on the blanket but she holds on. "We have a lot to do today.. including going to get you drunk on your 21st birthday."

Slowly and reluctantly, she uncovers her face. She blinks, closes her eyes, and blinks again.

She sits up, drags her feet off the bed and rubs her eyes. She stretches her arms above her head and yawns. She watches her legs dangle above the hardwood floor. She slowly lifts her head and looks at him.

"You happy now?" She growls and pushes herself up to her feet.

"Very... now go hop in the shower and get all spiffed up before coming down for your breakfast," he says kissing her cheek and rushing off toward the kitchen. "Okay?"

Why did he have to be like this? She thinks. The best present would be letting her sleep all day. Well not all day, but maybe until eleven. She sees that it is ten and shrugged, wiping her eyes again and walks into the master bathroom. She pauses in the doorway before going to splash water on her face.

A bath would wake her up, but take too much time and a shower would wake her up too, but leave her with having to wet her hair since she lost her shower cap in the move.

Why did everything have to take so much energy?

She didn't really have to shower, she looked at her hair in the mirror.

"Dry shampoo it is," she yawns.

She looks at herself in the mirror an hour later and is satisfied.

Her hair is tied up securely into a top knot bun with a little fake white flower. She is wearing a pair of light blue high waist jean shorts with a lacy tight white crop top to match it and a cute pair of white sandals. She leans toward the full-length mirror and quickly runs her fingers underneath her eyes to rub any excess makeup off before applying her favorite red lipstick.

"Perfect," she says smacking her lips and checking her hair one last time before placing her lipstick in her pocket and grabbing her phone off the nightstand and walking out of the bedroom. "Ned?"

"Finally..." He laughs and walks out of the living room to meet her in the kitchen with a kiss. "You taste like mint."

"It's called brushing my teeth?" She says sitting down at the island. "So what do you have planned?"

"Lunch," he says unwrapping the grilled cheese sandwich from the tin foil he'd wrapped it in. He'd also grabbed her the bag of doritos and a water for her. "Eat up."

"It looks delicious," she said looking at melted cheese and taking a big bite. It was. "So good." She covered her mouth as she chewed and smiled at him.

"Of course. You look gorgeous," he says placing the water and chips in front of her.

"Thank you," she replies and then holds her phone up the air slightly and smiles.

"I swear if you are taking selfies before eating..." He sighs.

"It's my annual birthday selfie. Shut up," she says tapping her screen and then settling back into her seat. "Now go like it and comment something cute and adorable like you always do."

"More like you always force me to do," he says sitting next to her and unlocking his phone. "But of course... anything for you, my dear."

"That's what I thought..." She laughs and takes a bite of her grilled cheese sandwich after placing her phone down on the kitchen counter.

Her phone vibrates and she looks, seeing the words:

My beautiful wife looking gorgeous on her 21st bday. I love you.

She smiles before blowing him a kiss.

Ned and Katie both knew that stopping at her parents house was must before going to Delia's.

"Mom?" Katie calls out as they step in a rather oddly quiet house.

"There's my birthday girl!" Melinda says sprinting down the stairs, enveloping her little into the tightest hug the moment she could. "I thought that was you!" She kissing her cheeks and squeezes them. Her mother was always a touchy person, but on her babies birthdays, she went into overlove mode. "Oh I miss when you were little… you were so cute. I can't believe I'm a mom to a 21 year old!"

"Oh mom," she feels another kiss pressed to her cheek before she finally pulls away. "I love you too. Now what did you have to tell me?"

"Oh! Right! We should probably wait for your dad to get down here," Melinda ushered the pair into the living room, giving Ned a side squeeze before sitting down on the couch next to Katie.

"You're pregnant aren't you?" She asks as Ned slides his arm around her shoulders, kissing her cheek. "I thought there was a glow to you and you and dad have been awfully close lately. And whispering a lot, so I just knew something was going to come out about something." Her mother snickered and Katie hugged her. "I'm so excited to be a big sister again, but please… this better be the last one."

"Already made the appointment to get my tubes tied," Melinda chuckles, kissing her daughter again. "Okay, want your gift?" She grabs a neatly wrapped teal gift box from the coffee table. "But here... happy birthday baby girl."

"Thank you," she says smiling as her father comes running down the stairs and into the living room

"Alright... what did I miss?" Jim asks.

"She already knew," Mel replies.

"What? How?" He laughs and sits down in the lounger.

Katie neatly tears the wrapping paper off and opens the box to reveal the blue dress her mother had talked to her about the day before when she had coffee on herself. On top of it lies a necklace, two sets of earrings and a card. There was a gift card inside to her favorite salon.

"I know you've been talking about wanting a haircut or spa day... so it's on us," Mel says smiling as Katie opens the card and holds it to her heart.

"Thank you guys..." She says placing the box aside standing up and hugging both of her parents. "You had no idea what was in that did you dad?"

"Nope. I just signed the card," he laughs. "But I did get you something." He went over to the dining room where she could see a gift basket was sitting.

"What? Oh god... I'm gonna cry aren't I?" She says looking up at him.

"Probably not," he says walking toward his office. He grabbed a basket, which he'd filled with different kinds of alcohol for her. "Thought this would be a nice touch being that you are legal to drink now." He hands her the basket, as she sees that he's gotten her five types of wine and a bottle of rum and vodka, her favorite mixers. At least her dad knew what she drank. He hands her a file next. "And that file is everything I could find on Amber Britton at the hospital last night."

"Oh! Thanks dad." She says, hugging him. "I'm glad you know my favorite mixers."

"May have called Hannah about that one," he grins and kisses her cheek. "Just thought it be nice to have at the house."

"It definitely will be," she smiles at him. "Thank you for the presents. Both of you."

Melinda pushes into the hug, making it one big hug once Ned came in as well. They stay like that for another minute or so before the rest of the Clancy kids came running down, excited to see their sister on her birthday.

It isn't until later, when Katie, finally 21, truly knew what it is like to be trashed. Ten shots of vodka, three mojitos and half of Ned's beer at dinner definitely did it. She nearly broke her ankle trying to walk to Ned's truck with him, but he'd caught her.

"Whoa there," he steadied her as she tripped over the crack in the sidewalk. "I've got you."

"Thank you," she grabbed onto him and smiled at him. "I had fun tonight!"

"Me too," he grinned at her, opening the cab door and boosting her up into the truck. "I don't think I've seen you think drunk ever."

She laughs, her whole body shaking as she lays her head back on the seat. She looks over at him, her face flushed from all of the drinking and she grins wide.

"I don't think-" She lost her train of thought, poking his nose instead. "I've ever noticed how cute your nose is." She giggles, a high pitched, child-like snicker that spread her smile even wider than before. "And I hope our kids get this nose… It would be so cute on a baby."

"Do you even know what you're saying?" He laughs at her, kissing her cheek.

"Not really," she sighs and he kisses her again. "You ready to go?"

She nods against him and he closes the door then, running over to his side and driving off. They arrive at their home rather quickly, only having to stop once so Katie could puke outside of his truck. He'd held her hair back, rubbing her back and whispering sweet words to her.

It isn't until Ned helped her from the truck after arriving home, that Katie could no longer deny the condition of her feet and she is forced to cling to Ned as she hobbles up the driveway. He helps her sit on the grass, and kneels to remove the shoes. He gasps when he sees the size of the blister and the way the skin above her toes has been rubbed raw.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He asks.

She's sobered up some, now able to hold a conversation long enough before she felt sick. "I just wanted the evening to be good. I didn't even really notice until now." She answers.

He scoffs as he massages her throbbing arches. "Katie, it's your birthday. I just wanted you to have fun, but not at the expense of your poor feet."

"Next year, just wine and dine me at home," she grumbles.

He grins, nodding to their home beside them. "Done. Now, we need to get you home." He says, as he got to his feet. "I'm making pancakes in the morning." Before Katie knows what is happening, the shoes are tossed in her lap and he scoops her up into his arms. He is glad he left the door unlocked earlier and opens it wade so he can step in with her.

"Ned, I can walk without my shoes." She protests as he kicks the front door closed. "You don't have to carry me anymore."

"I could carry you for miles," he says, not even out of breath, bring her to their bedroom. "I never get to play your knight in shining armor. Let me take care of you for once."

It is kind of romantic, Katie is forced to admit, if only to herself. She collects her shoes by their straps and then snuggles into his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his neck.

"I guess I can allow it," she answers as he places her on the bed. "But only because it's my birthday." The comfort of the bed consumes her then, and she rolls onto her side, fitfully pressing a pillow to her face. She could definitely fall asleep like this, even in her dress. She feels Ned's hands pull the zipper down and pull the dress off of her, tucking the blanket around her before kissing her shoulder.

He goes around to his side of the bed, carefully taking off his watch and then stripping down to his boxers, before going to the bathroom. Hearing the shower flick on, it wakes her enough to realize he's undressed her and tucked her in.

He hadn't even thought twice. He'd just put her first, tucking her in and going to shower.

She'd needed to pee anyway, she thinks as she goes into the bathroom. The steam warms her as she unfastens her bra and slides her panties down her legs. Quickly going to the bathroom, she closes the toilet seat and slips into the shower.

And she didn't have to say it, but this shower with him was just about the perfect birthday present ever.