AN: I love when school gets cancelled because of weather because then I have time to just write and not worry about anything lol :) It's been like that for two days and it's been glorious! Spring Break starts after tomorrow! I'll be updating each of my ongoing stories, so keep an eye out.

A special thanks to Meowser Hotchner for helping me out with something in here! I'm glad I can always count on you to talk to when it comes to writing and even some of the most random of things. It's nice to know that I have you as a friend :) Enjoy! xx Mariah

Katie already knows that pregnancy is not always the blissful, ethereal time TV and the movies portray. She's seen it first hand with her mother three times and now will be seeing it for the fifth time by her side.

The past two weeks have been the most frustrating of her life. Fatigue is crushing, sending her to bed early every night and weighing her limbs down like lead in the morning. Not to mention Ned is pulling later shifts to save money, working well into the night and sometimes even working double shifts and coming home to sleep for a few hours before going back in.

There had been a time when she couldn't sleep well without him by her side, but these past few nights she is pulled into a sleep so deep and swift it feel like she's been drugged.

Lately to fill her time in between helping at the store, she's been reading the pregnancy books her mother has given her. She's read up on everything to where she is at in her pregnancy.

Ten weeks.

Though the baby is barely over an inch or so long and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, he or she has now completed the most critical portion of development.

Typical symptoms for now are mood swings and morning sickness, but for Kate's sake the contrast lurching had let up and she's been able to eat freely the past few days. However, she's gone up two pant sizes and her had to get a new bra too. That went up two as well.

Ned's been gawking at her for the past two weeks, running his hands all over her whenever he has the chance.

And somehow, no matter how tiring her day has been Ned could always find some sort of hidden patch of energy. Even at the earliest hour.

Not to mention, her mother wouldn't let up on comparing her pregnancy to hers with her brothers. All Melinda can do is ramble on about how cute dressing a little boy can be when you're used to dressing girls. And she isn't lying when she says their family is lacking male energy because it definitely is.

To complicate things further, a routine ultrasound detected irregularities with the placenta that will need to be watched. The doctors assure her it is very common and typically nothing to worry about, but their words did nothing to ease her mind.

Mostly, she worries that she is already a terrible mother. She is committed to this pregnancy, and would do everything in her power to keep the baby safe and protected for as long as possible. Ned loves to talk to her belly constantly - singing off key and telling stories about his day in an endearing cooing voice. She likes to harmonize once in a while as she reads a book and they always end up kissing before the song is over.

They told stories of how they met and how difficult Ned could be sometimes. Ned couldn't wait to mention how stubborn Katie is and then whispers softly that he hopes they are as strong willed as she is about the people and things she cares about.

Her heart melts for him and he kisses her then, falling against her carefully.

"I love you," she smiles at him. "And thank you for being absolutely amazing."

"That's all you," he kisses her shoulder and lays beside her. "I really think this baby could change us for the better you know?"

"Yeah," she says. "Me too."

That next afternoon Katie pulls into the driveway just as her mother is unloading the jeep of groceries.

"Oh Katie," Melinda smiles, opening the trunk. "Could you help me?"

"Sure," Katie slid out from her car and walks over to grab a few recyclable bags that Melinda left. there had only four of five bags, but she hadn't wanted to carry all of the weight. "How did your appointment go yesterday?"

"Great! Baby is all on track," her mother's stomach is a little more prominent and her hips sway more with each step. "I've been feeling little flutters but that's something only I can feel at this point."

"That's awesome," Katie opens the door for her as she walks through.

The living room has been taken over by Aaron and his buddies since it is a Saturday and her father is making mac and cheese in the kitchen with Lana, who is sitting in her high chair awaiting her bowl of cheesy goodness.

"Hey honey!" Jim places a small bowl of mac and cheese in front of her. "Katiebug it's nice to see you too. Don't you look extra beautiful today! Want some mac and cheese?"

"Cheese sounds great," Katie's face lit up at the sound of mac and cheese, her favorite comfort food. "I wish I'd known Aaron had friends over..." She sets the groceries on the counter as Jim meets Melinda to take hers from her. "I would've worn something less... short."

Her strapless, blue sundress accentuates her pregnancy body, hugging her hips and flaring out a bit. She tugs the skirt down a bit as she slips her sandals off and walks into the kitchen. Jim gives her a fresh warm bowl of mac and cheese before she even has a chance to sit down and it melts in her mouth.

"This is great," she takes a large bite as he places a glass of water in front of her, kissing her head.

"Reminds me of you," Jim winks to Melinda as he places a bowl in her hands, making her smile. Katie is similar to her mom in all aspects, even pregnancy.

He kisses her temple, leaning into her as his arms wrap around her waist. He rubs his hands over hers, feeling her rub his hands with her own in return.

"I thought Aaron was having just Luke over?" Jim asks, having peeked in the living room.

"What? Who else is here?" Melinda asks and turns to look at her husband.

Jim kisses her first, a simple peck. She moves off the chair, taking the mac and cheese with her. "I think I saw that kid on the football team and Lucas playing madden with Aaron." He says.

"I thought he was just having Luke over," Melinda says and looks over at Katie. "And I think you look beautiful Katie." She wraps Jim in a hug.

Katie chuckles, turning on the stool as she takes a bite of her food. "Thanks mom," she says. "Having fun over there you two?"

"Aaron! Kitchen, now." Melinda turns in Jim's arms as Katie continues to eat.

The sound of the latest Madden game ceases, following a bunch of disgruntled moans.

"Oh guys, shut up." Aaron yells as he comes around the corner. "Do you need help with the groceries mom? Hey Katie." He side hugs her.

"Your dad has it covered," Melinda says as Jim moves to put groceries away. "Are you guys hungry? There's a whole pot of mac and cheese. I think your dad made enough."

"I always make enough," he fists bumps Aaron as he calls in his buddies.

"Luke, Nathan, food!" Aaron says.

"Hey little brother," she smiles as she takes another bite, rustling his hair from her stool.

"I thought only Luke was coming over," Melinda says then.

"I knew this involved food," Lucas says walking into the kitchen. "Hey Katie."

"I knew that would get you in here Luke! How's your mom?" Melinda asks.

"Hi Lucas," she smiles toward him.

Lucas been friends with Aaron as long as Katie had been with Hannah. Since preschool. She'd babysit him multiple times when he'd come over, making easy money. They'd had a lot of fun times as kids together.

"She's good. I'll tell her you say hello." Lucas says softly. "It's nice to see you Katie. Marriage is definitely doing your good."

It dawns on her that it must've been the last time she saw the kid and hugs him.

"You're so sweet Luke," she smiles at him. "Say hi to your mom for me too."

"I will," Lucas grins at her and walks over to get a bowl of mac and cheese.

"Who else is here Aaron?" Melinda asks directing her attention to him. He's snuck over to get himself a bowl of mac and cheese and is almost to the doorway when she catches him.

"Nathan. I hope you don't mind..." He says smiling sheepishly just like his father. "I know you don't like him all that much."

He leans forward to kiss her cheek and she rolls his eyes. The Clancy boys were both the same. It was too easy for them to make Melinda's heart melt.

"Just wish you would've told me," Melinda says, rubbing his side and hugging him. "Is he staying over?"

"Nope," he says leaning against the doorway. "Nathan has a football game tonight. Just Luke and I tonight."

"Like always!" Lucas fist pumps Aaron and they chest bump too.

"Are you guys going to the game?" Katie asks, finishing her last bite of mac and cheese before licking the spoon clean. "Football games were the best in high school. Hannah and I used to sneak snacks in so we wouldn't have to buy any."

"I thought you were going to be cool and say beer," Aaron shakes his head. "I'm disappointed." He crosses his arms and Katie punches him in the arm. "Ow!"

"Aaron Daniel," Melinda says, leveling her fork at him after she cleans the last bite off it. "If I ever hear you mention beer in front of me again I'll take away you XBOX."

"You know little brother, I used to party. There are some good times that I like to look back on." She collects her and her mother's clean bowls. "I just wasn't stupid and told mom until after I moved out and graduated."

Aaron's other friend came running in then, nearly sliding right into Katie.

"It's like fate or something," Nathan said, his hands at Katie's waist. She moves his hands off and Jim walks past him, laughing.

"Nice try," He'd just shut the fridge after all had been put away and is making his way back over. He pats his back, moving behind him. "But never talk about my daughter like that again Nathan."

Nathan nods as he passes. "And who would that chick be be?" Nathan asks elbowing Aaron.

"My older sister," Aaron says punching him back. "Have you never met her?"

"Watch it! That's my throwing arm jackass," Nathan scoops himself a bowl of mac and cheese, sitting down next to Melinda who'd also sat down again. "And no I haven't."

"Language Nathan, there is a little kid right there." Melinda says quietly as she sorts through the mail. Jim is behind her, rubbing her shoulders lightly as he plays with Lana across the room who has also just finished her lunch.

"Sorry Mrs. Clancy," Nathan hushes himself with a bite of food as the boys make their way to feed themselves. "I didn't know you had an older sister? I thought you were the oldest."0

"Nah, I got four years on him." She elbows her brother and he goes to repeat it back to her, before remembering the recent news and seeing the slight bump. "Oh I saw you contemplate that. Good decision. Ned would've had to kill you."

"I would've had to kill myself," Aaron sighs, side hugging his sister. "Congrats by the way. Definitely excited to be an uncle."

"Thanks Aaron," she pulls him in for a proper hug and somehow, he complies without a fight. His arms may not have been completely wrapped around her, but he squeezed her enough for her to be satisfied and let him slink off to his friends.

"I just realized your sister is totally smokin' hot and pregnant!" Nathan sighs, shaking his head. "It's like the universe wants us to be apart."

"Shut up dude," Aaron punches him in the back as he hugs his mom. "How you feeling mom?"

Melinda smiles at his interest in how she's been feeling lately and they have their own little private conversation. He's definitely manned up some this past year, even if he only shows it sometimes.

"I can hear you... and thanks... I guess?" She answers awkwardly. "I'm also totally married."

After a few more seconds the boys collect their food and make their way back to the living room. The gameplay starts soon after and the groaning resumes within a few seconds.

"Why is it that teenage boys hit on me now but not when I was actually in high school?" She laughs and leans against the counter.

"Don't take it too personal. I heard Nathan talking about my ass the other day," Melinda mutters and then cringes. "It grosses me out. I'm just glad he's not over often enough for me to really care and send your dad after him."

"Really?" She crosses her arms and see her dad shrug. "What's so attractive about older women to them?" She snickers.

"I don't know. Ask your father," Melinda laughs as she opens another envelope.

"It's mostly experience," Jim says walking toward the fridge and grabbing himself a beer. "I once had a crush on my teacher. I used to write her poems in third grade and sneak her my cookie from lunch."

"That's sweet dad," Katie smiles at him as he passes. "It's not like Nathan who's just looking to get off."

"Yeah, that's understandable," he mutters. "But some could say Ned's just as much older than you as you are of Aaron's friends."

"That's different," she rolls her eyes. "The age difference may be the same but neither of us were minors when we first got together. Now I'd totally stay and debate about this, but I've really gotta go to the bathroom. Then I'm gonna head out and go see Hannah. She wants to try and get a nap in and I said I'd watch Jace for her downstairs while she did. Thought it would be good practice."

"That sounds nice bug," he kisses her forehead, side squeezing her. "Did you make your next appointment with Dr. Carr?"

"I did," she says, grabbing her purse off the nearby counter but is still stuck in her father's arms. "It's tomorrow morning. Ned is off and we're going together."

"Call me after?" Melinda comes over and hugs her as well. "I want to know all about what you hear and see."

"I will," they had stuck her in a really tight group hug. "I really have to go to the bathroom guys."

"Oh sorry," her parents move and she slips into the bathroom under the stairs.

It really came in handy sometimes.

He walks over to Lana, who's finished with her mac and cheese and quietly eating the tangerines Jim had also put out for her too. "Almost done Lan?"

"Here you go daddy," Lana gave him the last tangerine as she chomps on one. "For you."

"Thank you," he munches on it and kisses her cheek, pulling her up from the high chair. Her face was covered in the cheese and she has a few noodles in her hair. It is impossible for her to eat without getting full of her food. "I guess it's time for a bath, don't you say mommy?"

"I think that's a good idea," she smiles at him, walking over to kiss him. "You might even be able to get Mackenzie to watch her..."

"Oh yeah?" He asks.

"Yeah," she leans into his ear to whisper the next sentence very carefully. "Mommy just might need some daddy time. I'll be waiting for you."

She leaves him with a grin on his face and he looks over at Lana.

Melinda is going to kill him.

"Let's go see your sister about that bath, huh?" he winks at the toddler and she claps, kissing her dad's cheek as he climbs the stairs after Melinda.

It didn't take much persuasion of Mackenzie to get her to bathe Lana. She's been begging to go to the pool and Jim promises her that they will go tomorrow with the whole family. That got her in enough spirits to take Lana's hand and bring her into the bathroom to bathe her.

Jim nearly trips over his own feet to get to their room where Melinda isn't casually waiting for him on the bed.

"Mel?" He calls out.

She peeks her head from the bathroom, she is brushing her teeth.

"What's with the toothbrush?" He asks.

"I opened the window and got hit the face with the smell of something cooking on the block and it didn't agree with me," she sighs, spitting the mint toothpaste into the sink before coming out. "Didn't think you'd want to taste that anymore than I did."

She meets him with a kiss on his side of the bed. She is still small enough to wear he can pick her up without hesitation and lay her down on the bed.

Jim squeezes her breast lightly. She gasps. "Jim, don't…" she begin, but it is too late. "Not that hard."

"What's wrong?" he asks, alarmed, as he pulls his hand away quickly. "Did I hurt you?"

She looks down at the wet spot that is now on her nightgown below her nipple. "No, it's just that they leak sometimes, and it's really annoying," she sighs. This had never happened this early before in any of her previous pregnancies.

"You have breast milk already?" he asks, confused. "It's a little early isn't it?"

"The doctor said this might happen a little early because I'm older. It's not quite breast milk, but it's not exactly the same," she says, remembering what the doctor has told her. The doctor had called it something, but she couldn't remember what. "I don't remember."

"Oh…right. I can't remember what its called either." He whispers seductively, kissing her neck.

"I hadn't thought about it long enough to remember either, it looks weird," she tells him.

It is starting to get too hot, and Jim cuddling up on her isn't helping, so she sits up and removes her tank top and tosses it aside as she lays back down.

This only seems to excite him more and he kisses her neck then, moving is way down her body. He kisses her shoulder next, then her collarbone and the skin above her nipple. He hooks his fingers around the leggings she is wearing and slides them off of her.

He slides one finger in and she keens against him, grabbing at his hair, and then two more inside her next and she whimpers against his neck. She brings his face to hers next, kissing him passionately. It takes everything in him not the lose himself in her, in her smell, in the way she wiggles her hips towards him and whispers in his ear.

It never did take him very long to get her off. This time is no different. He pulls back from her lips and finds her center and slid his fingers over it, causing her to buckle under his touch. Pressing his lips against her shoulder first, he sucks on her nipples neck and she moans, seeing him lick up the bit of liquid that had leaked earlier turns her on even more. The overwhelming pressure builds so high until she came in powerful spasms that sent moisture all over his hand.

He pulls his pajama pants down as he prepares himself for what's next. "It tastes sweet," he comments, aroused. "Sweet…like the taste of bread and chocolate in my mouth"

"Oh, Jim!" she laughs as he kisses her neck, tasting the sweet liquid on his lips.

She will love this man for eternity. That is something she just knew.

Katie slowly enters the house from the back door, having parked her car in the garage and immediately smells chicken wafting through the air. She wonders what Ned's cooking. He hardly ever had the time to cook since they got married, his hours getting longer and his cases getting harder.

And then her craving hits, a new found beauty in her life. She doesn't exactly care what he's making, but she needs something juicy, and fast.

"Hungry?" Ned asks, turning to kiss her lips as she slides her sandals off..

"I could eat a cow right now," she says.

"Here… try this." He says as he lifts the spoon to her mouth. "How's it taste?"

"So good Ned," she licks the spoon clean. "What is it?"

"A homemade gravy," he smiles, turning that burner off and placing the lid over the small pot. "How was Hannah and little J-man?"

Her tongue licks across the lips as she sits on the stool across from him. "Hannah was doing good," she says. "Very tired, but she's the mother of a new baby, what else would you expect? Jace was so good. He slept most of the time while I watched him, but I did feed him a bottle."

"That's nice. I'm glad you could relieve Hannah for a nap," he smiles, bending to check the oven. "The chicken should be done in like five minutes, but it'll have to cool." He makes his way around the island, leaning on the counter next to her seat. "How was your mom? Did you have time to check on her?"

"I did," she says. "She's doing better. I got to eat some mac and cheese while I was over. We didn't really talk that much."

"You two are one of the same," he laughs, his hand running over her back and rubbing it softly. "So I assume Amber's left you alone lately? You haven't mentioned her."

"She hasn't shown herself to me since she gave me that vision in July." She explains, pausing to look at him. "But she was in my dream the other day. I woke up in the morgue and was being sliced into."

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asks, holding her. "That must've been terrible."

"I couldn't move or speak," she whispers. "All I was trying to do was move my little finger so they would know I was alive. And that I could feel everything, but when I finally fought myself awake you'd already left for work… I didn't want to worry you."

"I wish you would've told me. We should deal with this together, like we're supposed to Katie. Like married people." He kisses her forehead, feeling her laugh.

"Like married people?" She looks up at him, her tear-filled eyes are spilling from laughter.

"Yes," he kisses her, and she hugs him as she gets up from her seat. "I love you Katie."

She presses herself deeper into his arms and breathe in the smell of him. A familiar smell, one that brings happy memories, can relax her at even the toughest time. He smells of the forest, of trees after the rain.

"I love you too," she says as the oven beeps.

He goes about to take the chicken out of the oven which also has seasoned asparagus to the side.

"So something creepy happened at mom's and I don't want you to freak out." She says.

"What?" He takes the oven mitt off and checks on the sauce again.

"One of Aaron's friends has the hots for me," she sighs, looking at him. "And he's really creepy about it."

"It's not Luke right? I like him." He mutters.

"No. Some varsity football player named Nathan," she says, moving around the island and stealing another taste of the sauce.

"Did you google stalk the kid?" He laughs.

"He was wearing his stupid letterman jacket like the jackass flirt he is," she mutters.

"Down kitten," he says looking at her. "Want me to talk some sense into him?"

"Nothing too serious. Just scare him a little," she smiles at him. "Maybe send Jamison after the boys. I think they're gonna bring beer into the football game."

"Sounds like a plan," he laughs and fishes out his phone. "Jamison is going to see his grandson play anyway." He puts his phone on the counter and walks over to her. "So I thought we could maybe mess around while the chicken cools."

He leans her up against the kitchen island, his hand cupping her cheek as he kisses her deeply. His hands roam up and underneath the short, blue sundress she is wearing. He sets her at top the counter and spreads her thighs apart.

"God... you've got some talents. You actually got me up here without a fight," she says crossing her arms over her chest.

"It was rather easy. All I've got to do is race up your thigh and you'll squirm," he says doing so and she snaps her legs closed.

"Now Ned…" She says softly, his lips kiss her earlobe first, softly, with just the right hint of passion, then work his way down her neck to her collarbone where he marks her.

He knows that once he kisses her neck again that her resistance will crumble. After just a few delicate touches of his warm lips her hands will start to do his bidding. They fall down his back as her head swims, all previous thoughts in her head stop in their tracks. His lips came back up for the lips he knows are waiting for him.

"I believe this is why I'm pregnant," she says as his lips press softly against hers.

"You're cute when you get like this," he whispers as he traces his finger up her thigh, the tension between her legs weakening as he slowly pushes her legs apart. "Also I think this is definitely the reason you're pregnant."

He picks her up a second later, bringing her to the couch as she laughs against him.