AN: It's been to more months. Everything is in full swing. Katie and Ned have finally completely moved in to their new house in preparation for the baby. Katie's college graduation is coming up and she's eight months pregnant. Melinda's a little further along and is expected to have her baby any day now.
Katie stands in front of her full length mirror, adjusting her blue knee length dress. She blows out a breath as she adjusts her hair, making sure the pins were holding her dark hair back securely. She turns to the side and pulls on the loose fabric, her swollen stomach prominent now.
"Hey there... mommy's a little nervous today," she laughs and feels a jab to bladder. "And now I have to pee. You're not helping." She holds her stomach lovingly in her hands and smiles in the mirror.
Everything is on track, he or she is developing normally and the nursery is coming along great. Ned had just painted the room and assembled the changing station. Now they just had to start decorating it. All of the decorations they'd gotten from her baby shower two months prior are still in boxes. Katie glaces over to the basinet near their bed and smiles.
Her parents had really given her the best gift.
"Enjoying your pregnancy?" Amber laughs, popping into the room behind her.
"Amber... what do you want?" She says clutching her chest slightly, her heart racing. "Where have you been?"
"I want my son!" Amber yells.
"My mother and I have both tried to reach out to him. He won't return our phone calls or answer the door. There's nothing else I can do if doesn't want anything to do with us." She explains, her heart rate speeding up and her blood pressure rising. "What do you want me to do?"
"You're lying. My son deserves to know I didn't give him up." Amber mumbles.
"Why would I lie? What good would it do me to lie?" She yells and then grips her stomach. She needs to calm down, this is not good for the baby. "Just leave me alone Amber... you're hurting me." She feels her strength slip and she grabs onto the doorway nearby, feeling faint. "Ned!"
"I don't know. Your whole family lies..." Amber mutters. Her energy feels like death as she holds her to the wall, her hand graces over her stomach as she scowls. "And do you really want to bring a baby into this world and teach him to lie?"
"Him?" She says looking down at her stomach.
"You didn't know?" Amber chuckles. "I can feel his energy from here. Strong little guy you've got in here..." Amber whispers and places her hand firmly on her stomach. "Too bad I have plans for the little guy on the other side. So many people are excited to meet the little guy."
"Don't you dare threaten my child!" She shouts and Amber disappears out of fear.
She feels a pair of arms wrap around her waist as she is lost in thought. She smiles when she feels a kiss being pressed at the junction of her shoulder and neck. She closes her eyes with a smile on her face, leaning into the embrace. She opens them to find Ned's head resting on her shoulder, his fingers tracing over her stomach.
"You okay?" Ned asks.
"Amber..." She sighs and he brings her to the bed, sitting her down. "She's stronger."
"Just breathe," he whispers. "And don't be nervous about today."
"I'm not nervous," she answers.
He chuckles just as a knock sounds on the front door.
"Right... and the Pope isn't Catholic," he says smiling at her.
"Ha. Ha." She sighs, pulling herself from his embrace just as another knock came. "You're so funny."
"That's what they tell me." He laughs as he follows her out of the bedroom. "I'm gonna go get myself something to drink."
Her entire family is coming into town today. She is graduating today. Her college graduation.
It has been a long four years, with a lot of heartache, late night phone calls and near mental breakdowns but she has done it. She is graduating from the Rockland University (after transferring to move in with Ned, her junior year) with a Bachelor degree in English Education at the top of her class.
She even has a few job offers for the start of next year, but she hasn't decided on anything yet. She wants to be more settled with the baby and everything first.
"We're coming!" She calls as they walk through the hallway, just as another more impatient knock sounds.
She maneuvers around various boxes they have yet to unpack.
"Remind me to get started on these when I have energy," she sighs as they make their way downstairs. They'd decided to go bigger for this house and got a three bedroom and two bathroom. It even had a full basement downstairs with laundry. She stops in front of the front door. "Ready?"
"Always," he laughs and kisses her head before going toward the kitchen to get his drink.
She throws open the door to reveal her mother, father, Aaron, Mackenzie and Lana standing on the porch. The look on her brother's face is priceless, a cross somewhere between complete boredom and happiness that only stems from being able to cut school. Kenz on the other hand throws her arms around her big sister almost immediately.
"About time you answered the door," Aaron grumbles as he walks into the house, just as Kenz broke contact and her mother throws her arms on her shoulders.
"I'd hug you but you know..." Melinda says pointing at her stomach. "You look gorgeous baby-girl!"
"Well thank you," she smiles, brushing her dress free of the imaginary lint.
She moves away from the door a little bit, allowing her mother and father into the house. Jim gives her a hug just a Ned walks into the living room where the family is standing. Katie watches as her parents both embracedNed.
"Are you going to hug me or..." He laughs.
"Hi Ned," Kenz says hugging him.
"Aaron?" He asks.
"Hey Ned," Aaron laughs and gives him a half hug.
"Ned!" Lana squeezes his legs as he picks her up, throwing her into the air. "You throw so good! Like daddy!"
"Well good thing," Ned chuckles, tickling the girls sides. "I've got a baby to throw one day now."
"Well we better get going," she says looking at her watch. "Don't want to be late."
They drive together to the school, which isn't far from the house. She is met there by Hannah, Brandon and baby Jace along with her grandma Faith and Delia. She has to leave them all at the door and head off to where the graduates receive their caps and gowns. Her nerves gets worse as she finds her place in line with all the other graduates with last names starting with B.
A few girls snick toward her and she rolls her eyes.
What is this? High school?
It's not like she's a single whore who didn't know how to use a condom. She got pregnant with her husband, a person she planned on having children in the future.
She swallows hard when they file into the courtyard, where the ceremony is taking place. She doesn't know where her family is sitting, but she is sure she would be able to hear them soon enough. If there is one thing she knows for sure, her family always makes their presence known.
Her family is kind of embarrassing like that, but she loves them so much for it. She'd never take anything they do for granted.
The ceremony itself is actually quite boring. There is a lot of long winded speeches about making the most of your lives, the journey forward and all that cliché stuff that she could have gone without. Her emotions are already on edge today, as it marked the end of a chapter for her, but the sudden jab to the abdomen.
She smiles and claps when she sees a few of her friends walk across the stage but it is when she stands up with her row and walks towards the stairs of the stage that she feels her nerves get the best of her.
Why did she chose heels?
Oh wait, because her mother convinced her after she showed her the dress a few weeks ago. She should've known better.
"Katherine Banks," she hears her name and she slowly makes her walk up the stairs and across the stage to where the Dean of Education is standing.
She hears the hoots and howls of her family, her father's and Ned's voice are distinctive, shouting her name. She feels herself blushing as she accepts the diploma and shakes the Dean's hand before walking down on the other side of the stage.
Her family finds her before she even has a chance to look for them. She is engulfed in her dad's arms and finds herself being lifted off the ground as she begins to laugh.
"Dad, you're drawing attention to us! Plus I don't think I'm liking this being in the air thing," she laughs when he finally puts her down on the floor.
"You didn't fall Katie. I was sure you were going to trip on the stage..." Aaron says as she leans over to punch his arm, just as she is pulled into a hug by her grandma Faith.
"I'm so proud of you!" Faith mumbles into her hair. "So proud."
"Thanks grandma," she smiles when she pulls away it is a beat before Delia pull her in for a hug.
She is going to be smothered today.
"You're gonna make an excellent teacher," Delia says hugging her softly. "And a brilliant mother."
"Thank you." She says wiping ears from her eyes. "Okay. I'm emotional. Let's get out of here."
"But first, let's take some pictures." Melinda says as Lana jumps into her sister's arms.
"Oh Lana... I bet you were super bored," she laughs and kisses the toddlers head.
"I was," Lana mutters and squeezes her sister.
Ned offers to walk with her to take her gown back after they had taken what felt like a million pictures.
She smiles when she catches him staring at her, the butterflies rising in her stomach as his gaze follows her.
"I'm so proud of you," he says when she approaches him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
She kisses him gently for a moment before pulling away.
"You're really quiet today," she says looking at him.
"I'm just tired." He yawns and then smiles. "I really shouldn't of taken that night shift last night."
"Well come on. My entire family is waiting, and the sooner we entertain them... the sooner they'll leave us be. Which means we can have some alone time later," she explains.
She pulls out of his arms and starts to walk away from him. He catches up to her and immediately wraps his arm around her waist as they walk to meet their family.
Before dinner, back at the Clancy household, Jim stands up from his spot at the head of the table, holding his wine glass high.
"I'd like to make a toast," he tries. He waits a beat, and when the family didn't stop talking he raises his voice. "Guys!"
The family stops talking and all turn to look at him.
"Thank you," he clears his throat. "As I was saying. I'd like to make a toast, to my little girl Katie." She feels her cheeks go red. "Even though she isn't quite so little anymore. Especially in those sky high heels. Thanks for that Mel." The table laughs. "All joking aside, I just wanted to stand up here and just say how proud both your mother and I are of you. I'll admit, when you first told me you'd chosen the University of New York, I was really hesitant to let you go. But only because it was so far away from home, from us." He points to Melinda. "But I knew then that you were a smart girl with a strong head on your shoulders. You've proven that and then some over the last four years. Then you transferred back home when you moved in with Ned, another thing I was extremely hesitant about. Then you were engaged..."
"Something else you were extremely hesitant about," Katie laughs.
"Anyways, we love you so much and you're going to do a lot of good in this world. You're going to go places kid. Just make sure they're near home this time." He winks, holding up his glass a little more as the family laughed again. "To Katie, congratulations on graduating baby girl. You and Ned are gonna make great parents. We are all so incredibly proud of you."
"To Katie!" The rest of the family hold up their various glasses before taking long swigs.
"Oh daddy..." She says pushing herself up from the chair, Ned's hand on her back to help her up, before she makes her way to hug her dad. "I love you."
"I love you too bug," he whispers in her ear.
Katie pushes through her bedroom door and plops down on the bed.
"Exhausted," Katie sighs and throws a pillow over her face.
"Me too," Ned says and plops down next to her.
"But you're not carrying a child in you. I'm overheating and just want to sleep but someone is kicking my internal organs." She mutters and then rolls onto her side.
"Want me to set up a shower for you?" He asks.
"Would you? That sounds really nice," she laughs and peeks her face out from behind the pillow to look at him. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he laughs and kisses her cheek. "I'm just gonna go."
"Yeah... you do that," she says pushing him toward the master bath. "I love you!"
"I love you too," he says as she hears the water gush out. "Hot or cold?"
"You know I love blazing hot water," she says and stands up. "I'll be in there in a minute."
She stands up and undresses herself, pulling on her bathrobe once undressed before walking into the bathroom.
It is her favorite room in the whole house.
The gleaming granite counter tops with the double vanity, walnut framed mirrors, jacuzzi tub, walk in shower with a small bench and a over-sized shower head, fluffy towels neatly arranged, tile flooring, a fluffy green bath mat to match the seafoam walls and a wicker laundry basket.
"I'm going to go make something to snack on," he says kissing her neck. "Want some tea? It may help with that headache you were telling me about at your parents."
"Lemon ginger?" She smiles up at him.
"Yes," he whispers in her ear and walks out.
She strips the robe off and steps slowly into the shower, the water on high and beating over her head in steamy rivulets. Closing her eyes to the water as the heat soaks into her skin, she sits down on the shower bench as her weak legs threaten to buckle, her swollen feet aching.
The shower door slides open and she doesn't even move, engrossed with the hot water cascading down her body and massaging muscles long past cramped.
"Katie," he sighs, the exasperation clear in his tone. "Feeling any better?"
She cracks an eyelid and raises a brow at the same time, watching him.
"No. My feet are aching," she whispers and then sighs. "Something's wrong... he hasn't moved since this morning before my graduation."
His concerned eyes flash down her body to the callouses on her feet before flashing back to her face.
"Katie... oh, honey." He kisses her knees and then her cheek. "I bet he's just relaxing like his mother should. He's fine."
She watches him as the water runs over her skin like a caress, he grabs the lufa and squeezes some soap onto it before lathering the bubbles onto her.
"Come here..." He whispers, pulling her to her feet. "This might help."
"Ned," she says looking up at him.
"Hmm?" He asks and then kisses her cheek as he lathers soap around her swollen stomach.
"I'm- I'm bleeding," she says pointing to the shower floor. "I don't think that's supposed to happen." He turns the shower off and reaches for a towel for her. "Ned... I'm scared," she says touching her stomach. "Something's wrong... I-I just know it and I'm scared."
"There is nothing to worry about. This happens sometimes and everything is usually okay," he whispers and then kisses her forehead. "Just stay calm. I'm gonna go get dressed and start the car. You stay here and I'll come back and help you. Ok?"
"Okay," she sighs and wrapping the towel around herself as he slips out. "Ned?"
"Yeah?" He calls out as he stumbles into his boxers and jeans.
"Call my dad... he always knows what to do," she mutters softly and looks down at her stomach, praying that everything will be okay.
"I will," he kisses her then, helping her from the shower. "Do you need anymore help?"
"I should be okay," her hands are shaking and holds them tightly in this until they shoulder. "Go start the car."
He leaves her then and she lets her tears finally fall. This is everything she has been worried about. Everything her dreams have been pointing towards and she wishes she would've just told someone about the dreams sooner.