Sometimes it's interesting to get a different perspective on the same issue. Nico feels like he has a purpose now and Dani is feeling trapped. Especially when neither of them has told the other how they really feel.

Thank you by the way for your comments on the story. This is my first time out with a story and you have been incredibly generous with your feedback…has made a very long week bearable.

"What the hell are you getting yourself into"?

Nico said the words aloud when he was back in his apartment. He looked around him, at the dark paneling, the slate floors, and the pricey stainless steel appliances that he barely used. He wondered what Dani would say if she ever saw this place, probably something to the effect that this place "fit" him. And in a way it had. Cold, hard edges, nothing extra to clutter up the space. And up until a year ago he had been fine with his life. No real ups and downs, no surprises, and no Dani.

Now, with one sentence from her, his entire foundation had shifted.

"Nico, I'm not sure but I think I may be pregnant"…

She had looked scared when she had told him. He wasn't sure if she was scared of how she was going to deal with this, how he would react to what she said, or how they were going to figure out what to do. But he understood the feeling as he felt the same way.

A baby. It wasn't until Gabrielle had told him that Juliette wasn't his, that it had hit him how much he had wanted, counted on that fact that she was his daughter. But with Juliette, he had always had to stay on the fringes. Keeping an eye on her and coming to her rescue when she needed help. And ultimately, helping her into rehab, based on Dr. Santino's advice. But always on the outside looking in.

He knew he had come on too strong with Dani before he left but she needed to know that certain things wouldn't be up for discussion if she was pregnant. If there was a baby, he would not be living on the fringes, and if she had a problem with that, well, she would just have to deal with it.

Oh and he had doubts, big ones. Was he the kind of man who could be a good husband and a good father? Juliette had said he would be a good dad, but what if she was wrong? Her only comparison was Marshall Pittman so that didn't prove much of anything.

And Dani, he knew they were good together, better than good. That was ½ the battle right? Making love to Dani was like nothing he had ever experienced with any other woman. Just the thought of her made the want come back. To be able to love her whenever he wanted? Oh there were doubts, but he would just deal with them as they came, that's what he did.

Looking at the clock, he saw that it was nearly 2AM. On impulse, he took out his cell phone and sent off a text…

"When are we going to the Dr.?"

Dani read the text. She didn't expect Nico to stay away for long. He was a "fixer" and this was something he thought he could fix.

She hadn't been able to sleep either. The house was too quiet with the kids away. Taking her cell phone with her like always, she went downstairs, lit a fire and curled up on the couch. Staring into the flames, she cold hear Nico's voice from earlier:

"If you are going to have my child, you are going to do it as my wife."

She wasn't sure what to do with that. Nico hadn't asked her what she wanted, just told her how it was going to be. But wasn't he the one who had disappeared for 6 weeks with no word. Who's to say that wouldn't happen again? Really, while she trusted Nico, she really didn't know much about him. How can you marry someone you didn't know anything about anyway?

She had just gotten out of a 17 year marriage; she was finally becoming the person she had always wanted to be, having the life she had dreamed of and now this. Was she ready to be someone's wife again? Was she ready to be someone's Mom again?

RJ and Lindsay were just becoming independent of her. To start over with diapers and the lack of sleep and the worries….was she even ready for this? There were other options. She would be lying if they hadn't crossed her mind. But maybe subconsciously, that is why she had told Nico right away, to banish those options from her own mind. She knew once she told him, there would be no going back.

A baby. Her hand strayed to her flat stomach. If she was pregnant, this wouldn't be just any baby; it would be Nico's baby. That is IF she was pregnant. But even while she said "if" she knew she was. She had had the same feeling with RJ and Lindsay. Call it instinct or awareness, it had served her well with her two older kids. The tests had only confirmed what she already knew. "Oh little one, what are we going to do about your dad?"

Thoughts of Nico filled her head. Just thinking back on their night together, she felt her need of him increasing, could feel his lips as they trailed down her stomach, finding just the right places to send her over the edge, she could almost feel him.

As Nico's wife, she could have him with her every night, they could make love whenever they liked. The thought was awfully tempting…."Stop it Dani. This isn't a romance novel and Nico is not the hero who is going to rescue the girl from ruin. This is real life and we don't all get our happy endings. Sometimes we just need to figure things out for ourselves."

If Nico thought he was going to just come in and tell her what to do, he didn't know her very well either.

The ringing of the phone made her jump. She didn't look at the caller ID before putting it to her ear. She knew the lack of an immediate answer to his text message would bring on the call. God that man lacked patience.

"Nico, I'll call in the morning and make the appointment, ok?"

Expecting to hear his voice on the other end, she was surprised when the person on the phone asked,

"Dr. Santino?" This is Officer Joe Randolpo from the NY State Police. There was an accident on the Thruway earlier tonight. We found your contact information in the pocket of one the accident victims; he's the kicker on the hawks. He's asking for you. We need you to come to Long Island Regional Medical Center right away as his injuries are pretty severe. Can you drive yourself, or if there is someone you can call?"

Dousing the fire and heading up to change, she almost forgot there was someone on the other end of the phone.

"Sorry, no there is no one. I can make it by myself. I'm on my way and should be there in about 20 minutes."