Thank you so much for the reviews, it's so encouraging :D I'm trying to get chapters up every few days for you all.

Maura smiled as she made herself comfortable in the chair. On her left were James and Cassandra, who were holding hands and smiling anxiously at each other every few seconds, whilst Jane stood on her right and drummed her fingers loudly on the metal part of the chair. It was rare that everyone else around her was freaking out while she was the voice of sanity. It was often the other way round. The past year and a half had been full of twists and turns for her and she had found her emotional state to be all over the place. Maura was pretty sure she'd cried more times in the past couple of years than she had in her entire life. Thankfully, she was only ten weeks pregnant so her weepy hormones weren't fully kicking in yet.

'You okay, Maura?' Cassandra asked, breaking the silence.

'Yeah, I'm fine Cass. Stop worrying.'

'Maura, last time you told me to stop worrying, I was putting you to bed after you got drunk on champagne at my engagement party. Please tell me I don't have to do that again, especially when you're carrying my baby.'

Maura flushed. It took a lot of alcohol to get her drunk and she knew her limits but she'd definitely gone a bit overboard that night.

'My my, Doctor Isles,' Jane said with a grin. 'I've never known you to get drunk.'

'I don't make a habit of it, I can assure you.'

'I should hope not. God, how long does it take to find a midwife?'

As if on cue, the door swung open and a tall woman entered. She had messy brown hair piled up into a bun and twinkling blue eyes. She smiled at Maura but her expression changed as she saw the others around her.

'Doctor Isles and company, I presume?' The brunette asked as she began to arrange the equipment for the ultrasound. 'My name's Doctor Allen. How are we feeling?'

'Yeah, we're good,' All four of them answered in unison, making the doctor laugh.

'I was speaking to Doctor Isles but I'm glad to hear that everyone else is doing well.

Any morning sickness?'

'Only in the last three weeks. I was experiencing some fatigue and painful swelling of my mammae-'

'Your what?' Jane raised her eyebrows.

Maura sighed. 'My boobies, Jane. Okay?'

'Lovely.'

'Are you sure you don't want to have just the father in here?' The doctor asked,

repressing a smile.

'Well, can we have the mother in as well?'

Doctor Allen frowned. 'Of course..'

'Well, I'm their surrogate..'

'We're the parents..'

'And I'm not going anywhere.' Jane added, placing a hand on Maura's shoulder.

'Well, if that's how you want to do this.' The doctor smiled and switched on the machine. 'Here goes. Are you ready to see your baby for the first time?'

'Damn right, we are!' James said excitedly before clearing his throat and composing himself. 'Uh, sorry. Yes, of course.'

'Excuse him, he's a bit worked up. He's been like a child ever since you told us that you were pregnant.'

Maura smiled and looked at the screen. She had seen this done many times but she had never been so excited before. She gripped Jane's hand with one of her own and took Cassandra's with the other.

'There we go. That's your baby, right there. You see it?' Doctor Allen smiled, fiddling with another switch, this time causing a long thumping sound to fill the room.

'What's that noise?' James asked, looking around.

'That's the baby's heartbeat,' Maura said quietly. She was too overwhelmed to say anymore.

The doctor smiled and stood up. 'I'll give the four of you some time alone.'

'Thank you.'

'No problem. I'll come back in a minute to do your

Only when the door closed behind her did Cassandra let out a small sob. Maura looked up, startled.

'Cass, what's wrong?'

'Nothing, I.. I just.. I never thought I'd have this moment.. When I was pregnant before, we never got a chance to have an ultrasound. I'm just.. Maura, I can't even tell you how grateful to you I am right now..'

The blonde woman blinked away tears of her own. 'That should be my line. This is.. I've seen this done before but when you're actually in the seat and the baby on the screen is inside you.. It's amazing..'

'Yeah..' Jane squeezed Maura's hand, her eyes scanning the screen. 'Where is it?'

All three of them stared at Jane. 'What?'

'I can't see it. Is it that fuzzy thing there?'

Maura chuckled. 'Try looking about two inches to the right.'

'Oh.. That thing?'

'Yeah, that thing.'

'That splodge in the top right hand corner? I thought that was a smudge on the screen.'

'Jane, don't be so rude. That's their baby.'

'Our baby, Maura.' Cassandra said with a smile. 'You're going to be a part of his or her life too. You're going to be like their auntie.'

'Yeah, Maur. You get to do all the fun things like taking them to theme parks and filling them full sugar before sending them home. You don't have to deal with the tantrums, the runny noses and the dirty nappies. You've definitely got the better end of the deal.'

'Sssh, he or she might hear you.'

'Then close your legs.'

Maura cringed. 'God Jane, why do you have to be so crude?'

'You love me really.' Jane grinned.

'Jane..'

'Yeah?'

'Please shut up.'

Jane rubbed her eyes as she closed the door behind her. Ever since Maura had found

out she was pregnant, Jane was spending much more time over there. Considering she'd been there most of the time beforehand, this meant that she pretty much only went home to sleep. The kitchen and living room were empty but she could hear Maura in the bathroom. She wasn't just getting morning sickness; she was getting morning, afternoon, evening and occasionally middle-of-the-night sickness. In between that, she was constantly nauseous. The sickness hadn't really started until a couple of days after the hospital appointment but since then, it hadn't really stopped. She sighed and knocked on the bathroom door before pushing it open slightly.

'Maura? You okay, sweetie?'

'Do I look okay?'

'No, of course not. Sorry. Come on, it'll be easier if you stand up.'

'I don't want to stand up.'

'I know, but tough.' Jane put her hands under Maura's arms and lifted her to her feet.

'There we go.'

'Thanks,' Maura mumbled before throwing up again. 'I hate this.'

'I know you do, I know. Is that better?'

The blonde thought for a moment, then nodded. 'Yeah, I'm done.'

'Okay.' Jane grabbed a flannel off the side, ran it under the tap and gently wiped Maura's face with it. She kept one hand firmly around her waist to keep her upright.

'Thanks, Jane.'

'No problem. I bought you presents.'

'Really?' Maura's eyes lit up. 'Presents?'

'Uh-huh. Come with me.'

'Oh God Jane, what is it?'

'Wait and see.'

'Does it breathe?'

Jane chuckled. 'No, honey. It doesn't breathe.'

Maura raised her eyebrows at the sight of the plastic bag on the table. 'You bought

me a present from Wal-Mart?'

'Yep. Look inside.'

Dubiously, Maura looked inside the bag. 'Cottage cheese, grated parmesan, yoghurt,

smoothies..'

'You need to keep your calcium levels up. I read it in that massive pregnancy book you've got.'

'Well, thank you. And.. What on earth are these?' Maura pulled out a brightly coloured packet.

'They're anti-nausea sweets. Kinda like travel sweets. I got some lollipops, ginger tea and gummy bears as well.'

Maura smiled and hugged her best friend. 'Jane, I love you.'

Jane bit her lip as she held Maura close, breathing in the smell of her coconut-scented hair. 'I love you too, Maura. I love you too.'