Their laughter is what led her to the nursery door. The muffled sounds of voices could be heard down the hall, but the laughter seemed to flow throughout the house. One was deep and masculine, and the other was that of a happy young child. She would never allow them to know how many times she had witnessed these moments from on the other side of the door. She had come to understand that they needed this time alone together. She could see him sitting on the floor, and her son standing in front of him, his tiny hands hanging onto an arm so much stronger than his own.

"1…2…3, up," his hands cradled the little boy's legs as he lifted him in the air and then lowered him.

"Again." The little voice begged amidst the laughter.

His vocabulary grew daily, each new utterance was rewarded with amazement and the bittersweet realization that he was growing up.

"Once more then, 1…2…3 up!" This time he pulled the giggling child to him and tickled his tummy.

Staring into the blue eyes of his step-son always brought a smile to his face, the fact that he loved him as his own only made these minutes that much more precious. From what he knew the boy had his father's eyes and disposition, but his smile and hair was entirely his mother's.

"I wonder who your new brother or sister will look most like." The boy just looked at him, still unable to fully comprehend that his mother was carrying another child.

"Brother." The boy said as wiggled onto the floor.

"Yes, brother, but possibly a sister. Little girls are equally wonderful."

There had been many discussions about the possibility of their child being a girl. Would he be happy or did he prefer a son? He had assured her many times that it did not matter; just the fact that they were going to have a child together brought him joy. He hoped for a little girl though, he already had a son. He would never say those words to her but he felt that she knew.

He was pulled from his musings by a small strong arms and legs wrapping around him from behind. He almost regretted introducing this particular game to the rambunctious boy, but the laughter in his ear washed it away. Carefully, he shifted forward onto his hands and knees and began to crawl about the room making animal noises as he went. He saved the best for last, the horse. Placing one hand behind him on the child as a precaution he rose up and then fell back down. The arms around his neck tightened in excitement.

"Again." The little boy demanded. How could he refuse?

Outside in the hall her heart was aching and racing at the same time. His words about girls being equally wonderful soothed what was now an old wound. He had no need for an heir, she knew without a doubt that in marrying her he had accepted her son as his own. He wanted a daughter, she could tell. It was the way his eyes lit up at the mention of it being a possibility. He would be pleased either way, but for his sake and hers she hoped for a girl, a daughter.

She watched now as he crawled around the nursery making animal noises just to hear the carefree laughter of the child on his back. He would be a wonderful father, he was a wonderful father. Her heart clenched at that thought, no matter how many years passed, the loss of him and what could have been would always pain her. It did not diminish the love she had for her husband now, if anything it made it stronger. He was wonderful. Turning away from door and making her way down the hall she could not stop the smile that spread over her face or the hand that rested on the tiny swell of her stomach.

"God help me if you are a boy. God help them if you are a girl." She mused. After all, they did need a little girl to even the numbers out.