Apologies for the delay - thanks to Emelie for the reminder :)

Prompt: Scared

Rating: K+

Relief was still the primary emotion she felt as she bid goodbye to their families. Sunday lunch had turned into a celebratory affair that had lasted well into the evening and, while she was pleased everyone was happy with the news, Jess was almost overwhelmed with relief that Becker's father had seemed just as thrilled as everyone else.

About thirty minutes after they left, though, exhaustion began to take relief's place. She kicked herself mentally for not letting Andi and Margaret fuss over her and do the dishes as she stood in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher with the plates Becker was systematically bringing through from the dining room. When her husband caught her in the middle of yet another huge yawn, he set the salad bowl on the counter and took the dish she'd been holding from her.

"Go and sit down," he ordered, his tone firm but his voice gentle. He arched an eyebrow when she opened her mouth to protest. "I mean it, Jessica."

Fighting the urge to stick her tongue out at him, feeling she had to protest even though she was grateful, Jess rolled her eyes and shook her head as she moved to the kitchen table. "I'm not an invalid, you know." Still, she sat down obediently on one of the kitchen chairs.

"Living room's comfier," Becker pointed out as he took over loading the dishwasher. "Or the conservatory."

"I'll wait for you." Resting her elbows on the table and her chin on her hands, Jess watched him through tired eyes. "I think it went well today."

"You thought it wouldn't?" He gave her a small grin as he passed to go back through to the dining room to collect the last of the plates and cutlery. "I told you Mum would be over the moon."

"It wasn't your mum I was worried about," Jess admitted, doing her best to stifle another yawn. "But your Dad seems pleased so I'm happy. As long as he realises that our child isn't necessarily going to follow in the Becker family footsteps, whether it's a boy or a girl." She looked down at the slight bump at her midsection and put a hand over it. "He or she gets to choose what they want to do. No pressure from parents or grandparents."

"Agreed." He finished loading the dishwasher and set it away before moving to stand beside her. Offering her a hand, which she took with a smile, Becker pulled her up onto her feet and into his arms. "And even if our baby is a genius like its mother, he or she can take things at their own pace."

"Definitely." With a sigh, Jess leaned her head against his shoulder. "I just want a happy, healthy baby."

"Me, too." She felt his mouth against the top of her head and reluctantly stepped away just as another yawn escaped her. "You want to watch a DVD before bed? I'll even let you put on one of those girly romances you love so much."

Chuckling at the expression that arranged his features, Jess gave him a sweet smile. "Sounds good to me but don't be too surprised if I fall asleep part way through. I'm exhausted."

"That's apparently normal in pregnancy." Becker shrugged when her smile turned into an arched eyebrow. "I told you I've been looking stuff up. You're not the only one who knows how to use the Internet. And when you think about it, it makes sense. You've got a little person growing inside you, you know. We've got the picture to prove it, though I think my mum snuck the one you put on the table into her bag before she left."

She smiled again, hands moving automatically to her stomach. "That's why it was a copy, and the originals are already in a photograph album upstairs."

"Go get settled. I'll be through in a few minutes."

Following the order without complaint, Jess walked through to the living room and curled up on the sofa. When Becker joined her not more than five minutes later, it was to find she was sound asleep.

He woke when he felt a chill against his skin. Becker frowned, still half asleep, and reached automatically for Jess. When his hand encountered only empty air, he was jolted into a state of full wakefulness and sat up in bed.

"Jess?"

She'd been there when he'd fallen asleep. He'd woken her up and followed her upstairs, settling in bed with a favourite book as she'd curled up against him and slept soundly. After a few hours, he'd joined her, arms wrapped around the woman who had become his world, contentedness surrounding him as he fell asleep.

Groggily, Becker got out of bed. There was no sign of her in their room, and the door to the en suite bathroom was open, showing it to be dark and unoccupied. Stepping out on the landing, he started for the staircase only to stop when he heard a muffled noise coming from the direction of the room they'd decided would be the nursery.

Listening intently, he frowned when he heard the noise again, alarm racing through him and causing his heart to quicken when he recognised it for what it was: the sound of Jess crying, and trying to hide it from him.

Quickly making his way to the nursery, he pushed open the door and found his wife sat on the floor in the empty room. Her arms were around her legs, knees tucked up to her chest, and she lifted her head to look at him when he entered. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her lips trembled as she tried to compose herself.

"Jess." Concerned and more than a little panicked, Becker wasted no time in crossing the floor to kneel beside her, wrapping his arms around her shaking shoulders. "Sweetheart, what's wrong? Are you okay? The baby…?"

For a long moment, Jess didn't speak. She couldn't. Overwhelmed, her tears continued to flow as she pressed her face against him and wept.

Continued in 'Support'