Everyone was gathered at Tonya's baby shower, minus Quincy and Latasha who were on their way home from Germany after Quincy's injury in Afghanistan. All of the girls were having a good time and even though they wouldn't admit it, the guys were having a good time as well. There was a knock at the door so Claudia Joy went to answer the door since the shower was being held at the Holden house, "Hello you must be the other Gabriels."
"Yes, Joyce Gabriel, my husband John," she said, "You must be Denise."
"Uh no actually I'm Denise," said Denise.
"Claudia Joy Holden," she said.
"Tonya!" the two girls shouted and ran towards Tonya. one looked to be in her late teens and other her early teens.
"Hey girls," said Tonya hugging them both, "Everyone, my mother Joyce, my father, John, and my sisters Lizzie and Brooke."
"And how old are you girls?" asked Denise.
"Seventeen," said Lizzie, "Brooke is fourteen."
There was another knock at the door so Claudia Joy assumed the Leblancs and the Morans had arrived since their planes were arriving at the same time. Roxy and Pamela entered the house happily, "Long time no see!" shouted Roxy excitedly embracing Claudia Joy.
"Good to see you too Rox. And Pamela," she said, "Food is in the kitchen. Presents are set in the living room for later."
"Hey everyone look who's here!" said Denise happily, "Guys this is Trevor, Roxy, T.J., Finn, Wyatt, and Drew Leblanc, and Chase Pamela, Katie and Lucas Moran."
"Nice to meet you all," said Pamela. She figured she could learn names throughout the party.
Tonya walked over to them and said, "I'm so glad you ladies could make!"
"And miss this!" said Roxy happily, "May I?" she asked nodding towards Tonya's bump.
"Go ahead," said Tonya.
Roxy laid her hand on Tonya's abdomen, "So is it a boy or a girl?"
"Uh Rox, look around," said Pamela.
Roxy looked around the room and noticed the amount of pink that adorned the Holden house, "Well I guess my question's answered then. Good thing I bought you a unisex gift."
Joyce walked over to Denise and sat down next to her on the couch, "So, you're Tonya's fiancée's mother?" she asked.
Denise nodded sadly, "Yeah. My son Jeremy. Killed in action about a year and a half ago."
"From one mother to another, I'm very sorry," said Joyce.
"Thank you," said Denise.
"We meant to come to the funeral but we didn't want to intrude on your mourning as strangers. I mean Tonya had never really introduced us to him. Heck, we all just met Blake for the first time today and he's the father of our granddaughter."
Denise nodded understandingly, "Let me tell you Joyce. I love Tonya like a daughter. And you raised a beautiful, caring young woman. And I know she's going to be great mother to little Julia. And Blake…" Denise trailed off, "Okay, I wasn't his biggest fan at first, mainly because of the whole fraternization situation. But he turned out to be a good man and he treats Tonya very well."
"Yeah to be honest with you, Lizzie is the only one who had ever talked to Jeremy. Or Blake," said Joyce and Denise raised an eyebrow, "My dear daughter loves meddling in everyone's love lives. But she's also very close with Tonya."
"I see," said Denise.
"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for Tonya. I mean you threw her a bridal shower, you helped her get through Jeremy's death, and now you've helped her through a pregnancy. You've gone to so much trouble."
"It's no trouble at all Joyce," said Denise, "I mean, we're both going to be there when your granddaughter enters the world."
"Yeah," said Joyce, "Tonya's terrified about that."
"About the pain?" asked Denise.
Joyce nodded, "And we both know what she's in for, we've had them."
"She's a strong girl. She'll be okay."
"General Holden, Mrs. Holden," said Chris walking over to Claudia Joy and Michael.
"Colonel Young, Colonel Richardson," said Michael, "I have the feeling this is not about military business."
"No we just wanted to mention about the rehearsal dinner tomorrow," said Kat, "Rehearsal's at four and the dinner is at six."
"We'll make a note of it," said Claudia Joy.
"We've got something else to show you," said Chris reaching into his pocket, pulling out a laminated photo. Claudia Joy and Michael gazed at it with memories flooding them, "That's our baby," said Chris.
"So everything's alright?" asked Claudia Joy.
"Perfect," said Kat relieved.
"How far along?" asked Michael.
"Eleven weeks," said Chris.
"And the baby already has heartbeat. And little fingers and toes," said Kat excitedly.
Claudia Joy smiled. Clearly Kat had accepted and now enjoyed the idea of another baby.
"If I could have everyone's attention please!" shouted Blake to quiet the noise down in the room. Chris snuck the sonogram back into his pocket as Jordan approached them; she still didn't know. The couple wanted to wait until after the wedding to make an announcement about the pregnancy.
"Thank you all for coming! It's great to see family and friends, old faces and new faces," said Tonya, "Blake and I couldn't be more excited to see what the future holds for us and what the adventures of parenthood will bring. But it's really just great to have a reunion and to see all of the interaction." Tonya opened all of her gifts and supplies that the expectant parents would need for the baby. Denise and Claudia Joy also chipped in for a night of free babysitting so the couple could have some alone time after the baby was born.
Later that night, after everyone had gone home, Tonya headed upstairs to find Blake. He wasn't in their bedroom so she wandered down the hall and found him in the nursery. Almost everything was complete minus the toys and clothing they had just received at the shower. Blake looked over at his wife and got up from the rocking chair, "Here, you've been on your feet all day."
Tonya nodded gratefully, "Thank you," she said slowly sitting down, breathing hard.
"You okay?" asked Blake.
"It's just practice contractions. I asked Dr. Lang about them last week and she said unless they get stronger and closer together, it's nothing to worry about," she said, "Babe, I've been thinking about the birth.
"Yeah?" asked Blake crouching down next to her.
"I talked to Dr. Lang about it, and since you're a doctor, and Mom, Denise, and I are nurses, she thinks it would be okay. I think I want to have our baby here."
"You mean? You mean like a homebirth?" asked Blake a little surprised.
"Yeah. I mean I know there are some risks, but the pregnancy's been going well and I'm in perfect health. And if any really bad complications occur, Mercer is right down the street…"
"Honey, I support you 100% if that's what you really want," said Blake taking her hand, "Just surprised that's all."
Tonya shrugged, "I just feel if I was here and could freely move around, eat, and get in the tub or a birth pool, I'll be more relaxed then if I'm stuck in bed in a hospital."
"Yeah, I understand," said Blake. They had both been learning natural coping techniques and hospitals often pushed epidurals. He also knew enough from medical school that homebirth were often more intimate, "Well then in the next few months, we'll make sure that happens. I mean less unforeseen circumstances."
Tonya smiled and stood, "Well I think it's time to put this baby to bed."
Blake smiled and lifted his wife carefully to support her middle, "Bed or sleep?"
"Sleep," Tonya interrupted.
"Right," said Blake carrying her down the hall.
"I don't think you've done this since I arrived at Fort Lee," she chuckled.
"No I don't think I have," he said placing her on the bed, "I love you honey," he said kissing her and then kissed her abdomen, "And I love you too Pumpkin."
Tonya felt movement again. She couldn't get enough of feeling her daughter move within her, "Julia says she loves you too Daddy."
The next chapter will be Chris and Kat's wedding. Please, please, please review!