Hey guys,

I know it has been quite a while since I updated this fic, but I still get reviews, so I am so grateful for all of you! I really hope you all still follow and enjoy this story.

I will try and update more frequently, but I can't make any promises.

Please enjoy the new chapter!

Jo sighed and closed her eyes, leaning back into the pillow behind her head. She almost felt guilty, but she was relieved her kids had gone home for the night. They had come to the hospital as soon as they heard what happened, and though it had been great to see them, she was tired and was glad she could stop pretending she was not. Her hands found the small bump of her stomach, and she rubbed her thumbs over it slowly, a relieved smile on her face. It had been a close call, but thanks to Don getting her to the hospital as soon as he did, her baby and she were alright. Don had practically scooped her up and carried her to one of the patrol cars, using the sirens when he rushed her to the emergency room. He had stayed with her until her children had come. He had quietly left then, promising he would come by soon to see if she was alright. She had also talked to Lindsay on the phone, who asked if she and the rest of the team could come over, but Jo had told her she preferred if they didn't. She expected them to be here tomorrow though. Hopefully she didn't have to stay for much longer than that. A sharp knock on the door startled her from her thoughts, and she turned her head to see who was still visiting her. In the doorway of her hospital room was standing Mac, carrying a small bouquet of flowers. Jo immediately pulled her hands away from her stomach and straightened up as best as she could, not feeling it was necessary to greet Mac as politely as she normally would. They weren't at work now. Mac was the one to break the short awkward silence.

'Can I come in?' Jo stared at him for a moment, but then nodded. If he took the trouble of coming to see her, she would take the trouble of listening to what he had to say. She was also relieved that he appeared to be alone, no sign of Christine.

'I brought you flowers.' Mac said, holding them a little closer to her. Jo nodded.

'They are lovely, thank you.' She said with a small smile. Mac indicated to a vase standing on a side table in her room.

'Shall I put them in water?'

'Sure, go ahead.' It took him a moment to put the flowers in the vase. They were gardenias. She liked them. After he finished, he walked towards the chair standing next to her bed, but waited for her nod of approval before he sat down in it. He took a deep breath.

'I heard what happened. Are you alright?' Jo nodded.

'We're fine.' She said. Mac grimaced and then sighed, his face falling, and for the first time ever, Jo thought he looked truly miserable. He quickly schooled his features and looked back up at her.

'I am glad about that, Jo, I truly am. And I apologize about the way I behaved today.' Jo couldn't help but raise her eyebrow, and Mac didn't fail to notice.

'And for the past few weeks.' He added. Jo nodded. She was happy he apologized, but it did nothing to change their situation.

'I still don't understand why, Mac. Why you acted so angrily towards me. I never asked you for anything.'

'I know Jo, that's why I'm apologizing. I do need you to know I was honest, although in quite a terrible way.' She smirked and rolled her eyes inwardly. Understatement of the year.

'I love Christine.' Jo nodded, although her heart ached. She had known that. She knew that! But it still hurt the part of her that had hoped that maybe, somewhere, he loved her more. He didn't.

'But I can maybe, help you out, and be a father for the child, if you want me too? You know, learning it to ride a bike, things like that.' He smiled. That goofy, personal smile she loved so much. She smiled too, but didn't say anything.

'And I will pay child support, of course. And maybe we can make some arrangement, in which I can take care of the child too, if that's what you want.' Jo sighed.

'Mac, you are the father of this child, and I would love for this child to grow up with a loving father. And I won't take your chance to be a father from you Mac, but you have got to give me some time.'

'I understand.' Mac nodded. She sighed relieved.

'We still have quite some time to go before the baby is here.' Jo frowned and sighed.

'What about Christine? Is she going to be okay with a baby running around the house that isn't hers?' Something in her was hurt by the fact Christine would be her baby's stepmother, although she had no doubt Christine would be a good one. Maybe her hurt was also part jealousy.

'She wasn't happy. I only told her this afternoon. She didn't know the child was mine when we saw you earlier. But she is okay with it. At least she says so.' Jo nodded and turned to look away from Mac.

'Is it okay if we talk about this later? You don't have to be involved in me or the pregnancy, just, be a good father when the time comes, okay?'

'I will.' Mac said, still looking at her. He looked like he wanted to say more, but Jo quickly cut him off. She wasn't in the mood to talk.

'I'm really tired Mac, it's been a long day.'

'I understand. Can I get you anything?' Jo shook her head.

'My kids brought over everything I need here, plus I don't think they'll keep me here very long. I'm probably not at work for the rest of the week though, maybe even longer.'

'I'll make sure that's being handled. Can I come over another time later this week?' His eyes looked hopeful.

'I'll let you know. I have a lot of checkups still, and I really need to rest…'

'Checkups? As in ultrasounds?'

'Yeah, probably.' Jo said, sounding mildly confused.

'Can I be there? At least for one of them, I'd love to see…'

'I'd rather you weren't, I'm sorry.' Jo said. The disappointment on Mac's face hurt even her.

'It's just, it's a little too soon Mac.' Mac nodded understandingly.

'You're right, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry.'

'I know.' Jo said.

'I have an older ultrasound, it's a short video. I could send it to you, if you'd like.' Mac's face lit up.

'I would love that.' He said.

'But I'll let you rest. I'm glad we could talk, and I hope you feel better soon.'

'Me too. Thank you Mac. And goodnight.' This time, there was a genuine smile on her face.

'Goodnight Jo.' He said, before walking out of her room.

/

Jo had been released from the hospital a few days ago, and was lying in her bed, reading a book. She had been right. The doctor had released her from the hospital after only two days, but had put her on bedrest for the rest of the week, with another week of taking it easy ('So no work, detective Danville, I mean it.') following it. And she was trying to. But she was also bored, and the conversation she had had with Mac kept playing through her mind. She knew she would have to call him one day, but she didn't feel like it. She was still hurt, and if she admitted it, heartbroken. The only conversation she had had with him was when she had sent him the video of her twelve week appointment, and he had responded to her, saying it was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. It had made her smile when she read it.

'Mom?' Jo looked up to her daughter standing at the foot of her bed, carrying a tray with two steaming teacups and a plate with Jo's favorite chocolate cookies.

'Ellie, oh honey that's wonderful, thank you.' Ellie smiled and placed the tray at the end of the bed, carefully sitting down on the other side, next to her mother.

'You're welcome, thought you might want to talk some, before you really bore yourself to death.' She joked. Jo laughed.

'Not a bad idea at all, El. How was school?'

'It was good, I had an A for biology.' Although she tried not to gloom, Ellie beamed with pride. And of course, so did Jo.

'Good job baby girl, I'm so proud of you.' Ellie shrugged and smiled, grabbing a cookie from the plate and handing her mother another one.

'How has your day been, momma?' Jo rolled her eyes.

'It's been a wonderful day for Mr. Darcy to be an asshole to Ms. Bennett, but in my world, nothing much has happened.'

'Bedrest is nothing for you, I can imagine.' Ellie laughed.

'I'm glad you're taking it easy though. You scared us.' Ellie said, her voice sounding soft and insecure. Jo slowly stroked her daughter's cheek.

'I know honey, and I'm sorry. But I'm alright, okay? We're both fine.' She tried to reassure her daughter. Ellie smiled and reached out to softly rub her mother's growing belly.

'I know. How has the little one's day been?' Jo laughed at her daughter's enthusiasm.

'Quite good, I think. Quite active, I might add.' Jo grinned. Ellie looked at her with confusion for a moment, but then her eyes widened with realization.

'You could feel the baby move?' She exclaimed.

'Yes, I'm pretty sure I did.' Jo smiled and placed her hand on her belly lovingly. Ellie placed her hand over her mother's.

'What does it feel like? I read that it feels like a butterfly's wings or something.' Jo thought about it for a minute.

'You could say something like that. It feels like a fluttering, or like a little fish swimming around in your belly.' She laughed at the slightly uncomfortable face her daughter made.

'Not in a creepy way, I promise. It feels truly wonderful. In a little while you might be able to feel the baby kick. Now that might feel creepy.' She added laughingly. Ellie smiled and cuddled closer to her mother.

'I can't wait.'