A/N: Man, this took me FOREVER. I thought it would never get done. And maybe I was kinda holding off a little. But meh. Here it is.

Lindsay hummed to herself as she finished vacuuming the bedroom for the fifth time in a week. She wasn't nesting yet, not really. Or maybe she was. No matter how many times Adam said she was going to wear a hole in the carpet or wreck their furniture from rearranging it so much, she figured she was big and pregnant and could do whatever she wanted. She had the swollen ankles to swing the argument more in her favor anyway. Three months to go and she had yet to deal with hormones and insomnia, so the swollen ankles didn't seem so bad. She'd take what she got.

There was a knock on the door and she walked over, sending up a quick prayer of thanks that she wasn't waddling yet.

"Who is it?" she asked, knowing full well who it was.

"Your best friend in the whole world."

"Didja bring me anything?"

"Just my smiling face."

"No souvenir?"

"I'm too cheap for that."

"And here I thought you loved me."

"Sorry to disappoint. Open this door, lady!"

She swung the door open and was nearly tackled with a hug from Austin.

"You're not a tan bimbo! What a sight for sore eyes."

"Thanks?"

"Holy cow, you're huge!" she exclaimed, stepping back to look at her.

"Yeah, that husband of yours got everyone to call me Hindy."

"Hindy?"

"Short for Hindenburg."

"So you're going to explode in a fiery death?"

"Something like that."

"Can I… touch it?"

"There's no velvet rope around this thing. Of course you can touch it."

Austin giggled and placed her hand on Lindsay's stomach. The baby kicked gently, then rolled around a little before settling back down.

"Wow. I've never really… that is so… do it again."

"I can't make it move," Lindsay giggled, poking at her stomach. "Though sometimes if I do this long enough the kid gets ticked enough to… there ya go."

"That is so weird. There's a kid in there."

"I know. Sometimes I almost forget, and then I get a kick or a jab like "I'm still here mom!" It's the strangest thing I have ever felt in my life."

Austin was quiet, grinning as the baby moved some more, not really enjoying having its space invaded.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I was just thinking that when I left you weren't even showing and now… I feel like I missed a lot."

"Not a lot."

"Don't lie."

"Maybe you missed some stuff, but maybe it was better that way."

"Maybe. I don't want to talk about it right now. All I want to do is go and have a slice of real New York pizza."

"You read my mind. I'm starving. Then again, I'm always starving, so this is nothing new. But yes. Pizza."

"Oh, and can we get a cab? I miss cabs."

"You miss cabs?"

"Same way you miss horses."

"I'm not sure that's the same thing, Aust," Lindsay giggled, grabbing her keys off the counter and sliding into her coat. "Horses have personalities."

"So do cabbies. Sometimes several."

"You can run as far as you want, but this town is in you."

"Can I ask you a question?" Austin said, stirring her soda with her straw.

"Sure."

"How was Danny when I was gone?"

Lindsay sighed.

"He was… Danny. Didn't say much to me, but I know he was worried you wouldn't come home."

"He said that?"

"Not in so many words, but he told me that you took off once before. And just the way he said it made me think he was still worried."

"It was a long time ago. I was stupid back then."

"But to him you're still you."

"I really screwed up," she said, dropping her head into her hands.

"No you didn't. You had to get out of here. And Danny knew that. He let you go because he loves you and he knew you needed space."

"I got to leave and he didn't."

"He dealt with it in his own way. But you're home now. It's going to be better."

"I know."

"Are you really okay? I mean, you went to a very non-Austin place for a very long time."

"I know. I just never expected it, you know? It took Danny months to convince me that I could actually be a mother and then… I guess the miscarriage just kind of confirmed what I thought already. Maybe it shouldn't have, but it did."

"Yeah."

"I still don't know how I should feel. It's been months and most of the time I'm fine, but every once in a while."

"Can I ask you something now?"

"Yeah."

"When you left… I mean… did it have anything to do with me?"

"A little. It wasn't that I wasn't happy for you. I was just so sad for myself. And I didn't want that to come between us. Because I really needed you."

"I'm always here, no matter what. We're best friends, remember?"

"Yeah. So that means next time you get pregnant you tell me, because I'll still love you."

"Deal."

"In the name of full disclosure, wanna know something?"

"I always do, especially if it's making you smile like that."

"Well… I haven't told Danny yet, but there's a reason I came home."

"Really?"

"You know, he came out to see me a few times."

"Yeah?"

"I guess my grandmother would call it "being in a family way" but-"

"You're pregnant?"

"Yeah."

"My heart explodeth with happiness," Lindsay said with a giggle.

"Mine too. And terrified-ness. I've been dying to tell someone but I wanted to wait and I want to make it just right when I tell Danny, so don't say a word, okay?"

"I won't, but I might clap my hands and dance around a little bit."

"I thought it would be forever before it happened again. I still don't know if I'm ready, and I'm still freaking out. You're going to have to pass on any mommy wisdom you've gotten, okay?"

"Done. Man, this is like a romcom where the friends are pregnant at the same time."

"Hormones ensue."

"Husbands freak out."

"Box office hit."

They spent the afternoon watching Gilmore Girls and discussing the finer points of who should have ended up with whom. It had been a long two months without much talking and they had missed each other a lot. Husbands were one thing, friends were another, and they had been deprived for way too long.

Lindsay was stretched out along the couch in the most comfortable position she could manage, which really wasn't saying much. Her back was aching from the walking they had done and the movement of the baby wasn't helping very much.

"You cannot possibly be comfortable like that," Austin muttered, not looking up from the tattered copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting. "Can you even breathe?"

"Not really but my ankles don't feel so swollen."

"Robbing Peter to pay Paul?"

"Just you wait. This won't be so funny in six months when you can't get out of a chair without help."

"Shut your dirty rotten mouth."

Lindsay giggled and tugged on a strand of Austin's hair.

"The sun really did a number on you," she teased. "I think you could pull off blonde."

"You're insane. Danny would kill me."

"Yeah, he probably would. Heh, you as a blonde."

"That would be atrocious. Let's stop talking about it."

"Alright, alright. You want to stay for dinner?"

"Yes, but I should probably get home and feed Danny. Heavens knows he's been eating nothing but Chinese food and pizza for two months."

"How is that different than when you're home?"

"I would hit you with this book if you weren't with child."

"He ate some real food sometimes. Stella asked him everyday if he had eaten a vegetable. And pizza sauce didn't count."

"That's sweet."

"Of course, the peppers on a cheesesteak do count, so usually he could say yes. We did take care of him though. I promise."

"I appreciate it."

She stood up from the floor and stretched, sliding into her shoes and grabbing her coat.

"See ya later, Hindy. And good luck on your coming up with names date tonight."

"Don't worry, I won't let him talk me into Gerta."

"And all is right in the world. Love you."

"Love you too."

Austin slipped out the door and Lindsay sighed, putting her hand over the spot where the baby had decided to kick her repeatedly.

"What should we make for dinner kid? I think daddy might be tired of the ice-cream you keep requesting."

She struggled up off the couch and made her way into the kitchen, pulling open the fridge for inspiration. There wasn't much in there other than the few things she had been craving, none of which made dinner. She briefly considered going to the store, but didn't want to put out the effort. She felt like a slug, and she didn't really like that. She wanted to go and be active again, but it took so much energy that by the time she talked herself into it, she was already exhausted.

The phone rang and she made her way to it gracefully, wondering briefly if she had lost track of time and magically become nine months pregnant instead of six.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe."

"Hi. Are you coming home?"

"Yeah. Please tell me you haven't started dinner."

"Ironic that you should say that. Because I haven't."

"Good. We're going out. I forgot to tell you before."

"You forgot to tell me, or you just forgot?"

"A little of both. I would have remembered if I would have remembered to tell you."

"I think this is called a paradox? No. Not a paradox. But something like that. You know what I mean."

"Yes, I do. Can you be ready in twenty minutes?"

"What's the rush, honey?"

"Nothing. I just thought we could avoid some traffic if we leave earlier."

"I can try to be ready but you might have to wait for me a little. You didn't make reservations did you?"

"Nope. I can wait for you for a while."

"Alright, I'll go get my face on, but it's not my fault if I only manage to line one of my eyes."

"Aw, our wedding vows."

She giggled.

"I love you."

"Love you too. I'll be home soon."

It was much too cold for Coney Island and it was closed up for the season, but they walked along the beach anyway, slowly as the sun made its way down behind the city. The wind was still and they seemed to be the only ones around enjoying the peace and quiet. Their hands were joined, fingers loosely laced together, occasionally bumping shoulders as they went.

"I kind of like Tyson," she said on a sigh.

"Like the chicken?"

"No, like the name."

"I am not naming my kid after chicken."

"It's not chicken, it's a name!"

"But everyone will think chicken. Just like everyone will think hat if we named it Stetson."

"Or jeans if we go with Levi," she agreed, feeling slightly defeated.

"Exactly. Now buck up, we've only been through ten names."

"But we haven't even gotten to girls yet. I think we should just wait and see what pops out and name it the first thing that comes to mind."

"So you want to call our kid Epidural?"

"Epi is kind of a cute nickname."

"You'd annoy me if I didn't love you so much Linds."

"I don't know how to respond to that, but I think I'll just laugh."

"I thought you would be more… I don't know, screechy about this."

"We'll find names, I'm not worried. How about Tristan?"

"Too girly."

"Tucker."

"Dog name."

"Travis."

"Randy Travis and Travis Tritt. What is up with the T names?"

"Hmm. I don't know. Hank?"

"Dog name and who wants to be a synonym for a tissue?"

"Okay, why don't you suggest some names?"

"Fine. Colton."

She stopped in her tracks and smiled.

"We should have started with you. I like that."

"Really?"

"Yeah. A lot. And it fits with the Matthew we already picked for the middle name. I think we can actually put this one on the list."

"The list? With pen?"

"I think so."

He took the pen and paper out of his pocket and wrote the name down with a smile.

"Want to talk girls names now?"

"I think you should go first. You know, for luck."

"How about… Lucky?"

"Dear Universe, that was a joke, don't jinx us. Love, the woman who is about to kick her husband's butt."

"Okay, okay. Lynn."

"That's a middle name. Next."

"Cassidy. Erin. Makenzie. Olivia. Bailey."

"Okay stop, I can't keep up!" she giggled, elbowing him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. They stood like that for a few minutes, until the wind picked up and forced them back to the shelter of the car and to the warmth of home.

"You know what I was thinking?" Adam asked, shutting off the overhead light and closing the bedroom door.

"That you're going to take that t-shirt off before you get into bed?" Lindsay replied with a raised eyebrow.

"The things I do for you," he muttered, peeling the shirt off and tossing it on the floor.

"I'm sorry, but I get a headache from the smell of the detergent mixed with your body wash."

"You don't make me go shirtless during the day."

"It doesn't bother me during the day," she explained with a shrug as he crawled into bed next to her.

"You know, you can't use this pregnant excuse forever."

"I can if we have twenty four kids. And then I'll use menopause."

"I love you, but you're trouble."

"I try my best," she said, turning off her bedside lamp and wriggling under the blankets.

"So do you wanna hear what I was thinking or not?"

"Of course I do."

"I was thinking that we are both total failures."

"Failures? Why?"

"Tomorrow is our anniversary and we both forgot."

"I… didn't forget."

"Yes you did."

"Maybe a little."

"We suck."

"Okay, we'll do better next year."

"Deal."

She sighed and half rolled over, trying to find a happy medium between the charley horse in her leg and the tightness in her back and the general discomfort that being pregnant offered.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Will you just… I don't know. Will you rub my stomach?"

"If you give me three wishes," he commented, moving to fulfill her request.

"I think we've played this game before," she said on a sigh, closing her eyes as his hand moved over her skin.

"I don't think you gave me any wishes that time either."

"At least we have a tradition. That feels good by the way," she mentioned. His hands were dry from overuse of latex gloves, callused from holding a stick during street hockey, but still soft and gentle when he touched her. She pictured his hands tenderly holding a newborn, cradling the small head, safely embracing the new life against him, where it would always be safe. Her breath hitched in her throat before she even knew she was crying.

"Hon, what's the matter?"

"Nothing," she answered, wiping away the tears. "Nothing. It's just hormones."

"You sure?"

She nodded and he leaned up to kiss her.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, brushing her hair back from her face. "I wish I could keep you all to myself forever. But that… that's just too selfish. Not the way I roll."

She smiled and ran her hand over his chest.

"Will you hold me?"

"I love when you ask me that," he said, readjusting. "Of course I will."

They settled into each other, and he pulled the blankets around them.

"Adam?"

"Hmm?"

"I read this article-"

"Oh great."

"And it said that sometimes parents forget each other after the baby is born. They don't mean to. But sometimes it happens. I don't want it to. I don't want us to not be us anymore."

"We'll be fine, sweetheart. I promise, we're going to make time for each other. Time for just you and me. And maybe it won't happen at first, but we're going to get there."

"Okay."

"You want to take off for a few days? One last hurrah before our days are filled with crying and diapers?"

"Yes please. Can we?"

"I'll see what I can figure out. It's going to be fine honey. You're just scared right now."

"Yeah."

"Go to sleep. I'm going to be here in the morning."

"You always are."

"I love you, Lindsay."

"I love you too."