Nectarine, avocado, beetroot, sweet potato and mango weeks now gone, Andy was absolutely delighted to see his wife's body change with the life growing inside her. He felt like he was rediscovering the fatherhood path. He had never had the chance to be so involved and supportive of a pregnancy. Actually, he had lived twice the experience but their little miracle was proving him once again how different it was to go through it with the right person. With Sharon, everything felt so much better, so much deeper, so much more right. Thinking back, he felt so lucky that things had developed that well for them. It really hadn't been easy to keep going without each other for years and finally they were able to live their love to the fullest. No more hiding, no more suppressing their feelings. How good it felt to love her and spoil her every day without thinking twice about it. Andy had never been happier in his whole life.

Sharon was getting into her fifth month and rocking it. He was breath-taken, in awe of the ease with which she was managing her new condition despite all the compromises. She was juggling with work, the house and Rusty, while still growing a healthy baby so far. He was trying to help and support her as much as he could so that she wouldn't overdo it but he could see she had found her pace. She kept feeling scared, hesitant, not fully free to express how happy she was to be pregnant. It felt like looking over her shoulder expecting something wrong to happen. So Andy was doing his best to show her he would be there no matter what and held her whenever she needed him to reassure her. They were a tremendous team together, completing each other harmoniously.

The doctor had told them they could relax a bit as there was no reason to worry about the baby up until that point. The fetus was growing normally and seemed stronger and stronger every day. Hearing that had helped Sharon a lot. She felt a little more relaxed and did all she could to keep positive about the situation. After all, if things had happened this way, it was because they were meant to be this way and all she could do now was trust the fate.

/

Lately, Sharon had started struggling with insomnia. She was beyond exhausted but she wouldn't get more than 3 or 4 hours of sleep each night which seemed endless sometimes. The shadows under her eyes kept growing and darkening, yet all she had tried hadn't helped much. Andy had been so heartwarming with her pregnancy issues. As soon as he noticed she was awake and struggling to get back to sleep, he'd start massaging her scalp, caressing her arm up and down or drawing patterns on her now visible baby bump. Having a small figure and being pregnant for the fourth time, Sharon had started showing quite early on – as Rusty and Andy had predicted. She could no longer hide their precious little miracle and she was glowing with happiness to be creating life once again. Not mentioning that this time was very special as it was Andy's baby. A little girl or a little boy would enlighten their lives soon enough and she couldn't be more thrilled at the thought of giving birth to their baby. For now though, all she wanted was to rest so that her body would be strong to help the baby grow as well as possible.

Tonight was no different. Insomnia. Sweet pepper week had been full of sleepless nights. Although it was a major pregnancy issue, she knew it was definitely amplified because of her current concerns.

Andy started stirring in his sleep. She had probably awoken him with her tossing and turning.

- You okay? he murmured, gently caressing her belly.

- Yes… she sighed.

- Can't sleep again, Andy concluded now used to it.

- Yup…

- Relax, honey, he made soothing movements on her arm, delicately going up and down to help her release her stress. You're all tense, he added quite factually making his observation.

He rose on his elbow and started kissing the side of her face to then kiss her neck which made her lips quiver.

- Everything's gonna be alright, I promise, he whispered in her ear.

- You're probably right… it's just… I can't help it, she explained desperate with her own anxiety issues.

- What are you scared of? he asked meaning to help her let whatever was bothering her out.

- I don't know… what if the kids don't take the news well? Emily will probably be happy about a new brother or sister, but Ricky… he's already so hostile to the idea of including Rusty in our family even if it's only temporary…

- Yes, I know. But with Rusty it's still different. Looking at it from his point of view, Rusty is a teenager you're helping out, he doesn't know anything about him except that he's a troubled teen. Not very reassuring. With a new baby in the family, it's his brother or sister although not from the same father, he tried to lay out the facts to help her see the kids would be just fine.

- Okay… but on your side it's even worse… You know how hard it was on Nicole and Joey when you left Charlotte. The kids didn't handle it too well at first and they needed quite some time to adjust to the new family we formed. We're finally at peace with it, back to a normal and even loving relationship with them… What if it brings them back to hating me and our family… not to mention my dread concerning Charlotte's reaction. I know I probably don't make sense… I'm just willing to keep positive about the baby and I'm afraid that it might not be possible anymore if the kids don't accept it.

- I understand and I know you, Sweetheart, you're a worrier but I can promise you, everything's gonna be alright, you'll see, he kissed her cheek again.

- I hope so, she sighed while her hand met his and squeezed it.

- I know it's important for you to have a harmonious family, you always want everyone to be happy and it's something I love about you. But if you look at it from my point of view, you'll see that nothing can darken our happiness.

- Please, Lieutenant, enlighten me with your point of view then, she chuckled gently.

- See, we've spent half of our lives looking for each other. It feels like it was ages ago. But only 3 years ago, we were away from each other, we hadn't seen each other in over a decade and we were both unhappy thinking we would never get to be back together. Look at us now… we're married and I couldn't be happier about my life with you, Sharon. And we're pregnant, Sweetheart! Isn't that huge? I'm so happy to be able to see you become a mother again – and with my child nonetheless! he chuckled. So, you know, of course I'd be even happier to have our kids supporting us… but if they don't or if they need some time to get used to the idea, I don't care much because all I truly want and need is to enjoy the incredible luck we got by being blessed with a baby that will be ours. I really thought we would never get the chance to live that together and I'm forever thankful for this miracle. Life is worth living only if I can share it with you and that's honestly all I need.

By the time Andy had finished exposing his very endearing point of view, Sharon had turned over to face him and nuzzled in the crook of his neck, silent tears running down her cheeks. How could she not love him every day more than yesterday. He knew exactly what to tell her to make her feel better and safe in his embrace. She felt seen and heard with him, and most important of all, she felt understood. Things were always so natural. They always managed to fix whatever problem they would face and that made her feel so secure. He would never give up on her as much as she would never give up on him. She was crying, not because she was sad but because she felt overwhelmed with joy. Indeed, life was worth living only if they could spend it together. The years had passed at the speed of light, but it felt good and important to remind themselves how hard it all had been before reaching that point in their lives. It had sometimes felt so bad and hurtful, empty and devastating to be apart, life constantly throwing challenges at them. They had overcome so many obstacles to finally be able to simply love each other and be together that he was right, nothing could darken their happiness now. The children would probably come around after taking in the news anyways, the most important being their love and the baby's health.

Andy knew it was hard on her, her children were everything to her. He wished nothing else than to have a happy family and feel the support from the four of their children. But he wanted Sharon to see the positive, to see beyond their kids' reaction because after all it wouldn't change anything to the love and joy they felt inside.

That night was one of the few nights where she managed to fall back to sleep surrounded by the warm arms of her man, the one she had fought so hard to be with. Every difficult moment she had spent waiting and fighting for him had been more than worth it because now he was hers and she was his, blessed with a new baby on the way. What else could she ask for? Sharon drifted off nuzzled into his neck, inhaling his reassuring scent. She was where she belonged, and it felt magical.

/

They had agreed on meeting in a somewhat fancy but cozy place Nicole had enthusiastically recommended. For once, their four children would be there and Rusty had volunteered to take part in the announcement as well. Both Sharon and Andy had been surprised by his proposition but they couldn't be happier to have at least one kid rooting for them. Maybe it would make the other four come around faster than expected.

Sharon felt guilty for keeping her children in the dark for so long. They would probably be shocked as she had now a quite curved stomach, something she definitely couldn't disguise anymore. She strategically thought of wearing a loose summer dress, hoping for her condition to be a little less obvious so that she would have a chance to make her announcement properly before they would be able to figure it out by themselves.

As she made her first steps into the restaurant alongside Andy and Rusty, she noticed the children were already there. When they caught sight of them, Nicole, Joey, Emily and Ricky rose from their chair to greet their parents and Rusty. Of course, her little girl was the first one to throw herself into her warm motherly arms but suddenly stopped in her tracks when she felt something unusual between them. Emily's puzzled eyes travelled from her mother's stomach to her eyes back and forth before she drew her own conclusions.

- Mum! Emily exclaimed in shock while smiling, her eyes wide open and her eyebrows meeting her hairline.

Sharon's lips curved upwards and her cheeks flushed red, feeling self-conscious, noticing everyone's attention was now fully on her. Her attempt at hiding her bump a little longer was obviously not successful at all. Andy met her pleading eyes and took over.

- Why don't we all sit down so that we can tell you all about our last few weeks? he invited everyone to take their seat with a hand gesture and continued. So! As you probably noticed, he chuckled, we have something to announce, his gaze met hers as if they were agreeing that Sharon should be the one telling them.

- As surprising as it might sound to you… All of you are gonna be blessed with another sibling, she gracefully expressed.

- We're pregnant! Andy added proudly grabbing his wife's hand under the table, as if her way to put it hadn't been clear enough for the kids.

Nicole and Emily looked at each other gasping in surprise. Thankfully, they were smiling which helped Sharon relax a little. Emily was about to say something when she got interrupted by the boys bursting into laughter.

- What's so funny? asked Sharon feeling suddenly tense again.

- Mum, what a joke! We almost bought it! You're good! Ricky kept chuckling not quite understanding he was putting his foot in it.

- Ricky… she started using a more serious and low-pitched tone.

- It's not a joke, boys, Andy added while tightening her hand in his.

- What?! Joey blurted out.

- You guys are so stupid, you're upsetting her! Congratulations, Mum! Congratulations, Andy! Don't mind these two idiots! Emily tried to reassure her mother and grabbed her hand from across the table.

- Yes, congratulations! This is so… unexpected! added Nicole, still quite under shock.

- How far along are you, Mum? Emily already getting into details.

- Reaching the end of sweet pepper week, answered Rusty who'd been silent so far.

Everyone burst into laughter which brought Rusty himself to start chuckling. Thanks to him, the atmosphere lightened and they started talking about how it all had happened. Sharon and Andy shortly explained the car crash, passing on the scary details not willing to worry the kids too much. She still managed to explain the uncertain nature of her pregnancy while trying her best to keep positive about the outcome. The girls were more than excited, dying to know whether it was a boy or a girl. But Andy and Sharon wanted to keep it a surprise although Sharon had her own intuition. They hadn't forgotten to mention how helpful and sweet Rusty had been with the situation which made him blush a little, happy to feel included.

- Have you guys started the nursery? asked Ricky out of nowhere.

- Oh no, honey, not yet! Up until a few weeks ago, we were so careful not quite knowing if the baby would make it through the first trimester that we didn't dare to step into that just yet. A few more weeks and we'll start looking into it, I guess, her eyes met Andy's again, which made him lean into her and drop a kiss on her right temple.

- I'd like to help with the crib and everything… if that's okay? asked Ricky, surprising everyone.

Endeared with his interest in helping with the nursery, she released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding ever since she had made her way into the restaurant. Their children were wrapping themselves around the news and she couldn't be happier about their urge to already be part of the baby's life. They would be the harmonious and loving family she had always dreamt of. With Andy by her side, she didn't need anything else to be the happiest woman.

/

Getting ready for bed after the long and stressful day she had spent, Sharon met her reflection in the bathroom mirror and was forced to face how her body was changing by the day. Each day, she could feel her body adjust to her baby slowly growing inside her. What a special feeling. Carrot week now around the corner, she was well into her fifth month and glowing with happiness, although she could also see how marked she was by the passing of the years. She wasn't that young anymore, but all she cared about was for her body to be strong enough to carry the baby to term. Nothing less, nothing more.

Time had flown and she hadn't realized she had been in the bathroom for so long until Andy knocked, worry discernable in his voice and on his face when he popped his head through the door's gap. He then came in and wrapped his arms around his wife he so loved. He was so proud of her, the sacrifices he knew she was making to help their baby grow safely. As was his usual habit, he kissed her neck instinctively, goofily smiling and looking at her in the mirror.

- Pregnancy really becomes you, Sharon. You're so beautiful… his hands came on both sides of her belly and hers naturally came over them. Thank you for all you're doing for us right now. I know how exhausted you are.

- Oh Andy… thank you for making it all so easy for me, her left hand came on the side of his face. I wouldn't be able to do it without you.

They turned their heads facing each other and kissed. She gasped in their kiss, her eyes opening wide and they quickly left each other's lips. They both looked at her bump and started laughing.

- Yes, Sweetheart, it's Daddy… she smiled warmly caressing Andy's hand which was still resting softly against the right side of her belly.

The baby had kicked for the very first time right under his palm. Andy's eyes were shinning with love and she felt her heart melt on the spot at the adorable sight of his happiness. She had been feeling a sort of fluster the last few days but nothing perceivable from the outside. She had identified the kicks as she had noticed a pattern but unfortunately Andy hadn't been able to feel them yet, up until that very moment. Andy lowered himself until his head was at her stomach's level and murmured loving words to the baby which earned him another kick in the same spot. He cheered and chuckled to the baby's reaction, the feeling of his baby's little kicks overwhelming him to tears. He stood again and through his watery eyes he murmured to his wife an emotional I love you, letting his hand stay a little longer on the side of her prominent bump and the other one now diving into her hair.

They remained silent for a few seconds because no words could be strong enough to describe what they both felt in their chest. Andy grabbed his wife's hand in his and led her to their bed where he helped her settle comfortably. He then went around to his side and pulled her into his embrace. His hand finally met her bump again where it would stay all night long, his very special way to tell their baby Daddy would always be there, no matter what.