RATING ALERT: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A M RATED CHAPTER

Mid November - 16 weeks

It was almost dawn when Shelagh went back to bed after her second wee of the night.

She couldn't sleep, with too many thoughts in her mind. Top of the list was finding the right way and opportunity to break the news to children and their friends. She had entered her fourth month, everything was going well and her pregnancy was now pretty evident.

She turned towards Patrick, who was sleeping peacefully. He was handsome and at that moment she just wanted to wake him up and make love to him, another recurring thought that kept her awake.

Maybe if she had approached him, she could have wake him from that deep sleep. She tried, but without success. She then slid her hand down his chest, starting to caress him with her fingers.

"Mh…" he muttered.

"Patrick…?" she whispered.

Worried that something had happened, he opened his eyes suddenly and get up.

"Are you OK? Did something happen?"

"Nothing happened, I just can't sleep…"

"Come here…" said, welcoming her in his arms and then closing his eyes again.

"Patrick...I was thinking that it's now time to tell the children…and everyone else! We can't wait any longer and I can't keep hiding it under my coat hoping that no one will notice…but how? When?"

"Shelagh…we're not doing it on a Sunday morning at 6 am. We'll find a way, I promise...try to sleep now" reassured her.

"Patrick…" She started again, this time raising her head to be able to look him in the eyes while she continued to trace small circles with her fingers, sliding further and further downwards.

"Mh…?"

"I was thinking…"

"What?" he asked her, even though he understood perfectly what she was referring to, since her hand had reached the elastic of his bottoms.

"Well, you know…it would be a shame not taking advantage of this moment. The children will sleep for a while longer..."

"Indeed, why should we waste an opportunity like this?"

The journey into pleasure had started with a kiss, then another and another still. Fingers that traveled all over their bodies in the dark, hands that removed every piece of clothing that could hinder that intimate exploration.

Caressing every centimeter of skin, they focused on the points that most gave voice to sighs and moans. In the meantime, they savored each other, their tongues engaged in an exhausting battle amplifying the pleasure that, with every breath and sigh, increased in intensity.

Patrick interrupted that kiss, just because there was still a whole beautiful body to go through.

He descended down the neck, stopping right behind her ear, sure of the "Oh Patrick!" that would have followed. Then again, along the line of her collarbone, down to her breasts, significantly transformed with pregnancy. And further, along the central line of her abdomen, until he reached that round and now evident belly. Almost there he thought, while tracing the path that separated him from the goal with a series of small kisses. In response, Shelagh arched her body to help reach the finish line.

He took his time to pleasure her, once, twice. He could see her stifling moans into his pillow. A sublime vision, it was hard to maintain his control in front of so much beauty.

Patrick climbed back towards her, supporting himself with his forearms. Their eyes were once again aligned and burning with passion, their breaths quick and eager, longing for what lay ahead. A kiss, then another.

It was time for the grand finale, their bodies ready to become one.

He entered gently. No rush. He felt Shelagh trembling as she suffocated a moan against his shoulder.

"Are you ok?" he asked to be sure.

"Do. Not. Stop." pleaded him.

He slid inside her and then started to move slowly before increasing the pace. After ten years, he knew how to take her on the edge and beyond, to reach the highest peaks of pleasure. She also knew how to perfectly respond and it did not take long for her to get into action, going along with his movements. Partners also between the sheets, they moved with elegance and perfect coordination.

Patrick recognized the change in her breathing, the volume of her moans rising.

"Are you close?"

"Please, come with me..."

They exploded in perfect sync and were flooded by a river of endorphins that shook their bodies.

They laid embraced, still and speechless, just listening to their heavy breathing.

They closed their eyes, surrendering to numbness... a fantastic feeling of peace…

…interrupted by a knock on the door that made them wake up with a start.

"Mommy! Daddy! Wakey wakey! It's my birthday!" shouted the brand new 6 years old, already full of energy.

"Oh my God…it's not even 7am!" stated Patrick looking at his alarm-clock.

"Maybe if we pretend not to hear him, he'll go back to bed..." Shelagh whispered in the (vain) hope that Teddy would return to his room.

She was a wonderful mother but the thought of his son finding them naked in bed was worst than suggesting to ignore their little child.

"Shelagh, if we don't answer, Teddy will be walking through that door in thirty seconds! He's your son and if he wants something, you know he won't stop until he gets it!" Patrick replied in a low voice as he jumped out of bed trying to get dressed as quickly as possible while passing the clothes that didn't belong to him to his wife.

Meanwhile he started a negotiation with Teddy, who kept knocking and asking permission to get in.

"Teddy, keep it down! or you'll wake everyone up! It's not even 7am yet..."

"May and Angela are already here…"

"Daddy, can we come in? Please?" He recognized his daughters' voices.

There was no chance. He was overcome with hopelessness when he realized that the presence of children in their bed was not something ending any time soon, on the contrary... They were about to add another element that - no doubts - would strenuously continue the tradition for several more years.

He stole a few more seconds, trying with a desperate and rather ineffective "Mom is still sleeping…".

After all he just needed enough time to put on his pajama bottoms and make sure they both looked presentable.

Shelagh was leaning against the back of the bed, laughing at the whole scene.

He finally opened the door by announcing:

"No running OR jumping on the bed. Are we clear?" he commanded with his index finger pointing towards that awesome trio before picking up the birthday boy.

He collected three Yes, daddy in unison.

"Happy birthday little soldier!" he said then, kissing his beloved son on the head.

Shelagh had made room for the girls, who in the meantime had slipped under the covers next to her. After bringing Teddy closer to his mother to let her kiss him happy birthday, Patrick placed the boy on his side to prevent him from accidentally hitting Shelagh's belly.

The little one was super excited because in the afternoon there would be his birthday party with all his friends. Sister Julienne had taken charge of the organization and helped Shelagh prepare the refreshments.

While Angela and May complained that the theme of the party was boyish and they didn't like it at all, Teddy kept asking why he couldn't have a little dog like Nothing, since May had gotten another rabbit for her birthday. With all her patience, Shelagh tried to calm the spirits and that chorus of shrill voices.

It was chaos, as usual, but it was the most beautiful chaos...Patrick thought.

Suddenly he realized that this was the perfect opportunity they had been waiting for. Furthermore, they just have to give the news to their kids and let them spread the word: everyone in Poplar would know about the baby within a few days.

Those kids would have been more effective than an all points bulletin.

"The reason you can't have a little dog is that you are about to receive a much bigger gift! Such a great and special gift that will be enough for all of us."

Teddy looked at him in amazement and exclaimed "Smashing! What is that?"

"It starts with the letter B… and…"

"A bicycle!" Teddy tried to guess. He had been asking for it for months now.

Patrick and Shelagh chuckled...because that was actually the present he was going to receive for his birthday.

"We said it's a very special gift and it's for everyone Teddy…" his mother reminded him.

"And…it's in this room!" Patrick announced emphatically.

The children began to look around in confusion, not really being able to imagine what it could be.

"I'll tell you more…it's right here in this bed!" Patrick added, now amused by that unexpected treasure hunt.

Angela and May looked around, timidly trying to guess...

"Getting colder girls…"

Then Teddy randomly looked under the covers...

"Getting warmer Teddy!"

In an instant three little heads disappeared under the duvet to re-emerge even more confused than before. Patrick waved Shelagh to get off the bed. He did the same and approached her. Hugging her from behind, he covered her belly with his large hands.

First Angela, then May and finally Teddy emerged disappointed and empty-handed.

"What is it daddy?!" they begged, whining.

"Raise your hand if you want another clue!"

Three hands shot up at the same time at the speed of light.

"The gift we are waiting for is right here under my hands!" Patrick announced solemnly.

"Mommy's belly is under your hands…" quizzed a very confused Teddy.

Both parents nodded, matching wide smiles on their faces.

They saw the kids' eyes widen and their mouths open at the same time.

"Mom, is it true? Are you expecting a baby?" Angela asked for confirmation.

"Yes darling, it's true. You will soon have a little brother or sister!"

Anyone who passed by the Turners' house shortly before 8 in the morning on that Sunday, would have heard the enthusiastic squeal of those children.

Dr. Turner's emotion and tears of joy, however, were reserved only for the one he loved more than his own life, the woman with whom he had created all this.