A/N: Some inspiration was taken from season two episode 20, but this does not follow canon and I pushed it a few years down the road when Melinda finds out she's pregnant with Katie. Enjoy xx Mariah

Ages:

Tim - 32
Delia - 29
Jim - 29
Melinda - 25

Walking into work, Jim had faith that today would be a great day, or at least that was what Melinda had told him to do. Last night had been hell without a partner on the rig, and he'd had to drive two hours for a call without him and two hours back. He'd never been so pissed until he'd gotten home.

Melinda had wanted him in every way last night. He'd never found so much energy when he was exhausted before, but she brought that out of him. She always had been able to.

It had been a blissful sleep afterward and Jim hadn't slept that well in weeks. It didn't change his mood on Tim though. He had ditched out on so many shifts lately because of whatever reasons he had. This was the second time he has done this to him let alone the other guys around the station.

Jim walked up to his locker, taking his jacket off. He put his bag inside, taking his paramedic and wedding ring off and he stripped down. He grabbed his towel and shower stuff, wrapping the towel around himself before he walked into the shower.

He came out not long after, drying off and getting dressed for work. It wasn't until it came time for him to put his paramedic ring back on when he noticed it was missing. He slid his wedding band on, looking around the top shelf. He grabbed his shaving kit, pulling it out and looking around as he grabbed his deodorant too. It wasn't there. He put the kit back and sighed as he sat down on the bench.

Sunlight came in as the door opened and Tim surfaced, closing the door behind him. It had been weeks since he'd been around.

"Hey Bud," Tim said, walking past him. He patted his back as he put his bag in his locker.

"No... no... no. You do not get to hey buddy me." He stood up, following him toward his locker. He shoved him lightly and glared at him. "What the hell happened to you? Do you know how much grief I have gotten from my wife because of you? You stood up Delia, Melinda's friend, and mine for the second time. How could you?"

"Look I'm sorry. I-I didn't know how to face you or her." Tim sighed, rubbing his face before he turned to his friend.

"What happened?" He asked, sitting down on the bench. "You skipped town the next I knew."

"Look it was the pressure! She has a kid and he's great, but what if I can't do right by him? I could never forgive myself." Tim sighed, sitting down next to him. "We were just running into each other around town. It was going a nice pace, but then you had the idea to speed things up. We went out on those first few dates, but when she wanted me to meet Ned I freaked and left dinner early."

"Okay... so then you just leave the dinner. What were you trying to do? Did you want her to hate you? Because if you did, then the mission was accomplished, buddy. She really doesn't like you too much anymore and neither does Melinda." He groaned, sighing. He didn't know what to say to him at this point. Delia was so delicate. She didn't open up for very many people, and she had for Tim. He'd ruined his chance. "You are going to have to make it up to her. You know that right?"

"Sometimes it's nicer to think about things than to actually have them," Tim sighed, looking at him. "I still wonder about the miracle you pulled off winning over your wife."

"Alright Flaherty... you're my friend so I won't judge much." He said, standing up and rolling his eyes at him. "But don't bring Melinda into this. That's just not fair."

"This is why I'm back. I am going to make it right with you, Delia, and her son." Tim explained, patting his friend's back and standing up. "Melinda too."

"At least you realized you were a moron, but Delia?" He paused to laugh, patting his shoulder as he did. "Good luck with that one. I've overheard her conversations with Melinda and that's going to be a difficult road for you."

"You watch me," Tim replied as he went to look for his ring again. Jim saw it on the floor and slid it on as soon as he grabbed it. "Now go home, Jim. I'm going to cover your shifts this weekend."

"Flaherty, I'm not gonna let you do that," he muttered, shaking his head.

"So you don't want to go home to Melinda?" Tim asked, nudging his side as he stood up.

"Well, I wouldn't mind the weekend at home with her." He sighed and then scratched his head. "It has been a while since we've had one and it's her birthday this weekend." He turned toward his friend.

"Exactly," Tim laughed, patting his back. "Go home and tell your wife what I did for you." His friend grabbed his jacket and threw it at him. "We're even right?"

"Not even close," Jim furrowed his brow and shook his head, slapping his back. He was his friend, but he wasn't going to let him off this easily. "There were so many pointless arguments over you. I tried too hard to save you and it bit me hard for weeks in the bedroom. You owe me." He stepped back then, toward the door. "We'll play pool soon. Promise. First-round is on you."

Melinda looked at her watch for the fifth time, she'd been waiting at their usual bench for almost an hour. She didn't know if she could wait any longer. Had he gotten held up at work? Maybe she should call him.

He had texted her to meet him at their spot in the square at one because he had a surprise for her. It was now almost two. SHe'd had a surprise to tell him too, but did she want to tell him here? Or wait until later? It was looking to be later if he didn't show up soon.

She stood up after five more minutes and smoothed out her coat before heading toward her store. She'd left her phone inside, maybe he had gotten busy at work. She had seen a firetruck leave twice while she was there.

She was only a few steps from the bench before a pair of arms wrapped around her. They were too familiar for her not to relax into them.

"Where were you? You're so late Jim!" She turned around and smiled at him, going to hug him until she saw the flowers in his hands, forgetting her own news for a second. "Are these for me?"

"Of course they are," he said, giving them to her. "They were all out of your favorites, so I got these ones. I think they are wildflowers or something like that. I thought they would look nice."

The florets were shaped like little dragon heads, with upper and lower lips that would open when someone gently squeezed the sides of the pink and white blossoms that were wrapped up in her bouquet. They were just beautiful.

"I love them," she smiled at him. "But you're late. What took you so long?"

"I know. I'm sorry," he sighed and hugged her again. "I didn't realize how long it would take me to make plans for us this weekend."

"But I thought you said you had to work?" She grinned at him, gasping. "What happened? A miracle in Grandview?"

He loved his wife, kissing her lips suddenly. She was so dramatic like this, in moments when she knew she could be. He loved her.

God he loved her.

"Tim took my shifts as a way of apologizing to me. He wanted me to make sure I told you hoping it will earn him some brownie point." He shrugged, hugging her. "I booked the usual place like you wanted to originally."

"Well, I guess I'm glad he finally got his act together. It doesn't mean I like him, but I guess I could try and forgive a little. Just this once." She smiled, hugging him back. "I get my husband and only him for a whole weekend. That's one thing I'm definitely going to make an exception for."

"Well that's awfully nice of you," he said, pulling back. "Is Delia covering?"

"Yes, but I better go talk to her about this weekend and see if she's able to do it. Should I meet you at the house?" She suggested, smiling at him. "I have some news of my own for you."

"Is it exciting?" He asked, in hopes of her spilling the beans to him.

She didn't waver, only leveling her eyes on her. "Very exciting," she smiled at him, being discrete. "You'll find out soon enough. Stop asking questions."

He nodded, kissing her cheek. "I can't wait for you to tell me then," he agreed, hugging her once more before he winked at her. "I'll see you at the house."

When Melinda had finally finished picking the right dress she wanted to wear for Jim this weekend when they went out to dinner for her birthday, Delia came into the backroom.

"You haven't left yet?" Her friend laughed, touching the soft dress as she tucked it away in her purse. "Good choice. Very pretty. I love the color."

"Thank you. I love purple too," she smiled, her stomach flipped as she moved across the room. That had been happening to her a lot lately. "Jim is taking me away for my birthday. Tim showed up and took his shifts." She grabbed onto the desk and sighed, feeling Delia touch her back.

"Well, that's awfully nice of him. I guess that means he's back in town… hey, you okay? You look a little pale," Delia asked and rubbed her friend's back soothingly.

"I'm fine, Delia. I just skipped breakfast," she reassured her and rested her hand on her abdomen.

That wasn't the total truth. Melinda had eaten a small breakfast, due to her lack of appetite recently. She didn't think it was anything serious until she'd missed her first period, and even then didn't want to get too excited at the idea of maybe being pregnant.

"You can tell me, you know," Delia urged, smiling at her.

Melinda had been tired and dragging all week, and she knew Delia had noticed the way she came in late in the mornings and didn't look like she'd had a good start to the day. It was like she was just waiting for her to tell her now.

"Tell you what?" She said ominously, trying to avoid a topic with her friend. She hadn't told Jim yet. She couldn't tell Delia first.

"You've been dragging all week Melinda. I was pregnant once, you know, and I have seen you pregnant before," Delia said, smiling at her and nudging her side. "So are you?"

"Delia, please promise me you won't tell Jim. I still haven't told him and I plan to tonight now that we have the weekend together," she said softly, smiling at her. "And I don't want you getting too excited and wrapped up in the idea of this… baby. I am trying my best not either because this is the first time anything has happened since Jim and I started this new medication. Anything could happen, okay?"

Delia nodded, zipping her lips closed and then she hugged her friend. Her dear friend was still excited though and Melinda could just see it on her face.

"Can we get a little excited though?" Delia whispered as she pulled back and Melinda laughed, hugging her again.

"Yes, we can. I am so excited Delia and it has been so hard to keep this to myself. I didn't want to tell Jim when I missed my first period because I didn't know what it could mean at first," she said excitedly. "I feel different about everything this time. I don't know. I don't want to get too excited, but I already am."

"Oh, I know sweetheart," Delia hugged her again, lightly this time almost wishing she was further along already. "Positive energy equals positive outcomes," the woman said softly and kissed her cheek. "You have a good weekend with Jim and I can't wait to hear all about it. The store will be fine without you."

"Thank you, Delia. Truly." Melinda said and grabbed her purse, walking out of the store and to her car.

When she thought of Jim, she couldn't help but smile and not just because of the baby she'd found out about this morning. She couldn't wait to have the whole weekend with him for a change.