Chapter One

Jaycee

Peaches?

" I'm okay. " I say into my phone the second I'm settled into my bunk. "

You're going to be the death of me, you know that?

From the uneven tone of his voice, I can tell he's doing his best to stay calm. " Haha. "

So, you fainted?

And now there's disbelief laced in with the unevenness. " Yeah... Happy caught me, I'm fine. "

Happy? The growling pit bull, or the Scot?

" The first one. The doctor said sudden grief can cause fainting spells." I say before barely choking out, " Jax is "... I can barely choke out now that I've had a few moments alone.

I know, baby. I'm sorry.

I clear my throat refusing to get myself worked up. " I'm staying in Charming for the time being. Shit has been crazy and chaotic but the war is over now. I need to mourn with my family. "

Donny stays but I agree. With the way your pit bull grilled me earlier, I know that nothing is getting passed him. You're in good hands.

" Yeah, he can be scary but when it comes to his family he'd die. " I mean he even has it tattooed. " Me and the kid won't have a moment to ourselves until you get home. "

And even then I'll be so far up your as-

I love the thought of finally having someone come home to me. Come home and stay home. " I can't wait. How long again? "

Just under two months. Should be out probably the week before Christmas.

Rubbing my bump, I feel a surge of excitement and repeat, " I can't wait ".

Good. Now rest up and never scare me like that again.

Yes, rest. It's all I'll be doing for the next five months around these guys. " We're going to be fine, Ronald. I'm going to do a check-up with my OBGYN in a few days but it should be nothing to worry about. "

Okay, Peaches. I'll talk to you in a few days. I got some one on one time with our man today so I'll let him know what's going on.

" Tell him we're fine. Don't let him worry too much. Not in there when he needs to be focused. "

I promise. Now go on and take a nap or something.

One Month Later

It's here. The day I find out the gender of the little nugget growing inside of me. I woke up with flutters in my stomach just thinking about it. It has taken some time, but I've finally let myself be fully happy and enjoy this pregnancy. Now that everything is out in the open and we've started to rebuild... I actually can let hope back in after stifling it for so long.

" Ready darlin'? " Tig asks with a funny little smile from the doorway.

Pulling my jacket on I grab my bag and smile back. " Yup. Let's go, Tigger. "

" Are you sure you don't want me to come? " Donny asks not liking the idea of me being out of his sight.

Yeah, he almost blew a gasket when I told him to take the day off. I had to calmly tell him that Tig would just as soon throw himself in the line of fire than let anything happen to us. Besides, things have been more boring in this town than they have been in the last twenty years. It's really nice after everything the last five have brought.

Putting a hand on his shoulder I give him a knowing look. " I'm going to be fine, Don. You've been with me non-stop for weeks... Go find a girl and get laid. "

...

" I can't believe Thanksgiving is in two days. It feels like summer started just yesterday. " I say as we wait to be called back.

Reaching out to rub my bump he says, " yeah kid, and this year, while we're all still grieving around the holidays... We also have something to be thankful for. A lot more than we had last year. "

" I think I'm most thankful that Nero and Wendy are bringing the boys for dinner. " I say feeling happy that I get to see their little faces. " It wouldn't feel right without them. "

A woman in a white doctor's coat comes out into the waiting room with a clipboard. " Jaycee? "

...

Tig waits outside the room while I change into the hospital gown. When he comes back in the doctor is right behind.

" Hello, Jaycee. " Dr. Marissa greets me while looking at my chart. " How are things? "

Shrugging I say, " Pretty good. The heartburn has been better now that I'm eating the right foods. "

" That's what we like to hear. " She says with a smile. " You ready to see the baby's progress? "

I nod in excitement. This is it. If the baby is in the right position we'll know the gender and we can stop calling them "the baby ".

Tig stays firmly at my side as Dr. Taylor does her thing with my lower region. " Okay, " she says while looking at the screen. " Baby looks good. Have you been feeling " quickening " or little flutters in your tummy? "

" Sometimes a little. I barely notice most of the time. " I say remembering the butterflies from this morning.

Nodding she moves the wands and says, " are we wanting to know the gender "?

" Yes! " I say quickly. " The father isn't in town at the moment and he's just as excited to know. "

" See here? " She asks pointing to the screen. " No lump, congratulations, you're having a girl. "

Tig deadpans. " Jesus Christ. "