"Do ya' feel better now? You two looked tired earlier, " Sully asked


"Yes we do," Andrew stated


They talked about various things throughout the meal. But Colleen and Andrew always had something else on their mind.


"Well, Ma, that was delicious," Colleen told her mother.


"Thank You Colleen, " Michaela said, " do you want to help me get dessert?"


" No. You guys go relax around the fire. Andrew and I will get the dessert."


"Okay."


Colleen and Andrew headed for the kitchen. When she was sure they were all out of ear shot, Colleen said, " I'm nervous. Telling them about the baby."


"I told you before it'll be fine."


They went into the living room with an apple pie. "Michaela, " Andrew began, " this looks and smells wonderful."


"Thank you Andrew."


Everyone was just finishing up their dessert when Andrew and Colleen looked at each other and knew it was time.


Colleen and Andrew moved next to each other and stood up. Andrew had a supportive arm around his wife's waist.


"Everyone we have an announcement to make, " Andrew said. Everyone turned their attention.


"Andrew and I, " she turned and smiled at Andrew for a second, " well, we're going to have a baby."


A smile broke out on everyone's faces.


"Oh Colleen and Andrew!, " Michaela exclaimed, " that is so terrific."


"Congratulations, " Matthew said as he shook Andrew's hand and hugged Colleen.


"That's great!, " Brian said


Sully was happy for his daughter, but couldn't have been as excited because he already knew.


"Pa?, " Colleen asked, " aren't you happy for us?"


"Colleen of course I'm happy for you. You're going to make a wonderful mother for your child." He pulled his expectant daughter into an embrace.


"Colleen, I have a confession to make," Andrew said.


"What is it Andrew? Is it bad?"


"Well, you remember that night in Philadelphia, when Sully and I stayed up to talk and everyone went to bed?"


"Yeah? What about it?" She was concerned now.


"Well it kind of slipped that you were pregnant." He felt so bad that he ruined the surprise for her.


"Andrew how could you? You knew I wanted to tell them when we got back to Colorado Springs."


"Well Sully started asking questions about you, and I started to say something but I stopped myself. Sully made me tell him." Colleen turned to her father.


"You mean you knew I was pregnant the whole time?"


"Yes. Andrew told me how much you wanted it to be a surprise for everyone else. He made me promise not to tell. Not even your Ma."


"Sully how could you not tell me?" Michaela exclaimed, " she is our daughter. You should have told me."


"Yes she is our daughter, but it is her child. She had the right to tell you when she wanted to. And I promised Andrew I wouldn't tell. I wasn't goin' to break the biggest promise that I made to my son-in-law."


"Okay. I understand."


Everyone congratulated Colleen and Andrew one more time and then went to bed.


Colleen and Andrew had already changed into their night dress. Colleen sat at the vanity table combing her beautiful auburn hair. Andrew came up behind her and began combing her hair.


"I still can't believe that we will be parents around December."


"I know. But I will be so happy when our child is here, " Colleen said stroking her swollen abdomen lightly.


Andrew set down the brush and picked Colleen up. "Andrew what are you doing?" She exclaimed through laughter.


"I'm going to show the woman I love just how much I love her."


They made love and held each other tightly the entire night. Andrew awoke the next morning to find him and Colleen still holding each other.


"Last night was incredible," Andrew thought to himself. He watched his wife sleep for a few minutes and then got up. He had just gotten dressed when there was a knock on the door. He opened it to find Katie there.


"Andew, bekfast weady, " Katie said.


"Ok. Thank You honey. What do you say we go down together hmm?"


"What 'bout Coween?"


"We're going to let her sleep since she's really tired ok?"


"Oh. Okay."


"Andrew where's Colleen? " Sully asked.


"She is still sleeping. She was really tired."


"It comes with the pregnancy, Andrew. Along with other things," Michaela said.


"I know. But I didn't think that all the effects of the pregnancy would start so soon. She is only a month and a half into it."


"It varies woman to woman. You should know that Dr. Cook," Michaela said playfully.


"I know," Andrew said with a sweet smile.


Everyone sat down to breakfast. Matthew and Brian left early. Matthew had to get to town. And Brian had to help Dorothy write an article in the 'Gazette'.


"Well that was very good Michaela," Sully told his wife.


"Well I'm not nearly as good of a cook as Andrew's wife there, " she said with a smile.


"Ah. I'm sure Colleen will appreciate the compliment. But I have learned to cook some since we moved to Philadelphia."


Michaela and Sully left to go to town. Andrew was contemplating on whether to let Colleen sleep or to wake her up. He decided to let her sleep for another hour or so. Then he would wake her. About 15 minutes later he was startled by Colleen coming up behind him.


"Colleen. You're awake. You startled me. Everyone has left for town."


"Good. We have the house to ourselves. I kinda' wanted some peace and quiet, " she said with a smile. With that she made herself comfortable in Andrew's lap.


"Well what do you want to do today?, " he asked her.


"I don't know. I feel like going into town an' helpin' Ma in the clinic. But I do want to spend some time with you."


"I want to spend some time with you too Mrs. Cook, " he said jokingly.


"Well Mr. Cook, you are just going to have to wait until later. "You missed breakfast. You need to get something to eat."


"I'm fine. I'm not really hungry anyway."


"Well, you know what. That's too darn bad because I'm goin' to take you to Grace's for lunch," he said glancing at his watch for a second.


"That's so sweet! I'll be right back down. I'm going to get dressed."


Twenty minutes later they were on their way to lunch. When they arrived they found a table in the shade to sit at. They noticed when they arrived that a few people watched them walk in hand in hand and sit down. They would look at them and then smile. They just shrugged it off. They thought it was because they had been gone so long.


Grace was running around in a hurry as usual to get to her customers. And to make sure they got their food hot. Colleen heard a baby crying. Grace stopped what she was doing and picked up a tiny baby out of a bassinet. She approached Colleen and Andrew.


"Hi you two. Dr. Mike told me. Congratulations! Andrew could you hold the baby for me. I'll me right back, " she quickly set the small bundle into Andrew's arms, " Grace, what di. . . " She took off. Dorothy approached.


"Colleen, Andrew. Good mornin'."


"Good morning to you to Miss Dorothy, " Colleen said.


"Oh, congratulations you two. Michaela told me the news."


"Told you what?, " Colleen asked. She was pretty sure it was the same news that Grace was going to tell them about.


"You know. About you bein' expectant Colleen."


"She told you already? Who else did you tell?" Andrew asked.


"No one. Oh I see you too met Lawrence."


"Who?, " Andrew asked


"Lawrence. The baby you're holding."


"By the way whose baby is this. Grace just handed him to Andrew abruptly," Colleen said.


"He is Grace and Robert E's child. Didn't you know?, " she asked. Somewhat surprised that they didn't know. Dorothy thought that Grace 'told the whole world she was pregnant'. "No. Did they adopt? " Colleen asked.


"No, " said Dorothy, " Grace gave birth to him about a month ago. I thought ya'll knew."


"No we didn't, " Andrew said.


"Oh. Well, I'll talk to ya'll later, " Dorothy said as she walked away.


"Thank You, " Colleen hollered to her as she left the cafe. Grace came back to their table. She took the tiny sleeping infant from Andrew's arms.


"Thank you Andrew for holdin' Lawrence here. I was swarmed and he just kept cryin'.


"Grace, why didn't you send us a letter tellin' us about the baby?" Colleen asked.


"I did send ya'll a letter tellin' you about my little boy here. Didn't ya' get it?" "No we didn't. It's a little late but, congratulations Grace. You have a beautiful baby boy, " Colleen said admiring him.


"Well, now speakin' of babies, Dr. Mike told me you two were goin' to have one yourselves now. Is that correct? " She asked with a sly smile.


"Yes, it is Grace, " Andrew said, "Colleen and I are going to have a baby."


"Who else did she tell? Did you tell anyone?" Colleen asked. "No one else that I know of. So when are you expectin' that child of yours?"


"Well, if my doctor is right, just about December this year, " Colleen said glowing.


"Well, be sure to let me know when he or she arrives. Now what can I get you two lovebirds to eat?"


"I'll have the roast beef and a slice of apple pie."


"Andrew?" Grace asked.


"I'll have the same, " he replied with a smile.


"Okay, I'll be back in a minute."


"Thanks Grace."


Colleen and Andrew enjoyed their meal. They talked about various things. Like whether Colleen would go into practice with him until she has the baby, take some time off and then come back, or wait until the baby is born to join Andrew. Colleen hated the idea of a nanny. She wanted to be with her infant as much as possible. They still hadn't decided what to do about that.


"I think that we should go visit my Ma in her clinic before she gets too busy. What do you think honey?" Colleen asked her husband. "I think that is a very good idea. Isn't this her lunch break anyway?"


"Yeah, it is. Let's go."


She lightly knocked on the door.


"Come in!"


"Hi Michaela, " Andrew said as he and his wife walked through the door hand in hand.


"Hello. What are you doing here in the middle of the day?" "We thought that we would come by to say 'Hi'" Colleen said giving her mother a kiss on the cheek.


"Well, could you do me a favor and watch the clinic while I go to lunch?"


"Sure Ma. Go ahead and go."


"Thanks."


Andrew held the door open as she left. Horace approached. "Dr. Mike, could you do somethin' for me. I've had a sore throat for days. It ain't gettin' any better."


"Well, I was just going to lunch. Maybe, " motioning toward Colleen and Andrew who were in her clinic, " Dr. Cook or ," she paused for a second looked back them, and back at Horace and smiled," Dr. Cook would be of some help. They are in my office. Horace knocked.


"Come in!" Andrew hollered through the closed door.


"Dr. Cook?"


"Yes, " Colleen and Andrew asked in unison, they smiled at each other. Colleen continued. "Horace what can we do for you?"


"Well, my throat has been botherin' me for days now. It ain't gettin' any better."


"What have your symptoms been?"


"Sore, scratchy throat."


Andrew watched her work. She was efficient. And she was all his.


"Well, I'll give you some cough syrup. Take it three times a day one tablespoon each time. Come back in a week if it isn't any better. Okay?"


"Okay. Thank you Colleen, " just as he was about to leave he turned to them,"Congratulations. I heard that you two are gonna have a baby."


"Wait! Horace, who told you that?" Andrew questioned.


"Mrs. Slicker."


"Thanks Horace, " Colleen said and shut the door behind him.


"How did she find out?" Andrew wondered


"I don't know. Andrew, we have talked about everything having to do with this baby except names."


"I know. I just haven't been thinking about them much. What names were you thinking about if we have a beautiful little girl?" "What do you think about naming her after my grandmother, Elizabeth?"


"The name is very pretty. But I don't want our children to have the same name as anyone in our families. I want them to have their own names. You know what I mean?"


"Yes, I do and I completely agree. What about the name Annabelle?"


"I like it. Very much. And since you wanted to name her after your grandmother, her full name can be Annabelle Elizabeth. What do you think?"


"I love it! My grandmother will be so pleased."


"But what if we have a little boy? What will we call him?"


"I have this maternal instinct that this first baby will be a girl."


"First baby? How many do you plan on having Mrs. Cook?"


"Well, I know don't know. My husband has a say in it too. I'd have to ask him. What do you think he'll say?"


"He'll probably say that he wants three or four children with his wife."


"Really Mr. Cook? Is that so? That's how many I wanted too."


They joked around for a few more minutes then went back to discussing baby names.


"Colleen, what if your maternal instincts are wrong? If we have a little boy what should we call him?"


"Well, I have always liked the names Charles and Daniel. What do you think?"


"Well, I like them. A lot. You know they could go together. What about Charles Daniel?"


"Um, I don't know. I kinda' wanted to name our first son after you."


"Colleen you know how I feel about that."


"I know, but it would only be a middle name. I like Charles Andrew Cook."


"I like it. You win. Happy?"


"Uh-huh. Thank You. I can't wait until this baby is here." Colleen said as she gently patted her stomach.


"Well neither can I. " He leaned over and kissed the tip of Colleen's nose. Then he kissed her lips softly. They deepened the kiss. There was a knock at the door. Colleen groaned. They opened the door. It was Teresa Slicker.


"Hi, Mrs. Slicker what can I do for you?" Andrew asked.


"Andrew, hi. It has been a long time since I have seen you and your wife. Is she here?"


"Yes she is. Come on in, " he opened the door for her. "Mrs. Slicker. It's nice to see you. It's been a long time. What can I do for you?"


"Well, I was looking for Dr. Mike. I'm here for my exam. Is she here. I am here a little early."


"Exam? Is there anything that I can do for you. What's wrong?" "Oh, nothing is wrong. I'm here for my regular check up. She has me come in every two weeks until the seventh month of my pregnancy."


"You're pregnant? That's great congratulations. Jake didn't tell us about it yesterday when we got back from Philadelphia. How far are you?"


"I'm four months along. What about you? I hear you and your husband are pregnant too, " she asked with a smile.


Colleen smiled back at her. And then looked over at Andrew for a second, " I'm seven weeks along. Our baby isn't supposed to be born until December or so."


"That is great. Jake and I are so excited about this baby. We already have names picked out for a boy and a girl. What about you two."


"Well, Andrew and I just picked them out."


"Well, what are they?"


"Colleen and I decided on Annabelle Elizabeth for a girl and Charles Andrew for a boy. What did you and Jake decide on for your baby?"


"Well, for a girl we picked out Gabrielle Marie, and for a boy we chose Jacob Daniel."


"I love Gabrielle Marie. That's so pretty." Colleen said with a smile.


Dr. Quinn just walks in the door.


"Teresa, I'm sorry you had to wait. I went to lunch and got distracted when I started to talk to Dorothy."


"No it is okay. I was just talking with Colleen and Andrew here. They were telling me which names they had picked out for their child."


"Really? I haven't even heard them. And I'm the Grandmother!"


Michaela said jokingly, " so do you two want to tell them to me?"


"Michaela, we'll tell you later tonight after supper. You have a lovely patient waiting. You tend to her. We'll see you later."


"Andrew, " Colleen said, " I think I'm going to stay here and help Ma with the clinic. Is that okay with you Ma?"


"Of course that's fine. I couldn't possibly object to spending time with my daughter."


"Okay. Andrew I'll see you later?"


"All right. I'll see you ladies later. Bye, Colleen." He kissed her gently on the forehead, " Bye, Michaela." He gave her a kiss on the cheek.


"Colleen, can you go upstairs and change the sheets, while I tend to Teresa?"


"Sure Ma, " Colleen said and headed upstairs. Michaela was just about to begin the exam when someone knocked on the door.


"Just a minute please."


It was Andrew.


"Andrew, did you need something?"


"Um, I forgot my hat. Sorry about the disruption, " he quickly grabbed his hat and was about to leave when he heard a cry of pain," that sounded like Colleen where is she?!"


"She's upstairs, " Andrew took off before she could say anything more.


"Colleen! Colleen! Where are you?!"


"Andrew! I'm in here!"


Andrew walked into the room to find Colleen curled up on the bed in terrible pain.


"Oh God, Colleen. What happened?"


" I . . . was changing the. . . bed sheets and all of the sud. . . all of the sudden. . . I got this terrible pain. . . in my stomach. Andrew I think It might be the baby."


She began to cry. Michaela came in.


"What's going on?"


"She's having abdominal pain. She thinks it might be the baby. I think she might be right Michaela."


Michaela could see the tears, pain, and anger building up in Andrew. She knew he was just being strong for Colleen.


"Andrew step outside. I want to examine her," she could see that he was hesitant, she reassured him, " It will only be a couple a minutes. I promise." He stepped outside the room shutting the door behind him.


Michaela examined her. She went to talk to Andrew. She found him with his head in his hands sitting in the chair. He looked up at the sound of her footsteps. What she saw wanted to make her cry. He looked up and for the first time she saw tears in his eyes.


She had never seen him cry. Not even when Colleen was deathly ill. Michaela knew right then and there that this child meant the world to Andrew.


"Michaela, tell me the honest truth. How is she? What about . . . What about the baby?"


"Andrew relax. Colleen is fine. More frightened than anything. Now as far as the baby goes, right now everything seems to be okay. But she is going to have to take it easy from now on. She needs to avoid as much stress as possible. You need to make things as easy as possible one her."


"Oh thank God!," he sat back down on the bench and ran his hands through his sandy blonde hair, " I was so scared for a while. I thought I might lose the baby," he paused for a second, " or her." He looked at Michaela.


All the tears, anger, pain, and fears were beginning to come out. Michaela sat next to him and put a comforting arm around her son-in-law. Sully came along.


"What's goin' on. Ya'll have such sad faces."


"Colleen nearly miscarried, Sully, " Andrew said


"What! Is she gonna be all right?"


"They're fine now. But she has to take the rest of the pregnancy easy. I think that she's more frightened than anything. Andrew, why don't you go see her? You might calm her some."


Andrew left and went inside. He and Colleen talked for a long time. She eventually fell asleep holding his hand. They stayed there the rest of the night.