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Chapter Sixty Four

I woke up in bed with no recollection of how I had gotten there. My mouth felt puffy.

"Hey, sleeping beauty."

Liv peeked in around the door frame. "You feeling okay? Can I bring you anything?"

"How did I get to bed?"

"You did a nice belly flop into it. The dentist had to give you nitrous oxide."

That explained it. I groaned.

"How loopy was I?"

Liv smiled. "Pretty loopy."

She came in and sat on the edge of the bed.

"How's Angel?"

"She's fine. She can't believe you chin-butted him. Of all the parts of your body to use..."

"Not my finest moment."

"Not by far."

Liv tucked her legs up and leaned against the headboard.

"I talked to Sam today."

"How's he doing?"

Liv smiled. "He's between projects right now. I asked him if he wanted to go do the Europe dates with you guys through March and April and he said that he'd double check his calendar, but he thinks he's completely open."

"Does that mean you're not going to join me in Italy?" I asked with a pout.

"No, it just means that I'm passing my camera bag onto the next queen of BSB media."

I laughed. "What brought this on?"

She sighed. "Well, I have a sneaking suspicion that Leigh's passing around that bug of hers."

"Bug? But she's---ahhh."

"But even if I'm not, I still feel jet-lagged. But I'll still meet up with you guys in Italy," she assured me. She smiled.

"I think I'm going to enjoy being a tourist more than being on the job. I feel guilty when I have to leave Brooke and Noah with one of the other girls. And Angel won't be up to traveling."

"Well, I guess I can survive until then. Did you make a doctor's appointment?"

Liv cracked her knuckles. "It's in a few days. Noah and Brooke need some shots anyhow so..."

I grinned, albeit lopsidedly (my mouth was still kinda numb). "And I get to play with the salad tongs again."

Liv laughed. "Nick, you're ridiculous."

She got off the bed and headed towards the door.

"In my next life I'm coming back as a gyno!" I called after her. I heard a snort.

"I think I'd make a good doctor," I mumbled. I rolled over and wrapped my arms around my pillow.

It was a good time to get caught up on sleep.

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February 16

After a nice quiet Valentine's Day out on the town, thanks to Liv's mom, we had a jammed packed itinerary for the rest of the time I was home. It started with the trip to the doctor's office.

"HI!"

"Well, hi, cutie pie. You're getting big."

Brooke smiled and nodded.

"How old are you?"

Brooke held up two fingers. I laughed.

"Almost."

"And then there's Noah! Hi, buddy."

Noah held up his hand. She gave it a little smack.

"They're looking happy and heathily. How was traveling with them?"

Liv and I looked at each other and made the same exact face. Dr. Tresher laughed.

"You have my utmost respect. Now let's see...Noah's getting the PVC and Hep A today. And Brooke is getting...a Hep B."

"B! B! B!" Brooke chanted happily. Something told me she wasn't going to be all smiles in a second. I gave her a hug. Noah was playing with Liv's hair, oblivious to all.

As I predicted, we had two major meltdowns. Brooke held her arm like someone had just fired a gun at her. Noah kept hitting his head against Liv's collarbone as if that was going to make the pain go away. Of course, he had a double whammy. I was majorly sympathetic.

After Dr. Tresher produced some gummy bears, the tears suddenly stopped. This gave her the opportunity to give them a quick check-up.

"Both are at a great weight and height. Noah's jumped up to the 95th percentile in weight and height for his age. He's one of my little preemie champs."

Noah smiled up at her. Any animosity over the shots was gone.

"And how's mom and dad? They keeping you busy?"

Liv laughed. "You could say that."

"It gets easier once they sleep through the night, am I right?"

"Absolutely. Of course once they start walking, it's another story," I said. Brooke tossed a gummy bear at me. I caught it in my mouth. She clapped.

Liv cleared her throat. "I was hoping I could get a blood test today."

"Oh?"

"Well, there's a possibility that..."

Dr. Tresher glanced over at me. I had a feeling I was going to see her on Capitol Hill one day campaigning for a male version of monthly birth control. I suddenly pictured me, Kev, Bri, Howie, and AJ in a circular pool singing the 'Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, every day' song from those NuvaRing commercials.

Thank goodness I look good in yellow.

"Alright, so since you're an old pro at this by now Liv, how far along do you think you are?"

"Probably about eight or ten weeks."

Dr. Tresher waved her hand. "Let's skip the blood test. I need to see this on the big screen for myself. Have you had any signs?"

"I've been sick. Of course Nick gave me goat guts to eat."

My eyes widened. "I didn't do anything!"

"Breast tenderness?"

Liv shook her head. "Not this time. But I've gained ten pounds."

I put down Brooke and grabbed Noah. Brooke stood by my chair looking around. The gummy bears were long gone. Liv hopped up on the exam table. Noah's eyes widened.

"Mama?"

"Does he need to leave?" I asked. I got two eye rolls.

"I think we'll keep this rated G," Dr. Tresher said with a laugh.

I don't have to go into my long rambling description about how I can't see a damn thing on those 2-D ultrasounds. When I come back in my next life as a gyno, hopefully I'll be able to do better.

"Ah, much more conclusive than a blood test. Do you see it, Liv?"

"I see it," Liv said. She glanced over at me. I shrugged helplessly.

Dr. Tresher pointed out the blip on the map. Noah stuck his fingers in his mouth and stared at the screen.

"Well, you're going to be absolutely miserable this time around, Liv. It looks like we're going to put a due date of Labor Day."

Liv made a face. "I prefer winter babies."

Dr. Tresher laughed. "Blame your husband."

Again they looked at me.

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"I think we need a bigger house," I said. Liv looked up from the bowl of cookies she was making with Brooke.

"That would require moving," she pointed out.

"Not necessarily. We can build on. That would mean less lawn to mow."

"Nick, you hire people to do the lawn."

I smiled. "True, but Manuel would appreciate less lawn to mow."

Brooke stuck her finger on the spoon and took a big bite of chocolate chip cooking dough. She smiled.

"Yum."

"I really don't want to move if we don't have to," Liv said. I reached over and took a big bite of cookie dough.

"Mm, you're right Brooke, yum."

"What's yum?"

Angel walked in and put down a bag. I could spot baby clothes a mile away. She spotted the cookie dough and groaned.

"I would die for that. But--"

"Raw egg," Liv said with a nod. "I know."

As I took another scoop of cookie dough I couldn't help but secretly think it was a good thing I was going on the road.

Two pregnant women in one house was a scary scenario. I might as well have just walked around with a target on my head. I took a tablespoon and put a tiny bit of dough on the end. I knelt down and handed the spoon to Noah. He took a bite and his eyes lit up.

"Mmmm!"

I grinned. Pretty soon Liv was going to have to make a double batch just to feed all of us.

Not that I minded. I glanced over at her and she caught my eye. She gave me the prettiest smile.

I had a feeling she didn't mind either.