~January 21, 2003~

"Hey Alex, when does the tour start?" Katie asked, looking through her calendar, trying to mark down important dates.

"Not for a while.  Why?  What's up babe?" AJ asked as he sorted through the papers he would need for that afternoon.  They guys were wrapping up their album and Katie knew that meant that a tour was looming.

"I was just thinking."

"What about?"

"Well...I'm pregnant."

"No really?  Oh wait, we had this convo a few days ago.  I did know that," AJ laughed.  He put the papers aside and went over to her.

"Shut up you," she smacked AJ in the shoulder, "What I meant was...what if you're gone on tour when I go into labor?"

"Then I'll come home and we'll postpone those shows."

"You can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Do you really think it will go over well if you're up on stage and you go ‘sorry everyone, my fiancé is having my baby right now, I have to go'?"

"Why not?  When you go into labor, I want to be there."

"You can't stop a concert just because I go into labor."

"Okay fine, maybe I wouldn't stop in the middle of a concert.  But I would leave afterwards to get back to you and this baby," AJ laid his hand over Katie's barely noticeably expanding belly, "Oh, I found something for you, too."

AJ stepped out of Katie's embrace and went over to the counter nearest the garage exit.  He pulled a book out of a plastic shopping bag, "The girl said this was a good one.  Lots of pregnant ladies buy it."

Katie took the book and read the title, What to Expect When You're Expecting.

"Thanks babe.  Don't you think people will get pissed if you leave in the middle of the tour?"

"Why are you so worried about it?  You and this baby are the most important thing in my life now.  You come before Backstreet.  I think the guys would understand...and the fans?  They'll have to deal.  If they really care about us then they'll understand a few postponed shows so I can be with my family.  Please don't worry about it."

Katie slowly nodded.  She knew she was being overly crazy about it, she was just worried.  She was scared of being alone and something horrible happening.  She was scared of AJ missing the birth of his child.  But she knew it would all be okay.  He told her it would be so no matter what everything would be great.

"You have a lot to do today?" Katie asked as she absently flipped through the book.

"Not too horrible.  I'll call you at lunch to make sure everything is good.  And I'll be home in time to go with you to the doctor's appointment."

"Okay.  I'll be here.  Love you," she kissed him softly.

"Love you, too, babe."

*****

"Katie!?!  Where are you babe?" AJ called out as he came into the house through the garage.

"Just a minute!  I'm...trying...to...button...fuck!"

"Whoa, what's with the language?" AJ laughed.  He walked into the laundry room where Katie was fighting with a pair of jeans.

"These damn pants won't button!" Katie growled.

AJ put his hands on hers, "Here babe, let me see if I can get it."

He crouched down in front of her and gently worked the buttons into place.

"My pants already don't fit me.  I'm not supposed to gain this much weight so fast!" Katie cried, her mood abruptly turning from rage to depression.

"I see the mood swings have kicked in."

"Mood swings?  I'll mood swing you!  Go away!  I'm going by myself," Katie pushed past him and headed towards the garage.

"Aww babe, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean it.  You look gorgeous."

"If by gorgeous you mean huge...yes, I do.  Are we going or not?"
"Is it safe?" AJ asked, a little unsure he was willing to get into a confined moving vehicle with Katie at this point.

"Either you're going or you're not, but I have an ultrasound and a vaginal exam to get to."

"That sounds..." AJ started, but cut himself short when he caught Katie's glare, "Nevermind, I'll keep my comments to myself.  Let's go babe."

By the time Katie got into the car, all was well again.  AJ pulled out his gentleman act and opened the car door for her and helped her in.  Katie reached over and clicked the garage door open as AJ started the car and they were on their way.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you," Katie whispered.

"Don't worry about it babe.  You're going througha lot.

"Are you sure you're my fiancé?"

AJ laughed, "What?  I'm just excited we're going to get to see that baby today."

"Just so you know, I'm not sure how much it's going to look like a baby.  I'm only like 6 weeks."

"It's still exciting.  We're here."

Katie looked out the window.  She hadn't even realized that he'd pulled into a parking spot in front of the medical building.

"You think I'll get recognized here?" AJ and Katie walked hand in hand through the double doors leading into the building.

"A little too late for that question, don't you think?" Katie giggled, "I don't think I would recognize you with your hat like that."

AJ had pulled his baseball cap so low that Katie was unsure how he could see anything.

"I just don't want anything to happen before we tell all of our friends."

"Yeah, I'm sure your mother would love hearing that you're going to be a daddy from the tabloids."

AJ followed Katie into the building and up to the second floor where the ob/gyn's office.  They walked into the small waiting room and Katie signed in.  She had an ultrasound scheduled for this appointment because of the problems she'd had last time.

The receptionist got Katie's information and told her to take a seat and a nurse would be out for her shortly.  AJ and Katie sat nervously waiting, hand in hand, until a nurse opened the door leading to the examination rooms.

"Katherine Sullivan?" she called from the chart in her hands.

Katie and AJ stood up and quickly followed her through the door, listening to the click of the lock as it closed behind them.

"Let's stop here and get your weight," the nurse said.  She took down Katie's weight and then led them back to an examination room.

"Katherine and..." the nurse turned to AJ.

"Katie...no one calls me Katherine anymore.  And he's Alex."

"I'm the father," AJ proudly informed the nurse.

"Katie and Alex.  Congratulations," she continued with the examination, asking all of her questions before standing up to leave, "I'll be back in a few minutes with the doctor so we can get this ultrasound underway."

Katie and AJ nodded.  Katie felt her heart speed up.  The excitement mixed with the fear was proving to be too much and she spaced out.  She hadn't realized when the doctor and nurse returned to the room.

Katie lay back on the table and a cold goop was rubbed over her belly and the ultrasound began.

The screen was turned away from AJ and Katie, and the doctor and nurse were quietly discussing something.  The secretiveness made Katie uncomfortable and the fear took over again.  She couldn't lose another baby.

"Alex what's wrong?" Katie squeezed his hand, the worry evident in her voice.

"Is there something wrong doctor?" AJ relayed the concern both had.

"I'm sorry," the doctor began and tears sprang to Katie's eyes.  Something had to be wrong.  Katie didn't hear the next words out of the doctor's mouth.  She only felt AJ's grip on her hand tighten and she tried to focus.

"Two?" AJ's jaw dropped.

"Two what?" Katie was utterly confused, "Two uteruses?  Two...what?"

The doctor laughed a little, "Two babies.  You're having twins."

Katie began laughing.  This was a joke, it had to be.  The doctor said she was sorry...that meant something was wrong.

"You're kidding, right?" Katie asked through laughs.

The doctor looked at them completely serious and pointed to the small screen that had been turned towards them, "Right there.  See that?"

Katie nodded.

"That's a heartbeat.  And if you look right over here," the doctor moved her finger over a little to another identical spot, "A second heartbeat.  There are two little babies in there."

"Wow," Katie whispered.  Her eyes were glued to the little screen as she watched the tiny heartbeats beat away.  AJ sat there silently next to her for a long time.

Finally he spoke up, "And there's only two, right?"

The doctor nodded firmly, "Only two, don't worry.  That explains the extra weight gain this early.  We can discuss everything more at length at your next appointment.  I'll give you both some time to let this sink in.  I will tell you though, because of your history, I need you to take it easy.  We may have to do bed rest towards to end, but we can cross that bridge when we get to it."

The doctor printed off the ultrasound pictures and handed them to AJ while the nurse helped Katie clean the goop off of her belly.

Once the doctor and nurse left the room AJ turned to Katie, "We can do this.  It's just one more baby.  We can do this."

"Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?"

"Both?"

Katie nodded, "We can do this.  We can do anything as long as we do it together."