"Oh my G.o.d."

Her whisper brought Hal to his knees beside her. He touched her face gently, watching the shock be

replaced by an overwhelming joy that flooded her eyes with tears.

"You're happy about having my baby?" He couldn't quite wrap his head around it yet, but having a child with Casey had been one of his dreams. Life couldn't get any better, as far as he was concerned.

She cried harder and threw herself into his arms, sobbing.

"Casey, sweetheart, what's wrong. You are happy, right? Honey, you're scaring me."

She hiccupped, lifting her face to move between his and Rick's.

"You don't understand." Her voice was ragged with her tears. "I was told I could never have children. I

had some medical problems when I was in college and they had to operate. Rick, are you sure?"

Both sets of eyes stared at the doctor who beamed back at them.

"I'm positive. Your child is self-aware and happily growing," he moved his hand gently down her

abdomen, guiding her own fingers with his, "right about here. She's tiny right now, but she's got her mama's determination."

"A little girl?" Hal felt faint, but the woman in his arms held his heart in her hands, his life in her smile and

the new life of their daughter in her beloved body.

Rick nodded. "Have no doubts. You will be proud parents in about eight and a half months." He got up to leave, giving them some privacy.

"It's a miracle." She sobbed into his chest, happiness invading every pore of her body.

"With everything that's happened to me and my men lately, I definitely believe in those." He stroked her hair and kissed her cheeks, cherishing her.

A thought occurred to her then. "Do you think what happened to you might've had something to do with

this?"

Hal sighed, smiling happily. "Only G.o.d knows for sure, sweetheart, but I wouldn't be surprised." He

squeezed his big frame onto the cot, resting her against his chest and hugging her tight. "You will marry me, right?"

"You're not asking me now just because of the baby, are you?"

He tugged her closer. "No, silly. Not just because of the baby. I wanted to ask before, but we were

rudely interrupted by a dolphin. Remember when I said I loved you? I wanted to ask you then."

"I remember. And Hal," she whispered, her hands stroking loving circles on his chest. "I wanted you to ask. And I was going to say yes. But you didn't ask."

He sat up a little, frowning down at her. "Just to be clear, I'm asking now, brat. So what's your answer?"

"Well, it's not very romantic, but you know I can never say no to you. So I guess my answer is yes."

He gave a theatrical sigh of relief and tugged her back into his arms, hugging her close.

"I love you, squirt."

"And I love you, Hal. And I always will."

THE END.

About the Author.

Bianca D'Arc.

A life-long martial arts enthusiast, Bianca enjoys a number of hobbies and interests that keep her busy and entertained such as playing the guitar, shopping, painting, shopping, skiing, shopping, road trips, and did we say ... um ... shopping? A bargain hunter through and through, Bianca loves the thrill of the hunt for that excellent price on quality items, though she's hardly a fashionista. She likes nothing better than curling up by the fire with a good book, or better yet, by the computer, writing a good book.

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