Expectations

Special thanks to Princess♥BooBoo for all her assistance and encouragement and for just being gothie! Special thanks to Storm Machine for the title to this story since I couldn't seem to think of anything. Special thanks to sunshine014 for reading this before it was finished and loving it and just for being an NYC girl! And finally special thanks to Capricious for helping me decide on the gift Danny gives to Mallory at the end...that was a big help.

* * * * *

Danny Finnegan quietly let himself into the apartment. He shrugged off his jacket and hung it on the hook by the door, then unclipped his holster and set his gun on the table. He untied his boots and slipped them off, then padded softly through the apartment. The shades were drawn in the bedroom and he paused in the doorway until his eyes adjusted. Mallory was laying in almost the exact position he had left her in that morning. "Hey," he called softly, waiting until her eyes opened to continue, "you feeling any better?"

"A little bit. Patrick came by and took me to the doctor," Mallory answered.

Danny gingerly sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her back gently. "Yeah? That was nice of him. What did the doc say?"

"She's supposed to call me before six. She took some blood and did some tests and stuff."

Danny glanced at the clock, checking the time. "Okay. You want something to eat? Some soup or something?"

She shook her head. "No thanks. Patrick bought me some ginger ale. Can I have some of that?"

"Yeah. Sure." He pressed a gentle kiss on her head, then got up and left the room. After pulling one of the cans out of the fridge and opening it to flatten it a little, he picked through the take-out containers. Finally choosing the least offensive, he dumped it onto a plate and stuck it in the microwave. He poured the soda into a glass and stirred it for a few minutes, then put a straw in, and pulled his dinner out. Snagging a beer from the fridge, he carried it all into the bedroom. "Is the smell..." he started, then stopped when he saw Mallory was on the phone.

"All right, Janice, thanks," she was saying as he took a seat on the bed again and handed her the glass. "When does she want me to come in again?" She nodded. "Fine. I'll call then. Bye."

"That the doc?" Danny asked once she had closed her cell and set it back on the nightstand. "She gonna call in a script for you or something?"

"Yeah, it was. And there's nothing she can give me."

Danny took a bit of his take-out. "What is it? Some kinda virus?"

"No. More like a parasite."

He looked puzzled. "Parasite? Where the hell did you pick up a parasite?"

"From you." Mallory took a sip of the ginger ale he had gotten for her, then decided to take pity on him since he looked so confused. "Danny, I'm pregnant."

He choked on the drink of beer he had just taken. When he stopped coughing, he said, "You wanna repeat that. You're what?! How?!"

"You inserted tab a into slot b," Mallory responded dryly. "Danny, don't be an idiot. I know we don't need to have a birds and bees talk. You know the mechanics quite well."

"But...I mean." He flailed wildly. "We're careful."

She took his plate from him before he dumped it all over the bed. "Obviously not careful enough. I'm about two months along."

"What are you going to do?"

She glared at him. "Don't you mean what are we going to do?"

"Hey, it's your body, Mal, it's your decision. We haven't even set a date for the wedding yet. I mean...a baby? We've never discussed kids. And I'm...I'm not sure if I'm ready for that step. I mean, Mal, I almost died a month ago. I just got back on the streets. A kid changes everything."

Mallory shoved the blankets off her body and got out of bed. "Nice reaction, Danny," she said as she grabbed her jeans. "At least you had the decency not to ask me if it was yours."

Danny got to his feet as she jerked on street clothes and shoved things into a bag that she used on overnights at her aunt and uncle's. "What are you doing?" he asked.

Mallory glanced around the room and made sure she had everything of hers that she would need immediately. "Since you aren't ready for this, I'm leaving. You call me when you're ready to man up." Before he could think of a response, she slammed out of the apartment.

When Mallory reached the street, she paused and looked back up at the apartment windows. She knew neither of them had reacted the best and maybe she shouldn't have run out, but had really thought Danny would be happier about the news. She rubbed her hand across her stomach. She was happy about the baby. If something happened to Danny again on the job, she would have a part of him. Stepping off the curb, she flagged down a cab and got in. She couldn't go to Patrick, it was the first place Danny would look, so she'd go to the store first and make decisions from there.

By the time Danny gathered his wits and rushed downstairs, Mallory's cab had disappeared and there was no trace of her. Slamming his fist into the newspaper vending machine on the corner, he swore viciously for a few minutes. He couldn't believe he had messed up the one good thing in his life.

* * * * *

Mallory paid the cab driver and got out, thankful that habit made her keep money in her pocket. Grabbing her bag, she let herself into the store. Emily looked up from where she was counting the money for the bank deposit. She knew she had locked the door so it could only be one person. "You didn't need to come in, Mallory," she said as she finished counting the money and out it in the bag. "I said I could handle things for a few days."

"It's not that, Em," Mallory responded. "I just needed to get out of the apartment."

Emily frowned, looking her friend over. Mallory looked unsteady; her normally pale face was whiter than the peasant blouses they had gotten into stock the day before. "Come have a seat," she invited and led Mallory over to one of the comfortable chairs they had near-by. She snagged the box of tissues that rested on the counter on the way by. "What happened?"

"Danny and I had a fight," Mallory blurted out.

"Oookay," Emily said slowly. It wasn't the first time the two had fought; both of them had Irish tempers that tended to snap and flare, but they generally also burned out quickly. Mallory running out on a fight was unusual though. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'm pregnant," Mallory answered instead.

Emily shook her head, unable to follow her friend's logic. "Back up and start at the beginning. Did Danny accuse you of having an affair?"

Mallory took a deep breath and let it out slowly, shuddering from the force of her emotions. "No, he was kind enough not to do that. Apparently he can believe I'll get pregnant on purpose, but not that I'd cheat on him." With short, staccato bursts, she told Emily the whole story.

When she was finished, Emily hugged her tightly. "Oh, sweetie. It sounds like you both said things you didn't really mean." She handed her friend a tissue since silent tears were running down Mallory's face now. "Seems to me you need to call him and tell him that you two need to talk. Maybe some place a little more neutral than your apartment."

Mallory shook her head, sniffing a little. "I can't do that. I all but said he wasn't a man."

Emily sighed. Her friend could be stubborn at the best of times. "I know, but you still need to talk with him."

Absently Mallory shredded the tissue in her hands. "I can't. Not yet. I just can't get past him saying it was my body and my decision."

"All right." Emily decided it she needed to get Mallory settled somewhere before her friend fell apart. "Fine. You need to go somewhere then. Do you have any plans?"

"Danny'll find me immediately if I go to Patrick, not to mention he'll kill Danny. I don't know what to do," Mallory replied.

"And if Patrick finds out from someone else what happened?" Emily pointed out. She pulled her cell out of her pocket. "Am I calling or are you?"

Mallory took the phone. "I'll call." Flipping it open, she paged through Emily's phone book until she found her cousin's cell phone, knowing he would have it next to him if not on him. When he answered sleepily, she said, "Paddy, I need you."

* * * * *

Emily Peterson glanced over at the door as the tinkling bell announced another patron. When she saw who it was, she turned away and smoothly completed the transaction with the current customers. The younger woman blatantly looked the blond man over as he waited for Emily to finish. He fingered a silk scarf as he stood, completely oblivious to the woman's scrutiny. When they turned to leave, the woman ran her hand down his arm. "I'd be happy to help you find what you're looking for," she purred at him.

Danny jerked his arm away, backing up as a panicked look crossed his face. "Not interested." When the woman moved towards him again, he emphasized, "Really not interested." The woman pouted, but allowed her friend to pull her from the store. "Is Mallory here?" he asked once they were gone.

Emily busied herself with straightening the till. "She doesn't want to see you right now." Looking up at him, she added, "You really hurt her."

"I know," Danny admitted, "but it’s been two days, Emily, and she won't answer the phone when I call and she won't return my calls." Danny gripped the counter. "I realize I fucked up. I am an idiot, but I can't fix things if she won't talk to me."

Emily sighed. It would be so easy for her to take Mallory's side in this and shut him out completely, but she could see he was hurting as much as her friend was. "Well, step one, you admitted you screwed up. Step two, you know you're an idiot." She fidgeted with something behind the counter for a minute. "I'm not going to betray her and tell you where she is, but Patrick's meeting her for dinner at the Empire Cafe at six-thirty."

Danny nodded. "Okay. Thanks." He turned to leave.

"Danny," Emily called after him and when he turned to look her full in the face again, she continued, "go softly with her. She loves you and that's part of what hurt so much."

He nodded again; once quickly. "Thanks, Emily. Thanks a lot."

* * * * *

Sarah Turner, one of the CSIs that he normally worked scenes with, met him as he entered the lab. "Where have you been?" she demanded. "I've been calling you all morning."

Danny glanced down at the cell phone that was clipped to his belt. "My battery must be dead," he told her. "What's up?"

Sarah opened up the folder she was carrying and turned it so he could see the results. "I got the DNA results from the semen sample at the crime scene."

Danny took the folder and scanned the results, rapidly reading. "Did you get a match?"

"Alonzo Lamas. Two time loser. Assault and battery." She flipped to a page he hadn't gotten to yet and pointed. "Currently unemployed. Last known address."

Danny grinned. "Boom. Perfect, Sarah. I'll grab Mike and we'll go shake him up." He started to walk down the hall towards the bullpen.

"Charge your phone," Sarah yelled after him. He waved an acknowledgement over his shoulder with the folder that she had handed him.

When he reached his desk; Mike was on the phone with his feet up on his own desk. Danny opened his desk drawer, searching for a spare battery for his phone. As Mike hung up, he tossed the folder over. "Sarah got a DNA hit. Feel like chasing a mook down?"

Mike dropped his feet and opened his drawer, pulling his duty piece out. "Sounds good. We got an address?"

Danny nodded. "Yeah. You're driving. I'm navigating."

"What? You don't trust my sense of direction?" Mike asked as they walked out of the precinct.

"Manhattan may be a grid, partner, but you get lost in your own apartment," Danny replied.

"So where have you been all morning?" Mike changed the subject as they got in the SUV since his lack of navigation ability was a sore subject.

"Just had some errands to run," Danny answered shortly.

Mike glanced at his partner as he pulled out onto the street. "So is Mallory really busy at the store? She hasn't been by the station lately."

"She hasn't been feeling well," Danny answered, looking out the window. "I guess she's busy, too."

"Oh, okay," Mike said, knowing better than to question Danny when he answered that curtly. "Turn here?" he questioned.

"Yeah," Danny replied, glad that Mike seemed to be dropping the conversation.

* * * * *

Danny motioned to Mike as they left the apartment where they had been looking for the suspect. "How about I meet you back at the lab?" he asked. "I've got a stop I want to make."

"You want company?" Mike replied, pausing at the SUV.

Danny shook his head. "Nah. I've just gotta pick up a couple of things. Take the truck and I'll catch a cab or take the train back."

"All right. As long as you're sure." Mike keyed the door open and got into the vehicle. "You've been acting strange lately, man."

Danny knew he was right, but wasn't quite ready to tell him what was going on. He stepped back onto the sidewalk and waited until his partner had driven away, then turned and walked into the bookstore a few doors down from the apartment they had been at. After searching for a few minutes, he found the section for parenthood and then stopped and stared. He hadn't realized there would be so many choices. He was still trying to decide where to start when he heard a voice ask, "Can I help you?"

He turned and looked at the young woman behind him. Long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her brown eyes were warm with mirth. "Do I look that panic stricken?" he questioned.

She grinned. "I wouldn't say panicked, more confused. Wife, girlfriend, sister, or cousin?"

"Huh?" he replied, aware it made him sound even more confused, but not sure how else to respond.

"Who's pregnant? And is it her first?"

"Ah, my girlfriend, well I guess you could say my fiancée," he answered. "And, yes, it'll be our first. I was hoping to find a book or two to help me understand what she's going through."

"Good idea. Mind if I recommend a couple?"

Danny sighed. "That would be great. There's a hell of a lot more here than I expected."

She nodded. "I would imagine it's all a bit overwhelming. How far along is she?" she asked as she began thumbing through the books.

"About," Danny quickly added in his head from the time of the fight when she had been two months along through now, "two and a half months, I think." When she glanced at him in confusion, he explained, "We're trying to work things out and I'm not seeing her regularly right now. That's part of the reason I want the books."

"Okay, then," she put back one of the books she had pulled out and grabbed a different one. "I think these are your best choices." She handed him two books.

Danny looked at the covers. The first one read What to Expect When You're Expecting and was one he'd actually heard of. The other one caused a short bark of laughter when he read it. "She's having a baby and I'm having a breakdown?" he questioned.

"Yeah. I know it sounds silly, but my best friend swears by it. His wife brought it for him when she was pregnant with their first baby. Trust me, it helps."

He nodded. "Okay. I'll take your word for it. Thanks for the help."

She smiled at him. "Good luck. Oh, and congratulations."

He tucked the books under his arm. "Thank you." He glanced around. "Where do I pay?"

She pointed him in the right direction and he walked off with his books.

* * * * *

Danny glanced at his watch and realized if he didn't get moving he was going to miss Mallory. "Hey, Mike, can you finish up this report?" he asked.

"Yeah, I can write a whole lot of nothing. You taking off?" Mike responded.

Danny nodded. "I'll catch ya tomorrow." Mike waved absently since most of his attention was focused on his computer.

Once he got outside, Danny decided to walk since it was only a few blocks to the cafe. He stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets, having tucked the books under one arm, and strolled along, trying to decide what he was going to say to Mallory when he saw her. He'd spent a lot of time thinking the last two days and he knew he had made mistakes. He had gone with his gut reaction and not really thought things through. Now that he had had time to step back and consider it, the idea of a baby wasn't quite as shocking. The baby would be a part of both of them; someone for Mallory to hold onto if something happened to him on the job. He hadn't yet come to the point where he wanted a boy or a girl, but he was beginning to accept the idea of a child.

Danny paused outside the cafe, peering in through the plate glass window to locate Patrick and Mallory before entering. He finally found them sitting in one of the back booths. Patrick had his back to the door, which told Danny that Mallory was feeling extremely uncomfortable. Normally she only needed to see the whole room when she was feeling out of sorts. He stood there for a few minutes, drinking in the sight of her. He tried to find changes in her, but couldn't see any. It must been too early for him to detect physical changes, he decided. Mallory looked content at the moment and he almost turned to walk away, but then he realized he wanted to be a part of her life. He watched as she raised her left hand and motioned at someone, the flash of the diamond on her finger catching the light. She hadn't removed his ring. That more than anything propelled him forward.

Danny opened the door and walked into the cafe, approaching the table before he could talk himself out of it. Mallory was laughing at something as he stopped by them, but it cut off abruptly as she caught sight of him. For a moment no one said anything as the two of them stared at each other. Finally Patrick broke the impasse, "Hey, Finnegan."

Danny nodded and replied, "Doyle," without taking his eyes off Mallory.

"What are you doing here, Danny?" Mallory demanded.

"I wanted to talk to you," he answered. "Can I sit down?"

"I think you said enough the other day," she responded.

"Mally...Mallory," he amended when she glared at him, "you surprised me the other day. I think we both said things without thinking."

"Oh, you made your opinion pretty damn clear, Danny," she told him.

Danny sighed. He could tell by her tone that she was defensive, not angry. "I've had time to think," he replied, trying not to let her tone get to him. "Please. Just give me a chance to talk to you." Mallory glanced at Patrick was nodding. "You caught me off guard, Mallory," Danny continued. "Please."

Patrick figured Mallory could use a shove towards talking with Danny. On a good day, she could be hormonal and stubborn; with the changes in her body, she was even more unreasonable than usual. He slid out of the booth. "Take my seat, Finnegan," he offered. He pointed a finger at Mallory. "If you get up and leave before hearing him out, I will drag you back kicking and screaming."

"You're a bastard for taking his side," Mallory responded.

"I'm not siding with anyone," Patrick answered. "I'll be at the counter if you need me."

Danny sat down and stared at her for a minute, before commenting, "You didn't take your engagement ring off."

Mallory slipped it off her finger. "Here. Take it back if it's that much of an issue." She tossed it across the table to him.

Danny immediately pushed it back towards her. "That wasn't why I pointed it out. I was just surprised." He sighed. "I want you to come back home. Will you do that?"

"Not likely." She crossed her arms. "I think you made it pretty clear the other night what your feelings were."

Mally...Mallory," he amended when she glared at him again. "I don't know what you want me to say. I screwed up, but I don't know what you want me to do to fix it." He reached down and picked up the book on expecting that he had bought her, sliding it across the table to her. "I got you a present."

Mallory took it and flipped through it, pausing to look at a couple of pages. "Thanks, Danny." She glanced down at the book, then peeked up at him, as if unsure. "You hurt me," she admitted. She sighed. "The anger is mostly gone, but the hurt is still there. I'm not ready to come home yet."

He nodded. "Okay. I can understand that, but can we keep working on this?"

"Yes. I don't want this to be the end of us, I don't, but I can't..." she trailed off.

Danny covered the hand that she had left on the table. "I know. Let's start with I fucked up. Keep your keys to our place and come when you need. If you don't want me there, we can make arrangements. You can have Patrick call me or whatever, okay?"

Mallory nodded and wiped away the tears that were in her eyes. "Yeah. Okay."

"Are you okay? Do you need anything?" He squeezed her hand. "Are you eating now?"

"No, I don't need anything. I've got a place to stay. I go back to the doctor's tomorrow. Food seems to still be iffy."

"Did you eat anything today?" he asked, concerned about her.

"I just ate dinner with Patrick and a little before then. Emily and Patrick are both keeping an eye on me and making sure I eat. Plus the doctor has me on supplements."

"That's good." They both looked up as Patrick returned to the table.

"Hey," he said. "Mal, you ready to go home? I need to get to work soon."

Mallory stood up. "Yeah. I'll see you later, Danny." She allowed Patrick to put his arm around her and guide her away, not turning back to look at Danny.

Danny stared down at his hands. Mallory had spoken to him and taken the book, even kept his ring, but it hadn't gone as well as it could have. Tossing money on the table for a tip, since he wasn't sure Patrick had left one, he left the cafe.

* * * * *

"Doyle!" Danny yelled when he saw the other detective. He and Patrick had been working opposite shifts recently and he hadn't seen his friend. He also hadn't heard from Mallory in almost three months.

"What'dya want, Finnegan?" Doyle asked as Danny caught up to him.

"Where is she?" Danny demanded. "I know she's been by the apartment, but I haven't seen her."

"No way. I value my life too much," Doyle responded. "She's not ready to see you. Soon. Maybe."

Danny ran a hand through his sandy-blond hair. "Yeah. Okay. I get that. Do me two favors?"

Doyle sighed. "As long as it's not gonna get me killed by Mallory. She's a hormonal bitch when she's not pregnant."

Danny dug into his pocket and pulled out a wad of bills, passing them over to his friend. "Can you give this to her the next time you see her? It's for the doctor or whatever. For whatever she needs."

Patrick raised an eyebrow as he took the money. "It's a little late for an abortion, Danny, not that she would ever consider that."

Danny was horrified. "No. Not for that. I mean she's gotta go get check-ups and stuff, right? And she's gonna need stuff for the baby. God, I would never ask her to do that, no matter what my feelings."

Patrick studied the other detective. He didn't agree with what Mallory was doing, but he couldn't seem to change her mind. Danny had lost weight in the intervening months and he looked like he wasn't sleeping much. "Hey, man, you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine. Just had a couple of doubles is all."

Patrick raised an eyebrow, but chose to let it slide. "What's the second favor?"

"You got a cousin who paints, right? Does pictures and murals and stuff like that?" Danny asked.

"Yeah. Micah. Why? What are you planning?" Patrick replied.

"Can you give me his number? I've been fixing up the second bedroom at the apartment for a nursery and I'd like him to do a mural on one wall. I've got an idea if he can do it."

Patrick scribbled a number down on a page of his memo book and ripped it out, handing it over. "Yeah, he probably can. Want me to tell Mallory about it?"

"No, I'd rather keep this a surprise."

Patrick grinned. "Lemme know when he's done and I'll see what I can do about getting her over to the apartment when you're there so you can show it off."

"Thanks, Patrick."

* * * * *

Danny had just set his paint roller down and was stretching when the buzzer for the street door rang. Looking down at his paint splattered shorts and guinea tee, he decided it didn't matter. Whoever it was could just deal. He made sure he didn't have any paint on his feet, then crossed the apartment to the front door. Hitting the intercom, he said, "Yo."

"Yo? Man, what generation you livin' in? It's Micah. You wanna buzz me in?" a male voice came back.

"Yeah. Come on up." Danny hit the button and then went to open the apartment door. When the elevator doors parted to reveal Micah, he was waiting. "Hey, thanks for coming," Danny greeted him.

Micah was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt; his shoulder-length black hair pulling into a ponytail and pulled through the back of a NY Mets cap. "Not a problem. You said you had an idea for a mural?"

"Come in. The room's this way," Danny invited. "I was thinking a Central Park scene like Strawberry Fields, the Zoo, maybe that Hans Christian Anderson thing."

Micah nodded as they walked into the room. Two of the walls had been painted a pale yellow while the other two were primed and ready to be painted. One had streaks of yellow where Danny had obviously started painting while the other was just white. "My wall?" Micah asked, indicating it.

"Yeah. Can you do a little something something with it?" Danny replied.

Micah studied the wall in silence for a moment, then started nodding. "Yeah. Yeah, I can definitely work with this. I can cover the whole wall if you want, but it's gonna take me a couple of weeks."

Danny tossed the other man a set of keys that had been resting on the ladder. "Let yourself in and work when you can. The only thing I ask is that you don't tell Mallory."

Micah fingered the keys. He didn't know all of Danny's back story, but he knew the other man didn't trust easily. Tucking the keys into his pocket, he decided not to make a big deal out of it. "You got any pictures I can work from? Maybe gimme an idea of what you want?" he asked instead.

"I went down to the park the other day and took a buncha pictures," Danny answered. "Mally loves Strawberry Fields so I'd like you to work that in. Other than that I was thinking either the Anderson thing or Mother Goose, the Kids' Rock, maybe the Carousel, and the Zoo overlaying it all." The two had walked back out into the main room as Danny talked. Now the detective handed the other man an envelope of pictures.

Micah flipped through them. "You've got some great shots," he enthused. "Okay. I'll do some sketches and get back to you."

"Nah, just do whatever. I think you know Mally well enough. And lemme know what it costs when you're done. If you need money before then I can give it to you."

"Just supplies," Micah decided, tucking the pictures away. "You're family."

* * * * *

Mallory shifted uncomfortably, the seat belt pressing on her abdomen. "Where are we going, Patrick?"

"I told you it's a surprise. You okay?" Patrick glanced over at her as he stopped at a red light.

"Yeah. Junior and the seat belt are just having a disagreement."

"Well, we're almost there. Hey, have you thought of any names yet?"

Mallory rubbed her stomach, soothing the baby who was moving around. "I know what his name is going to be. I just want to keep it to myself." She frowned as she recognized where they were. "Why are we in front of Danny's apartment?"

Patrick found a parking space and slid the car in expertly. "I need to drop some stuff off to Finnegan. It'll only take a minute."

Mallory undid her seat belt and folded her hands over her rounded stomach. "I'll wait here."

He wanted to throttle her since the whole point was to get her up to the apartment. "You said you had some things to get," he pointed out. "You might as well come get them now."

Mallory grumbled, but got out of the car. "I can tell you what I want."

Patrick cupped her elbow and guided her over to the building, waiting while Mallory used her keys to get into the building. "Easier for you to do it," he replied as he escorted her into the elevator.

Mallory glared at Patrick when she opened the apartment door and saw Danny waiting for her. "Asshole," she said mildly.

"Don't blame Patrick," Danny said since he knew who her comment was directed at. "I had something to show you and I asked him to bring you." He looked her over, his eyes lingering on the obvious protrusion at her middle. "You look really good. How are you feeling?"

"Better. No more throwing up every day."

He smiled. "That's good to hear." He held his hand out to her. "Will you come with me?" Tentatively, she took his hand and allowed him to draw her towards what used to be an empty storage room. He paused at the closed door. "Shut your eyes," he prompted. When she complied, he opened the door, then placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her into the room. Stopping her in the middle of the space, he stood behind her and whispered in her eat, "Open up."

Mallory opened her eyes and blinked, then gasped. Three of the walls were painted a soft, pale yellow while the fourth was a floor to ceiling mural that held bright, cheerful scenes of Central Park. In addition, Danny had added furniture to the room. A light wood crib stood sideways in one corner with a colorful zoo mobile hanging over it. Along one of the yellow walls stood a matching dresser and changing table. A toy box was under the window on the far wall. The crib was made up with a quilt that matched the mobile; a teddy bear sat on top of it. Everything was ready for a baby to be settled down to sleep.

She spun in a slow circle, taking everything in as Danny watched with a proud smile. She began to walk around, running a hand along the crib rail. "You did all this?"

Danny leaned against the wall by the door, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets and trying not to crowd her as she poked around the room. "Micah did the mural. Patrick and Mike helped me with the furniture, but yeah I did most of it."

"I don't know what to say," she said as she stepped closer to the mural. She stared at it for a few minutes, then turned around to look at him. "Why?"

He sighed. "If we can't work things out by the time the baby comes, I want you to move back here. I'll move out," he hurried on to say, "if that's what you want. But this place is closer to the store and it'll be easier with the baby." He kicked at an imaginary spot on the hardwood floor. "I know we've been talking, but we don't seem to be moving forward. I'm at a loss, Mallory. I don't know what to do next. I've tried calling you every day; I've tried giving you space. I've sent messages, flowers; I've done nothing. I don't know what you want."

Mallory looked up at him and offered, "You could kiss me?"

Danny didn't ask if she was sure; he didn't want to take the chance that she would change her mind. Crossing the room quickly, he put his arm around her waist and tentatively pulled her towards his body. Lowering his head, he brushed his mouth across hers. When she sighed and parted her lips in invitation, he returned to capture them, slipping his tongue inside her mouth. As they separated long moments later, he whispered, "I love you."

"I'm a bitch," she replied. "A really, really big bitch."

Hugging her gently, afraid of hurting either her or the baby, he responded, "We both said things we didn't mean. I think we've both been stubborn and maybe a little unreasonable in the last few months."

"Mmm," she agreed softly, swaying into him. "Just a little. Kiss me again?" Happy to comply, Danny lowered his head.

The two were so wrapped up in each other that neither heard Patrick approaching the room until he started speaking, "Mal, if you've done something foolish; I am not going to help..." he trailed off as he entered the nursery. "Oh, I guess I don't have to worry."

Danny pulled back, but didn't release Mallory. "Not going to help her do what, Doyle?" he questioned.

Patrick grinned. "I was gonna say I'm not going to help her hide your body, but apparently I don't have to worry." He looked more closely at his cousin. "Everything okay?"

"I was fully cooperating if that's what you're asking," she answered. "And I was not drugged or coerced in anyway. Did you need something?"

"Ah. Yeah." Patrick held up his cell phone. "I just got a page from Dispatch. I've got a body. So I can either take you back to my place now or you can catch a cab later."

Mallory glanced at Danny who nodded encouragingly. "I think," she said hesitantly, "that Danny and I need to talk. So why don't you go? I'll call you later."

Patrick nodded. "Sounds good." Crossing to her, he kissed her on the cheek, then patted her belly. "Later, Junior." Mallory slapped his hand away.

Danny stifled a laugh at the interaction and waited until Patrick had left to ask, "So I gather touching the belly is a no-no?"

Mallory glared at him. "Suddenly because I'm incubating, my stomach is city property." She reached out and took his hand, then with her free hand felt around on her stomach for a minute. Laying his hand on the spot she found, she pressed hard enough that he felt something. "You can touch whenever you want. But everyone else needs to keep their damn hands off!"

"Is that...?" he wanted to know.

She nodded, smiling at the awed look on his face. "As near as I can figure, that's the baby."

He opened his mouth to respond, but was startled by the sound of her stomach growling. "Looks like both my babes are hungry. How about we go get something to eat and talk over dinner?"

He started to walk away, but she kept a hold of his hand, forcing him to turn back and look at her. "Danny, I'm sorry."

"I know, Mally," he reassured her. "I know." Tenderly, he brushed her hair away from her face. "We'll get through this." He smiled. "So what do you want for dinner?"

Mallory considered his question for a few minutes. "How about Italian? But not just a slice or two."

"Bertucci's?" he suggested.

"Sounds good."

Danny was glad it was a week night when they got to the restaurant because Mallory had started to complain about being really hungry about ten minutes into the ride. They were seated almost immediately and he ordered bruschetta and drinks for them while she tried to arrange herself at the table. When the waitress reached out to touch Mallory's stomach, Danny pushed the girl's hand away. "Ya know, she's really hungry," he hinted. "Maybe you could go try to rush our order a little."

Mallory smiled gratefully as the girl left. "Thanks, Danny."

"Any idea what you want?" he asked.

She looked up from the menu where she had turned her attention after the waitress left. "To come home?"

Danny almost dropped his menu in shock. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

* * * * *

Danny winced at the giggles as he let himself into the apartment. Mallory was seated in the recliner with her feet up; surrounded by giggling women. He recognized Emily and Sarah Turner, but while the other women looked familiar he couldn't place them. He made his way over to the group, leaning down to kiss Mallory hello. "Hey, babe," he greeted her. Raising his eyebrows, he asked permission, and after she nodded, he rubbed a gentle hand across her stomach. "Hi, Junior." Straightening back up, he asked, "What's going on?"

Mallory grinned. "Baby shower."

Danny hooked a thumb over his shoulder. "Ya know I just remembered I've got paperwork I promised the captain I'd finish."

She grabbed his jacket before he could leave. "Oh, no. This is your baby, too."

"Yeah, but this is like..." he waved a hand at the group," a girl thing."

Amid the laughter, Mallory wiggled her fingers at Sarah. "Pay up."

Sarah sighed, but dug a twenty out of her purse and handed it over. "I shoulda known better than to bet against him."

Danny groaned. "I so don't want to know. Can I at least go change and get a beer?"

Mallory grinned at him. "Yes. Go on."

When Danny returned to the main room after changing, Mallory was holding up a tiny shirt and all of the women were ooohing over it. He shuddered at the sound and hurried over to the fridge. Pulling a beer out, he twisted off the cap and took a healthy swig before making his way over to perch on the arm of Mallory's chair. Poking at the shirt, he asked, "Is that gonna be big enough?"

The other ladies twittered as Mallory smiled at him. "This is six to nine months, Danny," she explained.

"No shit?" he asked, then winced as four hands slapped him. "What'd I do?"

"My child's first word is not going to be a swear word," Mallory informed him as she accepted another gift.

"Babe, Junior's going to be a New Yorker. The baby'll learn the words sooner or later," Danny pointed out.

"Then let it be later and not from his father," Mallory replied and Danny knew from her tone that was her final word on the subject.

"Yes, ma'am," he said, kissing her on top of her head. He tried very hard to ignore the twitters and awes from the women surrounding them.

* * * * *

"Is she going to be okay?" Sarah asked as she paused at the door.

Danny glanced back to where Mallory had fallen asleep in the chair, not even noticing as they cleaned the apartment up around her. "Yeah. The doctor said this was normal. It's getting a little uncomfortable for her to sleep sometimes and she's more tired than usual. I'll wake her up once you've left and get her to bed."

She nodded. "All right. I'm off tomorrow. Have her call if she needs something."

"I will. Thanks for this," he indicated the gifts that had been carried into the nursery and piled haphazardly until Mallory could decide where they went, "and for helping clean up."

"Not a problem. Night, Finnegan."

"Night, Turner," he responded, shutting the door behind her. Turning and taking a look around the apartment, he was pleased to see most of it was cleaned up. He picked up a few stray ribbons and set them on the coffee table, then leaned over to gently kiss Mallory on the lips. She stirred in her sleep, but didn't wake up. "Mally, sweetie," he said gently. "Come on, wake up, let's go to bed." She murmured something, but it wasn't loud enough for him to actually hear it. "Mally," he repeated, "you gotta wake up for me, babe. It's time for bed."

"Isn't it kinda silly to wake me up to put me to bed?" she asked, stretching a little and yawning as she opened her eyes.

"Sorry, babe, I can't carry you to bed at this point," he replied.

"So you're saying I'm fat. And unattractive," she said as she allowed him to help her out of the chair. "And you don't want me anymore."

Danny sighed inaudibly. He had gotten used to Mallory's mood swings, but it still didn't make them any easier. "You're not fat, Mally, you're pregnant." He slung his arm around her shoulder as they headed towards the bedroom, glad when she didn't shy away from him. "I think you're beautiful." He rested his hand on her bulge, gently rubbing it. "That's my baby in there. I know I didn't respond the best when you first told me, but seeing you like this..." he turned her to face him. "It is the most precious thing I could have ever experienced." Tilting her head up, he kissed her softly, using the distraction to pull her shirt over her head. He knelt down in front of her, kissing her belly. "Let me show you how beautiful you are to me?"

Looking down at him, as he knelt before her, Mallory realized that in his eyes she really was beautiful. "I love you," she said, running a hand through his hair. "Yes."

Danny reached for her pants, determined to show her just how much he loved her, and the child she carried within her.

* * * * *

Danny hit the desk at the nurses' station to get the attention of the woman sitting there. When she looked up at him, he demanded, "Mallory Sullivan. Where is she?"

The woman frowned in response. "Immediate family only."

He flipped his wallet open and flashed his shield at her, for once willing to take advantage of being a police officer. "Where is she?" he repeated.

"Fifth floor. Maternity. Room five oh six," she answered.

"Thanks." Danny pushed away from the station and headed for the stairs, taking them two at a time, too impatient to wait for the elevator. When he reached the correct floor, he paused, taking the time to catch his breath and slow his racing heart. Patrick hadn't given him much information on the phone; just enough to kick his panic into overdrive and send him racing out of the precinct. When he felt like he was back in control, he pulled open the door and entered the hall. He was grateful this wasn't the same hospital that he had been in when he was shot a year ago.

Danny paused in the doorway to her room. Mallory was lying on her side, her back to the door, with Patrick sitting next to her. He was leaning over, speaking quietly to her. Danny didn't want to interrupt them, but he wanted so badly to see for himself that she and the baby were all right.

He must have made some sort of sound because Patrick looked up and said softly, "Danny's here, Mal." The other detective waved him closer. "She's not supposed to get agitated," Patrick cautioned as Danny approached the bed. He stood up and said, "I'm gonna go get a cup of coffee, Mal. Danny'll stay with you while I'm gone." He paused to grip Danny's shoulder. "She's a bit sleepy from everything," he said in a low voice, "but she's stable."

Danny nodded, his eyes glued to Mallory's back. "Thanks, Patrick." He waited a moment after Patrick left before making his way around the bed and taking the chair the other man had vacated. Mallory's eyes were closed and he was loathe to wake her since he knew she needed the sleep. The blanket couldn't hide the mound her stomach had become and he marveled again at the difference a few months had made. Even though he saw it every day now, he was still amazed at how fast her waistline was expanding with their child. She stirred then and he soothed her automatically, "Easy, Mally, I'm here."

Her eyes opened, cloudy and unfocused, and searched him out. "Hi," she whispered.

He took a hold of the hand that was lying on the bed. "You're okay? It's okay?"

Mallory smiled softly. "He, and yes, we're both fine. They stopped the labor in time."

Danny nodded. "Good. That's go...Did you say he? You're having a boy?"

Her smile widened and she pushed the blanket off, pulling his hand down until it settled on her stomach. "Yes. That's your, our, son."

Danny rested his hand gently on her, marveling at the feel. For so many months, he had been denied the touch of her, now he reveled in every feel. He jumped as something moved beneath his hand. "What was that?"

Mallory giggled. "He moved. I guess he just wanted you to know he was there. Feels funny, doesn't it?"

Danny grinned. "Yeah. Just a little." He sobered as he stared down at her. "God, you scared me, Mally."

"I scared Patrick, too," she admitted, "and me. But everything is okay now. I'll have to take it easy for the next little while, but I'm stable, and the doctor says there's no reason he won't stay put 'til he's due."

"If he's as stubborn as his mama, he'll wait," he replied quietly. He stared at her, unable to believe he'd almost lost them both. "God, you scared me so badly."

She pressed his hand gently against her stomach. "I do love you. We will get through this. We're fine. I promise. It wasn't anything wrong, just a little bit of a hiccup. Everything is fine now."

Danny leaned towards her and kissed her chastely, afraid that anything more would hurt her. "I love you, too," he told her. He smoothed her hair with his free hand. "Close your eyes and rest. I'll be here. And when the doctor releases you, I'll be ready to take you home."

Her eyes fluttered shut and her hand fell so it rested atop his on her stomach. Danny leaned back in the chair, trying to get comfortable, and allowed his own eyes to close. He was prepared to sit here as long as she required.

* * * * *

Danny looked up as two men walked into the precinct, followed by their captain. "What's with the suits?" he asked Patrick who was sitting at the desk next to his. At the same time, he tossed something at Mike, trying to get his attention.

"Need I remind you that we're all wearing suits?" Patrick replied. He looked the two men over as they approached the three detectives. "Anyone working on an FBI case?"

Both Danny and Mike shook their heads as the captain stopped by their desks. "Finnegan, my office, pronto," he ordered.

Mike and Patrick exchanged glances as Danny got to his feet. "What'dya do now, Finnegan?" Patrick asked.

"Nope. It wasn't me this time," Danny assured them. He knocked on the door frame of his captain's office and poked his head in. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Come on in, Detective. Have a seat," Captain Burns invited. Danny entered and sat down, trying to stay as far away from the two agents as possible. "These are Agents Smith and Mahoney from the FBI."

Danny nodded at the two men. "What's going on, Cap?"

"These gentlemen," and Danny could tell from the tone of voice that Burns would like to use some other description, "need some assistance on a case. They need a New Yorker undercover and it seems you fit the bill."

"No," Danny responded immediately. "Hell no."

"Detective, do you understand that we wouldn't be asking if we didn't need the help? No one in our unit fits the qualifications for what we need. And you have undercover experience," one of the agents, Danny thought it was Smith, said.

"I'm not saying no just to be a bastard," Danny answered. "My girlfriend is almost nine months pregnant. I can't leave her now."

"This isn't a request, Detective. You've already established some bonafides with this cartel and we need that in. You've got the identity of Danny Costas and we need that in with the Martas Cartel," Mahoney pointed out.

Danny snorted. "Danny Costas was killed three years ago. He's dead and buried. How are you intending to dig him out of his grave?"

"Simple matter of mistaken identity," Smith responded. "You go back in and just say they misidentified you."

"And that's the fastest way to get my detective killed," Burns said.

"We've already got people working on it. By the time you go in, there will be no question about it. Danny Costas will be alive and well," Smith explained. "Look we've lost three agents already trying to infiltrate the cartel. We need you to go in."

Danny sighed, running a hand through his sandy blond hair. "Fine. Okay yeah. I need a day or two to get things wrapped up here. Pass my cases off to other detectives and let my girlfriend know what's going on."

The two agents exchanged glances. "That won't be possible, Detective. You're going with us now. Out the back and no one will know what happened to you. You're just going to disappear," Mahoney told him. "Your captain will think of something to explain to your colleagues. We're going to take you out of here in cuffs with your head covered to begin to establish you as Costas. Do you happen to have clothes that he might wear here or somewhere near-by?"

Danny considered the clothes in his locker and then nodded slowly. "I've got jeans and a leather jacket in my locker that could pass for Costas's, but how am I going to get them?"

"Smith here will get them and then if your captain permits, you'll change in here," Mahoney replied.

Twenty minutes later, Danny had changed and the FBI Agent was cuffing his hands behind his back. His cell phone and all his personal effects had been confiscated and he sincerely hoped that his captain would turn them over to Patrick to pass onto Mallory. He also hoped that the captain wouldn't decide the best story was that he was dead.

* * * * *

Patrick looked up as their captain walked out of his office; without the FBI Agents that had accompanied him in or Danny. Throwing a ball of paper at Mike, he nodded towards their captain who was walking swiftly towards them. "Something's up," he said quietly.

Burns paused by Patrick's desk and stood there for a moment, then handed Danny's belongings to him. "I believe you can get these to Danny's girlfriend," he told him.

Patrick looked confused, but accepted the wallet, keys, and everything else. "Where's Danny?" he asked.

"Finnegan has been asked to consult on an FBI case. He's already left with the agents and isn't sure when he'll return. As of now, he's on detached duty. Burlington, we'll get you some help with your open cases." Without a backward glance, Burns turned and walked back to his office.

Patrick looked down at the items in his hands and then got to his feet. "I've got to tell Mallory. She's gonna freak. Cover for me?" he requested.

Mike nodded as the other detective hurried out of the precinct.

* * * * *

Mallory looked up from her book as Patrick let himself into the apartment. She smiled at her cousin. "Hey. I wasn't expecting to see you today," she said as she started to get out of the recliner she was resting in. She frowned as she realized he hadn't rung the bell. "How did you get in?"

Patrick waved her back down and came over to sit near her, pulling the coffee table over so he could sit on it. "I've got Danny's keys," he explained. "How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good. Junior's been active today, but he seems to have fallen asleep now." She tugged on the hand he had set on the arm of her chair. "Paddy, where's Danny?"

Patrick looked away, unable to think of what to tell her. "I'm sure he's fine, Mal."

"Patrick Sean Doyle, that does not answer my question! Where. Is. Danny?"

Patrick sighed. "I don't know, Mal. Two FBI Agents came into the office today and he disappeared soon after. Burns told us he's on detached duty."

She shook her head. "No. No. No. He wouldn't do that to me."

As she dissolved into tears, Patrick leaned forward and gathered her into his arms, trying to sooth her. "I don't think he had any choice," he said when she had subsided somewhat. "He'll do everything he can to get back to you. Meanwhile I'll be here as much as I can be. If you want I can sleep on the couch."

Mallory nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Yes, please. Thanks, Paddy." She held her hands out and Patrick dropped Danny's personal effects into it. Searching through them, she took his shield out of his wallet and rubbed her fingers over it. As if that was her last connection to him, she broke down again.

* * * * *

Danny glared at the agent across the table from him. "Look, you've got what you wanted. The Martas Cartel is history. I want to go home. I want to see my girl and my baby."

"We can't let you go yet, Detective. You need to testify," the agent responded.

Danny stood up, leaning over the table and getting in the other man's face. "If you don't let me go home," he growled. "You aren't going to get me to testify. I'll get on the stand and refuse to say a word. So that's your choice. I'll fly where ever the hell the trial is...after I go home and see my girl and baby."

The agent leaned back, not much intimidated him, but the man across from him was clearly at the end of his rope. "I'll see what I can do."

"You do that," Danny replied. "And do it fast. Before I take matters into my own hands."

* * * * *

Danny sighed as he got out of the car at the back of the precinct. The agents had agreed that he didn't have to be cuffed this time, but his head was still covered and he had been taken around to the back. He allowed the agents to guide him into the back of the station and through it. As they entered the captain's office, someone pulled the hood off his head and he tossed it, breathing deeply of the unfiltered air. Burns straightened up as he realized who was in his office. "Finnegan!" he all but shouted.

"Hey, Cap," Danny replied, half-waving. "I'm back."

Burns ignored the two agents that had walked in with his detective and threw open his door, yelling across the bullpen, "Doyle!"

A moment later, Patrick entered the office. "You bellowed, Cap?" he asked.

Burns jerked a thumb at Danny, who was standing semi-patiently in the corner. "Look who's back."

Patrick peered around the agents and felt his jaw drop. "Holy shit! Danny!"

"Yeah. Yeah," Danny answered. "I'm not dead. How's Mallory? And the baby? I'm assuming she had him. Where is she?"

Patrick looked at the agents, obviously not sure how much he wanted to say in front of them. "She's good. Yeah, she had him." He grinned. "I didn't realize she knew that many swear words." He stuck his hands in his pockets. "She's at my parents'. She didn't want to stay at the apartment...after the baby was born."

Danny glanced at the agents. "I'm outta here then. Cap, can you spare Doyle? Let him take me out to Westchester?"

Burns nodded. "Yeah. Go, both of you." As the two men started towards the door, he called, "Finnegan, it's good to have you back."

Patrick stopped by his desk and grabbed his keys along with an envelope. After they got into the car he was assigned for the day, he handed the envelope to Danny. "Pictures," he explained at Danny's look.

Danny fiddled with the flap of the envelope for a few minutes before finally opening it and spilling the contents into his lap. The first thing he saw was a typical hospital shot of a baby boy and underneath it the birth announcement. "Daniel Patrick Finnegan. Born July 30, 2009 at 8:04 A.M. Seven pounds, six ounces. Twenty inches long.," he read silently. He took a moment to drink in the sight of his son and then looked at the other pictures. One was of Mallory, her face tired but happy, in the hospital, holding the baby up so whoever was taking the picture could see him. The next few were just the baby alone, in the hospital bassinet, then in a car seat on the day they must have taken him home. Danny flipped through them a few times and then returned to the one of Mallory with the baby.

"We've been calling him D," Patrick explained when he saw Danny had looked at all the pictures.

"D?" Danny questioned.

Patrick shrugged. "She said DP was too stupid and she refused to call him Danny. So it ended up being D." He glanced over at the man in the passenger seat. "I dunno how she's going to react to you."

"Yeah, well, I figure any screaming she does I deserve. I'm hoping that telling her I didn't have a choice will help some."

"What the hell happened?" Patrick asked.

Danny spent the rest of the car ride explaining where he had been the last two months and why he had left the way he did. By the time they reached Patrick's parents' place, the other detective understood what had happened, but still wasn't sure how his cousin would react.

Danny looked up at the house in worry as Patrick parked in front. "I guess the only way to do this is just head on," he commented.

"Want me to go first?" Patrick asked.

"No, I'd rather you covered my back," Danny replied. Taking a deep breath, he started up the path to the front door and knocked on it.

A moment later the door swung open. Danny had a second to drink in the sight of Mallory, still slightly round from the pregnancy, before she said, "Danny?" and slammed the door. A second later, they heard the lock snick shut.

The two detectives exchanged confused glances. "Oookay," Patrick said slowly. "That's not the reaction I was expecting." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled his keys out and unlocked the door. Pushing it open, he entered; Danny right behind him. "Mallory?" he called out.

The only answer was a wail from the rear of the house and then swiftly moving footsteps. "The baby?" Danny questioned.

Patrick nodded. "Yeah. The room she's been using for a nursery is this way." Motioning for Danny to follow him, he began to lead the way through the house.

They discovered Mallory in a smaller room towards the back of the house. It was painted a bright, cheery yellow; not unlike the color Danny had picked for the nursery at the apartment. As they entered, Mallory finished changing D and picked him up, cooing above the cries, "I know you're hungry, baby boy, just a minute." She settled herself in the rocker, then unbuttoned her shirt and unselfconsciousnessly bared her breast and guided D to the nipple. His cries quieted as he started sucking. She looked up at Danny when she was certain the baby was feeding. "What are you doing here?"

"I came back as soon as I could, Mally. I swear to you that I couldn't come back any sooner. If I had been able to, I would have," Danny responded. He nodded at Patrick when the other man motioned that he was going to leave them alone.

"I thought you were dead," she said quietly.

Danny crossed the room to her, dropping to his knees beside her, but being careful not to reach out and touch her. "That's not what they told me they would say to you," he said softly. "I was told you would be given a cover story to protect you, but that you would be assured I was alive and well." He ached to take her in his arms, but was afraid he would be pushed away. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"I needed you and you weren't here," she told him.

"I know, babe, and I am so, so sorry. If I could do anything to turn back time and change it, I would."

She turned her head towards him. "You missed the birth of your son."

"I know and you don't know how much I regret that. I will spend the rest of my life telling you how sorry I am if that's what it takes to make it up to you."

"Do you want to touch him?" she asked, ignoring his comment for the moment.

Danny had been concentrated on her for the most part, but now he looked down at the baby in her arms. His eyes were closed and he seemed fully engrossed in what he was doing. "I don't want to disturb him while he's eating," he said.

"Trust me, he's pretty much got a one track mind at this age. You touching him won't even register," Mallory explained.

Tentatively, he reached out and ran a finger down the baby's head, careful not to move him away from her breast. "We made this?" he asked in awe.

Mallory smiled at the look of wonderment on Danny's face. It wasn't an expression she had seen before. "Yeah," she told him softly, "we did."

When he bent forward and placed a gentle kiss on the crown of the baby's head, she felt the pain in her heart fade. She had known what she was getting into when she fell in love with him. This separation was just part the man she had fallen for. "Hi, D," he whispered to the baby. "I'm your daddy."

When he tilted his head back up to look at her, she laid her hand against his cheek. "I missed you," she confessed.

"I missed you every hour, every minute, every second that I was gone," he told her. He grinned. "I actually threatened the FBI when they told me I couldn't come home to you."

"You didn't!?" she said, laughing as she shifted D away from her breast, closing up her shirt as she moved him, and put him against her shoulder. She patted his back until he burped.

"I did. They wanted me to stay in hiding until the trial in six months. There was no way in hell that was happening. I have to fly to wherever the trial is, but at least I'll be home with you and D in the meantime."

Mallory smiled at him. "I'm glad you're home. Do you want to hold him?"

"Are you sure I should? I mean...I've never held a baby before." Danny's face looked panic-stricken.

Mallory laughed at his expression as she got to her feet. Balancing D against her shoulder, she pushed Danny into the chair. "You need to bond with your son," she informed him before arranging the baby in his arms. She grinned as she watched the normally confident Danny try to balance the baby.

"Mallory, I'm gonna drop him," Danny pointed out.

The new mother patiently re-arranged his hands and arm so that D was sitting more comfortably. "No, you won't," she assured him. "Just be sure to support his head and neck and you two will be fine." She moved gracefully across the room towards the changing table and started looking for something, mostly to give Danny time to get used to holding the baby.

He turned his attention to the baby as D stirred. "Hi, little guy," Danny greeted him as his eyes opened. "Hey, Mallory, his eyes are blue!"

Mallory rolled her eyes and smiled since her back was to Danny. "Yes, Danny," she said patiently. "All babies have blue eyes at this age, but I suspect his will stay blue."

"Why will his eyes stay blue?" Danny asked.

"Because you and I both have blue eyes," Mallory answered. "Geez, Danny, did you sleep through genetics?"

"No," he said defensively. "I just don't remember high school science that well." He glanced around the room, realizing that the furniture in the room was the things from the apartment. "Hey, did you bring everything from the apartment over?"

Mallory nodded. "I just didn't want to stay there. Without you."

Danny looked down at the baby, who had drifted off, and realized he wasn't quite ready to try walking while holding him. "It's okay. I understand. I just. I had something for you and I'm hoping you brought it. Can you take D?"

Mallory smiled, but came over and scooped D up, then gently lay him down in the crib. While she rubbed his back to sooth him and then drew a light blanket over him, Danny went through the dresser and found the box he was looking for. It hadn't been opened, which he was glad to see, and he turned back towards Mallory with it in his hand as she moved away from the crib. "I thought you would like something to keep a picture of D in," he told her as he held the box out to her. "Although I didn't know his name at the time. Good thing he was born when he was."

Accepting it, she opened the box and gasped, "Oh, Danny, it's beautiful." Carefully, she lifted the locket out of the case. It was a two inch gold heart with a three stones down near the point. With a smile, she recognized hers, Danny's, and D's birthstones. "Yes, it is," she said. "Peridot, emerald, and ruby. What would you have done if he had been born later?" Sliding her fingernail into the slit, she opened it up. "I'll have to have a picture printed for it," she told him when she saw the size of the space.

"I would have taken it back and gotten the right stone put in," he told her. Holding out his hand, he requested, "Let me put it on you?" when she had closed it again.

She handed it over and turned around, lifting her hair out of the way. "I love it, Danny. Thank you."

When she turned back around, he reached for her and she went willingly into his arms. Holding her tightly against him, he wished again that he had been there for her. "Tomorrow we'll start moving everything back to our home," he told her.

"And let's set a wedding date?" she asked. "Unless you've changed your mind."

"Hell no. I'm even more determined now. How soon can you be ready?"

"Not that quickly, Danny. I'd like a real wedding."

"Anything you want," he promised. "Anything at all that I can give you."