I don’t own the characters from ‘Forever Knight’.  They are the
property of Sony/TriStar and no infringement is intended.

This is a sequel to my story ‘Surprises’.  It might help to read that
one, first.

Permission is granted to post on DarkNN, NNFic and NNAdult. Permission
is granted to archive on Mel’s fkfanfic site, the JADFE site and the
ftp site. Anyone else, just ask.

This is an ADULT section with adult situations. Please do not read if
you are not over 18, or if such material offends you.

Special thanks to my Beta Readers. You really helped a lot, ladies!

Also, many thanks to Mary O’Neal for the title, as well as several of
the ideas contained herein. 


More Surprises
Part One
 by KC Smith

   Natalie stretched and sighed, as she worked at her computer. She
and Nick had returned from their honeymoon a week before and she was
still feeling exhausted. Sighing again, she stood and went in search
of more coffee.

Grace was just finishing off her lunch, when Natalie walked into the
break room. “Hey there girlfriend, you look exhausted. That husband of
yours keeping you awake during the day?” She asked with a delighted
grin.

Nat chuckled, as she poured her coffee. “Not as much. This new case
has him kind of stressed out. He’s been painting or sleeping most of
the time he’s been home.” 

She took a seat at the table across from her friend and took a sip of
her coffee. “I’ve been busy, too, trying to catch up. I won’t be
taking a three week sabbatical again, anytime soon.”

Grace nodded. Things had been kind of crazy without Natalie there.
There had only been one doctor working nightshift and he left most of
the actual autopsies for the dayshift crew. “You should be past the
jet lag by now. Maybe you’re coming down with something?”

Nat took a long draught of coffee and stretched again. “I hope not. I
hate being sick.” She stood and pushed the chair back under the table.
“I’d better get back to work.”

Grace waved as Nat left the break room. She’d have to find out if Nick
was aware that Nat wasn’t feeling well.




  Nick was sitting at his desk going through computer records of a key
suspect, when his phone rang. “Yeah, Knight.”

“Nick? It’s Grace. I saw Natalie a few minutes ago and she doesn’t
seem to be herself. Have you noticed that she seems to not be feeling
too well? I think she may be coming down with something.” Grace told
him.

Nick frowned. Nat had seemed overly tired, even though she was
sleeping ten hours at a time. “Thanks, Grace. I’m glad I’m not the
only one that has noticed. I’ll see if I can convince her to go and
get a check-up.”

Grace sighed in relief. “Good. Maybe she’ll listen to you.”

Nick smiled at that. “I hope so, but I doubt it. She can be awfully
stubborn when she wants to be.”

Grace chuckled. “Don’t I know it!”

They said their goodbyes and Nick hung up the phone.

Schanke looked up at his partner. “What was that all about? Is Nat
okay?”

“I hope so. She’s been constantly exhausted, since before we came back
from our trip.” Nick told him.

“Well you know Partner, you gotta let her sleep sometime.” Schanke
said, grinning.

Nick smiled and then shook his head. “No. It isn’t that. We haven’t
had the time, or energy, for more than a quick kiss ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’
or ‘goodnight’, since we started back to work. No, this is something
else.” He said, thoughtfully.

“Is she going to see a doctor?” Schanke asked.

“I’m going to try to convince her to. But she really hates going to
them, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to convince her to go.” Nick
told him.

“That bad, huh?”

Nick smiled briefly. “You’ve heard the phrase ‘doctor’s make the worst
patients’?” At Schanke’s nod, he continued. “If I didn’t know better,
I’d swear Nat was the reason they coined that phrase.”

Schanke whistled. “Well, good luck, Pard.”

Nick stood and put his coat on. “I’m going to book off for lunch; I
want to go and talk to Nat. I’ll be back in about an hour.”

Schanke nodded and waved him off, before going back to the file he was
going over.




  Nick walked into Nat’s lab and watched her as she typed diligently
away at her computer. “Hi Nat.”

Natalie turned around and gave her husband a broad smile. “Hey you!
What brings you over here?”

“Do I need an excuse to come and see my lovely wife?” Nick asked. “I
thought we could go somewhere for lunch.”

Natalie glanced at the time and then nodded. “Just let me save this
report.” 

She moved the mouse around a few times, clicking on the appropriate
icons, before standing and walking around her desk. “Ready.”

Nick helped her into her coat and then led her out of the morgue and
out into the Caddy. 

They drove a few blocks to Natalie’s favorite fast food place.

As they sat down in a booth, Nick looked Natalie over. “Grace called
me. She said she thinks you may be coming down with something. I
agree. You have seemed more tired than usual, since before we came
back from our honeymoon.”

Nat sighed. She knew they were right. “I know. I just hate going to
see doctors. I always think it’s going to wind up being some life-
threatening illness.”

Nick reached across the table and took her hand. “If it is, we’ll just
push up how soon I bring you across. Illness shouldn’t be a worry to
you, anymore.”

Nat smiled and nodded. “I hadn’t really thought about it like that.”

Nick gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Then you’ll go and see a
doctor?”

Nat nodded. “Yeah. I’ll go and see a doctor.”

Nick looked at his plate of fries drenched in ketchup for a moment.
“Nat? I’d like to discuss the possibility of bringing you across soon.
I have this fear that you may get into an accident, or some other
terrible thing, and that you may die before I have the chance to bring
you across.” He looked up at her, imploring her to understand.

“That means we’d have to leave soon then, doesn’t it?” She asked.

Nick nodded solemnly. “Yes, it does.”

“How soon are we talking?” Nat asked him, as she released his hand and
took a bite of her burger.

“Within the next two or three months, if that is acceptable to you.”
Nick told her, picking up a ketchup-drenched French fry and
reluctantly taking a bite out of it. 

He was genuinely surprised, when it actually tasted good to him. He
took a sip of his soda and realized that it, too, tasted pretty good. 

Nat set her burger down. “That soon? I, um, don’t know what to say. I
want to join you, I am just not sure that I am ready to leave this
life completely, yet.” 

She noticed his startled expression as he ate the French fry and drank
the soda. “Nick? Are you okay?”

Nick looked up at her, distracted from his food. “Nat… it tastes good!
Really good!”

It took a moment for what he was saying to sink in, but she quickly
understood. “It does? How? Why?”

Nick shook his head. “I have no idea. But it is delicious!”

Nat looked at her watch. “I’ll need to run some tests. Since we
decided that I was going to join you, I really haven’t been working on
your cure…”

Nick took her hand. “Later. First I want you to finish eating and then
I want you to finish work and go home to rest. See if you can get an
appointment with your doctor, tomorrow sometime.”

Nat was about to protest, when she saw his pleading look. “Okay; you
win. I’ll finish up my work and head home a little early.”

Nick smiled in relief and nodded at her meal. “Eat up.”

Nat chuckled. “Only if you do, too.”

Nick picked up another fry and grinned, before sticking the whole
thing in his mouth. “Deal.”

They finished their food and Nick drove her back to the morgue, before
heading back to the precinct.





  “Nuh Uh! Not possible!” Nat exclaimed, as she sat across from her
doctor.

Dr. Meadows smiled. “Very possible. Come on, Natalie. You’re married…
you’re a doctor… you of all people should know that birth control
isn’t a hundred percent effective.”

Natalie shook her head emphatically. “No, no. That’s not what I mean.
My husband can’t father children.”

Dr. Meadows raised an eyebrow. “I’d say whoever told him that was
mistaken. You are definitely pregnant, Natalie. How did you manage not
to notice that you were missing your monthly menstrual period, or any
of the other symptoms?”

Nat shrugged. “I haven’t ever been really regular. Between the
wedding, the honeymoon and the backlog of work I had when I got back,
I really didn’t pay any attention.”

“Well, you’re about eight weeks along. You should start feeling the
nausea any day now, or you may not. Some women never get sick their
entire pregnancy. I want you to schedule an appointment with your
ob/gyn and begin your prenatal care. I’ll see you, in one year.” Dr.
Meadows smiled again. “Don’t worry, Natalie. I’m sure your husband
will be pleasantly surprised.”

Natalie stood and smiled. “Oh, you have no idea!” She said, shaking
his hand and then leaving his office. 





  Natalie walked quietly up the stairs and stood at the end of the
bed, watching Nick sleep. It always amazed her how peaceful he looked
when he was sleeping.

She had contemplated the possibility that Nick was somehow becoming
mortal, on the way home from her doctor’s appointment. The fact that
he had not only eaten, but enjoyed, his French fries and soda last
night, combined with the fact that she was pregnant, made her wonder
just how close to mortality he might actually be.

Stripping off her clothes, she crawled into the bed and snuggled up
next to Nick. She noticed that he did, indeed, feel warmer.

Nick stirred and wrapped his arms around Natalie, kissing the top of
her head. “Mmmm. Hello. How did your appointment go?”

Natalie smiled and looked up. “Fine.” She kissed him on the lips,
moving up so that she could more easily access him.

Nick returned her kiss and ran his hands along the bare skin of her
back. He could feel his desire for her growing as the kiss deepened.

Nat ran her hands through Nick’s hair and then down his face to his
pajama top. She began unbuttoning it and then pushed the fabric away
so that they were skin to skin.

Breaking the kiss, Natalie trailed kisses down Nick’s neck to his
chest, until he pushed her onto her back and rolled over so that he
was lying partially on top of her. She pushed his pajama top off of
him and continued kissing his neck and chest, lightly sucking on his
neck and teasing each of his nipples with her tongue. 

Nick threw his head back and moaned at the sensation of Natalie’s
tongue and mouth tasting and teasing his flesh. He could feel her
hands roaming all over his body, as his need for her increased. 

Pushing her gently back against the pillows, Nick kissed her on the
lips, before trailing his kisses down her neck to her left breast and
pulling the taut nipple into his mouth. He suckled at her left breast,
as his hand kneaded her right and then he switched.

Natalie moaned and held Nick against her with one hand, while the
other hand traveled along his body.

She reached between them and grasped his erect penis, lightly
massaging it.

Nick moaned and released her nipple. “Oh, Nat… that feels wonderful.” 

He moved one hand down through the wiry mass of curls and flicked a
finger over her clitoris, smiling at her slight gasp. Returning his
attention to her breasts, he continued to lick and suck each one, all
the while using his fingers to massage her clit and thrust into her
moist vaginal opening.

Natalie’s grasp on Nick’s penis tightened, as she came closer to her
climax. Her body stiffened and she cried out, as she fell over the
edge.

Nick wasted no time in removing the rest of his clothing. He rolled so
that he was lying on top of her and slowly slipped inside of her,
moaning in pleasure as her moist heat surrounded him.

Natalie lifted her hips slightly off the mattress until Nick’s full
length filled her. She sighed and wrapped her arms around him, as he
began gently thrusting in and out of her.

They matched one another’s rhythm perfectly, even as their pace
quickened. When Natalie stiffened slightly, once more, and cried out
his name, Nick knew that she had reached her climax and he joined her
over the edge. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he threw his head
back and called her name.

Natalie felt Nick’s seed releasing deep inside of her and then she
felt him caressing her hair and kissing her face, as he whispered
loving endearments over and over.

Nick looked down into Natalie’s face and pulled back slightly in
alarm. “Nat? Why are you crying?”

Natalie held him tightly, to prevent him from moving. “Because I am so
very happy, Nick.” She said, smiling brightly. 

Nick returned her smile and kissed her deeply. “I’m glad.” He said, as
he rolled onto his side, pulling her with him.

“Nick?” Nat called, softly.

“Hmm?” 

“You didn’t bite me.”

Nick pulled back, giving her a quizzical look. “What?”

“Every time we’ve made love before, you had to bite me to… finish.
This time, you didn’t.” She smiled.

Nick’s eyes lit up and he smiled. “You’re right! I didn’t even feel
the desire to bite you!” He pulled her close again and rested his chin
on the top of her head. “Maybe I’m closer to mortality than we
realized…”

“Nick?”

“Hmm?” 

“There... there’s something else…” Nat said, her voice faltering.

Nick pulled back again and looked at her, this time concerned at her
tone. “What is it?”

“I saw my doctor a little while ago…” She hesitated.

“What is it, Nat?”

“Nick, we’re… uh, we’re going to have a baby.” 

Nick stared at her in shocked silence. He couldn’t have heard her
right. 

“Nick? Did you hear me? I said, we’re going to have a baby.” Nat said,
wondering if maybe he was stuck back in another memory of his past.

Nick shook his head and then focused on her face. “We’re… having… a
baby? Nat, are you sure?”

Natalie smiled tentatively and nodded. “Very sure.”

Nick’s face lit up brighter than the noonday sun and he suddenly
pulled back and looked at her in concern, placing his hand on her
lower abdomen. “But we just- I mean, we didn’t hurt the baby?”

Natalie chuckled and shook her head. “No. The baby is quite well
protected. As a matter of fact, as long as I’m comfortable and there
are no problems, we can safely have intercourse through most of the
pregnancy.”

Nick suddenly stood and pulled her out of bed, letting out a whoop of
joy and spinning her around in a circle. “I can’t believe it, Nat!  A
baby!” 

He set her on her feet and kissed her soundly. “I love you.”

Nat smiled and wiped the tears of joy from her cheek with the back of
her hand. “I love you, too. I take it this means you are happy about
it?”

“Oh, Nat… you’ve no idea.” He took her by the hand and settled back
into the bed with her. “I think we’re going to miss work tonight.
We’re going to celebrate!”

Natalie was about to protest, but changed her mind. After all, they
certainly deserved it.





  Seven Months Later…



  Natalie sat on the sofa and shifted again in discomfort. She’d
finished her last night of work before the baby’s birth and had been
having severe back pains all night. Since she’d arrived at home, the
pains had just grown worse.

She looked up as the lift engaged and sighed in relief. Nick was home,
at last. Her expression turned to one of concern, however, when
Schanke stepped off of the lift, instead of Nick. “Schank? Where’s
Nick?”

Schanke winced. “Now, don’t panic, Nat. Nick’s fine-“

“Where’s Nick, Schank?” Nat asked again. She stood with some
difficulty and moved over to where Schanke still stood beside the lift
door.

“He’s at the hospital-“

“The hospital! Schanke! What happened?” Nat asked, feeling a severe
twinge in her lower back. Ever since Nick’s full conversion back to
mortality, she’d worried for his safety.

“He caught a stray bullet in the shoulder, Nat. He’ll be fine. It was
nothing serious, but Cohen insisted he go to the hospital and have it
checked out.” Schanke told her. “I drove the Caddy, so that I could
pick you up and take you to him.”

Nat nodded. “Let me get my purse and we’ll go.” 

She picked up her purse off of the table and, as an afterthought, her
medical bag. “Okay, let’s go.”

Schanke watched as Nat moved towards the lift. “Nat? Are you okay?”

Nat nodded, as they stepped onto the lift. “Just a little lower back
pain.”

Schanke raised a suspicious eyebrow. “When did it start?” 

Nat shrugged. “Around eleven. It’s gotten worse since I got home,
though.”

“How much worse, Natalie?” Schanke asked, a sinking feeling resting in
the pit of his stomach.

“Oh, I don’t know, Schank! Why?” She winced at her tone of voice. 

“Sorry.” She whispered, as she reached behind her and rubbed her lower
back. 

Schanke nodded, as he ushered her out to the Caddy and held the door
open for her. He was certain that they wouldn’t be leaving the
hospital, any time soon.




  As they pulled out onto Gateway Lane, Natalie looked at Schanke.
"How did Nick get shot? I thought you guys were just going to meet
with an informant."

Schanke nodded and sighed. "That's what we thought, too. Remember the
Lafoon case? Well, we got a call last night that an informant wanted
to meet with us down by the waterfront. Said he had 'vital information
for our case'. We showed up and Nick-- ever the cowboy-- decided to go
in first. I was right behind him and caught sight of the gun, just
before he started firing. I knocked Nick to the ground and the next
thing you know, we're involved in a regular shoot-out."

Schanke shook his head. "We'd taken cover behind a metal dumpster and
one of the bullets deflected off the wall and caught Nick in the
shoulder."

"Did you get him?" Nat asked, worried that the perp might decide to
come after them, again. 

"Yeah... I got him." Schanke said, quietly. 

Nat knew the tone of voice. The guy hadn't made it. She laid her hand
on Schanke's arm for a moment, then winced in pain and looked away.

They drove in silence for a couple of blocks, when Natalie suddenly
gasped.

“What’s wrong, Nat?” Schanke asked, looking over at her. 

“I, uh, I think my water just broke.” Nat said, embarrassed. She
shifted slightly and then groaned. “Yep, that’s what it was, all
right.”

Schanke nodded and glanced at her. “You okay?”

“Besides being mortified, you mean? Yeah, I-“ She suddenly broke off
and moaned.

“What? What’s wrong?” Schanke asked, pulling the car to a stop beside
the curb.

“Schanke, something’s… wrong.” Nat said, shifting uncomfortably. 

“What do you mean, wrong? What?” Schanke asked, reminding himself to
keep calm.

Natalie shook her head. “I’m not sure, but I think the baby’s coming.”

“Well, your water breaking is a definite sign of that. But this is
your first baby, so you should still have a while to go.” Schanke told
her, trying to recall his emergency delivery training and his
experience with Myra when they had Jenny.

Nat shook her head. “No… Schank, I’m telling you, this baby is coming;
quickly.”

Knowing that Natalie was a doctor and, therefore, probably knew what
she was talking about, he nodded his head and grabbed the microphone
for the radio. “Headquarters, this is 81 kilo, do you copy?”

“Go ahead, 81 kilo.” The dispatcher’s voice came back.

“Dispatch, I have a Code 15 in progress. Requesting an ambulance and
paramedics, immediately.” Schanke said, as Natalie gasped again and
grabbed the handle on the door for dear life.

“I thought you were going after Dr. Lambert?” Came the reply.

“I did. She’s the one in labor and this baby isn’t going to wait until
we get to the hospital.” Schanke informed her. He looked around and
gave their location, before unbuckling his seatbelt.

“Paramedic units and an ambulance are en-route. ETA is 20 minutes.” 

“Copy that. 81 kilo, out.” Schanke said, as he unbuckled Natalie’s
seatbelt and then opened his door. He set the microphone on the
dashboard and climbed out of the car, rolling his jacket up and laying
it where he had been sitting. 

Rushing around to the other side, Schanke opened the passenger side
door and eased Natalie onto her back, so that her head was resting on
his jacket. 
“Sorry about this, Nat, but we don’t have time for modesty, here.” He
told her, as he pushed her dress up around her middle and pulled her
underwear off. He positioned her legs so that one was resting on the
back seat and the other was on the dashboard. 

“Okay, you do the breathing exercises you and Nick learned in Lamaze
and I’ll see if I can find something useful in the trunk.” Schanke
told her, as he quickly moved to the back of the car.

He opened the trunk and found a body bag, Nick’s long, black overcoat
and a wool blanket. He grabbed the items and ran back to where Natalie
was.

“How we doing?” Schanke asked, as he lifted her up and slid the body
bag beneath her. He threw the blanket over her legs, covering her as
much as he could. 

“Great… Just… Great…” Nat panted through gritted teeth. 

“Just hang in there, Nat. You’re doing fine.” Schanke told her, as he
grabbed Nat’s medical bag off of the floor and opened it. Pulling on a
pair of latex gloves, he placed one hand on her abdomen and reached
down with the other. “I’ve gotta see how you’re doing, here.”

Natalie’s eyes widened and then she nodded. “Do you... know what...
you’re looking... for?” She panted.

“I took a refresher course on emergency childbirth, when I took my
first-aid/CPR re-certification. I figured that it couldn’t hurt.”
Schanke chuckled.

Natalie tried to smile, but gasped again. “It hurts!”

Schanke nodded, as he gently stuck two fingers into her vaginal
opening. He tried to keep the shocked look off of his face, when he
felt the baby’s head. Letting out an explosive breath, he looked up at
Nat. 

“Looks like this little one is as impatient as his parents. Okay, Nat,
when I tell you to, take a deep breath and push. I want you to keep
pushing, while I count down from ten, then I want you to take a deep
breath and relax as much as possible. Got it?”

Natalie nodded, as she wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of
her hand. It was taking every ounce of willpower she had, not to cry
out.

“And Nat? It’s okay to scream if you need to.” Schanke told her,
seeing the look on her face. He was amazed at how well she’d been
doing so far.





  Nick was sitting on the exam table, gingerly moving his arm. He
winced in pain, as the throbbing in his left shoulder became a sudden,
sharp pain. This was one part of being mortal that he could do
without.

Captain Cohen knocked on the door and came in. “Nick, how’s the
shoulder?” 

“It hurts, but I’ll live.” Nick told her, replacing his arm in the
sling.

She nodded and then took a deep breath. “Schanke went to your place to
get Natalie. They had to stop, though, because Natalie’s in labor.”

Nick’s head shot up from his inspection of his shoulder and he looked
at her, concerned. “Why didn’t he just bring her here?”

Cohen placed a calming hand on his right arm. “They couldn’t make it.
The baby is coming too quickly.”

Nick’s eyes took on a panicked look. 

“Schanke radioed for an ambulance and paramedics; they’re on their way
to where they are, now. Schanke may very well have to deliver the
baby, himself. I thought you should know.” Cohen told him. “The nurse
is bringing your release papers, so we can go outside and wait for
them to arrive.”

Nick nodded and sighed. He hated feeling so helpless.




  “Okay, Nat! One more deep breath and… push! 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1.
Okay! The first shoulder and head’s out! Deep breath and don’t push
anymore until I tell you!” Schanke said, excitedly, as he grabbed the
suction bulb out of Nat’s medical bag and began to clean out the
baby’s nose and mouth.

Natalie lay panting breathlessly for a moment. "Easy... for... you...
to... say..." 

Schanke chuckled lightly. 

She looked up at Schanke. "Are you... cleaning out... the mouth... and
nose...?" 

"Yep, I sure am. You're doing just fine, Nat." Schanke said, as he
squeezed the goo out of the bulb, onto the tissue he'd pulled out of
his pocket. 

"You're not... doing so bad... yourself..." Nat told him, as yet
another contraction hit her and she cried out in pain.
As soon as he’d finished, he looked up at Natalie. “Okay, sweetheart,
one more time! You’re doing great!”

Natalie lay gasping for breath. She hurt so much; she just wanted it
to end. “Can’t… Can’t do it…”

“Yes, you can! Come on! Deep breath and push!” He said, as Natalie
reluctantly complied.

He made the countdown and then told her to take another deep breath
and then do it again. Three pushes later, the baby was out and he held
it up for Nat to see. 

Natalie looked at her squalling infant with tears in her eyes and held
her arms out, laughing and crying all at once.

Schanke laid the baby on Natalie’s chest and smiled, just as the
paramedic unit arrived. 





  Nick paced impatiently around the emergency room waiting area. Cohen
had gone to call the precinct, to see if there’d been any more news.
He’d completely forgotten the pain in his shoulder, as the anxious
knot in his gut had now taken precedence.

Captain Cohen returned with a broad smile; something that was quite
rare for her. “The ambulance has Natalie and the baby. They’re on
their way and they are both fine. Schanke is going to follow them in
your car.”

Nick sighed in relief. Natalie and his child were all right. “Did they
say if it was a boy or girl?”

Cohen shook her head. “No, but they should be here, any minute.”

As if on cue, Schanke rushed into the waiting area. “Knight! Glad to
see you’re okay, Pard.”

“I’m fine, Schank. How’s Nat?” Nick asked.

“She’s just fine. She was such a trooper!” Schanke told him. “The baby
is fine, too.” 

Nick’s smile lit up the room. “Well? Is it a boy or a girl?” 

Schanke shook his head and held up both hands to his partner. “Uh, uh!
Nat would kill me. She insisted that she be the one to tell you.”

Nick nodded, still smiling. “Gotcha.”

“Detective Knight?” A nurse came out and called. 

Nick stepped towards her. “That’s me.”

“If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to see your wife and child.” She
said, smiling.

Nick turned back to Cohen and Schanke. “I’ll be back, later. And
Schanke? Thanks. For everything.”

“Hey, no problemo. That’s what partners are for, right?” Schanke waved
him off.

Nick nodded and followed the nurse down the hall.




  Nick tapped on the door and peeked in. He saw Natalie sitting up in
the hospital bed, gently cradling their baby in her arms. Slipping in
and shutting the door, Nick smiled at her and walked over to the bed.

“Hello there.” Nick said, kissing her on the lips. 

Natalie smiled broadly. “Hello, yourself.” 

She pulled the blanket back to reveal the features of the tiny infant
she held. “Say hello to your son.”

Nick looked at the infant in awe. “My son…” 

“Wanna hold him?” Nat asked.

Nick nodded and gingerly accepted the sleeping baby from her. He had
to take his arm out of the sling and cradle the baby's head in his
right arm, but he managed to hold him with only a minimum of pain.  He
sat in the chair beside the bed and looked into his son’s face. “He’s
beautiful, Nat.”

Natalie smiled brightly at him. “Yes, he is.”

She watched Nick, as he sat and held his son, stroking his cheek and
allowing the tiny fist to curl around his fingers, for several
minutes. Each time Nick kissed their son’s forehead, or the tiny fist,
Natalie smiled softly. Nick was going to be a wonderful father. 

Finally, a nurse came and told them that she had to take the baby to
the nursery. The pediatrician had arrived and wanted to perform a
complete checkup.

Nick watched as the nurse placed their son into the plastic baby bed
and wheeled him out of the room. Then he went and sat beside Natalie
on the bed, taking her hand in his. “I hear you were quite the
trooper.”

Natalie blushed. “Poor Schank. He’s the real trooper. He stayed calm
and did a great job.” 

Nick smiled and then sighed and rolled his eyes. "Oh, no..." He
groaned.

"What?" Nat asked, concerned.

"That's two I owe him, now." Nick told her, indicating his shoulder.
"If he hadn't been there, I probably wouldn't be *here*."

"Then I guess I owe him, too." Nat said. She lightly ran her thumb
along his palm. “How’s the shoulder?”

Nick moved it a little and winced. “I’ll live.”

“I thought I told you that you had to learn to duck.” Nat said, as she
kissed his knuckles. 

“You did. I wasn’t expecting to have to. I had no idea our informant
was going to start shooting at us.” Nick told her. “I didn’t mean to
worry you.”

Natalie nodded and then sighed. “I guess that’s one of the perils of
being a cop’s wife.”

Nick looked away. "You mean a *mortal* cop's wife?"

Nat's grip on his fingers tightened slightly. She didn't need this,
tonight of all nights. "I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to." Nick sighed, shrugging. 

They were quiet for a few minutes, before Natalie finally spoke. The
tears in her eyes were reflected in her voice. "Nick? Do you regret
becoming mortal?" She asked, softly.

Nick looked at her sharply. "No! No, I... " He sighed. "I miss some of
my vampire traits. It has been a tough adjustment.  I was looking
forward to sharing the blood exchange with you... I worry that
something may happen to you. But I don't regret becoming mortal. We
wouldn't have our son now, if I hadn't become mortal." 

He kissed her hand. "We can talk more about it, later, if you'd like.
For now, I just want us to be happy. We have a beautiful, healthy
son."

Natalie nodded in agreement and stared at their entwined fingers for a
few minutes, before looking up at Nick. “Were you really set on the
name we had picked out for a boy?”

Nick smiled quizzically. “Nathan Richard?" He asked, shrugging
slightly. "Why? Did you think of something else?” 

Nat nodded and leaned forward, whispering the name to him.

Nick pulled back and grinned at her. “ I like it… and, I think it is
very appropriate.”

Natalie smiled at him and kissed his cheek. “I love you.”





  Just over a week later, Nick and Natalie stood in the cathedral at
St. John’s, holding their son. As many of the officer’s from the 96th
precinct that could make it were there and Don and Myra Schanke stood
beside Nick and Natalie. They had been asked to be Godparents to Nick
and Natalie’s child and had happily agreed.

The service went smoothly and, finally, the priest indicated that Nat
should hold the baby over the altar. 

“I christen thee, Nicholas Donald deBrabant Knight, in the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The priest intoned, as he
sprinkled the Holy Water on the baby’s head, causing him to cry out in
protest.

After Nick had dried his son’s head, he handed him to his new
Godfather. “If anything happens to me, promise you’ll care for Natalie
and my son.”

Schanke smiled at his partner and friend. “I promise.”

As the gathering was dismissed to attend the reception at the 360
Restaurant, Nick placed his arms around Nat’s waist and kissed her.
“All of this was such a surprise. But I’m happy. Very, very happy.”

Natalie grinned at him. “Me too, Nick. Me, too.”

The End




The End