Second Chance

Chapter 15

****3 months later****

"I'm honestly surprised he's lasted this long."

Kate laughed as she watched Lucas sitting and reading as the clock neared midnight. Chris's niece and nephews had already passed out as the New Year's Eve party he planned still continued on. Now there was only ten minutes left until midnight as Kate watched Chris walk to Lucas, whispering something in his ear and watched Lucas nod and disappear.

Chris grabbed Kate's hand, walking her to the couch where Lucas just was, motioning for her to sit down.

"Chris, there's only a few more minutes left."

"I know."

She watched him motion behind her and she watched Lucas appear with a rose, handing it to her before sitting next to her on the couch. "Thank you Luke. What is this for?"

Lucas smiled, "because I love you mama. And we wanted to start the new year off on a positive note."

She nodded, laughing, "okay then." She looked back at Chris as he knelt in front of her and she heard the room go silent, the only noise coming from the tv. "Chris."

Chris nodded, "shh." He pulled a box out of his pocket, "I know we've gone back and forth about this and never made a decision. But I love you Kate and I love Lucas and he's given me permission already."

She laughed, looking at Lucas who only smiled and nodded before looking back at Chris.

"There's nothing I want more than to become a real family, the three of us and to call you my wife. Will you marry me Kate?" He opened the box to display a simple solitaire engagement ring with an emerald cut diamond.

Kate smiled, feeling the tears stinging her eyes, "of course I will Chris." She watched him sigh, relieved before slipping the ring on her finger. He knelt up, pulling her to him as she wrapped her arms around him. "You thought I would say no?"

He chuckled, pulling away to look at her, "maybe a little worried, yeah."

She looked past him to the tv to see less than a minute left, "wait! I have something for you too." She looked at Lucas who stood up, unbuttoning his shirt to display a t-shirt underneath that said 'Older Brother.'

Chris looked from Lucas to Kate, tears now welling in his own eyes, "really?"

She nodded as she heard the countdown, "I'm pregnant. Seems Lucas has been keeping a secret for us both. You need to put that boy in acting."

Chris laughed as he pulled her lips to his, "I'm so happy!"

Kate laughed as she watched him pick up Lucas, spinning him around.

"Put me down!"

Chris laughed, setting him back on the couch before pulling Kate up to him, "I love you so much. What a great way to start the new year. Fiancé and a baby."

Kate nodded, "I agree. I want something small. Just us."

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Kate groaned, "Chris please don't involve your mom in the wedding."

He shrugged, "why not? She just wants to help."

She sat at the kitchen table with her head on the table as she talked wedding with Chris in March. She looked up at him, "I specifically remember saying I didn't want anything big. Please. If you start involving your family then it's going to get out of hand. You, me, Lucas, Nicole and Scott. That's it. If she wants to throw a reception, then she can do that."

"You don't want our moms at our wedding?" Chris sat flabbergasted next to her, plopping into the chair.

"No! You invite the moms and then you have to invite the siblings and then spouses and then cousins." She groaned, clutching her stomach, "please no."

He leaned over, rubbing her back, "are you okay?"

She nodded before resting her head back on the table, "the baby is kicking. And I feel nauseous. And you're stressing me out Christopher."

He laughed, watching her look up to glare at him, "you Christopher'ed me. I love when you get all formal." He waited as a smile crept across her face before she laughed herself. "I love you Kate. Whatever you want. Let's go to the doctor."

She nodded, accepting his hand as he stood up. "Fine. Let's go."

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Kate laid nervously with Chris holding her hand as the nurse began to spread on the cold jelly. She looked at Chris, "any last guesses before we find out?"

He laughed, "I still think it's a girl."

She nodded, "me too. Not nearly as easy going at Lucas. This one is a pain." She looked back at Chris, "must get it from her father." She heard the doctor laugh as she spread the wand around her stomach. She did the standard, pointing out the head and other extremities before she smiled.

"Looks like your intuition is correct. It's a girl. Congratulations." She smiled at them both as she cleaned off the gel before handing them the sonogram. "I'll give you guys a few minutes."

Kate handed him the photo as she stood up, watching it really wash over him for the first time. "Babe. You're going to be a dad."

He nodded, "we're having a girl." He stared at the picture of the tiny being that was growing inside Kate, tears in his eyes. "What if I mess it all up?"

Kate shook her head, placing her hand on his cheek to make him look at her, "honey you're already a father. Only thing changing is it's going to be a baby. And a girl." She smiled as she heard him chuckle, "in a lot of ways it's easier and in a lot of ways it's harder. But we'll work through it all together, okay?"

He nodded, "okay. I think we should involve Lucas in choosing a name. I want him to feel like he's involved."

"Of course. I think that's a great idea Chris."