The Baker, Part 2: Sous Chef

Chapter 11

"Please, will you just...come out?!" Cassie grunted and threw her head back against the pillows. She wasn't in labor, but she wished she was so her back and boobs could stop hurting. Her ankles were swollen, her feet were huge, and her legs looked like they gained ten pounds.

She could hardly walk without straining her back or having her thighs cramp up.

She hissed when she moved an inch over on the couch, then whined, "Goddammit!" She then heard the front door close and Ben's worried voice call, "Cass?" He jogged into the living room and saw his wife in pain.

Immediately panicking, he quickly said, "Oh, God. Is it time?" He got down on his knees next to her as she rolled her eyes. "I know you're excited," she said, "but we still have four weeks. No, my back is killing me, my legs are ginormous, and I just...I'm so uncomfortable."

He stroked her knee with his thumb and said, "I'll be more than happy to give you a back rub with some nice, warm oil after you take a bath. That sound nice?" She nodded, but told him, "You've been working all day, though. You should relax."

Chuckling, he told her, "And you're eight months pregnant. I think your exhaustion beats mine. Let's get you in the bath." He helped her up, then supported her back as they went up the stairs. "How was your appointment today?" He asked.

She sighed and told him, "Fine." That's usually all he got when he asked. He hasn't been able to go with her the past few weeks because he's been so busy lately. He was a little disappointed that she wouldn't share with him, but still understood why she wouldn't.

All he cares about is that she acts a lot happier when she comes back from her sessions.

He got her upstairs and into the master bathroom, where he sat her on the toilet, then ran the bath. As the tub filled up, he helped her out of her clothes, then eased her into the warm water. "Comfortable, love?" He asked, after he knelt beside the tub

She happily sighed, then told him, "Very. Thank you, babe." He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Anything for my wife and baby," he told her. "I'll leave you be for a while. If you need anything just shout."

He kissed her head, then stood up and went into the bedroom, after shutting the door a little more than half way. He let out a heavy sigh, then face planted on the bed. He was exhausted. This week has been draining him.

He didn't remember falling asleep, but the next thing he did remember was the sound of his wife's yelp that made him shoot out of bed. He ran into the kitchen to see her balancing herself against the wall, as she stood up in the bath.

"Cass, what the hell?" He huskily asked. He rushed over and helped her out of the bath. "I kept calling you, but you didn't come in," she explained. "I figured you were asleep and I didn't want to wake you." Sighing he told her, "Sorry, baby, I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"Don't apologize," she said. She took the towel he handed to her and wrapped it around her body. "You've been working hard and I've just been here, sitting on my ass." Ben rolled his eyes. "You carrying our baby is doing enough. Besides, you don't need to strain yourself. You do that enough by just going to your sessions every week."

As she walked into the bedroom, with him behind her, she asked, "You think I should stop, then?" He sat down on the bed as she did and said, "No, love, that's not what I mean. Honestly, I love that you go to see him because you come home and you look refreshed and happier than before you left. I'm just saying, you need to stop being so hard on yourself for not being able to do much."

She leaned her head on his shoulder and he rested his cheek on her head. He put his hand over her stomach and smiled. "We're almost there," he whispered. "I'm so excited, Cass." She giggled and put her hand over his. "I am, too," she told him.

"I'm also scared as shit," he chuckled. "I want to be the best father I can possibly be." She looked up at him and said, "You will be. They are going to adore you. I know it." He captured her lips in a kiss. "And you are going to be a brilliant mother," he told her. "I can't wait to see you with our little boy or girl."

He put his arm around her and held her to his side. "Are you almost packed?" He asked. She snorted. "I can barely haul my pregnant ass off the couch. No, I am not packed and I don't want to hear anything about it because my pregnant ass will kick your scrawny one."

Ben nodded and said, "Duly noted, dear. I guess I'll get started, then."

**

Ben and Cassie parked in front of Adam's house. They both got out and walked up the snowy path to his house hand-in-hand. "You sure you're up for this?" Ben asked. "We could have skipped this and stayed at mum's. I'm sure they're having a field day with Hunter."

"Ben, you haven't seen your friends in months. You need this," she told him. He smiled at her, then continued up to the house. After only a couple knocks on the door, it swung open to Adam shouting, "Benny!"

They both laughed and gave each other a manly hug. "My, Cassie, look at you! You're going to pop any second now!" Cassie laughed and gave him a hug. "Merry Christmas to you, too, Adam," she laughed. They both pulled back and Adam led them inside.

They were both greeted by Martin, Amanda, Tom, Kate, and even Jess. "Jess!" Cassie shouted. "Oh my God, what are you doing here!" They both hugged as Jess explained, "Tom invited me!" She then pulled back and looked right at Cassie.

"We're official," she told her. Cassie squealed and brought her in for another hug. "Finally! I'm so happy for you!" Jess looked down at Cassie's stomach and said, "And I'm so happy for you! Look how big you've gotten!"

Cassie looked at her curiously, then said, "Thanks...I think." Both girls laughed and both their men came over to them. "Congrats to you both," Ben painfully said. He really didn't approve of them. "Thanks, mate," Tom smiled. "And congrats to you, too. Only a few weeks now, right?"

Ben put his hand over Cassie's stomach and proudly said, "Three and a half, January fourteenth. We're hoping it might be sooner, though. My poor girl has been going through so much these past few weeks." He placed a kiss on Cassie's head.

"Alright everyone," Adam called, "can I have your attention please?" Everyone turned to Adam and Kate, who were standing on the stairs, so everyone could see them. "Kate and I have some news," he said. "Unfortunately, Cumberbatch beat me to it, but...we're having a baby!"

Everyone gassed and cheered, then went up to the couple and started congratulating them. "Congrats, mate!" Ben said, as he hugged Adam. He then hugged Kate, as Cassie hugged Adam. "We wanted to ask you both something," he said.

Ben and Cassie listened as Kate said, "We want you to be our little one's Godparents." There was no discussion needed, no looks that needed to be seen because they both knew the answer. "Yes!" "Of course!" They both excitedly said.

After more congratulations and talks of babies, Ben and Cassie decided they should go. "Tracy and Emily are going to be at mum's soon and I'm sure her roast his done by now," Ben explained as he helped Cassie with her jacket.

"Well, we're glad you could make it," Adam said. "We'll visit when the little one comes along." Ben shook his hand and said, "Thanks, mate. We'll see you soon." They both walked out the door and got into the car.

It was getting dark now and it started to snow. "So, what do you want to do for our anniversary?" Ben asked as he kept his eyes on the road. "We could go out, stay in. I can make us a home cooked meal for once, while I wait your critique."

Cassie smiled and patted his leg. "That sounds wonderful," she told him. "I don't think I'll really feel like waddling around in a dress in some fancy restaurant you're bound to find." Chuckling, he told her, "Fair enough. Home cooked meal it is, then."

They made it to his parents and got there in time for Christmas roast. They spent their last Christmas as kidless adults and enjoyed every minute of it. But they couldn't wait to have their baby with them this time next year as an (almost) one-year-old.