Expect the Unexpected

Halfway There

Two months had flown by for Dempsey and Tatum. It was spring break. Tatum couldn't believe that they had kept the pregnancy to themselves. She knew it was short lived. She was starting to show as it was.

Dempsey and Tatum were sitting in the waiting room of their doctor's office. He took her hand, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good. We are 20 weeks, D. 20 weeks!"

"I know! It's going by quickly now that you aren't getting sick all the time. Do you want to call Soph and your mom? We could wait for them if you want them here."

Tatum smiled at his thoughtfulness. "Thank you, but I think it should be the two of us for this one. We find out what this little one is going to be. We have been waiting for this. I want it to be special."

"Whatever you want."

"Maybe we could pick up something after we leave here to tell them with tonight."

"We can do that. I think that would be fun."

"Do we need to pick up something for your parents, too?"

"No. I'll probably just text them or something. It's really not a big deal. They don't care one way or the other about the baby. I might mention it to dad at work or something. I haven't seen mom for over a month. I just want to focus on you and the baby."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep. Have you felt the baby move yet? I was reading one of those books last night and it said it should be soon."

"Not yet. It should be soon though."

At that point a nurse came out and called them back to an examination room. Dempsey took Tatum's hand and helped her to her feet.

Tatum and Dempsey were happy and ready to tell Tatum's family the gender of their baby. They stopped and got silly string. They took the labels and lids off to conceal the color of the string inside. Tatum couldn't wait to see their faces when they found out.

Tatum and Dempsey walked in the house. Dean, Lily, Scott and Sophie jumped up and bombarded the two of them. Sophie asked, "So? Niece or nephew? Are they healthy? Are you healthy?"

Dempsey handed them each a can of silly string. Dean, Lily and Sophie all turned on Scott quickly. Tatum and Dempsey laughed as they sprayed the cans to see blue string.

Sophie squealed, "A boy!"

Tatum said, "I'm nervous. I thought for sure it was a girl. I don't know a thing about boys."

Dempsey wrapped his arms around her, "That is what I am here for. We've got this. He is going to be a momma's boy, for sure."

"I just hope I don't mess him up."

"You are going to be a great mom."

"Thanks, D. You always know what to say. Oh!" Her hand flew to her stomach. She hadn't felt anything like what she had just felt.

Dempsey jumped and looked at her quickly. "What's wrong?"

"I think I just felt him move." She grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. The baby moved again under his hand.

Dempsey said, "Whoa. That is awesome. He's getting so big. We have four more months until he gets here. That is crazy."

Lily told them, "I'm so proud of you two. Your little boy is going to be perfect. I can't wait to meet our grandson."

Dempsey said, "I can't thank you enough for being here for us. Our boy is so lucky to have you. So am I. I'm glad our boy is going to have family that loves him. I'm glad that he is never going to have to want for love. That is something that I know the feeling of all too well. I don't want that for him."

"Honey, you are family, too. That is important to us. I know it has been a tough few months, but the two of you are doing so well. Dempsey, we are here for you just as much as we are for Tatum. You are the father of our grandson. You are going to be around for a long time and we are glad to have you."

Scott said, "I already have plans for the trouble I am going to get my nephew into."

Tatum put her hands on her hips, "Excuse me? My boy is going to be an angel."

Dempsey told her, "I don't know about that. Do you remember the trouble Scott and I used to get into? It's in his genes to at least cause a little trouble."

Tatum sighed. "That's probably true."

"Tate, I need to take you to eat. You have to be starving. We haven't ate much today."

"But..."

"No buts. You and our boy need to eat. I want him to be nice and chubby when he gets here."

"Talk for yourself. You don't have to deliver him."

"True."

"But you are right. We are hungry."

Scott hugged Tatum and said, "I am so happy for you, sis. I can't wait to meet the little dude. He's going to be awesome."

"I expect him to want to leave me all the time to hang out with his cool Uncle Scott."

Dean told them, "I am looking forward to spoiling the little guy. I know I didn't handle the news that well in the beginning, but this little guy is going to be special to all of us, I'm sure of it."

Tatum sniffled and said, "I love you all. Thank you for being here for us when we have needed you most. This little guy is moving nonstop. I need to get him fed before he starts a riot in here."

Dempsey and Tatum hugged them all before heading out the door. The two of them stopped for an extra large order of cheese fries. They enjoyed the company of each other as they celebrated the fact that they were going to have a little boy coming into their family in about four months. Tatum couldn't stop thinking about all of the things they needed to get taken care of before their son came into the world. Most important of all was the fact that he needed a name. That would be something for another day.