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Chapter Text

*PROLOUGE*

HE'S SO BEAUTIFUL , Andy muses, the love she has for her newborn shining brightly enough for any
observant space travelers to take note. Her team regularly tease her about it and its fine: her pride in birthing this truly
exceptional little man is as big as the Western sky, and she doesn't care who knows it. His dark brown, downy curls and big dark
eyes (when they're OPEN) are hers; he has a big head and medium mocha coloring (also he's loonnng for an infant) reminding friends and
family of Robert Sullivan's DNA contribution.

The night they returned from the California wildfires is when they peg him as being conceived-through her wild years she'd been
extra careful to not become pregnant-it was fate that her OB suggested a 'break' in her birth control regimen which is how Rey
Lucas Emil Sullivan Herrera came to be. Because he is NOT a mistake and she does NOT regret it: HELL TO THE NO! Birthing Robert's child is
NOT a scenario she could have envisioned when they first met, but she can't remember ever being happier.

--continued--

Chapter Text

*PROLOUGE*

A CHILD...She and Carina have a CHILD...a little boy conceived with the sperm of the Italian's childhood playmate Giancarlo (who
is bisexual) and Maya's eggs, implanted in a surrogate. His perfect skin is a dusky pink; his hair wavy and medium brown (courtesy
of his Mediterranean heritage-he will likely have streaks of BLONDE in it in the summers, as Giancarlo is a blonde Italian)...he's chubby
and very healthy thanks to Maya's breast-milk (she began a diet of the herb fenugreek, green papayas, strawberries, and dried apricots)
to promote and increase milk production a few months before his birth. The drawback-for MAYA, at least-are the added stress on her upper
and lower back due to her cup size increase from DD to E; CARINA doesn't hate this wholly expected benefit...

Now that he's crawling he and the Sullivan-Herrera's son are into EVERYTHING and both sets of parents must keep a watchful eye on them.
The team 'razzes' her daily about the small bottles of milk on their 'special' shelf in the Beanery and Chief Ripley added an addendum to
the FD policy that all stations must have private nursing rooms and time set aside for nursing mother's to either feed or 'pump' their
babies. Luckily Miranda Bailey adapted Carina's schedule so that she can bring Rocco Andrea DeLuca-Bishop to the station at least once
a day (his surname is proof that CARINA is the 'top').

Chapter Text

Play By Play Announcer: 'From the spread...Keinman in the shotgun...reviews the defense...it appears that he's changing the play'...

Color Commentator: 'The play cock is down to 20 seconds, Mike...'

PBPA: 'There's the snap; Keinman rolling left, forced back right...escapes Lincoln-looking downfield...loooong throw is...INTERCEPTED
by Keon Colby at the 'Hawks 32-HIS 11TH OF THE SEASON! Colby to the 40, breaks a tackle and finds room down the left sideline; Keon
Colby still going; cutting-back to mid-field turning it on! Brian, 'KK' is gonna take this one to the house...one man to beat-TOUCHDOWN 'KK'!

CC:'What an electrifying interception and return by Kron Colby, Mike! Keinman's throw on-target but a touch high, and 'KK' just out-
jumped him to make that pick...for a defensive squad he benefited from some serviceable blocking, the best of them by outside 'backer
Jeff KosichekTHERE at the opposition 40...from there it's all KK and the 'Hawks are up six courtesy of Keon Colby's third 'pick six' of the
season!'

Once interviews, showers, and autograph signing is completed Keon met his life partner and mother of his four-year-old daughter and
Vanessa Banks (also 3 months pregnant with their second child, a boy). "You're limping, Keon," she said with an unhappy frown.

"Just a 'ding', Doc from when I was running back that 'pick'...I'll have the team sawbones look at it tomorrow."

"I'LL look at it TONIGHT", she told him firmly.

"Vanny-help Daddy with Mommy", the NFL star appealed to his daughter.

Helpfully, Vanny (Nicola Vanessa) said "Mommy!" She glared balefully at her mother's growing pregnancy bell, Vanessa's left hand cradled
protectively under it.

"Tenojaste, Mama?" (are you angry, Sweetie).

Vanny ignored her and signaled that she wanted to be carried by her Daddy.

Keon snickered; Vanessa rolled her eyes.

Chapter Text

"Hullo, Love!" exclaimed Maryanne Ripley, when her son's facetime call connects.

"Hi, Mom-how ya going?"

"Apart from this old Drover driving me mad, I'm aces, Sweetheart. And where is your lovely wife-there she is!" she cried when Victoria's
gorgeous, grinning face appears from off-screen. "You MUST guarantee me that you are taking the best care o yourself and our laddie."

"Hi, Mommy!" she greeted. "I promise that I'm following my Doctor's orders 100%; we are both completely healthy-T minus 6 days!"

"We can't wait, can we Lonnie?" she called to her husband, who appeared on-screen, a jovial grin on his handsome face. "Hiya, Luke;
Hiya Vic!"

They discuss the travel arrangements for the coming week and sign off. After dinner, they relax in front of a very nice fire: the subject of
what size Christmas tree to set up, lodging for their relatives, and their wedding in the spring. "Should we call Andy and Robert?" Vic
wondered. It's only 8."

An hour later Andy (also due to deliver soon) and Robert pulled into their friend's driveway.

Chapter Text

OH, NO...she KNEW that they should have waited the full six weeks but TURTLEMAN insisted that a day or two
would not make a difference... O, YEAH ! Not according to this positive pregnancy test in her hand! Elena
tore open a second test, and a third...positive and positive. She glanced at her newborn (nicknamed 'Flint') sleeping peacefully in
his crib next to their bed; he's six weeks and two days old, and she's already pregnant AGAIN! Of course, she wanted more children,
but their son is already running her ragged, and the thought of TWO children in diapers made her dizzy.

Her mood lightened when Mack arrived: when she gave him the news he announced that he would arrange for an acquaintance of his,
a young lady named Piper to provide laundry, housekeeping, and other services when the time comes. "You are the best man in the
world and I love you so much-El mejor hombre en todo el mundo y te amo tanto."

"Si eso es cierto, lo haces así-if that's true you make it so."

Chapter Text

-JOAQUIN ORTIZ-

Joaquin sat with no expression and without saying anything. It's hard for Emily to catch her breath as this is hard news to deliver
Her stomach had been in knots all day since she took the dozen at-home pregnancy tests confirming that she is expecting a child.
What chilled her blood is the question of PATERNITY. Once that was confirmed she delayed talking to either or Luke; part of it was SHAME
she'd entertained the two of them as lovers separately at the same time.

"¿Qué estás pensando?" (what are you thinking) she asked him pensively.

"No se pensar. Quieria estar contigo, pero asi que..." (I don't know what to think. I wanted to be with you, but the way it is now...")

She said "¿Ya no?" (So no).

"Whatever I want is less important than what YOU want, Emily."

"My mind is... whirling ...I THINK I KNOW, then I DON'T...this is hard for everyone, J."

-LUKE WATKINS-

"This is my fault. I should never have broken us up. If I had had my head on straight, if I had gotten some guidance or assistance with
RODNEY, and ERIC...BREONNA, TRAYVON...ALL OF THEM; I might have made a better choice. I don't blame you for turning to him, I...
by the time I realized what I lost you had developed feelings for him, and that's all on ME. Ummm...have you made a decision?"

"Yes. I want to be with YOU. CONTIGO. Mis sentimientos por él se desarrollaron tan rápido que no lo esperaba pero nunca-NUNCA
te deje de querer." (With You. My feelings for him developed so quickly and I didn't expect that, but I never-NEVER-stopped loving you).

"We're having a baby!"

"Yes!", she halflaughed, half-sobbed. "We are!"

Chapter Text

After their most recent break-up, Kim doubted that she and Adam would re-unite; they love one another madly yet can't
agree on some relationship basics (go 'public' and risk the wrath of Hank Voight; whether they will cohabitate and if so WHERE?)...
they did settle on one of the two: they will stay 'down-low' for now. They also decided to keep their separate abodes 'in case' (though
in Adam's opinion, that leaves open a convenient escape hatch. They have tabled the issue for now...

"Adam...OK...here it is: remember when my prescription for birth control expired and we were working on that Kostechen case, and I
didn't get a renewal, being undercover, yada yada...WELLL...I might be pregnant, sooo...SAY SOMETHING, please, babe."

"I'm...kinda surprised...I'm HAPPY; real happy...are...YOU okay with it?" Adam watched her face carefully.

'TORN. I'm being honest, Ruz. I'm scared because of... you know ...(the miscarriage); I'm worried about how this will
affect us and how we do the job-will we still be 'first through the door' the way we always are? Not run as fast on foot pursuits?
I'm not conjuring up excuses not to have the baby, I truly am not..."

"Breath, Kimmy," he joked. "I know what you're saying. Don't stress over it. We'll make it work."

"Thanks for saying that, Babe. I love you."

"I love you."

Chapter Text

Entiendame una cosa, Vida -You never have to pretend with me."
Michelle 'Micki' Ramirez

Her future Suegra's 's surprise visit had plenty of positive but sounded a tiny note of discord: before leaving for the:
office: when the elder Barnett mentioned the joys of parenthood (tossing in a remark about what 'beautiful babies the couple will make
someday'), Micki dodged the issue and took DOUBLE THE DOSE of birth control, in front of er man, slightly offending him. Rather than
explain (at that time, at least) that she is concerned about having kids and how it’ll affect her work-life balance, she rushed off, promising
to talk about it later.

After her tour finished Micki stopped to purchase flowers for Mrs. Barnett banana bread for her Man from his favorite bakery. "Micki!"
Trey's Mom cried, hugging her. "I was just about to go to the hotel and lie down; I'll see you tomorrow, though!"

"Awww!" the Latina said, genuinely disappointed. "I was planning my specialty for dinner; this case ran late, and..."

"It's fine my Darlin'. I really do need to lie down; thank you anyway."

"I'll walk you out, Ma...back in five," Trey said to Micki."

After a final high goodnight, Mother and Son leave together. Earlier that morning Micki had prepared a 'fifteen-minute' dinner that
could be heated and served in that time. They eat in silence until Micki said "I want your children. Never doubt that, Mi Amor. I only
just became a Ranger and I want to prove to MYSELF, and yeah to everyone who believes that women and people of color can occupy
this space before having to step away to spend time with the baby. I will give you children if nothing else to stop your MOM from
mentioning it every time we visit one another."

"Alright, COOL," Trey laughed, lifting one of her hands to his lips and kissing it. "In the meantime..."

" Practicamos !" Micki finished the sentence for him, giggling.