Ainsley groaned. She had fallen asleep after tossing and turning all night. Ian slept restlessly too. Maybe she should have gone to her own bed. She had to pee and needed to shove a stick down there. As she sat up, Ian reached out his hand to stop her.

"Are you gonna do it?"

"It's now or never." Not literally.

"Just say when and I'll set my timer."

She opened the packaging with the stick and sat down. She shut her eyes and prayed for a negative.

Ainsley put the stick down. "Done." Finished, she washed her hands and joined Ian in the bed.

He cocooned her in his arms. "Did you sleep at all?"

"A little. You weren't peaceful either."

"I felt like I was being chased and I was on a treadmill."

"How much more time?"

"A minute. I can go look."

"Are you sure you want to?"

"Ainse, it's fine. If it is, I will never blame you. I should have known better."

"Clearly, I didn't."

"Shush. We're in this together, no matter what." He kissed her and stood.

She watched his back as he stepped into the bathroom. It felt like it took forever before he appeared with the stick.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"No plus. Just one blue line."

"Thank God!" She sat up and tears broke free. Relief, happiness and exhaustion mingled into an irrational cocktail.

Ian said, "False alarm?"

She nodded as she wiped her tears. He sat beside her and gathered her in his arms. He kissed her head then her forehead and cheek, damp with tears, before finding her mouth. She melted into him.

The night before, Ian had been comforting, but neither were dirty. Ian whispered, "I still have condoms."

"Puddle."

He laughed and flipped her on her back. She laughed, and it felt freeing. An enormous weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

Ian got up to discard the condom and returned with a smirk on his face. "Ainse, there was some blood."

"Oh!" She jumped up and rushed into the bathroom. The carton from the pregnancy test sat on the counter, and her period started.

She stepped out to get a tampon from her well stocked purse. "Yesterday sucked."

Ian laughed. Her eyes lingered on his naked body. "Is it time for coffee?"

She shrugged. "I'm awake now. Maybe a nap later."

"I'm still worried." Ian pulled on his boxers and stood up.

"Why?" She stood watching him dress with the tampon in her hand.

"Because you're so tired."

"Hold on."

She had let herself become consumed with showing up Henry. While she couldn't sleep, every scenario played out in her head. She imagined not accepting the promotion to focus on raising a child.

In the kitchen, Ian stood in front of the two envelopes. He looked up at her. "Do we look?"

She shrugged. "Does it matter?"

He nodded. "I'm curious where your head was."

"All over the place."

He lifted the envelope and slipped his finger under the flap edge. She felt uncomfortable. "Promise not to hold it against me."

"Never." He had the envelope open. "Do you want to read mine?"

"You do it."

He nodded and smiled. "Keep it. I wrote 'have a baby'."

Her heart stopped. "You did?"

His face sagged. "How could I not make the choice my parents made for me?"

"I thought of your parents too. They were only nineteen. We're adults."

"Lots of kids go to daycare. My aunt and uncle are raising Brooke in the city."

She laughed. "Brookline isn't Boston."

"Close enough."

She conceded. Even Boston Children's Hospital was technical in Brookline.

"We should thank Henry."

"Why?" Ian smirked.

"Because if we hadn't been apart we would have been having sex."

Ian laughed. "If we weren't apart, you wouldn't have gotten mommy boy's germs."

"So Xander would have been to blame?"

Ian nodded. "For getting you sick."

"Don't forget. He talked me into forgiving you."

Ian put down his coffee. "Ancient history. What did you think about my nana?"

"I liked her. She's hip for an old lady."

He smiled. "She would love that you said that."

"Your family is great."

"What are we doing today?" He kissed her neck.

"Couch potatoes?"

"Would you mind if I go to the gym for a while?"

"No. As long as Val keeps her claws off you."

"Remember, you are who I want."

His conviction warmed her chest causing it to ache, a good ache. No one had ever caused the unique phenomenon like Ian. She was pretty certain it had a name, but pushed it away. Voicing it would only ruin everything. They were on solid ground but at the edge of a cliff. One small shift could end it all.

A pregnancy could have sent them plunging into dark waters. If it had been positive, she would have a lifelong connection to Ian, like Andrew and Anita.

Ian's searing kiss before he left proved his words. She went home and cleaned a little before curling up and taking a nap. When she woke, there was a note with chocolate Kisses next to it.

Come up when you wake. I'm cooking tonight.

Smiling, she looked in the mirror. Her face looked puffy, but her eyes were brighter. She felt a little better.

He smiled when he saw her. She pointed at him. "You came in, and I didn't hear you."

He stood in front of her and brushed her cheek with his fingertips. "You were out cold. Gunther walked over you to greet me and you didn't move."

"So you're cooking?"

He smiled. "I was planning to, but I ran into Mrs. B. She made stew again."

"Even better." She winked.

"Hey!" He pulled her into an embrace and tickled her sides.

"Kidding! I was kidding." Uncontrollable laughter made it hard to speak.

"I'll cook tomorrow."

She brushed his lips. "Thanks for the chocolate. How was your climb?"

"Good. Great. I trust my knee and before you ask she wasn't there."

"Was he?"

Ian nodded. "We spoke for a moment."

"Did he apologize?"

"He said he's glad I can console you when he wins."

"Urgh. Pompous... It's all about winning for him. To me, it's about doing a job well and being the right person to keep the department running happily. If he gets it, everyone will be miserable while he micromanages them."

"Micromanaging sucks. Believe me."

Ainsley smiled. "The boys don't know about us do they?"

He smiled and shook his head. They had a quiet evening, and Ainsley went home to go to bed early. She hoped it would not backfire because she was sleeping alone. She woke feeling rested for once. It was a short three day week, and holiday weeks usually had a relaxed vibe.

Ian noticed her rested face and frowned. "Does that mean I sleep alone?"

"No. I might have slept better because when I did wake I could get comfortable without disturbing you. I missed your warmth and rhythmic breathing."

"Rhythmic breathing? Do you mean snoring?"

"No, that I didn't miss."

Instead of separating at the garage, Ian showed her the stairs to take her up to the lobby. She saw the door to the IT department but couldn't see inside. "It looks top secret."

He laughed. "We're really publishing spies."

She scoffed. "Haha. See you later."

She was still smiling when she entered her department. Catrina smiled. "Good weekend?"

That was a loaded question. "For the most part."

Even the scare turned out okay. They had made it through a challenge together.

"I'm glad."

Ainsley smiled. She looked at Catrina's expanded girth and felt relieved it wouldn't be her. Being short, she would probably have a foot in her throat. She thought of Violet being round and smiled. Her sister was a little taller, but hated having any excess fat. She worked out and played golf to keep in shape.

"How are you feeling?"

"Okay." She put her hand possessively on her belly. Ainsley imagined Ian's hands and decided it wouldn't have been all bad. "I'm meeting with Eric this morning. Hold down the fort."

Catrina walked away, and Ainsley smiled. Catrina had asked her not Henry. Of course, she was the only one in. She sat down to start work before the rest arrived.

She ignored Henry all day, except when he mentioned talking to her boyfriend. She smiled. "I don't care if you are friends." She knew they never hung out except at the gym.

"I might go say hi at lunch."

Ainsley smiled and texted Ian a warning. She was eating at her desk when Henry disappeared.

Catrina walked through. "Ainsley, after you've eaten, can you come see me?"

She nodded and put together her status notes. It was nearing the end of the month. Ainsley walked into Catrina's office prepared to give her update.

"I met with Eric. I convinced him I would feel more comfortable if we finalize things sooner than later."

"Are you okay?"

"I am, but I have gestational diabetes which I can manage, but it made me want to be prepared."

Ainsley's throat was dry and her heart pounded so fast her head was fuzzy. She nodded as no words came out. Her hearing was funny. She thought she heard Catrina say 'you'.

"Ainsley, are you okay?" She nodded. "Eric suggested I wait to break the news to Henry. Can you keep it quiet until the end of the day? He has Wednesday off. I'll offer to let him take Tuesday. We all know nothing gets done this week."

"Yes. Thank you."

Catrina smiled. "You deserve it and I trust you. I wouldn't worry about delivering the bad news to you."

"He thinks he was a shoe in."

"I know this was hard on you and caused trouble with your boyfriend."

"What? How?"

"Eric. He told Eric he had no endorsement for either of you. He said you wanted to advance on your own merits."

"He did?" Ainsley felt funny in her heart again.

Catrina nodded. "But I knew that. You hide your connection to the Sumners. I remember when you found out your mother fixed your sister up with James."

Ainsley rolled her eyes. "I remember."

Catrina smiled. "Your title will be effective December first. This is your new salary."

"Thank you." Afraid to look, she stood and walked back to her desk. She peeked at the five-digit number and wondered if it was more than a starting salary in IT. She couldn't wait to tell Ian.

Finally! No one needs to feel sorry for Henry ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I know many of you want a baby, but Ian and Ainsley don't. If necessary, they would have loved a child just as Anita and Andrew loved Ian. Congrats to those of you who picked up on the timing. They were broken up and then Ainsley was sick until about 20 days into her cycle. Because it was happening to her, she couldn't do the math.