Cat and I get to the car. "Give me the keys, Cat."

"I'm fine!" she tells me, but I block the driver's side door with my body and hold out my hand. "The keys, Cat!"

She clenched her jaw. Her nostrils are flaring. She's so mad I think she could spit in my face if she had the inclination, but thankfully she just shoves the keys into my chest and walks around to the other side of the car.

I get in and so does she, slamming her door after her.

I take us home, and we drive the entire way in silence. We get inside the apartment, and she walks right into the bedroom and slams the door again. I walk up to the door, about to knock to suggest we talk this out. I know she's mad and I know she's not mad at me, but I also know if I'm not careful, I'll become the target of her anger, so I let her be.

Sitting on the couch, I can hear her crying softly. My hand ran over my face because I feel close to wanting to do the same. Our baby... even though the odds are in our favor, there is still that 25% chance something could go wrong. I think of watching the baby move around on the screen and feel the tears slip from my eyes.

I wipe them away quickly. No, there is no time for such nonsense. I pick up my phone and do two things. One order takeout, so we have something to eat, and two start researching everything I can on SUA. By the time our food arrived, I had a good handle on things. I think. Armed with some Fettuccine Alfredo and information, I knock on the bedroom door.

When Cat didn't tell me to go away, I opened the door, taking her silence as consent to do so. I find a heartbreaking sight. Cat's curled up in the fetal position, hugging her bear that her brother got her along with the tiger cub he got the baby, her face buried in their fur. Tracks glisten on her cheeks where her tears were shed. She had cried herself to sleep.

I sit down next to her on the bed and tuck her hair behind her ear. "I wish I could somehow protect you from all of this."

Her eyes open and she just stares at me. I smile down at her. "Are you hungry? I have some food ready for you."

She nods her head, yes and I help her sit up in bed. She kisses the top of the head of both the bear and the tiger before setting them aside. Cat is just so freaking adorable it kills me.

"Come on," I say, standing up and holding out my hand to her. She takes it, and we travel to the other room together. It's takeout, so we eat on the couch. Why? I'm not entirely sure it just sort of works out that way.

"You want to talk or eat first?" I ask as I hand her a fork and her noodles.

"Thank you."

I shrug. "It's takeout, so it kinda super easy."

"That's not what I was thanking you for but yes, thank you for the food too."

"What are you thanking me for then?"

"For asking to come with me to my appointments, for keeping me sane when I hear news like I heard today, for keeping me from making some horrible mistake, for giving me space so I can process the information in my own way. Take your pick."

"I've been busy," I say with a grin, and I am instantly rewarded with her smile.

"I've been looking into this SUA thing. Most women that have it have no complications at all, Cat... during or after the pregnancy."

"We can talk to Dr. Devereaux. There is a high-level ultrasound scan that can rule out the baby having many of the abnormalities Dr. Packert mentioned. And if Dr. Devereaux has concerns, they can even do an echocardiogram of the baby's heart to make certain it's okay. Although, I doubt that there is. We've been listening to Peanut's heartbeat, and it's been strong since day one."

"Once we get the results of the blood test and ultrasound you did today, we can rule out even more. Moment by moment, Cat, we can get our answers so this doesn't have to prey on your mind for the rest of your pregnancy."

She just stares at me.

"You okay?"

"You figured all this out while I was asleep?"

I chuckle a little. "Yeah, it was that or climb the walls and this is a tiny apartment so..."

She smiles at me and reaches out to touch my cheek. "Whatever did I do to deserve you?"

I put my hand over hers. "Some women just have all the luck, I guess."

"I am most definitely the luckiest woman alive."

She puts her food down, so she can kneel up on the couch, leans over, and kisses me. I sigh against her mouth, feeling somewhat vindicated that I could be useful somehow in this situation, as most often I feel so powerless.

When I do, she deepens the kiss and I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my lap. My hand travels along her body, and once again I feel that peace comes over me. Just the nearness of her has that effect on me.

Cat's hands travel under my shirt, she explores and my kisses get hungrier. Hungry? "We... really... should... eat," I say between kisses.

"It's takeout," she informs me, "that's what microwaves are for," and she mercilessly goes for my neck, traveling up to my ear, and a low growl escapes my lips. I lay her back on the couch and remove my shirt and hover over her as her hands wander again.

I stare at her for a long moment. She smiles at me and she takes my breath away. She's so beautiful. I position my body over hers, careful not to lean my weight on her, and lace my fingers with hers.

She lifts her head to capture my mouth as I hold her hands over her head and devour her inch by blessed inch. Her mouth, her neck...

"If you intend on this going any further, we need to move to the bedroom," she tells me. I stand up and lift her off the couch and carry her into the other room. I lay her gently on the bed, removing the rest of my clothes. Her eyes never leave me and I join her there.

She takes over, slipping off her panties but keeping her dress on she straddles over me and slides me into her. I love being with her in this way. I don't think I could ever tire of making love to her. My hands roam over her body, as I try to memorize her every curve.

Things start out slow, but all too soon her pace increases and I'm right on the edge. I grab her hips, trying to slow her down, wanting to prolong the gratification.

"Please," she begs, "I'm so close." I let her go. She picks up speed. We both shudder and tremble with pleasure before she collapses on top of me.

I just hold her close as our hearts beat in unison with an erratic rhythm. "I love you," I whisper into her hair. I feel her smile against my chest.

"I love you, too."

"Everything is going to be okay, Cat," I say, stroking her hair.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Just a feeling," I tell her because it's all I have.

She's drawing lazy circles with her finger on my chest. "I really hope your feeling is right."

"Hasn't let me down so far," I tell her.

She kisses my chest and looks up at me. "I'm scared," she admits.

I tuck her hair behind her ear. "Me too."

She looks surprised by my confession. "What, you think I don't get scared?"

"I don't know. You always seem so sure of yourself. No matter the situation. Every time I've landed myself in the hospital or trouble, somehow you keep your cool. I guess I never considered all those times you may have been just as frightened as me."

"I was more frightened than you, Cat. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you, or Peanut. You've both claimed my heart. It doesn't belong to me anymore."

"I promise to take excellent care of it." Cat brushes the back of her fingertips against my cheek and I turn to my head to kiss her palm.

Her stomach growls and we both laugh.

"Peanut has spoken. 'Enough fooling around.' The baby wants food." Cat giggles and I love the sound.

"After you," I say, as I can't move with her on top of me.

She snuggles in one last time for a hug and rolls over and in seconds is out the door. It took me some time to rejoin her as she just had to slip on her panties, and I was completely naked.

By the time I join her on the couch, she had already reheated the pasta and hands me a plate. "A plate? The whole point of takeout is so you don't have to do dishes."

She just gives me that face like I'm being silly, though I'm perfectly serious. To get back at her, I pick up my discarded shirt and toss it aside, before joining her on the couch.

"You're not going to put it on are you?"

I give her a sly grin and shake my head no.

"You are an evil man," Cat states, but not before I soak in her appreciative look as she scans my body.

My grin just grows.