Taking It All(50)

"I love you," she whispered. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, baby."

The sonogram tech cleared his throat. "If you'll all leave the room I'll   do the sonogram and confirm whether or not the baby is still safely in   her mother's womb."

"I'm not leaving," Tate growled.

He positioned himself by Chessy's side and curled his arm underneath her so he supported her upper body.

Joss, Kylie, Jensen and Dash discreetly left the room and the sonogram   tech pulled up the gown they'd changed her into and quietly explained   the process of an internal sonogram.

The wand would be inserted into her vagina and the images would show up on the screen of the sonogram machine.

"Let's hope for the best," the tech said with a smile. "Your spotting   was minimal and it's quite normal in the early stages of pregnancy.   Chances are it had nothing to do with your fall at all."

Silence descended as the tech began the sonogram. Tate had Chessy firmly   anchored in his arms and he gripped her right hand, squeezing tightly.   He was as afraid as she was. She could see the tension in his  features,  the fear in his eyes. Fear for her and fear for their child.

"There's the heartbeat! Everything looks good, little mama. Your baby is still right where it needs to be."

Chessy burst into tears again. Tate touched his forehead to hers, relief etched in every facet of his face.

"Our baby is just fine," he whispered. "But now we have to take care of you."

He tenderly wiped her tears away, kissing the damp trails on her cheeks.

"I'm so glad you're here," she said brokenly. "I wanted you here so bad but I didn't want to mess up your presentation."

"I'll always be here," he said gently. "You and our baby come first."

He'd chosen her.

Joy quickly replaced the sorrow and fear over the thought of losing her   baby. She reached up with her uninjured arm and caressed Tate's face.

"You chose me," she whispered.

Tears brimmed in Tate's own eyes.

"I know I can't erase the past, Chessy, but I can affect the future. And   from now on, you come first. Always. I need you to believe that."

"I do," she whispered.

"I love you," he said gravely, sincerity brimming in his tear-filled   eyes. "And as soon as they release you, I'm taking you home and you're   not going to lift so much as a finger while you recover. I'm taking the   rest of the week off and depending on how you're doing, I may take off   next week as well."                       
       
           



       

She was stunned, sure that shock registered on her face.

He caressed her cheek, love and tenderness radiating from his eyes.

"I chose you, Chessy. I'll always choose you."

She smiled, ignoring the pain in her arm. She had everything in the   world that mattered to her right here and now. Her baby was safe and her   husband was here. Everything was good. Finally, she was at peace.

And she did believe Tate. All the doubts of the past, all the betrayals   and disappointment melted away, leaving love and trust in their wake.





EPILOGUE


KYLIE decided to wait until after Joss's and Chessy's babies were born   before she and Jensen married. Joss and Chessy had complained that they   could hardly be bridesmaids when they were big as a house. Jensen  wasn't  happy with the delay. He wanted Kylie to be legally his as soon  as  possible and he didn't care if they had an actual wedding or not.  He'd  threatened to kidnap Kylie and elope to Vegas but in the end he  caved  when Kylie told him how important it was that she be surrounded  by her  "family" on their special day.

Joss gave birth to an eight-pound, nine-ounce baby boy. They named him   Carson, in recognition of Joss's first husband and Dash's best friend.

Not long after, Chessy delivered a seven-pound, two-ounce baby girl. She   smugly told Tate that she'd been right all along and that she knew she   was having a daughter. Tate had coddled her the entire time. He'd  taken  her home from the hospital on that horrible day when she'd feared  the  worst. Her arm had indeed been broken and she'd worn a cast for  two  months. Tate hadn't allowed her to so much as lift a finger, and  also  true to his word, he'd spent much more time away from work and  with her.

When the cast had been removed, and with her having an adorable baby   bump, he'd taken her away for an entire week where they'd done nothing   more than lounge on a beach and make love in the hotel room. It had been   utter perfection.

Two months after Chessy gave birth, Kylie's wedding day arrived. The weather was perfect, heralding a magnificent day.

"You look beautiful," Tate said as he watched Chessy put the finishing touches on her makeup.

The bridesmaid dress was gorgeous and to Chessy's delight she was   actually able to fit into the same size she'd worn before her pregnancy.   The only problem was that her boobs were huge. Tate wasn't complaining   about that at all.

"You don't look so shabby yourself," Chessy said, admiring the black   tuxedo he'd donned in order to be one of Jensen's attendants.

Tate picked up Caroline and when she started to fuss, he reached for her   pacifier. Once inserted, Caroline sucked contentedly and immediately   settled into sleep in her father's arms.

It had been decided that Joss and Chessy would carry their babies with   them down the aisle to stand for Kylie at her ceremony. Chessy just   hoped that neither child started fussing through the service.

She needn't have worried. The babies were perfectly content in their   mothers' arms. Joss and Chessy watched Kylie and Jensen pledge their   love and the start of their lives together as man and wife and they both   started crying.

Tate heaved an exasperated sigh and handed over a handkerchief to Chessy.

"And to think we were worried about the babies crying," Dash muttered.

Rings were exchanged and then the minister pronounced them man and wife.   Jensen pulled Kylie into a scorching kiss that made Chessy blush. Tate   didn't know it yet, but tonight was the night she planned to tell him   her doctor had told her she was perfectly able to resume sexual   activity.

To everyone's surprise-and delight-Jensen swept Kylie into his arms and   carried her down the aisle instead of the traditional side-by-side walk   down the aisle after being pronounced man and wife.

The others hurried after them and caught up to them in the vestibule of the church.

Kylie hugged Joss and then Chessy. "Thank you for being here," she   whispered. "It made my wedding so much more special to have the people I   love the most around me."

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," Chessy said. "We love you,   Kylie. And I'm so glad you're happy. You deserve happiness and I think   Jensen is perfect for you. I wish for you a long life of love and   happiness."

Tears glistened in Kylie's eyes. "I don't know what I'd do without you and Joss. I love you both."

"I think Jensen is getting a wee bit impatient," Joss murmured. "He's ready to take you on your honeymoon!"

Kylie blushed but turned only to be swept into her husband's arms-again.   He carried her to the waiting limo and put her inside. Then he turned   with a grin and waved at his group of friends.                       
       
           



       

"Thank you all for making this so special for Kylie. I know she won't forget this day and neither will I."

They all waved as Jensen got into the limo with Kylie, and as they drove   away, Tate reached for Caroline and nestled her on his chest so her   head rested on his shoulder.

Chessy leaned in close so no one could hear her as she whispered to her husband.

"My OB gave me the green light to resume sexual relations," she murmured.

Fire blazed in Tate's eyes, desire and lust brimming. He gave her a predatory look and then glanced ruefully down at their baby.

"I'm going to set a record in getting her down for the night. And then   you and I are going to be up a very long time. I may just have to call   out of work tomorrow."

Chessy laughed, the sound joyous and carefree. Everything was simply  …    perfect. She had her husband back, Kylie was happily married and Joss   and Dash were new parents. Everyone was  …  happy. What more could she ask   for?