Subject to Change

I will likely post this note again to avoid confusion, but Happy Valentine's Day, Baby is *separate* piece from this story. Eventually when the baby arrives in this story, the chapter(s) and details will be different.

Faith didn't give even her precious daddy a break this evening. It took him over a half hour to get her to settle but a toddler, even one as stubborn as Faith Roslind Caine could only fight sleep so long. Horatio flopped onto their bed while his wife was brushing her teeth in their adjoining bathroom. If that was even an appetizer version of what his wife had gone through the entire day, all while having a baby lean on her bladder, then he didn't know how she did it. This proved his opinion again that women were incredible beings.

And the fact no man could never measure up to them.

"I bow to you," he said as his wife stepped out of the bathroom.

Aimee chuckled, sitting on the bed taking a hair brush off the night stand and beginning to brush her hair.

"Yes, I'm fabulous," Aimee joked. "And don't you forget it."

Her husband sat up and took the brush from her, taking over the task. This was one of early sweet gestures he started doing for her when they moved in together.

"Yes, you definitely are," he murmured, leaning forward and kissing his wife's cheek. "And don't you ever forget it."

It was a good thing that it was still eight weeks before the new baby was due. The parents-to-be had changed their minds again on what they would name a boy. The choice went from Zachary to Hunter. This was subject to change, too. They were also back to the drawing board with a name for a baby girl. The name Jasmine had lost appeal after a short time.

There was going to have to be some temporary changes.

Horatio wasn't pleased to hear the doctor say his wife had "borderline preeclampsia."

Aimee could read his mood and he reassured her quickly with a kiss to the temple that he wasn't upset with her, just worried about her health and that of their unborn baby.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," he murmured in her ear. "You're going to be all right. Both of you. We'll make it work."

Horatio knew that his wife was immediately about how she was going to manage at home if she had to "take it easy" at home and come back in three days. The doctor prescribe Aimee a low dose of medication to help with her blood pressure. She wanted her patient to "stay pregnant as long as possible," early delivery being a last option. Aimee was only twenty-nine weeks along. The doctor still hoped Aimee could carry to term and go into labor without being induced.

She too, encouraged Aimee not to worry.

That would only make her condition worse.

In the parking lot Horatio again kissed his wife.

The doctor gave the couple a list of symptoms to watch for—a list she was sure that Horatio would promptly copy and pass out to all friends and family.

"Don't. Worry." he emphasised, these two words on purpose. "We'll figure it out, all right?"

"Okay," Aimee replied.

Horatio's wife rolled her eyes when along with her prescription, her husband also exited Walmart with a home blood pressure kit.

I suppose this way he won't have to send Alexx or a nurse to check on me three or four times a day.

On the list the doctor gave the two were the blood pressure numbers to worry about and ones not to. Aimee was back at her physician's office days later, as requested. It was calming for all to know that Aimee's blood pressure was normal again, but she was going to keep Aimee on medication as a precaution. The baby's heartbeat was still strong. The sound of it made the expectant parents smile as it did three days ago and did every time they heard it. More positive news was that Aimee still felt the baby move–a lot.

Making the situation work, meant calling in the grandparents and uncle Andy, who were all too happy to help. Aimee's best friend Maria was a frequent visitor, too. They all got to see just how unhappy Faith Caine was about the coming baby.

Lacy knew better than to argue with the toddler about her feelings—the girl was just like her mother at that age.

Stubborn to a fault.

She had to resist the urge to reply "you don't hate the baby! You love the baby!" as to not minimize the child's feelings—they were lucky enough she put it into words. Being a grandmother, Lacy couldn't understand why the normally sweet Faith couldn't be excited but so angry about becoming a big sister.

And that her parents weren't a bit worried.

Faith was a two-year-old and was thinking like one.

"And my brother didn't behave that way when I was born cause he was one and not two. Big difference understanding of events. Don't worry, mom. Faith will love the baby, eventually. Relax, will you?"

Lacy couldn't believe that neither Horatio or her daughter were the least bit concerned about their daughter's non-acceptance of the coming baby. Though she didn't admonish Faith, Lacy was embarrassed when the two were out and the little girl said "no!" and she wanted the baby to "go away" when Lacy's friends asked her if she was excited that she was going to be a big sister.

Even the pediatrician told the worried grandmother this was as normal as brushing your teeth. "Faith is a very bright child. She's older than a year so she understands enough to know changes and not like it. You and I know Faith won't try to hurt the baby. Aimee or Horatio, or even Kyle would allow that."