3 months later
*Zac*
I am admiring my new house. Or well house is probably to grand a word at this time. But it is getting along quite well and tonight is the topping out party as they put up the last beam yesterday. I have just arrived back an hour ago after being away for almost 6 weeks.

Suddenly I hear the footfall of a horse galloping and shortly after Kate's golden mare comes flying over the fence. She pulls the horse to a sliding stop in front of me and almost jumps into my arms. I catch her burrowing my face in her neck and hair. "God I missed you Kate".

"I missed you to Zac, so very very much". She kisses both my cheeks and then my mouth and I happily kiss her back. It was hell being away from her this long and I have decided to ask her father for his permission tonight at the party. I can't wait to make her my wife.

I put her down on the ground. "What have you been up to while I was gone".

She pulls the tack of her mare and turns to me. "Well not much. Spent a fair amount of time with my head in the toilet bowl though".

"Have you been sick ? You didn't mention anything about it when we talked". I had called her at least once a day, and she hadn't mentioned being sick even once. She should have told me if she was sick.. I would have come home.

She giggles and takes my hand. "No you big dummy. Not sick. I just felt like I couldn't tell you this over the phone". She gently places my hand on her stomach.

*Kate*
It takes a couple of seconds, but then it looks like someone flips on a switch and Zac gasps lightly. "Are you saying .. are you.. I mean we.. are we going to have a baby ?"

"I know it is early and not really planned. But yes Zac, we are.. in just about 7 months". I look at him, awaiting his response. I have been a bit worried he would think it is to soon.

He simply fall to his knees placing both hands on my stomach and kissing it. Then he looks up at me with tears in his eyes. "Thank you darling... You don't know how happy this makes me. I couldn't imagine anyone I'd rather have children with... I love you so much... I love you both so much".

"No thank you... For reacting as perfect to the news as humanly possible. I .. we love you too". I cub his face in my hands and leans down to kiss him.

He gets up on his feet pulling me into his arms. "Now miss Kate... No more jumping fences on that horse of yours or other wild or crazy behaviour. You are carrying some very precious cargo here".

"I promise on one condition... You sir have to stop smoking... I don't want smoke near our baby... I hope you understand". I had been a bit nervous about asking him to do this. But fact is I really want him to stop, both for the baby..but also for his health.

He sighs theatrically, but then he smiles. "That is a deal baby. In fact..". He pulls his almost full packet of cigarettes from his pocket. He crushes it in his hand and throw it in the trash can. "Done".

I throw my arms around his neck and kisses him deeply. "Thank you. I am so very proud of you for doing that... You are going to be the very best father ever".

"And you are going to be the best mother and ... wife". He says softly and I look up at him. "Oh God Pughsy, that better not be you proposing".

He chuckles and kisses my nose. "It wasn't. But I want you to be my wife and tonight I am going to ask your father his permission... and before you say anything, I had already planned to do this before you told me about the baby... I am not only asking because of the pregnancy".

"I know Zac. You don't have to worry". I tell him and kisses him again. I can't believe that half a year ago I had started to believe that I would never meet the right man. Now I have a baby on the way and the most amazing man who is going to ask me to marry him soon. I must be the luckiest woman in the world.

*Zac*
After Kate has left to get ready for the party I sit down on the steps to my trailer. I can't believe that I am actually going to be a father... Oh I can't wait for us to be a real family.

My mind trails back, no matter how happy this makes me it also hits a still raw nerve. Brings back bad memories.

9 months earlier:
"I can't do this anymore... Pamela it has to stop. It's not okay to do this to Tom either, he truly loves you". I tell her. We have been seeing each other behind Tom's back for 5 months now and it is eating at me... I know Tom loves her. He told me himself and I know he is thinking about proposing.

For a second she looks angry. But then she looks so very sad and I tell myself I just imagined the anger. "Zac please... You can't do this. I need you. You are the one I really want".

"Yeah, you keep saying that Pamela... But nothing ever changes... I just can't do this anymore. I can't do it to Tom and I can't live like this, always being second choice... You have to leave, we are done". I say. I have tried to tell her to choose several times. But somehow she always manage to talk around it and get me distracted.

She looks kind of panicked and she shakes her head. "No you can't break up with me Zac, you just can't do that to me".

"And why is that Pamela ? Please tell me... And it is hardly breaking up as I am not the one you are dating". I fight to stay hard and resolved.

She looks at me, tears in her eyes. "Because I am pregnant Zac... You can't break up with me because I am pregnant".

"Well isn't it Tom you have to tell that". I say... Feeling my knees go weak. It is my dream, my biggest wish to become a father.. to have a family.

She shakes her head again. "No, Tom has been away for the last 8 weeks, you know that... And I am only 4 weeks pregnant. So it has to be yours... You can't leave me when I am pregnant".

And she was right, once again I caved in. Thinking that she had to end it with Tom now she was having my baby.

Back to present time:
I shake my head, pushing away the bad memories... No this is a time to be happy not to think about the past. I won't let Pamela ruin this for me.