Jamie escorted Melanie from the well lit hotel foyer to the revolving door exit. They were hit by the cooler air of dusk and walked to the waiting black limousine a few paces away.

"It was a pleasure finally meeting you in person Jamie," Melanie said extending her hand to him.

"The pleasure was mine Melanie," he said in an affectionate farewell, "Don't worry about Dakota. She's in safe hands with me."

"Having seen the two of you together, I have no doubts on that score. Drive safe and call me as soon as you get back home to Seattle."

"I will," he said smiling. It felt good to hear someone else refer to their Seattle house as home. Opening the rear side door to the limousine, Jamie helped Melanie into the luxurious and cavernous inside, "Dakota and I will be in touch again soon." Jamie closed the door.

Melanie wound down the window and waved good bye. He did the same and smiled that his relationship with Melanie was on firm footing. Stepping back into the hotel foyer, he told the female Receptionist with a name tag 'Ivy' that he was ready to settle their account and check out.

The buxom blonde made her attraction to Jamie obvious especially when he handed her his platinum bank debit card. "My girlfriend, her mother and I will not forget the hospitality we received here, Ivy." She immediately got the message. He was not available. She flushed him an apologetic pearly white smile.

Within minutes Dakota and Jamie were in the replaced rental vehicle on the winding way back to Seattle.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive," Dakota asked, thoughtfully. She knew Jamie must be tired after driving all the way there.

"You were in an accident and are wearing a neck brace on for goodness sake," Jamie replied. "Just lie back on the passenger seat and relax. Let me take care of getting us home." Dakota could be independent to the point of being stubborn. He admire her spirit, offering to drive whilst injured, "That's my girl!" He thought as he strapped her in the passenger seat of the 4x4 he was driving. Would she let him un-strap her later, he wondered...

"I'm worried about you too. You were in the same accident. Aren't you tired?" Dakota knew how she felt and she had gotten a nap in earlier.

"No, baby," Jamie said, thinking it was so sweet of her to be concerned about him. All he had done was drive defensively. She had superficial, injuries, a migraine she couldn't take medication for until her doctor conducted pregnancy tests.

Dakota sat there in silence, watching her unofficial Avenger take matters into his own hands again. He was committed to family and relationships. She remembered how Jamie married his best friend Paddy's pregnant girlfriend Millie so Dulcie could be born to married parents. He had gone on to adopt Dulcie and was in touch with her every single day. She liked his strong sense of family.

Millie had offered Jamie, a divorce when it was obvious he had developed feelings for Dakota. Her committed Alpha Male would put on a brave and reserved front for the world. She was lucky to have him in her life.

"Can we stop at a gas station," Dakota asked.

"Do you need the toilet," Jamie asked, wondering if he should have stopped at the rest area a few miles back.

"No, I'd like to pick up something to drink," she replied.

"Let me help and get whatever you need, baby," Jamie asked in a concerned voice.

"I would feel better doing it myself," sounded determined.

They drove a few more miles before Jamie pulled off the interstate. A gas station wasn't hard to find. The second Jamie pulled in and parked the car, Dakota popped open the door and made a quick exit. Jamie was left admiring the beautiful sway of her hips as she walked away. She even denied him the chance on unbuckling her seat belt!

About ten minutes later, Dakota returned with a white plastic shopping bag.

"What have you got in the bag," Jamie asked as she settled back into the front passenger seat. He used that opportunity to lean in over her and strap on her seatbelt. He leaned in to take in her scent.

Dakota ignored his question and said, "You're really enjoying this aren't you?"

"Enjoying what?"

"Don't wear that clueless expression Jamie. I mean strapping me into this seat."

"I was trying not to be too obvious."

"I'm well enough to fasten my own seat belt," she wore her naughty smile when she said, "...but I will let you do it, if it makes you hot for me."

"I'm always hot for you, baby," he said planting a brief wet kiss on her lips. She moaned at the unexpected pleasure and Jamie was pleased at how responsive she was to him.

"Are you going to tell me what's in the bag?"

"I got us each a bottle of water and...this," she said pulling out a roll of Life Savers with flourish and handed them to him.

"Thank you," he chucked, "Is there a story behind these?"

She grinned wildly. "I thought they suited you. You're my life saver and I thought you deserved recognition as well as something sweet." She smiled suggestively at him as he looked at her, amusement clear on his face.

"Baby, you're my life saver and candy. I don't need these to tell me that. I love you with all my life." This time he pushed back his chair, unbuckled her seat belt and pulled her so she could sit astride on his lap. He hugged her then kissed her lips softly then deepened their kiss whilst cupping her flushing cheeks before deliberately caressing her abdomen. She moaned and his groin tightened. She made him the happiest man alive. He held her close thinking of their baby forming inside of Dakota.

After several moments in each other's arms, Jamie said, "I should really get us home, you need loads of cuddles and kisses to get you better."

They got back on the road and Jamie drove them home. Once there, they had a light dinner before Jamie arranged a flight for later the next morning. As he did that, Dakota put their clothes in the washer dryer and re-packed their carry-on luggage before retiring early for a night of cuddles. The next morning, they drove the rental 4x4 vehicle to the airport. They completed the paperwork that handed the vehicle back to the rental company before checking into their domestic flight back to New York.

Everything went smoothly and as planned. Dakota finally told Jamie how she managed to pull off getting the new house and having it ready for their arrival a couple days before. Jamie spent the whole flight trying to get a word in to tell her that he didn't care how she did it but was constantly amazed by her and ingenuity. He could tell Dakota was trying desperately to forget about the accident. She deftly changed the subject each time it came up. He held her hand letting her know he was there any time she wanted to talk.

When their flight landed, they disembarked without incident, grabbed their luggage, and caught a cab back to Dakota's apartment.

"It is so nice to not be on the road," Dakota said as she laid her bags down just inside the door.

"I agree," Jamie replied, grabbing her bag and heading to unpack both.

"I'm going to head down to Celina's to pick up Zep and thank her for the part she played getting contractors finalise the Seattle house for the big reveal," Dakota said planting a kiss on his lips before she headed for the door.

"Thank Celine for me," Jamie shouted after her.

"Will do, see you in a little while. Bye Jamie," Dakota said heading to the front door to the apartment. She was wearing black skinny jeans, a white body hugging top and sweater that covered most of the cuts on her hands. She was wearing black and white leather double zip converse and a slung over her shoulders was a black Gucci leather duffel.

She walked gingerly down the steps still sore from the accident and proceeded to leave the apartment building.

As she stepped into the bright sunny day, she glanced furtively windows at the window facing the main street hoping not to catch a glimpse of Jamie. Phew! He wasn't there. Dakota made a bee line for the pharmacy on the corner. He was dominant in her thoughts as she picked ten home kit pregnancy tests. It was too early for the kit to indicate whether or not she was pregnant but she wanted to have them anyway.

At the checkout counter, the local Pharmacist that filled her prescriptions asked, "Is that all for you, Dakota?" He asked politely and wondering about the neck brace. She was certainly going overboard with the number of pregnancy kits in her basket. "Are you alright?"

"Yes thanks. These are props for a friend's bachelorette party, Bob," she laughed off the look of concern from the tall, bespectacled, elderly Pharmacist placing all ten boxes of pregnancy tests onto the counter. She deflected to keep her privacy in case another shopper or someone from the media overheard her conversation with Bob.

Hushing his voice, he said, "If you ever need to use any of these, for yourself, we'll have to change some of your prescribed medications." He took payment and wrapped her purchase in an opaque brown bag. He was very slow in his movements. Bob had put off retirement because the welfare of everyone that came to the pharmacy or adjacent retail outlets was important to him.

"Of course," she replied breezily as she waved, "Have a nice day Bob!"

***

Dakota shoved the brown bag with the home pregnancy kits into her designer duffel before heading back towards her apartment building. She knocked on Celina's door. As soon as it opened, Zep jumped up, placing his paws on her thighs and wagging his tail vigorously.

"Hey Celina," Dakota greeted, "Hey Zep!" She caught Zep as he jumped into her arms and covered her with dog slobber. "You missed me didn't you boy," Dakota gave him a squeeze before turning back to give her friend a bear hug.

"Thank you again for taking such good care of him," she said walking into Celine's cosy living room and making herself comfortable in the cushioned rocking chair that was her favourite piece of furniture in the apartment. "I'm sorry we had to leave on such short notice but you know how quickly I needed to secure the dream house. I got you a little something though..."

Dakota started to reach into her bag and Celina smiled indulgently at her generous friend."I couldn't go to Seattle and not get you souvenirs for your gourmet kitchen. This is a Space Needle Peppermill, two Light Wood Space Needle Bottle Openers and two packs of Sasquatch Approved Smoked Salmon."

They both laughed at the latter.

"Wow, you shouldn't have. I'll take Zep any day. He's a sweetheart," Celina exclaimed. She loved him as if he was her own pet.

"Jamie and I wanted to show our appreciation. In fact I'm not sure if we would have had the kitchen and dining room to the high specifications had it not been for your input and of course keeping this naughty dog out of trouble," Dakota said patting the excited Zep's head.

"Now that you're seated, tell me if Jamie had anything to do with those cuts on your hands and the neck brace you're wearing. So help me, I'll have it out with that man!" She sounded quite capable of defending her friend...

"We were in a car accident. Jamie's split speed reaction and skilled driving saved my life. The car was totalled and emergency services had to cut us out of the wreckage."

Dakota related the story of the near miss with the trailer, how the emergency services got them out, what the female paramedic said about the pregnancy, the warm meeting between her mother and Jamie, the successful house purchase, explosive house 'christening' and finally the possible pregnancy that might not be positive since her monthly period began that morning.

"OMG! All this happened within forty eight hours?"

"Life's never dull when Jamie's around."

"Obviously!" She got up to the small wine rack in her kitchen and came back with a sparkling water for Dakota and a large glass of white wine for her. "Here's to getting knocked up by one of the sexiest man alive!"

"Cheers," Dakota said with a brave smile whilst blinking away her tears.

Noting her friend's distress, Celine put down her glass, "I know that look Dakota, what else has happened?"

"I love Jamie, but when the condom split accidentally, I didn't mind because the idea of carrying Jamie's child, one conceived in love, feels so right. He's been even more attentive recently but my period started this morning and I feel like my body has let him down somehow."

"C'mon Dakota don't speak like that. I'm sure Jamie will love you and be attentive whether or not you are carrying his baby."

"Thank you for being the voice of reason when I'm 'all hormones'. In my mind I know the paramedic said a few women have monthly periods during pregnancy but my heart fears the worst, that I was not pregnant in the first place."

"Torturing yourself with the unknown won't help," she said picking up her keys, "I'm taking you to my Gynaecologist for an emergency appointment. The test will be done in my name so even if we get seen, no one will know that everything was done in my name for privacy purposes."

"You'd do that for me,"

"I think you knew that the moment you came here with ten pregnancy home testing kits!"

"What will I do about you when we move to Seattle,"

"That's easy, I've got some news of my own..." Celina continued her eyes with laughter gleaming in them.

"Oh," Dakota asked.

"I applied for a transfer to Seattle at work just in case so we will still live close by...we New Yorkers stick together...rather than starting a fresh in a new city like you did last time, this time you'll have me close. If I'm not dating or looking for the Sasquatch, I do pet-sit or babysit for free," she answered with a huge grin spreading across her lips.

"That's wonderful news!" Dakota beamed, excited that her closest friend would still be close by.

"How long will you be out there," Dakota asked.

"It's permanent unless I need to move again," Celina replied.

"They're opening a new branch there and need people to transfer into the permanent positions."

"That's the best news I've heard since Jamie said we could live together in our dream house and Jamie asking Millie if Dulcie his adopted daughter can come stay with us a while when she goes on a world band tour," Dakota said smiling.

Celina returned her smile and gave her a hug. "Now we've made a plan to get the results, today, you'll be able to move on and concentrate on the move to Seattle and having Dulcie over."

"What would I do without you," Dakota giggled merrily.

"Look at this way, you won't find out for some time! I'll get Zep's leash and call the Gynaecologist in the car on the way there. Text Jamie and tell him you're accompanying me on an errand. Cell phones have to be switched off there as well."

"Will do that before he gets a chance to call and find out why picking up Zep is taking so long."

***

Two hours later, Celina and Dakota were getting out of the bright red mini that she parked in the residential parking space of their apartment building.

As Celina clicked on the car alarm system, she asked, "How does it feel knowing for sure," asked Celina.

"Better than not knowing, I guess," Dakota's heart was heavy as they walked towards the staircase. Zep's tail was wagging looking forward to the physical activity. Dakota extended the lead so he could scurry on ahead whilst she thought about Jamie. In her mind's eye, she could imagine the disappointment etched on Jamie's face. They were not expectant parents. Not yet.

"Remember what the doctor said. Sometimes healthy couples try for several months before they conceive and Dulcie could be here before you know it. Think about the practice it will give you about what it takes to be a mum."

"Yeah, that's the silver lining," Dakota said wearily.

"Can I invite you both for dinner," Celina offered the invite as they came to her floor. She hoped being out of the house and having a favourite meal would cheer up Dakota.

"I'll take a rain check. I want to have Jamie to myself tonight most of all."

"I understand," Celina said giving her friend a goodbye hug and then crouching down to hug Zep and let him slobber all over face.

Dakota walked up the next set of stairs and took a deep breath before slipping her key into the key slot for apartment. Before she could turn it, Jamie yanked open the door with a dark expression on his face.

Author's Note:
Thank you so much to @AthenaShakespeare for taking this chapter and turning it into a precious, perfect gift for me as a 'get well soon' gift! I'm not sure how this story is going to go without your lovely suggestions and amazing help for the next several weeks, but I'll try to do it justice. I look forward to your suggestions on future chapters when you return, as well as your thoughts and opinions. From the bottom of my heart, again, thank you for this. It's pure perfection and you made it exactly as it should be. Until you return, I will be thinking of and missing you, my sweet best friend forever and sister in spirit. I am so excited for your return! I hope you have an amazing break! :)