Ikher snorted awake. There was a soft tapping somewhere. He shook his head as he sat up and looked around but heard nothing. Shrugging, he fell back against his pillow and teetered on the edge of sleep when he heard it again.

He sat up and listened. After a moment, he heard it again from the front of the house. He opened the bedroom door and shuffled down the hall. When he entered the front room, he froze. His heart leapt into his throat when he saw Nancy at his door.

“Hey,” he managed, as he opened the door.

A small smile crept snuck onto her face before she came forward, putting her arms around him. She squeezed him and after a moment before he returned the hug. Ikher held her for what seemed like forever before she let him go. He released her, and she pulled back with sad eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I got scared when you said you loved me and I ran. Again.”

“It’s okay! It’s okay, you’re here now,” Ikher said, taking her hands, and she smiled.

“I am,” she said pulling her hands back only to cup his face with them. “I’m not leaving again. I promise,” she whispered before kissing him.

Wrapping his arms around her lower back, Ikher pulled Nancy to him. He had missed her warmth against him, the smell of her vanilla and strawberry perfume, her arms over his shoulders when they kissed. He had missed everything.

There was a knock at the door but they ignored it as they merged with each other. Neither wanted to let go. The knocking continued, only getting louder and more insistent until it’s all he could hear.

Ikher’s eyes shot open, seeing his bedroom wall and door, the morning sun peeking in through the window behind him. Sighing, he released the pillow he had a death grip on and rolled over. He had just closed his eyes when he thought he heard a knock.

He sat up and threw the cover off him as he listened. When the knock happened again, he lept off the bed, flung open his bedroom door, flew down the hall, and ripped his front door open.

“Uhh, you’re gonna need more clothes than that,” Janine said with a chuckle as she took in the sight of him standing there in only his boxers. The excitement and hope melted off his face, his posture wilting along with it as he looked to the floor and shook his head.

“You okay?” Janine asked as she walked in.

“Yeah,” he replied after a moment. “Just... had a dream,” he sighed, looking more forlorn than ever.

“You need a minute?” she asked, and sat on the arm of the couch. He looked out the door for a second before closing it.

“Nah, I’ll get dressed,” he said, and headed back to his room.

“I’m still concerned that this isn’t necessary,” Ingrid said with a heavy sigh as she sat back in her seat.

Thomas Reiger, head of Information Systems, held his hands out.

“No one is certain what will happen, but we know something will. So as a precaution, we’re replacing everything.”

“And the entire business shuts down if we don’t?” Elias asked, leaning forward on the conference table with interest.

“That’s one of a hundred outcomes,” Reiger said. “We’re preparing for the worst one. Most of the equipment that must be replaced was slated for refresh this year or next. So, it was already in our budget.”

“Since this is an emergency, I authorized the general fund use,” Nancy cut in when she saw Ingrid about to speak up.

“We also adjusted the refresh schedule for the next two years,” Reiger said, piggybacking off Nancy. “So we’ll only be replacing devices with an end of service mark. That helped to lessen our pull from the general fund.”

“So I’m stuck with my files opening slow for another year, eh?” Sean asked, punching Reiger in the shoulder.

“I’m afraid so,” Reiger nodded.

“If it need be,” Ingrid sighed and put her hands in her lap.

“Thank you Tom,” Nancy said, smiling to Reiger, who nodded, gathered his things, and left.

“Alright! If no one else has anything,” Sean started, closing his binder. Nancy held up her hand, making him reopen his binder and hold his hand out to her.

“I wanted to bring something up so that you all heard it from me and not through the grapevine. And, so that you aren’t surprised when you see me next quarter.” She glanced around to make sure she had their attention. “I’m pregnant.”

Maurice and Elias’s eyes grew huge. Connie, Sean, Matieus, and Antony smiled. Patrick let out a bored sigh. And Ingrid fought to keep her face from falling off with the frown she wore.

“Congratulations!” Connie said. She got up and came over to take Nancy’s hands. “I look forward to seeing you get fat,” she said with her tongue out.

Nancy laughed. “So do I. This morning sickness is killing me.”

“Have you picked a proxy for when you’ll be out?” Ingrid exhaled, her annoyance obvious.

Nancy turned to her, a bit taken aback.

“Why would I be out?”

“I would assume to take care of your child?”

“I’ll be out for the delivery, but beyond that, I’ll be working from home and will be in for any important meetings. Thank you for your concern, though,” Nancy smiled to Ingrid, who just huffed and looked away. Elias got up and walked over to her.

“Is it mine?” Elias asked with a large, nervous grin and worry in his eyes.

“Elias!” Matieus yelled, slapping the table. “That’s not appropriate!”

“I jest!” Elias said to Matieus with a grin before turning back to Nancy and leaning in. “No, really, is it mine?” he whispered as he hugged her.

“Completely impossible,” she whispered back, which made him deflate with a grateful sigh as he stood back up.

“Congratulations, my dear,” he said before moving aside for the others who had lined up to give her well wishes or were packing up to leave.

Walking into the Corner Pitch, Ikher found Katrina dressing Eric down while Billie looked on with a grin.

“- having a repeat of last year where I hound you for this,” Katrina said, smacking the bar before pointing her manicured finger at Eric. “I want everything in my office by Monday or you can find someone else.”

Eric held both hands up and nodded.

“Absolutely,” Eric said. “If I can get it together, I’ll be there Friday.”

“This is what I mean!” Katrina said, holding both hands out to him. “Why isn’t it together already?! It’s the end of March!”

“Cause his bookkeeping sucks,” Billie said with a grin before noticing Ikher. “Oh, hey! The prodigal son returns! Where the hell have you been, guy?”

Everyone turned to stare at Ikher in the doorway.

“Hey everyone,” Ikher said, shifting his feet as he waved.

“My man!” Eric said, happy to have attention diverted from him. “Come in dude. We missed you!” He waved for Ikher to come take his seat. “What’s up, brother? Whatcha been up to?”

Ikher shrugged. “Eh... stuff.”

“Sounds riveting,” Billie snorted.

“It’s nice to see you Ikher, but I have to go,” Katrina said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Friday,” she said to Eric, pointing with her other hand.

“Yes, ma’am,” Eric nodded again with both hands up. Billie, as always, watched Kat leave and sighed dreamily.

“So, what kind of stuff you been up to?” Eric asked, pouring a drink for Ikher. “We missed you at the games. Billie didn’t have you to rag on. Plus, a couple of her teams got their asses beat. You could have had your comeuppance,” Eric laughed.

“It was bullshit!” she grumbled from under the bar. Ikher shook his head and took a sip as Eric continued.

“You okay man? You aren’t normally this quiet.”

“Yeah, just got a lot on my mind.”

“What’d she do?” Billie asked as she stood with an empty syrup bag.

“Huh?” Ikher said, looking to her.

“‘A lot on my mind’ is finances or love. Eric buys enough pot to keep you paid, so it has to be a lady,” she shrugged. “So what’d this girl do that’s got you in the dumps? Do I need to fight her?”

“No. I did something,” he said, letting his head drop, his shoulders following.

“Spill it,” Eric said. “Talking stuff out can help.”

Ikher sighed and shook his head.

“That’s the thing. I don’t know what I did. I told her I loved her and then she just... vanished.”

“Well, that’s shitty,” Billie said with an annoyed glare over her shoulder. Ikher’s head dropped, and he sighed.

“That’s how I felt,” he said, looking back up to her.

“No! Not you,” she said with a scowl. “Her! What she did was shitty. How the fuck do you confess love to someone and they just disappear?!”

“Maybe she was scared?” Eric offered as he poured a beer for another patron. “That’s a big step for some people.”

“Doesn’t make it any less shitty!” Billie said to Eric before turning back to Ikher. “You want me to beat her ass? Where is she?” Billie laced her fingers and cracked her knuckles.

“What?! No! Don’t beat anyone up,” Ikher said.

“See!” Billie said, holding her hand out to him. “She did you wrong, and you’re still being nice. That skank didn’t deserve you. You know what? I’m gonna hook you up with one of the straight girls I know who’ll appreciate a nice guy.”

“Yeah, that’s not necessary,” Ikher chuckled, holding his hands up.

“Oh come on! I just thought of a killer elevator pitch for you,” she said with a huge grin before clearing her throat and standing straight. “Cute, in shape, Thainish guy who’ll cook and lay dong down all night. Available immediately.” Ikher lowered his face into his hand and Eric sighed and shook his head. “Awesome right?” Billie said, looking between them.

“Thainish?” Eric asked.

“Yeah, it sounds better than Spai,” Billie said.

“Why does it have to be a mix of two words?” Ikher laughed.

Billie winked at him. “Cause it sounds exotic and makes em think.”

“Also, ‘laying dong down’ isn’t a thing,” Eric said.

“Cut me some slack,” she said. “I don’t traffic in penis, so I don’t know your lingo.”

“Hilarious, but no thank you. I’m good,” Ikher said with a smile, shaking his head at her.

“Yeah, you are. You came in looking like death and now you’re all smiles. You just needed some ridicule,” she said with a smile before grabbing a tray of glasses and walking to the back.

Ikher chuckled. “I guess I did.”

“I thought it odd that you declined my visit to the house,” Matieus said as he followed Nancy into her office, trailed by Maurice and Sean.

“My home isn’t very welcoming at the moment,” she said with a sigh.

“Is it the baby?” Sean asked as they sat on the couch, and Nancy nodded.

“Yes, which is why I wanted to see you all,” she said, leaning on the desk. “You three are the people I trust the most, so I wanted you to know the truth before my child gets here.” Matieus and Sean leaned in, worried looks on their faces. Maurice scowled. She took a deep breath. “This child isn’t Jared’s.”

Matieus sat back, as he grimaced. Sean blinked and nodded as he processed. And Maurice’s face fell, and he looked down at the floor as he thought. Looking up, he opened his mouth to say something but Matieus stood and came forward to hug her.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, squeezing her. “You told me things weren’t good at home and I didn’t listen.” He frowned down to her as he released the hug and held her arms. She smiled up at him and patted his arms.

“I always thought Jared was a whiny little cunt,” Sean said, making Nancy laugh and Matieus shoot him a nasty look. “What?” Sean said, glaring back at Matieus before looking to Nancy. “He cheated on you first, didn’t he?”

“That doesn’t matter!” Matieus barked at him.

“The hell it doesn’t!” He looked to Nancy “I’m right aren’t I?” She sighed and started to say something, but Maurice spoke up first.

“Is he divorcing you?” he asked. The room went quiet as Matieus and Sean forgot about each other and looked at her. Nancy looked at each of them and shook her head.

“If he is, I’ve heard nothing from him about it.”

“Ha! Good fucking luck if he does!” Sean said, slapping his knee. “Bass’ll bleed him to death in court.” His mirth got another disapproving glare from Matieus.

“Are you divorcing him?” Maurice asked with his eyes closed. Nancy stared at Maurice for a moment and took a deep breath.

“I’m not currently planning to, no,” she said, folding her hands in front of her. Maurice sighed before nodding to her. Matieus stared off, lost in thought.

“Is he... going to help with the baby?” Sean asked with wide eyes.

Nancy burst out laughing and shook her head.

“He has told me in no uncertain terms that he will have nothing to do with this child.”

Maurice gave her a pained looked and Sean scowled. Matieus sat back down, rested his elbows on his knees, and stared at the floor. Nancy could see the wheels turning in his head.

“Matt, speak your mind.”

He thought for a moment more and looked up to her.

“I’m not you. Nor have I been married or raised a child,” he sighed. “But I’ve seen the effects of an absentee parent. I don’t know if you’re staying out of spite or to keep up appearances, but do you want to do to your child what was done to you?” Matteus said with his hands out.

Nancy regarded him for a moment before she smiled and came forward to take his hands.

“I had two absentee parents and I’m... somewhat functional,” she said, squeezing his hands. “Even if Jared wants nothing to do with it, this child will have all of my attention and all of my love. I won’t make the same mistakes my parents did.”

“What about the father?” Sean asked.

“He isn’t in the picture. Let’s leave it at that,” she said, glancing at each of them. Maurice opened his mouth, but Nancy gave him a quick glare that shut him up. Sean shrugged and sat back.

”I suppose if anyone’s stubborn enough to raise a child by themselves, it’s you,” Sean said with a smile to her. Nancy glared at him for a moment before chuckling.

“That’s the other reason I wanted to talk to you,” she said with a smile. “I trust and care for you all, so I was hoping to include you. I think that having two amazing uncles and a stellar grandfather will do this child some good.”

“It’s been too long. I don’t think I remember how to change diapers,” Sean said with a grin.

“It’ll come back. It’s like falling off a bike,” Maurice shrugged, making Sean glare at him.

“The fuck d’you know about changing diapers?!” Sean asked.

“My sister’s fifteen years younger than me. So, a lot,” Maurice sighed with a glaze over his eyes as he relived the memories.

“That settles it!” Sean yelled, raising one hand and pointing at Maurice with the other. “Uncle Maury gets diaper duty!”

“Oh no! I will hold classes if need be. We will share this love!” Maurice said, pointing back at Sean. Nancy laughed as they argued, but Matt stood and looked down at her.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, putting his heavy hands on her shoulders as the other two argued behind him. Nancy sighed and smiled up to him.

She nodded. “I am.”

Matteus exhaled and squinted at her. “This isn’t a plot to keep me from retiring, is it?”

“Of course not. I thought you might retire sooner and be a live-in grandfather,” she said with a wry smile.

“Tempting, but no,” he said before turning back to Sean and Maurice, who were still fighting. “Enough, you two!” he yelled, making them jump. “No more bickering. There are important things to settle,” he said, turning back to Nancy and putting his fists on his hips as his fuzzy eyebrows shot up. “Have you picked a name?”

“I’m narrowing my list.”

“Might I recommend Sean. It’s unisex and there are some pretty amazing Sean’s in the world,” Sean said, holding his hands out with a big grin.

“That’s all we need is a smaller version of you,” Maurice said, rolling his eyes.

“Aye, you’d all be so lucky,” Sean said as he leaned back, putting his hands behind his head.