When Ally sat on a chair in the conference room, she was feeling dizzy. Weakly, she smiled at John who was looking at her with concern and tried to focuse on Richard.

"First up. Hartwell versus Brown. The woman is suing her ex-lover because he doesn't want to take responsability for the baby she is carrying."

"Bastard!" Ally let out.

Nell raised an eyebrow, Ling looked up at the ceiling, John opened his mouth with surprise and Richard took her reply in his own way.

"Agressive way... I like it! I was thinking that John could do the case but Ally,since you're already convinced about it..."

"No,no,no,no,no Richard!" Ally replied, shaking her head fastly which made her feel even more dizzy. "Oh no..."

"Ally?" John asked. "You look pale. Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine." she replied, taking her head between her hands.

When she looked back at her co-workers, they all had three heads. She knew what was coming. She raised up slowly and ran out. She bumped into Elaine.

"Ally. I have to show you my new invention. It's an eatable chastity's belt...

"Elaine! Move!" Ally gasped in panic, with a hand on her mouth.

She made her way to the unisex where she threw up in the washbasin. When she look at herself in the mirror, she started to cry. "Damn it!" she mumbled. She washed her face with cold water and told herself: "That's okay. Everything will be okay..."

When she got back in the conference room, they were all silent. John was the only one to look at her. He could see that something was wrong with Ally. She forced a smile and tried to walk proudly to her chair.

"I think that I ate something last night... some old creamy sauce, I don't know..." she said, with embarrassment.

"Geez..." Ling said, watching her nails. "You look pregnant to me!"

Nell noded and added: "Don't you think we aven't noticed all those morning sickness?"

John choked behind his glass of water.

"Common Ally!" Richard claimed. "What's the scoop?"

"Are you pregnant?" John asked timidly.

Ally sat down and took a deep breath.

"Well... a little." she admitted, touching her stomach.

All remained silent for a moment. Ally looked at them nervously. John was rubbing his forehead. Nell started to play with her pen. Richard sat down and Ling looked up at the ceiling again.

"An other thing to feel victim about" Ling mumbled.

"Oh... that was mean!" Ally responded, shooting her a killer look.

"Are you happy about this?" Nell asked with a kinder tone.

"Who's the father?" Richard asked.

"Abortion?" Ling proposed.

"Oh..." John simply said.

"If I'm happy about this? Well... yes... By the way, it is the postman's child like you probably all know". Ally tried to joke as tears started to fill her eyes. "And yes, I'm keeping the baby."

She smiled but she felt that it was forced.

Silence again. Talking about Larry had became a sort of taboo at Cage and Fish. They all knew how her relationship with Larry ended two months ago. She had been depressed for a while, not wanting to talk about him. Her pregnancy was her last preoccupation after Larry being gone. She had to see her doctor to realise the truth. Ally felt tension in the air, like they were all sad for her. Even Nell was looking at her with pity in her eyes.

"Common people!" Ally encouraged "Cheer up! I'm having a baby!"

Later that day, Ally was in her office working on a closing when John knocked at the door.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course John!"

He sat in front of her and looked at her directly in her eyes. Ally could feel that he was trying to read her thoughts. She felt uncomfortable.

"John, I'm sorry I haven't told you before... You're my best friend."

"Ally... it's okay really. I don't mind."

Ally sighed half relieved. John was still staring at her with questionning eyes. She started to drawn distractly with her pen.

"Does Larry knows?"

Ally dropped her pen.

"No. He was gone before I had the time to tell him..." she murmured with tears in her voice. "Anyway, what was I going to tell him? Hey, Larry! You just lost your son... big deal? There's an other child on the way, don't worry!"

She rested her head on the desk.

"Did he call you? Any news?"

"Larry is gone... gone... gone." she replied with anger, lifting her head up. "Should I repeat?"

"No...no... I understand." John said soflty, taking her hand to comfort her. "I just think that it's so sad..."

"I'm not sad!" she exclaimed.

John raised an eyebrow. Ally had never looked that sad. He could see by the look on her face that she probably had troubles sleeping. Since Larry was gone, she was just miserable.

"Ally... You know that you can tell me everything." He said, encouraging her to share his feelings with him.

Ally took a deep breath and when she looked back at him, he could see that her eyes had changed.

"I can help but think that I'm selfish. I know... I know that Larry lost his son. But, I still don't understand why he left me." she said slowly like she was talking to herself. "I did my best to be understanding, loving... and he left me. A stupid note and he's gone... out of my life! Here's the thing... I hate him!"

"Well..."

"I know, deep down inside, that keeping this baby is right. I mean, I always wanted to be a mother. I just didn't expected it to be this way. Single, alone, unmarried... But, you know what? I'll love this child. I know it!"

"Good..."

"But I don't ever want to hear about Larry Paul again." she said firmly.

As John was making his way to the door. Ally got next to him and took his arm.

"John?" she asked timidly.

"Yes Ally?" John said with a smile.

"Would you... would you be the father of my baby?"

A few weeks later, Ally had convinced John to be a possible father figure to her baby. He went to the doctor with her and even shopping for baby clothes. Renee was completely ecstatic about the baby. Elaine was preparing a big baby shower at the bar. Even if Ally was at the beginning of her pregnancy, she planned it to be big so she told everyone about it, three months in advance. Of course, she was working on a musical number which was supposed be adorable. She even told Ally: "Note it to your agenda. September 1st. You'll be surprised!"

Richard on his side, was being very protective with Ally. Every morning he was bringing her muffins and orange juice. He was very kind to her but Ally suspected him to grow a fetichism about her little belly.

One day, he came in her office and held a file at her. He looked very excited and his eyes were sparkling.

"Good thing I've got money! Let's say it's my baby present."

"What is it Richard?" she asked with an intrigued tone.

She took the file in her hands and looked up at him.

"I hired a private detective to follow Larry" he said proudly.

"What?" she gasped.

"He lives in Philadelphia. He works part time and spend the rest of his time reading books, training, playing music and..."

"What did you..." Ally started, his cheeks becoming red.

"And most of all, he's still single."

Ally threw a strawberry muffin at him.

"Get out of my office Richard." she said, trying to calm herself.

"Oooh... I like when you're angry."

"GET OUT!" she yelled.

For a few minutes she stared at the file. Thinking that it was better to not think about Larry, she decided to threw it in the garbage. Larry was just a sweet memory, now. At the last moment, her hands started to tremble and before she had the time to realise what she was doing, the file was opened and she had her eyes on Larry's pictures. She made her way to a chair, her heart beating heavily in her chest. She read the detective's report trying to see between the lines if Larry was doing okay. Then her eyes went back to the pictures. There was one in which Larry was jogging. On an other one, he was probably going to work. On the last, he was just sitted on a park bench, looking absorbed by his thoughts. He was definitely the most attractive man she ever met. She felt troubled just to look at him. She suddenly remembered all the things she had tried to forget about these past three months. She remembered the feeling of being close to him. She remembered when he told her: "I'm only at the beginning of loving you" and she had no doubts that he was sincere. She touched her stomach, tenderly. That baby growing inside of her, she wanted to keep it not just because, she wanted to be a mother but because it was a part of Larry.

"I'm still in love with him." she sighed.

"No! That is not happening, no!" Ally said, holding her breath.

"What is it Ally?" Renee asked, entering Ally's room. "What are you doing?"

Ally was lying on her bed trying to put on a skirt. She couldn't even slid it up to her stomach. Renee bursted out laughing.

"Don't you laugh at me Renee! I'm going to put that skirt on... no matter what..." Ally replied with a desesperate tone.

She catched her breath again.

"Ally Breathe! That skirt is too tight now! Face it, you're about five months pregnant!"

Ally sat up on her bed and a smile began to form on her lips.

"Oh... I know, I know... The thing is... I don't like pregnancy clothes. I already feel like an elephant!"

Renee took a look at Ally. She was still thin. She surely had gained a few pounds, her cheeks seemed fuller, her belly was a little puffed but she looked amazing. Renee was relieved that her friend felt better about her pregnancy. Sometimes when she had a sad look on her face, she suspected her to be thinking about Larry but, most of the times, Ally was ecstatic about the baby. They had to move to a bigger apartment a month ago and the baby's room was already decorated.

"Do you want me to go shopping with you?" Renee asked.

"John already proposed to go with me" Ally said, taking a pair of maternity pants with a grimace.

"Wow! John takes his role seriously..."

"He is very kind. If it goes this way... I'll end up marrying him..." Ally said distracly while brushing her hair.

"Woah!" Renee let out.

Ally stepped finally realising what she had said.

"Wait... wait a minute! Oh! Did I really said something about marrying John?"

Renee noded with an intrigued look.

"Oh! Where does that come from?"

"Well Ally... John could be a good match to you."

"I... I don't know..." Ally said nervously.

"He's a kind man. He cares about you."

Ally replaced to covers on her bed, smoothing it out with her hands. The image of Larry flashed into her a head for a second.

"If you could just forget about..." Renee continued.

"Larry" Ally finished.

Both sighed.

She was staring at the phone since an hour or so. She had his number but just couldn't dial it. She was just paralysed. She took a deep breath and with a trembling finger pushed the first number. She hanged up, panting.

"Oh my God...I can't... I can't!" she said out loud.

Ally was sitting on her bed. She was wearing the shirt Larry had forgotten. Did he left it on purpose? She didn't know. When he had left her she could sit for hours just smelling his shirt, feeling close to him. Now, the sent was gone... so was Larry.

She rubbed her stomach tenderly and leaned her head down.

"Do you think I should call him?" she asked her baby with a sweet voice. "Okay... If YOU want me to call him, give me a sign! A little kick whatever..."

She waited, a hand on her belly. No moves. She had read that baby were supposed to start moving during the fifth month. She knew that the baby was heathly but he was surely a little lazy.

"You are not helping mommy... Please...anything..."

She waited again a few minutes her eyes on the phone this time. Her hand started to tremble again.

"Okay... Okay... I don't need you to tell me what to do. I am... I am strong and courageous." she said trying to convince herself.

She counted until three, grabbed the phone and dialed fastly like she was scared to change idea.

She listened to the ringing of the phone while breathing heavily like she was learning in those preparating-birth classes. Then, she heard his voice.

"Hello?"

Her heart stopped.

"Hello?" Larry repeated.

She couldn't say anything. She was holding the phone with a hand, the other on her stomach. She was sure that he could hear her breathing but she was too shocked to controle herself.

"Hello? Larry asked again with an impatient tone this time. "Who is it?"

She thought about what she could possibly say: "Hey Larry! It's Ally... remember me? The girl you used to be so totally in love with... Hey! Guess what? I'm having your baby."

"Okay..." Larry said slowly. "I repeat... Hello-o?"

Ally smiled. She could picture him, scratching his head, knowing that there was somebody on the line.

"I'm hanging up now. It was nice to talk to you."

He hanged up and she finally did. Ally leaned her head to the pillow. For a moment, it seemed to her that Larry was still close to her... that he was still in her life.

A few days later, Ally was making her way to the unisex. Through the door she heard Nelle, Ling and Richard arguing. Ally stopped and listened.

"Finally.. We have some peace here and you want to tell her?" Ling yelled. "I'm tired of it!"

"Ling sugar...Don't you think we have to tell her?"

"NO Richard!"

"Not like I care about her, but if we don't tell her..." Nelle started.

Ally entered and all three opened their mouth with surprise. Ally understood that they were talking about her.

"What is it?" Ally asked with suspicious eyes.

"No...nothing" Richard mumbled.

"Let's get a life!" Ling said before getting out of the unisex.

Nelle and Richard followed her quickly.

A few minutes later, Ally grabbed Elaine by the arm.

"What is going on?" she asked. "Elaine, people are talking about me and I don't like it!"

"No... nothing!" Elaine stammered, looking at the floor.

"Elaine!" Ally squeezed her arm. "Tell me!"

"Okay... Okay..."

It wasnt too hard to convince Elaine. She was the gossip queen.

They entered into Ally's office and closed the door behind them. "You better sit down Ally. I don't want you to faint."

Ally sat down as told.

"What...is...it?" she asked with impatience.

"Actually, I'm not sure if this is good news."

"Never mind... Say it!"

"Nelle was in court today. Guess who she bumped into?"

Elaine made a salsa move and Ally raised her eyes to the ceiling.

"I'm not in the mood for riddles!"

"Larry"

"W...What?" Ally gasped, her heart missing a beat. "Lar... Larry?"

"Larry Paul remember him? Very handsome man, sexy, beautiful lips and very profound eyes..."

"Fu... Funny..." Ally managed to reply.

"He's in town" Elaine added with a mysterious smile.

"In town?"

"Here in Boston... B.O.S.T.O.N!" Elaine said like Ally was retarded.

"Oh my God!"

Her hand got immediatly on her stomach.

"Renee Radick's office..."

"Renee! Renee!" Ally screamed with excitment.

"Ally! Ally! Renee repeated with the same girlish voice.

"He's back!"

"Who? Larry?"

"Nelle saw him in court" Ally was speaking without taking the time to breathe. "He told her that he was here for a case but who knows... Renee! I don't know what I'm doing here in my office. I should run in Boston's streets to find him. I'm dying to see him. I have to see him."

"Ally. First, forget about running. Secondly, a question... Have Nelle told him about the baby? Finally, be careful... I don't want to discourage you but maybe he's just here for work."

Ally felt like she was on the edge of crying. Her pregnancy had made her even more emotionnal.

"I know... I know..."

"I don't want you to get hurt okay?" Renee said with a calm voice.

After her talk with Renee on the phone, Ally got back to work to set her mind into something else. It wasn't working. She took a paper and started to draw on it. She focused on the pen, taking deep breaths. About twenty minutes later, when she took a final look at her moment of trance. There wasn't a single space left on the paper. All she could see was Larry, Larry, Larry.. written all over it.

"What am I? Twelve years old?"

She banged her head on the desk and decided to rest it on it, with a sigh.

"Taking a nap?"

All happened in a second or so. She raised her head, saw Larry in the doorway, the baby kicked and she slid down in her chair, the "Larry tribute paper" on her belly.

"Oh! Oh!" she gasped.

She was shocked. Both stared into each other's eyes without saying anything. Ally could feel her heart pumping in her head and the baby moving a little. Larry smiled. It was a half smile, that cute little smile he made when he was shy. She was melting.

"Hi Ally..." he finally said with a sweet voice.

She opened her mouth but nothing came out. She was paralysed.

"Can I come in?" he asked with his hands in his pockets.

"Oh! Oh!"

She shook her head nervously. He raised an eyebrow.

"Come... Come in." she said weakly.

He entered and sat down in front of her like he used to do before. It was strange. To Ally, it felt like he had never left her. He hasn't change a bit and he looked in pretty good shape. From the way he was smiling, Ally understood that he was feeling better.

"I'm in town for a few days. I live in Philadelphia now."

"I know..." Ally said without thinking.

"You know...?" Larry asked with surprise.

"I... I mean... You're here... in...in town."

The baby kicked again.

"Oh!" Ally let out.

He couldn't take his eyes off her. From where he was sitted, he couldn't see the curve of her stomach.

"You okay?" Larry asked like he did so often before.

"Oh! I... I am okay..."

He smiled again and his brown eyes met hers again. Ally suddenly wondered how he would react if she ran to him and kiss him. She bit her lower lip and imagined the picture. He would back off and noticed her belly. Now, no mistake possible, she really was looking pregnant.

"You look great!" he said, smiling even brightly and noticing that Ally's eyes were sparking in a amazing way.

"You too Larry..." she sighed.

He took off his glasses and started to clean them on his tie. He did that when he was nervous she remembered. He put back his glasses and leaned his head on the side.

"So..." he said.

"So?"

"What's new?"

"Oh!" she managed to say, getting herself lower in the chair. "Not... nothing really new... Old stuff!"

Larry looked down at his hands and cleared his throat.

"Like I said. I'm in town for a few days. I was passing by your office and I wanted to see how you're doing."

She stopped smiling and thought: "What were you thinking? You thought that he would say: Ally I came by because I miss you and still love you." She remained silent and Larry surely thought by the look she had on her face that she had her mind into something else... Like it was possible to not think about him... Torture!

He raised up and went to the door. He turned around, disappointed.

"Don't go Larry!" she thought. "Don't go!"

"Well... I just wanted to say hi. If you want to get a coffee or a lunch this week..."

"How about now?" she said spontaneously.

He smiled. She melted again.

"Great!" he exclaimed.

Ally was on the edge of getting up, when an other kick of the baby made her remember his presence. It was strange. The baby had never moved before today.

"Maybe he can feel that I'm nervous and excited." she thought smiling back at Larry. "Or, maybe he's finally sending me signals."

She laughed and Larry look intrigued.

"Sorry! I just thought about something..."

"Are you coming? I can't wait to catch things up with you..." he said softly.

"Oh! Huh... Just wait for me outside, Larry. I'll just get my coat..."

He took her coat, inviting her to get up with a sign of the hand.

"No, no, no" she mumbled, shaking her head. "Wait for me... outside!"

"Okay..." he finally agreed, not understanding. "I'll be outside of the builing."

He waved his hand and left her office. It took her a few minutes to get down to earth and realise what had just happened. Larry was back. When she got up, her legs were weak. She looked down at her belly and asked tenderly:

"Now, tell me... What should I do?"

With precautions, Ally sat down in front of Larry at the coffee table. "Don't make any pregnant moves" She told herself. "Just act normal."

"Ally? Are you cold?"

"No"

"Then why don't you take off your coat?" he asked with interrogative eyes.

"Oh... I..."

Her heart squeezed. Maybe she didn't have to tell him after all. What if he was just visiting and had no intentions of ever seeing her again?

"I'm just... going to keep that coat... Maybe I'm cold...I don't know..." she said weakly.

"We're in August and it's thirty degrees outside. Are you okay? Maybe you're starting a fever or something..."

He touched her forehead with the back of his hand. She immediatly felt the electricity of his touch. The time seemed to stop as they looked into each other's eyes. It was just his soft fingers on her forehead but still, it was torturing her.

"Larry..." she whispered, closing her eyes.

He got his hand back to the menu and she let out a sigh. The waiter got next to the table.

"I'll have a cappucino." Larry ordered. "Ally you want one?"

"Oh no!" she exclaimed, almost stepping on her chair. "No coffee for me!"

"No good for the baby" she thought. Quickly Ally touched her stomach under the table, a reflex she had. The baby was probably sleeping calmly. She removed her hand like it was burned.

"I thought you liked coffee!" Larry said with surprise, his hand holding his head.

"I did... I do... I can't!" Ally stammered, blushing. "Oh! I'll just have a orange juice."

She hid her face behind the menu. She couldn't take it anymore. She had to tell him but she didn't know how. Instead of finding answers on the reflect of the glossy menu, she saw the dessert section.

"Oh! And I'll have a sugar pie and a cheese cake."

She smiled with delight and gave the menu back to the waiter. When her eyes got back to Larry, she saw that he was looking at her with an amused smile.

"Ally... Am I wrong or you never really liked desserts? Plus, I didn't remember you had a big appetite..."

"He gets suspicious." Ally thought with panic.

"Well Larry... There's a lot of things you don't know about me..." She responded nervously.

"Such as?"

All of a sudden, she felt angry at him. Her face turned red. That was the other side of her pregnancy: changing moods. Her tone raised which cause the interest of the other clients of the coffee place.

"Never mind Larry! You're here for what three days? And WHY are you here by the way? I don't think you're here only for a case. I... I think you're here to torture me. And I don't appreciate it!" she replied with an accusive finger pointed on him. "Well, you See? I'm totally fine! I never felt better! Like you said, let's catch up a little and go... and go our separate ways so we can be happy with our respective new lives."

She stopped for air.

"Okay..." Larry said slowly, cleaning his glasses. "I was just wondering when you'd say what you're really thinking about me. I'm a jerk..."

"Yes" she mumbled between her teeth.

"You hate me."

"Y...yes" she said with an unsure tone and looking at him with a tear in the eye.

"Liar" she told herself "You're crazy about him!"

Larry took his head with his two hands. Luckily, the waiter arrived with their orders so Ally pratically jumped on the plates. If her mouth wasn't full of cheese cake she would probably bombard him with harsh words. Larry caught the opportunity to explain himself.

"You're right to be mad at me, Ally. I deserve it! I understand your feelings." he said calmly, being very careful to choose the right words. "It wasn't kind to leave you with a note... again. But I was too desperate and I thought that it was better to go away. I mean, do you seriously thought that I was a great partner while mourning Sam? I was crying all the time, being harsh with you, drinking... I could see that you were unhappy."

"Hmm...Wah we ssaaa" she tried to say with a full mouth.

"Excuse me?" he asked with a light laugh.

She raised a finger, asking him to wait until she'd finished to chew. He smiled with the thought that she was just adorable with her round face and sparkling eyes. He thought that she even look prettier with the few pounds she had gained.

"I was just sad to see you this way. I wasn't unhappy Larry. I was just feeling helpless.* she finally explained, with a kind voice this time.

How could she stay angry at him? She couldn't. Especially when he was looking at her with those sweet eyes.

"Have you been seeing anyone?" he asked over his cappucino.

"No... You?" Ally asked, blushing.

"No" he simply said, his eyes searching for hers.

She bit her lower lip and stared back at him for a moment. Was she hallucinating or Larry was really in front of her, looking at her with adoration just like he used to do before? She cleared her throat, shook her head to get back to the reality.

"So..." she said, breaking the silence. "Tell me about that big case you're working on."

Ally rushed outside of the elevator of Cage and Fish. It was about five o'clock. Many of the employees were gone. Anxiously, she looked around.

"Elaine! Where's John?" Ally asked, in a hurry.

"John is probably home. He left earlier."

"Oh! I just had to... to talk to him!"

Richard appeared from behind and made Ally step with surprise.

"Oh! Gossip time! I step up a meeting in my office in about... let's see... thirty seconds."

Elaine giggled with excitement and followed Richard to the conference room as Ally's mouth opened. About two hours before they had seen Larry entering into her office. Now, they felt that it was time for them to learn what had happened.

"Hey! I said I wanted to talk to JOHN!"

With a sigh of resignation, Ally joined them and sat down in a chair. Ling was sitting in from of her with a disinterested look on her face.

"Ally" Elaine said her eyes full of excitment "We are dying to know about what happened with Larry. Have you told him about the baby?"

"No... I just couldn't" Ally sighed.

"Did you have sex with him yet?" Richard asked.

"No Richard!" Ally said with impatience. "Could you... Could you tell me how it is possible for me to have sex with Larry without him noticing that I am very pregnant? I would like to know!"

"Well I have an idea about that..." Richard replied.

"Oh! Shut up Richard! I don't know what to do about Larry. I told him I needed to make some calls in my office He's downstairs at the bar, waiting for me. I really don't know what to do. Should I tell him?"

"Perhaps we could help..." Elaine proposed with a concern look.

"I doubt" Ally replied her eyes going to Elaine gossip queen, bygones Richard and distant Ling.

"Like we care!" Ling mumbled with cold eyes.

"Common Ally" Richard encouraged "You know you can tell us everything!"

"No I don't!"

"You have to tell him about the baby. I bet he'll feel guilty to leave you again" Elaine said. "Good manipulation!"

"Tell him to get lost!" Ling proposed.

"We could sue him if he doesn't want to take responsibility. Hmm...money."

Ally rolled her eyes and raised up.

"Okay enough! Thanks anyway" she forced herself to say.

At this very moment, she was missing John.

Ally entered the bar with her heart pounding hardly in her chest. Larry was waiting for her to sit at the table.

"God! You like this coat! Are you sleeping with it?" Larry asked, placing a martini in front of her.

"I don't drink anymore thanks!"

Larry raised an eyebrow. Ally was acting strange. She was feeling very uncomfortable. She had to tell him.

"Larry. Can we go out for... a walk?"

He nodded, raised up and took his coat.

They were walking for about an hour when Larry finally talked about Sam.

"I miss him you know... There isn't a day where I don't think about him or even a minute somedays. Sometimes, I can almost feel his presence and I... talk to him through my thoughts and even out loud. Am I crazy?"

"No Larry. I know I shouldn't be the one telling what's normal or not. But I believe that people who died come to take care of us..."

She smiled at him and he seemed reassured.

"Maybe he's like an angel watching over me now. I don't know about the wings though." he added smiling back at her.

Ally stopped in front of new apartment which was a few blocks away from the old one.

"Here's my new apartment. We moved in a month ago." she explained with a sign of the hand.

"Oh! What for?"

"I...I... We wanted a bi...bigger one..." she stammered. "You want to come in?"

"Sure" he said with a smile.

Larry followed Ally upstairs and as she was turning the key in the door she could feel his breath on her neck. She felt troubled and gasped. "The baby's room!" she thought. "I can't let him inside!"

She turned around only to see that Larry was dangerously close to her.

"Larry... I'm tired... I don't think that's such a good idea after all. Why don't we have lunch tomorrow?"

"Okay..." Larry agreed with a touch of disapointement in his voice.

"Good!" Ally replied weakly.

"Okay then... See you tomorrow." Larry said softly but not moving an inch.

"Okay..." Ally whispered, her eyes very attracted to his lips.

He leaned closer, kissed her on the cheek quickly and got downstairs.

"Bye Ally..." he said, waving at her.

"No, no, no wait Larry!" she said, thinking that she couldn't let him go again.

He stopped and turned around with no surprise like he was just expecting her to change her mind. He knew her too well. He climbed back the stairs in a few steps. He smiled, waiting for her to say what she had to say.

"Have you thought about me?" Ally asked anxiously.

That was the first time she was talking about them...

"All the time." Larry whispered, his eyes sparkling.

"Oh Larry..." she said, with a broken voice.

He caught her face between his hands and kissed her tenderly. She felt tears comming through her eyes as she finally realised that Larry Paul was still in love with her. Five months had passed and they were still feeling the same way about each other. She responded to his kiss thinking that it was probably the last one since she had to tell him about her pregnancy.

"It was a mistake to run away from you Ally..." Larry said, running his fingers through her hair.

"Larry... I... I have to tell you something."

She unbutonned her coat with trembling fingers. Larry couldn't take his eyes off hers. She felt tears going down on her cheeks. He kissed her tears softly, heartbroken to see her cry.

"Larry... I love you." she whispered, her lips trembling as he was kissing her again."

While responding to his kiss, she led his hand under her shirt and to her stomach where he felt first her tender skin but then her puffed belly. Under his fingers, the baby moved a little, showing his presence.

Larry's kiss became even more passionate. He thought for a second that Ally leading his hand under her shirt was some kind of invitation to go further. He felt again something moving under his fingers. It was like a little vibration but quite perceptible. He frozed, his lips still on Ally's.

"This is the end of the dream." Ally thought.

Larry backed off immediatly.

"W... What the...? Ally? Oh!"

He lifted her shirt a little and took a glimpse at her stomach. He touched it again but this time with a full hand. It was round, that kind of roundness that only a pregnant woman could have.

"Ally? Are... are...you?" he tried to ask, knowing already the answer.

"Constipated?" she joked with a sarcastic tone, only to help herself to fight back the tears. "No... It isn't water retention either. So what's left? Yeah... I'm pregnant."

She finally opened the door to her apartment. She had nothing to hide from him now, as painfull as it was. The truth had been said. Larry stepped inside. She took off her coat and threw it on the couch. Larry was starring at her stomach stunned look. Ally wiped away a tear from her eyes.

"Surprise!" She said in a weak tone.

"Oh!" Larry mumbled, a hand covering his mouth. "I... I..."

He was speechless. With a sigh of the hand, Ally pointed the baby's room on her left.

"I just... can't believe it, Ally..." Larry managed to say, scratching his head. "I'm shocked."

"You... You see, Larry... I was really, really anticipating your reaction. I should have call you or something but..."

"How?" he interrupted.

"Well, I got touched by a... magic wand!"

"I... I mean, how many months..." he said, shaking his head.

"Five. And.. when I day that I got touched by a magic wand, I meant, your magic wand, Larry" She explained, gesticulating and talking faster. "Well, it was more than just a touch. It was more like having sex for the last time with some guy who left me a few days later. For the record, it was the most amazing night of all. And... and... I'm glad that something came out of...it. I mean, a baby... what a great souvenir!"

She giggled nervously and sat down on the couch, grabbing a cushion to feel comfort. Larry started to walk around the living room, with an anxious look on his face.

"I should have known. I'm a such a fool. You were sending me signals. The coat, the desserts, the big appetite, the sparkling in your eyes..."

"Larry, you're the father of my baby." Ally simply said, strangely feeling a touch of hope as she was saying those words.

"Oh! That's... that's what I thought."

He sat down next to her on the couch, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Ally could see how he was upset just by the look on his face. She, on her side, was feeling alone. Having a baby was supposed to bring joy but at this very moment, it was exactly the opposite.

"So Larry..." Ally began, breaking the silence with her trembling voice.

"Geez Ally... You're telling me that I'm about to be a... father." he said, his voice breaking on the last word. "How am I supposed to react? I.. I don't know what to say..."

Ally turned to face him. He was staring at the floor with empty eyes.

"I lost him again..." she thought.

"Well, Larry.... If you don't know what to say, maybe... maybe you should go..."

"Ally..."

"No... no... I need to sob...huh... I need to sleep. It's been a crazy day and I'm tired..."

Larry didn't say anything. When Ally raised her head, he was already gone.

When Ally arrived at the firm the other day after a bad night without sleep, Elaine rushed to her and grabbed her shoulders.

"Ally! Larry is in your office... He's been waiting for an hour."

"Oh... Oh..." Ally stammered.

"You told him." Elaine said.

"Your tone indicates me that it is not a question, Elaine. How did you know?" Ally asked staring nervously at her office door.

"When I saw him getting off of the elevator... I knew!"

Ally heart missed a beat.

"Is it that bad?"

Elaine noded with a sad look.

"I'm sorry Ally... Really..."

Ally entered in her office. Larry was staring out of the window with an absent look on his face. From his messy hair, she knew that he had just as much trouble sleeping.

"Hi Larry..." Ally said weakly.

"Hi..." he said immediatly taking a look at her belly.

"What... What brings you here?"

"Yeah! Great question she thought. This is the end."

Larry took off his glasses and cleaned it on his tie. His eyes searched the room without taking an other look at Ally.

"I thought about it and I'm willing to take my responsabilities."

"Oh!" Ally said, uncertain.

"I mean if this is MY child... I have to..."

"What do you mean... If this is YOUR child?" Ally asked, becoming furious. "Like... like it's possible for me to go with someone else after being with you. You're... You're not the forgettable type, Larry and I hate to admit that!"

She wasn't sure but it seemed like a half smile was forming on Larry's lips but then it could be her imagination... At this very moment, she had the idea to run to him.

"If you want me to sign any papers, no problem!" he added.

She got back to earth.

"Pa... papers?" she asked nervously.

"Yeah! We don't have to sue each other right? We can talk about it and settle it our own way."

She gasped. Larry was acting like they were discussing a case.

"Larry... wait, wait, WAIT! We... we are talking about a baby! I mean our baby..." she stammered, feeling hurt by his coldness. "You're talking like it's a thing. I... I..."

"Look Ally, I'll get used to it... I'm just shocked." he admitted with a sigh.

"You what? Get used to... it?" she yelled pointing her belly with a finger. "I don't believe it!"

Abruptly, Larry turned to face her and yelled with the same tone:

"What were you expecting Ally? You thought that I would be happy about this baby? I never asked for it!"

Ally bursted into tears.

"Then why... did you said a few weeks before leaving me that you were thinking that it would be nice if we had a baby together someday... Maybe you don't remember it. But, I... I do."

"NO... That was a long time ago. Things have changed!" he yelled back.

"Things?"

"I... lost my son." he said and then started to cry.

Ally stood there a moment, looking at him with mixed emotions. She wanted to run to him but she was also angry at him for many reasons. Larry rubbed his eyes and shook his head.

"I'm really sorry..." he whispered.

"I know that you are hurt but you know what Larry?" Ally found the strenght to reply. "I'm tired of this... I'm tired of crying all the time! Go back to Philadelphia... or go to Mexico. I DON'T CARE!"

Larry stepped forward, finally looking at her face.

"I don't believe you, Ally." he said calmly.

He took her hand in his, Ally tried to think how it was soft. She had to resist, to be rational.

"I've had enough of... you." she said. "Go away Larry."

"You want me to go?" he asked, with tears in his eyes. "Really?"

"Yup!" she said, fighting back tears.

"Fine..." he replied, walking to the door.

"Fine! Have a nice life!" she exclaimed with a fake joyous tone.

"You too.." he mumbled, waving goodbye.

Larry Paul was out of her life.

"Ally?" John asked knocking on the door of the unisex's bathroom. "Are you alright?"

"Y... Yeah..." she answered with an unsure tone.

"Are you sick?"

"No... I'm just sitting there...trying not to think about Larry..."

John heard Ally sigh behind the door. She had been there for about an hour. They were all in the conference room when Ally got up of her chair and left the room with empty eyes. She had spent the whole week, looking like a ghost, eating only a little and staring into space. John was really worried about her.

"Ally can you please get out of there?" John said with a sweet voice.

Ally opened the bathroom's door. Her eyes were puffed up, her face pale with red marks showing that she had been crying for a while.

"Hi..." she mumbled, staring at her own shoes.

John felt that his heart was breaking just to look at her. She was wearing a huge shirt, hiding her belly.

"Oh Ally..." he simply said.

She bursted into tears in his arms. He stroked her hair gently as she was clinging to him.

"Damn it! I... I'm crying again!" she said with a mix of sadness and anger.

"Shhhh... That's okay Ally."

"No! I am not okay!" she protested, backing off to look at her reflect in the mirror and pointing it. "I am desperate, ugly, huge, stupid, neurotic, single and pregnant!"

She gasped for air, shook her head with ferious eyes.

"And I'm acting like a victim." she added.

John remained silent, looking at Ally with a concern look. He didn't like it. Ally had been through a lot this past years. She had had a lot of down periods and when she was finally doing great, Billy died. A few months later, she met Larry which has changed completely her life. She was in love with him. But Larry was gone and she was alone again.

Ally continued to talk following John thoughts.

"You know John... I seriously thought that I could live without Larry. I spent five months without him and... and I was doing great. A few months without seing him and he could have been all forgotten... Well, not really but... He came back... I am so silly! He kisses me one time and I'm falling in love with him again."

"Did you ever stop having feelings for him?" John asked softly.

"No." she admitted with a sigh. "If only I wasn't pregnant..."

"Ally... please don't say that."

"I believe that Larry would be here with me if I wasn't... Maybe we could have started over again. But, I made him go away."

"Ally... He will come back."

"Don't... John! Please don't say those things!" she replied with exasperation. "It doesn't help me. I have to... move on."

She rubbed her eyes and hid her face with her hands.

"He will come back" John repeated, this time with determination.

Two days later, John was in Philadelphia.

Larry was working on a case when John entered in his office. He raised his head and his mouth opened with surprise when he saw John.

"John! Is Ally okay?" he asked with panic, getting up of his chair. "Something happened to her?"

"Larry." John noded. "Ally is okay... but she's done better."

Larry catched his breath and shook John's hand.

"I'm sorry John. I just panicked. Please sit down. How are you doing?"

John jumped to the reason of his visit, thinking that chatting was Larry's last priority.

"I'm fine. I'm here to talk to you about Ally. I'm really concerned about her. She's been quite depressed. By the way, she doesn't know that I'm here. I don't think she would approve but... I had to do something because... all of this is tearing her apart. "

Larry started to play nervoulsy with his pen. He didn't know what to say.

"Do you remember that day in court when you and Ally had a fight? You were just starting to date. She was upset about something and I suggested that you'd go after her..."

Larry remembered the whole scene in his head. Ally was upset by the way he had treated Kimmy Bishop in court (He'd learned after, that she was disapointed that he haven't kissed her.) Ally had left and John had said: "She gets emotional. I'd go after her." Larry had replied: "I don't do that." and John had said wisely: "I suppose if you did it'd make it harder to live life alone."

John leaned closer to Larry's desk and said gravely:

"This time Larry you better go after her."

Larry took off his glasses. John words were affecting him, making him feeling sad.

"She asked me to go away..." Larry replied, rubbing his forehead. "I don't want to hurt her. I don't think..."

"Larry" John interrupted. "I know that you lost your son and believe me, I truly sympathize with your pain. But... are you feeling any better being here in Philadelphia. Do you know people here?"

"No..." Larry mumbled.

"Then tell me... what's the point of being alone when someone deeply loves you? Explain it to me because I'm not sure I understand..."

Larry sighed.

"It's not that I don't love Ally. God! I... I...am so in love with her."

"Then go back to her!" John exclaimed.

"That's not that easy..."

"Do you realise how lucky you are to have her... to be loved by Ally?" John said, his voice breaking at the mention of her name.

Larry dropped his pen and stared at John with surprise.

"John... are you in love with her?"

John nose's whistled. Larry raised an eyebrow.

"I...I... I'm not here to talk about my feelings for Ally" John stammered. "Ally is really precious to me. I'm here because I want to see her happy. That's all that I want..."

John raised up and took something out off the pocket of his jacket.

"Here. Take a look at this."

When Larry eyes went down on what came out of John's pocket, his heart missed a beat. On his desk there was three little black and white pictures. He recognized the white form on a black background.

"I went to the doctor with Ally yesterday for her ultrasound. I should have been you... with her, Larry."

Larry couldn't take his eyes off the pictures. He could see the little fingers of the baby and even his little nose. Something cracked inside of him. He knew that his resistance had fallen.

John was making his way to the door when he turned and added:

"In case your interested.. It's a baby girl."

Larry raised his head finally and John noticed that there were tears in his eyes.

"Thank you, John." Larry said.

(A week later - September 1st - Baby shower at the martini's bar)

"Do you want an other piece of cake Ally?" Renee asked.

Ally shook her head and rubbed her stomach.

"No, no, no... I already had two, that's enough!" she replied surprised by her regained appetite.

Ally let her eyes get back to Elaine who was singing "Baby Love". It was amazing how Elaine looked discreet, singing in a room with no men to look at her. So far, the baby shower was great. It was nice to have to bar only for themselves with no men around. Ally took a look back at the gifts her friends had gave to her. She smiled at them. Nelle smiled back which was very surprising. Renee was playing with a pink rattle while Ling was with Vonda at the bar, probably having some song's requests.

Elaine ended her song and with a mysterious look announced:

"Ladies! Here's the moment we're all waiting for!"

Then a male erotic dancer came on the stage as disco music was planning.

"What the... what the hell?" Ally gasped, looking at Elaine and Nelle.

Both were laughed. Elaine had decided to throw herself at the dancer. She was rubbing herself on him, following his moves.

"Gosh! This is a baby shower!" Ally said. "I'm glad that my daughter is not out yet!"

"Go Elaine! Go!" Ling yelled from the bar.

"I'm going to pee. This is to much for me!" Ally said with a light laugh.

"Since when are you scrupulous, Ally?" Renee asked with amusement.

Ally grimaced to her roomate and went to the bathroom.. When she got out five minutes later, she noticed that all her friends were looking at her with a huge smile on her face. She made her way to the table slowly and stopped.

"What?" she asked with suspicious eyes.

"Nothing" Renee said, looking at the ceiling.

Nelle laughed. Elaine giggled in the microphone and Ling smiled widely. This was strange.

When Ally sat down, she felt something smooth on her chair. She looked down. There was a small fluffy elephant on it. There was a note pinned on his ear. She read: "I'm in your office." She felt her legs weakening.

"Larry." she whispered recognizing his handwriting.

She stared at the elephant, almost hypnotized by it, until Renee finally shook her.

"Ally! Ally! Larry is back!" Ling exclaimed with a rare tenderness in her voice.

"Oh! Oh!" Ally gasped. "He is... Oh!"

Ally sat down, her noise smelling the plush. It did smell like Larry. She smiled.

"What are you waiting for Ally?" Renee asked.

"Go see him!" Elaine said. "Go!"

Ally raised up.

"Oh My God!" she let out. "Okay... I'm... I'm going upstairs... oh!"

She rushed to the elevator, pressed the button nervously.

"Come on! Come on!" she said with impatience.

When the door opened she got inside and noticed a teddy bear. There was a note on it too: "Can you forgive me?"

The elevator had never got up that slowly Ally thought. She could feel her heart beating in her chest. She pressed a hand on her stomach.

"Can you believe it?" she asked her baby. "He's back!"

She had forgotten how she was angry at him. Larry was back, that was all that mattered.

The elevator opened to the firm. She noticed that there were several plush animals everywhere on the way to her office. She took a look at all of them. They all had a note. "I'm so sorry", "I miss you", "I love you"...

Slowly, she opened the door of her office and saw Larry sitted on her chair with a huge monkey in his arms. She stopped in the doorway, her arms full of plushes.

"Hi!" he said soflty, with his brown eyes sparkling.

"Larry..." she whispered.

He smiled at her with adoration.

"I've been there for about an hour. Elaine asked me to strip when I got downstairs. I said that I'd only strip in private... but for your eyes only."

"Are you back... for good?" Ally asked, feeling tears coming.

"I talked with Sam." Larry replied, ignoring the question.

"Huh?"

"I mean, I talked to him in a dream." he explained, hugging the monkey tightly. "He looked so real."

A shadow passed into Larry's eyes but he smiled.

"Oh!" Ally simply said.

"He said that everything is going to be okay." Larry added with a soft voice.

Larry raised up from the chair and slowly approached Ally. They couldn't take their eyes from each other. He smiled brightly. She smiled back through her tears.

"Ally... I want this baby." Larry said, softly.

He took a step closer, holding the monkey to him. Ally bursted into tears.

"Damn hormones!" she said, wipping away her tears.

Larry leaned his head on the side and looked closely at her.

"Let me help you with this..." Larry said, helping her to get rid of all the plush animals she had in her arms.

"Larry... I love you." Ally said with a broken voice. "Don't you ever go away again!"

He put the plushes on her desk and got back to Ally in a few steps. He smiled.

"I won't!" he promised.

She took his hand and leaded it to her stomach. This time he approached and rubbed it soflty. The baby moved under his hand. Both laughed.

"That's my girl!" Larry said, smiling at Ally with tears in his eyes.

"Hmmm..." Ally responded.

Then they kissed softly. Larry lips were everywhere, on her forehead, on her nose and then on her lips.

"Oh Larry..." Ally whispered, running her fingers through his hair.

"Wait.. you haven't read that note."

He made the monkey turned around. Ally look down at the note and back at Larry. "Will you marry me?" was written on the piece of paper.

Ally gasped for air and started to tremble. Larry took off his glasses, got a ring out of his pocket and slid it to Ally's finger.

"Ally. I don't promise there won't be hard times. I'm still trying to accept Sam's death and sometimes I'm feeling really sad.. But... I'm not going away this time. I want to be with you. I want to have this child with you..."

She interrupted him with a kiss and threw her arms around him.

"Will you marry me Ally McBeal?" he asked with tenderness in his eyes.

She bursted into tears again, unstoppable. He kissed her checks and her eyes soflty.

"Oh no! Don't cry sweetie!" he said, wiping away her tears with his fingers. "You don't have to say yes. I'll stay with you no matter what.."

"Are.. are you silly Larry Paul?" she managed to say. "Of course, I want to marry you!"

They kissed, laughing and crying at the same time. Larry pulled Ally a little bit closer to him and felt the baby kicking in her belly. For the first time in months, he was feeling happy. He was with the woman he loved and there was hope for the future. At this very moment, he believed that there was really an angel watching over them.

Go on to the sequel!