Targeted by BillieK26

Evangeline hadn’t thought life could get much better a year and a half ago, but she had been so wrong. Here she was, seven months pregnant holding her husband’s hand at Ray’s graduation from the police academy. The past year and a half had been amazing. While there had been some struggles, they had all paid off.

That first night, she and John had moved Ray, Jr. into John’s room at the Angel Square Hotel and John had moved in with Evangeline. John had talked to Michael about keeping an eye on him. Between the two men, they had an enormous impact on Ray. Ray had gotten a job at the police station in the file room and had decided to go to the police academy. He’d passed the test the first time. Evangeline was so proud of his accomplishments.

Ray had even been a groomsman at their wedding, along with Antonio and Michael. Layla had come back to town to be a bridesmaid, along with Marcie. Nora had been Evangeline’s matron of honor. It had been a beautiful ceremony.

As Evangeline watched Ray across the room, she rested her head against John’s shoulder. She was almost overwhelmed by the emotions she felt for the man beside her. He was more than she could have ever imagined.

"Are you okay?" John whispered in a worried tone with a frown.

"Of course, I am," she said to him with a smile. What else could she possibly be? Evangeline hadn’t been amused by John’s over protectiveness, but since she knew it wasn’t going to change, she had resigned herself to it. John normally let her have her way, but as soon as he’d learned about the pregnancy, this man who kept his foot down had emerged.

They’d had plenty of fights about how she should take care of herself – from food to driving. A suggestion that he carry the baby had brought some of his advice to a halt, but he was still very much a man. It would be funny, if it weren’t so irritating most of the time. Evangeline couldn’t really complain though. John was extremely sweet. He brought her favorite flowers home and showed up at her office with lunch just to surprise her.

Even though he got on her nerves, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

---------------

John glanced at Evangeline again to make sure she was alright. She was so independent that he sometimes worried she wouldn’t tell him when something was wrong. Since Evangeline was smiling, he trusted that all was right with his world. John glanced around the auditorium and was proud. He was proud of the young man sitting across the room about to graduate and the woman at his side. Because of her influence, he’d found a purpose outside his job and it was now reflected in a young man who’d turned his life around. That he had anything to do with that change humbled John.

John never thought in a million years that this would be his life, but here he was with his brilliant, beautiful wife and their unborn son. It appeared that Baby Boy McBain, soon to be called Robert Thomas after his grandfathers, had no shame. He’d broadcast that he was male to any one who chose to look. John couldn’t think of anything that would make him happier, except maybe a Baby Girl McBain in the next year or so.

He had to smile at his own thoughts, because he knew how that would go over. They had decided to wait on kids when Evangeline found out they were pregnant. That just happened to be the night after Evangeline had been appointed to a Special Committee by the Governor. She was already spread thin between her high profile cases and her pro bono work, but she had handled it. At least until the week before when he’d, with Michael’s help, finally talked Evangeline into taking some time off.

It hadn’t been easy, because she was so stubborn. John had used all his skills in persuasion and his brother’s medical opinion to get her to see that it was better if she slowed down. The tickets to the Phillies game were worth Michael’s endorsement. With the way Evangeline had argued her case, Michael’s opinion was invaluable.

"What are you smiling about?" Evangeline asked.

"I’m just glad you’re going to be taking it easy and not going back to work until after the baby’s born," he replied resting his hand on her stomach to feel the baby. John noticed the way the light was reflected in her eyes and found himself mesmerized by them.

"I hope those tickets were worth it."

"What?" John asked with a confused look. "What tickets?"

"Michael’s Phillies tickets."

"You know about that?" he asked, slightly concerned about where this conversation would lead.

"Of course, I do. Michael told me." The smile on her face was mischievous and the giggle that followed was slightly disturbing.

"Michael told you?"

"Yep, but what he didn’t tell you is that I’d already decided to stop working. We talked about it week before last."

"You guys set me up? I have got to do something about this relationship you share with my brother."

"Oh, stop it. You know you like the fact that we’re so close."

"Yeah, I do, but does he tell you everything."

"Yes, but don’t worry, we have your best interests at heart."

"Great," John said, wondering what he could come up with to tell Marcie that would pay Michael back.

On second thought, what would be the point? He’d gotten everything he wanted. How great was that?

The End