�Come on, Danny. Rise and shine.�� Darren affectionately ran the fingers of his left hand through Daniel�s bed-tousled hair and placed a soft kiss on his sleeping husband�s cheek.

�Mmph.�

�Danny, it�s our last day here. I�ve made an appointment at Maui Memorial. I want you to have a checkup before we leave. I want to be sure it�s safe for you to travel,� he shook Daniel�s shoulder gently. �Come on, lazybones.�

�Dare� sleep�� the sleeping man made an uncoordinated attempt to brush Darren�s hand off his arm.

�You can sleep when we get back. Right now, I need to get you up and moving. We�ve only got three hours and I�m not sure how long it will take to drive there. Come on.�

Darren threw the covers back and smiled understandingly as Daniel grumbled but eventually swung his feet over the side of the bed.� The singer pulled the musician to his feet, pulling him in for a kiss at the same time.

�How about I fix you a quick breakfast while you make yourself more presentable to the outside world?�

Daniel shook his head, still groggy. �Not really hungry, Daz.�

Darren frowned slightly, then turned the taller man toward the bathroom. �Go on, then. You�ll feel better after a shower. I�ll be in the kitchen.� Call if you need me.�� He stood and watched his sleepy husband enter the bathroom, the frown slowly turning to a grin as he heard the water splashing over Daniel.

Darren turned at the sound of Daniel�s footsteps, smiling as he entered the kitchen and headed for the coffee pot.

�Na uh. You know better, Danny. We�ll get some decaf when we�re out. Here.� Darren handed him a glass. �Papaya. Very sweet.�

Daniel grimaced. �Daz, I already gave up smoking. And that wasn�t easy! I need my coffee.�

�We�ve gone through this every morning, Danny.� You can have it as soon as we get decaf. Or perhaps you�d like to try Soya?�

The musician made a face and drank the juice.

�Sure you won�t have a little something?�

�No, thanks. Just not hungry right now,� Daniel shrugged. �Maybe later?� He offered apologetically.

Darren sighed. �Okay. But finish your juice before we leave.�

�Yes, Mum.�

Darren stuck his tongue out.

�Oi. Come over here and do that.�

Grinning, the singer strutted to his husband�s side, leaned over, and stuck his tongue out again. Daniel quickly captured the tongue before him. His lips met the singer�s as he sucked on the supple appendage and the fingers of his free hand went up to tangle in the ash-blonde locks as the kiss deepened.

Darren whimpered quietly.� Both men gulped air when they finally broke the kiss.

�I�uh� finish up� and, uh� I�ll be waiting� outside�� Darren managed, seeming somewhat dazed.

Daniel grinned as Darren stumbled out the door. He wrinkled his nose, then shook his head and smiled gently before he finished the juice. He rinsed the glass and placed it in the dish drain before going out to join his husband.

�Well, I think it�s time we decide. Brissy or Frisco? I hadn�t expected to go back to Australia yet, but all things considered, it would be better to be close to family, don�t you think?�

After a few minute�s silence, Darren glanced at Daniel. The guitarist�s head was bowed slightly and he seemed to be staring at his feet.

�Danny?�

�I�I don�t know, Dazza. You know how I am about family� but I�m not sure I�m ready��

�Danny, we have to tell them. It�s only right. Your mum would want to know.�

Daniel nodded silently, lips pursed. Darren sighed gently, mentally promising himself that he would call the Joneses and his parents later that evening.

�Frisco.�

�What? You�re joking me, right? You don�t really mean that, do you?�

A bright grin nearly blinded Darren. �Why did you give me a choice if you didn�t want me to choose?�

The singer stuttered a bit before gaining coherency. �I was just making conversation� being polite� I never thought you�d want anything *but* Brisbane.�

�Ahh� well� As much as I love my family, I think I�d prefer the relative quiet of your home in San Francisco. I�m still having a bit of trouble getting my head around this.� Thanks for offering, Daz.�

Darren tenderly returned Daniel�s smile as he turned into the hospital parking lot.

As soon as the guitarist had fully realized he would be the only pregnant male in the waiting room, his eyes had widened and sweat had begun to bead on his forehead. Everyone had naturally turned toward the door when it opened and upon seeing them, the whispers had started. He hated being the center of attention. Darren had recognized the �need to bolt� stance and quickly grabbed him by the arm. �It�s okay, Danny,� he whispered in the taller man�s ear, pulling on his arm to draw his head lower. �You won�t be alone. I�m here for you.�

�May I help you?� The receptionist asked.

Darren kept one hand on Daniel�s arm and smiled sweetly at the receptionist. �Daniel Jones-Hayes and Darren Hayes. We have an appointment with Dr. Kane Jamilla.�

�But he�s��

�Yes, I know. My husband is pregnant. We need to travel tomorrow. I explained all this when I made the appointment.�

The lady�s eyes widened and her eyebrows rose as she stared at the two men before her. Daniel began to shift self-consciously.� Darren�s smile began to fade the longer the woman stared. His eyes flashed as a nurse walked up.

�Is there a problem, Janet?� She asked the receptionist.

�Oh, uh, no, um� he says his �husband� is pregnant��

�Oh, you must be the Hayes�,� she smiled warmly. �I�m Korina Jamilla. And yes, Dr. Kane Jamilla is my husband. We�ve been expecting you.�

Darren was a bit surprised. She looked to be about fifty or so, some gray sprinkled in amongst her crisp brown hair. Older people were usually not so relaxed around gay couples, but her smile won him over quickly. He beamed. �Yes, we are.�

�Follow me, please,� she stepped around the reception desk and nodded at them, giving Daniel a reassuring smile. �Just a few formalities and I�ll show you to the examination room.�� She motioned them into a small room. �Daniel, if you would step on the scale, please? I just need to get your weight.�

Daniel rolled his eyes. �Do I have to?�

Nurse Jamilla chuckled. �I assure you, Mr. Jones-Hayes, *every* woman has the same complaint. Please.� She motioned toward the scale and favored him with a motherly smile.

Darren grinned at his discomfort.

�Don�t look!� Daniel huffed.

Darren laughed. �You�ve got nothing to worry about. You�ve *never* had any weight to speak of,� Darren teased. �He�s *always* been thin.� Darren told Nurse Jamilla.� Then he turned so as not to see the scale when Daniel finally stepped on.

�Thank you, Mr. Jones-Hayes. If you�ll have a seat, we�ll get the rest of your vitals.�

Daniel sat down and submitted to the battery of questions while his blood pressure and temperature was being taken. Allergies? Health problems for you or in the immediate family? Last period? Any medications being taken?

�Right this way, please.�

She led them to a slightly larger room with a variety of accoutrements. �Now, Mr. Jones-Hayes, if you would please remove all your clothing except your underwear and slip into this gown, then lay down on the examining table, my husband will be in to see you in just a few minutes.�

�Will you be assisting him?�

�Would you like me to?�

�Yes, if you don�t mind.� Daniel smiled sheepishly.

Nurse Jamilla nodded smartly. �I�d be happy to, then.�� She pulled a curtain across, blocking the table from the door, then left, closing the door behind her.

�You doing okay?� Darren asked quietly.

Daniel nodded nervously, then grinned when his husband moved to help him undress. �I think I�d better do this myself, or it could get embarrassing��

A cheeky grin and a nod. �Okay. How about I just fold your clothes and set them over here.� The shorter man indicated the lone chair in the room.

In a matter of moments, Daniel was prone on the cold metal table, the gown providing no warmth.� He shivered involuntarily. Darren smiled lovingly, entwining one of Daniel�s hands in his. Moments later, there was a light knock at the door, and the doctor and nurse entered.

Dr. Jamilla looked to be one of those perennially happy people. A smile graced a tanned face, crow�s feet around the eyes reinforcing the impression of a cheerful spirit. His hair was completely gray with streaks of white throughout.

�Good morning, Darren,� he nodded toward the man standing, and noticed their clasped hands. �Daniel, how are you feeling?�

�Oh, all right��

�I�m going to be pressing gently, nothing to be afraid of,� he explained as he pressed his fingers to the skin in several places on Daniel�s stomach. �Any pain?� He watched the tall man on the table shake his head. He pulled a tape measure out of his pocket, and measured the slightly protuberant stomach.� �How certain are you about your date of conception? Have you an obstetrician or midwife who is treating you?�

�Very certain,� Daniel answered, with an embarrassed grin toward Darren. �And no� I�uh� haven�t told anyone��

�Oh? I see�� he frowned for a moment, but quickly replaced it with a hopeful smile. �You *want* the baby then?� He couldn�t keep the excitement from his voice. They *seemed* happy, but one couldn�t always be sure with couples.

�Oh, yes!� The look of delight on the standing husband�s face spoke more than his obvious excitement. �I�ve always wanted children.�

The gaze he bestowed on his partner then was reverent. Obviously, they wanted this child. And the fact the pregnant man hadn�t aborted spoke highly, too.

�Korina tells me you are leaving the country tomorrow?�

�If it�s safe for Danny to travel. But we aren�t leaving the country after all. I thought we�d be going back to Australia, but it seems we�ll be going to my home in San Francisco.�

�I see� tell me, Daniel� you�re quite a bit thinner than some of the mothers I�ve seen your height. Have you been gaining weight?�

The prone man shook his head again. �I�ve lost five pounds or so, actually��

�Morning sickness?�

�Yeah,� he reddened slightly. �My appetite just hasn�t come back.�

�Are you still throwing up?�

�No� not so much.�

�Well, you need to eat. I can�t emphasize how important it is to gain weight while pregnant. You�re a bit underweight. Over the next six months you should put on at least twenty-eight pounds. If you aren�t hungry at mealtimes, try to snack throughout the day. Fruit, vegetables, yogurt, chicken, fish; all are good for you right now. Even pasta, in moderation. You smoke?�

�I managed to quit.�

�Oh, very good!� He smiled widely and the young man smiled back nervously. These two young men would make excellent parents, he was sure. �Coffee?�

�He hasn�t let me have any!� Daniel grumbled.

�I told him I�d get him some decaf today.�

Dr. Jamilla nodded. �If you drink tea, make sure that is decaffeinated, too. And of course juice is good, too. And you need to drink more water also. Normally at the first exam I would do a blood test and some other tests, but some can take as long as two weeks to come back and then I would have to forward them. Best to have you do it when you get a doctor in California, as long as you aren�t having any problems��

�Sore feet, achy back sometimes, tired a lot.�

Dr. Jamilla chuckled warmly. �All normal, I assure you. I�d recommend California Pacific Medical Center. One of the best on the West coast. Excellent Obstetric and Gynecology unit, and they believe in caring for patients with alternative lifestyles, too.� I�d recommend Dr. Craig Medwyn and Dr. Gabrielle DuMonte. I�ll send them an e-mail so they know to expect you.� If that�s all right with you?�

He saw the uncertainty on Daniel�s face. Darren squeezed his hand and smiled reassuringly.

�I�d really recommend you see them. I�ll be prescribing prenatal vitamins, and I�m going to give you a month�s supply of folic acid also, since you are underweight and aren�t eating well.�

�Everything�s all right, isn�t it?� Daniel asked worriedly.

Dr. Jamilla patted his leg and nodded his head. �Everything seems to be fine. Would you like to see if we can hear your baby�s heartbeat?�

Darren smiled broadly.

�Is that possible?� Wonder filled Daniel�s voice.

�It�s quite possible,� he nodded to his wife, who pushed a cart up beside the table and turned on the machine. She handed a small device to her husband and he placed it on the bulge of Daniel�s stomach.

Darren and Daniel both held their breath while the doctor moved the device around, a look of intense concentration on his face. Soon he smiled and nodded. His wife turned a knob, and a whooshing sound filled the small room. Nurse Jamilla looked at her watch.

�One hundred thirty-five,� she announced a moment later. �Good chance it will be a boy. Girl�s heart rates are usually higher,� she smiled.

�That�s it?� Darren whispered, in awe of the sound.

Dr. Jamilla nodded again. �That�s your baby. Good strong heart.�

He smiled and raised his eyebrows at his wife as Darren leaned over and kissed his husband with sudden enthusiasm.

Daniel smiled shyly after Darren broke the kiss. The singer cleared his throat noisily.

�Ah.. sorry about that.�

�That�s quite all right,� Dr. Jamilla reassured them. �Often happens the first time there is proof positive of the baby. Go ahead and help your husband get dressed. My wife will be waiting outside. She�ll show you where to pick up your prescriptions and give you the information you need to contact the doctors I mentioned.� Congratulations! Now, do you have any other questions?�

�So it�s safe for him to travel?�

�From everything I�ve seen, yes.�

�What about� um�� Daniel blushed.

�Sex?� Dr. Jamilla finished for him with a knowing smile on his face.

The prone man nodded, embarrassed.

�That should be safe, too, for the foreseeable future. As long as you limit the deeply penetrating positions there shouldn�t be any problems. There may be some slight bleeding after intercourse, but as long as it�s only �slight� and stops quickly, there is no need for concern.� Anything else?�

They shook their heads. He smiled again and shook their hands before leaving.� His wife replaced the cart and then left the room also.

Darren helped Daniel sit up, and then pulled him in for a crushing hug.

�You�ve made me so happy, Danny, thank you.�

�Dar�air��

�What? Sorry,� he released his husband, smiling sheepishly, and handed him his shirt.

Soon Daniel was dressed and Darren was kissing him again.

�Darren, don�t you think the nurse will be starting to wonder what�s taking so long?�

The singer reddened and nodded. �You�re right, of course.�

They moved to the door, returning Nurse Jamilla�s smile when they opened it.

�I think a celebration lunch is in order,� Darren said as they left the hospital with Daniel�s prescriptions and a card with the doctor and hospital information on it. �Decide what you�d like and we�ll find the best restaurant to get it at.�

�Pasta?�

The singer grinned at his husband. �Pasta it is!�� He agreed, as he opened the car door for Daniel. �And I noticed just the place on the way here,� he closed the door and went around, getting in on the driver�s side.� �Longhi�s. Serves a wonderful chicken cannelloni.�

Daniel grinned. �Sounds great, Daz�.�

They sat in companionable silence while Darren drove to the restaurant.

�And maybe after, we could go to that little grotto again?� The younger man asked as they pulled into the parking lot.

The singer grinned lasciviously. �You like that little bit of sand and green, don�t you?�

Blushing, the guitarist nodded. �I do. It�s beautiful, Darren. This week has been wonderful. Thank you.�

Darren parked and unfastened his seatbelt, then put his hand behind Daniel�s head and pulled him over for a passionate kiss, his hand resting lightly on his husband�s stomach. �What do think our child will make of that?�

Foreheads touched and gentle smiles brightened both faces.

�I think he�ll think he�s got the most amazing, loving parents,� the younger man spoke softly and placed his hands over Darren�s.

�A son *would* be wonderful, wouldn�t it?� Darren�s voice held a touch of awe. �But a daughter would be nice, too.�

Daniel nodded, his head still against Darren�s.

�How about we get you that pasta now. Then we can spend the afternoon in �our� grotto one last time.�

The guitarist�s grin widened and he nodded again.� He tilted his head, his eyes intent on Darren�s lips before they closed.� The singer smiled and leaned in to oblige. Tongues met almost as quickly as lips and fingers tangled in hair as passion soared.� With a low groan, Darren broke the kiss.

�You are *so* bad,� He teased. �Now come on. The doctor said you need to eat more and I *know* he meant *food*.�

Three hours later, after a quiet lunch filled with coy looks and subtle caresses, they were again laying on the blanket under dappled sunlight as they had spent all of their week. So much so that Darren�s skin had picked up a light coloration from the leaf-filtered sunlight.� It was hot and expected to remain sultry all night. Perfect weather for their own private nudist beach. They snuggled close, Darren�s head on Daniel�s chest, his hand reverently caressing his husband�s stomach and their growing child.

The guitarist�s fingers ran absently, yet comfortingly, through the singer�s hair.

�You�ve made me so happy, Danny.�� Darren sighed, then lifted himself up on his elbow, one hand alongside Daniel�s face, his thumb caressing the guitarist�s cheek as their eyes met.

The singer leaned down and their lips met. He draped one leg between Daniel�s, as the kiss deepened and their bodies moved to satisfy their passion.

�tbc�