Nico fits in real well, he's already got a grasp of F Hole's current repertoire. Matt doesn't even have to tell her, she can tell by his druming that he's happy with Nico, the three of them have a far better groove together than they had with their former guitarist.

While they were jamming, Stacey grilled up some kebabs. When Stacey goes inside to clean up, Matt tells Jackie he's a little apprehensive about touring & leaving Stacey alone while she's pregnant. "She insists she'll be okay...but I kind of want to be around & watch her belly blow up," Matt laughs. "I mean, gigging is gigging, but this my kid.." Jackie never figured Matt to be the parental type, but he's he's so proud &happy he's just about crowing. "Do you think you could take Stacy along on tour with us?" Jackie suggests. "Nah, I already asked her, but she won't give up her freaking band," Matt laughs, "I bet you wouldn't, either, Jax. You'd get out on stage with your huge belly poking out & everything, just like she wants to do." He has no idea how close to home he's hitting: Jackie squirms uncomfortably as Nico listens in silence.

As soon as she's done eating, Jackie feels sick. Nico looks at her with concern as she excuses herself, but she's forbidden him to act like anything except a guitarist trying out for their band. Matt keeps him occupied, talking about his drums, while Jackie rushes off to find their bathroom.

Stacey's not in the kitchen while Jackie is getting sick in their bathroom, but she's there when Jackie is coming out. Jackie can tell Stacey heard her, and, embarassed, she apologizes. "Hey, no prob," Stacey says, giving her an odd look, "I've been doing that a lot lately myself....of course, I'm pregnant....," she says, looking Jackie directly in the eyes, making it clear she's figured Jackie out. Jackie can't face her & lie, and she knows she'll tell Matt as soon as they leave, anyway. Though Stacey has never been a close friend of Jackie's, she doesn't really have any close friends & she needs someone to talk to. "I don't know what to do about it," she sighs. "Are you afraid Nicolas will leave you when you tell him? Cuz, I think, the way he looks at you, Jax, he'd probably be as jazzed as Matt is..." Jackie's eyes squint suspiciously, "How do you know it's Nicolas?" she asks. Stacey laughs, "Well, if it isn't him, I'd bet he'd kill the other guy if he found out. But seriously, Jax, I could see you keeping him at arms length out there, and I could see the way he looks at you...Don't you want to tell him?" Jackie shakes her head, "He knows, Stacey," she sighs, "He asked me to marry him.." "Oooh that's so SWEET!" Stacey squeals, "You guys are such a cute couple..." Jackie hangs her head & sighs, "I don't know if I'm ready for this, Stacey.." Stacey grows more serious. "I know what you mean. When I found out I was pregnant, I thought the world was coming to an end. I mean, can you imagine me & Matt at a PTA meeting or whatever? And just the thought of diapers gives me nightmares...But Matt was so excited about it, and when it comes down to it, I don't think I'll be any more ready for it in 5 years or whenever. I could wait until I'm too old, if I wait until I'm 'ready'. And, you know, it's here now...."

Besides the nausea & vomiting, the pregnancy has been making Jackie very sentimental & prone to crying. She hugs Stacey while she tries to hold back her tears. "The guys are going to wonder what's going on in here," Stacey says quietly, "If you think you're ready, we should go outside."

Matt greets Stacey's return to the patio with great fervor. Jackie breaks her own ban & hugs Nico, drying her watering eyes on his jacket. "Are you all right, Jackie?" he whispers in her ear. "I'm fine," she sighs, wishing it were true...

Jackie & Nico hang out with Matt & Stacey a little longer, but when the sun starts to set, it's time to start that long drive back out to Malibu. Matt clearly likes Nico, as a person & as a musician, so with Bill's approval, they can get their band back together & maybe restart the tour. Stacey hugs Jackie goodbye, "Everything will be great, Jax, it'll be fine," she murmurs encouragingly. Jackie wishes she had Stacey's confidence about her future.

On the ride back, Jackie stretches herself across Nico's lap like she was his guitar, her arm around his neck, her head resting on his arm. He lays his right hand on her exposed stomach, his callused fingers patting her as though she already had a full pregnant belly. He looks down at her with his eyes full of love & concern, the look Stacey saw & remarked on...Jackie is amazed she hadn't noticed herself, the way he looks at her. "Will you sing me a song, Nicolas?" she asks him. "Sing you a song?" Nico asks, laughing a little, and he tosses his head. "All right, Jackie." Jackie presses her head against his chest, to hear his heartbeat, to hear the sound of his voice coming out from inside of him. She wasn't sure what to expect, but the Italian ballad he treats her to is a wonderful suprise, his voice, alway so rich & sexy in English, is even more so in his native tongue, and Jackie falls asleep to his song, and has a little dream, a beautiful, simple dream, she sees Nicolas on her beach, playing in the sand with a little girl, their daughter. The two of them are so beautiful, with the bright sun shining on their hair...Jackie walks over to them, and Nico stands & greets her with a kiss. "I love you, Nicolas," she says to him, "I love you so much.." resting her head on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around him... "I love you, Jacklyn," he whispers in her ear. She wakes up then, a little confused. It was so real, she expected to find herself on the beach, not in the back of her limo. But she's still in Nico's arms, and he smiles down at her as he sees she's awake. "Are you awake now?" he asks her. "Do you know you talk in your sleep?" Jackie feels herself blushing, and he leans his head down to kiss her, a sweet & loving kiss that is better than any dream. "I love you, Jacklyn," he says.

Jackie has everything she wants in life, but it hasn't brought her real hapiness: she has a successful band but she continually undermines that success, taking off on her tour as though she weren't living out her dream, treating Matt shabbily at times, driving him to the point of quitting. And she loves Nico, she ackowledged this to herself & even come to believe he loves her. He's told her now, several times, and he's always been there for her & given of himself freely when she's asked for him, something she knows he doesn't do for others. She could have hapiness, like Stacey has, if she would only allow herself the luxury. But she sees herself constantly pushing him away, as though to test his devotion, as though she needs to prove herself completely unlovable. Having made the realization, she acts on it immediately, before her doubts can interpose themselves again, "Nicolas," she says, looking up at him, looking into his eyes "We're going to have a baby." Nico's chest rises & falls beneath her cheek as he sighs. She watches his immense relief turn to joy & pride as he smiles down at her with shining eyes, and caresses her face. "You'll be a great father, Nicolas," she says to him. Nico kisses her forehead, laying his hand firmly in her stomach as though to protect the child, maybe even from herself, "I'll do my best, Jacklyn. I promise."