Protector

“And you’re going to be the most protective father in the world and it will rub off onto our kids. I know that for sure,” She teased back, sighing as he ran his hands over her back. It was the way he kissed her that made electric run through her veins. With his murmurings, she looked up at him and smiled, shaking her head. “You are a wonderful human being, Benjamin.” That was one of the best compliments she could ever receive. “It’s impossible to love me more than I love you. I promise.”

“I don’t care if I’m the silliest worrier, that’s our family,” Maria said quietly into his lips, combing her fingers through his short hair. “And I’m normal. I’m normal. I have never been normal.” It felt like a compliment and for her, it really was. “I love you so much.” She was incredibly relieved to have that weight lifted off her shoulders. It was as if she was finally allowed to be excited to be his wife someday.

“You’re going to be the silliest worrier ever and it’s going to rub off on our children. I already know it.” He teased running his hand over her back kissing her as passionately as he could. “You’re extraordinary. More than normal and better than normal.” He murmured with a smile. “I love you so much and more.”

“You are despicable but I love you anyway,” She said softly, still giggling away. “Yes. You’re right. But what girl wouldn’t want you? They’d have to be insane.” It was nice to laugh and smile when she had been so worried just a few minutes again. “And that’s what I remember every time I look down at my hand. At my ring.” She smiled up at him before pressing her lips to his quickly, that bright smile disappearing when the doctor joined them. She kept an extremely tight grip on his hand as the profession told them that she was just fine, perfectly healthy and normal, before leaving the room with a smile.

“I’m sure there are plenty of girls that aren’t enamored by my charm. You however have fallen victim to it.” He teased yet again. It was a little out of character but not enough to be noticeable. Focusing intently as the professional came in Benjamin barely recognized how tightly Maria was holding his hand because he was so focused on the news and when it broke he let out a sigh his shoulders relaxing, very noticeably. “See nothing to worry about.” He stated before crashing his lips to hers. One day they could have a family. One day that was their future.

Maria’s cheeks burned but she began to laugh softly. “Stop! You’re silly!” But she never said he was wrong. There was just some things that still made her blush about him. “We took our time but I still remember how strongly I felt. I couldn’t get my mind off you. It’s even worse now.” She smoothed a few strands of her hair behind her ear, smiling now that she wasn’t so nervous.

“But I’m right. And I know that.” He teased with a smirk noticing her lack of correcting. “We were meant to be. We just found others first. But situations kept putting us together.” And Benjamin took it as fate. Smiling at her his heart felt like it would burst the moment the doctor walked in.

Maria smiled weakly into the kiss, setting her trembling hands onto his cheeks. She wanted to keep him close because he was safe place. She needed him. “I had good intentions! I just got there and— sort of lost it all.” Sometimes it was still strange to her how much she had grown. She hardly ever stuttered anymore. Especially around him. “I should have known that day that I loved you… I went looking for you, thinking up some kind of coincidence so that I could talk to you and then I peaked on you and— I was in too deep. You had me hooked on you.”

“You knew you wanted me deep down and that just happened.” He continued to teased trying to keep everything light hearted for her. If he could keep her talking and maybe laughing and reminiscing then that would make it better. “All the way back then? Well I can’t say it’s a bad thing we just took our time from there that made everything work for us.”

“No, I’m fixing your collar because I’m scared to death and I’d rather think of why I love you so much,” She told him truthfully. “I got to see a lot more than just you shirtless… Not that I mean to! But— I was transfixed on your scars. How they looked on your skin. I wanted to hear you tell me about them. All of the stories that went along with your body… I was a little terrible that day. And red. Like a terrible tomato.”

Benjamin nodded appreciating her honesty and just leaning down to kiss her lips softly. He could at least do whatever to make her mor comfortable. “Are you sure you didn’t mean to?” He teased with a raised eyebrow. It was so long ago he could barely remember how shy she use to be. “You were adorable that day, making me fall more and more in love with you.”

“I’m alright… I’ve been though a lot worse than waiting,” She said, smiling as he kissed the top of her head. In actuality, the waiting was killing her but she wouldn’t say all that. She wanted to be stronger. “You look much better than decent in everything you wear.” She began to fix the collar of his shirt, biting down on her lower lip as she remembered something from way back when they were friends. “Do you remember way back when I found you in the training room and I said it was an accident?”

Benjamin just hummed like he believed her but he knew how it hurt because he was hurting too. He just wanted to know. Once they knew they could make a plan but until then he felt powerless. “And that’ss why you’re fixing my collar?” He teased. “Yeah. You got to see me shirtless.”

“It’s only been a minute or two? It feels like hours.” She sighed softly, allowing some of her own nerves to be expelled. It was strange to be here when she wasn’t injured in any way but she wasn’t any less nervous than she always was. Searching for comfort, she looked up at him and began gently playing with his shirt. “I like this on you… It fits you well,” She began, laughing softly. “I think it goes well with your smile too. Don’t you think?”

 “I’m sorry love,” He murmured kissing the top of her head knowing it had to be killing her even more than it was killing him. It just had to be. Chuckling a her mind switched gears into complimenting him. “I’m sure it does. You know me and fashion I just pull something on that looks decent.”

“I’ll be okay once it all is happening, it’s just waiting. I hate waiting.” As they walked in, Maria hardly even realized that she had been holding her breath. She just wanted this for them. Only this if nothing else. The nurse ushered her into a different room away from him for just a moment while she performed a couple tests before sending her back and informing them both that she would have results soon. Maria, who was now much more nervous than she was before, sat cross-legged on the cot, wiggling nervously. After a second more, she turned to him. “How long has it been do you think?”

Benjamin sighed allowing his nerves to get to him when he was alone. The thought of not having his own child was unbearable to him. Not to the point of not wanting to be with her but it was still unbearable. Taking a deep breath when she was finally sent back to him he offered a smile standing by her hen she sat down. “A minute or two. Nothing too long to worry about.”