“Yeah.” Your reply comes a little too fast, but he lets it go for now. You press a kiss to his shoulder, finally backing away from him. “I’ll go change and I’ll be back.”

Making it to the bedroom, you grab some comfy clothes and lock yourself in the master bathroom instantly. You pull the drugstore grocery bag out of your purse, and shake out the pregnancy test box that's in it. With shaky hands, you get the test itself out of it, and skim the directions, only to procrastinate.

You let out a couple deep breaths as you stare at the test in your hands, beginning to feel guilty for taking it without telling Chris. You're close to positive that you're pregnant, having struggled with nausea the last few weeks and a notably late period at this point. So you set it down and change your clothes before making your way back to the kitchen.

“I need you for a second,” you announce, walking into the room.

Looking up at you, he immediately stops what he’s doing, sensing your nerves in the way you’re wringing your hands. “Oh- okay,” he nods, making his way toward you. He silently follows you to the bathroom, and his eyes fall on the test sitting on the counter right away.

“Babe-”

“Chris-”

You both start to say something at the same time, but he lets you go ahead.

“I think I’m pregnant,” you admit. “I was gonna take the test without you, but I felt guilty, so I need you here,” you explain with tears stinging your eyes. “If you want- I know we've only been together a little over a year, and I don't know what to do so-”

“Hey,” he kindly interrupts so you can catch your breath, stepping toward you to pull you in for a hug. “Of course I’m gonna be here for you no matter what, starting now. Take the test and we’ll go from there, all right?”

You nod against his shoulder and take a deep breath before backing out of his embrace. He presses a quick kiss to your cheek and leaves the room for a moment so you can take it.

A minute later, you let him in again, pulling him down to sit on the floor with you while you wait for the timer you set to go off. He lifts his arm so you can get as close to his side as possible and lean your head on his shoulder.

“What are you thinking?” you ask after a few seconds of silence.

“Um,” he hums. “I’m thinking that there's no doubt in my mind that I want to have kids with you, but ultimately it’s up to you of course, so I want to know what you're thinking.”

“I don't know,” you murmur. “I think I was just nervous because I was keeping it to myself, but now that I’ve told you, I feel a little better.”

He holds you tight for the next two minutes, and waits for you to react when your timer goes off, his heart suddenly beginning to race. Slowly, you lift your head off his shoulder, but can't get yourself to move. “Can you grab it?” you ask him, and he nods, reaching to swipe it off the countertop.

His eyes meet yours and you give him a small nod telling him he can flip it over. When he does, it's very clearly positive, and both of your immediate reactions are to let out what sound like sighs of relief, small smiles gracing both your faces.

“Wow,” he chuckles softly, glancing at you. “Are we… Are we happy?”

“Yeah, we are,” you let out a quiet, relieved laugh as well, putting your arms around him. “Oh my gosh,” you whisper, and he turns to kiss your forehead.

Later that night though, laying in the silence while you try to fall asleep, you can't keep your mind from racing. Looking down at Chris’ hand already instinctively resting where your bump will be in a few months, you start to feel overwhelmed with the realization he and you may be happy, but the reactions you'll get from those around you are uncertain.

Carefully, you slip out from underneath his arm, heading toward the bathroom, and quickly turn the faucet on to drown out your heavy breathing and the sobs that come along.

Not too long after, Chris is knocking softly at the door and barging in when you don't answer. “Sweetheart-” The look on his face turns into one of pure concern when he sees you sitting on the floor with your knees up to your chest trying to muffle your crying. Turning the water off, he sits down next to you, pulling you as close as possible. He rubs your back, letting you cry it out before asking what’s going on.

“I’m sorry,” is all you can get out at first. “I started thinking about telling your parents and telling my parents and eventually telling… everyone, and I freaked out. I don't want to disappoint anyone,” you sniffle.

“It’s going to be fine,” he tries to assure you. “Our parents will be stoked.”

“Your parents will be,” you correct him. “You've met mine, Chris. They’re gonna be so upset that I’m having a baby with someone I’m not married to.”

“Does that bother you?” he asks carefully. “Because if it does, I was being honest earlier when I said I’ll support any decision you make.”

“No,” you promptly shake your head. “It doesn't bother me. I was- I am genuinely so happy thinking about having this baby with you.”

“Then that’s all that matters. Your feelings are all that matter right now. Everything else, we can deal with as it comes.” He presses a few kisses to the top of your head, and you finally sit up to look at him. “It’ll be okay.”

“It’ll be okay,” you repeat quietly, resting a hand on your stomach as you melt back into his side, letting his embrace continue to calm you.

~~~

“What’s wrong is there’s a whole group of people that despise my existence simply because I’m with you,” you finally start to explain, and the frustrated look on his face immediately begins to dissipate. “It was a really bad day, Chris. Just when I think it’s starting to get better, someone gets photos of us. It doesn’t feel so good when people call you a slut… and a gold digger… and a bitch for no reason other than I’m dating you. And it’s never directed at you, it’s always just me-”

He drops the dog’s leash, crossing the room to envelop you in his arms when he hears your voice crack. “I’m sorry,” he repeats a couple times, holding you close, kissing the side of your face. “I didn’t see any of that today, I’m sorry.”

Taking a deep breath, you lift your head off his shoulder to look at him. “I know I shouldn’t give a shit about it anymore, but it still hurts. They don’t even know me, how can they hate me so much?”

“You’re too much of a people pleaser,” he chuckles softly, but you furrow your brow at him, not finding it funny. “Sorry,” he coughs. “Look, the people who matter all love you. I love you-” He’s cut off by a whine Dodger lets out from the spot Chris left him with his leash still on, and you both turn toward him and laugh. “Dodger loves you,” he adds. “Come on a walk with us, you need to get out for a while.”

He convinces you what you need is to spend time with those people who do love you, so you apologize and agree to go to his mom’s birthday with him.

“Oh man, this is gonna be your first time meeting my niece and nephews,” he realizes on the way there.

“Shit, the pressure’s on,” you joke, but not entirely.

“What?” he laughs.

“Kids are judgmental,” you explain. “If they don't like me they'll tell you. They won't let Uncle Chris date someone they don't like.”

“I'm sure they'll love you,” he assures, taking your hand in his, bringing it up to his lips.

You usually hate when he’s right, but this is one time you're glad. The kids take a liking to you instantly, pulling you away for themselves, Chris not seeing you much after walking in the door.

“Can Y/N sit with us?” they beg when it's time to eat. “Please please please?”

“Oh, I don't know if she wants to sit at the kids table,” Lisa tries to help you out.

They all look up at you with pleading eyes, and you can't help but give in. “I don't mind at all,” you smile. “The kids table is the cool table, let’s go.”

While you sit there, they talk your ears off, but you don't mind at all, definitely welcoming the distraction after the last few days.

“I have an idea,” you speak up quietly. “We should prank your Uncle Chris.”

They each giggle and glance over to the adult table before looking back at you, nodding excitedly. So you help them devise a plan. You tell them you know him well enough to know after he's done eating he’ll go change into sweatpants, so you decide to go for a classic jump scare, and the kids are all in.

When it seems like everyone's about done, you and the kids tell them you're going outside to run off the food, but instead you quietly make your way to the room you and Chris are staying in to crouch on the floor with the lights off so you can scare him when he comes in.

It goes off without a hitch, you and the kids yelling his name when he turns the lights on, causing him to screech a little, clutching his chest. They find it hilarious, tackling him and making fun of the way he reacted.

“I’m so gonna get you back,” he says playfully, causing them to giggle, but he glares at you while he says it, so you just wink at him.

Later on, you're finally laying in bed, waiting for Chris to join you. When he comes in, he climbs on top of you, kissing you deeply, or at least attempting to, but you can't keep yourself from laughing. “I'm not gonna have sex with you here.”

“Aw, why not?” he whines against your lips.

“This is your childhood bedroom, you dork. And your family’s here.”

“Handjob?” he looks down at you innocently.

“Oh my God,” you roll your eyes, pushing him off of you. “What are you? 17?”

He laughs, settling next to you so you can rest your head on his chest. Neither of you say anything for a few moments, just enjoying the quiet after all day.

“You got on well with the kids,” he eventually speaks up quietly.

“Well let’s see. Do the math…” you tease. “I may be closer to them in age than I am to you.”

“Right,” he snorts.

“They're good kids,” you smile. “I had fun.”

“Ma had to snap me out of it a few times… I couldn't stop watching you with them,” he says quietly, and if you're not mistaken, you hear his heartbeat quicken. “I realized today that you're exactly who I picture when I think about who’ll be the mother of my children.”

He says it slowly, and your body tenses a bit just at the sudden seriousness of the conversation. He starts to panic when you don't say anything, but you lift your head off his chest, moving over slightly so you can prop yourself up on your elbow and look at him. He’s relieved when he sees your smile.

“Babe, I’m only twenty-”

“I know,” he’s quick to cut you off, wanting to make it clear he's not trying to pressure you into anything. “I don't mean right now. When you're ready. I'll follow your lead.”

"You didn't let me finish,” you chuckle. “But when the time is right, I want to have kids with you too.” Your voice comes out as a whisper, and you lean to give him a soft, reassuring kiss.

3 years later

He’s laying in the same bed, waiting for you to join him this time.

When you walk in the room, you're holding something behind your back and he gives you a curious look. “Do you remember when we were here a few years ago?” His look doesn't go away. “You told me you wanna have kids with me.”

“Oh yeah,” he smiles, putting his hands on your hips to draw you closer. “Of course I remember that.”

“Well,” you drag out the word, handing him the pregnancy test you were hiding.

He furrows his brow trying to figure out how to read it, and you laugh at him. “Chris I'm-”

“You're pregnant?” he breathes out, looking up at you.

“Yeah,” you whisper, a few tears blurring your vision as you nod.

“Oh my God!” he exclaims. “Holy shit. You're really-”

“Shh, shh,” you giggle, bringing his head against your chest. “We don't want anyone to know yet,” you tell him, kissing him to muffle his excitement.

“Wait, wait,” he mumbles against your lips, and you break apart. “We weren't trying yet. You're telling me I didn't even get to enjoy the “trying” part?”

“What?” you smirk. “Got a breeding kink I don't know about?”

Taking your hand, pulling you onto the bed, he gets on top of you. “Promise me you can be quiet and I’ll let you find out.”

~~~