Ricky Marrero

A smile came to Alina's face and she rubbed her husband's hand as he checked in on her. "I'm good. Both of us are good." She said, meaning her and the baby. Now that she was in her second trimester and their baby was doing good, happiness was in her life again instead of fear. Sure, there was the occassional panic, but with the reassurance from Ricky and her midwife, she was doing a lot better. "Well, food is always good. I've been craving panics from the diner." @enriquemarrero

Being on cloud nine since finding out also meant he was waiting for the other shoe to drop, always on edge. But thankfully do far so good and it was smooth sailing. "Good, good," he said with a bright smile as his gaze went from his wife's eyes down to her small bump and back. "I agree, food is always good," he nodded, "we can head to the diner for pancakes for sure. Are we feeling like splurging a bit and having chocolate chip ones or blue berry ones?" He asked, now noticing how hungry he was getting and his stomach was growling. @alinamarrero

When people got into an elevator they hoped and prayed that it would get them to their destination and not break down. No one wanted to be stuck. No one liked when the lights went out and felt it jerk. It wasn’t a good sign and It wasn’t fun. Especially for people who didn’t like enclosed spaces. Jade was alright with it. It didn’t freak her out. She did have some fears but this wasn’t one of them. It wasn’t ideal but at least she wasn’t alone. “You’re not the only one. I don’t think I’ve met one person who’s a fan of being stuck in an elevator when we got places to go and people to see.”she smiled. “They gotta check those more often. I am. I’m doing alright. Just wishing they would answer quickly. Why does it take forever?”

Ricky wasn't necessarily freaked out, though he probably wouldnt have chosen an elevator to get stuck in. But he was thankful he wasn't alone, able to talk with someone and that they weren't freaking out either. "Touche," he said with a chuckle, "and if they say they are they're definitely lying. That much I know." He let out a laugh, before putting down the lunch cooler he had, and sitting down with his back to the eqll of the elevator car. "I know these things get inspected but shit happens right?" He asked as he looked up at the other, a shrugging of his shoulders followed. "That's good, and same here. Maybe they're cslling the fire department to get us out? That would take a little bit but hopefully not too long." @jad

As the alarm wailed in deafening volume, she blinked at the button she had just pushed, then at the man who had clearly been startled by the noise. He definitely had never been in a situation like this before - or so, she assumed. Saving her breath, Sasha refrained from a repetition of her previous statement. It would be a matter of time, though they would be fine, that much she knew. The most concerning part for her was to be inconvenienced. "I am sure she will appreciate this." Her smile came instinctually, a gentle pull that curved full lips slightly upward, the apples of her cheeks rising ever so slightly without ever truly reaching her eyes. Part of her was intrigued, as was her nature, though she refrained from probing further - at least for now. "I have never formed a particularly passionate opinion about them." An idle shrug rolled her shoulders as her gaze drifted toward the steel doors in front of her. "However I sometimes appreciate them. Things do become rather interesting when people can not simply excuse themselves from conversations or have to linger in silence. "As for this experience .. It will become much more funny in retrospect. You may have to endure my company for a little longer." A beat. "I trust you will survive this ordeal." @enriquemarrero

Never having been stuck in an elevator before, he hadn't expected the alarm to be so loud inside of it. He was startled by it, evident by the look on his face, his hands on his ears, and absolutely by the way he jumped a bit. "I hope so," he nodded and gave a weak smile, his hands loosening from his ears so he wasn't screaming because he couldn't hear anything. "She raised me and my sister alone, so I try to help now in any way that I can." His job didn't include small spaces so he had no exposure to them which he was happy about though a little perturbed that he wasn't used to them now. Nodding, "I see," before a smile curved onto his lips, "that is true. Not that I usually like to see how other freak out or react, but sometimes I do." He then let out a laugh, "oh it'll be a great story to tell. And you'll have to survive me, but I'm not worried. I think we'll be fine in that aspect." @sashaxjones

"I can only control my own action and reaction, not the fact we're stuck in an elevator. Now if there were to be a fire or a bee trapped here with us-- I would definitely freak out." Rahmi's lips curled into a crooked smile, watching the other as he searched for more options to get them out of there. He figured that with the blaring alarm, people outside of the elevator shaft would most likely have already been set into action, so hopefully they would be out in an hour, maybe two. Rahmi laughed at the other's reaction, pressing his finger against his ear as if it would help with the stinging caused by the alarm. "I'll find a different-- Ah." Rahmi looked up, the sudden stop of the alarm shifting his attention. "Is anyone in that elevator?!" He heard a distant and muffled voice call, like an angel shouting down at them, or so it felt in that moment. "We're with the two of us!" He called back out. "Aight sit tight, we're going to reset the power, hope it'll do the trick or we'll call the fire department!" Lowering his gaze back down to the man trapped with him, he shrugged his shoulders. "Looks like I won't be killing you after all." He joked, then extending his hand. "Rahmi Pamuk." @enriquemarrero

"Too bad. Here I thought you'd be able to control the elevator and make it move," he rolled his syes before smiling letting the other know he was only joking. "Oh trust me if there was a bee in here, we'd both be shit out of luck because I'd be freaking out too," his eyes got wide before shuddering. He wasn't a fan of bees or fire. His eyes shifted from the other to the rest of the small space around them, the sound blaring in their ears still. He hoped that the security of the hospital was already notified of the stuck elevator and would be working on getting them rescued. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath before hearing someone soaking over the alarm, as he was about to pipe up before the other did before him. "Oh thank God," he sighed and got up, thankful the alarm now stopped blaring in their ears. Shaking his head he blinked hard twice as his ears were ringing, "hopefully they don't have to call the fire department." Not exactly how he planned to spend his afternoon, now sighing he took the stairs. "Well that's a relief," he playfully wiped his brow before extending his hand too, "Ricky Marrero. I think we both might need a drink after this." He shook his head just as the doors opened up, "my treat. I'll be at the nurses station on five if you wanna take up the offer." @rahmipamuk

She smiled at him as they walked back towards the cabin. "Are you?" She asked and started walking up the steps to get back into the nurse's cabin. She figured that he would be and honestly she was all for him being extra protective over her. She placed a finger over her lips to gesture to be quiet and then once the temp nurse left the cabin, she smiled and turned towards him. "I like the idea of you being extra protective." @enriquemarrero

"Yes ma'am," he nodded, smirking at her as he slid the keys into his pocket. He walked closely behind her and hd the door open to the nurses cabin for her, his arm up high so she could go underneath it. He'd be insanely protective over her, more so from what they had both endured, but mainly because he wanted to make sure everything was okay. He was quiet as she gestured with her finger over her lips, him nodding that he understood what she meant. "Okay," he whispered, then a quick nod and smile to the temp. "You do? Well then," he cleared his throat and wrapped his arms around her, "I'll be extra protective. Like your knight in shining armor." @alinamarrero

That was a first, and when the other pulled the emergency alarm he hadn't thought it would be an actual blaring alarm. More like a direct connection to the emergency people who would send someone at them. What else were those weird speaker looking holes for? But what did he know. "Great. I'm predicting a headache." Rahmi sighed, doubtful on if the other was able to hear him over the sound of the siren but he lowered himself down into the corner, crouching down and resting his head against the side. That's when he opened his eyes to look at the other. "No? But I'm such a delight to be around." He smirked, resting his hands on his knees, hands folded together. "Might as well get comfortable. Pray that that alarm is on a timer because otherwise you might just be my first that starts off my serial killer career." @enriquemarrero

As the alarm siren blared, Ricky winced and covered his ears. He hadn't expected the sound to be so loud, let alone one that didn't include some type of operator to talk to. "You and me both," he yelled over the sound, crouching down to see if there was a telephone button to push though he wouldn't be able to hear over the sound. Seeing as the other sat down, he removed his hands from his ears. "I mean you seem like a fine and upstanding man," he gestured, "though I don't know you. But you seem decent enough. You haven't freaked out." That was a good sign though he hoped he didn't jinx it. Nodding as he slid down the wall and sat down, he looked at the over, "uhhh," he said with his jaw slightly ajar. "Usually I love helping people find their passions, but I don't think I'd like that one." @rahmipamuk

He nodded as he looked at his friend. "Maybe we can plan; sometimes you can look around with me?" he asked,d hoping so. "I've been wanting a house, I want room to put in an aquarium," so a house would be nice to have the extra space. "This is not how I thought anything would go," he wanted to meet someone, do it right, and fall in love, get married, and have kids but here he was having a kid with a friend. @enriquemarrero

"Yeah man, I can help you look," he nodded, having looked for his own place with Alina before, he knew how to find a place to rent or buy. "A house would be good, plus it'll give you the extra space for a baby and all they need," he then chuckled, "a big ass aquarium. I can see you getting one of those whuge ones dude." He gestured with his hands before softening. "Hey it happens okay? It's not going to change how much you love that kid. And you'll still have a chance to fall in love and get married one day." He smiled softly, "all that matters is that baby is gonna have two great parents who love them." @tylerxday

"It will happen when it should happen," if they were having a baby on their own or adoption along the road. His friends did mean the world to him, so he was hoping that it could happen for them. " I don't know, man, it's just all a lot," that he wanted to do this right but not overstep or something. " I just..." he sighed. "I think my own place is a better idea, just closer to her." he needed a place of his own; by now, it was time. @enriquemarrero

Ricky nodded and deep down he hoped it was true. There was nothing he wanted more, was to be able to have a child with the love of his life. It even almost physically ached for him, with how much he wanted it. Seeing Tyler having a child made him both happy and sad, happy for his friend to have a child and to become a father and sad because he wanted that for himself too. "I mean adulthood is a lot, that's life you know? It's messy and a lot and exciting all at the same time." He smiled before nodding, "so try to find a place close by. Maybe even in the same building or something?" @tylerxday

"Yeah, didn't think so," he nodded and looked from the buttons to the other before him. He wasn't exactly afraid of small spaces or elevators but he wasn't exactly a fan of being stuck in one either. He looked at the buttons and looked for the emergency one before pulling it, the alarm now filling the air. "Uh, hopefully they come fast," he yelled over the sound, "not exactly how I wanted to spend my afternoon you know." He tried to lighten the mood but he felt like it was definitely going to fall flat. @rahmipamuk

"I know it will happen, man," his friend and Alina were made to be, so he knew it would happen. "I just... wish it were how it should be, but I know it's not bad." He didn't have to be with Renee to be good; they were not going to be bad parents, being just friends. He shrugged, "I don't want to do too much; I think near her is best." he smiled a moment. "Like, would it be weird for us to be friends, raising a baby, living with each other? Like, what if one of us starts dating?" wouldn't that be weird? he thought so. @enriquemarrero

Ricky nodded, "I hope so. Even if not for me but for Alina. I wanna be able to give that to her. To make her a mom ya know?" He asked and it almost physically made him ache with how much he wanted it to happen. He nodded, and he understood but he also understood that people didn't have to necessarily be in a relationship for parenting to work. He listened, "that makes sense yeah," he understood before shrugging, "I mean I don't think it's weird. Unless you make it weird. Don't make it weird, just talk to her and explain it." @tylerxday

Alina grinned up at him and rubbed his hand that was placed on her stomach. "Me too." She agreed. While part of her couldn't wait to tell their families, she just wanted this to be between them, even for a short time. Taking a breath, she nodded. "I do too." She tried not to think about that she had that feeling the first time around, too. This did feel different, though. And she just hoped that lasted. "Let's head back to camp. We can start looking for a midwife." @enriquemarrero

His thumb softly rubbed her stomach, his eyes filling with happy tears as he gazed upon his wife. Their little secret, growing inside of her and he couldn't be happier. Of course he wanted to tell everyone but he knew how important it was to keep it quiet. Plus he didn't want to jinx anything by saying something. "Great," he smiled at her, "I'm really excited." He nodded and took her hand as he led them to the car, "sounds good to me." He replied and got into the car after holding the door for her. He parked in their spot before heading back to her cabin. "You know I'm going to be extra protective now don't you?" @alinamarrero

"Til death do us part." She added onto his words and she grinned up at him. She laughed a little being pulled closer to him and nodded. "We can put it up now. We'll just have to be careful when we have people over." Alina touched his cheek. "For now, we can keep it in the cabin with us. No one goes into the room anyways so it'll be our secret for the summer." And honestly, she didn't mind that. Alina placed a hand over hers and smiled. "I really hope this lasts." @enriquemarrero

"Exactly," how grin wide as she finished the saying, his heart so happy with how things had gone at the doctor's appointment. He truly had a good feeling about this, about their baby growing inside of her. Nodding, he tilted his head to look at her and smiled softly, "okay, and definitely. Yeah that's true, good things it's just us." He took in a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing as he held onto her, "I like that. Our secret for the summer," he repeated, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Me too, and honestly, I don't know how to describe it but I have a really good feeling about this." @alinamarrero

She listened to him and smiled. "I know you won't be leaving." She knew that more than well. They were going to be together forever and that meant a lot to her. She continued holding his hand tight as she looked back at the screen. They had been through this before, but there was something about this one that really made her feel something deep inside her. Hearing a healthy heartbeat meant a lot to her and getting confirmation from the doctor that the baby was measuring perfectly for how far along she was also made some relief go through her. They got pictures and soon she was ready to go with confirmation she'd get a call this week about her test results. She stared at the picture as her and Ricky left and she looked up at him. "I love you." @enriquemarrero

He gave her a half smile and nodded, "good. You're stuck with me for better or for worse and through sickness and health." He couldn't imagine leaving her, and they had gotten through the worst months of his life and things were now looking up. He always tried to be optimistic, but this time things felt different and in the very best of ways. He hadn't realized he was holding his breath every time the doctor spoke so when they were outside, he almost felt airy and light headed. "Once we start telling people, this is going on the fridge," he pointed to the sonogram picture before pulling her closer to him, his hand resting on her belly. "I love you so much." @alinamarrero

She nodded and squeezed his hand back. "Thank you. For everything. Being here and understanding." She didn't know what she would do without him. Ricky was truly her everything and she loved him more than she could ever say. "I love you." She said and looked down at him. It didn't take long before the doctor came in and started examining her. As she got it all done, everything seemed normal, but they took some blood samples and then prepared her for an ultrasound. She laid back and gripped Ricky's hand as they got the image of the baby up on the screen. "You're measuring about eight weeks. And here..." The doctor trailed off and the heartbeat filled the room. "Sounds like a healthy heartbeat to me." Tears lined her eyes and she looked at Ricky. "That's our baby." @enriquemarrero

Ricky couldn't imagine not standing by Alina while being there, or during all of this. He had vowed to stand by her through thick and thin and he had meant that. Plus he loved her more than anyone else in this world. "Always, and I mean it," he gave her a reassuring smile, "I didn't have a good father figure in my life so I know exactly what I wouldn't be doing. And that would be leaving. I can't imagine being anywhere else but beside you." He squeezed her hand again before kissing it softly, "I love you too." His eyes met hers before looking at the door as the doctor entered the room, holding her hand as she was examined. His focus was on the screen, holding his breath as the image was fuzzy and he couldn't make anything else. But as soon as he heard a rapid heartbeat, he exhaled and could feel his eyes fill with tears. "Our baby," he grinned and looked at her, "that's our baby." @alinamarrero