L A D Y

Benji smiled as soon as Marisol leaned in to kiss him. It seemed like something that should have happened awhile ago, but was only happening now. When she pulled away, Benji leaned in and peppered a few soft kisses against her jawline, eyes eventually casting down to her flat stomach, where their baby was going to stay for the next nine months. “You won’t have to do anything without me. We’re in this together, my love.” he told her, bringing his hands up to caress her face gently. “I don’t want you keeping things from me either. No matter what.” he paused so he could close the space between their lips, kissing her passionately. “I want you to come stay with me. Move in with me….” he whispered into the kiss.

Marisol felt his lips pressing against hers and she melted. It was impossible not to. She loved kissing him, and she still loved kissing him. She never grew tired of it. He places sweet delicate kisses against her jaw and she hummed softly, snuggling against him. She watched as his eyes moved to her stomach. He had a way of always making her feel safe. He was her partner, he was always going to be there, every adventure she took, she wanted him there. She leaned into his touch as he kissed her deeply, her small hands moving to the collar of his shirt. As she pulled away she listened to his words. “W-what?” She asked slightly surprised. “R-really?” She said her eye lifting to search his. “A-are you sure?” 

Benji felt so comforted by his girlfriend’s touch. Her hands on his face, and her eyes locked on his own were making this whole situation a lot less scary. Part of him might have even been happy, or excited about having a baby with Marisol. With the love of his life. He rested his chin against the top of her head when she rested against his chest one hand moving up behind her head. “I’ll be with you when you call them. When you’re ready to call them…” he listened as she spoke about how her parents would react to the news, a soft sigh escaping him as their eyes met again. “And you’re mine. Nothing is going to keep me from you. I love you. And I love the little life we’ve created together. I’m going to do whatever I have to do to make things easier for you. Just because we’re having a baby now doesn’t mean our lives have to stop. You can still study, we can still get through that list you made…” he told her softly.

Marisol looked at Benji, her thumbs gently tracking along his jaw, as he looked at her it was hard to not get that feeling. Like how she felt when they first met. He was her best friend, everything melted away when he looked at her, and no matter what the crazy was for them, as long she had him, she would stay afloat. “I love you,” she responded instantly. She leaned in and kissed him gently feeling like it was finally safe to do so, and it felt like too long since she hand. She pulled back for a moment. Knowing that she didn’t want to cross that bridge just yet, but she would, with him buy her side. She heard him call it their “little life” and he said he loved it. She looked down between them at her stomach and pressed her lips together. “I-I love t-that you s-still want me to study, and th-that you are letting me still d-do my list. B-but I don’t w-w-want to d-do any of it without you Papi.” She assured him brushing some of his hair behind his hear. “I-I don’t want to ever k-keep things from you anymore.” She told him in a quiet voice. 

Benji smiled as Marisol’s hands held his face, his arms only tightening around her waist to keep her pressed up against him. He knew that this was going to be challenging. He’d done this all before. Twice. He knew that things were going to change for the both of them. “I’d never let you do this alone. You have me forever, my love.” he told her softly, loosening his arms from around her waist and moving them down to graze his fingers over her thighs instead. “I wanna be there when you tell them. Whether that’s on the phone, or in person…I want to meet them.” he’d never met Marisol’s parents before. He didn’t know too much about them, but he certainly wasn’t going to let his girlfriend tell her parents that she was pregnant while Benji wasn’t around. “What do you think they’ll say?” his family would be happy about another baby in the family. Well, most of them. It’s not like this was anything new for Benji. He knew that it would be a different story for Marisol.

“You know, I think a little friendly competition would do the trick. You in for the arcade?”

“Yeah!?” Marisol beamed at the idea of a friendly competition. “I’m t-totally game.” She nodded as she bounced on her heels playfully. 

“My daughter’s sixteenth birthday is next month and the only thing she has been talking about is how bad she wants a car,” the brunette sighed as she took a drink of her whiskey. “As much as I love her, I don’t think a new car will be happening anytime soon.” Freya shrugged as she looked over at the person beside her. “Please tell me I wasn’t the only one that didn’t get a car for my sixteenth?”

“Y-You’re a m-mom to a s-sixteen year old?” Marisol blinked very surprised. “Y-You don’t look more t-then t-twenty-s-six. I-I’m sorry I-I’m n-not t-trying to flatter y-y-you.” She said getting very nervous she had asked too personal of a question. “I-I didn’t w-want a c-car wh-when I was s-s-sixteen. S-s-so I asked for a stand mixer instead.” 

“See, I just don’t think I have the patience for either. Which kind of sucks about starting new hobbies is they all require patience…”

“Th-that is t-true.” She nodded as she listened to him. “W-well how about a-an a-arcade or a m-movie maybe? th-those d-don’t r-require m-much patience.” 

“I keep trying to think of non-drinking related activities but I’m not nearly as creative as I thought. Help me? I’m so fucking bored.”

Benji knew that he could have prevented this from happening if he’d been more responsible, but sometimes when he was with Marisol, responsibility just flew out the window, and all he wanted was her. He didn’t regret it though. He couldn’t. Not when they had created a life together through their love. Marisol was Benji’s future. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He wanted to have kids with her. Things were just moving faster than he thought. “It’s okay, baby. I just need you to know that you don’t have to be distant with me about anything in future okay? No matter how scary it may seem. You and I are in this together. We’re in a relationship. We’re…doing life together. I need you to know that you can trust me.” he leaned in and pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “You know I’ll look after you. Both of you.” he whispered against her lips, pulling back so he could look at her properly. “Are you going to tell your parents?” he asked reluctantly. He’d never met Marisol’s parents, but he was sure they wouldn’t be too thrilled to know that their daughter was pregnant.

She looked over at Benji feeling herself  becoming a bit safer the more the truth came out. This was scary, she didn’t know how their life was going to look, and she was scared of what the changing future was. But then again, this was life. You never knew what was coming next. She didn’t know a year ago she would have found him, and fallen in love. And the way he spoke to her. Even now, it was so obvious how much he loved her back. She held his face hi her small hands caressing along his jaw as she let her eyelids flutter closed. She loved him so unbelievably much, and she knew she had him there, this was their partnership, he was her life. And not a doubt in her mind he would be there for her. “I-I know I c-can. I c-c-couldn’t do this with anyone else.” She nodded still staying close as he pulled back. She looked up at him. However when he spoke again her eyes grew wide. Her face going white. She had briefly thought about telling them bit now that registered, and suck in. “Oh no....” she muttered in a voice hardly above a whisper. She gulped and looked over at him. “Yes....I-I p-probably h-have to.” 

“Yeah, born and raised. But now I’m here, and while I thought Toronto’s streets were hard to navigate, all these numbered streets are honestly impossible,” he said, laughing quietly at himself. “You from here?” Dom asked, turning to face her more in his seat. “Or you one of the many of us who came here with a dream,” he continued, waving his hands in the shape of an imaginary rainbow as he said the last couple words.

“Really? T-That is s-super cool..” She nodded as she looked over at him with a smile. “I’d love t-to go t-t-to Canada someday.” She nodded as she tucked her black hair behind her ears. “N-no not at all,” she laughed shaking her head as she dropped her gaze down to her hands. “I-I’m from T-Tennessee actual. I moved o-out here a w-while b-b-back for school.” She giggled as he made a rainbow shape with his hand. “S-so you are s-s-still studying then?” 

“I just turned 23,” Dominic said, his eyebrows scrunching together at the sound of his age. He was by no means old, but to him he felt ancient. “After high school I went straight to University, then after University I came straight here to go to Colombia,” he explained. “Why? How old are you? Wait - is that a rude thing to ask a woman? I mean, I figured you were around my age if I’m being honest. You can just nod or completely ignore my question if it is.” Dominic felt his face grow warm as his cheeks flushed in embarrassment. First he’d been a complete ass and now he was asking her how old she was - something his mom made him promise never to do. 

“Well the dream is to one day design a building that adds to the Toronto skyline. Or maybe a museum or art gallery. That would be incredible,” he said, smiling at the thought. 

“Oh c-cool!” She nodded as she looked up at him with a smile. “Wow, th-that is amazing. Y-you s-seem like a v-very p-productive person.” She giggled as she folded her arm over the other. Mari continued to laugh as he talked around his question. She smiled shaking her head. “N-no it’s o-okay, I t-think it a p-p-perfectly acceptable q-question.” She nodded as she looked over at him. “I-I’m 21, m-my b-birthday is in September.” She nodded as she noticed he was flushing. It was rather adorable. 

“O-Oh t-that is s-so cool, a m-museum would b-be and awesome thing to d-design.” She nodded as she looked over at him. “A-are you f-from T-Toronto then?” Marisol asked curiously. 

Benji instantly wrapped his arms around his girlfriend when she sat in his lap, pulling her in closer. “Baby, there’s no way I would have thought you’d do this on purpose. I should have been more careful. I should have taken precautions. You don’t have to worry about anything, okay? I’m going to be here for you every step of the way, and I’m going to take care of you and this baby. Our baby.” he brought his hand up to her cheek and lightly wiped away her tears. “Well now I know why you were a little frustrated the other night. It’s because you were scared to tell me. You don’t have to do any of this without me. You know me, Marisol. You know my children are my entire life. And you. You are the love of my life. I’m not going anywhere.” he pulled her into his arms so he could hold her for a moment, kissing the side of her head. “I’m sorry.” he whispered after a moment. “For not being more careful. You’re still so young, I’m sure you weren’t planning on being a mother until much later on in life…” 

Blanca knew everything he was saying was true, she knew that deep down. Of course she did. “I-I mean I-It was m-my fault too. I-I s-should have r-reminded you.” She didn’t want him to feel guilty about this. Because she didn’t regret any of the times they were together. But she was not sure how to do this. But as he called it ‘our baby’ something inside her turned. She couldn’t really describe it, or explain it but it was there. “I f-felt s-so bad about that. I-I d-d-don’t like f-fighting with you. I-I don’t l-like it at all.” She said in an almost sheepish tone as she felt him brushing her cheeks away. “I-I know,” she nodded as she listened to him. He was holding her close, and it felt so good to be held like this. “P-Please d-don’t be sorry. I-I wasn’t a-and I’m s-still processing this. B-but it feels more...d-doable. Now th-that you know.” 

Benji couldn’t process this information still. He should have expected this— unprotected sex often lead to pregnancy. He had tried to be careful with her as much as possibly, especially because they were still in that honeymoon phase of their relationship, and sex happened quite frequently. He knew Marisol wanted to do so much with her life before settling down and having kids. She was only twenty one. She was still studying. She still had a 30 before 30 list that she wanted to complete. He shifted closer to her on the couch. “Why would I be mad at you?” he asked, shaking his head and then pulling her into his arms, finally. “Baby, you’re not going to lose me. You have nothing to be sorry for. I should have been more careful. If anything I should be sorry. This is…..this is a lot to take in. Another baby….I can’t believe it.” he leaned back slightly so he could look at her again. He didn’t know what to say, or what to do. This was the last thing he expected to hear today. This news had definitely shocked the blonde. He wanted to comfort his girlfriend, but he couldn’t do that properly while he was in such a shocked state. “I— how are you feeling about all of this? I can’t imagine what’s going through your head right now.” he took hold of her hand, his thumb brushing against her skin. “No matter what, just know that I’ll be here for you every step of the way. I promise.”

Marisol looked at Benji, she could see everything on his face, the shock on his face. She loved him so much, and her stomach sank as she watched him slowly start to register what she had said and what was happening. She moved her head onto his shoulder. She couldn’t help herself as she moved onto his lap. She just wanted to be close to him. Her hands reached up into his hair as she looked at him. She was sobbing now, both because she was scared and also because she was relieved. “B-Because. B-because I w-was s-scared y-you’d t-think m-maybe I d-did this on p-purpose. O-or m-maybe y-you w-wouldn’t want anything to d-do with me. A-and I know t-that i-isn’t who you a-a-are b-but I c-couldn’t s-stop thinking.” Her shoulders were shaking realizing how stupid it was she was sobbing. She brushed her tears with the back of her hand looking at him. She pressed her lips together feeling so stupid but also. “B-better, n-now that you know. I-I was s-scared we’d br-brake up cause I w-was so mean to y-you the over night.” She admitted as she watched him take her hand. “I-I just....I-I know I c-cant do this w-without you. I-I’m sorry I-I didn’t t-tell you sooner.” 

“Honestly?” Dominic began with a light laugh, embarrassed about the reason behind his answer. “Hercules, I mean the Disney animated film, was a pretty big deal in the Cordeiro house hold. Me and my brothers had plates with the different characters and because I’m the oldest, I called dibs on Herc.” Lifting his coffee back up to his lips, she watched her face for a reaction - well, a look of disappointment actually. It was a stupid and rather childish reason to have a favourite, but in all honesty, Dom was just happy to have been able to contribute to the conversation. “I’m an architecture student,” he said for what felt like the millionth time since moving to the city. “It’s pretty fun and interesting but for the last six months my life has completely revolved around it.”

Marisol’s eyes went wide before a giggle bubbled out of her. Her nose crinkled as she shook her head. “Oh n-no y-you are t-totally in the r-right, it is a g-great movie. I-it might have o-one of my favorite songs.” She nodded as she leaned back in her chair. “H-How much older a-are you?” She asked curiously. This was nice, it had been a long time since Marisol had gotten a chance to just sit and talk with someone. It surprised her how it was becoming fairly easy. Also how he didn’t seem too bothered by her stutter. That was always a bonus. “R-really? O-Oh that is really cool!” She grinned as she nodded her head. “D-do you have s-something you s-specifically want to w-work on? S-someday?” 

“I’m so glad you do that. Not enough people do.” Alice commented as she verified the plate. “I’m Alice. Pleasure to meet you.” She tapped her phone on the dash, setting up her navigation before she pulled back onto the street. “So what you up to today, Marisol?”

“Y-yeah, I t-think part of it i-is c-cause I watch t-to much t-true crime.” She joked with a smile as she hopped inside and closed the door. “Alice Hi!” She smiled as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “U-Uh handing out with m-my dog. I-I m-might try to s-see my b-boyfriend...maybe.” She shrugged sheepishly.