Boss Lady.

[ tug ] sender tugs receiver behind them during a tense moment

[ pull ] sender pulls receiver out of harm's way at the last second

[ tuck ] sender stares at receiver and quietly reaches up, tucking a fallen strand of hair behind receiver's ear

[ yank ] sender yanks receiver closer to them, ending up in semi-suggestive close proximity

[ steady ] sender grabs receiver's arm to steady them before they fall over

[ walk ] sender moves around receiver and walks closest to the street as they travel down the sidewalk, keeping receiver away from any potential danger in the roadway

[ untied ] sender drops to their knee and starts tying receiver's shoe for them

[ spoon ] sender lifts a spoon towards receiver's mouth, encouraging them to eat

[ trace ] sender traces receiver's lips with their thumb

[ pin ] sender pins receiver to a tucked-away spot in the shadows to avoid being caught

[ neck ] without a word, sender dips down to receiver's throat and kisses them soundly

[ handheld ] sender slips a hand behind their back and grabs receiver's fingers as they stand behind them

[ carry ] without asking, sender takes receiver's heavy bags from them and carries them

[ lock ] sender and receiver lock eyes across the room

[ drink ] sender brings receiver a drink and holds it to their lips, insisting they take a drink

[ reload ] sender reloads receiver's gun for them in the middle of a fight

[ shelter ] sender uses their body to shelter receiver from an explosion or attack

[ carry ] sender picks up receiver and carries them off the battlefield and into a safe spot before running back to the fight

[ toss ] from a secret hiding spot only receiver and sender can see as they avoid an enemy, sender silently gestures to receiver to toss them (their gun, something valuable, etc.)

[ stairs ] sender offers out a hand to help receiver ascend or descend a staircase

[ cover ] sender covers receiver's eyes so they don't witness something gruesome

[ fix ] sender comes up to receiver and fixes their collar and/or tie

[ shake ] to convince receiver not to do something, sender hastily shakes their head from a distance

[ watch ] from a distance, sender taps on their watch to show receiver they're running out of time

[ i'll go ] sender gently pushes receiver back, taking charge and insisting they will handle the dangerous task

[ reach ] through a locked gate, sender reaches for receiver's hand

[ ship ] as receiver's ship takes off from the planet, sender waves to them from the ground and watches them leave

[ protect ] after someone threatens receiver, sender rushes over and gets right in their face to protect them

[ punch ] after someone attacks receiver, sender rushes over and punches them in retaliation

[ nip ] sender playfully nips at receiver's neck

[ knuckles ] sender kisses receiver's knuckles in a polite gesture

[ squeeze ] sender gives receiver's butt a playful squeeze from behind

[ danger ] as an all-powerful receiver is about to lose control of their powers and cause massive damage, sender finds their eyes and tries to talk them down

[ goodbye ] without saying a word, sender approaches receiver and kisses them goodbye

[ wipe ] sender wipes a tear from receiver's face

[ location ] without saying anything and giving away the surprise, sender takes receiver to a secret spot

[ hold back ] sender has to hold back receiver from attacking someone

[ game ] sender lets receiver win a game they're playing

i   think   about   you

you   make   me   nervous

you   feel   like   home

don’t   leave   just   yet

i   missed   you   today

i   want   you   close

you’re   hard   to   ignore

you   matter   to   me

my   heart   knows   you

i   care   too   much

you’re   all   i   want

i   waited   for   you

i   feel   it   too

i’m   drawn   to   you

it’s   always   been   you

i   can’t   stop   looking

i   like   you   more

don’t   make   me   fall

stay   a   little   longer

i’m   not   over   you

you’re   more   than   beautiful

you   feel   like   safety

i   need   you   here

you’ve   ruined   my   plans

i   can’t   unfeel   this

i   like   your   laugh

you   have   my   attention

you're   in   my   dreams

i   noticed   everything   about   you

i   didn’t   mean   to

just   say   the   word

i’d   choose   you   again

you’re   impossible   to   forget

i   want   more   time

i   still   remember   everything

i   can’t   fake   this

you’re   not   just   anyone

i   want   to   try

i   want   you   badly

i   wish   you   knew

i   think   you   know

i   meant   every   word

you’re   more   than   enough

you   make   me   better

i   feel   something   real

you’re   messing   me   up

i’m   not   afraid   anymore

don’t   make   me   say   it

i   love   your   voice

you’re   too   important   now

i’d   ruin   everything   for   you

i’m   trying   not   to

you’re   in   my   blood

don’t   let   go   yet

i   ache   for   you

you   already   know,   right?

i   didn’t   expect   you

you   mean   so   much

this   can’t   be   casual

i   need   to   tell   you

it’s   killing   me   inside

you’re   all   i   see

i   feel   so   alive

i   wanted   you   first

it’s   always   been   this

i’d   wait   for   you

you’re   more   than   temptation

i   keep   choosing   you

i’m   not   good   at   this

please   don’t   walk   away

you   were   worth   waiting

you   make   it   hard

it’s   not   just   physical

i   feel   every   second

i   want   to   stay

i   can’t   do   this

say   something,   anything   please

you   still   have   me

i’m   not   pretending   anymore

this   is   all   real

just   let   me   in

i   feel   everything   now

i   tried   to   hide

you’re   already   in   deep

this   changes   everything,   doesn’t   it?

i’m   terrified   to   lose   you

don’t   make   me   guess

you’re   all   i   crave

i   wasn’t   supposed   to

this   is   more   serious

i   didn’t   expect   this

i’ve   never   felt   this

you’re   messing   me   up

can   you   feel   it?

i   don’t   regret   us

i’m   scared   it’s   real

we’re   not   just   friends

you   feel   like   forever

do   you   feel   it?

she's been acting weird for months.

i'm seeing something.

can you seriously not hear me?

fuck you, it's not fucking funny.

does anyone on this island work?

hey, it's none of my business.

i don't want any gossip. not today.

you shouldn't assume the writer is a man.

i think the quake has people on edge.

what are you asking me to do, [ name ]?

what do you think i'm asking you to do?

[ name ] is missing.

not my job to know that, buddy.

don't shit your diaper.

so, you wanna grab some coffee?

i think it's a little early for that story, [ name ].

do you know what? i'm gonna take it from here.

well, i hope you like the local color, [ name ], because we got a lot of it.

i was talking to the guy on the ferry and he said something odd.

he said bad things happen here.

was there cannibalism?

i don't think that's right.

what town doesn't have a checkered past?

i swear, i have been having the hardest time getting reception.

fuck cape cod.

we just learned [ name ]' s colorblind.

okay, so i wanna move quickly here.

i just want eyes on him the whole time.

so, i guess you don't want me to take him to the old hospital?

shut it down. shut it all down.

wait, did something happen to [ name ]?

fog took him.

well, i can think of a couple of other explanations i could go to before jumping to the "fog took him."

you refuse to accept our history, to accept the truth.

the only thing that's gonna get people killed here is the lack of infrastructure.

it's a haunt!

could you remind me again? a haunt is worse than a spook, but not as bad as a fright?

you can mock me all you like.

i think there are some people who want to be miserable.

they just found [ name ].

i know you didn't just lie to a bunch of people telling them i found this man.

you know, buddy, i'm on my last legs.

hey, uh, i'm gonna run out for a bit.

they haven't found him, have they?

should we be worried?

do you remember the boogeyman?

It's only the most terrifying thing that's ever happened to me.

i still sleep with the dresser in front of my door.

why is that more upsetting?

do you know what this is? i was trying to figure it out.

oh no, we're gonna have a talk.

i just don't know how to get through to you.

do you know where you get that adventurous spirit?

i vaguely promised this about a year ago, it took me about a year to get like, half of these??? and then over the last two days i ended up compiling enough for like, three lists, so here’s one of the lists!! do NOT add to this list!!! i have other lists ready!!!

“ i wanna have a baby with you. “

“ i don’t know if i’m ready to be a mom/dad/parent… “

“ actually, do you mind if we meet at the park instead? i’m sorry, it’s just… i can’t stand the smell of coffee anymore. or lavender. the baby is super picky, it seems! “

“ huh… that’s one hell of a unique craving, you know. “

“ look, we had fun. it was good! but, you know… i-i didn’t sign up for this. i’m not exactly cut out for the parenting life. “

“ hey, go rest yourself, alright? let me handle the chores; you can’t be lifting these boxes in your condition! “

“ i think the baby’s using my bladder as a stress toy… “

“ i… i think my water just broke. “

“ you know, before this, i could pretend everything was normal. but now… i mean, i’m wearing a maternity dress. it’s official. it’s real. and i’m beginning to freak out a little… “

“ you swiped right. you wore a condom. you didn’t sign up for a baby, and i get it. i don’t want you sticking around because you think you’re supposed to. this is just me informing you. okay? “

“ hey, hey, it’s okay! false alarm, the doctor called it braxton-hicks contractions. totally normal; i just need to go home and take it easy for a bit. “

“ i mean, look at these little booties! look how tiny they are! it shouldn’t be possible that there’s gonna be feet that small! “

“ look, i don’t like you living so far away… why don’t you move in with me? i have plenty of space, it’s closer to the hospital, a good neighborhood… what do you think? “

“ if i get married, i want it to be because of love, not because of a positive pregnancy test. “

“ so… that was the surrogate. it’s good news, babe… we’re gonna have a baby. we’re gonna be parents! “

“ the adoption agency just called. they want us to come in tomorrow… sweetie, they say they might have a kid for us… “

“ the IVF worked! we’re gonna have a baby! “

“ hey, it says you shouldn’t eat salad while you’re pregnant. nice one! “

“ do you mind if i put you as my emergency contact? it’s just that the hospital needs one, it’s no big deal, just standard procedure for pregnant patients. “

“ here, i can drive you to the next appointment, if you like. it’s a scan, right? you shouldn’t have to miss out on that! it’s no trouble, seriously. “

“ now, i know you said you didn’t want one, but… the others organized a surprise baby shower for you. try to look surprised, please? “

“ how far along are you? “

“ so, i saw a maternity pillow in the baby store on the way here, and i thought i’d get it for you. you said you were having trouble sleeping, right? “

“ you know, with the baby coming along… i was kinda thinking of maybe getting a new place. one closer to the schools, with a nice garden, more space, a safe neighborhood… what do you think? “

“ can you stop?! i’m pregnant, for crying out loud, it’s not like i’m made of glass! “

“ yeah, well, the father wants nothing to do with us, so… single parenthood ought to be a blast, right? “

“ are you pregnant? “

“ i know we’ve been trying for so long, but… now that it’s finally happening, i’m starting to freak out a little. what if i’m a bad parent? “

“ i brought lunch, orange juice, a bunch of nail polish, and the entire aisle of baby-proofing stuff at the supermarket. you’re in charge of music and relaxing on the couch, i’ll handle everything else. got it? “

“ sorry, i don’t mean to cry all over you… god, this is so embarrassing, i don’t even know if i’m crying because of the hormones or because of my actual problems! “

“ so, remember last week when i couldn’t go out because of the stomach flu? turns out it wasn’t the stomach flu. i’m having a baby. “

“ i’ve decided to give the baby up for adoption. “

“ sweetheart, just because we can’t get pregnant, doesn’t mean we can’t have a baby… what if we adopted? “

“ pregnant, huh? wow… h-how do you feel? “

“ listen… i’m/you’re pregnant now. and as much as we mightn’t want it to, that means that a lot of stuff is gonna change. and that’s okay! right? “

“ i don’t know how to feel about having and raising a kid when i don’t know if i can keep them safe… “

“ i thought i’d bring you some meals, you know, for the freezer. i figure you might be too busy to cook once this little one comes along! “

“ no way, this is too dangerous for someone who’s pregnant. “

“ i already know this kid’s gonna be the luckiest kid in the world. they’ve got you as a mom/dad/parent/aunt/uncle/etc. “

“ how long have you known? you know, about the baby. “

“ look, i know we said i wouldn’t, but i couldn’t resist! these baby-gros were just too cute! i got five of them, and i kept the receipt if you hate them, so there’s no harm done either way! “

“ i’m so sorry to bother you, but would you mind picking up my keys? i dropped them, and my bump’s kinda in my way! “

“ so, i was wondering… when the time comes, would you wanna be in the delivery room with me? “

i’m seeing a lot of baby fever on the dash lately, PLUS a lovely nonnie asked for angsty pregnancy prompts and i wasn’t able to, so have some lighter baby prompts instead! love to all!

“ is… is it mine? ”

“ have you thought of any baby names? ”

“ i thought the doctor put you on bed rest? ”

“ hey! i got you starbucks! decaf, of course. ”

“ have you had any cravings yet? ”

“ ah… i know. morning sickness is no fun, huh? ”

“ i’m pregnant. ”

“ you’re going to be a mother/father/aunt/uncle/etc. ”

“ i saw the pregnancy test in the trash. ”

“ the pregnancy test… it’s yours. right? ”

“ does the father know? “

“ who’s the father? “

“ it doesn’t matter about the father. i’m here to support you and this baby, no matter what. okay? “

“ you’re not alone. it takes a village to raise a kid, right? “

“ i want… a cheeseburger. with fries. and a strawberry shake. and onion rings… ”

“ that was a kick! ”

“ was that a kick? ”

“ is it a boy or a girl? ”

“ what color paint do you want? for the nursery? ”

“ we need to go shopping! baby clothes, maternity clothes, furniture, all of it! ”

“ i… we should get married. right? that’s what you do, when… when there’s a kid? ”

“ i know it was just a one night stand, but… i’m gonna support you. whatever you decide to do. ”

“ shit… um… i-i’m the dad. right? ”

“ you got that pregnancy glow. ”

“ hey… this is new for both of us. but i reckon you’re going to be a terrific mother/father/parent. ”

“ i… i slept with someone else while we were separated. they won’t pick up their phone, but… i’m not sure if you’re the father or not. ”

“ maybe we should move in together. n-not permanently. just until the baby’s born. ”

“ wait a minute. heartbeats?! plural?! we’re having twins/triplets/etc?! ”

“ woah… this pram costs more than three months rent. ”

“ ikea really knows how to make building a crib stressful… ”

“ god, i’m a mess. i cried yesterday while watching an advertisement for fence paint. hormones are something else… ”

“ can i have your fries? don’t judge me, the baby’s hungry. ”

“ my back’s been killing me for the last month, and i have four more months to go… my chiropractor’s gonna have a field day. ”

“ i know we want this to be a secret, but people are getting suspicious. i can only turn down champagne so many times… ”

“ wanna go with me for the next scan? it’s a big one, we get to keep a copy for the baby book. ”

“ oh, you best believe i’m signing up for all the babysitting duty. ”

“ would you like to be their godfather/godmother? ”

“ i’m their honorary aunt/uncle, let me spoil the little kiddo! ”

“ they have the instructions for this crib in every language except english. they have it in irish! who has it in irish?! ”

“ no! no mayonnaise! it’s bad for pregnant people! ”

“ i took the test nine times, okay, and all of them are positive. this is real. this is happening. ”

“ i always wanted kids… ”

“ that kid’s gonna be the most insanely loved baby in the world. ”

“ don’t look at me like that, okay? we’re going totally tee-total until the baby comes. ”

“ i swear, if i read one more baby book… ”

“ i wouldn’t mind, but all the women i meet when i go outside the door, all have different advice for me. the bump is like a magnet to them… ”

“ i wouldn’t blame you if you walked away, you know. you never signed up for a baby. ”

“ one thing’s for sure… everything’s going to change the minute people find out about the baby. ”

“ here! i got you some take-out. and i researched like, fifty mommy blogs to make sure this stuff was totally safe and healthy for you. ”

“ i don’t know if i ever had a plan for my life, but… if i did, i think pregnancy was later down the road. ”

“ my love, starting a family with you… it’s my greatest wish. but if you’re not ready, that’s okay. what will be, will be. ”

In the end, she supposes, food is food… at least when not at her restaurant. She will give this place a pass, she jokes to herself. Though she will admit to being absolutely mortified to forget that her friend's eldest daughter is finished with school. "I even had that on my calendar! I am so sorry, Jenna. Things have been crazy this past year-and-a-half. I will call her as soon as we are done here. I promise."

On the subject of baby pictures? Oh, Abby could sit here all day and talk about the kids. Pulling her phone from the purse slung over her chair, she opens up the photo app and simply hands the device to her friend. "Scroll to your heart's content. You know, I adore Aaron more than life itself, but that boy did not inherit my obsession with being punctual, Jenna. He was six days late and almost nine pounds. Nine freaking pounds, Jen. I think you saw me pregnant once or twice, right? I was just huge at the end. If you scroll far back enough, you will find proof. I looked like I ate a bowling ball, I swear."

“You’ve been a little busy. It’s perfectly understandable.” Jenna brushed off the unnecessary apology with a warm smile, knowing from her own experiences just how hectic and chaotic life could get, even when you weren’t trying to raise a family and run your own business at the exact same time. While it was true she’d been determined to prove that women honestly could have it all back in the day, it wasn’t anywhere near as easy as she did her best to make it look most days.

Wasting no time accepting the offered phone, she began scrolling through the album of baby pictures while listening to the other woman’s explanation of how the little one had chosen to come into the world on his own schedule. That sounded about right.

“I can only imagine. Merritt was just under six pounds, and Abigail was a little bit over, but nine pounds with a natural birth?” Yeah, that was something she most certainly didn’t envy in any way, shape, or form.

"Well, thank you for being so gracious." Truth be told, Abby was still very much in the thick of figuring things out. Every little bit of this was so all-consuming, so inundating, but truly in the best possible way. That did not mean it was somehow easy to adjust to being late all the time. Such an embarrassment, but Abby knows that is her own ego talking. It is not reflective of her ability to be a good person or a good mother.

"Oh, honey, I made noises that day that I had never in my entire life," Abby laughed, self-deprecation evident in her tone. "I would be more than happy to tell you all about how it went. There are pictures, too, if you want to see?" Why not share her pride at what she's accomplished? Seeing as she did it all by herself, that was extra special and meaningful.

"He is crawling around still. He pulls himself up a little bit more than a couple months ago but I think he prefers crawling. Taken a few steps. He was almost nine pounds when he was born. Six days late," explains the proud mother.

A moment of silence from her.

Valeria shook her head. "I like getting to know people when I go on dates. Hearing about the real you, and what your life is like is far better than hearing about what you think I want to hear. The realness is refreshing."

"So… tell me more about you. I don't really keep up with celebrity news and all that stuff. To me, you are just a person."

for: m/f/nb

plot: Abby is on a date.

"So, I have a son. His name is Aaron, he just turned one about two weeks ago. Love of my life. Absolutely. Do you want to see pictures?"

"He is crawling around still. He pulls himself up a little bit more than a couple months ago but I think he prefers crawling. Taken a few steps. He was almost nine pounds when he was born. Six days late," explains the proud mother.

A moment of silence from her.

EVERYDAY LIFE / DOMESTIC

📋 : how organized is your muse?

✅ : what do they pretend to have together that they don't?

🕰️ : what time do they naturally wake up when no one needs them?

☕ : what's their morning ritual, and what happens when it's disrupted?

🧺 : how often do they do laundry?

🪞 : do they look at themselves in mirrors, or avoid them? why?

🍽️ : do they eat to survive, for pleasure, or as comfort?

🏠 : what part of their living space reflects them the most?

🌱 : do they keep plants, and are those plants alive?

🧼 : what's something they're weirdly particular about being clean?

📺 : what do they put on when they don't want to think?

SOCIALIZATION / CONNECTION

🗣️ : are they better one-on-one, or in groups?

📱 : do they text back immediately, or let messages rot?

🫥 : how often do they pretend to be fine to keep the peace?

🎭 : how different are they with strangers versus people they trust?

🤝 : do they make friends easily, or accidentally?

🧠 : what do they assume people think about them?

🌘 : how hard is it to really know them?

🎉 : do they enjoy social events, or endure them?

🪑 : are they the type to leave early without saying goodbye?

INTROSPECT / INTERNAL LANDSCAPE

🕵️‍♀️ : how often does your muse think about death?

🧩 : what part of themselves do they not understand yet?

🫀 : what emotion scares them the most?

👣 : do they believe they deserve good things?

🧱 : what walls are they aware of building? which ones are they not aware of?

🕳️ : what do they spiral about at night?

📉 : what's their most common self-criticism?

💀 : do they trust their own memories?

🌊 : what emotion do they drown in when they're alone?

PERSONAL / DEEP / TRAUMA-ADJACENT

🩸 : what wound shaped them the most, even if they won't admit it?

🔥 : what moment do they replay when they're ashamed?

🧷 : who failed them first?

🕯️ : what do they grieve that no one else sees as a loss?

🪤 : what pattern do they keep falling back into?

🧨 : what pushes them past the point of restraint?

🧬 : what did they inherit emotionally from their caregivers?

🕶 : what lie do they tell themselves to survive?

🩹 : what actually helps them heal, even if it's unhealthy?

HABITS / VICES / COPING

🚬 : what vice do they justify the most?

🍺 : do they drink to socialize, numb, or celebrate?

💊 : what's their relationship with substances, past or present?

🏃 : do they move their body to feel alive or to punish it?

🛏️ : how do they sleep when things are bad?

🎧 : what kind of music gets them through the worst days?

🖊️ : do they write things down or let thoughts rot in their head?

☔️ : do they intellectualize pain instead of feeling it?

🕳️ : what habit would unravel them if taken away?

SEXUALITY / INTIMACY

🫠 : is it easy for them to get turned on, or do they need emotional safety first?

💞 : do they separate sex and feelings, or blur them dangerously?

🛑 : what's an immediate turn-off for them?

🔥 : do they crave intensity or stability?

🤲 : do they like being in control, or giving it up?

🪶 : are they gentle with people they desire?

🍒 : how do they feel about their own body during intimacy?

🎱 : what do they need to feel wanted?

🔒 : do they guard intimacy, or give it too freely?

💔 : have they ever used sex to avoid something?

MORALITY / CHOICES

⚖️ : what line will they never cross?

🩶 : what line have they already crossed and justified? or regret?

🧭 : do they believe they're a good person?

🔪 : what would they do if survival demanded cruelty?

🪙 : what do they value more, loyalty or truth?

🚪 : who would they abandon if forced to choose?

🕊️ : do they believe in forgiveness? for themselves? in others?

🧨 : what would make them snap permanently?

📜 : what promise do they regret making?

i vaguely promised this about a year ago, it took me about a year to get like, half of these??? and then over the last two days i ended up compiling enough for like, three lists, so here’s one of the lists!! do NOT add to this list!!! i have other lists ready!!!

“ i wanna have a baby with you. “

“ i don’t know if i’m ready to be a mom/dad/parent… “

“ actually, do you mind if we meet at the park instead? i’m sorry, it’s just… i can’t stand the smell of coffee anymore. or lavender. the baby is super picky, it seems! “

“ huh… that’s one hell of a unique craving, you know. “

“ look, we had fun. it was good! but, you know… i-i didn’t sign up for this. i’m not exactly cut out for the parenting life. “

“ hey, go rest yourself, alright? let me handle the chores; you can’t be lifting these boxes in your condition! “

“ i think the baby’s using my bladder as a stress toy… “

“ i… i think my water just broke. “

“ you know, before this, i could pretend everything was normal. but now… i mean, i’m wearing a maternity dress. it’s official. it’s real. and i’m beginning to freak out a little… “

“ you swiped right. you wore a condom. you didn’t sign up for a baby, and i get it. i don’t want you sticking around because you think you’re supposed to. this is just me informing you. okay? “

“ hey, hey, it’s okay! false alarm, the doctor called it braxton-hicks contractions. totally normal; i just need to go home and take it easy for a bit. “

“ i mean, look at these little booties! look how tiny they are! it shouldn’t be possible that there’s gonna be feet that small! “

“ look, i don’t like you living so far away… why don’t you move in with me? i have plenty of space, it’s closer to the hospital, a good neighborhood… what do you think? “

“ if i get married, i want it to be because of love, not because of a positive pregnancy test. “

“ so… that was the surrogate. it’s good news, babe… we’re gonna have a baby. we’re gonna be parents! “

“ the adoption agency just called. they want us to come in tomorrow… sweetie, they say they might have a kid for us… “

“ the IVF worked! we’re gonna have a baby! “

“ hey, it says you shouldn’t eat salad while you’re pregnant. nice one! “

“ do you mind if i put you as my emergency contact? it’s just that the hospital needs one, it’s no big deal, just standard procedure for pregnant patients. “

“ here, i can drive you to the next appointment, if you like. it’s a scan, right? you shouldn’t have to miss out on that! it’s no trouble, seriously. “

“ now, i know you said you didn’t want one, but… the others organized a surprise baby shower for you. try to look surprised, please? “

“ how far along are you? “

“ so, i saw a maternity pillow in the baby store on the way here, and i thought i’d get it for you. you said you were having trouble sleeping, right? “

“ you know, with the baby coming along… i was kinda thinking of maybe getting a new place. one closer to the schools, with a nice garden, more space, a safe neighborhood… what do you think? “

“ can you stop?! i’m pregnant, for crying out loud, it’s not like i’m made of glass! “

“ yeah, well, the father wants nothing to do with us, so… single parenthood ought to be a blast, right? “

“ are you pregnant? “

“ i know we’ve been trying for so long, but… now that it’s finally happening, i’m starting to freak out a little. what if i’m a bad parent? “

“ i brought lunch, orange juice, a bunch of nail polish, and the entire aisle of baby-proofing stuff at the supermarket. you’re in charge of music and relaxing on the couch, i’ll handle everything else. got it? “

“ sorry, i don’t mean to cry all over you… god, this is so embarrassing, i don’t even know if i’m crying because of the hormones or because of my actual problems! “

“ so, remember last week when i couldn’t go out because of the stomach flu? turns out it wasn’t the stomach flu. i’m having a baby. “

“ i’ve decided to give the baby up for adoption. “

“ sweetheart, just because we can’t get pregnant, doesn’t mean we can’t have a baby… what if we adopted? “

“ pregnant, huh? wow… h-how do you feel? “

“ listen… i’m/you’re pregnant now. and as much as we mightn’t want it to, that means that a lot of stuff is gonna change. and that’s okay! right? “

“ i don’t know how to feel about having and raising a kid when i don’t know if i can keep them safe… “

“ i thought i’d bring you some meals, you know, for the freezer. i figure you might be too busy to cook once this little one comes along! “

“ no way, this is too dangerous for someone who’s pregnant. “

“ i already know this kid’s gonna be the luckiest kid in the world. they’ve got you as a mom/dad/parent/aunt/uncle/etc. “

“ how long have you known? you know, about the baby. “

“ look, i know we said i wouldn’t, but i couldn’t resist! these baby-gros were just too cute! i got five of them, and i kept the receipt if you hate them, so there’s no harm done either way! “

“ i’m so sorry to bother you, but would you mind picking up my keys? i dropped them, and my bump’s kinda in my way! “

“ so, i was wondering… when the time comes, would you wanna be in the delivery room with me? “