By The Way...I'm Pregnant

You Are the Best Thing

"What are you thinking about?" Robert asked his wife. Her loose curls were blowing in the wind, creamy skin was sun-kissed, but the look in her eyes was something he wasn't sure of.

It had been a perfect day off. Morning sex, breakfast, city hike through Discovery Park trails and now they were perched up with a picnic blanket on the Magnolia Bluff enjoying the incredible puget sound water views. There were other pockets of people out enjoying the summer day, families riding bikes, kids playing, but it still felt like their own little slice of paradise.

"That you did a great job planning our day off," Andy replied with a content smile.

"Hey... you say that like I don't have good ideas," Robert teased as he tickled Andy's side. It wasn't long before she was in full on laughter. Andy squirmed and tried to get out of Robert's reach but his heavy form held her in place. It wasn't long until their light-hearted exchange turned a bit more serious. Andy laid comfortably under her husband, Robert rested on his forearms above her, smiling, they held one another's gaze. Robert's fingers lightly caressed Andy's cheek before he finally whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too," Andy said plainly. She didn't know why emotion was caught in her throat, but it was. It was moments like this, the simple gestures, the everyday kindness, the love they showed one another daily that was often her undoing. She enjoyed getting dressed up and fancy dates out, but what she loved most was just them, being them. Who would have thought, the two most unlikely people, both hurt and wounded by life would find the most incredible love in one another.

Andy reached her arms up and circled them around Robert's neck as he leaned in and kissed her slow, deep and thorough. They were unhurried, unrushed and fully present in the moment with one another. The happy couple shared a meaningful stare as Robert rolled to his back and pulled Andy to him. With an arm behind his head, he held her close and she rested on his chest. They laid there for a while in a comfortable silence, watching what looked to be a mom and dad with two kids setting up a picnic several yards in front of them. The mom was trying to unpack and the dad was tossing a ball around with the two small humans. After some time, Andy finally spoke up.

"You know, we didn't talk about kids." Andy said thoughtfully. Remembering the hectic time leading up to their nuptials.

"We had a few other things going on." Robert chuckled. Their marriage had been a whirlwind, there was no denying that. They loved each other a lot and believed they were meant to be, but there were also many other factors at play and they'd both come to terms with that. When Andy didn't respond he tilted her chin up to look at her. "What's going on?"

"It occurred to me recently that I didn't know if you wanted them." Andy said. "I mean, I assumed..." Her voice trailed off a bit and she didn't quite finish her thought.

"Well...if I'm being honest, I hadn't thought much about it in a long time." Robert shrugged his shoulders a bit. "Years ago, I definitely thought I would have them and then life happened. And I guess, I've just been so focused on enjoying us and where I am now that I hadn't considered it." Robert pulled her in closer. "I also know you're pretty apprehensive about them so I figure if it happens great, but if not that'd be okay too."

"Apprehensive, huh?" Andy cocked an eyebrow and Robert grinned a little sheepishly. "Guess that's a nice way of putting it." She chuckled a little at how he tried to soften his statement. "It's safe to say I was a pretty firm no at one point."

Robert's interest had been piqued and he was unsure where the conversation was going. "Has something changed?" It felt a bit out of left field for her to be bringing this up now.

Andy leaned up so she could look Robert in the eyes and took a breath. "Well... I met a man." She smiled softly and held Robert's gaze. "Who turned my entire world upside down. And with him by my side, I have faced the hardest moments of my life." Robert lifted a hand so he could cup Andy's cheek. "He's loved and supported me in ways I didn't even know I needed. So now, things like babies and motherhood that used to feel impossible, aren't quite as scary anymore."

Robert eyed his wife and tried to make sense of what he was hearing. "What are you saying? You want to start a family?" He couldn't help the gentle smile that was forming on his lips.

"We already are a family, babe." Andy tilted her head a bit and looked at Robert with love. "But you should get ready for one more. I'm pregnant.

Robert sat up as he tried to process her words. Andy moved to sit beside him and watched shock, surprise and delight play out over his face. "We're having a baby?" He questioned rhetorically, feeling a sense of disbelief. Was he really getting all the things he'd ever wanted?

"We're having a baby." Andy confirmed and before she could get all the words out, Robert had scooped her up into a tight hug. Tears pooled in her eyes and she felt overwhelmed with a happiness and a love she hadn't thought possible.

Robert buried his face in Andy's neck as tears pricked his eyes. He was normally a stoic man, but in a moment like this he couldn't help but be taken with emotion. He held his wife tightly and took a deep breath. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I never thought, in a million years, that life could be this good. I love you Andrea Herrera-Sullivan and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you, as happy as you make me." Robert whispered.

"You already do," Andy whispered back into their embrace. "You already do."