I will always love you <3

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎

Crockett's POV:

I wake up in Natalie's bed, some rays of sunshine coming through the curtains. I think about last night, the baby shower, but especially about our little baby kicking. I'm so glad, so happy, with our decision, even with all the trouble yet to come. The crying, the changing, the feeding, it's all been a while since I last did that, and I realise I threw away my books a couple weeks after Harper died. Natalie probably has some, but I know which books I want, they worked really well last time.

Since it's my day off, and Natalie's already at work, I decide to go to a bookshop nearby.

I enter the "after-words bookstore", one that's been close to me ever since I moved here, and smell the authentic wood, a smell always present here. I walk over to one of the shelves with some childrens or baby books, as I decided to get some story-time books as well. As I'm looking through the rows of books, I get a text from Nat:

"Hey I forgot my lunch in a hurry this morning, would you mind getting me something?"

I reply:

"Yeah, sure! I'll be there in about 30 min, sound good?"

"Yes! Thank you so much!" she replies.

I finally find the books I was looking for, and walk to a sandwich store to get Natalie some lunch. 

The ED doors open and I step into a big room full of noise and people. Something completely different from the quiet and peaceful bookstore. Through all the patients, nurses and doctors walking, I notice Nat at one of the PC's. I sneak my way through the crowd, and as I'm almost there, she notices me too. Her face lights up when she sees the sandwiches in my hand.

"Oh my God, thank you so much! You're an angel" she says, I chuckle "it's no problem, couldn't let my favourite girl go all hungry, could I?" I say, she chuckles too. "Hey, so, I still wanted to talk to you about the mov-" I start, but she cuts me off, "Can we talk about it later? I mean you see, it's so busy, and I still gotta finish some charts and all that" she says. "Oh, yeah no problem, sorry" I say quickly, starting to walk away. Natalie grabs me by the arm and gives me a kiss "I promise we'll talk about it later, ok? I love you" she says. I smile "love you too. I'll see you tonight for dinner!" I say, forcing my way through the crowd again, towards the exit of the ED.

Natalie's POV:

That evening

I come home all exhausted, one of my busiest days since my pregnancy, maybe even the busiest day ever. Not even the power outage topped how many patients I saw today. I open the door to an amazing smell and Owen running at me "Mamaaa" he yells excited. I bend down as far as I can to pick Owen up, but he's grown so big, he's too heavy for me know. "Oof, Owen, what did you eat today?" I say mockingly, and I see Crockett coming out of the kitchen, still with the oven mittens on, "you're so big!" I say and hug him. "Hey, good day?" Crockett asks me and gives me a kiss. Owen covers his eyes with his eyes and says "ewww" very exaggerated. Crockett laughs "sorry buddy" he says and strokes Owen's hair. "Busy day, more than anything" I say and sigh. "Well, let's hope dinner can cheer you up!" Crockett says and puts his oven-mitten-hand around my shoulder, and walks me to the table. "I'm sure it will" I pause "unless it's another proposal" I say. Crockett's face turns blank "how did you know? Did Owen tell you? Maggie" he asks shocked.

In this moment I'm not sure whether he's joking or not, and if he even knows I'm joking. But then his face turns to that usual charismatic smile, and he gives me a tighter hug "I'm just joking, no worries, take your time" he says and quickly gives me a kiss on the head.

I exhale deeply, and hit him gently "Don't do that to your pregnant girlfriend!" I say and hit him again. "Ow" he says and pouts. "Can we go eat now?" Owen says slightly annoyed, already sitting at the table with his cutlery in his hand. "Yeah, sure, we're coming" Crockett says and leads me to the chair.

For the first time, I think since I've started dating Crockett, I feel like we're eating as one whole family. A strong one. The one in which everyone is there for whoever needs it. I smile looking at how well Owen and Crockett get along with each other, and can't wait for us to be a family of four. I've decided that I'm going to call us a family. No more dancing around it, we're one. And I will keep myself, and Crockett to it (without him knowing, but I feel like he does actually know, so I'll operate under that assumption).

We're almost done with dinner, when Crockett sets down his cutlery. "You know, I've been thinking. We said we were gonna move in, weeks ago, but we haven't planned anything. And now, since the date is getting closer, I thought we should, you know, get on with it?" he says and raises his eyebrows at me. Before I can react, Owen looks at me amazed and shouts "He's gonna come here?" and hugs Crockett, as he's sitting next to him. Crockett chuckles, but looks back at me to see if I agree.

I smile and slowly nod "Yeah, sure, why not?" I say. "You know if you're not comfortable, we can wait right? I have no problem with it." he says with Owen still stuck to him. "Momma don't say no, I like him" he says muffled, as he put his face on Crockett's shirt.

"I'm all in, let's do it" I say with a big smile.