I will always love you <3

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐

Natalie's POV:

I enter my apartment building, and empty my mailbox. As I'm checking everything that came in, I don't look up, and bump into someone. Again without looking I just apologise and continue my way, until I hear a familiar voice, a surprised one. "Nat, what are you already doing here? Doesn't your shift end in another hour?" Crockett says. "Crockett?" I look at him surprised, "what are you doi- what are you even doing in my building?!" I say confused. "I- uh- I-" Crockett mumbles.

He sighs. "You weren't supposed to know about this" he looks away, "I,  I have a surprise planned, I was just about to get the last ingredients for dinner..." he says. "What about Owen, he still needs to be picked up- and what surprise are you talking about?" I ask, no less confused than before. "I already took care of that, picked him up and left him at your mothers, I asked her for a favor, talked to him about the whole 'dad' situation, and well, a surprise is a surprise, so I can't tell you" he says, and remakes eye contact. "Crockett." I say firmly and raise my eyebrows.

He drops his head "Fine," he says "I wanted to surprise you with a nice dinner, then I wanted to give you some kind of spa, or foot rub, whatever you'd like and after that I was thinking we could watch a movie, I brought some over, or we could read those books I got, and I could- I could just take care of you", he raises his shoulders and puts his hands in his pockets. "You know, make you feel better. I mean I can't forgive myself if you regret your decision, and I just- I just feel so bad, I-I didn't notice, how you felt" he says, and I can see tears collecting in his eyes.

At this point I don't know what to say. The one thing, however, that I'm absolutely sure of is my decision about the baby. I step forward slowly and put my hand on Crockett's arm, then both my hands, and I end up sliding them under his arms and pulling him in for a hug. I can feel him hesitantly taking his hands out of his pockets and putting them around me. I put my forehead on his chest, and he puts his chin on my head. I breathe in his nice cologne, and enjoy the softness of the fabric of his sweater.

I free myself of his arms, and look at him, firmly, again. "Crockett, listen to me: I will never regret the decision about keeping this baby, and having it with you, you hear me? Never, ok?" I say, and now tears collect in my eyes. 

Crockett sniffs and smiles "Yeah, ok, in case you didn't know, me either" he says. I giggle "I know" and scrunch my nose. "So, is the offer for the 'surprise' still standing?" I ask. "Yes it is, the only thing is I didn't make any dinner yet" he says, and takes my hands. "I guess we'll just order in then? I mean, there's still lots of cooking to come" I say, and he giggles and kisses my hands. "Your wish is my command" he says and takes me upstairs.

Crockett's POV:

After we've finished our food, we decide to start reading the pile of books that we collected. It's starting to be a pressing matter, since Natalie's due date is getting closer, and it's been a while since either of us had to handle a new born baby. We position ourselves on the couch with a blanket and some tea.

About half an hour in, Nat looks up from her book. "Hey, I just remembered, your parents weren't at the baby shower, were they?" she asks. A topic I'd wished would never come up. "Uh, no, they weren't" I say, and continue to read, to try and nonverbally communicate that I don't want to talk about it. She nudges me "Have you even told them?" she asks. "Mhm" I answer, to shut the conversation off. "Crockett" she says firmly. Third time this evening I heard her say something with such a stern voice. 

I look up from my book and sigh deeply. I look at her "No, I have not told them, and I'm not sure I ever will. Can we just continue reading? Please?" I say. Even though I'm already looking back at the page, I know exactly that Natalie is still looking at me, and won't stop looking at me until I look back.

So I give in pretty quickly. "Why? I mean it's their grandchild too, you can't just keep it from them forever. Besides, the baby will eventually question why they can't see their grandparents, won't it" Natalie says and puts her hand on her stomach. "I know, I know, I can't keep it from them, but," I pause, "Nat, I haven't talked to them since Harper-" I pause again, "you know." I say. She sighs "Yeah, I get it. It'll be awkward when you tell them. But, isn't it a good thing? I mean you don't have to say anything, I can just be the one to talk? I'd love to meet them anyways, not to mention your sister." she says and looks excited. I scratch my head and sigh, "I don't know, it's all very complicated, I- I gotta think about it, alright?" I say. "All I'm asking" she says smiling, and moves closer to me.

We continue reading and discussing about all our plans until we almost fall asleep. We agree that I'll move in here, and we'll use the guest bedroom as the room for the baby. Once we're in bed, Natalie gasps. I look up from my phone in shock. "Everything ok? You feeling alright? Did som-" but Natalie cuts me off by taking my hand and putting it on her stomach.