The Gays Who Don't Like Musicals (At Least One Of Them Doesn't)

13

Emma barfs again, unsure of the reason. Paul raps softly on the bathroom door.
"Emma? Are you OK in there?"
"Yeah." She lies. "I'm fine. At least, I will be."
As the day goes on, Emma is in a lot of pain. On her way to the kitchen to grab a pastry, she smells it. Freezing, she rushes outside. Nora, annoyed, follows her but steps back as Emma throws up on the pavement. Refusing that she is sick, Emma tries to go back to work but Nora won't let her. Calling for Zoey to cover the front, Nora brings Emma into her office as she calls Paul to pick her up. When he arrives, Emma struggles but he convinces her to go with him. She has no more problems that day apart from stomach pains. She also notices that her period is a bit late. Thinking the worst, she calls Hidgens.
"Who is it?
"Professor Hidgens."
"Don't lie to me, whoever you are, I'm Professor Hidgens."
Emma groans.
"No, Professor. It's me, Emma Perkins. I'm off sick. Look could you possibly slip a pregnancy test into the bag you give the guy who collects my work?"
"Emma, are you saying you might be..."
"I don't know. But the last guy I was with is the one to pick up the work so can you please hide it? I didn't know who else to call."
"OK Emma. You've done so much for me, I can do this for you."
Hidgens hangs up. Emma falls back down onto the bed in relief. She would find out this afternoon. At around half 1, Paul comes round with her school things. She smiles gratefully. When he leaves, she scrambles for the test. While she waits for the results, she starts on her biology work. Confused, she remembers that Hidgens has a free period. She phones him once more.
"Emma Perkins. Look, I don't understand this at all, can you help?"
Together, they work out the formula. In the middle of the last question, Emma's timer goes off.
"Oh shit."
"The test results?"
"Mhmm."
Hidgens keeps talking but Emma leaves the phone on the bed as she checks the display. She shrieks.

Later that day, Paul arrives home. He seems very nervous and took Emma's hands.
"Emma, I have realised how I feel about you. I love you. I wish that you could come live here permanently and be my girlfriend."
Emma realises quite how she feels about the pregnancy. It's scary but Paul is there with her. She wants him to be there at every step. She loves him.
"I love you too. I would have loved to live here if..."
"if?" Paul asks anxiously.
"Paul, I'm pregnant. And, unless it was magically Melissa, you're the father."
Paul freezes. As Emma apologises, his brain whirres. He interrupts her quickly with a kiss.
"I love you. Every bit of you. Including the baby."
Emma starts to choke up and they give each other a hug full of love and support.