Fate || BENNIFER

A Chance

Ben's P.O.V

I heaved a sigh of relief as I gently laid Grace down in the crib. She had been fussy all morning, refusing to nap, but now, finally, slumber had claimed her.

I turned around, ready to share my triumph with Jennifer, only to find that she was nowhere to be seen. My brow furrowed in confusion. I had been very focused on settling the baby, and now that I had a moment to breathe, I realized I hadn't heard her voice or seen her in a while.

Jennifer's P.O.V

I found myself in our bathroom, the space feeling smaller with my nervous energy. I paced back and forth, my steps echoing against the walls. The nervousness I felt was all too familiar, as I had lived this situation not so long ago.

I had been feeling off, a constant feeling of sickness weighing me down. At first, I had brushed it off, attributing it to a flu that I might have caught from Ben. But as the days turned into weeks and my symptoms persisted, a nagging suspicion crept into my mind. I realized that I was at least two months late.

Suddenly, a knock on the door startled me, breaking my train of thought.

"Jennifer? Are you okay?" Concern was evident in his voice.

I took a moment to compose myself before responding, my voice betraying my inner turmoil.

"I don't know." I managed to say.

He didn't hesitate to open the door after hearing those words. Concern etched his face as he stepped into the bathroom, his eyes scanning the room. His gaze fell upon the pregnancy test on the sink, and time seemed to freeze for a moment. My restless mind replayed the impromptu make-out session we had shared on the couch weeks before. We had let our guard down, caught up in the passion of the moment, forgetting about protection.

Ben approached me cautiously, his brow furrowed. He reached out to gently touch my arm, offering comfort despite the absence of a definitive result.

"Do you really think you might be pregnant?" He asked softly.

I sighed, my restless energy still palpable.

"There's a chance." I admitted, my voice tinged with uncertainty.

Feeling the weight of the moment, we both realized we needed to find a place to sit and gather our thoughts. Without a second thought, we moved to the floor, our backs against the cool tiles of the wall. The silence enveloped us.

As we sat there, side by side, I couldn't help but voice my concerns. The complications that would arise from a positive result were daunting. We already had a blended family of five children, each requiring our attention and love. On top of that, we had a six-month-old baby who demanded constant care and attention. Our careers added another layer of complexity, with our demanding schedules and unpredictable commitments.

"I don't know how we could manage." I confessed. My voice filled with guilt. "We already have so much on our plates. And I'm about to start filming my new movie without even knowing how long the shooting will be."

Ben squeezed my hand gently, his eyes filled with unwavering support. His touch offered comfort.

"Do you remember when we first started dating?" He asked, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Twelve years ago."

My brows furrowed, my mind momentarily distracted from the present moment. I searched my memory, trying to recall that particular conversation. And then it hit me. A smile tugged at my lips, mingling with a touch of sadness.

"I remember." I whispered, my voice carrying a hint of wistfulness.

We had been young and carefree, exploring the depths of our budding relationship. One night, during a late-night conversation, we had playfully discussed our dreams for the future. I had jokingly mentioned how I saw myself surrounded by a large brood of children, laughing and playing with Ben by my side. In that moment, it had seemed like an easy and joyous vision.

Now, as we sat on the bathroom floor, that vision seemed far more complex and daunting. The realities of our busy lives and the responsibilities we already carried weighed heavily on our minds.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as we sat there, our eyes darting nervously between each other and the untouched pregnancy test.

"Are you ready to check it?" He asked softly, offering a comforting touch.

My eyes flickered to the test, my heart skipping a beat.

"Not yet." I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"Okay." Ben replied, his voice steady and reassuring. "We can wait, as long as you need."

And so we sat there, on the cold bathroom floor, our bodies pressed close together. We leaned in into one another, finding comfort in the warmth of our embrace.

Moments turned into minutes, and minutes into an eternity as we sat there, our bodies intertwined, our hearts entwined. And when the time was right, we would face the result together, ready to embrace whatever lay ahead.