As Uno woke up with a start, his mind still hazy from the night's events. Denise was no longer curled up beside him on the spare mattress he'd moved into the living room. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the sleep, and sat up, glancing around the room.
"Denise?" he called out softly, not wanting to wake the kids if they were still asleep.
There was no response. He sighed and got to his feet, deciding to check on Junior, Joey, Elizabeth, and Victoria. As he walked through the quiet house, he couldn't help but feel a bit disoriented. He passed the mirror in the hallway and paused, noticing the faint dark circles under his eyes. It had been a long night.
First, he peeked into Junior and Joey's room. The twin boys were two years old and were still sound asleep, their identical faces peaceful and content. Uno smiled, quietly closing the door before moving to Elizabeth and Victoria's room. The one-year-old girls were also fast asleep, their soft breathing a comforting sound.
Uno felt a wave of relief wash over him as he made his way back to the living room. He stopped short when he saw Denise standing there, looking anxious and holding something in her hand. It took him a moment to realize it was a pregnancy test.
"Denise," he said softly, his heart skipping a beat. "What's going on?"
Denise looked up, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Uno, I need to tell you something."
He approached her slowly, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay? What is it?"
She took a deep breath, holding up the test. "I took this just now. I... I think I might be pregnant again."
Uno's eyes widened in surprise. "Pregnant? Are you sure?"
Denise nodded, her hand trembling slightly. "I think so. I mean, I know we didn't plan this, but..."
Uno stepped closer, gently taking the test from her and looking at it. The positive result stared back at him, and he felt a mix of emotions swirl inside him. "Wow, Denise. This is... unexpected."
"I know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wasn't sure how you'd react."
Uno set the test down on the coffee table and pulled her into a hug. "I'm happy, Denise. Surprised, but happy. We'll figure this out together."
She buried her face in his chest, clinging to him. "I'm so glad you feel that way. I was worried."
He kissed the top of her head, holding her tightly. "There's nothing to worry about. We'll make it work, just like we always do."
Denise looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "I love you, Uno."
"I love you too, Denise," he said softly. "Now, let's sit down and talk about this."
They moved to the couch, Denise sitting close to him, still holding his hand. "I know it's a lot with the kids already, but I really think we can handle it," she said.
Uno nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of their growing family. "We can. It's going to be a challenge, but we'll manage."
Denise smiled, a mixture of relief and happiness on her face. "Thank you, Uno. For always being there for me and the kids."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he replied, squeezing her hand. "Now, let's make a plan and take this one step at a time."
As they sat together, talking about the future and what it would mean for their family, Uno felt a renewed sense of determination and love for Denise.
As Uno and Denise found themselves in a whirlwind of preparations and family moments in the days that followed. Despite the new pregnancy and the accompanying morning sickness, life in their home was bustling with activity.
