Highschool Lovers

pregnant

I stand in the kitchen, hands busy chopping vegetables for dinner while the cacophony of toys, laughter, and occasional cries fills the air around me. Mia is playing with her dolls on the living room floor, her loud chatter mixing with the less discernible babbles of Charlie and Chandler, who are managing to make a grand mess of their building blocks. I can feel the tension in my muscles, the pull of exhaustion creeping in, but I keep my focus on the task at hand.

"Mommy! Look at my princess!" Mia calls out, her voice bright and cheerful. I glance back to see her holding up a doll dressed in bright pink.

"Wow! She's beautiful, sweetheart!" I reply, forcing a smile. But the truth is, my mind is racing with thoughts I haven't yet shared. Thoughts of our growing family.

Just then, the front door swings open and in walks Adrien, his usual radiant smile lighting up the room. "Hey, everyone! What's going on in here?" he asks, ruffling Mia's hair as he moves toward me.

"Daddy!" Mia squeals, jumping up to greet him. "I made a princess!"

"Did you now? Can I meet her?" he leans down, placing his hands on his knees to get to her level, all while I continue to chop vegetables, enjoying the moment.

"Here!" Mia hands him the doll. "Her name is Princess Sparkles!"

"Princess Sparkles, huh? That's a pretty name!" Adrien grins, winking at me over Mia's shoulder. "And what a lovely princess she is."

I chuckle at the adorableness of it all, but my heart races slightly. There's more to share, and today feels like the day.

Chandler totters over, her little arms outstretched, "Daddy! I want a princess too!" She glances at the doll, then at me, her round eyes innocent and full of desire.

"You can have a princess too, sweetie," Adrien assures her, scooping her up. "What do we say to Mommy?"

"Thank you, Mommy!" she shrieks, clearly delighted in the attention.

"Mia, what do you think we should name the new baby?" I ask, glancing up at Adrien, gathering my courage.

Mia's face scrunches in concentration. "A sister, Mommy! I want a sister! Then we can play princesses all day!" she declares.

Adrien looks at me, amusement dancing in his eyes as if he's been waiting for the right moment. "And if it's a brother?"

Mia furrows her brow as if trying to comprehend the impossible. "But I don't want a brother! Just a sister!"

"Wait, wait," I interject gently, "What if I told you that we might have a new baby soon? Would you be excited?"

Mia's eyes go wide. "A baby! Like... a real baby?"

"Yup, a real baby," I nod, placing a hand on my tummy, "I'm pregnant."

"You're having a baby!" she squeals, bouncing on her toes. "Like Princess Sparkles?"

"Yes, but we haven't decided on a name yet," I say with a chuckle.

Chandler claps her hands, joining in the excitement, "Baby Sparkles! Baby Sparkles!"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Adrien smiles, flinging an arm around my shoulder, anchoring me amidst the chaos. "We want to think about all the names we can have."

"Can it be Sparkles?" Chandler insists, her eyes gleaming.

"Sure we can consider it," I laugh, glancing at Adrien, the warmth in his expression making me feel a little lighter. "But can I ask you both a question?"

Mia nods vigorously while Chandler mimics her.

"What if it's a boy?" I ask gently.

"Then I want a sister!" Mia says, her voice ringing with a mix of determination and fantasy.

"But I want a princess!" Chandler chimes in.

"Well, how about we just be excited about our new little one when he or she arrives?" Adrien suggests, looking at both girls with that familiar patience.

"Can we pick the name together?" Mia asks, crossing her arms like a little negotiator.

"Absolutely!" I agree, feeling the hope brighten the hectic room. "We'll all get to decide, and we can make requests, right?"

Both girls nod, their imaginations already swirling with possibilities.

"Okay! Mommy, I love you!" Mia says before rushing to hug me tightly.

"I love you too, sweet girl," I whisper, my heart swelling. I turn to Chandler, who promptly attaches herself to my leg, giggling.

"And I love you, baby," I say, the whole chaos of motherhood suddenly feeling remarkably rewarding.

"See, this isn't so chaotic after all," Adrien says, wrapping an arm around all of us, pulling us close, "You've got a pretty amazing team here."

"Yeah," I smile, feeling the joy of this moment settle within me. "I think we'll be okay."