𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝟏𝟖 +

𝐒 𝐈 𝐗 𝐓 𝐘 - 𝐅 𝐈 𝐕 𝐄

1 Year Later

Lenore

I paced the bathroom floor, my heart pounding in my chest as I stared at my phone, waiting for the timer to go off. Every second felt like an eternity. I'd been feeling off for the past few weeks, nausea in the mornings, fatigue that seemed to come out of nowhere, and little things that I couldn't shake off as just a bad few days. So, after some deliberation, I bought a pregnancy test and decided to face the possibility head-on.

As the timer ticked down, I leaned against the bathroom sink, gripping it tightly. My palms were sweaty, and my stomach was a mess of knots. What if it was positive? What if it wasn't? I wasn't sure which possibility scared me more. But as I thought about it, a tiny part of me was already hoping.

Finally, the timer went off, jolting me from my thoughts. I took a deep breath and approached the test sitting innocently on the counter. My heart practically stopped as I turned it over and saw the result.

Positive.

I blinked. Once. Twice. My breath caught in my throat, and I had to sit down on the edge of the tub to stop myself from shaking. My eyes were glued to the tiny plus sign, and I felt a rush of emotions wash over me. I was pregnant. I was going to have a baby.

But what if it was wrong? What if it was just a fluke? I needed to be sure. Without hesitation, I grabbed three more tests and quickly took them, placing them on the counter in a neat little row. Then I set my phone timer again and waited.

The minutes dragged on, but when the timer went off again, I checked each test, one by one. Positive. Positive. Positive.

I covered my mouth with my hand, tears springing to my eyes. It was real. This was happening. I was pregnant. A million thoughts raced through my mind, but the overwhelming feeling was pure joy. I couldn't wait to tell Eden. This was the perfect surprise, and what better day to share the news than on her birthday?

Later that day, I found Eden sitting on the couch, flipping through the channels, her expression relaxed as she enjoyed a lazy morning. She had no idea what was coming. My heart fluttered with anticipation as I held the pregnancy tests behind my back, feeling like I was about to burst with excitement.

"Hey, sweetheart," I said casually, stepping into the living room, trying to act like nothing was out of the ordinary.

Eden glanced up at me and smiled. "Hey, beautiful. What's up?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to give you a little something for your birthday," I said, my voice trembling slightly with the weight of what I was about to reveal.

She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A present already? You spoil me."

I grinned, biting my lip as I pulled the four pregnancy tests out from behind my back and held them out to her. "Happy birthday."

Eden blinked, her eyes darting from my face to the tests in my hand. At first, there was confusion, her brows furrowed as if she couldn't quite process what she was seeing. Then, realization slowly dawned on her, and she froze.

Her gaze locked on the tests, and she didn't move for what felt like forever. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for her reaction, my own nerves making me feel like I might explode at any second.

Then, suddenly, a huge smile spread across Eden's face. She stood up, her eyes never leaving the positive tests in my hand. "Are you serious?" she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

I nodded, tears welling up in my eyes again. "I took four tests. They're all positive."

In an instant, Eden's expression transformed from shock to pure, unfiltered joy. She let out a delighted laugh, and before I could react, she scooped me up in her arms and spun me around, her laughter filling the room. "Oh my God, Lenore, we're going to have a baby!" she exclaimed, her voice full of disbelief and excitement.

I laughed through the tears that were streaming down my face, clinging to her as she spun me around. "I know! Can you believe it?"

Eden set me down gently, her hands cradling my face as she pulled me into a deep, passionate kiss. I melted into her embrace, feeling the intensity of her emotions in every touch. When we finally pulled away, she rested her forehead against mine, her eyes shining with happiness.

"I can't believe it," she whispered, her voice trembling. "We're going to be parents."

"I know," I whispered back, my heart swelling with love for her.

Eden kissed me again, this time slower, more tenderly, as if trying to convey everything she felt in that one kiss. When she pulled away, she placed her hands gently on my stomach, her eyes wide with wonder.

"I can't wait to meet her," she said softly, her eyes filled with awe. "Or him. Whoever they are. I can't wait."

I smiled, my heart feeling like it might burst. "Me too."

We stood there like that for a while, wrapped in each other's arms, letting the reality of the moment sink in. It was overwhelming in the best possible way. I had always dreamed of starting a family with Eden, but to know it was actually happening was surreal.

Eden pulled me close again, kissing the top of my head as she murmured, "We're going to be great parents, Lenore. I promise."

I closed my eyes, resting my head against her chest, feeling the steady beat of her heart. "I know we will."

In that moment, everything felt right. The world outside could be spinning in chaos, but here, in Eden's arms, I knew we had everything we needed. Our little family was growing, and I couldn't wait for the future.

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~ R