𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐫

Glimmer Of New Life

***THIRD PERSON POV***

      The sun had already begun to dip behind the hills when Glimmer paced the small kitchen, her heart thumping in her chest. She couldn't help but glance at the clock every few seconds. Marvel would be home any minute, and she needed everything to be perfect.

      Her hands grazed over the tiny white onesie she had embroidered earlier that day. Our Little Victor, it said in soft golden thread, with tiny stars stitched around the letters. She smiled, imagining Marvel's face when he figured it out. Although, knowing her husband, she'd have to nudge him a little.

       She took one last look at the table, where she had set up the reveal: his favorite apple pie, a dessert they often shared on quiet evenings, accompanied by a small card that read, Something sweet is coming...

       Glimmer shook her head, chuckling to herself. Marvel was smart, but he could be adorably dense when it came to picking up on subtle hints. She'd just have to make sure this surprise was one he wouldn't miss.

        The door clicked open, and Glimmer's pulse quickened. Marvel stepped into the house, his broad frame filling the entryway. He looked tired from the day but smiled when he saw her.

        "Hey, babe." His voice was warm and familiar, like home.

       "Hey yourself," Glimmer replied, her smile a bit too wide. She hoped he wouldn't notice how nervous she was.

       Marvel tilted his head as he slipped off his jacket. "You're in a good mood. What's going on?"

       "Oh, nothing," Glimmer said with a casual shrug, though her insides were buzzing with excitement. "I just made you something special." She motioned toward the kitchen, where the pie sat temptingly on the table.

        Marvel's eyes lit up. "Is that—" He sniffed the air, practically drooling. "Apple pie?"

       Glimmer nodded, suppressing a laugh at his enthusiasm. He wasted no time heading toward the table, running his hands over the back of his chair before sitting down.

        "You're spoiling me again," he teased, picking up his fork. "What's the occasion?"

       "Oh, nothing in particular." Glimmer waved her hand airily as she sat across from him, trying to keep her tone casual. "Just thought you deserved something sweet."

        He raised an eyebrow at her but took a bite of the pie without further question. Glimmer watched him closely, her nerves ratcheting up a notch. Come on, Marvel, she thought. Figure it out.

       "This is amazing," he said with his mouth half full. He picked up the little card that read Something sweet is coming and glanced at it briefly before popping another piece of pie into his mouth.

       Glimmer blinked. "Do you like the card?"

       "Yeah, it's cute," Marvel mumbled, still distracted by the food in front of him. "What's the 'something sweet' you're talking about? Is it this pie?"

       Glimmer stared at him, fighting the urge to laugh out loud. This was Marvel to a T. "Not quite," she said, biting her lip. "There's something else coming that's even sweeter than the pie."

       Marvel paused, looking at her in confusion. "What, did you bake another one or something?"

       Glimmer burst out laughing. He was so clueless, but it was one of the things she loved about him.

       "No, Marvel." She shook her head, her smile softening. She reached behind her and pulled out the tiny onesie, holding it up for him to see.

        Marvel's brow furrowed as he looked at it. He blinked once, then twice. "What's that?"

       Glimmer leaned forward, barely able to contain her excitement. "Read it," she urged.

        He took the onesie from her hands, holding it up at eye level. His lips moved as he silently read the words Our Little Victor.

        There was a long pause, and Glimmer could practically see the gears turning in his head.

        "Our little..." He glanced up at her, his eyebrows knitting together. "Wait. Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

         She smiled, tears already gathering in her eyes. "Yes, Marvel. We're having a baby."

         Marvel's mouth dropped open. He stared at her for what felt like forever, the onesie dangling from his hands. "You're... we're... having a baby?"

         Glimmer nodded, biting her lip to keep from grinning too wide. "We're going to be parents."

         Marvel's eyes flicked from the onesie to her face, then back again, still processing the news. Slowly, a grin spread across his face—one so wide that it made his eyes crinkle at the corners. His fork clattered onto the plate, forgotten.

         He stood so suddenly that his chair almost tipped over, and before Glimmer could say anything, he scooped her up into his arms, lifting her off her feet.

         "We're having a baby!" he yelled, spinning her around in circles. Glimmer laughed, clinging to his shoulders as they twirled together.

       Marvel's face was a mixture of pure joy and disbelief. His laughter echoed through the room, and when he finally set her down, there were tears shimmering in his eyes.

        "I can't believe it," he whispered, brushing his hand gently over her stomach. "We're actually having a baby."

         Glimmer rested her hand over his, feeling the warmth of his touch. "I found out this morning. I wanted to surprise you."

        Marvel blinked rapidly, trying to keep his tears in check. He cupped her face, pressing his forehead against hers. "This is the best surprise of my life," he whispered.

        She grinned. "I thought you'd like it."

         "I love it," he corrected her, his voice thick with emotion. "And I love you." His hands dropped to her waist, holding her as if she might slip away. "You're incredible, Glimmer. You're going to be the best mom."

        She felt tears prick her eyes at his words. "And you're going to be an amazing dad, Marvel."

        He sniffed, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. "I can't believe I didn't catch on earlier," he admitted, laughing through his tears. "I thought you were just really proud of the pie."

        Glimmer laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You're adorable when you're clueless, you know that?"

         Marvel grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I was a little slow on the uptake."

       "A little?" she teased.

         "Well, I made it eventually!" Marvel protested, chuckling as he pulled her close again. He leaned in and kissed her forehead softly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "We're really doing this, huh?"

        "Yeah," Glimmer said, her voice thick with emotion. "We are."

        As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the weight of the moment settled in. The future was no longer just the two of them—it was now the three of them. And in that small kitchen, surrounded by the smell of apple pie and the warmth of their love, they both knew that this was only the beginning.

------------