Growing Hearts (Purple Hearts Fanfiction Luke Morrow/Cassie Salazar)

5. Flash Forward

Chapter 5

The day of the ultrasound arrived, and a mix of excitement and nerves fluttered in my stomach. As we pulled into the parking lot of the clinic, I glanced over at Luke, whose face was a picture of anticipation. "Are you ready for this?" I asked, my heart racing.

"More than ready," he replied, his voice steady, but the spark of excitement in his eyes told me he was just as anxious as I was. "I can't wait to see our little one."

We checked in at the front desk and were soon called into the ultrasound room. The technician greeted us warmly, guiding me to lie back on the exam table. "Alright, let's take a look at your baby," she said, applying the cool gel to my belly.

I took a deep breath as Luke settled into the chair beside me, his hand grasping mine tightly. The technician moved the wand over my stomach, and the screen flickered to life.

"There's your baby!" she announced, and I held my breath, leaning closer to the screen.

My heart raced as I saw the tiny figure, the little heartbeat flickering like a strobe light. "Oh my God," I whispered, tears welling in my eyes. "That's our baby!"

"Look at that!" Luke said, his voice filled with awe. "He's so perfect."

I glanced at Luke, a smile stretching across my face. "Wait, did you say 'he'?"

The technician chuckled softly. "Let's take a closer look. Just a moment." She focused the image and adjusted the settings, and soon enough, the outline of our baby became clearer.

"There we go," she said, smiling. "And it looks like you're having a boy!"

Luke's eyes widened with joy, and I felt a rush of happiness. "A boy!" I echoed, my heart swelling. "I can't believe it!"

"Can you believe we're having a son?" Luke grinned, squeezing my hand tighter.

"I can hardly wrap my head around it!" I said, laughing through my tears. "This is amazing. I can already picture him."

The technician continued with the ultrasound, pointing out various features—the tiny fingers, the beating heart, the little face starting to form. Each detail made the reality of our situation more tangible.

When the session ended, we stepped out of the room, the news settling in like a warm embrace. "We're having a boy," Luke repeated, a goofy grin plastered on his face.

"I know!" I said, laughter bubbling up inside me. "I'm so happy."

As we made our way to the car, an idea struck me. "You know," I began, hesitating slightly, "I've been thinking about names."

"Yeah? What do you have in mind?" Luke asked, opening the passenger door for me.

I took a seat and looked over at him, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "I was thinking we could name him Lucas."

Luke's expression changed instantly, surprise lighting up his face. "Lucas? Like me?"

"Exactly!" I said, feeling my heart race. "I think it's a beautiful name, and it carries so much meaning. It would be an honor to name our son after you."

Luke's eyes softened, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind. "Wow, that's... that's really special, Cassie. I love it."

"Really?" I asked, a smile spreading across my face. "You're okay with it?"

"Absolutely! Lucas is a strong name, and I'd be proud to share it with our son," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

I felt a rush of happiness at his response. "I can already picture it. 'Lucas' running around, causing trouble and making us laugh."