Anthology - A Collection of Fanfic One-Shots

A Better Reason

"Ben, you need to give up smoking."

He looked up at me from his chair as he drew a cigarette from the pack, tapping it on his knee. "I know, love, and I will one of these days. Can't seem to find enough willpower." Placing it between his lips, he searched pockets for his lighter.

"Will doing it for the health of your unborn child help you find the willpower?"

"That's exactly the kind of good reason that might just...what? Unborn...Kel...?"

I took pity on the uncertain, vulnerable look on his face, smiling as I referenced the Doctor Strange movie he had just finished filming. "Seems your magical powers extended to your sperm as well – they managed to swim past every barrier we put up." We were apparently the exception to the 98-99% success rate of contraceptives, both his and mine – I hadn't been able to find a figure on Google for the odds of both a condom and the pill being ineffective at the same time; they were stated merely as 'very, very slim'. Seems we'd beaten those.

The unlit cigarette fell to the floor as he rose on shaky legs, hope and happiness shining all over his face. "You mean...you're pregnant?"

"Yes."

"Darling, I..." He pulled me into his arms, holding tight and burying his face in my neck. "Oh god Kel, that's wonderful...I can't...there...there aren't words..."

I pressed a kiss to his jaw, feeling his heart thudding beneath where my hands rested. "I'm so glad you're happy."

His head raised as he looked at me. "Are you happy too, love? Do you...do you want this?"

I nodded, smiling into his eyes. Yes, it was entirely unexpected and as yet I had no idea how we would work this into our relationship and our careers, but...a child with Ben? Yes, I was happy. "Yes, I want it." I ran a hand through the hair at his nape as he lowered his head to mine.

An hour later he had thrown away all his cigarettes and lighters and had bought nicotine patches from the local pharmacy, which naturally made me think of Sherlock and smile. With news like I've given him today, I thought, it is definitely a three-patch day.

---

"We should get married."

Ben's pronouncement grabbed my attention as I peeled parsnips and carrots. I stopped, raising my gaze to look at the back of his head. "Wow, okay, apart from that being the most incredibly unromantic proposal I've ever heard, why?" I asked.

"Why?" He put down the veal he was stuffing and wrapping, turning to me. "Because you're having my child...and because I love you, of course. I'm sorry I just blurted it out, I'll do it properly..." He wiped his hands on the tea-towel tucked into his trousers and began lowering himself to one knee.

"Ben, no...wait." He wobbled precariously, looking shocked as I took his hands and pulled him back to his feet. "We should talk about this."

"Sweetheart, what is there to talk about? We're having a baby and I'm old-fashioned enough to want us to be wed before we become parents. I thought you wanted to get married?"

"I do, when the time is right, and for the right reasons."

"What better reason is there?" At those five words, cold tentacles of pain and fear reached out through jagged, newly-formed cracks in my heart. I stared at him, willing him to hear the words he'd spoken and understand what they were doing to me. "Kelly, come on, love, we..."

I took a step back, dropping his hands as if they were burning my skin. "So...if I weren't pregnant...you wouldn't be suggesting marriage?"

He came closer, taking my hands again. "I love you," he said, quieter and with a conviction I knew was sincere. "And I was under the impression you love me." I nodded in confirmation. "Then I don't understand why you're making a fuss about this."