Team Reid

Hey Buddy

The living room is covered in blue and white balloons and James, for the life of him, cannot think of the occasion. It isn't his birthday, or hers. It isn't their anniversary or even another date that Nadine insists on celebrating (like the first time they made love – he never complains about the way they celebrate that date).

But yes, the room was most definitely being set up for an occasion and he could tell, by the disarray of decorations and the lights being turned off that his early arrival at home would most definitely not be appreciated by his wife.

Well what can he say?

He wasn't the easiest person to surprise – she knew that more than anyone seen as she has attempted to surprise him at many different times during their relationship. This time is different though, because there is nothing going on. Not that James can think of anyway.

He walks back out of the room and into the hallway where he throws his keys and phone on the cabinet, cursing slightly as his keys hit the picture of Nadine and him on their wedding day.

"Love?" He calls out as he walks up the stairs and towards their bedroom.

"Naddie?" He calls again when he hears no response. "I'm home-"

James stops in his tracks as he opens the bedroom door because by God could he get used to this sight.

Nadine is laying on their bed, fully dressed in a pale blue sundress and curled on one side, fast asleep, with her mouth slightly open and her eyebrows furrowed. One hand is holding her phone while the other is wrapped around her bulging stomach. Her eyebrows are most likely furrowed because he knows she hasn't been getting much sleep the last few days – the third trimester of her pregnancy is proving to be the most difficult and as she said to him as they cuddled up in bed last night, she would take the morning sickness of the first trimester over these back pains any day. Nadine's OB warned her not to sleep on her front or her back and she swears she cannot get to sleep on her side, hence the sleepless nights.

He slowly walks up her and brushes away the few strands of hair on her face before kissing her forehead and reaching down to lie his head beside her stomach and kissing the bump.

"Hey buddy," he whispers so not to wake her.

"How are ya doing in there? Daddy can't wait to meet you." They found out a couple of weeks ago that they were having a boy and Nadine was over the moon, insisting that their child would look exactly like him but James didn't mind – he would love the child unconditionally regardless. (They would have many more chances of having a daughter anyway – he'll make sure of it.)

Nadine stirs and she sleepily smiles at the father-son bonding happening in front of her before jumping up.

"Damn! I fell asleep! I was meant to sort out downstairs before you got back and the food-"

James stops her pacing by holding her shoulder and making her turn to face him. "Hey Nadine calm down! What's the occasion anyway? Why are you getting so stressed out?"

The tears are streaming down her face and James would normally be worried but he's learnt that she's rather emotional over small things these days so there probably isn't that much of an issue.

"Kasi i-it's your fir-first Fathers' Day," she chokes out between sobs.
"A-and I'd planned this surprise for you."

And James doesn't think it's possible but his heart expands at his wife's antics and he envelopes her in a giant hug and he tears up because he still doesn't know what he's done to deserve this woman in his life. She just keeps on bringing him happiness and he must've saved a country in his past life to have her, here in his arms, carrying their child.

"I love you, you crazy woman," he mutters as he buries his nose into shoulder and kisses her neck repeatedly while she lets out a small moan.

"Love, stop. My hormones are all over the place, you're turning me on and I won't be able to stop and then I'll forget to give you your present!"

And he can't help but laugh because that is something only Nadine would say in a moment like this so with a small pout on his face he lets go of her and she squeezes his cheeks and kisses his nose.

"Later Daddy," she promises and he shakes his head at her. Such a tease.

She's back within minutes with a wrapped frame and a card and she takes his hand and makes him sit on the bed beside her before handing him the card. In her small, kindergarten handwriting she's written 'Daddy' on the envelope and he's so overwhelmed with the love that he turns her to sit in front of him so that her back is against his chest and his arms are around their child.

He opens the card which reads 'Happy Father's Day from the bump' on the front and inside she's written a lovely paragraph about how she's so happy to be having a baby with him and how she can't wait for their child to meet him because she knows he's going to be as good of a dad as he is a husband. She's signed off with 'Never forget that we love you. Always.'

And the tears are streaming down his face by this point because it's hit him that he's actually becoming a parent. I mean, he already figured that out when the pregnancy test screamed positive and with the countless scans he's gone to with Nadine and the baby shower. But it's just hit him, you know?

She turns in him arms to kiss his cheek before wiping his tears and joking about how she hopes they are happy tears. He shakes his head and lets out a laugh. "Of course, they're happy tears stupid."

He reaches for the frame (although he already has an idea of what's in there) and tears off the wrapping paper to see a picture of him and Nadine. It's from a couple of weeks ago from the bridal shower which Yassi and Lauren had planned for them. This is the photograph of him kneeling to kiss her bump with his eyes closed and his arms wrapped around her, and she's smiling while looking down at him with her hands in his hair holding his head and it feels like such a candid shot with the happiness and love written all over their faces.

"I love you," he says again and kisses her. She breaks away from him for a second to remind him that she loves him too before capturing his lips again.

And the card and photo frame lie on the floor, forgotten, while she lives up to the promise she made earlier.

A/N: An overdue one shot from all the feels coming from the pictures of James with his nephews and niece. (They should seriously come with a warning!)
Hope you enjoyed!