-seven months in the future-
Alexa feels like a submarine as she sinks into the warm water of her bath. The pregnancy has been very kind to her. Her morning sickness passed after her third month in. She gained weight quickly and steadily. Her doctor, the same doctor her sisters had while with child, explained her weight gain was due to her short stature and the fact she's meant to show earlier than a taller woman. Not once has she complained about pains, except her braxton hicks, to her overly excited husband.
Grayson cannot wait until he's a father. Alexa and him discuss their child as much as possible. He almost fainted when her false contractions started, so since then he's been a smidge overbearing.
"Alexa Ryker, where you are, dollface?"
"The bathroom!" Her voice is soft but the strain is obvious. As kind as her pregnancy has been it's still tiring on her body. She takes frequent naps just to be able to cook dinner for her husband.
The door opens and Grayson stands at the doorway, clad in an expensive suit and his hair perfectly sculpted to the T. He freezes in his tracks, not expecting the beauty before him. Alexa sits in the pearl white bathtub, her hair wet, the swell of her breasts just above the water, her eyelashes glittered with water droplets, her cheeks rosey from a washing. He can't help but awe at the way her subtle breathing has her engorged stomach fluttering beneath the water.
He's starstruck.
Alexa, however, has no idea why he's looking at her. She self-consciously runs a hand through her hair then over her breasts. Is something wrong? She can't pin what's upsetting him. "Are you all right, love?"
Grayson runs a hand over his head, thus making his perfectly sculpted hair into a perfect mess. "You're the most beautiful creature to walk the earth. My goodness, Alexa, I'm taken back by your beauty sometimes."
She invites him into the bath.
➖✖➖
"How's this little peanut?" Mary questions, her son in arm. Mary and Clara both birthed sons only days apart. Everyone was ecstatic when Mary returned to her parents' home with a bundle of joy in arm. She's a wonderful mother.
Alexa rests a hand on her lower back. "Not so little, Mary. He's a real kicker. Especially when mama is trying to sleep."
"Ah, you've got a nocturnal on your hands."
Grayson and his family converse in the family room. His parents are just as excited to meet the newest Ryker addition as Alexa's family.
Josephine and Kenneth embrace Alexa in warm hugs. George swings the eight month pregnant woman around until she becomes nauseated. Grant greets Alexa with a swift kiss to her cheek and a pat to her belly. She adores both her families, but out of everyone Grant is her favorite.
"I've missed you, Grant," she smiles at her older brother in law.
"As you've been missed as well," he chuckles and kisses her cheek again. "Look at how much you've grown. Mother mentioned the baby and Gray couldn't stop smiling. I've never seen him happier."
Alexa blushes at his words. She knows Grayson is at his peak happiness when the baby is mentioned, but it still makes her speechless how much he loves and adores the both of them.
Grant chuckles before excusing himself to get a drink. Everyone was invited to what Mary calls a baby shower. It seems pointless to Alexa. She doesn't like the idea of just taking gifts simply because of her pregnancy. Her and Grayson have enough to support themselves, but Mary insisted on the party.
Grayson finds his wife sitting at a table alone, a glass of water in hand, her fingers swirling around the patterns in the woodwork.
"What's got you down, dollface? Do you not like the party?" He kneels down and pulls her hands into his. He'd do anything to make her smile. If it meant cutting a foot off or buying a bigger home, he damn knows he's losing a foot and buying a bigger home.
Alexa shrugs, despite knowing exactly why she's feeling blue. "So much money has been invested into me and this baby, it doesn't really feel right."
Grayson stands, pulling Alexa up with him. He helps her make her way to the seat set up for her. Piles of presents litter their family room. Lilly's children play with cousins that were invited to attend the baby shower.
"Hello everyone," Grayson booms, getting their sole attention," I'd like to say thank you for the copius amounts of gifts given to my wife and I. As of right now Alexa and I have come to an agreement that we'd like to open each and every gift alone and in private."
Their family doesn't say much, except for Josephine. "But Grayson!" She whines, bringing a smile to Alexa's face. "I want to see her surprised face!"
Grayson ignores his mother's whines as the party goes on.
