Weigh Hay and Up She Rises (Complete)

How I met your Mother

"You wanted to see me, Captain?" Cal closed the door behind her, standing in her trousers and blouse, her bare feet slapping on the floor boards.

"Calypso, thanks for coming," I turned in my chair, smiling.

"Mhm, what do you want?" she crossed her arms, assessing me with a critical eye.

She had been released by the doctor a month ago and had insisted on being on her feet for the rest of the time. I had tried to fire her, but she had insisted on staying.

"Well, there was a rumor going around that you were leaving. Care to talk about it?" I asked, meeting her eyes.

"Sure, I quit," she shrugged.

"What?" that truly surprised me, I had thought she would tell me I was wrong.

"I said, I quit."

"Why?" I was panicking.

"Because, I can get better work than I can here. I could be a guard, I could be anything I want. I am indispensable."

"You have a good position here," I stammered, my hand straying to the drawer behind me.

"Oh dear, of course I do. The Captain's wench. What job could possibly be better than this?" she sneered.

"The captain's wife," I blurted, immediately wishing I hadn't said that.

For the first time ever, I think I had made Calypso Avis speechless.

"Wha-what did you say?" she stammered.

"I-I said. The captain's wife... is-is better than being the captain's wench. Th-that is if you-you think so as well," I turned, scrambling through the drawers for the box I had kept for two months now.

"But what are you asking?" her voice trembled.

"Well, I guess I'm asking you to marry me. And, I will do this properly," I turned to her with the small wooden box, kneeling down on one knee. "Calypso Avis, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Calypso stared at me with wide eyes. Her mouth hung open a bit, her eyes flicking from my face to the ring back and forth. Awkward minutes dragged on and I began to fidget.

"Uhm... I've never done this before. But I'm pretty sure you're supposed to answer with yes... or-or no. Either is... fine, I guess," I shifted my feet.

"Where did you get that? It's too small to be from a pirate ship. H-how did you get that?" she stammered, pointing to the ring.

"Can I stand up while I explain?" I pleaded.

"What? Oh, yes, sorry."

I stood, still holding the ring, "well, in short. I went to London, found my way there. I went to one of those mom and pop shops, I always knew you liked those. So, I went in, and I bought a modest ring, but a nice one. I-I know you don't like big and gaudy things. So I didn't get a big ring. I got it, payed, and made my way back here. When you were still unconscious, from the bullet." I swallowed. I looked up, surprised to see she was crying.

"Captain..." she sobbed.

"Miles, please. Calling me Captain is hardly appropriate now," I said, running a hand through my hair. "If-if you don't want to, then you are welcome to quit and leave. In fact, that would most definitely be best. Because there is no way in hell that I will be able to have you on my crew anymore. I care about you too much. So, uh, what do you say?" I knelt down again.

"Miles, Miles, get up please," she stepped over to me.

"No, not until I get an answer," I grounded myself and glared at her from my position near her stomach.

"Why are you doing this? Why me?" she cried.

"Because I love you Calypso! We argue and we fight and every time you scream at me all I want to do is kiss you and hug you and say I'm sorry and that you're right!" I stood, glaring down at her. "Yes or no Cal."

"Yes Miles, yes, yes, yes," she sobbed.

I knelt down again and took her hand, sliding the ring onto her finger. I stood again, falling over when she leapt on me. She pressed her lips to mine and I melted.

"I love you, Miles Reed," she smiled, sitting up a bit so she sat on my stomach.

"I'm truly honored," I replied, pulling her face down to mine again.

~&~

"And that, kids, is how your mother and I met," I said, resting my ear against my wife's swollen stomach.

"You know they can't hear you, right?" Cal laughed, running her fingers through my now short hair.

"I don't know, I think they can, there are two of them, right?" I sat up, kissing her hand and sitting back.

"Two, the doctor said maybe three, because the heartbeats were strong except one," she smiled at me. "Are you ready to be a dad?"

"Not in the slightest."

She laughed, running a hand over her giant stomach. "I think you're ready. Shall we discuss names again?"

"No, remember. We said we'd name them on the spot. How are you feeling?" I chuckled.

"Like a hippo. Two to three little humans growing inside me feels like I ate too much shellfish."

"You're allergic to shellfish."

"Exactly."

I laughed, "it'll be fine, once you push three little humans out of you, life will go back to normal."

"Except, with three little humans screaming all the time," she grumbled.

"Ow."

"Kicking?" I sat up, putting my hand on her stomach.

"Ow, no. This hurts. Ow, owowowow," she sat up.

"Darling, did the babies kick your bladder again? There's a spot on the couch."

She turned to me with wide eyes, "go get Doctor Spangler. My water broke."