Ever Since New York [H.S]

I'm Having Your Baby

September 22nd. This marked today's date. Six months after the court hearing. Harry and I have gotten our lives together on track since then and have been moving steadily towards our lifetime together. I knew that Harry had his heart set on creating a family with me, this was something I knew for sure, the very moment he arrived home with an eight-week-old pup. I can still recall the moment he emerged through our front door with the yellow Labrador retriever, wrapped up in a thick blanket, cradled safely in his arms. Spinee. That's what we’d called her. The adoration he holds for her is out of this world, and it was in the moment that he brought her home, I knew I too wanted to create a family with him. I can't wait to see with him cradling our children the way he does our sweet Spinee. 

From the double lines on the pregnancy test that I held securely within my hands, I knew that it would be a sight I would get to witness very soon - within the coming months. Harry was at work; so, I knew he wouldn't be waiting on me as I opened the door and walked out of the toilet. I hadn't responded to his texts for the last two hours. Having done four, now five, pregnancy tests just to be sure. I hadn't yet told Harry; he knew I hadn't had my periods for three months, but we weren't worried as my periods were irregular. I also knew that Harry would be over the moon full of excitement and that having a baby together is something we had discussed at great lengths. We both want children more than anything. My nerves just ran high as I found myself coming up with ways to tell him. I didn't just want to have him arrive home and tell him without some kind of romantic gesture. But. What?

With little time left until Harry was due home I called the only person I knew I could trust. Gemma. I can't even begin to express how happy and excited she was when I asked her one simple question. The question being, 'Hey, Gem. How would you tell the one you love you're pregnant. Knowing full well that that alone would send them over the moon. But that alone is not nearly a good enough way to break such news to them considering they deserve everything in the world.' I didn't have to say that I had been referring towards Harry and I for her to know, she just knew. She knew everything and understood me in a way I know no other ever could. She always provided me with the best sort of advice even if she didn't give out ideas, I alone come up with them, of course with her encouragement. She always had a way of making me feel secure and had this way of letting me know that everything would be okay even if the words never left her mouth, I just knew. I had never felt more grateful to have her in my life than what I am right now. I had complete faith in the fact that she would be the greatest Aunty towards Harry and I's kids. I didn't remain on the phone to Gemma long, she wished me luck and assured me that no matter how I decided to tell him, that it would be perfect in any way.

I decided that creating a meal for Harry and I tonight would be a start, at least. I had less than an hour before he would be due home, thankfully I had chosen to make tacos and they never seemed to take long. Tacos was a food option that Harry had once listed as a favourite. Knowing that this was something I knew he would be happy upon arriving home to, I still couldn't help but shake the nerves. So, I called Gemma again.

"Hey, Ivy. Are you okay? Is he home yet? Have you told him?" She asked curiously, taking her time to ask each question and made sure that I was okay the whole time. 

"I'm okay just feeling nervous. No, not yet. He'll be home soon. I'm making tacos." I replied, coming out with my response all at once, Gemma understood what I had said, having set my phone on the counter then put her on loud speaker so that I could talk and cook at the same time.

"Tacos? Really? Harry's favourite." She commented happily. "He's going to be so happy. Don't stress. He loves you. Everything's going to be okay."

"I hope so." I commented lowly then paused when I heard the front door open, looking up to catch a glance of Harry kicking his shoes off in the doorway. "Hey, look, Gem, I'm gonna go. Harry's home. I'll talk to you later."

"Alright, Ivy. Stressing is no good, okay? Everything will be fine. Love you. Call me when you can." She replied back as she proceeded to reassure me that everything would be okay.

"Good evening, beautiful." Harry cooed lowly as he came up behind me slipping his arms around my waist as he pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Hey, is that Gemma? My sister?" He asked. Harry didn't mind that Gemma and I got on so well. In fact, he loved that two of the most important people in his life get on so well.

"Bye, Harry." I could hear Gemma laugh softly through the phone. I couldn't see her, but I knew that she would be shaking her head at him. "Also. Congratulations, Harry. I'm so happy for you."

Her last words left Harry confused. He didn't ask what she meant at first until he had let it sink in for a while, asking when he found that he was unable to come up with an explanation of his own.

"Why did Gemma congratulate me and that she's proud of me?" Harry asked me, I was caught off guard by his question, but let no emotion show as I proceeded on serving dinner out amongst the two plates. "I haven't gained a new job? Gotten a new car? A new house? I'm confused. Do you know why she said it?"

I knew exactly what she meant and what she had been getting at, but, this was not the way I planned on telling him. Sticking with the idea I had in mind I just shook my head.

"No, Harry. I've no idea. Anyway. Dinner's ready and I'm hungry. Let's eat." I replied instantly, doing the best that I could to change the subject.

We ate dinner exchanging stories of our day. Harry had started tutoring students to play guitar and sing, on top of his continuing efforts as a pub musician. He’d ended his contract with the pub he’d met Patrick in around the same time we’d gone on what would’ve been my honeymoon with Patrick, with good reason, obviously; but it hadn’t taken Harry long at all to find somewhere else to play. He’d taken to playing between the local coffeeshops in favour of playing in the pubs, just to ensure he’d not run into Patrick.

“Where’s Spinee?” Harry asked, realising he’d not seen her since he had come home.

“I moved her bed into our room because I cleaned the hardwood floors this morning,” I explained. “Must’ve forgotten to bring it back out, she’s probably asleep.”

Harry nodded, standing up to clear away our plates. He paused beside me and placed a kiss to the top of my head and thanking me for dinner. What Harry didn’t know is I knew exactly where Spinee was. I’d also washed her dog bed this morning, and she’d spent most of the day outside, confused because it was hanging on the clothesline. I’d shut the back door not long before Harry had come home, having put my plan into action, and not wanting Spinee to spoil it.

“I’m going to check on Spin, darl,” I told him. He nodded, dancing around the kitchen as he packed our dishwasher. I walked into the laundry and opened the back door. Spinee came to me immediately, sitting quietly at my feet. I looked her over, and, breathing deeply, I whispered excitedly, “Where’s dad? Go get dad!’ Spinee yapped excitedly and headed straight for the kitchen. I slipped quietly out of the front door, my head spinning.

“Ivy?” Harry called. “Ivyanna?!” I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to steady my breathing. The front door opened, and I forced myself into a chair that sat on the front porch. Harry crouched in front of me, slipping a hand gently through my hair.

“Love, why is there a baby’s pacifier attached to Spin’s collar?” I bit my lip, still not daring to look at him. It was dark, so I couldn’t see Harry too well, but he was close enough I could see his eyes light up as realisation hit him. “Are we…?” He asked, cutting himself off. “Are you…?” He tried again. His hands were shaking slightly as he brushed away the tears now sliding down my face, despite his efforts to stay composed. All I could do was nod. Harry helped me up out of the seat carefully, pulling me into him. He wrapped his arms around me calmly, and I noticed he was crying now too. He took a deep breath and composed himself. “I love you,” he told me. “I love you, so much.” He took my hand and led me inside. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

We were sat on the couch now, Harry’s arm around me, and his free hand gently on my stomach. He kissed my temple repeatedly, smiling from ear to ear the whole time. Spinee jumped up beside me, curling up and placing her paw over Harry’s hand on my stomach.

A.N; IVY IS 3 MONTHS PREGNANT WHEN SHE FINDS OUT THAT THEY'RE EXPECTING!!