The Story of Dean and Ziggy

Chapter 18:

3 months later:

"Forget it, Zig. I don't want to do anything for my birthday," Dean declared as he sat on a deckchair outside his caravan.

In two days, Dean would be turning twenty five.

It was clear that he wasn't exactly enthusiastic about the big day.

Ziggy was trying her best to convince him to celebrate it.

"I thought I was meant to be the grouchy pregnant woman!" Ziggy retorted.

"Aw, cheap shot, Astoni," Dean grinned widely.

"Come on, Dean. You're turning twenty five, not fifty," she continued.

"Halfway there though," Dean sipped his beer.

"Is that why you're so reluctant to celebrate your birthday? You're worried that you'll be using a walking stick and have loads of wrinkles any day now?" Ziggy was teasing him.

"No, it's not that. I've just never had a proper birthday party before," Dean said.

"Ever?" Ziggy's eyes widened in shock.

"We could never afford to do anything as a child. Mum would get me a cake from the local shop, that's when she remembered it was my birthday. The last few years now Colby and Willow have taken me out for a drink. That's about it," Dean told her.

"That's the saddest thing that I've ever heard," Ziggy contributed.

"Zig, I don't want to give you anymore reason to be stressed.  I just want you to focus on our kid and he or she being healthy. You don't need to add planning a birthday party to your plate," Dean said firmly.

>>>>>>>>>>

"Hey, guys. I've ordered breakfast already," Willow put in as Ziggy, Dean and Colby walked into Salt.

"Someone looks happy," Colby pointed out as he pulled a chair.

"Someone is happy," Willow blushed.

"So, your date with the doctor went well then?" Dean chipped in.

"I thought Alex was great before. Now after going on a date with her, I like her so so much," Willow went on.

"It's so good to see you happy, Will," Ziggy burst out into a smile.

"I've just been in a rut for so long. I love working at the gym, but there's no spontaneity involved with it. It's the same old thing every single day. For the last few months, I felt like I'm just on the sidelines watching everyone else's lives prosper and nothing was happening for me. I feel really excited about this girl".

"Well cheers to that!" Colby held up his glass.

"Okay, so, enough about me. What's going on with you guys?" Willow said to Dean and Ziggy.

"Well the pregnancy is going really well. The morning sickness has calmed down, which I'm really grateful for. Now Dean is the biggest headache I have," Ziggy said.

"What's he done now?" Colby rolled his eyes.

"He won't let me throw him a birthday party, which I think is crazy," Ziggy said.

"Yeah, Dean's never liked birthdays. I'm not surprised," Willow said.

"See? So, can't you please just drop it, Zig?" Dean pleaded.

"Whatever you want," Ziggy held up her hands in defeat.

"Good, thank you," Dean stalked off.

"You're not really giving up that easily are you?" Colby asked Ziggy.