For All Eternity

Happy For Him

LATE one but I hope you enjoy xx

"You look ill," Dianne informed him, from the bar stool, the moment his foot hit the tile at the bottom of their stairs

Joe grinned at her, unsurprised by how blunt she was, "nice of you to let me know, My Dot, good morning," he pecked her lips, then rested his hand on her uncovered bump, the redhead having just finished a half walk half run 5k, "what time did our precious devil of a baby, I mean angel, what time did she wake you up?"

Dianne rolled her eyes, "try 'what time did I wake you up this morning my gorgeous girlfriend?' Joseph"

"I woke you up?"

"You were snoring basically into my mouth. About 7. You actually don't look well Joseph."

"Oh yeah? How?" Joe asked, making himself a decaf tea, even though he wanted a fully caffeinated, fully sugared coffee in a mug that was at least a pint. He had cut his caffeine intake in solidarity the moment they had found out, although was particularly regretting the decision this morning. Still, he was a man of his words and until their daughter arrived, he would be T-Total and caffeine sober with his love.

She stared at his face and eventually concluded, "tired."

"Compared to you, definitely. Almost twelve hours sleep again, smashing it!"

"No you don't look at all well. Have you got a temperature?"

"I don't think so," Joe leant down and let her check, meeting her eyes, as she stroked his forehead.

"You don't, how do you feel?"

"Don't kill me when I say this... tired."

"Why would I, I just sai-, oh because it's difficult for me to sleep. No, I wouldn't. Not when you look like this. Will you go back to sleep please?" It was only 8:30 and he really didn't have a reason to be awake. She hated when he looked like that, it reminded her of when he really wasn't well. Those weeks after Louise had passed away where his grief would keep him up reminiscing and crying, in need of someone to love him.

"Nah. I'm fine. Do you feel up for filming the explanation today?"

"Yeah, later. Will you sleep, please?"

"Relentless. I'll cuddle you two on the couch. Deal?"

"So how much of the video have you got left? How late were you up?"

"It was between one and two, definitely."

"Jesus Joe, no wonder you look sickly. Not that late tonight, or ever again" she gave him a dagger-like look, as they laid on the couch. Dianne didn't want or need to sleep, she felt rested and well. She had been shocked the day before how much her body needed the iron tablets three times a day and found herself thankful that the doctors had been able to figure this out early so she hadn't been dizzy and faint for long. It would have put her off being pregnant in the future. She felt positively normal and was so happy with her body's strength in her exercise.

"Shh," Joe said, burying his face into her chest as much as possible, laying on his stomach next to her. He didn't want to be lectured when she was warm and cuddly. Dianne giggled and patted his head.

Now was Dianne's time to be able to look after him. To reciprocate the care he had been giving her for more than 21 weeks.

Being with Joe for more than 18 months had let her decipher his love language. At first Dianne had wondered if it was through telling stories that built trust and great proclamations and detailed admissions of his feelings. As the months went on though, Dianne unlocked his love language fairly easily. It was in acts of service. Particularly, she discovered, in acts of care. The moments when Joe cared for her were the moments when she knew he loved her the most. Feeling as though, in this area, she may be ever indebted, especially after the hellish beginning stages of pregnancy, she was trying her hardest to find moments where she could care for him back. Moments where she could profess her love, wordlessly.