Excitement
"Jean, I'm home!" Lucien called upon opening the front door. His tone was strong and chipper, though he didn't feel it. This case had utterly wiped him out. He had been out all night investigating with Lawson. Matthew was back at the station dealing with the odds and ends of arresting the killer and Lucien had gone home after they eventually got the confession.
There was a clattering in the kitchen as he hung up his coat and hat. Jean practically slid into the hallway, nearly running into the wall in her haste. She paused, gazing at him with a love-struck smile and sighed, "Oh I'm so glad you're home!"
"Yes, I'm sorry I didn't make dinner, I know I said I'd try," he apologized.
"It's alright. This time," she told him. Jean sauntered over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close to her and kissing him deeply.
"Mmm what a lovely greeting. Perhaps I will make it a habit to stay out all night," he teased.
"Oh don't you dare!" she scolded, moving her hands along the lines of his face and pinching his ear in annoyance.
"Ow!" he whined.
But Jean just laughed. Giggled, actually. And Jean was not a woman who giggled.
Lucien regarded her curiously. "You're in quite the mood. What was all that I heard in the kitchen as I came in?"
Jean pursed her lips, trying not to smile. Her eyes sparkled, betraying her. "I have a surprise for you."
"Oh?"
"Lucien, do you know what today is?"
"It is Thursday."
She chuckled, "Yes, that's correct. But it has also been exactly one year since you gave me this ring." She held out her left hand, showing off her engagement ring along with her wedding band. "And even though we were perhaps a bit hasty, not even bothering to wait for your divorce or to figure out what to do with the church or who to tell or all those other things, that was the moment it was all so real for me. That you wanted me as your wife and you wanted to commit yourself as my husband. I'd known for quite some time that you loved me. But that felt like the first big step in you doing something about it," Jean explained.
"I'm very glad I did," he murmured, kissing her again. "I do love you, Jean. Very much."
"And I love you. And so I have a surprise for you. And I'm quite excited about it, actually."
Jean led him into the kitchen where she had been uncharacteristically messy in her frantic baking that morning. She'd rushed, trying to finish it before he got home.
In the middle of the table was a bit chocolate cake. In white icing, it read "Congrats Dad!"
Lucien's mouth dropped open. "Jean!"
"As my doctor, you'll have to do some tests to confirm, I'm sure, but it's now been two months without my monthlies and I woke up this morning with horrible morning sickness and from my experience, that only means one thing," she replied excitedly. Suddenly her face fell. "Lucien, are you...are you pleased?"
He turned back to her, awestruck. "Oh, Jean." He didn't have any more words. But he grabbed her by her waist and lifted her in the air, kissing her excitedly and spinning her around the kitchen.
