"No surprises." Tristan cried as he tugged at the blindfold over his eyes. "You promised."
"I did no such thing. Stop messing with it." She scolded him. "I told you that I wouldn't throw you a surprise party, this is hardly the same thing." Rory said, the mischievous and slightly naughty tone in her voice actually worrying Tristan. "I told you about the party, and now, it's time for your present. Who doesn't like presents?"
"At least tell me where we are." When he wasn't in control he acted like a three-year-old who wasn't getting his way. It was one of the parts of his upbringing that he hadn't managed to shed in military school. He couldn't help it.
"Home." She said as she opened the door to their apartment building. "Sorta."
"Good evening Ms. Gilmore, Mr. DuGray." He smiled, knowing the two so well.
"Charlie." She nodded with a giggle to the doorman.
"Charlie, help me." He said, pulling away from Rory's grip. Rory shushed him and pushed him into the elevator.
"Sorry sir, you're on your own tonight! Lord help you." He added to himself with a chuckle as the doors to the elevator closed.
"Almost there." She said as he wiggled under her hands. "Relax."
"I can't. I hate surprises." He pouted. Getting pulled out of the elevator, Tristan sighed as he heard Rory unlock the door. "Can I look yet?"
"Uh uh." She said as she took off both of their coats. "Not yet." She took his hand and ran it over her thigh. "You're always in control. Tonight, you're going to lose control for a little while. And you're going to like it." She whispered.
"What are you talking about?"
"Use your other senses to figure it out." He could practically feel her smirking. He tilted his head as if trying to figure out what the Hell she was talking about. She would have to give him a hint. She reached out and held his hand. Running his fingers over her cheek and down her neck, he soon figured out that she was wearing some sort of lace. And it was skin tight over her small frame, giving her curves that he knew she normally hid. A strapless corset top and…was that silk? He ran a finger along her hip and sure enough, silk panties. He groaned at the image forming in his head. He heard the bed squeak slightly as she sat down.
"Where are you?" He asked.
"On the bed." She was waiting for him to join her, but he stood still. "Fine. Go ahead." She gave him permission. Without a sound, he ripped the blindfold off. What he saw nearly gave him a stroke.
"Oh my God." She was sprawled out on the bed in the hottest outfit he had ever seen. He had been correct in naming the lace and silk number, but seeing it on her body was an entirely different experience. "You've had this on underneath your dress all night?" He realized. She nodded.
"And it's not as comfortable as it looks." She said as she pointed to the front lace up. "Wanna help me out here?" She asked.
"Yes ma'am." He said as he sauntered over to the bed. With a deft finger, he pulled the strings and for the first time all night, Rory was allowed to breathe a little. Loosening the corset, Tristan was just about to remove the offending object when Rory grabbed his hand.
"Take a very long look before you remove this thing because you are never going to see it on me ever again." She told him very seriously. He smiled. "I swear to you, this thing was the right size when I tried it on. I think I had one too many pieces of cake tonight." He helped her out of it.
"You endured a night of not breathing just for my birthday?" He said with a smile.
"Well, you are my husband. And it is your birthday." She said. "It's in my best interests to keep you happy."
"It's working." He said, raising his eyebrows. Showing his approval with a long kiss, Rory sighed. He tasted like birthday cake. With a content giggle, she began unbuttoning his shirt. Pulling away suddenly, Tristan looked at her with a squinted eye. "Is this the reason you wouldn't let me feel you up in the limo?"
"No, I wouldn't let you feel me up in the limo because there were other people present."
"Just the driver." He said.
"Still, he was definitely paying more attention to me than he was to the road. It creeped me out." Realizing that they were way off topic, she looked at him. "Why are we talking about this?" He laughed.
"I have no idea. You're lying here half-naked in fantastic lingerie and yet we are talking about a chauffeur."
"Let's fix that."
"Okay." He went back to kissing her, but this time it was her turn to pull away.
"Just…before I forget." He sighed. "Did your mother tell you about the invitation to the cabin for Christmas?"
"I'm sorry, you're asking me about my mother while I'm trying to have sex with you?"
"Oh my God." She cringed. "I am." They both laid down, exasperated next to each other. "I'm sorry, I've just been so distracted lately with work and everything. Here I wanted tonight to be special for us, and I can't stop thinking long enough to…"
"What the Hell happened?" He asked. "There was a time when even with you fully clothed I couldn't keep my hands off of you."
"I know, and when you'd kiss me, my mind would go completely blank."
"It wasn't that long ago."
"We're old and married." Rory said. Tristan rolled his eyes.
"We're not that old." Suddenly bolting up in bed, Rory put a hand over her heart.
"It's your birthday." She said. Thinking his wife had gone completely insane, he grabbed her arm.
"What?" Panic spread across her face. "Ror, what's wrong." She jumped out of bed and put on his shirt. Struggling to button the buttons, she cried out exasperated.
"It's your birthday!" She said, putting her hand on her forehead.
"Baby, you're scaring me." He said getting up and putting his hands on either side of her arms. She refused to look him in the eye.
"I'm late." He stopped to process what she was telling him.
"How late?" She counted in her head.
"Ten days? Oh my God…Ten days!" She wailed, throwing her hands over her eyes.
"So, you might be…"
"Clearly, it's possible." She snapped at him.
"Okay. Let's just, stop and think about this." He said, taking a deep breath. "If you were…" he forced himself to say it. "pregnant. It wouldn't be a terrible thing. I mean, we've been married for a year, we've got more than enough money. It would be, pretty amazing, don't you think?"
"Tris," She whimpered as she collapsed into his chest.
"I know." He said as he ran his hand across the back of her hair.
OOOOO
"Pacing isn't going to make the results appear any faster." Tristan stopped to briefly look at her like she was crazy before beginning to pace again. He had been told by Lorelei a long time ago that Rory had a phobia of pregnancy. She had blamed herself. She knew that she had always put a fear of pregnancy into Rory, which was great when she was sixteen, but was now looking to be detrimental to her mental health.
"It's time." She said, picking up the box on the counter.
"What's it say?" He asked, finally stopping to look at her. Her face was completely devoid of any emotion. "Ror." He asked again, trying to get some sign of life.
"Two lines." She held up the stick. "I'm pregnant." She couldn't believe it, but Tristan clearly could. A huge smile spread across his face as he kissed her.
"We're having a baby." He said, letting the news sink in.
"Everything about our life is about to change."
"It'll be an adventure." Tristan said with a grin.
"You're going to have to deal with me, and I can guarantee, it's not going to be pretty."
"You're always pretty." He said with a suck-up's smile.
"That's a good start." She said with a laugh. "It's never going to look this good again." He watched as she ran a hand over her bare stomach. He kissed it softly. "How's this for a birthday surprise?" She said with a small smile.
"It's good."
"I thought you didn't like surprises."
"I don't." He shook his head with a smile. "But this is good."