"Are you okay?"
I glance up at Alicia. "Yeah," I smile. "Why do you ask?"
"It's ten at night and you're struggling to stay awake. Plus, you're not drinking."
"Long nights combined with early mornings catching up with me," I shrug. "Just need get some sleep."
"Braun not letting you sleep," she grins, hip bumping me.
"Actually, he doesn't," I smirk. "And I am not complaining one bit."
The past six months have been amazing with Braun. My monster being the sweetest man I've ever known, treating me like a princess every chance he can. The amazing nightly sex being the cherry on top.
"I still don't understand this relationship of yours."
"One, you don't have to understand it because it's not yours. Just be happy that I am happy. Two, if you actually took the time to get to know him you would know that he is a really sweet guy behind all that gruff exterior."
"But you have to get past that gruff exterior. How did you do it?"
"It was never really there for me," I shrug. "I've seen it with others but it was never there for me."
"So how can you expect me to?"
"Because you're my friend and that's what friends do. I've sat and listened to Noam for hours and not had a clue what was said the entire conversation. But I put forth the effort for you."
"Fine. I get your point. I will try to get past the fact that Braun is a literal monster and try to see the sweetheart."
I snort, dropping my head again.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Nothing a good night's rest can't fix."
"Go find your man and go to bed. Nothing but sleep tonight," she smiles pressing me up and towards the door.
"That actually sounds wonderful. Night Foxy."
"Night Bella."
"Hey Peanut," Braun smiles as I step off the elevator.
"Waiting on me?"
"Icing my elbow," he grins holding up the room's ice bucket, a bucket that looks incredibly tiny in his hands.
"You okay, Monster?"
"Just tweaked it during my match," he grins leaning down to peck my lips. "What about you? Don't you usually spend more time with Alicia? And come back to me and little tipsier."
"I'm exhausted tonight," I shrug. "Called it an early night."
"Well then let's get you to bed," he smiles scooping me up in his arms.
"Your elbow…"
"Your tiny self won't affect it," he chuckles.
X
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, Alicia," I growl, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
"You have been sick all day."
"I'm fine, Alicia."
"You need to see Doc."
"I'm fine, Alicia. Oh, fuck," I groan as another bout of sickness overcomes me.
"That's it," Alicia huffs disappearing.
"Where are you going," I groan between gags.
"To get someone to talk some sense into you," she calls back.
"Stay away from fucking Angle."
Pressing my forehead against the cool porcelain waiting for the next round of sickness.
"Everybody better be dressed. Man coming through," Alicia calls. "She's in there."
"Fucking Alicia," I groan sitting up preparing to face our general manager.
"Bellatrix? Baby," Braun appears, kneeling immediately beside me, "what's wrong?"
"My stomach is just upset," I sigh. "I'm fine."
"Alicia said you haven't kept anything down all day."
"Alicia talks to much," I mutter as he wraps me in his arms.
"You should see Doc."
"I just need some crackers and ginger ale."
"Let Doc tell me that," he states picking me up bridal style. "Come on."
"I don't think I get a choice," I smirk.
"Nope," he chuckles.
X
I sit nervously on the edge of the bed listening to the shower run in the other room. Braun having to leave for his match before Doc had a chance to see me. Doc fearing dehydration ordered me to Urgent Care at the local hospital. When the results from the test ran come back I'm floored. I try to hold back the tears as I text Braun to meet me at the hotel. Now I wait to give the news to my boyfriend. The thought that this could possibly end our relationship scares me more than the actual news.
"Bella?"
I glance up to find Braun in just a pair of shorts, water dripping from his hair and beard.
"I was worried out of my mind. Doc said he sent you to the hospital and then you weren't answering your phone."
"Doc was worried about dehydration. Cell service in a hospital sucks. You know this."
"Baby," he sighs dropping beside me. "What's wrong?"
I lick my lips, mentally preparing myself for the reaction I would get. The tightness of a looming anxiety attack settling around my chest.
"What is it?"
"I…I…I can't. I can't…I can't," I state standing. "I'm sorry."
"Bella?"
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
I'm out the door before I even realize I'm moving. The hotel hallway rushing past me.
"Bella? Hey," Alicia calls grabbing me around the waist. "What's going on?"
"I fucked up. I fucked up so badly."
"How? Talk to me Bella."
"I…I…I…" I try to breathe past the pain radiating through my chest.
"Come on," she soothes shoving me gently towards an open stairwell. "Come sit down on the stairs."
"Bella," Braun roars.
My breathing goes into overtime as Alicia shys away from me. My feet leave the floor seconds later as I'm spun and seated on the railing along the top of the stairwell. Braun's face looms in front of me as one arm wraps around my hips as I teeter.
"Bella, breathe," he states placing one of my hands on his chest. "Just breathe. Breathe." Covering my hand with his, his thumb rubbing circles across the back. "Hyperventilating isn't good for the baby."
"What," Alicia breathes.
There is rustling behind my back and the woman steps closer. My eyes fall to the papers suddenly in her hands. "Of course, I forgot my hospital paperwork." My breathing hitches.
"Bella," Braun soothes. "You're okay. We're okay. Just keep breathing. That's it." His fingers comb my hair back from my face. "Don't worry. I've got you. You and my new little peanut."
"Bella," Alicia smiles. "I'm gonna leave you in good hands. I'll check on you in the morning."
I nod, swallowing.
"I get it now. You were right. Not scary at all once you get past the gruffness."
"You're ruining my reputation," Braun chuckles and I shrug.
"Goodnight you two."
"You okay," Braun questions.
"I don't know," I whisper.
"I meant it. We're okay."
"Are we?"
"Yes," he breathes, pecking my lips. "Why didn't you just tell me?"
"Scared."
"Now you say I'm scary," he smiles softly.
"I don't know where we are in our relationship. Let alone if you want to have a kid with me."
"Come on," he states cradling me.
"Again, I don't really have a choice."
"If you weren't so stubborn, I would give you a choice more often."
Maneuvering through the room, he settles on the bed, me on his lap. Reaching for something on the bedside table, "This is where we are in our relationship."
"A key?"
"A key to my place. I was going to ask you to move in."
"When?"
"Ask you? Tonight. When you were moving in is entirely up to you."
"Who said I would agree to?"
"High hopes," he shrugs holding the key between us.
"Tell me truth about how you feel about this," I whisper, my hand cradling my stomach.
"I'm ecstatic," he grins, covering my hand. "Don't make yourself sick worrying for one second about me."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." The grin on his face is almost as big as the man.
Reaching tentatively for the key, "You got room for me and a nursery?"
"I have an extra room we can convert into a nursery but you…You are going to be a problem," he smirks capturing my mouth. "I'm never going to let you out of my sight every second I'm home. I'll never get anything done."
"Well if I'm going to be a problem," I smile pressing the key back into his hand.
"Don't you dare," he growls flipping us. "You're stuck with me."
"Promise?"
"Forever," his mouth trails down my neck, chest, and stomach to nuzzle against my belly button. "Hey Peanut," he murmurs against my skin. "It's Daddy. I just want to let you know how much I love you. And your Momma. And this new life we're starting."
"Braun," I sigh, my fingers sliding through his hair.
"I believe this is a private conversation,' he smirks up at me.
"I'm only six weeks. I don't even know if they can hear you yet."
"That's fine. I'll tell them every chance I can."