Prompt: Too Much

Lindsay stared at him, breathing fast, her eyes so huge in her face it was almost comical, "What did you just say?"

"I said…I think you should marry me."

Lindsay's mouth opened and closed like a fish, "Have you lost your mind? What kind of girl do you think I am? I know how it looks me getting knocked up, but I'm not just going to move from one brother to…"

"Wait, wait, wait," he said, holding up his hand, "That's not what I meant. I meant that we could get married, give the baby a name. I have a good job. I'm not rich, but I've been smart and I have savings and benefits for both of you."

"I don't understand," she said, "Why would you do that?"

Danny took a deep breath, "I should have told you about my brother. I shouldn't have let you keep living a lie." He closed his eyes, thought about telling her the rest, not sure, if he could do that to his brother, even in death.

"My brother he wasn't…he made a lot of mistakes in his life. I always hoped he would straighten out and be my big brother again, like when we were little, but he never did. Even if he'd lived, I don't know…I don't know if he could ever have changed, even for you and the baby. But I'm not my brother. I want his baby to have a name, my name. He'll be my child, my son, or daughter. He'll have everything he ever needs; he'll never want for love or anything else."

"You can't think of this as a permanent solution."

Danny shrugged, "you'll graduate in what? A year, maybe two. We stay married until then and…we can decide then what to do next. We'll still be giving this child a family, a safe and secure home."

Lindsay looked away, "So this is a marriage in name only."

Danny felt his ears and neck turn red, "Of course. I would never ask you to…we'll have separate rooms, one for me, one for you, and the baby."

She nodded, "I can't believe you would do this for my baby. It's so amazing of you."

"Good, then its settled."

"No, wait," she said, "I have a condition."

"Okay," he said, unsure if he would like her condition.

"This is a marriage of convenience and so I want you to be free to…that is if you find someone you like or are attracted or whatever I want you to be able to be with them. I don't expect you to be celibate. And I want you to promise that if you ever find someone to…love….that you'll tell me that you won't let me or that baby hold you back from finding happiness."

"Montana, I don't…"

"It's a non-negotiable condition."

He nodded, although he'd already decided to never cheat on her or leave her first, "Okay, whatever you want."

"Okay," she said, smiling, "So, I guess its Montana again?"

His ears reddened again, "Do you mind?"

She shook her head, "No, Montana is just fine. After all fiancées should have pet names for each other. I think I'll call you punkin."

He glared at her, "Not cute."

"Yes, it is."

Both of them lapsed into comfortable silence, smiling at each other, "So," he said, "we should probably talk this all out, and make sure we know what we're going to tell people."

She nodded, "Right."

"And you need a ring, and we need to get you to a doctor and…"

"Danny," she said, reaching over and taking his hand, "Could we maybe just…sit her for a little bit?"

He nodded, taking a deep, and much needed breath of air, "Yeah, yeah we can do that."