Coming Home
The buzz of the airport surrounded Amelia as she stood waiting, a distant announcement heard through the speakers. She was fidgeting, anxiously kneading her sweaty hands. Swirling her engagement ring around and around, leaning on one foot and then the other. It was not exactly nervousness though her feelings were all over the place.
It had been three very long months, 62 days to be precise. Even though Amelia had kept herself as busy as she could between working long hours, spending time with her Los Angeles friends and playing with her nieces and nephew there had not been a second that she had not counted the days until Owen would return.
She was exhausted from lack of sleep the past few days, the knowledge that she would see him again mixed with the fear of something happening to prevail his return keeping her twisting and turning in bed at night. She pulled the deep red cardigan closer around her body, making sure her patterned scarf hung perfectly loose around her neck and down her front. She had tried on three different dresses and skirts before settling on a casual and comfortable outfit, hence the black pants, equally black top and her favourite red cardigan. A few pins were holding up selected strands of hair, her chocolate waves reaching just below her shoulders and she was thankful that he had skipped the red lipstick as her lip biting probably would have messed it all up.
Standing there in the now crowded airport, she suddenly felt unprepared for this moment. Surrounded by reuniting loved ones and people rushing to make an exit, her eyes anxiously searched for a familiar face in the arrivals area.
That was when she was him. He was still wearing his uniform, a bag in his hand. Something about him looked different, yet he was still so familiar. A wave of emotion hit her and she gasped, her forehead cringing as tears welled up in her eyes. He finally spotted her and she was met with his beautiful blue eyes, as he quickened his walk toward her. Amelia had to struggle to keep from bursting into tears, taking a deep breath to collect herself. As he neared she began to walk against him, coming into a run as the distance closed to a few metres. Owen just managed to put his bag down before capturing her in his arms, lifting her a few inches from the ground. God, he missed her. Inhaling deeply into her hair her scent filled him along with her warmth and touch.
Moving her face from the crook of his neck Amelia quickly placed her lips against his, savouring the feeling of having him close again. Their lips collided in a few pecks before she started placing small kisses all over his face, down his jaw and onto his neck. It was like she could not have him close enough, kiss him enough, love him enough. While she covered him with kisses he lowered her back to the ground in order to be able to free his hands to cup her face.
As her feet hit the ground again, he suddenly stilled.
"What? Amelia?" Owen loosened his arms around her, taking a step back and creating some space between them. "Is that-", he started to ask as his eyes flickered between her midsection and her eyes. He was stunned, confused, a rambling mess as his mind seemed close to explode and he struggled to form coherent words.
Her hands took one of his, guiding it to rest on her stomach beneath the scarf that was initially supposed to hide the small bump there. Blue eyes locked, his filled with question and confusion. Happiness soared through her and she could not have stopped the huge smile erupting on her face even if she had tried. The grin seemed to keep her from forming any words so she just nodded as she watched his face turn from confusion to utterly surprise to in awe. As the news sunk in Owen's face turned into complete happiness. First his eyes welled up and he grinned and let out a warm laugh. Then his body seemed to return to function and his hands came to life, the one resting on her belly gently stroking the roundness there as his other hand came up to cup her cheek.
"Really? This is real?" His voice was filled with emotion and she felt a single tear make its way down her cheek only to be dried up with his hand. She felt relief. Finally. Finally she had him here. Finally she could share this with him.
Her teary eyes met his equally so, losing themselves into the depths of his gaze, her hand finding his on her cheek. Her delicate fingers gently caressed his rougher ones while her other hand grasped the fabric of his uniform, tugging him closer.
"You're going to be a daddy, Owen. Really." As soon as she had uttered the words Owen crashed his lips against hers as if in desperate need to release all of the love and happiness that he was feeling.
They only pulled away for air, their foreheads resting against each other. His thumbs were stroking her temple and her cloth-covered stomach as they heavily breathed, sharing the same air. It was like they were the only two people at the crowded airport. "I've missed you so much," she whispered against him, nuzzling her nose against his while a new set of emotions erupted from inside of her. Swallowing back a sob she tightened her hold of him, feeling him do the same.
"I love you," he murmured as he placed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. "Both of you," he finished with a smile.
Returning the smile, Amelia softly spoke. "I didn't want to tell you over the phone, even though I came close a few times. I wanted you here."
"I'm here now," Owen reassured her. He knew when he had gone that he would miss her, that he would miss a lot. But he never imagined that this would be one of those things. The finding out of a pregnancy, of their baby. He was momentarily saddened by the thought, wishing that he had been there. "How far along," he blurted out as realization hit him; he knew none of the details and he needed to know them all.
"17 weeks. Everything's perfect. I've had some really bad nausea but otherwise I'm great." Amelia seemed to understand his unease. "You should be glad you missed all of the puking," she chuckled and even though it was supposed to be a joke it really was not all that funny. She knew that he would have been there, gladly holding back her hair as she was forced to spend hours by the toilet. She knew he took honour in taking care of her, even though she always kept telling him that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. He would always insist though, whether it was opening car doors or making her a warm bath after a long day. Secretly, she loved being cared for in that way. It made her feel safe and loved.
"So you're feeling better then," he asked, kissing her cheek tenderly. It was like he could not stop kissing her.
She nodded. "I'm feeling better. But I'm glad you're here now. I've missed being taken cared of," she grinned as he chuckled, happy to see the sadness gone from his face.
"We're really having a baby?" Owen's voice was again filled with disbelief, and she laughed with him as she kept nodding. She had a feeling that he would keep asking her this. She did not mind though, having to reassure him that this was actually real. She had had weeks to take it in, to grasp her mind around the fact that a baby was growing inside of her and this time, the baby was perfectly healthy. She was going to give him a child, something he had wanted for such a long time. He would be the greatest dad, she knew for certain, and she could not wait to build a family with him. "We'll do an ultrasound tomorrow. You can see him or her then."
He laughed again. "You have no idea how happy you make me, Amelia. I love you so much."
"I think I have an idea," she said while tilting her head and giving him a mischievous look. "Come on, let's go home. My feet are killing me." Owen took her open hand and picked up his bag from the airport floor. Turning around she help up a finger. "Don't you dare carry me, though. You can be a gentleman and make me feel good when we get home." She gave him a wink, tugging at his hand only to hear him chuckle as he threw an arm around her guiding her out from the airport. He was so happy to be home.
