Okay so asking everyone's opinion on the sex of the baby was a TERRIBLE idea. It just made me super confused.
Originally, I was planning on them having a boy since Sam had a girl on the show and in my other story- After- they had a girl first. Plus I already had this cute scene written that would only work if they were having a boy.
THEN, the first six reviews that mentioned the baby's gender said they wanted a girl. So then I started thinking about it and I came up with some scenes I could write if it was a girl and eventually, I decided that they'd have a girl. And I figured I could use that cute scene I wrote in my story, After, for when they have a boy. SO I started going through everything I had written and changing everything from he to she and wrote some additional stuff that only works if they're having a girl.
And I thought I had made my decision, but then I got like six reviews in a row asking for a boy.
So yeah, then I was really confused. I'm still confused actually.
And I kind of want to go back to them having a boy, but then I wouldn't be able to use the cute scenes I wrote for the girl, so ultimately, I'm sticking with what I have now. This way I can use ALL of the scenes I had written- if not in this story, I can use it in After.
Although now I'm feeling like half of you will be disappointed. I mean, seriously- what are the odds that out of all the people who chose boy or girl, it's completely split down the middle! Ridiculous….
Anyway, hope no one is disappointed.
==========Expecting==========
She can feel herself giving in. It's been three weeks since their conversation in the truck and he's been nothing short of perfect.
He holds her hair back while she throws up. He rubs her feet when they hurt. He drops everything to run to the store and get her whatever it is that she's craving at the moment. He holds her until she stops crying after she watches a sad movie (or sometimes even a sad commercial).
And he's been opening up to her more, too. He's been telling her stories about his childhood and as hard as it was, they even talked about Jerry's death.
So yeah, she feels herself relenting and that scares the shit out of her. It's possible that she may have even picked a couple fights with him for the sole misguided purpose of pushing him away. But that completely backfired because he's even more wonderful when he knows she's upset.
The thing is, she does want to be with him. She can't even imagine being with anyone else and the thought of him being with someone else just makes her sick. She loves him. More than she's ever loved anyone.
So yeah, she does want to be with him. She's just beyond scared.
If they try again and it doesn't work… she just couldn't handle that. Losing him was the worst thing that's ever happened to her and she just can't go through that again.
And then there's the fact that they're having a baby together and their decisions don't just effect the two of them anymore. There is someone else involved now and if it doesn't work out between them, it could have a serious impact on their ability to co-parent. It's just that they are finally in a good place and she doesn't want to mess that up.
But she also doesn't want to spend the rest of her life just being his friend.
So yeah, she wants to be with him, but she's just not ready to actually be with him.
She just wants to feel more confident about the whole thing. And she just doesn't… not yet.
==========Expecting==========
It's been three weeks since their conversation in his truck and he thinks that she's starting to come around.
Besides the few fleeting moments where it seemed like she was trying to push him away, she's been letting him in more. They've been eating dinner together and sometimes they hang out on the couch and watch a movie after shift. And they've been talking a lot.
He's really been trying to open up to her more. He just wants to show her that things will be different this time. And he thinks she's starting to see that. He thinks she's starting to trust him again.
She's been sitting close to him on the couch. And she doesn't flinch when he touches her anymore. She lets him rub her feet or give her a hug when he's leaving. When she's emotional, she even lets him comfort her until she feels better. And she lets him touch her stomach and sometimes, when she's tired, she'll rest her head on his shoulder and let him wrap his arm around her.
It's small, but he'll take it. He'll take whatever he can get with her. No matter how small. Because for the first time in a while, he actually feels hopeful about their future.
==========Expecting==========
She tosses her keys on the kitchen counter before making her way to the couch. They're both still a little lost in their own thoughts and yeah, a bit dazed.
"I can't believe we're having a girl," she says with a hand on her stomach, once she's collapsed on the couch.
"I know," he agrees as he sits beside her. When she looks over at him, she's struck by the look on his face. It's part disbelief and part complete and utter joy. And she's pretty sure it's the same expression she's wearing at the moment.
"What do you think she'll be like?" Andy asks.
"I don't know," he tells her. "Probably awesome," he adds with a grin.
"Yeah, probably," she agrees with a big smile.
"I hope she's just like you," he tells her, causing her smile to widen. It's probably one of the sweetest things he's ever said to her and it's honestly making her feel warm all over.
"Oh yeah? You sure you can handle two of us?" She teases.
"Yeah," he nods. "Can't wait," he says with a smile as he pushes some hair out of her face. She's been letting him do that recently- very casual touching. And he seriously enjoys every second.
"You happy it's a girl?" She asks after a couple minutes. "I mean… were you hoping for a boy?" She wonders.
"I would've been just as happy with a boy, but I secretly wanted a girl," he admits.
"Really?"
"Yeah, what about you? You happy?" He asks.
"Yeah, I'm happy," she nods and gives her a smile. "I can just picture it now… she's gonna have you wrapped around her little finger the moment she comes out," she muses.
He smiles. Truth be told, he knows she's right.
==========Expecting==========
"So… how was the ultrasound?" Oliver asks Sam the next morning as they are each fixing their coffee.
"Surreal," Sam comments. "You could actually see her moving around in there," Sam says.
"Her?" Oliver asks.
A smile spreads across Sam's face as he turns to meet Oliver's eyes. "Yeah. It's a girl," Sam tells him.
"Oh wow… Sammy, you are going to be in so much trouble," Oliver teases, causing Sam to let out a laugh. "Congratulations, brother," Oliver adds with a pat on the back.
"Thanks," Sam replies.
"You excited?" Oliver asks.
"Yeah," Sam says with a nod and a smile as he sips his coffee.
"What about Andy? She excited?" Oliver wonders.
"Yeah… I think so. She seemed happy," Sam replies.
"So… what's going on with you guys?" Oliver questions.
"I don't know… We haven't talked about it since that first ultrasound, but… it feels like things are getting back on track," he offers.
"Good," Oliver says with a nod. "Man, I can't believe you're really having a little girl," Oliver muses.
"I know," Sam agrees.
"Let's just hope she gets Andy's eyebrows," he teases.
Sam rolls his eyes, but ultimately decides to let the comment go. "I'm hoping she gets Andy's everything," he says instead.
==========Expecting==========
"You hungry?" He asks as they walk into her condo.
"A little, but I can make something… you don't have to stay here and take care of me, Sam. You're allowed to have a life," she tells him. He's been hanging out with her almost every night for the past three weeks and although she has been enjoying his company, she feels a little guilty. He hasn't spent much time with his friends in forever and she knows it's because of her.
He shoots her a confused look. "What do you mean?"
"I just don't want you to feel like you have to hang out with me every night… you're allowed to have a night to yourself. Why don't you go to the Penny or something?" she suggests.
"Andy, I'm exactly where I want to be," he assures her. "Unless… I mean… if you want a night to yourself, I can go," he offers.
"No, I don't," she assures him.
"Okay. Good," he says with a smile. "Neither do I," he adds.
"Okay… but seriously… if you did want to go to the Penny or I don't know… poker night… don't feel like you're not allowed to or something… I think I'll survive one night on my own," she jokes.
"I'll keep that in mind," he says with a little smirk. "Now, why don't you go watch TV and I'll start dinner," he suggests.
"Or I could help," she offers.
"Okay, yeah," he replies with a smile.
"I'll chop the vegetables," She offers.
"Okay," he agrees.
After getting everything from the fridge, she grabs a knife from the drawer and a cutting board from the cabinet and begins chopping while Sam washes the chicken.
"Oh my God," she exclaims a minute later as she drops the knife onto the counter.
"What?" He asks as he hurries over to her with a look of concern on his face. "You okay?" He asks as he places his hand on her back.
"Holy shit, feel this," she says as she grabs his hand and places it on her stomach. She holds it there until she sees his eyebrows jump.
"Whoa," he says, his hand still on her stomach.
"I know! She's kicking," Andy exclaims.
"That's… crazy," Sam replies. He leaves his hand there for a while, just enjoying the feeling of their daughter kicking. "Is this the first time… that she's kicked like this?" He asks, still completely mesmerized by what's going on in her stomach.
"Don't you think I would've told you if it happened before?" She asks.
"Yeah… yeah, I guess," he says with a nod as he places his other hand on her stomach as well.
"It's the first time," she confirms with a smile. "Usually, I just feel her moving around a little bit, but I've never felt her kick me like this," she explains.
"She really is kicking," Sam comments a moment later with a look of complete amazement on his face. "Think we got a little soccer player in there?" He asks, finally looking up at her with a smile.
"Yeah, maybe," she nods, unable to keep the grin off her face.
They stand there for at least another five minutes, just enjoying the feel of their baby kicking.
"Pretty cool, right?" Andy asks, eventually.
"It's… amazing," he tells her with a smile. "There's really a baby in there," he muses. "Our baby," he adds with a smile.
"Yeah," she nods.
"It's just… wow," he says, unable to come up with the words to describe how he's feeling right now.
"I know," she agrees.
==========Expecting==========
Once again, thanks for all of the amazing reviews. Please keep 'em coming!