In praising a loving child, we love and praise not that which is, but that which we hope for.
~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Meg looked at it again. The results hadn't changed since the last time. This was what she said she wanted. She had asked Fraser to help her with the process.
A pink plus sign. It felt like so much bigger than plus; plus a baby, plus Benton, plus her RCMP duties.
Ottawa.
What would her superiors say? A pregnancy wouldn't rile them, but Fraser as the father would.
"He'll want to be honest. Such a boy scout." Meg thought to herself a she slid the pregnancy test into a Ziploc bag.
Long hours spent filling out adoption paperwork with Benton had turned into casual dinners and friendly conversation. Slowly, the wall between them melted. After the adoption agency's rejection letter, Meg had given up. Benton hadn't. He'd convinced the agency to take a second look. They'd agreed to put her on the waiting list.
"I guess I'm off the waiting list now." Meg muttered as she squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush.
"It's worth it." she smiled, beginning her two minute brush cycle.
Ben hummed softly as he puttered around the consulate kitchen making breakfast. Meg insisted she didn't want breakfast.
"She still eats every bite thought." Ben chuckled.
Dief's tail thumped against a cabinet as he stood up.
"I told you, no more maple syrup, it's far too sweet." Ben admonished the wolf-dog.
Dief rolled his eyes and huffed. Ben heard the front door open a second later.
"My apologies, I didn't know she'd arrived."
"Hello," Meg said.
Ben heard the forced cheer in her voice. When he turned to face her he saw worry in the depths of Meg's brown eyes.
"Good morning." He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "Would you like coffee or tea?" Ben asked.
"Tea," Meg sat down at the small table. Dief came over for his morning head scratch.
"Here you are, Margaret." Ben set a plate of food before her and a mug of fresh tea.
"I'm pregnant." Meg blurted out flatly.
"That's wonderful." Ben set the mug down, sloshing just a bit. He knelt down before her, pulling Meg against him.
"It's a shock." She said softly, patting his back awkwardly.
"How do you feel about it, Margaret?" Ben pulled away, looking at her solemnly.
"I'm not sure yet, I worked so hard to have a baby, I guess I never thought it would actually happen." she answered honestly.
"All or nothing, remember?" Ben smiled, cupping Meg's cheek.
"I remember." She smiled back before hugging him once again; this time tightly.
The next few weeks were a flurry of doctors' appointments and paperwork for Meg. She let Benton take on more consular duties, which in turn gave Constable Turnbull more responsibilities. He surprised everyone by not screwing it up – too badly. The consulate offices of Austria and Australia neither one appreciated the mix-up in official greetings – replete with the wrong flag and national dish at the luncheon. Turnbull gladly took a week of sentry duty.
"Are you coming home or staying a the consulate tonight?" Meg asked at the end of the fiasco of a day.
"Home?" Benton parroted. He wondered when Meg's apartment had turned from 'my place' to 'home' for her – and himself.
"Home, yes, do you need a definition, Fraser?" Meg grouched at him, undoubtedly crabby after Turnbull's mix-up.
"I'm going with you, Margaret."
"Very well then." Meg shook her head at Ben's strange behavior, as did Dief.
"It's not a proper home without the benefit of marriage, Son." Fraser Sr's familiar voice stopped Ben in his tracks. He hadn't heard from the old Mountie in a while.
"It isn't that simple." Ben answered, whispering as he lagged behind Meg. When Meg turned to look at him he smiled innocently.
"A child's parents should live together if at all possible." Fraser Sr continued dogmatically.
"Dad," Ben turned to quarrel with him but stopped when he saw the pleading look on the old man's face.
"Ben, is there something you'd like to share?" Meg turned around again, her brow creased in concern/annoyance.
"We should get married." Ben blurted, a deer-in-the-headlights expression on his face.
"Do what?" Meg said in disbelief.
"We should get married. I want to marry you, Margaret." The more he said it, the more he liked the idea. For once his father had given great advice.
"You're serious?" Meg stopped on the bottom step of the consulate stoop.
"Yes, I am." Ben answered simply, drawing closer.
"What about the consequences, what if Ottawa separates us?" Meg laid her hand on her still flat stomach. Ben laid his over it.
"They can try, but I'm not going anywhere." he pressed a kiss to Meg's forehead.
"I want to marry you too, Ben, but the thought terrifies me." Meg leaned forward, resting against Ben's solid form.
"All or nothing, Meg. I love you." He pulled her into a comforting hug, an uncharacteristic show of affection for him.
"Let's say 'I do' then, as soon as possible."
"I really will have a home now." Ben thought, counting his blessings; Dief, the Rays, Meg and the coming baby. He even counted his father as a blessing.
"It's about time you did." Fraser Sr grumbled.
Ben had to laugh.