Chapter 6

Tish remembered the gut-churning, nausea-inducing fear at the unknown, the pain of thinking she was worthless, the effort of building up her walls to protect her emotions and to keep anyone from getting too close. She'd expected loneliness and fear, but look at what she'd gotten instead! Friends who had claimed her as their own, cared so much about her, fought for her, and would do anything to help her and protect her. A husband who had waited for her, had given her time to work through her insecurities even at great heartache to himself, who loved her more than life itself. A husband who would never hurt her, who loved her for who she was, not just what she looked like or could do for him. A husband who showed her what being in love truly felt like, an unconditional love without fear or doubt or hurt. A husband who she loved in return, so much it scared her; she would do anything for him and knew he would do the same for her.

A husband who was waiting patiently outside the door, who she may be starting a family with…

"Tish?" Priestly's tender, slightly hesitant, yet inherently eager, question drifted through the peeling wood.

A soft knock came from the bathroom door, so different from the lonely, dead silence or the violent, angry pounding from her memories. She couldn't help the instinctive flinch though, part of her mind still lingering on the memory of Connor. This couldn't be more different, she reminded herself. Priestly couldn't be more different. She could hear Priestly shuffling in the hallway, his fingers tapping softly on the wall in his nerves. Before long she heard him starting to pace, feet muffled on the carpet, but audible all the same. Three paces, turn, three paces back, up and down along the small hallway.

Twice she'd hoped and prayed for a negative and now she wanted nothing more than for that little positive sign to appear. She wanted this, for herself and for Priestly. She wanted to give Priestly this joy. She wanted to bring a child into their little family, a child who she knew would be loved and cared for. Images of Priestly playing with their child, tucking them in at night, bouncing them on his knee, changing diapers, pulling silly faces at them, trying to make them laugh, flashed before her. Her heart swelled at the thought; he would be a wonderful dad. She'd seen him with Julia, how naturally he spoke to her and interacted with her, how he made her smile, how treated her like an equal and yet encouraged her to still be a child. It was beautiful to see. And now maybe he would have, they would have, a child of their own. It was incredible, awe-inspiring, terrifying…

Gripping the plastic stick in her fingers, Tish crept over to the door and cracked it open, peering into the hallway. Seeing Priestly leaning against the wall, chewing the paint off his nails, she slid around the door, closing the gap between them. She wanted to share this moment with her husband; she didn't want to know one way or another before he did. He was a part of this as much she was and she wanted to share this with him.

"Tish?" he asked, the hope clear in his voice and painfully open expression.

"Haven't got the result yet. Didn't want to do it on my own," she admitted, reaching out a hand to Priestly.

"How long?" he asked as he quickly wrapped her outstretched hand up in his own, pushing off the wall where he leaning as he did so. He smiled down at her, threading his fingers through hers.

Tish shrugged. "About two minutes? Thereabouts."

Priestly nodded, lip caught between his teeth, trying to order his thoughts. When he'd gotten the clamouring under control he noticed how Tish's fingers were trembling minutely in his.

"You're shaking," Priestly softly exclaimed.

"This is kinda big, you know," Tish reminded him wryly.

"I know," Priestly smiled, as he turned, guiding them both through to the living room, settling them both down on the sofa. "But we're gonna be fine. And I'll love you, no matter the result, okay?"

Priestly twisted, so he was facing Tish, wanting to make sure he had her full attention and she understood what he was saying. He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, skimming his fingers down her cheek as he pulled back. He loved her so so much, and even though it was unexpected, he really did want to have a baby with her, right now, not just years down the line. But he knew his wife and he knew that she'd seen his hopefulness; and he knew that she would blame herself if it was a false alarm and it was negative. He couldn't bear her putting herself through that, not on account of him, so he hastened to reassure her. His worry lessened at her answer however.

"I know, Priestly," she assured, squeezing his hand in hers. "Thank you. And I love you too, you big softie."

Tish leant forward pressing her forehead to his, needing the closeness with her husband. She reached up, sliding her fingers through his double 'hawk. Enjoying the closeness for the moment, the way that Tish's fingers inevitably found their way into his hair, Priestly pulled back slightly, ducking his head slightly to catch her gaze.

"You sure that's all it is? The nerves?" Priestly pressed, the frightened expression on her face when she emerged somewhat warily from the bathroom still etched in his mind. "You looked kinda spooked when you came out into the hall."

Tish smiled sadly, dropping her gaze, fiddling with her wedding ring, twisting it round her finger.

"I was just…remembering some things. Some…not nice things, that's all. Nothing important."

Priestly frowned at that statement; anything that upset Tish was important to him.

"Tish…" he tried.

Before Priestly could push her for answers however, Tish pressed her fingers gently to his lips.

"Later. Not now. I'm fine, I promise," she reassured. "And this is about me and you, and maybe a new family, right? Bad memories don't belong here."

Priestly opened his mouth to argue, but he couldn't see any more of the fear or hurt lingering in his wife's eyes. Just anticipation, excitement, with maybe an edge of nerves, but that was only natural, he conceded. He had his own nerves and excitement swirling in his belly after all. He trusted her and she would tell him when she was ready.

"You're right," he agreed, hooking an arm around her shoulders and drawing her close, giving her a soft squeeze.

He glanced at the clock on the mantle.

"How long now?"

Tish rolled her eyes fondly, completely understanding his excited impatience. "Only about twenty seconds less than when you last asked," she teased.

"Really?" countered her irreverent husband. "Are you sure? I think we need a new clock, because that one's clearly broken."

"Idiot," she smiled, burrowing herself further into his arms, feeling the safety and love that they offered.

Husband and wife sat on the sofa, wrapped up together, eyed fixed on the innocuous plastic on the table, silently counting as the seconds ticked by. Tish took a deep breath when the allotted time was up. Detangling herself from Priestly, she shuffled towards the edge of the seat, perching on the edge as she reached for the stick which had been resting on a mat of their coffee table.

She felt Priestly shift beside her, joining her on the edge of the cushions, sliding his hand into hers in silent support as she scooped up the test with the other, bringing it into her lap. She still hadn't looked at the plastic. Instead she turned to her husband, lip caught in her teeth, unconsciously mirroring Priestly's earlier action, the nerves now back in full force. The moment when it would all become real…

"Hey," Priestly reassured, "it's gonna be fine."

Tish nodded numbly, eyes wide.

"Now, come on," Priestly urged, practically whining, giving her shoulder a nudge. "You know I have no patience. None at all. You're killing me right now!"

The teasing worked, Tish's body relaxing slightly, a ghost of a smile flickering on her face. Taking a steadying breath, Tish lifted the test up between them, so they could both see. Priestly guided her hand a little closer, so the small symbol was clear. Tish's grip on his hand was bruising.

"Tish…" he gasped, taking in the little pink sign, turning to her in disbelief.

"I… I…" Tish began, not sure what to say, what to think. "It's positive! I'm… I'm really pregnant."

Priestly took in her stunned face, seeing the happiness there despite the overwhelming shock, feeling his own wide grin stretch across his face.

"You're pregnant," he confirmed, wonder lacing every syllable, fighting the urge to dance around and yell for joy, giving Tish a moment to adjust to the life-changing revelation.

"We're going to have a baby," Tish whispered, the shock clear as her voice shook.

Tish glanced down at her stomach, bringing their joined hands to fold over her middle, smiling at the image.

"We're going to have a baby!" she cried happily, launching herself into her husband's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Catching her, burying his face in her neck, breathing in her scent, Priestly laughed as he hugged her in return, one hand wrapped around her back, the other tangled in her hair, cradling the back of her head. He wasn't sure if the wracks that shuddered through Tish's body were laughter or sobs but he knew that it was an overwhelming happy emotion nonetheless.

Suddenly Tish flew from his hold, springing up to standing, face alight, hands held by her face, holding her cheeks.

"We're going to be parents!" she squealed, practically bouncing where she stood, hair flying, tumbling around her shoulders.

Priestly chuckled, drinking in every second of his wife's clear delight.

"Yes, we are!" Priestly agreed, standing up himself, scooping Tish into his arms, lifting her off her feet and twirling her around.

Tish's cries of laughter as she buried her face in his shoulder, legs hooking round his waist to make herself more secure as the room spun around her, was music to Priestly's ears.

Getting dizzy, Priestly gently let her down, sinking onto the edge of the sofa once more, grasping both of Tish's hands in his, pulling her so she was standing between his legs. Priestly looked up at his wife, stunned at how beautiful she was, flushed cheeks framed by her dishevelled, tumbling hair, wide smile, bright eyes. He swallowed as his emotions threatened to overtake him. His wife, his perfect, gorgeous, loving wife, was making him the luckiest guy in the world, all over again; she was making him a father.

He slowly dropped his gaze, until his focus rested on her mid-section. Glancing back up at Tish's smiling face, he hesitantly reached out, one hand gripping her waist. He tenderly slid his other hand under her top, letting his palm rest on her stomach. There was a little life in there, he marvelled, catching his wife's gaze once more, tears shining in his wide eyes, wonder and awe etched into every feature.

Tish breath caught as she blinked back her own tears of joy, feeling the heat of Priestly's palm warm her skin, his thumb stroking softly beside her naval. With the utmost care, Tish felt Priestly move his fingers away to the side, until he was bracketing her slender waist with both his hands, his hand-span practically encircling her, safe and protected. Leaning forward he pressed a gentle, feather-light kiss on her skin, causing Tish to shiver, a thrill sparking through her from where Priestly's lips had touched her. He dropped his forehead to her, gently resting against her abdomen, his warm breath tickling her skin, a cool dampness as Priestly's tears escaped from his eyes. She felt the soft scratch of his gelled, spiked hair over her rib cage, and she smiled. Tish felt as if she was nearly drowning in her joy, bringing her hands up to cradle his head to her as he clung to her, fingers gently scratching at his scalp.

"You're amazing," Priestly whispered, snaking his arms around her lower back, hugging her to him, his cheek pressed against the delicate skin of her stomach before pulling back to meet her gaze, wanting her to see just how much she meant to him.

Tish swallowed, reaching out to dry the happy tears on Priestly's face. Her voice lost as she basked in the knowledge that she'd made Priestly this happy, that she was going to be a mother, that her husband could look at her with such awe and adoration. Clearing her throat quietly, so her voice wouldn't crack and betray how overwhelmed she felt, Tish smiled, pure and bright.

"You're not so bad yourself," she complimented, pushing her husband back onto the sofa, smoothing down her top, her own fingers lingering on the precious life growing inside of her, before settling down beside him, shuffling around to find the most comfortable position.

All of a sudden a thought occurred to her. She pushed herself back away from Priestly, her hand planted firmly on his chest, keeping him away. She frowned, mock-anger on her face.

"What?" Priestly asked, confused by the sudden turn of events, a crease marring the smooth skin between his eyebrows.

"You do realise, then, that me throwing up for the past week is actually, technically, all your fault!" Tish griped, pouting for good measure.

"I… Sorry, I guess?" Priestly tried.

"And you do realise every little ache and pain is going to be your fault for the next nine months, and probably for a few months after too," Tish teased in warning, tongue caught in between her teeth, eyes twinkling.

Tish giggled at Priestly's stunned expression, waiting until it morphed into his devil-may-care twinkle.

"Nuh uh, I didn't sign up for that!" Priestly teased, shaking his head to emphasise his point. "I'm moving to Alaska. Call me when the munchkin's born."

"Nice try, dumbass," Tish joked with a laugh.

Tish pulled her husband close, feeling his hands clasp at her lower back, as she looked up at him. She leant into his hold, trusting him to keep her safe. She reached up to trace his cheek, fingers smoothing over the soft, freckled skin, feeling the rough hair of his side burns tickle her fingertips.

"You know I love you, right? And I always will?"

"Positive," Priestly answered with a smile, as Tish groaned at his cringe-worthy pun, dropping her head against his chest in despair at his humour.

"You're such a dork!"

Priestly stuck his tongue out at her, in the only possible response to such a statement. Grinning unashamedly at her, Priestly wrapped his beloved wife in his arms, tight against him, and kissed her with all the love in his heart. It wasn't going to be easy, in fact as the news began to sink in he was downright terrified, but at the same time he couldn't be more excited to be starting a family with Tish and face all the challenges it brought, together.

The End

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed! Reviews are, as always, very much appreciated :)