On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 8 seconds silence, 7 Hours of Marriage, 6 Ghosts remembered, 5 shades of Red, 4 Best of Friends, 3 Day Shift, 2 Miles to Go and a Brown Leather Charm Necklace.

One of the shortest chapters yet and one of the longest waits. I apologise! xxxxx

His warm tongue continued its path around the snowy white plains leaving a glistening trail to mark where'd been. Her skin was so soft, so clean, so sweet, he adored the taste. Craving it a like a drug, always wanting to taste it, feel it. He swept her stomach with his tongue, tracing circles around her navel, every time getting closer to the tiny button in the centre of her pale skin. She whimpered at the shivers on her body caused by his ministrations. At the rim of her navel he stopped and looked up at her.

"Sara?" He asked, putting his large hand on her stomach.

"Yes." She said, propping herself up onto her elbows.

"Are you pregnant?" He asked outright, massaging her skin with his thumb.

"You can tell with your tongue?" She asked incredulously, masking her fear of the further conversation.

Unfortunately, you can't hide the thudding organ beating in your chest in such a little amount of clothes with your lover's hand so close to the give-away.

"Sara." He whispered, "Are we..." Stopping as if the next word was too scandalous to say.

And the following seconds of silence would forever remain the longest eight seconds of his life. All they did was stare into each other's eyes, as the clock ticked off the time.

8

He'd found the pregnancy test box in the recycling, she had to have thought she was pregnant.

7

She hadn't been ill lately, no morning sickness, no nausea.

6

She hadn't gained any weight, he was sure he could fit his hands around her tiny waist.

5

Were they ready to be parents?

4

What did a baby do to their lives?

3

Was she pregnant?

2

Did he want her to be?

1

What if she...

"No, Nick I'm not pregnant." She announced.

...wasn't.

"Oh." The sound rolled of his tongue before he even knew what was happening.

"Are you disappointed?" She asked.

Was he? He'd known about the pregnancy test since the morning but he hadn't given any thought towards if he wanted the baby or not. Apart from now when he realised he did want a child, an exact replica of him and Sara, the ultimate unity of their souls.

He was disappointed.

He wanted a baby.

He wanted to be a Daddy. He wanted to see Sara carry their child. He wanted to have a family.

"Are you?" He shot back at her.

"Yes."

Sara Sidle, the Workaholic, Anti-marriage, Anti-baby, thee Sara Sidle. Wanted a baby.

And so did he.