Chapter 21 - Bubbles and True Love

"Mmh, come here" Alex said as Claire placed herself on the bed, ready to call it a day. He pulled the blanket aside so she could crawl in next to him, and as soon as she was at his side he covered her up and pulled her into his arms.
"How are you feeling?" he asked and gave her a couple of kisses on the top of her head, still thinking about what happened this morning. "I'm fine Alex, stop worrying so much" Claire said and looked up at him. "I know, I'm sorry. I just want everything to be okay" he said and smiled at her.
"It is okay" She said and gave him a reassuring smile. Somehow she didn't put as much into her passing out as the rest did. She felt fine now, it was just a blackout. Sure she understood she had to take more care but she wasn't sick or anything.
"Good! I'd like to keep it that way" he said and caressed her belly gently. He still had trouble believing there was a living human being growing inside of her - it amazed him what the human body was capable of doing. "Oi!" he suddenly exclaimed and looked at her with big eyes. Claire started to smile, knowing he had felt those bubble-like kicks, she had been alone to experience up until now.
"Was that a .. "
"Kick? Yeah" she said and felt another round of bubbles appear inside of her. She couldn't help but smile even more seeing how excited Alex was. "Here" she said and moved his hand to the other side of the belly. "It's … It's amazing, Claire" He said and looked at her with a big grin on his face. For the first time he felt the life sign of his baby, that only Claire had been feeling so far. It was indescribably.
"That's really our baby moving in there?!" he asked. He still couldn't believe it. "It is" Claire said with a laugh, loving the moment - taking everything in. She could treasure it for a lifetime. "I can't wait to meet junior in here" Alex said and looked at Claire, like he was more in love than ever. She stroke his cheek before she leaned her head closer to him and rested it on his shoulder. She was feeling blessed, lucky and happy - all at once. It was an incredible gift and experience and the best part was, that she got to experience it with Alex.
"Alex?" She asked after a while and looked up at him. He smiled as their eyes met, letting her know he was listening. "Sorry for today - I know you are a good trainer" she said and gave him a apologetic smile. It wasn't easy for her to let others take control but she wanted to get better at it - but for the first time in her life she didn't had to do everything herself and that was quite hard to adjust to.
Alex took in a deep breath and squeezed her tight. "It's okay" he said and rested his head on top of hers. "I know it's not always easy, but I hope you know you can lean on me" he said and moved his hand up and down her arm with light strokes.
"I know" Claire said, moved away from him and sat up facing him. "I really do know, Alex. I know I don't always show it but I'm so thankful for everything you do" she spoke again and gave him a gentle smile. He returned the smile and moved closer to her. "You know how beautiful you look right now?" he said and moved a lock away from her face. His heart still skipped a beat everytime she smiled at him - he could look at her forever and never get tired of seeing that face of hers. She was perfect, in every way and the glow around her from the pregnancy only added to it. "Stop" she said shy and blushed. Why was she still not used to hearing him talk about her like this?
"I love that I make you blush like this" he said and smiled at her heartily. He let out a deep breath and tilted his head. "Why did we take so long?" he asked with a low voice merging his hand with hers. He had loved her for as long as he could remember - but he haven't had the courage to tell her. Claire looked up at him and met his eyes - and in that moment it was like they saw each other for the first time, saw each other for all they were. An unexplained connection embraced them, forged the invisible bond between them together in a tight knot that couldn't be untied. She gave him the same heartily smile as he had her and crawled her way over to him.
He studied her as she placed herself in his arms, letting them protect her. A warm feeling rushed through his body as she rested her head on his chest. Her hair smelled like berries and he couldn't help but take in a deep breath of her sweet scent. "Do you know how much I love you?" he asked. His confession made her smile and she tightened her grip around his arm - He was truly the one. She became more and more in love with him from each day. She had never felt a love this great before, and neither had he. Claire moved her head and looked up at him. He smiled at her, sending off an explosion of butterflies in her stomach. "I love you too" she said with a low voice and a warm smile found its way to him. Gently he lifted her chin up and planted a soft long kiss on her perfectly shaped lips. He would never leave. He had everything he had ever wanted.
"Claire?" Alex asked after a while of just holding her. "Mmh" she answered with her eyes closed, embracing the sweet feeling of love that was consuming her.
"I think we should move in together" Alex said making Claire frown. "I thought you were in already?" she said and pulled herself out of his arms to face him. "Well you know, make it official" Claire smiled at him - How did she get this lucky? It was a question she had asked herself a couple of times by now. Maybe the knight in shining armor actually did exist. Maybe it wasn't just in the fairytales that existed. He for one was her knight, no doubt there.
"Say something" Alex said and returned the smile as he pushed to her arm, trying to get her to stop smiling. Not that it was a bad thing but a straight answer wouldn't hurt.
"You sure you wanna move in?" Claire asked looking doubtful at him. "It's not just me your getting - it's everyone" she continued.
"I don't mind" Alex said with an even bigger smile. "It can get pretty crazy and there's only one bathroom" Claire continued, trying to make him realise what he was getting himself into. "I know" he said firmly and frowned. "I can handle all the craziness in the world, the waiting to get a shower, the constant talk around the breakfast table, the constant 'Things Alex Ryan do not need to know'-talks around the breakfast table - I can deal with it all. And you know why?" he finished and moved closer to her. Claire shook her head and studied him as he came closer, only inches apart. "Because I will be waking up with you everyday and that is the only thing .." he stopped and leaned his head closer to her and kissed her softly on her lips "That matters" he continued and looked at her with a soft smile. She returned it, feeling all mushy from his confession.
There was nothing she'd rather would, than to wake up with him by her side everyday.