Pregnant.
Fiona Bickerton was pregnant.
Oh, God help him.
He was going to be a father. That was the really scary part of all of this. It wasn't impossible to believe but it was a bit difficult to get his head around. Yes, he had thought about eventually settling down and starting a family - given, he had never really thought about that being with Fiona - but this, this was a bit much. And there was Fiona, staring at him with those wide hazel eyes, brimming with tears and the horror that threatened to grip her, should he say that he didn't want this child. Of course, he wanted this child. He had created this baby. This baby was just as much him as it was her and yes, it was difficult to wrap his around the fact that she was in fact carrying his offspring but he already loved it.
He, Edward Lee Arlette, was going to be a father and that idea thrilled him - even if it had thrown him for a loop at first.
"Fiona, sweetheart," Eddie took a deep breath, hoping to at least regain a little of his composure. Her hazel eyes dropped to her lap and it was easy to see, she was preparing herself for whatever he was about to tell her - she was clearly expecting the worst. Instead of trying to maneuver her head back up and meet her eyes again, Eddie went with the simplest solution which was to scoop her up and settle her in his lap. She looked up at him with those hazel eyes and he sighed softly; "This...this is a lot for me to get my head around, right now."
"Eddie, if you don't want this child - " Fiona was interrupted by Eddie, who was clearly trying to hold back his laughter.
"Sweetheart, I couldn't possibly want this baby any more than I already do." Eddie shushed her, soothing her pointless fears. "Okay, it is a bit intimidating and let's be honest, Fiona, did you ever picture me as a father?"
"Well," Fiona giggled slightly, resting her head on his shoulder. "No, not really."
"But that doesn't mean I don't want this baby. I do, Fiona." He stroked her blonde hair soothingly. "I just need some time to adjust."
"I do too." Fiona nodded against his shoulder before raising her head to look at him. "So you're happy?"
"Of course," He brushed her cheekbone tenderly with his thumb and smiled, "Sweetheart, if you still doubt me, I'm doing something wrong in this relationship."
Fiona laughed and carefully repositioned herself so that she was straddling him, her still flat stomach pressed against his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned closer to him. Her method of communication was not lost on a thoroughly educated Eddie, who met her half-way and nipped at her bottom lip. His hands fell to her hips, squeezing them slightly in response to the slight tug she was giving his hair. He swallowed her whimper when he sucked and bit her bottom lip, causing it to swell and sensitize. He broke away and trailed hot kisses along her jaw and down the side of her neck, listening to every hiss of approval.
"Eddie," Her accent thickened and he could hear the familiar hoarseness of arousal creeping into her voice. "Hmmm..."
"What were you saying, Fiona?" Eddie grinned against her collarbone, humming slightly drawing a whimper from her. "You sound a bit out of sorts, are you okay?"
"Evil, evil man." Fiona breathed, tugging his hair as if to egg him on. "You already got me pregnant, isn't that enough for one day?"
Eddie just laughed and continued his ministrations. His mouth paused along the hot trail it was burning on her skin and he looked up to meet her eyes, obviously having realized something. She looked dazed and confused as to why he had stopped. He tightened his arms around her and rubbed her back absently. "Have you been sick?"
"Sometimes." Fiona shrugged, bringing her hands down to his shoulders. "It's what kind of clued me in that we're going to be parents in about nine months and you know, the fact that we haven't exactly been careful."
"Maybe that's a good thing."
Fiona couldn't help it and almost immediately burst into laughter. She was close to tears when she noticed his offended look and softened to an amused chuckle, bringing him to close to her in an affectionate hug; "I'm sorry, darling. I don't mean to laugh. It's just that, I'd love to have you say that when I'm craving strange foods, going through mood swings and I'm the size of a house."
Eddie just grinned wickedly, "Oh I think I can handle the mood swings."
"And the strange cravings?" Fiona raised her eyebrows skeptically.
"Shouldn't be a problem." Eddie shrugged.
"And what about me being the size of house?"
Well, that was a double edged sword. There was no possible way to answer that question correctly - hell, every answer he could think of right off of the top of his head seemed wrong and liable to incur Fiona's fiery wrath. He thought carefully before he answered. Fiona wouldn't be the size of a house but she certainly wouldn't be one of those women who went nine months without ever looking like they were about have a baby. He imagined that pregnancy would fill her out nicely, enhance her curves and the soft roundness of her stomach was sure to become the most beautiful part about her.
"Sweetheart, you aren't going to be the size of a house. You're pregnant." Eddie told her. With that said, he skimmed his hands down her sides. "I can only imagine that I'll want you more when you start to show."
"You'll want me more?"
He squeezed her hips and picked up where he left off on her collarbone. "Fiona, think about it. Your body is going to change and it isn't a bad thing. I'll love those changes. The fuller hips and you know I won't object to the fuller chest."
"What about the stomach?" Fiona broke off into a high-pitched whimper, "Oh god, Eddie!"
"There's a baby in your stomach. Watching the baby grow is going to be half the fun." Eddie murmured against her chest, nibbling on her skin. "Now will you stop worrying and let me continue?"
Her only answer was to moan and throw her head back to allow him better access. Parenthood was going to be an adventure for both of them. Pregnancy was going to stretch and change her body. She was going to have more mood swings than even she could tolerate and her cravings would be strange, sometimes impossibly so and she was going to experience morning sickness but she still had Eddie. Sweet, wonderful, adoring Eddie, who seemed ready to take on any challenge that her pregnancy might throw at him.
Guess who got a new laptop? *Points at self* This girl! That's right I'm the proud owner of a brand new laptop. It's awesome! My other one has since been retired and now sits in its bag, where it shall reside until the day comes where it won't turn on, even with the charger. I typed most of this chapter last night while listening to 'Poison And Wine' by the Civil Wars - damn you, John Paul White, that one line always brings me to tears - and finished it this morning in my pajamas on the couch while listening to my cat play in the window. I wanted Eddie to be over the moon at first and have the freak-out come later. I imagine him getting distant and it being somewhat subtle but nothing Fiona won't pick up on! Anyway, hope you enjoyed. Leave me some love, Dolls!
Love ya,
RobertDowneyJrLove
P.S. The line from the song is, "I don't have a choice but I'd still choose you" and the reason it brings me to tears is because the song is about painful honesty in a relationship and the way he sings that line just...ugh, yeah, reduces me to tears. So anyway, that's it.