With time, Amy has come to love Jake's surprises, especially as they started dating.
From terrible, they somehow turned into something beautiful and even magical sometimes – the biggest to date still being that one time, almost two years ago now, when he proposed to her on Halloween. She could have never predicted that. Even more recently, he managed to turn their almost ruined first anniversary into the best celebration she could have wished for on the following day to make up for spending the night in a hospital room with a comatose perp.
So really, under different circumstances, she would have loved the surprise he pulled for her 36th birthday as well – aka., throwing a party with all of her friends and parts of her family she doesn't get to see as much as she'd like to.
But after such big unexpected news she learnt only a few hours ago, she truly would have rather spent the evening as they were supposed to. As in, a romantic dinner just the two of them.
This way, she could have easily shared her own surprise she spent the whole afternoon thinking about and planning (she was able to do that; the perks of always being one – or more like three – steps ahead on her paperwork and not having any important case to solve at the moment).
When she opens the door to their apartment though, she's not met with her husband waiting for her as she thought she would find him (as he told him he was only a few minutes ago when she sent a text letting him know she would be home soon). Instead, she steps into the dark before all the lights go on at once the second she enters the room and a horde of people greets her.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" they shout in one same loud voice.
At least, she doesn't have to fake her surprise. She is startled indeed. Just not in the thrilling way people would expect her to be.
"Oooooh… so many people…" she can't help but trail off as she scans the place and her eyes meet with so many other pair of eyes and glowing faces, all grinning at her.
She tries to smile back at them and look happily stunned when all she can think about is how this is the worst timing ever.
"Hi, honey!" Jake steps out of the crowd and approaches her. She hasn't made a move yet, stuck still on the doorway of their apartment and trying to process what's happening. As soon as his hand is on her arm and his lips are on hers though, welcoming her with a tender peck, she can feel her body relax and her features soften. That's the kind of power his simple presence has on her.
But then he hands her a glass of champagne and her smile vanishes. "Happy birthday, babe," he whispers to her ear. "I hope you like the surprise?"
"Mmhmm." She tries as hard as she can to sound convincing – the last thing Amy wants is to hurt Jake's feelings by showing no gratefulness for what he did for her.
Because she does like the surprise. It's just not the right time for it. And she can't really blame him, because there's no way her husband could have possibly predicted anything else going on at the same time.
"I just need to get changed before joining you guys." She kisses his cheek, handing him the drink back before she goes and quickly greets everyone and thank them for being here. Then she excuses herself for a minute and disappears inside her room where she sits on her bed and finally lets out a sigh.
Tonight is going to be a long night, she thinks as she takes off her uniform's jacket. As she starts undressing to put on some more comfortable clothes, her eyes land on her purse and the small present wrapped inside, the gift she quickly bought on her way home. She had everything planned and perfectly knew what she was going to do: she was going to give it to Jake after he would offer her whatever he bought for her birthday.
"I also have something for you," she was going to tell him and watch with a grin as he would probably frown, unaware of what was going on.
Not knowing yet that their lives were about to completely change and that in a few months, it won't be just the two of them anymore.
Needless to say her plans are ruined now, with all of these people waiting for her on the other side of the room. There's no way she's telling him while they're surrounded with so many of their relatives. She loves them, and she can't wait to share the news with them as well in a few months, but for now this is a secret only Jake needs to know – something to share in the intimacy of a moment between the two of them.
Amy sighs again. She's waited the whole afternoon to tell him. She can wait a few more hours before dropping the beautifully life-changing bomb.
What she can't do though, is drink any drop of alcohol tonight, or any other night in the next months – something that might be hard to avoid during a birthday party.
Her birthday party.
She might have found the perfect excuse to say no to this first glass of champagne Jake wanted her to have, but she has a feeling she won't get away with it as easily next time.
People will get suspicious for sure if she doesn't have at least one drink with them.
"Don't worry. We'll find a way," she finds herself looking down at her (still flat) belly and gently stroking it as she talks to the life she just learned a few hours ago was growing there. She's already feeling protective of it. A loving beam forms on her face and she can feel her eyes start to water again at the thought of a mini Jake and Amy inside of her.
She can't wait for him to know it too, so that they can share their tears of joy together.
"Hi, babe…" A knock on the door and her husband's head suddenly appearing in the doorframe take her out of her reverie and make her jerk her head up. He frowns but doesn't make any comment about her suspicious behavior – simply enters the room and come join her on the mattress. "You alright there?" His voice is soft and concerned and she smiles at him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just getting changed like I said."
Jake studies her for a beat. She can feel his intense gaze scanning her, as if he knew she's hiding something.
"Okay, good. Because it didn't seem like you were truly happy when you saw everyone waiting for you in our apartment."
Of course he knows.
Amy's heart tightens in her chest. She feels bad for not being able to appreciate the effort he put into surprising her with such a party.
"I'm sorry, it's just–… I was taken off guard. This is very different from the calm romantic dinner we agreed on." She lets out a small chuckle to release some of the tension she's feeling. "And I was kind of looking forward to having you all for myself tonight. But I'm really happy to see everyone here. It's a really nice surprise. Thank you." She grabs his hand and squeezes, looking him straight in the eyes while he smiles back at her.
For a second, getting lost inside his loving gaze, Amy contemplates telling him right there and then before she restrains herself – this is not ideal. There are still people waiting for them outside of the room. They wouldn't have the time to let the news sink in and properly celebrate the fact that they're going to be parents.
This will have to wait until the end of the night, she decides.
"I'm ready, now. Let's go?" She stands up to emphasize her words and Jake quickly follows behind.
In the end, Amy does end up having a good time at her surprise birthday party. She gets to share joyful moments with people she holds dear to her heart and finally, avoiding drinking isn't as difficult as she first thought it would be – she quickly comes with a stratagem that allows her to pretend she's downing her glasses when in fact, all she does is filling Scully's without him ever noticing.
She even manages to trick Gina, Rosa and Kylie into doing birthday shots of tequila with them when really, all she's drinking is plain water.
The only thing is, there are so many people in there, it's hard to spend some quality time with her husband – aka., the one person she truly wants to be with during this night of celebrations.
Thankfully though, as time goes by and the night progresses, people start to leave and they eventually find themselves alone after saying goodbye to Charles and Genevieve, the last remaining guests. Amy lets herself fall onto the couch as she feels exhausted after all of this partying. The night isn't over though – and the simple thought of what's to come, what news she has to share is enough to give her some newfound energy.
But before she can say a word, Jake is standing in front of her with a goofy grin on his also tired features and a hand extended in her way.
Music is still playing in the background, some slow tune put at low volume.
"I didn't get the chance to dance with my wife tonight. On her birthday. We need to fix that now," he explains and Amy laughs as she shakes her head but still takes his hand. He leads her in the middle of their apartment. They quickly fall into a slow pace of swaying around the room in comforting silence, Jake's arms secured around her waist while hers are wrapped around his neck.
It's a very soothing moment, and Amy closes her eyes as she lets her head rest against her husband's to better appreciate the moment.
"I know you already told me you did, but you sure you liked the party tonight?" Jake's worried tone is what makes her finally open her eyes again and look at him.
She stops in her movements but doesn't draw away – simply brings a hand to his face and softly strokes his cheek.
Now's the perfect time. She doesn't have her little gift with her but she can do without. The setting is romantic enough for her to share the news.
And, most importantly, they're finally alone.
"I did, I promise." She offers him a reassuring smile. The words are enough to make him relax, she notices. "It was just very bad timing, as there's something I wanted to tell you. Only you."
Her smile grows bigger. She can feel her heart starting to pound in her chest with anticipation. Jake, on the other hand, is watching her with a curious frown.
"What is it?"
Amy pauses just for a second – she's waited long enough already – before spilling the truth, tears already pricking in her eyes before she can even muster the words.
"I'm pregnant," she says and her husband's reaction to the news is soon to come.
It takes only a beat for the fact to sink in. She can tell the exact moment it does; a new glint appears in his irises as he lets his gaze fall onto her stomach.
"You're… pregnant?" He looks back up at her with pure awe shining in his eyes. She nods in return, the happy sobs now falling down her cheeks and blurring her vision. "We're having a baby," Jake lets out in a whisper, still a little in disbelief, before he brings her into a hug and kisses the top of her head.
He suddenly draws away after a while though. He watches her as if a thought just occurred to him.
"Wait. It's your birthday and you're the one pulling out the best surprise for me? It's not how it's supposed to work, Santiago!"
It makes Amy laugh.
"Well, technically it takes two to make a baby. So I guess this is partly your surprise as well." She grins and for only answer he brings her back to him, kissing her passionately.
"Happy birthday, babe," he eventually whispers when they part, his head still resting against hers and a beam still curving his lips.
Amy's pretty sure she's wearing a same expression of blissfulness on her face. Because despite everything, there's not a doubt to have: this is, by far, the best birthday she's ever had.