Love Never Goes Out of Style/CH 29
A/N: It always makes me somewhat sad whenever I have to say adieu to one of my stories. This one has been really fun for me. I hope you've enjoyed it, as well. I'm going to end it rather unconventionally, because, hey, that's just how I roll, ladies, I like to mix it up occasionally. I am thinking this will be the last chapter of this story.
Hopefully, you have had as much fun on this story as I have writing it! Thanks so much for your support and encouragement.
Daniel was pacing outside the bathroom door of Betty's hotel room. Finally, after what seemed like hours to him, he pounded on the door, looking at his watch, "It's been more than five minutes, Betty! What's it say?"
He heard water running in the sink and she came out, holding the test, and handed it to him. He looked at it curiously and squinted, then held it out, "What does this mean?
Does two lines mean we're having twins or something? Or is it an equal sign? Where's the other one? I don't know how to read this, Betty! Do I need a medical degree to know if you're pregnant or not?"
She handed him two more tests, one with a plus sign and one with an arrow. She went and sat down on a chair, clearly in shock. Daniel followed her, "So, wait, the plus sign is good, right? That means we're having a baby?"
She nodded, "They all say yes, Daniel. I'm pregnant. I peed on three different sticks. They all came out positive."
He looked at her, grabbing her hand, "Is that…good? You seem sort of numb or something. Do you not want to be?"
She took a deep breath and shook her head, "I do. I really do, Daniel. It's just…well, I can't believe it. I'm actually pregnant. I have all the symptoms, my breasts are sore, I'm tired, I'm queasy, I'm having these weird cravings, I feel all bloated and my back hurts."
He made a face, "Sounds like loads of fun! No wonder you're not exactly thrilled about that stuff. I'm so sorry, sweetie. I wish I could take away some of your discomfort somehow.
But just think…in nine months, we'll have a little girl or boy, honey!"
He sat down, and looked at her seriously, "Betty, let's get married."
"What? Daniel! We don't need to get married. I'm not…please don't feel like you have to 'do the right thing' or something just because you "knocked me up" or whatever, okay? This isn't the nineteen fifties! We don't have to…"
He took her hands in his and shook his head, then put his hand on her cheek and kissed her gently, "Yes, we do. Betty, I'm not having my child born illegitimately. Besides, I love you. I want to marry you, no matter what, anyway. It's…I'm sorry, I know maybe that doesn't sound very romantic. I'm just really excited, that's all.
You know when I said I wanted us to go to Europe before? I was thinking of a honeymoon, anyway. That's why I said it. And that was before I had any idea whatsoever that you could possibly be pregnant, Betty. Come on, don't make me beg. I want to get married, don't you? I am madly, crazy in love with you, sweetie. Why should we wait?
We've known each other for four years. You're really going to make me wait even longer to propose? I know…this isn't moonlight and roses, but... why don't you tell me what you always dreamed of for your ideal proposal and that's what I'll do?"
Betty gave him an annoyed look, "Well if I have to tell you step-by-step what to do, Daniel, it doesn't really count!"
He sighed, frowning, "Why doesn't it? Why do women always say stuff like that? If you don't tell me what you want, how am I supposed to know? I can't read your mind! I'm sorry, honey."
Betty looked as if she was going to cry.
"Please don't cry, sweetie! I'm really sorry! I just don't know how to say it all romantic. You know I'm no good at that kind of stuff! I'll tell you what. I'll have a nice dinner brought here tonight and some wine…I mean milk and cookies?"
She laughed, "Sounds good, actually. Make that lots of chocolate chip cookies."
"Sure. And we can dance and listen to music for a while. Or…hey, maybe we could get dressed up later and take a walk along the Thames? It's romantic walking along the banks, right?"
She made another face, pointing to her feet, "But my feet hurt, Daniel!"
He thought for a minute, "Okay. Well, do you want to go up in the London Eye, or in the…"
"NO! Nothing high! It'll make me sick."
He sighed, at the end of his wits, trying to think of what to do to please her.
He pulled her up from the chair and put his arms around her waist, holding her out at arms' length. "Come on, Betty. Tell me what you like, sweetie, please?. I didn't hear you complaining when I had you tell me other things you liked."
She rolled her eyes, "Daniel! Don't talk about sex right now. That's so NOT romantic! This is different."
"Why is sex so different from marriage? It's not like we're going to stop having sex once we get married. Are we? Or when you get bigger from being pregnant? You're not going to be one of those women who can't stand to have sex with their husband are you?
Like my cologne makes you vomit or the smell of me or something? Because I've got to tell you right now, I really don't think I could spend nine months sleeping on the couch!" He looked somewhat green around the gills himself at this point and rather panicked.
She pulled him down by the collar towards her and shook her head, then whispered seductively,
"No, I definitely do want to have sex. In fact…you look really cute right now, Daniel. Can we please talk about this wedding and proposal stuff afterwards?"
He raised his eyebrow, shocked at her sudden reversal of attitude, "What, you mean you want me right now?"
She nodded, eying him hungrily, as she pulled his neck down to kiss him passionately, "Oh, yeah. Big time, mister."
He laughed, but nodded, "Okay. I guess I won't argue with the pregnant lady. You want me…where, exactly? On the bed? On the floor, in the chair? Just tell me what you want. Finally, I can do something you actually want!"
She pushed him roughly on the bed, surprising him. She saw the handcuffs he had managed to get in the novelty shop next to the drug store as a joke and smiled wickedly, as she straddled him, "Hmm…let's see. How about…all the above?"
"Come on, let's surprise them. Daniel texted just a little while ago to say Betty's test was positive. They can't be too busy yet! It's only been about ten minutes or so. I still have the key."
"Are you sure this is a good idea? What if they're…you know, in the middle of doing stuff?"
"Again? You told me they were going at it like rabbits at the cabin. Betty's probably just taking a shower or something and Daniel's watching the boob tube. They'll want to know Stuart's alright and all about how we got Matt safely behind bars."
Hilda led the group, using her key to open the door. Bobby was extremely hesitant. "I don't know, guys…for the record, I think this is a really bad idea. We should just wait until they meet us in public or something."
"I don't think this is a very good idea, either." Tyler agreed.
But Amanda pulled him along, "Oh, please! You don't know Betty like I do. She's an old fuddy duddy. You forget, I was roomies with her. She'll probably be in her flannel old lady night gown, wearing a little blanket and sitting in a rocking chair!"
"Uh…that doesn't sound like what we heard in the cabin earlier." Bobby shook his head, and hung back.
Christina and the other ladies stepped in and they all had varying degrees of shock register on their faces as they saw Betty on top of Daniel, with him handcuffed to the bed.
Amanda laughed, "Whoa! Oh my God! Uh…congratulations on the baby, guys!"
Daniel waved, smiling, "Thanks. Hi, there, ladies!"
Christina and Hilda burst out laughing and ran out the door, and Tyler stood, in shock, along with Stuart. Bobby pulled them both out, with their mouths open, then he shut the door behind them. Tyler had to go back in to grab Amanda, who was watching rather intently,
Bobby looked at Hilda, "See! I tried to warn you! But did you listen to me? NO! I tell you what, Hilda, when we're married, I want you to promise me two things."
She crossed her arms across her chest, "What's that?"
"First, I want you to actually listen to me once in a while when I try to tell you something."
She shrugged, smiling, "Okay. On a case by case basis. We'll see. And what's the other thing?"
He stuck his thumb back at Betty's room, "See if Betty will let you borrow those handcuffs for the honeymoon."