Author's note: Ok, this is my first real attempt at fanfiction so I'd really love any feedback you guys have to give – what you like, what you don't like. This is just one of the many ideas that popped into my head and I decided to go with it, why not? I've got the first three chapters done and am starting work on the fourth so let me know if you like it and I shall attempt to get it finished soon.

Expecting

Neela stared down at the pregnancy test in her hands. She checked it. Double checked it. Triple checked it. The she checked it one more time, just to be sure. Nope, still pregnant. Shit!

A sudden banging on the door made Neela jump out of her skin.

"Neela, what are you doing in there? I really have to pee," Ray shouted through the door.

Neela tried to focus her thoughts enough to answer him. "Erm…"

"What are you doing? You've been in there twenty minutes."

"Yeah, sorry, I know. Just, erm, give me a minute, ok?"

"I'm about to piss my pants out here, Neela."

"I said just a minute, Ray!" she snapped back, hoping she could make him be quiet long enough for her to sort out a few things in her head.

"Ok, alright," came Ray's reply from the other side of the door, sounding a little wounded.

Ok, Neela, think about this rationally. You have to tell him. There's no point you sitting in here on your own worrying about this. It's just as much his problem as it is yours. Just open the door and tell him.

Neela sat down heavily on the closed toilet lid. Easier said than done, she thought.

"Neela?" Ray asked in a small voice.

She stood up and looked at herself in the mirror, taking a deep breath. She knew it had to be done.

She opened the door and stood in the doorway, unable to make eye-contact with Ray. He was just about to move past her into the bathroom when he spotted the pregnancy test in her hands. He stopped in his tracks, shocked.

"Are you…?"

Neela slowly looked up at him, surprised by how much effort it took. They looked each other in the eye, both their faces blank as their minds raced.

"Yep."

Ray stood and continued to stare at her, unsure how to react. Neela suddenly regretted telling him. She wanted to retreat and sort out her own feelings before she had to deal with his.

"Didn't you have to pee?" she asked him.

"Suddenly not," he replied, still dazed.

"Oh."

He tried to process it all. Neela was pregnant. He was going to be a father. They were going to be parents. He just had to think about this rationally. He loved Neela and, if he was being honest, the thought of starting a family with her had crossed his mind. But this was all so soon. They'd only been together for three and a half months.

"Maybe we should sit down," he suggested.

"Ok."

They both moved over to the sofa and sat down side by side. Neela put the pregnancy test on the table in front of them as they both stared forward in silence.

"This is bad," Neela said.

Ray turned to look at her. "Bad?"

Neela turned to him. "Ray, this is really bad."

Ray shrugged. "Doesn't have to be."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, baby. Babies can be cool," he replied vaguely.

Neela couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You want to have this baby?"

"Neela, I think the question of whether we want a baby at this stage is rather pointless. We're having a baby."

"I know, but…" She exhaled loudly. This was all too much. She wasn't ready for this. She went back to staring into space in an attempt to stop her brain from having a meltdown.

"Are you ok?" Ray asked her.

She didn't reply. She just tried to clear her mind and hope for some kind of calm and clarity.

"Neela?"

"Ray, this is a nightmare!" she exploded, looking at him again. "Do you even understand what this means? We're just getting started in our careers, this could not come at a worse time."

"Neela, slow down a second…"

"Let me finish, Ray. I'm going to have to take time off to have the baby and then we'll have to work out some kind of schedule after it's born. We'll have to work separate shifts to make sure someone's always with the baby which means we'll never see each other. The only other option is to get a nanny but I will not have my child raised by a nanny."

She stopped to catch her breath. Ray put his arm around her and pulled her close.

"Neela, we can work it out, I promise.!

"Ray, I'm not even halfway done yet. What about my parents?"

Ray looked at her blankly. "What about your parents?"

"You think they'll be happy I'm having a child out of wedlock? God, I can see the conversation now."

"So we'll get married," Ray shrugged.

"Oh, that's romantic," she scoffed. She shook her head. "I can't deal with this." She stood up and walked over to the window, staring out.

"I'm going to bed," she declared, not turning around. She stood for another few seconds and then headed for the bedroom.

"Neela…" Ray called out helplessly after her but she was gone and his bladder had suddenly kicked back in. He headed for the bathroom.