The Calm Before The Storm

We spent our two first weeks after the move, in an unpacking and finals frenzy but as time passed both the boxes and my finals disappeared one by one and somehow I managed to complete my first year at Yale along with decorating all the rooms in the flat, well all except the nursery which we had some disagreement about but at the end of the two weeks in question it had also been decorated and this is where we currently are sprawled out on the floor.

"I can't believe you did all this Tris."

"Don't give me all the credit Luke helped a lot."

"But still… Even more amazing though is how you got my mom to shut up about it for the entire weekend I was there."

"Oh that part was easy, Luke just threatened her to stop serving coffee in the diner", Tristan smiles.

"Yeah that would do it."

"So honestly Rory what do you think?"

Upon his question I take another look around the nursery. The walls are painted in a light green shade which matches the wooden furnitures perfectly and to top it off the room is drowning in stuffed animals. I can practically see myself sitting in the rocking chair with our baby and I smile at the thought.

"I love it Tris, it's so beautiful".

When he hears me saying those words a huge smile appears on his lips and I'm not kidding you when I say he's practically glowing out of joy. You see in all his life he let very few people inside his walls and I'm happy to say I was one of them because when he let you in you got to see a whole different person and this person was someone who appreciated the small things in life and had the most amazing smile that could lit up a room. This is the sweet, loving person I fell in love with.

"I can't believe I'm going to be the father to whoever is going to live here".

"I know what you mean. It's hard to believe that in only two weeks time, give or take, we're going to be responsible for another human being".

"Scary thought".

"To say the least",

"Oh and Tris thank you for not going with the pink idea".

"Well in the words of my stubborn but adorable wife, I don't want to take any chances when it comes to the future mental health of my child".

I try to smack him for making fun of me like always but I'm too slow these days and he catches my hand midair without any problem.

"Ouch", I suddenly say louder than I probably should have.

Tristan immediately let's go off my arm like he got burn or something.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?", he asks concern evident in his voice.

"No", I can't help but smile at how sweet he looks right now." It's just our soccer player practicing away. You wanna feel?"

"Sure"

I take his hand and put it where the baby currently is kicking and just watch all the usual emotions playing in his face. It's not like it's the first time he feels the kicking but he is equally amazed every time, I on the other hand stopped being amazed months ago and now would like nothing more than to get that kid out of me before it causes some serious internal damage with its constant kicking. Finally the baby decides to give it a rest and we fall in a comfortable silence, which soon my dear husband breaks.

"What time do we need to leave to meet your dad tomorrow?"

"Tenish. And again I'm really, really sorry we have to do this on your birthday but afterwards I promise I will give you an amazing, happy and unforgettable birthday".

"I don't have a doubt in my mind about that. But anyhow tenish? Hmm that gives us plenty of time."

"To do what?"

"Wait here". Tristan jumps up to his feet and disappears out of the room.

"Hey no fair! You know I can't get up from the floor by myself anymore", I scream after him.

"Yeah so?", I hear from the kitchen.

"I hate you".

"Love you too!"

I hit the floor with my fits in frustration where I lay feeling like a stranded whale.

After what feels like an eternity but in reality can't have been more than ten minutes Tristan reappears in the doorway. The way he stands there leaning towards the doorframe with arms folded and a smug smile in place reminds me of the first time I met him. O boy did he get on my nerves back then but I'm happy to say that has changed along with so many other prejudice judgement I had made of him that day but one thing that hasn't changed though is that I still have no idea what makes him tick but I figure I have the rest of my life to find that out. Little did I know how untrue that would turn out to be.

"Hi there need a hand?" Tristan asks bringing me back to reality.

"Dugrey, you better get your ass over here this instant or else!"

"On one condition"

"What!" I snap clearly irritated and nearing pissed off.

"You close your eyes and keep them closed until I say otherwise".

"Tristan", I whine.

"Promise".

"Fine, I promise", I hear myself giving in knowing full well he is the only hope I have in ever coming up from the floor.

Promptly I close my eyes and moments later I can feel myself being pulled up and lead to the bathroom and I know this because I can feel the cold tile under my bare feet.

He then leaves me standing in the middle of the room while he proceeds in undressing and exploring my now familiar body, stopping at the stomach to give it an extra stroke before he turns me around to face whatever he has been up to when I was laying helpless on the floor in the nursery.

"Now you can look", he whispers in my ear sending chills down my spine.

Upon opening my eyes I find myself facing a bubble bath surrounded by candle lights.

"What is all this?"

"Well two things actually, one an attempt to get you to unwind after all your finals and two an early birthday present for me",

"How do you figure?"

"Oh come on a chance to spend some time in a bathtub with my beautiful, naked wife I think will do it".

"Oh you say so?"

"Mmm, now get in so I can give you a neck rub".

"Yes sir", I salute him before gliding down in the hot water.

Tristan gets in behind me and wraps his legs around my body starting to massage my neck.

"Ah, this is heaven".

"Couldn't agree with you more".

We stay in the bath until we are all wrinkled before we go to the bed for a long peaceful night of sleep at least for Tristan who falls asleep the moment his head hit the pillow, something I wish was possible for me too but I have trouble finding good enough position to fall asleep in because of the shooting pain in my lower back due to what I think was laying on the floor and writing too many finals in a too short time span, eventually though I fall asleep.

The following morning I'm woken up by the smell of coffee and when opening my eyes I see Tristan sitting on the bed with a cup of java.

"Talk about a perfect picture".

"Huh?"

"You and the beverage of my desires".

"If I would have known it was that easy to get you to admit I'm perfect I would have tried it a long time ago".

I roll my eyes at him and go for the cup which he quickly pulls out of my reach.

"It's gonna cost you".

Knowing full well where this is going I decide to beat him to the punch thus I move over and give him a passionate kiss at the same time I'm rubbing myself against him as a distraction so I unbeknownst to him can steal the coffee. After I've gotten my treasure I alertly pull away victorious.

"Hey where are you going?"

"Nowhere now when I've gotten what I wanted", I answer and slowly put the cup to my lips.

"Ah low shot Mare".

"Can I help it that you're sooo easy to manipulate besides you should know better than deny a Gilmore her elixir of life".

"Point taken, but using sex to get what you want…ttttt…you come a long way Mary".

"You know what they say all is fair in love and coffee".

"I think it's in love and war Rory".

"Nah, it's coffee".

"I give up".

Tristan leans in to give me kiss but I quickly jerk away.

"Nice try buddy, but you are not coming near my coffee".

"Good to know where your priorities lay".

"Ah poor neglected baby…."

"Yeah", Tristan emphasizes his words with a pout.

"But it's not working".

"Damn, I guess I better leave you here with your lover and take a shower".

"You better".

With a shake of his head at my unwillingness to give up the God given gift I have in my hands Tristan gets some clothes together and heads towards the bathroom.

"Tris".

"Yeah?", he asks stopping in the doorway.

"Happy birthday".

"Thanks", he disappears with a smile on his lips and I'm left with my beloved coffee.

While laying there drinking my java trying to wake up I start to think back on our history. It's still hard for me to grasp that the most obnoxious, popular guy in Chilton, the Casanova himself, actually turned out to be someone I'm proud and extremely happy to be together with and not only that but I can't wait for our child to be born. Affectionately I put my hand on my stomach at the thought, feeling the slightest movement and immediately tear up.

"Damn hormones!"

In my quest to find a tissue or something else to dry my tears with I glance at the clock and realize I better stop daydreaming and get a move on because Tristan may be many things but patient isn't one of them.

As fast as I can I jump into a pair of black overall pants, a striped t-shirt and one of Tristan's sweaters and not before long I hear him shouting from the kitchen.

"Rory, will you get a move on we are going to be late!"

"I'm coming, remember me pregnant wife?", I answer him as I waddle out to the kitchen, where he is waiting.

"You know Rory, soon that excuse isn't going to fly anymore".

"Maybe sooner than you think".

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"I think my water just broke".