"A baby?" Marina asked.
"Yeah, oh I'm sorry did I offend you?" Eric asked.
"No you didn't offend me, but why me?"
"We've been friends since forever and I love you dearly, it's only right that it should be you. You were always my first true love. Please, will you consider it?"
"For you Eric…of course I will consider it. I still have feelings for you as well, but what would Francesca say?"
"Don't tell her just yet, when the time is right you will tell her."
"Yeah. A baby. What a life altering change, lets meet tomorrow and I'll give you my answer." Marina says.
"So soon?"
"Yes, remember Eric I would do anything for you…" Marina says before they hang up.
The Next day…
Marina walks in and sees Eric sitting down, he looked ok but she knew he wasn't.
They hugged and sat back down.
"Eric I've thought about what you asked." Marina started.
"I will understand if you didn't want to do it."
"No Eric I want to do it, Francesca and I are not doing so well and I'm starting to believe she doesn't really love me. With a baby there is unconditional love, they love you no matter what."
"You understand though, once I'm gone you will be the baby's guardian." Eric says.
"Of course."
"Marina are you sure?" Eric asks.
"Yes I am, Eric I love you and you are my friend. I want to do this."
Later that week they met up again to discuss more things. Like how they were going to conceive, if it would be the natural way or insemination.
Marina chose the natural way because she believed that it would be more personal.
She loved Eric; he was one of her best friends since childhood. And she wanted a piece of Eric to always be there.
Barcelona twenty years ago…
Eric leaned in and kissed Marina, they were under their favorite reading tree.
They kissed for a while and then Marina pulled back surprised.
"Eric what are you doing?" She asked.
"Kissing you, what is it?"
"I don't know, I didn't think I had feelings for you let alone a guy but now…"
"Marina what's so wrong about loving both men and women, what's so wrong about loving me?" Eric asked.
"Nothing is wrong, it just caught me off guard that's all. We're good friends."
"Well let's continue then."
"Continue?"
"Yeah." He kisses her again.
Before they knew it they were having sex under the tree, Marina wept afterwards.
"Marina I'm sorry, it just felt right." Eric apologized as they put back on their clothes.
"I know Eric, it felt right for me too." She then got up and ran.
Present day…They Eric and Marina said their good byes. That night Marina laid on the bed, Francesca came in and looked at her.
"What's with you lately?"
"My good friend Eric is dying." Marina said.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Francesca said.
"I'm going to spend the day with him tomorrow."
"Oh ok, I had to get work related things done tomorrow anyway."
Marina sat up and walked into the bathroom, she wanted to see if she was ovulating.
"What are you doing in there?" Francesca barked.
"Be right out."
The next day…
Marina went over to Eric's hotel room.
"Marina thanks."
"No thank you Eric."
They got busy, it took Marina back to that time under the tree and she wept again.
"Oh no, Marina what's wrong?" Eric said as she stopped.
"Nothing I'm just happy, don't stop."
Later that night…
Francesca woke up to crying.
"Marina?"
"I had this dream…"
"Yes? Go on."
"I don't feel well, I'm going back to sleep."
"MARINA!"
"WHAT!"
"Why are you acting like this?" Francesca demands.
"I don't feel well!"
"What happened today?"
"I saw Eric."
"That's what you said."
Marina laid down.
"Marina?"
But Marina had already fallen back asleep.
Five weeks later…
Francesca was packing for her business trip when Marina walked in and flopped on the bed.
"Hey."
"Hey, how long will you be gone this time?" Marina asked.
"About two months."
The phone rings.
"Hello?" Marina answers.
"Hey its Eric how are you?"
"I'm a little tired."
"Do you want to talk?"
"Yes."
Marina goes into the living room.
"So how is everything?" Eric asks.
"Well I'm late, do you want to be with me when I find out?"
"Yeah. I'll meet you in twenty minutes?"
"Yeah that will be great." Marina says smiling.
"Who are you talking to?" Francesca asks.
"Eric."
"How is he?"
"He's ok, I'm meeting him in twenty minutes. Hold on I'll be right with you."
"Eric, I'll see you in twenty minutes."
"Ok bye."
"Bye."
She hangs up.
"What is with you Marina?"
"I just need to see as much or Eric as possible, you know before I can't anymore." Marina says breaking down.
"Ok it's ok." Francesca says as she hugs her.
Eric and Marina walked into the drug store and she picked out a test.
As they waited for the results Eric embraced her.
"We should check the results." Marina said.
"Yes we should."
They walked into the bathroom, Marina checked the test.
It was positive.