That evening, Grace stood in the kitchen as she poured a glass of water. She took a sip before she heard the door open and close.
Liam joined her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He kissed her cheek.
"Hey. Did you and Lyra have a good time?"
She nodded. "I know it hasn't been that long since we've seen each other, but it was still good to catch up and talk."
Liam hummed as he squeezed her waist. She then took a deep breath before she turned in his arms.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you okay?" His eyes widened. "Is it the baby? Is something wrong?"
She shook her head. "We're both fine – but Lyra did give me some advice."
Liam's eyes widened once more. "You told her you're pregnant?"
"Not exactly – but she sort of figured it out. And I told her how hard it's been."
He kissed her forehead. "I'm glad you have someone you can talk to. Besides me."
He scratched behind his ear. Grace took his face in her hands.
"Hey, you have been amazing. You've been so patient and understanding with me, and you've helped me forgive myself. I'm so grateful you're by my side."
Her eyes welled up with tears. He pulled her close and ran his hand up and down her back. He then kissed her forehead.
They stayed embraced until she pulled away to look into his eyes. She ran her hand along his jaw.
"And that's how I know that we will know what to do when our little one comes."
Liam took a deep breath. "I guess Lyra's advice really helped you, huh?"
She took a deep breath of her own. "I'm not any less terrified or overwhelmed – and I know you are, too – but we have time to decide what to do. And whatever that is, this baby will be loved."
He smiled at her before he pressed his lips to hers. She smiled into the kiss before she wound her arms around his neck.
When they pulled away, they rested their foreheads together. Liam then met her eyes and pushed some hair from her face.
"Time and patience, huh? Well, I waited two years to actually date you, so I should be good at it."
She laughed as she buried her head in his neck. When she looked back up, she told him, "You really are incorrigible."
He only shrugged. He then ran his fingers through her hair.
"So, now that we don't have anything else to do – or anyone else to see – what do you want to do? We can head to Central Park or walk down by the docks."
Grace couldn't help but sigh. "You know how much I love those places, but I'm beat. I'm still battling morning sickness, I'm tired, and my hormones are just…out of sorts."
Liam ran a soothing hand up and down her back as he kissed her cheek. A grin then made its way on his face.
Grace narrowed her eyes. "You're up to something, aren't you?"
"Yep. And you're gonna love it." He then took her by the hand.
"Close your eyes and follow me."
Grace raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. She then nodded.
Once her eyes fell shut, he led her through the house.
"Liam, where are you taking me?"
He shook his head. "It's supposed to be a surprise. Do you want it ruined?"
She took a breath. "Sorry – I'm just excited." He only hummed as they came to the back door.
He opened it. His hand tightened around hers as he walked her through to the backyard. A slight breeze ruffled their hair. Grace tilted her head.
"Are we outside?"
Liam smiled. "Yeah, we are. And you can open your eyes now."
Grace slowly opened her eyes – and they went wide. She covered her mouth with her hands.
Blue, white, and orange fairy lights hung along the fence and trees. Paper lanterns sat on the grass along the edges of the yard. A worn blanket lay spread out in the midst of the lights –
a basket rested on top of the fabric.
"Oh, Liam, it's absolutely gorgeous. I can't believe you did all of this – wh-when did you even have the time?"
He ran his hand up and down her back. "When you called to see if I needed anything from the store, I snuck out of work."
She couldn't help but giggle. Tears then filled her eyes as she turned to face him. "You recreated our first date - baseball memorabilia included."
Her eyes then roamed the posters, pendants, balls and bats – as well as a home plate.
He scratched behind his ear. "It's just a few things I saved from my room back home."
"I know." She then captured his lips with hers. He smiled into the kiss before he threaded his fingers through her hair.
When they pulled away, he took both of her hands in his.
"I know we've both been stressed and worried ever since we found out you were pregnant. I thought we could use a night just to focus on us."
Grace smiled as she caressed his cheek. "Thank you, Liam. And you're right, we did need it."
She then gestured toward the basket. "So, what are we eating?"
He grinned. "You're telling me you don't remember? I guess that's what happens when you start getting older."
She rolled her eyes and nudged his shoulder. "You know I do – those burgers and fries were amazing."
Another smile crossed her features. "You really wanted it to be perfect, didn't you?"
"For you? Always." Liam then kissed her forehead before he entwined their fingers and led her further into the yard.
When they sat on the blanket, Liam opened the basket and pulled out the food. "Compliments of Mrs. Pam. You know it'll be really good."
Grace rested her chin in her hand as her eyes roamed the backyard once again.
"This really is beautiful, Liam. So beautiful."
He smiled as he passed her the food, as well as a glass of iced tea. She took a bite and hummed in appreciation.
She wiped her hands and mouth. "I think Mrs. Pam may have outdid herself."
Liam hummed before he grabbed a handful of fries and stuffed them in his mouth. Grace giggled.
"You always did eat like you were starving."
He scratched behind his ear. "Yeah – I guess I still have that teenage appetite."
She giggled once more. "All you're missing is the baseball jersey."
He couldn't help but laugh. "You wore it almost as much as I did. And you still steal my t-shirts."
She sipped her tea before she held up her finger and corrected, "You gave me that first shirt. And you never wear the other ones."
He only shrugged as he ate. He then told her, "You look better in them anyway."
Her cheeks tinged pink – as did the tips of her ears. She pushed her hair behind them.
Liam smiled before he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Still making you blush, huh?"
Grace turned her head and captured his lips. His eyes widened before he cupped the back of her head.
When they pulled away, she ran her fingers through his dark hair. "You've always set my heart on fire – and you've always held it in your hands. And no matter what happens, you always will."
On its own accord, her hand wandered down to her stomach. She then shook her head and reached for her burger.
Liam then grabbed both of her hands. She looked at him in surprise.
He took a deep breath. "And my heart is yours – and it reminds me of the reason I picked this date to recreate."
A question appeared in her eyes before he cleared his throat to continue.
"You are present for so many of my memories. From Mom and Dad renting a bouncy castle for one of my birthdays, to all those afternoons at the park, to us almost getting left on that zoo field trip…"
Grace's laughter interrupted. She waved her hand. "I'm sorry – but what I remember most is that I didn't know why we got in trouble."
Liam let out a laugh of his own. He waved his hand and pointed out, "We never actually got out of sight of anyone – and Mrs. Karen grabbed us before anyone would have noticed anyway."
The red-head then rested her chin in her hand. "She just looked out for us and made sure we didn't actually get lost."
She then waved her hand. "I'm sorry - again - you were in the middle of something beautiful, and I messed it up."
He took her hands in his. "You're the one who's beautiful." He offered her a smile before he released a breath.
"And I'm pretty sure you're the reason I tripped at my 8th grade graduation. You're so bloody distracting."
He couldn't help but grin, earning a giggle in return. He then pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"What we had was so much more than just distraction or a crush or infatuation. I fell in love with you when I was 14 – man, I was crazy about you. And I didn't think it could get any better. But all those days we just hung out until I was 16 were amazing – as was our first kiss, this first date, our first dance at prom, our first 'I love you', our promises that turned into a promise ring. All of which led to the wedding of our dreams and the night we first made love."
He squeezed her hands and looked deep in her eyes. "But when I look at you now, I'm even more in love with you. And I know things are scary and uncertain right now – and I don't even know how we'll make it to a place where they're not. But we'll be by each other's sides – just like we always have been."
Tears flowed freely down her face and onto her clothes and skin. She sniffled before she grabbed a paper towel and wiped her eyes.
Liam couldn't help but scratch behind his ear. "I probably should have saved the food until after the speech, huh?"
Grace giggled before she cupped his face with both hands and leaned in for a kiss. He met her lips and wound his fingers in her hair.
She tilted her head to deepen the kiss. He smiled before he moved his hand down her back and encircled her waist.
When he moved his free hand to rest on her hip, his fingers bumped one of the glasses. The tea tickled his leg, making his eyes go wide.
He hugged Grace close to him and rolled them off the blanket. She yelped before they came to a stop.
She moved the hair from her eyes before she peered up at him.
"Liam, what in the world was that?"
He glanced away from her. "Sorry about that. I, uh, knocked my drink over, and I didn't want any to get on us."
She couldn't help but giggle. A teasing smile lit up her features. "Well, these are my favorite pair of jeans."
"And it's my sweatshirt."
Grace rolled her eyes while he grinned. He then kissed her forehead. She smiled at him before she glanced over and noticed the stiffness in his arms.
She ran her hand along the sleeve of his jacket. "Aren't you tired?"
He shook his head. "I wanted to make sure I didn't hurt you – or the baby."
A warmth spread in her chest. She caressed his cheek. "Even still, I think you can get up now."
Liam chuckled before he rolled off of her. His gaze then fell on the sky.
"Check out the view. I almost forgot how bright the moon and stars can be."
"We do live in the city – one of the biggest cities for that matter – so it's easy to overlook."
A smile then brightened her features as she gestured upwards. "Hey, look, isn't that the Big Dipper?"
Liam tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. He then shrugged.
"I know I've been on a boat since, like, I was in the womb – but it doesn't mean I know anything about the stars."
Grace laughed before she swatted his arm. "It was just a question, Liam. I genuinely wondered if you might know."
He scratched behind his ear. "Oh." With a tilt of his head, he then focused back on the night sky.
He traced the stars with his finger. "You know, I think it might actually be the Big Dipper."
His blue-green eyes continued to roam. His hand then stopped on a cluster of stars.
"And that one looks like Orion. He's a hunter or something."
Grace leaned over and kissed his cheek. "So, you do know a thing or two after all."
He hummed before he stretched his arms over his head. She took the opportunity to snuggle close to his side.
He smiled before he wrapped an arm around her. A silence settled between them as they gazed at the sky.
He ran his hand up and down her sides. His fingers grazed her stomach.
He jerked his hand away. "Sorry. I, uh, shouldn't have done that."
Grace remained silent as she rubbed circles on his chest. She then took a deep breath and brought her eyes to his – only for him to speak first.
"I really am sorry – but I can't say it was entirely accidental."
He scratched behind his ear. "I just, uh, thought that maybe, um…"
He shook his head. "Never mind. This is supposed to be about us. Just us."
She caressed his cheek. "You thought it would make it real – and it would make it easier for us to decide what to do."
He couldn't help but sigh. "I should've known you'd see right through me."
He ran his hands over his face. "I just hate seeing you all stressed and worried – and there's only so much I can do. But I want so much to make this easier for you."
He grunted as he wiped his eyes. He still blinked back tears. "Ugh – I'm supposed to make this easier for you. I'm supposed to make you feel better."
Grace sat up and pulled him with her. She entwined their fingers.
"We are in this together – we support each other. I know you want to compensate for the temper and impulsiveness – but you don't have to be so strong all the time."
Liam smiled before he wrapped her in a hug. She snuggled into his chest.
When they pulled away, he ran his fingers through her hair. "I love you so much." She smiled. "I love you, too."
They rested their foreheads together, each soaking in the moment. The sounds of the city lulled around them.
They pulled back and shared a sweet kiss. Their dinner was forgotten as they lay back on the grass and held each other close.
As they stared up at the stars, they knew they could face what the coming months would bring.