Drabble 23: That Which We Call a Rose

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

William Shakespeare

Simmons found her hand resting on her stomach again and smiled at how quickly it had become a natural action. She'd only known for a very short time. Her stomach was still flat, but she loved thinking of the child she would have in less than a year's time. She just had to tell Fitz the news.

She had gone home early because she wasn't feeling well, and Fitz was due back in about forty minutes. He had offered to come with her at first, but she had told him to stay. Now she was glad, because she'd needed time to collect her thoughts after taking the test.

She heard him open the door to their apartment and walked out to meet him, surprised.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Much better, yes." She said. "How was the rest of your day?"

He took off his coat and hung it up, then walked over and kissed her on the cheek. "Not as fun once you left, but fine. Coulson wanted me to make sure you were alright, so he let me leave a bit early."

"That was nice of him." Simmons said.

"So do you know why you were feeling sick? Are you coming down with something?"

"No, none of that." She bit her lip. "There's actually something I need to tell you."

He studied her carefully, but nodded. "Alright. What is it?"

"Why don't we sit down?" she led him to the couch in the living room and took a seat. After a few seconds he did too.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

Simmons shook her head, smiling. "Everything is perfect. Now this may come as a shock, but… I'm pregnant."

Fitz had been watching her with full attention, and now he froze, his mouth open. Simmons regarded him with worry for a minute.

"Say something." she said.

Fitz shook himself out of his stupor and looked at her. Then he smiled, and a laugh escaped him. "That's wonderful!" he cried. He pulled her close and kissed her, running a hand through her hair. When they separated he was still smiling, his eyes wild with happiness.

"When did you find out?"

"I only took the test this afternoon. I had the same reaction you did!" she said with a laugh.

Fitz leaned back against the couch and sighed. "This is just fantastic. I never even… I can't believe we're going to be parents."

Simmons leaned against him, laying her head on his shoulder. "Me either. I think we'll be good parents, though."

Fitz shook his head and exhaled in a sort of laugh. "Which do you want it to be, a girl or boy?"

"I don't know." She said thoughtfully. "I'll be happy either way."

"I want a girl." Fitz said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because then she could be just like her mother."

"Aw, Fitz!" Jemma leaned up and kissed his cheek. "You're such a flirt, honestly. But I love it."

He grinned, happy with her reaction.

"What would you name her, if we had a girl?" she asked him.

He thought for a minute. "I've always liked the name Anna."

Simmons considered it. "That is a pretty name. We'll definitely keep that as a possibility, if it's a girl. I was thinking something like Megan."

"That's not bad either." Fitz said. "This is going to be a lot harder than we thought, isn't it?"

Simmons smiled. "And picking a name is one of the easiest parts, supposedly!"

"But if it was a boy, what name would you pick then?" he asked.

"Let's say them at the same time. Ready?" She met his eyes and nodded, and they said their names aloud.

"William."

"Andrew."

Simmons pursed her lips. "That's not how I thought that would work out. Usually we're so in sync."

Fitz lost his smile. "Why did you pick that name?"

She knew she had to say this gently. "I know your father's name was Andrew. When your mother told me I fell in love with the name." She placed a hand on his leg. "I think it's a good idea to name him after your father, Fitz."

"Jemma, it's too painful."

She looked him in the eyes and saw some of his grief, old but still there, brought up by this discussion. "What better way is there to remember him than this?"

"This is our life together. We don't need to bring in the past."

"But the past made us who we are now!" she said. "Fitz, it's just an idea. I love the name, and think it would make you happy once you realize that the name isn't what you're missing. You're missing your father when you hear the name. And that's perfectly understandable."

Fitz took a deep breath. "I know it's just a name, Jemma. But it's hard."

She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "Just think about it, okay? We have a long time to make a decision, and plenty of other names if this one doesn't work out." She smiled. "Who knows? It might even be a girl."

Roughly nine months later Fitz was by Simmons's side as she went through the difficult process, helping her as much as he could. Their child was born in May, prompt as could be. After it was born, Simmons leaned her head back and closed her eyes, exhausted. The doctors and nurses ran their tests and kept it for a few minutes, and then wrapped it up in a soft blanket and handed it to Fitz.

"He's just fine." The nurse said.

Fitz looked down at his little boy and swallowed hard. He was so tiny, looking up at Fitz. He had blue eyes, and tufts of brown hair covering his little head. Aside from his eyes, the baby looked a lot like Jemma; at least, Fitz saw a lot of her in him. He walked over to stand next to Jemma, letting her rest a minute before touching her.

"Jem." He said.

She looked up at him, saw the bundle wrapped in blue in his arms, and held up hers, asking for him. Fitz laid him securely in her arms and watched as Jemma smiled at their son, happy despite how exhausted she was. "He's perfect." She said softly.

"Yeah." He said. "He is."

The baby looked up at them with his big blue eyes and seemed to smile, and then yawned and closed his eyes.

The nurse came over. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but do you have a name yet?"

Jemma looked at Fitz. "Do we?"

He swallowed and looked at the little boy, lying so peacefully in his mother's arms. He knew what he had to do. He had known it the moment he held him. "I was thinking… maybe Andrew?"

Jemma's eyes sparkled as she smiled at him. "I think it's perfect, Fitz."

"Andrew Fitz it is." The nurse said with a smile before walking away. "I'll be back in a few minutes to check on you."

Fitz watched his little son sleeping in his wife's arms and blinked hard. Jemma had been right. Andrew was just a name, and he couldn't miss a name. But it was a name tied to some of his greatest memories, and would be the cause of even more. It was perfect.

A/N: The first expansion of the Fitz family. I do plan on doing another family fic like this, with their kids. Tell me if you liked it!