Pepper woke up when the first rays of sunlight entered the room. She felt the mattress looking for her husband, but he wasn't at her side. Then she looked at the clock on the nightstand: It was her birthday. The man must have been trying to surprise her. Then she stayed on the bed for a few more minutes, to give him enough time.

When she got up, she felt a little dizzy. Her blood pressure should be low, after so much time without eating. So she put on her white silk robe and followed the scent of food to the dining room, where Tony had prepared an abundant breakfast table.

- Good morning, sunshine! - Tony smiled when he saw her, and came over to kiss her slowly and lovingly. - Happy Birthday.

- Thank you darling... - she hugged him, sniffing his neck. His perfume was too strong. But she wouldn't ruin the moment by saying that. - I love you…

- Love you too. - he smiled. - Shall we? - he took her to the table and pulled out the chair so she could sit. - Everything here is okay to eat, 'cause they were all bought and the coffee was made by the coffee machine. The only thing I did by myself was… this. - he turned the cake in her direction, so she could read the "Happy BDay Pep" written with cake topping. - I was going to write "Happy Birthday Pepper", but it would be too long.

- Oh, Tony... - the woman wanted to cry. - It's beautiful, I loved it. Thank you… - she pulled him in for a kiss.

- Don't say that so soon; the taste probably sucks. - he served a slice to both of them, while Pepper sipped her coffee. So they tasted the cake at the same time. - See? It sucks! - Tony laughed, and used a napkin to spit out the piece of cake. Then he served himself some orange juice. - You know what we should have in the garden? Oranges! Bae, why are you still eating this?

- 'Cause is it great!

- No, it isn't.

- Yes, it is. - Pepper served herself another slice, only then realizing how hungry she was. - And yes, we should have orange trees! I love their smell in the morning.

- So let's buy some orange trees! - Tony said excitedly, before biting an apple.
- I'll go with you.
- Why?
- Because the last time you came back with an alpaca. - Pepper took another mouthful of cake into her mouth.
- Admit it, Gerald is a lovely alpaca. - a notification arrived at Tony's watch. - Okay, our dinner with your family is confirmed for 8:30 pm, and there is still time for you to change your mind and have a big party later.
- No - she said only.
- Ok… So, what do you wanna do? You're the boss.

…

Then the couple went to a museum in the morning. Pepper spent hours wandering around the place, totally fascinated, and Tony followed her, fascinated by her fascination. Then they had lunch at a fancy restaurant, where the man asked the waiters to sing happy birthday, carrying a cake - according to him - more decent than his. Pepper didn't agree, and while eating that cake with a strange taste, she wished she were eating the one made by her husband.

~On the way home, Pepper didn't feel well. She thought it was because of the people, streets, buildings and vehicles passing too quickly through her window, since Tony was running too fast. So she closed her eyes.
- Pep? Are you OK?
- Can you just stop running, please? - she asked in a low voice and with eyes still closed.
- Ok… - Tony slowed down. - Better? - he asked worriedly. And then Pepper felt what was coming.
- Stop the car. - she said, opening the glove compartment desperately. And when Tony managed to stop the car and look at her, the woman already had a paper bag in her mouth, putting everything she had eaten throughout the day.

- Holy shit! - he was startled by the scene, and his first instinct was to hold her hair and caress her back. Not long after, the woman got up, and used a paper to wipe her lips.
- I can't believe I'm going to say that, but I'm glad your old hangover kit is still in the car.
- I knew someday it'd be useful again. - the man joked, making the woman laugh weakly. - Feeling better? - he asked, offering the pack of peppermint gum that was in the pocket of his suit.
- I'm fine. - she accepted the gum, feeling like she had never been sick.
- Need something?

Then Pepper got silent for a few seconds, not believing what she was about to say:

- I need a cheeseburger.

Then Tony looked at the woman tense, connecting the dots she had also connected.

- Okay, I'll take you to your doctor. - he quickly took the wheel again and turned around.
- Please. But honey? I really need that cheeseburger first.

So Tony traced the fastest route to the nearest Burger King.

...

- Well... - Pepper's doctor sat in his chair with the newly printed blood test results. - First of all I must say that if it happens to be negative, you should not be discouraged. It is completely normal for couples at your age. You can keep trying.
- She asked for a cheeseburger. It won't be negative. - Tony said seriously, resting his chin on his thumb. His leg was shaking wildly, and it didn't stop until Pepper put her hand there.

- Well, let's see... - the doctor put on his glasses and then started to read the paper. - Oh! Is it your birthday today, Virginia?
- Yes... - she smiled, but deep down she was as tense as her husband.
- Well... then in this case I must say happy birthday, mommy. Congratulations, you're pregnant.

Then Pepper took the paper and read the word "positive" for herself.
- Tony... - she handed him the paper, and the man did the same. Then the two looked at each other and started laughing with emotion.

...

On the way home, Tony didn't run. And when they got home, he insisted on carrying his wife's things out of the car.

- Tony, I'm pregnant, not sick. - she said, sitting on the sofa and taking off her heels.
- I know, but we need to be careful. This first trimester is the most fragile one and we don't wanna lose it. - he said, taking the heels to put them in their place.
- And I don't wanna lose you to a stroke, so relax. - she asked, getting up from the sofa.
- Ok… - he took a deep breath.
- Better?
- Yup.
- Great. - she took the heels off his hands. - I'm gonna take a shower. - she said, then walked to the stairs.

After the shower, Pepper spent some time staring at her semi-naked reflection in the closet mirror. She caressed her belly, still smooth, wondering what it would be like in a few weeks. Then smiled, looking forward to that moment; and even more anxious for the moment she would have that little being in her hands.

- Pep?
- Here in the closet! - she said, looking for sweatpants.
- I made iced tea. Well, the machine made the tea. I just put the ice. - he got into the room. - Feel sick?
- Quite the opposite. - Pepper smiled, wearing her pants. Then Tony came over and knelt before her.

Delicate as a feather, he placed a kiss on her belly. ~Then he stood up and looked her in the eye, his hands on her waist.

- I promise I'll the best father I can.
- You already are. - the woman stroked his hair.
- We are. I mean, Gerald, the plants and the chickens are alive. We're doing well. I'm doing well, you're doing great. Speaking of the baby: Can we call it Morgan, like in my dream? After all, Morgan fits for both sexes. We have your uncle Morgan and Morgan from that movie, and... - Tony kept talking, while Pepper finished dressing.