"Ugh Joze suck in –" Emma said in aggravation, "The zipper is stuck."
"Ow, that hurts!" Josie cried back at her, "Apparently I've gotten a bit chunky since the honeymoon. Dress fit perfectly before I left," she said without concern.
Emma looked her friend up and down appraisingly while she stood in the white gown she was to be married in. There was a definite glow around Josie, like everything was peaceful and beautiful in the world to the point where a little weight gain was no matter, "Well what have you been eating lately?"
Josie stared off into space absentmindedly, "Um…mashed potatoes?"
Emma snorted and glanced over at Josie, thinking it was a joke, "Mashed potatoes?"
"What?" she asked defensively, "Not just plain ones but ones with sour cream and bacon or with blue cheese and peppercorn or cheddar cheese and more cheddar cheese. Lots of kinds," she finished, feeling her mouth water at the thought.
Emma rolled her eyes before turning back to face the mirror, smoothing her dress and staring in wonder at the image of herself as a bride. She grinned to herself but stopped short when she saw Josie's image in the mirror. Her normally slim friend was still slim but there was something different. There was the glow, no doubt about that and as her eyes moved down Josie's form, settling on her belly a terrifying thought struck her.
"Joze?" she asked, voice catching slightly.
"Yeah Em?" Josie responded lightly.
"Um, have you been sick lately?' she asked carefully.
A confused look fluttered across Josie's face, "Uh, no – not really at least."
"What do you mean 'not really'?" Emma asked with eyes full of concern.
"Well," Josie started, tapping her chin in thought, "I had food poisoning a week or so ago from that Thai place then I had the stomach flu for a couple days this week. Why do you ask?"
Emma's jaw dropped at how thick Josie seemed to be, "And when was your last period?"
"Huh? Erm…" Josie scanned her memory, thinking back. Since the wedding and honeymoon time had just flown by, "Well, I finished it right before the wedding, so I should be due to get it any day now."
"Josephine Dunham!" Emma shouted, nearly tumbling onto the floor in her haste to jump off the raised pedestal, "You were due to get it a month ago! How could you not notice?"
Josie's face was still a mask of confusion, "No," she said stubbornly, "We've only been married for a month, so I'm due to…oh. Oh. My. God." She said, realizing it had in fact been two months since the wedding and she was most definitely late. Feeling lightheaded she stumbled backwards, landing in a chair in the corner of the large dressing room. Emma walked quickly towards her, lifting her dress carefully.
"Oh Joze," she cooed, rubbing her arm softly, "How did this happen?"
"Well," she started sarcastically, "When a man and a woman reeeally love each other, they get nak – "
Emma held up a hand, "Not what I meant. I meant I thought you were on birth control."
"I am," Josie started defensively, "I just – oh my God," she whimpered softly, realizing what had happened.
"What?" Emma screeched impatiently.
"I missed a couple pills when we were on the honeymoon, I just…I figured it'd be ok," she trailed off, feeling ill at this new revelation as she leaned back in the chair, fighting tears.
Emma squeezed into the seat with her, rubbing her back soothingly, "What are you going to do?"
"Argh," Jose let out a frustrated cry, feeling more tears sting her eyes, "We wanted to wait before we had kids. Wait until we had a proper home and enough money. We wanted to have time to just be us, to be normal – and I go and fuck it up."
"Oh relax, you didn't do it alone," Emma reasoned, "From what I've seen of the two of you Pete isn't exactly a choir boy – bloke can barely keep his hands off of you when you're within a 5 mile radius of each other."
Josie rolled her eyes but had no response as it was pretty much the truth, "How am I going to tell him?" she whispered, feeling her heart pounding in her chest and she subconsciously rubbed her still flat stomach.
"Josie Jo," Emma started softly, placing both hands on her shoulders, forcing her to meet her gaze, "Pete is going to be over the moon – he loves you and he will love your child. And I'm pretty sure he only agreed to wait on kids because that's what you said you wanted."
Josie's eyes widened, shining with tears, "Why do you say that?"
"Well…" Emma started, not sure if she should bring it up as it could just be her overactive imagination. Figuring there was no way she'd misread him she continued, "I helped him shop for a wedding gift for you and in one of the dozen stores we stopped in was a baby section. And," she hesitated again.
"Go on," Josie urged, desperate for some sign that Pete wouldn't be upset with her and would be happy they were going to have a child.
"I caught him staring in wonder at this pregnant woman who looked strikingly similar to you and fingering little baby outfits. It was adorable actually," Emma said truthfully.
"Huh," Josie said in shock, leaning back against the chair remaining silent for a minute or two as she absorbed the words' meaning, "God I hope you're right Em, I just want us to be happy…we deserve to be normal for a bit."
"That you do love," Emma said, pulling her into a tight hug, "I can't believe you're gonna have a baby," she whispered into her friends ear, "Shotgun Godmother!"
"Hey! You can't just call things like that," she grumbled but a small smile pulled at her lips as she returned the hug.
Emma pulled away slightly, glancing at Josie's belly, "Can't believe how chubby you're gonna get," she said jokingly, chancing to touch her friend's stomach softly, amazed that her soon to be sister-in-law would be having a child.
"Oh!" a new voice joined them and Josie glanced up to see another employee of the bridal store with another bride trailing behind her, "I'm so sorry to interrupt – er…you both look beautiful, I'm sure you'll be very happy together." The woman said, before backing out of the room with a furious blush on her face.
Emma's mouth dropped open in horror and Josie let out a loud laugh, clutching her stomach, "That woman –" she said through laughs, "thought – we were getting married!"
"Not funny," Emma said with a frown, moving quickly off the small chair they'd been squished into and retaking her place on the pedestal in the middle of the room, "So – this is the final fit for me, you will clearly need your dress taken out but I think it's time we get out of here, call your doctor and start plotting how to tell Pete," she said with a smirk, knowing that would stop the fit of giggles Josie was still breaking into.
The desired effect occurred and a serious look replaced Josie's smile, "Guess you're right," she sighed, "Think I can get away with just letting him figure it out on his own?" she wondered out loud.
Emma let out a snort, "No Joze, I don't think you can get away with that."
Josie felt her face heat lightly, knowing she was grasping at straws and there was no way around breaking the news to Pete, "Ugh fine – let's get outta here: I'm starving."
Pete walked up the stairs hurriedly, rubbing his aching shoulders and looking forward to a quick nap before he met the boys at the pub since Josie was bogged down with wedding stuff with Emma. He pushed open the door, shocked at the sight that met him: their place was spotless. All the wedding gifts were put away, every surface gleamed and he was immediately assaulted by the smell of roast chicken.
Confused, he wandered into the bedroom to find Josie struggling to zip up a soft yellow, sundress. "Alright there gorgeous?" he said softly, eyes shining at the sight of her.
The sound of his voice seemed to startle her and she nearly knocked over the mirror as she whirled around to face him, "Shit, you scared me," she said, holding onto her chest in fright.
He gazed at her in wonder: she looked amazing, the short dress hugged her curves alluringly, her hair was curled perfectly, falling down her back in waves while her makeup was done up as well. Am I missing something? he wondered in confusion, Thought she was busy tonight…
Pete smirked and crossed the small room in two steps to pull her into his arms. He buried his face in her neck, placing a tender kiss at the base before pulling away. Josie stood on tiptoe to kiss him gently and he grinned into her lips, "What're you doin' 'ere? Thought you were at the beck and call of Emma's every silly wedding whim tonight?"
"Oh," she responded awkwardly, biting her lip and, for some reason, tears coming to her eyes, "Things changed and I thought I'd cook you dinner," she said sniffling slightly, "But if you have other plans…" she trailed off with a heartbroken look on her face.
Eyes widening, Pete cupped her face gently in his large hand, forcing her eyes to meet his, "I'd rather spend every, single, night with my gorgeous wife than anyone else in the world," he said as he kissed her softly.
"Good," Josie said with a smile, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.
"Now –" Pete said as he placed his hands on her hips, pulling her even tighter into his body, "What have you got for me love?" he asked suggestively and was shocked to see her pull a slightly horrified face. "What? Are you bored of me already?" he squeezed her side gently, trying to get a smile out of her, "Just two months and yer tired of me?"
Josie flushed red, "Ass – I'll never be tired of being a Dunham," she whispered as she pulled him again to her lips. "Now, I have a wonderful dinner planned up on the roof so stop tryin' to get me to take the dress off that I just struggled to get into and go wait up stairs."
Pete arched an eyebrow at her and watched as she walked out of their bedroom quickly leaving him with the lingering feeling that there was something very off with Josie tonight. He followed her out into the kitchen and he attempted to wrap his arms around her but she squirmed out of his grip before he could manage to lock her in place.
"Alright," he said loudly after the third time Josie pulled away from him, "What is goin' on with you?"
A comical look passed over Josie's face and she tilted her head to the side, trying to look innocent, "What'd you mean?"
"Jesus Joze – yer a shit liar, what's goin' on?" he questioned, holding her face in his hands and forcing her brown eyes to meet his.
"Whatever can you mean? Is it against the law to cook my husband dinner and clean up a bit?" she said with a false air of casualness.
Pete snorted in disbelief, "You can't stand cleaning and cooking – you're not exactly Susie homemaker love," he said in a joking tone.
That Josie clearly took as truth and tears were suddenly flowing down her face, "Oh my God – you're right! I'm going to make a terrible mother if I can only barely pass at being a so-so wife," she wailed and Pete stared down at her in shock, wondering what had gotten into her.
"Mother?" he croaked out, "Joze – I was just kiddin.' You're the most perfect thing I've got and when the time comes you'll make an amazing mother," he said, meaning every word of it. Josie having his child was a vision he was dreaming of more often than he cared to admit. Unfortunately his soothing words had little effect as she continued to sob.
"I don't have time," she yelped slightly as she pulled out of his grasp, "I have about seven months to figure out how to not be an absolute shit mother," she said as she paced the small kitchen frantically, wringing her hands together nervously.
Pete pulled a confused face, "Josie – what are you saying?" he questioned, needing confirmation of what she seemed to be saying.
"I am pregnant," she stated bluntly as she glared slightly back at Pete, apparently over her hysterics and moving onto anger, "And you, mister – " she pointed a sharp finger into his chest, "Are the father."
Pete did a very good impression of a gaping goldfish for a few seconds before his wits returned and a foolish grin broke out on his face, "I fuckin' well better be the father!" he shouted at her before pulling her into his arms and lifting her off the floor carefully. He squeezed her lightly, showering her face with kisses as he ran his hands through her hair and pulled her to his lips.
After a few minutes of gentle kisses Pete pulled away to stare down at Josie, stroking her face lightly, "So you're not mad at me?" she whispered questioningly.
"Why the hell would I be mad at you?" he asked back in disbelief, "Joze – you were gung-ho about waiting for kids. All I want in life now is a family – with you."
Josie held Pete's face in her hands, leaning her forehead against his, "Promise?" she whispered against his lips.
"Pinky swear," he said, taking one of her hands off his face and linking her pinky with his before leaning in to capture her lips, "Fuck baby, have I told you today that I love you?"
Josie smiled into the kiss, pressing herself against him, "You may have mentioned it a time or two which is lucky cause I'm pretty sure I love you too."
Pete leaned down and swept her up into his arms to carry her into their bedroom. He stared down at her, grinning to himself with the knowledge that his wife – his Josie was carrying his child and he moved even quicker into their room.
Josie bit her lip softly, trying to contain the grin on her face at the fact that Pete was so thrilled. She leaned up to press a kiss on his neck softly when a thought hit her, "Shit baby – the chicken!"
He snorted in response, blue eyes twinkling, "You mean to tell me that I have to wait to ravish my gorgeous wife because of…a chicken?"
"It'll burn plus you know I'm going to be needing food after we…" her voice trailed off and Pete nearly laughed when she blushed slightly.
"Are you actually blushing at what I'm about to do to you?" he asked with a smirk, eyes darkening as he stared down at her.
Josie squirmed slightly as Pete finally laid her softly on the bed, "Please?" she asked, pouting
slightly and he groaned softly.
"You're gonna kill me the next seven months, huh?" Pete asked with a silly smile on his face, so unbelievably willing to be at her very beck and call for the rest of his life.
"Yup," she answered back with a grin. She sat forward and inched the zipper of her dress down slowly as Pete's eyes followed the slow movement. She knelt up on her knees to kiss him softly, "Now – you go take out the chicken and when you get back I'll have this zipper allllll the way down," she whispered to him as Pete's eyes followed it down another inch.
Josie licked her lips softly and that was all it took for Pete to sprint out of the room, anxious to get the chicken out and get back to doing what he did best.
"I'm hungry now," Josie pouted up from her place in Pete's arms, snuggling back into his bare chest. He turned her towards him, tracing a finger along her collarbone, over the ridge of her shoulder then down to rest on her bare hip.
Pete smirked at her as she shivered softly at his gentle touch, "I bet you are," he whispered as he leaned into kiss her softly as he watched her adoringly when she rolled onto her stomach to look up at him, brown-gold hair looking deliciously messy.
A sudden panic hit him, "Josie!" he cried out, leaping upwards, she glanced up at him startled.
"What? What?" she asked urgently as she sat up too, clutching the sheet to her chest.
"Yer gonna hurt him!" Pete shouted as he pulled Josie up into an even further sitting position.
Josie stared at him in confusion before comprehension dawned on her as she stared up at Pete, "Him?" she asked with a smirk.
Pete flushed slightly, "Well I didn't wanna call it an 'it' and there's no way yer havin' a girl. Now lay on your back," he ordered sternly.
"Baby – I'm not going to hurt our child by lying on my stomach, trust me," she said with a grin, "Now," she poked him in the side, "Go get me some chicken and there's a container of mashed potatoes in the fridge."
"Whatever baby wants, baby gets," he grinned.
*Shields self from rotten tomatoes* Ugh, I realize this is a shit ending & skipped the wedding, Emma & Colin proposal, honeymoon (wink wink) BUT I've had this on my computer forever & I'd rather you get some small bit of closure with the option to still return and continue the Josie/Pete saga should I choose to.
Hope you at least enjoyed it a bit!