"You can do this," Sam assures him and pushes him out of the bathroom.
"I don't know if I can handle being a mother," Fiona cries her voice hitching.
Surprised Madeline shouts, "What?" The cigarette flies from her mouth and lands on the bed comforter. A small flame ignites almost instantly.
Michael halts, finding the sight before him alarming and he doesn't know whether to run to them or away from them. He's almost made up his mind to sprint in the opposite direction when Sam's presence coming up behind him pushes him forward.
Fiona babbles on, spilling her heart out to Madeline, oblivious to the woman's stunned gawking, "I don't know if I can do this! I'm not ready for this! I can't do this!"
Madeline lips part in astonishment before she's able to take control of the situation. She pulls Fiona tight against her side, shushing her.
"Shh, it's going to be alright. It'll be alright." She tells her while her own mind races.
"He doesn't even believe that it's his child. I mean, who else's would it be? What if he doesn't want it?" Fiona whispers.
"Michael!" Madeline yells, her eyes search the loft before they land on him. She shoots him a glare before bellowing, "Get over here now!"
The look that Fiona sends his way states if looks could kill, he would be a blood stain splattered on the wall. Apparently she is still angry about earlier.
Sam rushes forward and grabs a pillow, beating the bed where the cigarette was carelessly thrown, flame slowing growing in size. A few good hits and the comforter is still smoking but no longer burning.
"Jesus, Maddy!" Sam huffs as he sees how big the smoldering black hole is that has burned through the fabric.
Michael takes a cautious step towards Fiona, feeling like he's entered a free-fire zone.
"Fiona." He reaches out his hands to cup her face and she leans back out of his reach before her eyes fill up with tears and it nearly breaks his heart. Sam and Madeline excuse themselves out to the balcony, giving the couple some illusion of privacy.
Michael's voice cracks, surprised at how easily the words come out, "I do… I do want this baby. And I want it with you." He pulls her up gently and presses her close to him. She shakes her head as if she doesn't believe him. He stops her by brushing the loose strands of hair that have fallen out of her ponytail out of her face before kissing her forehead as she stills and he wraps his arms around her, cradling her against her chest as she cries. He rubs soothing circles against the small of her back before she relaxes, wipes her eyes and says, "These damn hormones are driving me crazy."
"I haven't noticed," he grins and Fiona's breath catches in her throat as she brings her fingers up to gently trace his face, first his jaw then up to his lips which were a little swollen.
"I'm sorry," she breathes, knowing she had crossed the line when she attacked him, knowing that she had hurt him.
"It's okay, Fi." I'm just glad you weren't armed, he adds mentally in his head.
"Michael, how could you even think that this baby isn't yours?" Fiona sounds heartbroken and Michael hates himself for making her feel this way.
"It's just-" He begins sounding defeated, but her hand comes up covering his mouth hard enough to make him grimace.
Her eyes are wide and serious, already realizing what he was about to say, she silences him and tells him, "Michael you need to trust me. Are you listening?"
He nods slowly her hand still covering his mouth as she continues, "I would never lie to you, not about something like this. You need to learn to trust me. There's never been anyone but you. You've always been it. God knows I've tired. But I've always been drawn to you, for better or worse."
She looks at him and her eyes become a window to her soul. She removes her hand slowly from his face.
"I'm scared Michael," she says standing so close to him and all he can do is pull her closer and she buries her face into his chest.
"What's there to be-" he stops mid question, mind reeling with the endless complications and consequences they will most likely face, and slowly realizes that he too fears the situation they're in, "I know, I am too," he whispers, replying honestly as he holds her.
"And I'm tired," she complains wearily, the crying, the poor night's sleep and the lifting of the burden she's been carrying finally catching up with her.
Michael slowly turns her around, "Relax," he sighs as he feels how tense she is. She exhales softly and leans against him. He wraps his arms around her, hugging her from behind. He moves his hand across her stomach, and is surprised and delighted to find a slight roundness there and wonders how he hasn't noticed it before.
"Fi how far along are you?" He asks softly, resting his chin on her shoulder, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair.
"A little over two months, I think. I'm not sure." She smiles, enjoying the feel of his embrace and the tingle of his finger tips against her skin.
Fiona feels him stiffen, startled, "You didn't realize earlier that you were –"
She cuts him off, wiggling out of his arms causing him to miss the feel of her in his embrace, "I just found out. I've been tired lately. I didn't really become suspicious until I couldn't brush my teeth without gagging."
"Brushing with just baking soda helps with that," Madeline chimes in.
Fiona gives her a kind smile, "Thanks, I'll have to try that."
Michael's hair is still wet but drying as he runs his fingers through it. The moment makes the ends stick up, and everyone notices how tired, pale and sickly he looks. The black t-shirt he wears a direct contrast to his pale face. The sudden silence causes him to look up.
"What?" He asks the questioning gazes.
"Why don't you have a seat," Sam suggests.
He sits down heavily on the edge of the bed and slowly let's himself fall back gently.
"You feeling okay?" Sam questions him.
"Not really," he says, bringing his arm up over his face.
"I was just a little shocked that's all. I think I'm still in shock," he says, taking his other arm and laying it across his chest.
"You were shocked?" Fiona's voice rises with each word and his headache comes back with vengeance.
"We managed to be the one percent to get pregnant on birth control," Fiona blurts, before calming down seeing the way Michael rubs at his temples.
He feels her staring at him and drops his hand down to his side and stares at her unguarded.
Her face softens and her lips curl into a smile as she crawls beside him on the bed, "I've managed to spook the spook".
"Ha," he laughs disagreeably at her attempt to lighten the mood.
"You can't spook me Fiona," He says, already knowing she could see right through the lie.
"You wanna bet?" She challenges, her Irish eyes glinting along with her smile as she bends down to whisper into his ear.
She places her cheek beside his, her lips almost touching his ear, "You don't know my family all that well Michael. We have a secret," she breathes, her warm breath soft against his neck.
"A secret?" Michael whispers, and she drags out the moment. Michael finding it hard to resist the temptation to lean over and kiss her lips in full view of his mother and Sam, he begs her, "What's the secret Fi?"
"Multiples run in my family," she teases. His jaw drops at the revelation and she takes the moment to flick her tongue, licking his ear. She bursts into a fit of giggles as he squirms and squeaks in surprise.
"Fi!" He shouts and all she can do is smile.
"Fiona Glenanne!" He shouts her name once more, "Are you telling me you are pregnant with twins?"
"Oh sweet baby Jesus," Sam blurts out while Madeline's face lights up.