5: A Little Piece of Me and You (Finding Our Way, Chapter 8 - Unplanned Fireworks)

I walked in a daze the few steps to our house and rang the doorbell. Darren opened it, smiling quizzically when he saw it was me. "Forget your key, Mrs. Criss?"

"No, but we forgot something else."

"Rhi, are you okay? Come sit down." He led me to the couch and held my hands. "What's wrong, Rhiannon? Are you feeling sick again? We need to get you to the doctor."

"Yes, we do, Darren, but not for the reason you think. I was just telling Rita about my symptoms, and she pointed something out to me."

"You're scaring me, Rhi. What did Rita say?"

I whispered, "I think I'm pregnant."

Darren leaned closer to me. "What, Rhi? It sounded like you said...oh...my...god! You've been sick every morning and..."

After a minute, Darren got a goofy smile on his face. "Rhi, the only time we didn't use a condom is when we..." he started...

"...made love after our fight..." I finished. "I can't believe this, Darren. We don't have a plan, I just got this job..."

"Rhi, the best thing that ever happened to me wasn't planned...YOU! And this will be just as fabulous. Thank goodness we found you a doctor when you moved out here. Do you want me to call?"

"Darren, right now, while it's still just us, I want you to know that you are more than I could have ever hoped for as my husband. And I know you'll be a great father."

"And you'll be an excellent mother, Rhi...with or without a plan," he replied with his adorable grin as he reached for my cell phone.

I listened in a bit of a fog as Darren made an appointment with my doctor for the following afternoon. After he hung up, my husband pulled me into his arms, whispering, "Just think, Rhi, by this time tomorrow, we'll know for sure. But I can feel it. She's having my baby," he finished in a singsong voice.

"Darren, please, no," I cringed. "Whenever I hear that song - which thankfully isn't often - all I can think of is that painful scene when Finn sang it to Quinn with her parents sitting at their dining room table."

"That was classic Finn...committed but clueless. Seriously, though, Rhi, won't this be great? You and me and a munchkin. We'll have to figure out where to put them..."

Laughingly, I interrupted, "'Where to put them,' Dare? It's not a lamp! We'll have to rearrange our room, and probably the guest room, and the office..."

"You'll be in heaven, Rhi!"

I shoved my husband good-naturely. "Yes, Darren, the real reason I'm happy to be having a baby is so I can redecorate.'

Suddenly serious, Darren asked, "Are you, Rhi? Are you happy to be having a baby? I know it's way outside our plans, but...sometimes things happen when they happen for a reason..."

Turning to face my husband, I took his hands in mine. "I was shocked at first, but I couldn't be happier, sweetheart. This baby exists because of our love, specifically because of us overcoming obstacles together. We'll have to figure things out as we go, but in the end, we'll have a little piece of you and me - hopefully more you than me - to shower with that love."

Darren held my face between his hands and gave me a kiss that I felt all the way to my toes. "Mrs. Criss, have I told you recently that you are the best thing that's ever happened to me?"

"You have, Mr. Criss, and you know I feel the same way about you. But, I have a feeling we're both going to be taking a back seat to this little guy," I responded, rubbing my belly.

My husband covered my hand with his. Smiling, I laid my head on Darren's shoulder, and he, in turn, leaned his head on mine.

For the first time, it felt real. We were going to have a baby.