The first time Matthew had gone on a date in two years, he was suffering from morning sickness. Never mind the fact that it was six in the evening. He buttoned up his shirt in front of the mirror, trying desperately not to look green in the face. He hoped they wouldn't be going anywhere with spicy food for supper. He'd just finished getting ready when the doorbell rang, and he went to answer it.

"Matthew..." Berwald said. "It's nice t' see ya again."

"Thank you." Matthew closed his eyes. He'd like to look at his date some more, he was extremely handsome, but if he opened his eyes at all, he might end up dashing to the bathroom.

"Are ya okay? Ya seem tired"

"I'm fine. I just have mor-..." He paused. "Migraines. A little migraine."

"Ah, I'm sorry. Is it still okay ya go out..? Do ya want t' take a rain check?"

"No, I'm alright. Really. This has been happening a lot lately." Matthew opened his eyes and smiled genuinely.

Berwald relaxed visibly. "If ya say so. Th' restaurant is quiet." There was a gentle expression on his face that was almost a smile, though Berwald rarely smiled.

"I do say so. Um... Shall we?"

Berwald offered Matthew his arm, and off they went.

Four hours later, the first part of their date was all but forgotten. Matthew was up against the wall, hair mussed up, panting.

** This is where the sex would go, if FF. net didn't suck so damn much. For now, find it here, without the spaces. - goo. gl/TZ4ICq **

The pair lay breathing hard and holding each other for a while, minds too clouded with pleasure to contemplate just exactly what it was they were doing. Matthew looked at his lover, smiling lazily.

"Let's sleep... It's late and I feel good..."

"O' course..." Berwald kissed him affectionately once more and pulled out slowly. Then he spooned him. "Sleep."

"M'kay..." Matthew snuggled warmly into his arms and dozed off.

Eight hours later, Matthew woke up, nearly panicked at the warmth on his back, remembered where he was, relaxed, then subsequently nearly panicked again when he remembered the events of last night. So much for being careful next time.

He didn't have time to think in over, though, because Berwald then woke up.

"Good mornin', Matt."

"Good.. Good morning..."

Berwald kissed Matthew's neck tenderly. "Everythin' alrigh'?"

"Yes. No..." Matthew said plaintively.

"Wha's wrong..?"

"Berwald... I'm pregnant..." He started to cry quietly.

"Be serious, Matthew."

"I am..."

"I... I don' understan'..."

Matthew gave his explanation for his highly unusual biology, ending with an explanation of the pregnancy. Berwald just listened silently.

At the end, he whispered. "Yer... Yer for real... Aren' ya..? You're pregnant..." His hand slid down Matthew's torso onto his stomach. "From th' firs' time we...?"

Matthew nodded, barely staving off sobs. "It's your baby..."

"Wha' d' we do now..?" Berwald held Matthew a little tighter.

"I'm... I'm going to get an abortion... It's better that way... I hardly know you... I'd be a bad parent... It's just better..."

"I know tha' it's yer choice... But... I don' want tha'..."

"I can't raise a baby..."

"Let me... I want 'im... Let me raise 'im..."

"Berwald... You hardly know me... You could get to know me better and decide all I'm good for is ignoring..."

"I won', but even if I did, tha' wouldn' matter... If ya still don't wan' t' be a fath'r yer free t' leave after th' birth."

"I don't know, Berwald... It's another 7 months of my life... It's life changing... I don't want a changed life."

"Please," was all Berwald said. Matthew was taken by surprise by the definite plea in his tone. He wasn't lying. He wanted the child he'd help make.

"I'll... I'll wait for another 8 weeks... Two months... That'll give me time to think about it without commitment either way... Just 8 weeks..."

"Thank ya, Matthew..." Berwald tilted Matthew's chin towards him and kissed him.

-x-

It may continue.