Garage Apartment
Ben walked into the apartment and saw Ciara sitting on the bed in her robe. Her dress is next to her.
" Hey, what's wrong?" Ben said as he kneeled in front of her.
" I went to put on my favorite dress for tonight, and it doesn't fit."
" Okay."
" It's not okay," Ciara said as she threw the dress at Ben, ran into the bathroom, and slammed the door.
Ben looked at the dress and tossed it on the bed. He stood by the bathroom door and knocked.
" Ciara, can you open the door?"
" We don't have to go out. We can stay in, watch TV, wear sweats, and eat takeout."
" Babe, it's just a dress; you are so beautiful, and our baby is growing and getting stronger; that's all that matters. Please open the door."
Ciara stood in front of the mirror, running her hands over her stomach, listening to Ben through the door.
She smiled when Ben said their baby was growing and getting stronger.
" Babe, is there anything I can do for you?"
Ciara slowly opened the door and looked at Ben.
Ben hugged his wife before she pulled away and said, "Can you get me some of your sweats?"
" Of course, anything else?"
" Can you order us a cheese pizza?"
" Just cheese?"
" Yep"
" Okay, you got it."
Ben gave Ciara his sweats and then grabbed his phone to order pizza.
" Thank you, baby."
After Ben ordered the pizza, he joined Ciara on the bed.
" You feeling better?"
" Yeah, I'm sorry. I knew I was going to get bigger. I didn't know it would be so soon."
" Look at me."
Ciara looked at Ben.
" You, Ciara Weston, are so beautiful. You getting bigger is a sign that our baby is healthy and growing," Ben said as he placed his hand on her stomach.
Ciara put her hand on top of his and smiled.
" How about I put on sweats, and we can just watch TV and relax?"
" I like that idea."
Ben changed his clothes, got in bed with Ciara, and watched TV.
New Apartment
Now that the morning sickness was over, Ciara's cravings had started. Ben was sound asleep, and Ciara was tossing and turning.
Ciara was craving something, so she went to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and didn't see anything she wanted. She started looking through the cupboards.
Ben heard the noise and woke up. He saw Ciara's side empty.
He walked out and saw Ciara opening and closing doors.
" Babe, it's late; what are you doing?"
" Sorry, I woke you."
" Everything okay?"
" Yeah, just hungry."
" What can I get you?"
" I really want ice cream and pickles."
" Okay."
" We don't have any."
" Let me get my keys. I'll go get it for you."
" Ben, it's late. You don't have to go out; I'll find something else."
" I will get you anything you want at any time."
" Thank you."
" Make a list of what we need, and I'll find my keys."
Ben came back a minute later, keys in hand.
Ciara handed Ben the list and kissed him.
" I'll be back soon."
" I love you."
" Love you too."
Ciara sat on the couch and watched TV. Ten minutes in, Ciara fell asleep.
When Ben got back, he walked in and said," Babe, I got everything on the list."
Ben saw Ciara fast asleep on the couch. He put everything away before picking her up and bringing her to bed.
Ben couldn't believe some of Ciara's cravings. Pickles and peanut butter, Hot sauce on ice cream, and Hot Cheetos dipped in cream cheese. Whatever she wanted, he would get for her.
" Hey babe, what did you want to do for dinner?"
" I was thinking?"
"CHEESEBURGERS," They both said at the same time.
" I'll go to the pub and grab us some."
" Perfect."
" What would you like on it?"
" Pickles and hot fudge sauce."
" That's new."
" Sounds good, right?"
" Sure. I'll be back soon."
Ciara smiled and rubbed her stomach as she watched Ben leave.
" You have the best daddy," Ciara said as she rubbed her belly.
Brady Pub
Ben walked into the pub and saw Roman standing behind the counter.
" Hey Ben, what can I get for you?"
" Hey Roman, a little bit of a weird request for you."
" Okay."
" Can I get two cheeseburgers, one with no tomato and the other with pickles and hot fudge sauce, please?"
" Pickles and hot fudge sauce?"
" Yes, that is what my pregnant wife would like."
Roman just laughed and wrote the order down.
" Can I get you anything else?"
" A couple of pieces of apple pie."
" Of course."
" It will be about fifteen minutes."
" Thanks." Ben paid Roman, then left to pick up more Tums for Ciara's heartburn.
Ben came back and picked up his order, then went home.
" Hey babe, I've got dinner and more Tums."
" You're the best."
Ciara grabbed a beer for Ben and water for her.
"Here we go, one cheeseburger with pickles and hot fudge sauce."
Ben placed her burger down along with her fries, then pulled out his dinner.
" And for dessert, I got us some apple pie."
Ben watched as Ciara took a bite of her burger; he watched as she closed her sides and leaned back in the chair.
" Mmm, so good, babe."
" Yeah?"
" Want to try it?"
" I'm okay, you eat it."
" Okay, but you're missing out; he loves it," Ciara said, rubbing her belly.
" He is kicking so hard right now."
" Really?"
Ciara grabbed Ben's hand and put it where Bo was kicking.
" He's excited. He knows what's good."
" Are you sure you don't want to try it?"
" I'm good."
" More for me then," Ciara said as she smiled and took another bite.
" As long as you're happy. That's all that matters to me."
Ben watched as Ciara finished her burger and fries.
" Do you have room for dessert?"
" Always," Ciara said as she grabbed Ben and kissed him."
Ben pulled away and said, " I meant the pie." Ben said, laughing.
" Later," Ciara said as she pulled Ben towards the bedroom.
Ciara and Ben lay in bed after they made love.
" Wow, that was..."
" Amazing."
" Better than apple pie?"
" Way better," Ciara said as she cuddled with Ben.
She rested her head on his shoulder and ran her hand over his chest.
" Should we get up and eat the pie?"
" I don't want to leave this bed; you're comfortable."
Ben just laughed and kissed her head.
They spent the rest of the night in bed, cuddling, kissing, and talking.
The next morning. Ben had to go to work at the last minute and didn't want to wake Ciara up. He quickly dressed and left.
Ciara rolled over and saw Ben's side empty.
" Ben?"
" Ben, are you here?"
Ciara found the apartment empty.
She grabbed her phone and called him. When it went straight to voicemail, Ciara decided to go to the garage.
Garage
Ben was working under a car when Ciara showed up.
" Hey man, can you pass me the wrench on the bench?"
The other guy had left, so Ciara grabbed it and handed it to him.
" Here you go."
Ben rolled out from under the car when he heard Ciara's voice.
" Hey, what are you doing here?"
" You were gone when I woke up. You didn't answer your phone. I got worried."
" I got called last minute. I didn't want to wake you."
Ciara looked at the floor until Ben lifted her chin to look at him. He saw the tears in her eyes.
" Hey, don't cry, I'm fine."
" I'm sorry. It's the hormones."
Ben kissed her forehead and hugged her.
" I'm sorry I didn't answer the phone."
" I'll take a break and take you to breakfast."
" Do you have time?"
" I always have time for you. Let's go."
They held hands and left the garage. They had breakfast together in the square before Ben went back to work. They were saying goodbye when they ran into Allie and Henry.
He looked at Ciara and said," I'll see you later," gave her belly a quick rub, kissed her, and said hello to Allie and Henry, then left.
Ciara and Allie hugged and said hello before Ciara said hi to Henry. Ciara asked if they wanted to join her. They accepted and sat down together.
Ciara wound up spending the rest of the day with Allie and Henry.
Ben met them at the park after his shift.
Ben offered to push Henry in the swing while the girls talked on the bench.
" So, how are you feeling?"
" I'm okay. These hormones are killing me, crying for no reason."
" I remember that. I would see something on TV. It would set me off."
" Ben's been amazing with my crazy cravings and the hormones."
Allie and Ciara watched as Ben played with Henry on the slide.
" He's going to be an amazing dad."
" Henry seems to like him."
They watched Ben play with Henry a little longer before Allie said it was time to leave. They said goodbye and went their separate ways.
" You were great with Henry."
" Yeah?"
" Yeah, our baby is lucky to have you."
" I don't know about that. My past is nothing to be proud of."
" Hey, look at me."
When Ben looked at Ciara, he had tears in his eyes.
" You, Ben Weston, have come so far; you are nothing like you used to be okay. Our son is lucky to have you, just like I am."
Ciara wiped his tears and kissed him.
" I think your hormones have jumped to me," Ben said as he wiped his face.
Ciara looked at her husband and laughed.
" Let's get some ice cream that always makes me feel better."
Ben just smiled at Ciara and then went to get the ice cream.
Ciara sat in the chair and watched Ben walk away; she looked down, rubbed her belly, and said, " Yep. We are lucky to have him."