A/N: Chapter Seven is here! So glad to finally be giving y'all this update. A bit of a time jump in this chapter just so you know. Anyways, I hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading!
Chapter Seven
Anna and John had been writing music together for 8 months, and they were getting serious about making their passion their career. Anna had gotten more comfortable with performing through more karaoke dates with John over the past few months, and they had gained a small following on YouTube and Spotify. They had started discussing the possibility of rolling back some of their hours at their jobs so they could work on their music on a closer to full-time basis.
"Could we afford it?" Anna asked during another one of those conversations. They had gone out to dinner, and the topic had come up again, as it had frequently in recent days.
"I think we could," John responded, "Especially if we moved in together."
"Oh John, I'd love to. I'm at your place all the time anyways, so it makes sense. But are you alright with that?"
John was a bit confused. He was offering, so why would he mind? He had no reason not to be alright with it. "Anna, I love you. I have loved you since I met you ten months ago, and I will never stop loving you. I'm ready to take this step. Are you ready?"
"I am," Anna said, biting her lip anxiously.
"Are you?" John asked frankly. "I'm sensing you're timid about this, and if I can help put your mind at ease about anything, I will. But I need to know what's wrong in order to do that."
"I.." she started and stopped, trying to figure out how to say what was on her mind. "I..it's just..I think I'm pregnant."
"Oh Anna, really?" he asked, reaching across the table and taking her hand lightly within his own. "That's wonderful news."
"Really? You're not worried about how we're going to provide this baby? Because I am."
"No, I'm not worried. I'm not worried because I love you, and I know we can handle this together. We will always handle things together from now on going forward. For the rest of our lives, we will have each other."
"John, are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"What do you think I'm saying, love?"
"Well, I think you're saying you're committed to me forever, and therefore, I can only assume you're insinuating that you want to get married."
"That is exactly what I'm saying," John confirmed with a smile which helped ease Anna's fears. "I want to marry you and be with you for the rest of my life."
"And not just because of the baby? You're not just trying to do the right thing? Be a nice guy?"
"No," he said resolutely. "I love you, Anna. You hear me? I love you. Exactly as you are. And whether or not you're pregnant will not change that. Have you taken a test yet?"
"No, but I'm pretty sure," Anna said. "I wanted to wait until I had confirmation to tell you, but then we started talking about all these changes, and it was yet another change for us so I felt compelled to tell you. Oh gosh, this is all happening so quickly. I'm overwhelmed."
"Anna, breathe," John said, breaking her rambling and making eye contact with her. His eyes told her all she needed to know to calm herself down a bit. They were soft and sincere and shining with reassurance. Anna knew she would always find comfort in John's hazel eyes. "I know this is a lot, and we haven't been together for very long. But you've been working yourself up for a reaction you're not getting. I'm not angry or upset or stressed. I mean, yes, it's going to be a big change, and I'm not sure how ready I am to be a father– or if I'll be a good one– but I'm ready to find out. I'm ready for us to go on this journey together."
"Oh John," Anna exclaimed, eyes filling with tears at his words. "I love you so much, you sweet, sweet man."
"I love you too," John proclaimed. "I promise to be by your side through it all. I'll even buy the pregnancy test if you want."
Anna chuckled. "Would you even know where in the store to look for it?" she teased.
"I think so. If I didn't, I could ask," he said confidently.
"Oh yeah cause John Bates is a real extrovert," she teased with a slight roll of her eyes.
"Hey!" he exclaimed in mock offense, "It's not like I've performed live for many years or anything."
"Okay, okay. You've made your point," she said, throwing her hands up in playful defeat.
"Good," he said with a teasing smirk before kissing her nose. "I should hate for you to forget what kind of man you're marrying before you even marry him."
"I never said yes, you know," she teased, "In fact, you didn't even really ask me."
"Well, then let me fix that," he said, getting up from the table and kneeling beside the booth. "Anna Smith, will you marry me?"
"Yes, John," she said, nodding her head and tearing up slightly. "You make me the happiest version of myself I've ever been, and I love you so much for that," she said sincerely, pressing a kiss to his lips and pulling him into the booth to sit beside her.
"And you do the same for me," John said. "Now, shall I pay and then we can go home and find out if you're pregnant?"
"Home," she said, testing it out on her tongue. "I like that."
"You're my home, Anna."
"And you're mine," she agreed, kissing his cheek quickly. "Wherever we go from here, we go together. Because you're my home, and I'm yours."
"And where do we go from here? The drug store for a pregnancy test?"
"Oh, John, you're so literal," she said with a pretend exasperated eye roll. "But yes. Please. If you're up for it."
"Of course," he said matter-of-factly, and Anna knew instantly that John would never leave her. She knew he was dedicated to her and to their happiness together. They had a future together. And soon they would find out whether or not that future had a baby in store for the two of them.
They were in the bathroom, staring at the test on the sink. It was positive. They were going to have a baby. "John," Anna asked, voice shaky, "does that really say what I think it says?"
"Two lines means positive, so yes, my love, it does," he confirmed, grasping her shaking hand within his own and pressing a soft kiss to the back of it.
"John, we're going to be parents," she breathed.
"Yes, my love," John said, wrapping his arms gently around his wife. "Are you okay with this?" he asked, kissing her hair gently.
"I am," she confirmed, nodding her head against his chest. "It's something I've always wanted. To be a mum."
"And I know you'll be an amazing one," John said sincerely. "I'm so excited to go on this journey with you, Anna. I know it's a bit unexpected, but I honestly couldn't be happier."
"I'm happy too," she admitted. "I was anxious at first, but now I know I can handle anything with you by my side. I love you, John."
"I love you too."
It was time for Anna's first ultrasound. She had gone to the doctor for a blood test to confirm the pregnancy as soon as she found out, and today was her first proper appointment. As she lay on the table preparing herself for what was about to happen, her mind wandered to images of herself holding a baby. Not quite a newborn, but definitely an infant. With a head of blonde hair much like her own. She knew it would be quite some time before her baby was anything bigger than a seed in her belly, but she found herself daydreaming about them growing and kicking her and laughing and smiling once they were born.
She was brought out of her daydream by John's voice. "Anna, love, I'm here," he said, grasping her hand lightly within his own. She was glad he was allowed in for this part of the appointment. She had had a pelvic exam first, and that was all normal. Now she wanted her man by her side as they experienced something neither of them had ever witnessed before. She squeezed his hand in gratitude for his support, and he gave her a reassuring smile before she used her free hand to pull her shirt up as she had been instructed earlier.
"Alright, this might be a little cold," the ultrasound tech warned her, shaking the bottle of gel before squeezing some onto Anna's stomach. Anna flinched for a second, but soon got used to the feeling as the doppler moved along her belly. The tech took a few notes and pictures for Anna's file and then turned the screen around for Anna and John to see. "There's your little one," she said, "Measuring at seven weeks, and with a strong heartbeat as you can see here."
Anna and John were in awe. The baby was so tiny it was almost unreal, and though they had known to expect that, they still couldn't quite wrap their heads around it. It didn't really look like a baby, more like a blob, but it was theirs nonetheless. Their baby. And they both knew instantly that they would do anything to protect him or her. They loved this little one so fiercely already, and they couldn't wait to meet them.
After the ultrasound, they found themselves in a coffee shop. Anna hadn't stopped glancing down at the photograph in her hand. The ultrasound tech had given them a printed picture of the sonogram, and they both knew they would treasure it always. "John, we're really having a baby," she breathed, still looking at the picture.
"Yes, we are," John agreed, stroking her hand lightly so she would look up at him as he continued, "and I couldn't be happier. I mean, I'm a bit nervous, but I'm mostly just excited to do this with you. Excited to start a new chapter with you."
"I am too," she agreed sincerely. "I couldn't think of anyone better to be my partner on this journey. To be the father of our children."
"And I couldn't think of anyone better to be their mother."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, looking lovingly into each other's eyes and committing this moment to memory. The moment when they committed the rest of their lives to each other because, to them, that's what becoming parents together meant.
"I would like to start planning for the future," John said eventually. "We don't have much room in the flat. What if we moved?"
"We've certainly outgrown the flat, but I don't know if we can afford to move. Besides, my work is here. I know yours is remote, but I'd never expect you to be the sole provider for us."
"No, I didn't think you would," John said. He had full knowledge that Anna wanted to feel like an equal in the relationship, and he wanted that for her too. However, she didn't enjoy her current job at all, and there was no reason for them to stay in London if she wanted to explore options outside of her current position. "What I'm suggesting is a big change for both of us, and it would mean neither of us remain in our current workplaces. But I think we would both be just fine with that."
Anna chuckled slightly. "You know I certainly would. I hate the corporate world, if I'm honest."
"I know. Which is why I think we should move to the countryside. Maybe somewhere by the sea. Secluded enough for us to work on our music in peace and raise our family without all the hustle and bustle but included enough into a community that we feel like we belong there."
"Robin Hood's Bay," Anna said with a sparkle in her eye.
"Huh?" John asked.
"I went there when I was little," Anna explained, "My dad took me and my sister for a weekend getaway. It was so peaceful and the people were lovely. It's near Scarborough, so we can play gigs there sometimes if we want a bigger audience. But we'll be in nature and surrounded by a lovely community of people. At least if the people living there now are anything like the people I met as a little girl."
"I love the thought of living near nature. I want our child to breathe in fresh air, not London smog. And I love the idea of going somewhere so meaningful to you. We'll have to look at house listings and see if any are feasible before we can settle on Robin Hood's Bay for certain, but if they are, then that's where we'll go."
"So, it's settled? Just like that?" Anna asked cautiously.
"Just like that," John confirmed, "When I was growing up, I always loved the seaside, and I think it's good for our spirits to make a change like this."
"I agree. But, John, can we afford it?"
John took a breath and squeezed Anna's hand gently, preparing her for some kind of revelation. She knew he was going to tell her something she didn't already know, and she was curious what that was.
"I didn't tell you this before because we hadn't gotten this far into the conversation yet, but when you mentioned your concerns about income the other day, I wanted to tell you as soon as possible."
Anna nodded, listening intently.
"I have a savings account from the inheritance my mother left me. It wasn't a fortune or anything, but it'd definitely be enough to cover moving expenses and some furniture and baby things. I also made money from the sale of her house after she passed, which I've not yet spent. That, along with the money we've saved from our current jobs, should be enough for a house. Not a grand one, mind, but a cozy cottage for sure. We can get work somewhere local– contributing to the community in some way– and use our new income from that to pay the bills. Then, any money we make from our music can go into a savings account for the baby when he or she is older."
"Wow, you've clearly put a lot of thought into this," she said, both shocked and impressed.
"I have," John admitted. "I wanted to make a plan that had the most possibility for success, something that would make sure our little one was taken care of properly."
"Well, I think you've done just that," she said sincerely. "I like this plan a lot, and I think it is going to lead to a bright future for the three of us. I want us to take that step."
"Well then, I guess we should start looking at houses," John proclaimed with a smile.
"Yes, we shall," Anna agreed with ease, a smile of her own shining brightly at John. She couldn't wait to take this step with him for she knew it would lead to a future full of peace and happiness.