"What?" I try to sit up and he gently eases me back onto the stretcher. "What happened?"
"You fell into my arms when I was kissing you." He trails his lips across my forehead. "It was all very romantic."
I smile a weak smile. "I must have been dehydrated. I was so busy at the shop before I rushed here to say goodbye to Brighton."
"That's not what it is." He leans closer, his hand gently rubbing my cheek. "That's not it, beautiful. My beautiful, Ivy."
I see the tears in his eyes. He was right. I am sick. I should have listened to him and gone to the doctor when he told me too. I should have taken better care of myself. I should have done so much more when I had the chance.
"Or maybe it's mom now." The words are barely audible.
"What?" He didn't say that. He didn't call me mom.
"I'm going to be a dad and you're going to be a mom." His hand effortlessly glides softly over my stomach. "We're having a baby."
"A baby?" I know what the word means. I don't understand how he can be saying it in relation to me.
"A baby, yes." He nods slowly. His expression is so soft; it's so loving and tender.
"I'm having a baby?" I need to sit up. I need to think about this.
"We're having a baby in six months."
"I'm that pregnant?" I look down to where his hand is resting on my body. "How?"
"You know how." He winks. "It all makes sense now."
I search his eyes for an answer. I need to understand. I pull my hand to his cheek and that's when I see it. Shimmering in the fluorescent light of the sterile hospital room is a ring. A large diamond ring is perched on my left hand.
"Jax." I can't say more than that. I can't think straight.
"I asked you to marry me when you were passed out." He shrugs his shoulders. "I just assumed you were speechless because you were so happy."
"You had this with you." I motion towards the ring. It's so exquisite. It's one of the designs I've sketched.
"I've been carrying that in my pocket for the past three months." He pats his chest. "And I've been carrying the question in here since I met you."
"We're getting married," I say breathlessly. I feel as though I'm dreaming. Nothing seems real.
"We're having a baby too." He leans down to kiss my stomach. "Our baby, my beautiful Ivy. Our baby."
"A baby." The words come out in a tumble of tears.
"This is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing." He reaches to cover my lips with his. "Taking care of my wife and baby is my life. This is where I belong."
"This is where we all belong. Together. The three of us." I slide my hand around his neck as his lips glide over mine.
Epilogue – 1 year later.
"He's not going to walk for months, Jax." I toss the tiny sneakers onto the floor. "You have to stop buying him things he doesn't need."
"Like that's going to happen." He kisses my cheek as he wraps his arm around my waist. "I can't stop. I want him to have everything."
"He just needs you. Like this." I pat his chest. "Open and loving. You're the most amazing father."
"I am pretty good at this house husband thing, aren't I?"
I pull my eyes around the apartment and wince when I settle on dirty dishes, blankets strewn everywhere, a few baby toys and a laundry basket overflowing with clean clothing. "You're learning."