🌼🌻

With her head resting on his chest, she blinked a few times, but her gaze never deviated from his sleeping face. A small smile played on her face as she admitted to herself that he looked even more handsome in his sleep.

Yes, maybe she was insane for accepting to give what they have a chance. Maybe everything would be fine as Elliot had mentioned and maybe that decision might come back to bite her, but that's life. Everything about it was a haze. For once, she would not be quick to cave in. Her feelings for him were stronger than anything she'd ever felt for anyone, so she'd decided she would not stress too much on the topic. She was going to accept the excitement, no matter how long it lasted.

Genevieve looked down at her belly. She gently placed her hand on it and eventually withdrew it. She knew she had to tell him, and soon. Yet, there was fear again. She wasn't sure how he would react. Accepting to love her was one thing, but suddenly finding out about a child... the thought of him not reacting too well to the news disturbed her. She didn't know if he was ready to be a father or if he even wanted to be one.

A sigh left her lips before she lifted her eyes back to his face. He laid on his side, gently wrapping his arms tighter around her and his breath fanned her forehead.

"What is it?" He asked amidst sleep, regarding her sigh and she stared at him, a little puzzled. She'd believed he was sleeping.

She lowered her eyes from him. "Nothing. Just... it's nothing." She lied.

He barely fluttered his eyes open. Although she said nothing, he could sense it in her voice that there was something. He knew he shouldn't push her for a reply, but he also felt the need to carry some of the weight off her shoulder.

"It's fine. Everything is going to be fine." He assured her, although he wasn't too sure about that.

Gene nodded in acceptance. The past two days of officially starting their relationship had been exciting. She felt extraordinarily happy, yet cautious. That was one thing she was yet to rid herself of. Most of the time, it was unconscious.

Elliot didn't normally sleepover, but he'd asked and to his surprise, she'd accepted. Even while she's by his side, she occupied his thoughts, so he just wanted to have her by his side tonight.

By morning, as Gene bent over the toilet, throwing up nearly everything she'd eaten the day before and whilst he stood outside asking her if she was okay, she realised maybe she shouldn't have said yes to him sleeping over. She rinsed her mouth, spared her reflection a glance, and sighed in exhaustion.

Her morning sickness wasn't showing any sign of stopping and Gene wondered how long she was going to keep feeling that way. She had done no excellent research or bothered to know more about her state. She'd simply been playing with the time, but reality was knocking on her doorstep. Gene unlocked the door to meet Elliot's worried face. He drew closer, placing a hand on her forehead to feel her temperature.

"Your temperature seems okay, but you don't look okay. Are you okay?" He stated all at once and she simply stared at him, watching as he expected a reply from her.

"I'm pregnant." She confessed, exhausted from hiding the truth and wanting to share the truth with someone. She felt exhausted from dragging it on.

He stared at her blankly for what seemed like a while and Gene stared back, waiting for a reaction from him. She watched as he blinked a few times, looking away from her. Soon, his eyes were back on her. A slight crease showed between his brows.

"How? I mean... are you sure?" He asked, confusion painted across his face. She blinked lazily.

"Yes. I had a test result that confirmed it." She replied and watched as he gently nodded his head, but didn't stop. She could see how hard and quick he was trying to process the information.

"Look, I didn't tell you the truth because I'm after you taking responsibility for the baby. I just..." She let out a deeper sigh. "... I'm tired and I know I can't keep this from you any longer, so don't stress." She explained and, without wasting a second more, she turned away, making her way back into the room.

It's fine. You're a big girl. She assured herself, trying not to feel bad that she didn't get the dream reaction she would have loved to get from him.

Suddenly, he carried her off her feet and as she wrapped her arms around his neck, eyes dilated, she stared at him in surprise. "W-what are you doing?" She asked and his eyes shifted left and right for a second as he thought.

"Aren't pregnant women supposed to be treated delicately? I think walking on your own two feet is dangerous for you."

She chuckled at first, and then a burst of lighter laughter followed suit. His I'm-confused-I don't-know-what-to-do expression was comic and she couldn't help laughing.

"What do you think pregnancy is?" She questioned, quite amused, and he stared at her with a simple smile on his face, love in his eyes.

"I love you." He professed, and gradually, the amusement on her face disappeared. She stared into his eyes and he never looked away, even for a second. he was vying for her to believe his words, but she hadn't expected a confession. Gene pretty much never expected much.

Slowly, she lowered her eyes. "Don't say something you might never take back."

His brows furrowed for a second at her words. "You don't believe me?" He queried, and she kept her head down, eyes lowered and unable to answer his question. Elliot stared at her for a moment before venturing further into the room. Gently, he set her to sit up on the bed and took his seat by her side. He held her hand in his while the other softly stroked her cheek. She stared into his eyes.

"I know you still have doubts about my true intentions. Maybe you don't entirely trust what I say and it's understandable, but... it's true. I love you and I'm going to remind you every day just how special you are to me." He assured her with a warm smile. She could see he meant his words and yes, a tiny part of her was always trying so hard to play safe. She knew her heart was his, but she was yet to let go of fear and to trust wholeheartedly.

"Thank you." He appreciated, and a brief furrow played between her brows.

"For what?"

"For telling me the truth about the baby. You could have hidden the truth and harmed the baby, but... you didn't and I'm grateful." He explained, and she lowered her eyes from his face.

"You don't need to thank me. I would never harm my child." She added, and his smile broadened as he watched her. Suddenly, he leaned closer and left a quick peck on her lips. Immediately, she lifted her eyes to him, eyes widened as she held a hand over her mouth.

"Don't do that. I threw up and I probably smell funny." She complained, her facial expression that of disgust. His smile broadened, and he leaned in to plant another kiss, but she leaned away, refusing to take her hand off her mouth. He leaned closer, refusing to give up, and she leaned further away amidst laughter as she picked up a pillow to hide her face from him.