Beeping noises make me stir, my head is groggy and stings right at the hairline a little above my temple, and when I try to open my eyes the light burns. The stinging causes me to moan and I sound like an irritated old hound dog.

"Elodie? Sweetheart?" A cool hand is placed on my forehead and pushes back some of my ratted hair.

My eyes finally pry open and Tariq's mom is staring at me with a concerned expression. Eyes filled with worry, her skin puffing between her brows, mouth slightly open as she takes in every tiny spec on my face.

"You're in the hospital."

Crap. "What happened?" I ask, my voice cracking from the dryness.

"Here, drink some water but only take a few sips."

I do what she says and my stomach tightens and nausea hits me hard.

"You fainted, hit your head on the car door but Tariq was able to get to you before you hit the asphalt." She sits down and grabs my hand, holding it. "You gave my boys a real scare. Tariq was in hysterics, Rasheed was crying."

"Where are they?"

She looks to the door. "Tariq will be back any second. He'll be mad he wasn't here when you woke up but I forced him to go take a breath and get some coffee. Rasheed is home but calling every fifteen minutes for an update. All the boys at the house are worried."

It's quiet between us as I glance down at the ugly gown with weird dots all over it. The bracelet on my arm hurts a little from being too tight, and my arm has an IV in it, pumping something cold into my veins.

"It's just liquids," she answers. Mrs. Araneo squeezes my hand and looks me dead in the eye with those dark eyes. "Elodie, you have hyperemesis." She pauses trying to gauge my reaction, but I have no idea what that is. "It's something only someone who is pregnant can get."

All color drains from my face. "Is the baby okay?"

"The baby is fine," she says soothingly. "Hyperemesis is severe nausea. With some medication, you'll be perfectly fine."

Oh, God!

Please don't tell me this is how Tariq had to find out he is going to be a dad.

Could I be any more dramatic?

"Elodie?" Mrs. Araneo hasn't broken eye contact with me once. "Tariq is the father."

"Yes," I answer with a harsh whispered breath. "Does he know? Mrs. Araneo, it wasn't really his fault, he was going through some stuff and one thing led to another but what we did wasn't right, a mistake"

"Elodie, sweetie," she says calmly, motherly and it makes my eyes water. "It's okay, am I a little shocked, yes, but mistakes happen and even though I don't condone what you both did, I would never make you feel less than."

I relax a little. "How did he take it?"

The door starts to open and she looks at me. "I think that's something you two should discuss." She gives my hand one last squeeze but it doesn't help the chaos swirling in my stomach growing my nausea. "We'll be with you every step of the way."

She gets up and Tariq steps in. The two whisper to each other and his head lifts, the semi-sweet dark chocolate eyes staring intently at me. The IV reminds me how cold I am so I bring up the thin blanket wishing it was a fluffy comforter.

Mrs. Araneo kisses his cheek but he doesn't even look at her, his gaze on me as he says bye to her. The second the door clicks shut, my mouth starts running, "This is not how I wanted you to find out I've only known for a handful of days and I didn't want to tell you over the phone."

He walks over, sitting his coffee down beside my hospital bed, and takes off his jacket, throwing it on the chair his mom had been sitting in. I'm still babbling, "I had this whole speech planned and a somewhat nice way of telling you and, um... I... "

My bed dips. "This is the worst possible way for you to have found out. I should've just told you on the phone, blurt it out or--"

His lips press against mine. It is so much like our first kiss it almost has me fainting again. My hand grips his wrist as his hand cups my face, pulling me in for more. He's soft but firm, possessive, breathing me in, our breaths becoming one.

"God, I've missed you." His voice rumbles through me, vibrating on my lips. "If you give me a princess who's as quirky and adorable as you, I'll worship the ground you walk on, babe."

I sob, those words healing so much of me, I don't even know what to say. His kisses become deeper, all-consuming. My heart beats with his and he chains me to him, I'm his and no one else's. When he pulls away we're both panting. His face hovers over mine, eyes closed, and nose tracing my cheekbones, eyelashes, jaw, and ear.

When his eyes open and find mine, there's a pain in them. "No more, okay? Don't keep me away anymore, please. I've been miserable without you and, gosh, Blue, when you fainted I lost it. I've never been so scared and desperate in my life. It's been killing me to not have you around, hearing those weird songs you belt out that you make up as you go, beating me senseless in video games, rescuing you from a killer goose, watching you put on your lipstick, and wanting to ruin it with my kisses."

"Tariq."

His mouth grazes my cheekbone as his hands cup my face. "I want you back. I want your love." Tears are falling and Tariq's lips kiss them away. "I want to take care of you, our baby. I know I don't deserve it and I'm not the perfect guy for you yet, but---"

My tiny hands grab his jaw, his scruff tickling my palms. "I don't want to wait forever for you to be at a place where you think you're perfect. I fell in love with the guy who wasn't. The guy who messed up, was cocky, irritating, made my blood boil, who protected me, helped me, and looked out for me. I want you as you are, Tariq."

He pushes my hair back, his touch so gentle it practically shatters me into pieces. "You've got me, Blue. I'm all yours."

My hands pet his beard, my gaze dropping from his as I ask, "This isn't just because I'm pregnant? You... love me?"

I risk a peek and his gaze is dark, intimidating. "You're seriously asking me that? Yes, Blue, I'm in love with you. I fell for you the day you sabotaged my date and gave me that file. You stomped your foot and were so cute."

I purse my lips.

His thumb presses down on them. "That, it was when you pursed these lips of yours when I had laughed and told you it was the cutest thing. I had convinced myself I couldn't have you though and then you became a constant for me. I love you, Elodie. Every bit of me." His fingers trace the outer edge of my ear, leaving a burning blaze of fire behind. "Believe it or not, I wasn't ever in love with Cass and she was my first time and you, my second. If I could go back and save every part of me for you, I would. I'm going to save it now though, yeah it's a little backward but I want to be fully committed to you. No more mistakes, although..." His eyes gleam. "I'm pretty excited about this one."

"You are?" I don't know if I'm asking for confirmation on him loving me or the baby, both probably.

"Yeah, Blue. Will you let me in now? Can you tell me what's going on?"

And I do.

"I can't believe I'm going to be an uncle," Rasheed states, staring at nothing with bug eyes.

"Dude, it's been two days since we found out."

He looks at me. "Yeah, I know, but I have to randomly say it every once in a while to believe it. You pulled the goalie and scored on an open net."

I smack my brother across the head, who laughs. "I'm going to spoil your kid so much that he or she is going to favor me over you. They'll constantly wish I was their dad and tell you that to your face."

"I'm going to kill you."

Rasheed and I start wrestling. The rest of the guys from the team went back to the dorms after Thanksgiving and now it's just the family. Rasheed punches me in the side, saying, "You're just jealous 'cause I was the one who found the turkey so Special Agent Mitchel could have her own Thanksgiving dinner with us."

He's not wrong.

Both of us had gone out in search of one and it was freaking Rasheed who came home with it.

I never wanted to punch him so badly in my life. The hug he got from Blue was supposed to be mine. The idiot was already trying to show me up. He's also the one who came up with the idea of having another Thanksgiving with her. I really need to step up my game. Luckily my brother has only platonic feelings for Blue. If he didn't...

I'd probably be in trouble.

I put him in a headlock and Farrah rolls her eyes, mumbling, "You both are such idiots. The child will clearly favor me."

Despite Farrah's initial dislike for Elodie, she's been warming up to her. Especially now that she knows Blue would never hurt me. After everything that happened with Cass, Farrah didn't trust any girl. She and Cass had been close so it crushed her more than me when we broke up.

I push Rasheed away and look over at Blue and my dad cooking together. He's in love with watching how she operates around our kitchen.

And Blue?

She's a little bit of a frazzled mess but in her element. Her color is back, the bags under her eyes not as noticeable, dark blonde hair pulled up into a sloppy bun, face cleaned of any remnants of makeup. The black and white turtleneck she's wearing is ultra-conservative and has some food splatter on it but she paired it with a little black skirt and tights, giving it a sexier vibe. The way the little skirt lays softly on her curves makes my fingers twitch, wanting to touch her hips that actually remind me of adorable baby fat... in a good way.

The kind you have the urge to squeeze because you love it so much, and it's uncontrollable, you can't help it. I want my hands to be imprinted on her forever.

She's in culinary heaven. My dad has all the state-of-the-art appliances and our kitchen is massive, giving her plenty of space to work.

Yeah, she's going to show up my dad.

No doubt about it.

Dad is a pastry chef. He's a good cook but my girl is better.

Somehow she's able to listen to my dad talk and navigate around the kitchen as if it is her own. She laughs and it's deep for a woman but undeniably sexy. I love how the wisps of hair fall away from her face as her head falls back in laughter.

Her eyes listened and it's right there I realize that Blue has that kind of beauty that age can't touch. It's deeper and adds to her physical looks. It's how her eyes are safe and you can tell her anything and she'll listen intently to you. She's real, plush, so much more. It's beauty that's just there.

Existing in her.

And she's mine.

God, does that feel good.

And what's even crazier is how excited I get when I imagine her belly growing. At first, I'd been terrified, but then a switch had been flipped when I thought real hard about it, imagining having a little boy... and better yet, a little girl.

Just like Blue.

This isn't how I had planned it and, yeah, I wanted to be married before having kids but I also wanted to be married before I had sex and I botched that one up with Cass.

My mom had been disappointed with my actions but she's crazy excited about being a grandma. Plus, ever since the hockey game, she's adored Elodie.

Who at the moment is showing my dad how to properly stuff a turkey. I get up and walk over asking, "Shouldn't that be making you sick?"

She beams up at me, those blue eyes shining. "Weirdly, it's not. If anything, moving around and working with food is helping. Plus, the medication they gave me has done a one-eighty."

I want to kiss her but my dad is right there. Instead, I give her a peck on the head. "Don't overdo it."

She whips me with a towel. "Sir, yes, sir."

I have never seen Blue this happy before. She's radiating joy and after she had told me everything, it's like a weight has been lifted off her. She's been going through too much on her own and after talking with my parents, we all decided to help her any way we can.

She's adamant about staying at the dorms, which I'm okay with. I want her to finish school, as do I. My goal is no longer to graduate with a degree and slowly start building up a life for myself, I'm now going to put all my effort into making sure I can provide for her and my child.

Which means interning, letting go of any ideas of playing for the NHL. I've been off that wagon for a while but when I had been excelling on the ice, a little bit of hope started sprouting again, but oddly, I don't find myself wanting it.

I want a life... with Blue.

Rasheed comes up next to me putting his elbows on the island counter. "If it's a boy I think you should name him Norman."

"Norman?" I ask, giving him a weird look.

"It's a good name," he states. "I've never known a bad Norman."

"That's an old man's name," I reply.

Elodie shakes her head, laughing. "Norman Bates, Rasheed."

Rasheed's eyes widen and his mouth falls into a funny-looking frown. "Nope, definitely not Norman."

I push Rasheed's face away. "Blue and I will be the ones to decide on the name. We don't need your input."

The turkey is in the oven and everything is prepped, which means Blue can be mine for a little bit. Dad looks at me then at her. "Why don't you two go spend some time together. I'll let you know when everything is ready."

Mom comes up behind dad, draping her arms around him. "Yeah, go ahead. You can go for a walk, watch television downstairs--"

I grin down at Blue. "How about some video games?"

My mom cocks a brow but Blue's beaming smile lets me know exactly what my girl wants. "Are you sure your ego can handle it?"

"After the countless beatings I've taken from you already? I don't think I have any ego left in me."

I show her out and as we round the corner away from everyone I lean down and whisper in her ear, "I told you, you'd be good for my ego."

She laughs but before we can go downstairs, Farrah stops us. "I have a better idea, you two."

Sometimes I hate my little sister.

As if reading my mind, she cocks a challenging brow. "I say we live nostalgically and watch Rasheed take on a scary video game."

Never mind.

I love my sister.

So very much.

"No!" Rasheed cries out. "Please don't make me. I hate those kinds of games."

Farrah ignores him. "There's one in particular that we've been trying to get him to play for years and I think with El here, we can make it happen."

Rasheed is about to sprint upstairs and lock himself in his room but I get in front of him, throwing my arm around his shoulders. "Come on, bro. Do it for Special Agent Mitchel."

Blue is grinning, her face crunching so beautifully. "Please Rasheed? We can all take turns."

"You'll regret it. The game they're thinking of is all about survival and running away, there's zero fighting. You know what? It's not good for the baby. Bad idea. Such a horrible father already."

Farrah flicks back her black glossy hair. "That is the dumbest excuse you have used yet."

"Fine," Rasheed relinquishes. "But I now until eternity get to call Elodie, Special Agent Mitchel."

"Deal," Farrah answers then turns to Elodie. "Special Agent Mitchel, are you ready for the greatest night of your life?" she asks, linking her arm around Blue's.

"Absolutely."

Rasheed groans. "I can't believe I'm about to do this. My heart is already beating like a psycho."

There's a beeping coming from the kitchen making us all turn that way. Mom and Dad whip past us with a massive bowl. "We've got the popcorn, let's go."

We all stampede down the stairs except for Rasheed. I practically have to drag him down. Farrah starts turning the game system on and stands in front of the tv as the rest of us plop into our designated seating.

Flicking the lights off and turning on the television, Farrah spins around and positions herself as if she's about to give a PowerPoint presentation.

"The game for the night is called.... drum rolls please."

Me, mom, dad, and Elodie all drumroll as Rasheed quietly whimpers out, "God, no, please deliver me from these malicious people. I am Moses and they are the Egyptians, free your child from their tyranny."

"Good to know those Sunday school lessons still stick," Mom cracks.

Farrah brings the game up on the screen. "Slender: The Arrival."

We all cheer as Farrah throws the Xbox remote at Rasheed and he gives a desperate, baby moan but starts the game. There's a lot of laughing as Rasheed screams like a girl, throws the control, or pauses the game to collect himself.

He dies.

A lot.

We all take turns but we get stuck and it isn't until Blue steps up do we pass the collecting pages level.

Rasheed is at the point where he has to go around and close all the windows and doors to the house and he's practically crying by this point. Elodie is laughing so hard she can barely breathe as tears stream down her face.

"Language Rasheed!" mom yells.

"God, understands," Rasheed shouts back. "This effer keeps popping out at me and I cant..." Rasheed doesn't finish his sentences because he screams and it's so high-pitched we're all dying. I wish I could say he was over-dramatizing the whole thing, but he wasn't. Rasheed is truly terrified of horror video games.

Elodie snuggles into me and even though we're celebrating Thanksgiving a couple of days late, I have never felt more grateful in my life for the people surrounding me and the future in front of me.

Okay! Here it is! Tariq officially knows and I hope you all enjoyed his reaction. I know a lot of you were worried! I hope I didn't disappoint :) I am off to work on the next update and hope you wonderful readers are ready for more to come! I think I probably have about 10 chapters left. It all depends on how I write these next plot points. ;)

Hit that vote button if you want to continue to see how Elodie and Tariq's story continues to unfold!

Much Love,

LivingRed