“I’m pregnant.”
We talk over one another again, then freeze as our respective revelations sink in.
“What?” we say in unison.
“You want me to marry you?”
“You’re pregnant?”
Another beat of silence and we laugh, then Faina takes my hand and discards the dish towel. She leads me to the small dining table in the corner of the room and sits me down while my head spins, trying to connect what she said to the question I asked.
“I’m pregnant,” Faina says quietly as she sits in front of me. “It’s definitely yours. I’m a few months along. I found out when we were arrested at Interpol after I was shot.”
My eyes drop to her shoulder and I wince at the memory. Twice now, she’s taken a bullet for me.
“I was going to tell you but you were so angry with me, and then Hawk was more important and I didn’t want him to somehowfind out and use it against us. And then I was scared that the fighting and the stress might have harmed it so I was going to tell you when we came back to the city and I could get a check-up. But then you didn’t return my calls so I… I couldn’t. And now with your siblings…” She shakes her slightly. “Are you mad?”
Pregnant.
Faina is carrying my baby?
She’s right. Had she told me sooner, I would have called off the hunt for Hawk and sent her home. My eyes slide down to her stomach and she moves one hand over her navel. “A baby,” I murmur.
Faina remains silent.
“No,” I reply suddenly. “I’m not mad, I’m…”
How do I feel? Warmth and excitement spiral through my chest as tingling rushes across my shoulders and down my arms. We hadn’t discussed anything like this before, but it must be fate. Faina reached me when I was at my lowest, she gave me hope again and brought love back into my heart when I was sure I was dark.
Is there anything more romantic than raising a child with her after that?
“You’re…?” Faina prompts gently.
“I’m amazed. Is everything okay with you and the baby?”
“Yes. Perfect health.”
“Do you want the baby?” I ask cautiously, trying to manage my growing excitement.”
“Yes.” She looks slightly fearful, and it’s like a balloon is swelling inside me with how overwhelmed I suddenly become with excitement.
“Then we’re having a baby! Oh my God!” Surging upward, I cup Faina’s beautiful face with my hands and kiss her hard.
Her warm hands cradle the sides of my neck but before I can deepen the kiss to truly show her how excited I am, she pushes me away and squints up at me. “You asked me to marry you.”
“Oh… yeah.” Smiling warmly, I retake my seat after dragging it closer to her. “When I walked in here and saw you, I suddenly understood part of what I’ve been feeling for you. Other than utter lust for you, I realized I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I have for a while, I think. I just couldn’t put it into words because we were running for our lives. But here and now? With some peace and a moment to catch our breaths? I knew.”
“And the baby?” She glances down at herself and caresses her belly. “That doesn’t change anything for you?”
I cradle her face in my hands and gently look her in the eyes. “Marry me,” I say firmly. “Be with me. I love you, Faina. No more wasting time, no more secrets. Marry me and let's be a family together. I don’t want to live in a world without the people I love by my side ever again.Marryme.”
Tears fill her eyes and she laughs softly, shaking her head. Then she leans in for a salty, damp kiss as she laughs again.
“Yes, Cian. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
38
FAINA
