292 Future parents 2

Liz and Sabrina are looking at the home pregnancy test which shows the result: 'pregnant'.

"Rina? Are you OK?" Liz asked Sabrina who was staring at the test without blinking.

Sabrina walked toward the bed robotically and sat on it. "Shit!"

Liz noticed that Sabrina looks scared and confused but it lasted only a few seconds before she pressed her lips into a line and rubbed her belly gently while her eyes stirred with emotions.

"Take some time to digest the information. But don't do anything without talking to Ashton first." Liz advised.

Sabrina let out a loud sigh. "I'm messing up his life completely."

Liz didn't understand. "What do you mean?"

"I practically forced myself on him and dragged him into this relationship. He said that we should stay away from each other until I clear the things with Jackson, but I could not stay away from him. Because of me, Ashton left his apartment, ended up in the hospital, he lost his job at the café, and now this. He was supposed to enjoy his summer before the Ph.D. program starts and then to focus on the studies and now on top of all this mess there is a baby…"

"Baby?" Ashton asked from the door.

Sabrina froze and turned her head toward the door robotically only to see Ashton's head peeking into the room and he is staring at her.

"How long are you standing there?" Sabrina asked.

"Long enough to hear that the love of my life believes that she is my burden. And then there was something about the baby."

Ashton didn't mean to eavesdrop, but Liz and Sabrina are taking forever, and he was worried and wanted to check what is going on.

Liz's eyes darted between Sabrina and Ashton, and she realized that she should leave. "I will give you privacy…"

Liz got inside the dining room and found Max at the table. He didn't eat much, because he was waiting for Liz to return so that they can eat together.

"Is it serious?" Max asked when he noticed that Liz is absentminded.

"Uhm…" Liz wondered if she should tell him or not, but then she remembered Sabrina's expression when she rubbed her belly and Liz is confident that even if Ashton does not want that child, Sabrina will keep it. Max will find out one way or another, and she never had a chance to deliver such big news, so… "You are going to be an Uncle."

Max's eyes widened in slow motion until they became almost full circles. "Say that again."

"Rina is pregnant." Liz said and she had trouble suppressing her laughter at Max's comical expression.

Max's eyes moved toward the hallway where the bedrooms are. "Does Ashton know?"

"He does now…"

Max grabbed the nearest plate with pastries. "They are cold. I will reheat them for you."

Liz watched Max as he walked into the kitchen and she went after him.

"Max? Are you OK?"

Liz smiled. She was not sure what Max's reaction will be, but this is fine. It seems that this is the first pregnancy for all of them.

Liz hugged Max from behind. "I have no doubt that you will be the best Uncle because you are the best in everything."

…

In the bedroom…

After Liz left the room, Ashton sat next to Sabrina on the bed and stared at her.

"Can you repeat the last part you told Liz?"

"I'm sorry, Ashton. I dragged you into my life without thinking and…"

"Not that part." He interrupted her.

"I did the test and it shows that I'm pregnant… So, my nausea is not because of the virus or because of my bad cooking…"

Ashton remembers that they made love numerous times and he would come inside her, and he assumed that she is taking protection because she never said anything, but it seems that is not the case. He wanted to make sure… "You are not taking protection?"

Sabrina shook her head. "I'm sorry…"

Based on Sabrina's expression, Ashton was not sure what to think. Does she want the baby, or not? He does not want to force her one way or the other, because it is her body, but nothing would make him happier than he and Sabrina having their own family.

"Now what?" Ashton asked cautiously while trying to read Sabrina's expression.

"Feel free to continue with your life I will…"

Ashton frowned. Baby or not, why does she sound like she is pushing him away? "I thought that we are doing fine. Are you breaking up with me?"

"Oh! God, no! I would never break up with you. You know that I love you. But I don't want you to feel the pressure of raising this baby. I just found out and I didn't have any time to think about it, but I know that I can raise it on my own if needed. You are welcome to be involved in any way you want."

Ashton exhaled in relief. He scooted closer to Sabrina and hugged her.

"Rina, you know that I worship you. I would never leave you." His left hand moved, and his palm landed on her abdomen. "I hope that you will allow me to do this together with you."

Sabrina leaned into his embrace. "Of course. You can be involved as much as you want."

"What if I want to be involved permanently?"

Sabrina blinked. "What does that mean?"

Ashton inhaled more than necessary and told himself that he should not chicken out. "Sabrina, I know that we are not together for a long time and that you are way out of my league, but for me, you are a dream come true. If we are going to be parents, how about we do it properly and get married?"

Sabrina smiled. "I love you, Ashton, but we don't need to get married because I'm pregnant. It would not be fair to us, or to the child. We can still be a couple without the marriage certificate."

"I admit that I would not bring up the topic if you are not pregnant, but that does not mean how I don't want to spend my life with you. This only made me ask sooner…" Ashton slid down from the bed and got on his knees. "Sabrina Anderson, will you consider marrying me?"

Sabrina was staring at Ashton and blinking rapidly. "Are you proposing to me?"

"Yeah… Sorry, I'm not prepared. I will buy a ring later."

Sabrina looked at his expectant expression and she could see that he loves her and that he truly means it.

"I will say yes if you promise not to neglect your dreams. I want you to continue your Ph.D. and we will figure out everything else."

Ashton smiled and looked at Sabrina while his eyes stirred with emotions.

"Starting now, Sabrina Anderson… you are my fiancée."

Sabrina returned his smile. "And you, Ashton Grant are my fiancé. The real one."

Ashton moved up on the bed and brushed his lips against Sabrina's. She laced her fingers into his hair and returned his kisses eagerly.

Ashton and Sabrina needed time to process the information that they are engaged and that they will be parents, but both were aware that they don't want to live without each other, and that they will figure out things. Together.

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