293 Future parents 3

"Is it OK to congratulate you?" Liz asked with a smile. Based on how Sabrina and Ashton are holding each other and smiling, she can see that they are keeping the baby and continuing as a couple.

It's not that Liz doubts Ashton's feelings toward Sabrina, everyone can see that he is head over heels for her, but Sabrina's words that she is creating obstacles in his life, made Liz worry.

Sabrina leaned on Ashton and announced: "We are engaged."

Max blinked. "Didn't you just break up one engagement?"

Sabrina grimaced. "That one was not real. This one is. Don't you dare crack jokes."

Liz gave them hugs and wished them well, and Max hugged Sabrina and shook hands with Ashton.

"Welcome to the family." Max said in an official tone.

"Thanks. I will take good care of Rina." Ashton promised Max.

"I know."

Ashton was happy to get an approval from Max because he knows that it is important to Sabrina. Ashton believes that Nathan and Madeline will be supportive, but he is not so sure about Hunter. Will he need to go through another beating in order to pacify Hunter? At this point, his body will give up before his child is born. His child… with Sabrina Anderson. It will take some time for that information to sink in fully.

They all sat at the table and Ashton poured a glass of orange juice for Sabrina, the one with pulp. He noticed that some food make her nauseated, but the sour juice and sparkling water make her feel better. And now he knows that this change in Sabrina's behavior is because there is a baby growing in her belly. His baby. He is still high on the fact that he and Sabrina are together, and now a baby! And they will get married! How surreal!

The last few weeks are like a dream to Ashton, and now the most amazing woman in the world is his fiancée. The dream is getting better as it progresses, and he hopes that he will not wake up from this.

"What's next?" Sabrina asked Liz while eating plain pastry and sipping orange juice.

Liz understood that Sabrina is asking about the baby. "I suggest that you give a call to your gynecologist, or your doctor who can give you referrals. Get a checkup to make sure everything is OK with you and the baby before you share the news with the others."

Sabrina nodded in understanding. If she tells her mother that she is pregnant, and then she finds out how something is wrong with the pregnancy, Madeline will be devastated. It's not that Sabrina will not be sad, but having Madeline cry about it will only make the situation much worse.

"Everything will be fine." Ashton said when he put his hand over Sabrina's.

"I hope it will be..." Sabrina responded to Ashton and then turned to Liz. "I will call my doctor, first thing in the morning." 

"Of course..." Sabrina looked at Ashton and beamed. She does not remember if she was ever this happy. Sabrina was never in love, and it seems that three decades of love which she didn't experience so far, are condensed in these few weeks with Ashton. It's almost as her heart was on standby, waiting for Ashton to come into her life and to claim her as his. Everything he does is amazing and she is infatuated with him.

Sabrina leaned onto Ashton and spoke dreamily: "As long as we are together, everything will be fine…"

Liz and Max exchanged glances. It seems that they are intruding into an intimate moment.

Both of them stood up at the same time.

"We need to go and… buy stuff…" Liz said awkwardly.

Sabrina and Ashton laughed.

"You don't need to leave." Sabrina said.

"That's fine. We came to check on Ashton and for brunch. Both missions are accomplished and with some extras so… we will give you privacy. I'm sure you have a lot to talk about." Liz explained.

Sabrina asked Liz and Max to keep the pregnancy a secret from others until she is done with her checkups.

"Of course." Max assured her. "It is your news to share. But don't wait for too long, because I want to start the best Uncle competition with Hunter."

Sabrina laughed. Her brothers are silly and knowing them, it will definitely be a competition.

"When do you want us to go shopping for a ring?" Ashton asked Sabrina.

"Let's make sure that the baby is fine, first." Sabrina reminded Ashton.

"Rina, baby or not… I asked you to marry me and you said 'yes'. Don't tell me that your agreement to spend the rest of your life with me is dependent on the pregnancy?"

"The rest of my life with you, sounds wonderful... and we can have many babies."

"Let's start with one."

"Mmm…" Sabrina hummed in agreement. "You are a wise man, Mr. Grant."

Liz and Max rolled their eyes.

"Let's go before we drown in their public display of affection." Liz said while nudging Max to get out.

"It's not public! We are in our home!" Sabrina protested.

"Whatever..." Liz waved while walking down the hallway toward the door.

When Liz and Max left, Sabrina and Ashton sat on the sofa in the living room.

Sabrina put her hand over her belly. "I can't believe that there is a tiny baby growing inside. And it's ours. We will be a family."

Ashton had to agree. It's unbelievable.

"Rina, while on the topic of the family… would you like to meet my family?"

Sabrina nodded enthusiastically.

Ashton was happy to see her response. "Alright. Let's get your checkup done and then we can go. Maybe next weekend?"

Sabrina agreed. "Next weekend sounds perfect. I need to buy presents..." She paused and looked at his left arm which is in a cast. "How are you going to explain that? You didn't tell them you were hurt, wouldn't they worry?"

"Yeah, they will but I will tell them it was a hiking accident and I slipped."

Sabrina lowered her head. "Thank you."

Ashton knew that Sabrina's change in mood is because she feels guilty that four guys jumped him. "When will you stop blaming yourself?"

Sabrina exhaled. "Probably… never."

"A lot of things are ahead, and we can't allow the past to weigh on us. Do you know how many things I feel bad about?"

Sabrina didn't believe him, convinced that he is only saying that to make her feel better. "There is nothing for you to feel bad about."

"Rina, if I start listing them, I'm not sure where to start. Probably from the fact that I'm not a match for you and that everyone will think I'm latching onto you because of your status and wealth. And what about this pregnancy? It was my responsibility to protect you, yet I acted like an ignorant teenager and I never asked if you are taking anything or if we should use a condom even though I have one in my wallet all the time."

"I thought you are happy about the baby." Sabrina said before Ashton was able to continue adding more things. She knows that in terms of status, people put Andersons on a pedestal, but there is nothing she can do about it.

"Don't think that I'm not happy. I worship you, Rina, and the idea of us having a family and that you accepted to be my wife is still exploding in my mind. I have a feeling that I fell for an untouchable fairy and that I'm spoiling your perfection with my presence. Your smile alone is enough to brighten up the city. You are beyond perfect."

Sabrina was touched with this confession. He knows how to make her heart melt. "Don't forget that my smile is bright because of you. You are making me feel things I never thought are possible. I am ecstatic by the future ahead of us, because it will be us… you, me, and our baby. Which bedroom should we use as a nursery? Or do you want us to move into a house? Something with a backyard maybe? We can pick a property closer to the University, so that it's convenient when you go to work and for your classes…"

Ashton listened to Sabrina making plans and he was ecstatic that she is thinking about everything, and he is included. Ashton was happy that Sabrina's mood improved, and she didn't talk about his broken arm, or the attack, or Jackson. It was all about Ashton and Sabrina and another tiny human that is growing in her belly, and it was surreal.

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