It Started with a Strap

“Okay… so this is unexpected.” Sevika’s eyebrows furrow. Her eyes scanned the piece of paper you handed her. She looks at you, scanning your face.
“I don’t know what to tell you. I had the doctor redo the test twice. You didn’t read the warnings or anything before sticking it inside your wife??” You cross your arms, looking at her expectantly. Of course, it isn’t her fault. But you were upset. You walked home thinking your marriage and your life was over!
“Well… I guess not. I also did NOT expect it to be able to do something like this. What are… What are you going to do?” Sevika sighed, rubbing her temple. You froze for a second; what were you going to do? You both had talked about wanting a family eventually. But was this the best time? Are either of you ready for this?
“I… hadn’t thought about it. I was so scared you were going to leave me over it. I didn’t have an explanation on how you could have gotten me pregnant. I didn’t even consider whether I should… keep it.” You felt a twinge in your chest. Of course, you wanted to keep it. It was you and your fantastic wife. Something you both made and had parts of you and her, but you could love and nurture it, let it grow into their own self.
You sighed, running a hand through your hair. “What do you want to do, Sevika? Are you ready for this?” Sevika’s frown deepened. Her hand cupped your face. You place your hand over hers, nuzzling into the comfort of her warmth.
“Do you?” Her voice was laced with an emotion you couldn’t place, as if she was trying to hide her feelings from you again. It reminded you of your first fight. You sigh, eyes flicking over her face.
“I do. But I also want to know how you’re feeling right now. We’re in this together. But I do not want you to change your feelings based on mine. That isn’t fair to you, and it isn’t fair to me.” You sigh, moving her hand from your face. You stood up, holding her hand so she could stand with you. But she didn’t move. She just stared down at the floor.
You gently grab her chin, pulling her head up to look at you. You smile sadly at her, her eyes twinkling with unshed tears. She wraps her arms around your waist, cheek pressed against your lower stomach. Her metal arm slides down to wrap around your thighs.
“I do want this. I’ve wanted this with you for a long time. I’m just… scared.” Her breath is unsteady. You knew she hated doing this. She hated being vulnerable. “What if things end up like they did between me and my old man? What if something happens to me while out on the job?”
You pull the hair band out, running your nails through her strands and scratching at her scalp. You feel her relax slightly, nuzzling more into your stomach. “You’ll do just fine. Parenting is no picnic, but you know what he did to you. Which in turn will help you prevent that from happening. As for your work…” You crouch down, your eyes meeting hers as you hold her face in your hands, “You’re going to have to be more careful, not just for me, but for us. All of us.”
Sevika exhales the breath she had been holding, her flesh hand touching your stomach. Almost feather-light touches as she spreads her hand over most of it. “I love you. So so much.” You smile at her, tears brimming at the corner of your eyes.
She smiles back, using her flesh hand to pull you closer to her. Your chest to hers, and her lips ghost over yours. “I love you too, so much.” She kisses you, and it feels like your first kiss. Her hands sneak around your waist, holding you as close as possible. Your arms wrapped around her neck as you feel her deepen the kiss.
You both pull away, and your wife stares at you with so much love and adoration that it makes your heart flutter. You giggle, pushing your forehead against hers and staring into her eyes.
“We’re really doing this, huh?” You smile brightly, a blush creeping up your cheeks. You hear Sevika hum, her arms pulling you closer to her.
“Yeah, we’re really doing this.”

After your loving, heartfelt conversation, Sevika needed a drink. It’s always hard for her to open up to people, so you try not to push her too hard. It was necessary then, though, and she appreciated that you cared so much about her thoughts and feelings.
So, she sat on the couch against the arm, a drink in her bionic hand, and you settled against her side. She had her flesh hand around your waist, rubbing small circles into your side with her thumb.
You hum, your mind wandering in the quiet calm. “What about names? Maybe we should think of those? I don’t exactly know what we’re supposed to do here.” You chuckle lightly.
Sevika chuckles with you, “Yeah, but we don’t know the gender yet. How are we supposed to think of names?” You shrug, chewing your lip while in thought.
“Maybe a placeholder, instead of constantly referring to them as… them.” You huff; the irony is not being lost on you.
Sevika smirks at you, taking a swig from her glass. “Hmm, I don’t know, mama. Got one on the mind?”
A blush crept up your cheeks; she had been calling you that all day. She would chuckle every time she did it, watching your face go red. You scoffed, rolling your eyes playfully. You nuzzle into her side, an eye peeking from under her arm.
She hums lightly, taking another sip from her drink. “What are you peaking at?” Sevika teases with a smile. You giggle softly.
“Nothing, just so in love with my wife and appreciating her gorgeousness.” You smile at her, pushing her arm up and wrapping it around her shoulders. She chuckles, rolling her eyes playfully.
You loved moments like this. Where she was soft enough to accept the compliments you try to give her. Sometimes, you can get her enough that her cheeks get super flushed, but she will probably need a little more to drink first.
You smirk at her, turn, and lay your head in her lap. You stare at the ceiling momentarily, and then your eyes drift over to her. The light shining above her makes her look almost ethereal. She had placed her glass down to run her metal fingers through your soft hair and lightly scratched at your scalp.
You exhale, letting your body relax under her ministrations. She chuckles as your head follows her hand, smiling as she hits a lovely spot. “I can’t wait to see what they would look like. Who they’ll grow into. I hope they’re as kind and beautiful as you.”
You open your eyes, giving her a small smile. “I hope they’re as strong and as brave as you. A perfect mixture of us. But a whole person.”