Closer
Your honeymoon was at a lavish hotel and resort at Disney World. Chris had booked a one bedroom suite for a week. You got professional massages, the best meals and got to ride plenty of attractions, even being pregnant.
You both would take a shower or bath together each evening, maybe have a little sex while doing so and then go swimming in the huge hotel pool before going to bed.
You were sitting on the edge of the pool in your red halter bikini one evening. Chris was in the pool, between your legs, his arms around your hips. His fingertips were caressing the small of your back, his lips on your belly. He kept them there while he gave it a rapid succession of kisses, humming while he did.
You ran your fingers through his wet hair, your other hand resting on his shoulder, watching him lovingly as he spoke quietly against your skin, "I know you got some growing to do still, but I wish the time when you get to come out would get here faster." He layed his cheek against you and got a kick. You both chuckled and he put his forehead to your belly, "Whoa. Hey, I know; it's warm and safe in there. But don't worry. When you come out, you're still gonna be warm and safe with me and Mama. Okay?" He gave your tummy one more kiss.
His encouragement and affection made you smile as he looked up at you and winked.
You both talked more about home birth. You had mentioned to him that the one Aunt you had contact with that he met at your wedding, Shar, was a midwife and that you'd like to ask her to help you deliver.
She always reminded your of a modern hippie. She had long, stick straight, brown hair that she usually wore in a low ponytail or braid. She often wore button-fly jeans, with Birkenstock sandals and plain t-shirts. Her voice was relaxed and low by nature. It often reminded you of a stoned college dude, though she didn't smoke pot... anymore.
He was in agreement that he'd like to talk to her. So you would contact her as soon as you got home. Once you did, she was very excited to be asked. She would come over a week later to discuss a plan with you and Chris.
During a grocery trip after getting back from the honeymoon and before your appointment with Shar, you talked over both your ideas and desires for the birth.
Chris was pushing the cart behind you, sneaking a bag of tortilla chips into it as you looked over the list while you spoke, "Even though our bathtub is big enough, I think we should use a birthing pool. In the living room reading area probably. The bathroom won't have the room we need for Shar and any equipment she might need to have. And we can just move all the furniture out of the way." You were biting the tip of your pen when you turned.
You caught him putting a pacakge of cookies in the cart now. "Sounds good.", he replied, beaming.
"Chris-", you scolded, taking the cookies back out of the cart. "I can't-", you spotted the tortilla chips and grabbed them. "Really?", you held up the chips and chortled. "We've got enough junk in the house, babe. I can't have all this lying around. I'll eat ALL OF IT." Your eyes were wide now.
He chuckled, "We're out of cookies and yesterday you said you wanted nachos. You're eating for two now. I say eat whatever you want, baby."
"Okay,", you put the cookies back in the cart and put the chips on the shelf, "only because we're out of cookies... but no chips. Just because I want it, doesn't mean I should have it." You went to him and got on your toes to kiss him. "And I'm not eating for two adults, big guy.", you tapped his jaw with a fist and he played along, tilting his head as if you were punching him, smiling softly as you went on. "Occasional treats are fine, but I only need an extra five hundred calories a day... and they should come from healthy food. I keep seeing more and more junk food, multiplying like rabbits in our cupboards lately. Which is why I have to do the shopping with you now.", you playfully poked him in the chest.
He leaned over and nuzzled your nose with his, "I know, but I just wanna spoil you... you deserve it, sweetheart." He kissed your lips.
"Thank you, honey. But, you spoil me plenty with things that aren't food.", you chuckled and turned again to continue shopping. "We can get stuff for taco salad; that's a close enough second- Ooh! Cheese puffs!"
He shook his head, smiling. He lifted his eyebrows, "Did you say I need you to keep me in check while shopping?"
You narrowed your eyes, stuck your tongue out, turned on your heel and passed the cheese puffs.
He let out a soft laugh and followed after you, leaning over the cart as he pushed it, "Love you, princess." He always called you princess when you were flinging additude.
You didn't look terribly amused. While still focused straight ahead, you replied loudly, "Love you, dork."
Once you both got home that evening, you went in to pee, Chris following you with several bags of groceries hanging on his arms. Once he set them down, he went back out for the rest. You then came out of the bathroom you started putting stuff away.
"I got it, little love. Go sit down or something.", he said bringing in the last bags.
You looked at the clock on the stove, "Cripes, I had no idea it was so late. Let me help and then I'll go get ready for bed." You took a head of lettuce out of a bag on the island and headed for the fridge.
He stepped in front of you and gently grabbed the lettuce, "No,", he put it in the fridge, straightened again and turned your around, giving your ass a slap, "go get ready for bed now. You've been on your feet for two hours, sweetheart."
You smiled over your shoulder as you started stepping toward the bedroom, "Yes, sir."
Once he was done putting away the groceries, he brushed his teeth and came to the bedroom where you were reading sitting up in the bed, already having brushed your own teeth and changing into one of his t-shirts.
He stripped down to his underwear and bent over near the nightstand on his side. You heard the rustling of a plastic bag and when he straightened again, he was holding a book... a children's book.
On side of your mouth pulled up, "What's that?"
His forehead wrinkled as he climbed into the bed, then he smiled up at you, resting on his elbow, close to your belly, "I'm gonna read to the baby."
"My God. When do you stop getting more awesome?", you chortled, placing your bookmark in your book and setting it on your nightstand.
He quirked an eyebrow and pulled his head back sharply, "Hopefully never."
You smiled softly and blinked slowly as you leaned over to kiss his lips, him looking up at you.
"You're such a good daddy. And I already think your amazing, honey. You don't need to keep getting better."
He gave you a gentle smile, his heart fluttering. He then kissed your belly, "Okay, little man, story time."
You rubbed his back lovingly as he started to read... and you were out after the third page.
Over the next couple months, the girls had thrown you a baby shower. Anything you needed and hadn't received as a gift, you and Chris made sure to buy it soon after. You had both decided on a baby friendly rail for your side of the bed. It wasn't attached to the bed yet, but Chris could do that quickly and easily enough the day the baby was born.
What used to be your bedroom was made into a nursery, even though the baby would sleep with the two of you. You both still wanted the little guy to have a room to play in, keep his toys, supplies and clothes in. You even bought a crib, just in case. All your furniture was moved into Sebastian's old room to act as a guest room should it ever be needed.
One morning you and Chris went for a run. The air was turning cool and it would be Halloween in less than a week. You had 10 more weeks until your due date, putting you at 30 weeks. The baby was growing rapidly in these later stages and you were really starting to feel it now.
After about ten minutes of running you slowed, huffing, "Honey. I-"
Chris stopped and put a hand on your upper back, then hunched over as you stopped and bent over slightly, hands on your knees. As you kept panting, he asked, brows knitted together, "You okay?"
You nodded.
"You gonna puke?"
You shook your head, "No. Just-" You straightened and started walking, your hands on your hips as he followed, a hand under your elbow, the other at the small of your back. You continued, "It's getting really-", you huffed again, "fucking hard to breath."
He chortled, "Well, yeah. You got my big boy jammed up in your ribs, sweetheart."
You chuckled half-heartedly.
He pulled you into him, wrapped his arms around you and kissed your head as you arms went around his middle, "I'm sorry, baby. Wanna keep going?"
"Well, let's at least run back."
"You sure?", he kissed your head again.
"Yeah.", your breath was still a bit labored. "I'm not giving up that easy."
He smirked and huffed out a chuckle, "My tough little cookie."