A Pregnant Conversation

"He left his jacket here," Richie said picking up Mike’s sports jacket from the sofa in his den.

"That’s good…it means he’ll be back," Toni said sitting down on the arm of the sofa.

"Yeah…that would be nice," Richie answered draping the coat over his desk chair.

"Would you like him here all the time Richie…would he want that?"

"I asked him…he says when he’s older…I guess that means when he’s out of school."

"Oh," Toni had something on her mind. "I went to see Millie and Steve’s new baby…I got to hold him…he’s so tiny and perfect…I took her some things I bought at the sale."

Richie plopped on the sofa and pulled her down with him, "you did…who does he look like?"

"Hard to tell yet…he’s so cute. Richie…we’ve never really talked about…well having a baby."

"No we haven’t," he said nuzzling her neck, "do you want to?"

"Have a baby?"

"Talk about it."

"Yes I do I want to talk about it…I don’t know how you feel about it…having a baby." Toni looked up catching a kiss and looking into his eyes.

"I’ll tell you something when Laurie was pregnant with Michael…I was like it was nothing to do with me, it was her pregnancy. I was that removed from it…even after he was born…he was her baby. It was my fault I was all tied up in work…work was my life…that and other things. I didn’t do it right Toni…I don’t know if I know how."

"That was then Richie this is you and me it could be different this time we would share everything. We’d both be pregnant."

"You want to have a baby Toni…I won’t deny you that."

Toni blinked and met his eyes, "no I don’t want to I want US to have one…if you do…I’m thinking you’re not too keen on it. I mean that’s okay that’s why we’re havin this conversation…that we haven’t had before. I’d love to have a baby with you but only if you want to Richie…if you have got doubts then…"

"Hush," he said into her ear, "I don’t know what I want right now…give me some time to think."

Toni slid her arms around his neck and held him. He was afraid, she thought. "We’ve got plenty of time darling…plenty of time I love you."

Richie held her tight against him…he loved her so much…there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. He was afraid things would change between them. He didn’t know if he had it in him to be pregnant he’d screwed it up so badly the first time.

"We could practice," she murmured

"Hmm?"

"We could practice making a baby…you know."

"It might take a lot of practice…to get it right."

"That’s what I’m thinking…we should probably start…soon." She ran her nails across his back.

"Let’s go upstairs," he whispered, his breath blowing in her ear.