Milestones pt3

“Mmmmm!  Angie told me the rigatoni chicken was good, but wow!” Leslie cooed over her meal, adding an additional muffled squeak of delight at the flavor.  Tyler laughed briefly as he stirred his soup.  His girlfriend’s amusement at the littlest of pleasures was something that always got him going and he did not think he would every tire of.  He glanced briefly at the purse that sat upon their table.  “I didn’t think that Derek and Angie would be here tonight.  Don’t they usually save this place for special occasions?”

“Angie said she had a special surprise for him – uh oh!” Leslie fumbled slightly upon noticing Tyler’s perked interest and the incriminating press of her fingers to her lips was certainly not helping her.  “I mean, they come here just because every now and then . . .”

“Ah, ah, ah Leslie!”  Tyler grinned.  “You might as well spill it.  What’d she say?”

Leslie sat rigid in her chair, ever miffed at her self for letting a secret slip again.  “That’s pretty much it.  She just said she had a surprise for him.”

“Really?”

“Honest!  I was lucky to get that much out of her.  She’d been so nervous for the past few days so I figured something was wrong.  Turns out she was just worried about how he was going to react.”

“Well, if she’s nervous over something like that then we know it’s gotta be good!  What do you think it is?”

“Oh, I don’t know.”

“C’mon!  I know you’re curious!” Tyler said, his eyes widening for a moment before he snapped his fingers.  “I got it!  I know what it is!”

“Yeah?  What?”

Tyler’s face split into a sly grin, his eyes slimming as he leaned forward.  “So they both come here.  Just your average married couple out for a nice dinner, right?  But little does anyone suspect that something is brewing beneath that happy little fantasy.  Something dark . .”

“Oh geez Tyler . . .” Leslie grumbled, pressing a hand to her face.

“Wait, let me finish!  I’m going somewhere with this!  Now, I noticed when their table was getting cleaned up that there was only one wine glass.  Well, let’s say Derek had the wine and Angie had water or something, using her cold from earlier this week as an excuse not to drink.  One glass turns into two, then three, then six.  Combine all that alcohol with a filling meal and Derek’s more or less out for the night.  So Angie takes them both home and while Derek’s sleeping in the living room, she goes into their bedroom to finalize her plan.”  Leslie rolled her eyes at that point.  

“Hey, it would explain why he didn’t answer his phone.  But I’m getting to the best part.  Derek awakens to a tap on his shoulder.  He opens his eyes, his groggy blinking quickly giving way to a gasp as he takes in what he sees, for before him stands his wife dressed in black leather and -”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Leslie groaned.

“What? It makes perfect sense.” Tyler shrugged and stirred his soup again.  “Derek’s one lucky man . . .”

“Tyler!”    

They looked up at the call and saw Derek and Angie waving to them as they approached.  They waved back, Leslie casting her boyfriend a sly sideways glance.  “Well, Derek looks perfectly sober to me and Angie’s not wearing leather.  So much for your theory, huh?” she laughed and Tyler scoffed.  He leaned back into the table with a menacing grin.  “Well look at them.  They’re a little dressed down for having just been here and their hair looks kinda mussed to me.  Hope we didn’t interrupt anything.”

“Huh?”

Tyler choked back a gasp as he jumped, looking up to see the pair had crossed the distance a little quicker than he anticipated and were standing beside him.  “N-nothing!  Here’s your purse!”

In his haste, Tyler had failed to notice that the zipper of the large side pocket got caught on the bread basket.  Though he did not remain oblivious to it for long, as his yank of the bag sent the bread flying and the weight of the basket zipped the pocket open.  He dropped it in his surprise, everything falling to the floor as a black rectangular box slipped from Angie’s purse.  Her eyes grew large as she watched the top fly off and spill thin wrapping paper on the floor before it landed upside down, a glitter of golden metal sticking out from underneath it.  “Sorry!  Sorry!  I got it!” Tyler said as he crouched down and reached for the box.

“Don’t touch it!” Angie yelled and swooped in to pick up the box, leaving Tyler to hold his hands up in defense amid the chunks of tissue paper that littered the floor.  Her short bout of pants relaxed as she all but cradled it to her chest.  ‘Thank goodness . . .’

“Is that a watch?” Derek asked.

She shot up at that, looking down and feeling her cheeks run cold as she realized the box was a little more exposed than would be good for her.  Quickly hiding it under the crook of her arm, she decided to make the best of her losses, knowing that keeping anything from the curious eyes of the other doctor and nurse duo would be just short of impossible.  As long as they did not see what else she was hiding . . .  

She slipped the item in question from the box and turned to her husband.  “I meant to give this to you earlier tonight.  It’s . . . an early birthday present for you.”

‘Two months early . . . geez make the rest of us look bad why dontcha Angie?” Tyler said, Leslie slapping him on the head lightly.  

“Wow, this is great!” Derek smiled.  “I’ve been wanted a new watch for a while.  Thank you, Angie!”  He kissed her on the head amid the sighs of the other pair.  

“That was it?  Just a watch?  How anti-climatic.” Tyler mumbled.

“What are you talking about?” Derek asked as Tyler earned another ribbing from Leslie.  Angie on the other hand was too busy gaping at the empty box in hand, shuffling through the paper in it while her face became cold with panic.  ‘Where is it!?’

“Hey, there’s something else here.” Tyler said as he picked up the other pieces of tissue paper.  Angie shot her gaze up at him, her eyes bulging as she watched him lift the item she had been looking for.  “Tyler Chase!  Don’t you dare!”  

“Huh?”  He had no time to react before she tackled him, sending the two of them to the floor and the item spiraling from his fingers, where it slid on the floor until it bumped into Derek’s foot.  Angie looked back in horror, the icy spell in her stomach whipping again as Derek picked it up.  The curious crinkle of his forehead instantly gave way to a look of near breathless surprise.  He blinked rapidly, his mouth falling open as he stared intently at the object in his hand, then up to his wife.  “Angie . . .” he whispered, his voice barely audible as he looked back at it.  

A frigid clamp bit her insides and her fingers clawed into Tyler’s arm.  He and Leslie shared a worried look before turning their attention to the blonde nurse, whose own eyes were tightly clenched shut.  Receiving no response from her tensed form, they looked back at Derek as he continued to stare at the item in shock, his lips fumbling wordlessly.  He stopped their trembles with a timid bite on his lower lip as he brought his eyes up to the other pair.  Derek took in a shaking breath and let his hand fall to his side.  Finally seeing just what it was he was holding, Tyler and Leslie gasped at the pregnancy test Derek held loosely in his fingers or, more specifically, the pink plus sign on it.

“Angie . . . you’re . . .she’s . . .” Tyler stuttered.  

“YOU’RE PREGNANT!!!”

The entire restaurant fell to a hush at Leslie’s outburst.  She was left gaping and blushing furiously at the tensed silence she had caused, though no one seemed to notice the crimson glow of her cheeks.  Instead, all eyes were on the stunned surgeon as he briefly lifted the test again, taking in the positive result as he looked back at his wife.  

“Angie, open you eyes.  You need to look at him.” Tyler whispered, hissing as her nails only dug deeper into his arm.  The flutters in her gut had long since been replaced with acidic bubbling and it grew hotter with each pound of her heart.  Yet somehow, she managed to pry her eyes open and bring them up to those of her husband.  Green and brown met in a silent stare; one whispering pleas while the other was awash in astonishment.  Minutes bled by slowly as the two shared only blinks and light breathes between one another.  

Leslie had appeared at Angie’s side during the tense stand off, she and Tyler helping the blonde nurse to her feet, but the quiet continued unbroken for several minutes more.    

“Angie.”

The soft whisper pricked a startle from all who heard it.  Even Derek was taken aback by the noise his tongue rolled out.  Though now that he had spoken he found the second breath he took slightly easier than the first, but his throat still strained to push out what he said next.  “Are you . . . really . . . . pregnant?”

Tyler gave a second grunt as Angie’s fingers clenched harder.  Her tooth sunken lip quivered as she willed herself to nod, her eyes squeezing shut tightly as she did so.  The tension returned, accompanied by a shuffle of the carpet as Derek shifted on his feet.  The sound quickly melded to rapidly approaching steps and before she knew it, Angie found herself pressed against his body.  Her eyes shot open as his cheek gently stroked hers and his arms encircled her shoulders snuggly.  

“You’re pregnant.”

His whisper tickled her neck and his tone soothed her worried ear.  There was no malice in his voice, no strain, no displeasure . . . but it was carried on a breath so thin it could not fully cast aware her uncertainty.  She wished she could see his face, hoping that it would carry something other than paralyzing shock.  Derek’s arms loosened around her and he pulled his head back to look in her eyes, though the expression that greeted them only stirred the acidic churning in her stomach.

Tyler grit his teeth to keep back the pain shooting through his arm as Angie’s nails cut even further.  He paid little mind to it otherwise, as he did not know what to make of the saddened look in his best friend’s eyes.  Derek, of all people, would not be unhappy about something like this.  He could not be . . .

Angie did not have to look at the frown on his face for long.  The threatening tears that pricked her eyes pooled up swiftly, her eyes closing as she felt them spill over to her cheeks.  No sooner had they started to run did she feel them being tenderly brushed away.

“So this is why . . . Oh God, Angie . . . I’m so sorry.  I’m sorry, I’m  . . . I’m such an idiot.”

Her eyes blinked open at his pained mumble just as Derek rested his forehead against hers.  “I’m sorry . . .” he whispered again.  “I never meant to hurt you or make you go through that . . . I should’ve known . . . I . . .”

“You hate me don’t you?”  

“Hate you?”  Derek reared his head back and gaped at her in surprise.  His eyes gave two perplexed blinks before a fit of broken chuckles overcame him, his mouth splitting into a generous grin.  “Hate you?  Ang, you’re . . . ”  He now held both sides of her face gently, tilting her head up to meet his gaze.  “ . . you’re pregnant!”

The flutter of her eyes quickly cleared up the tears.  She wanted to make sure the elated pitch of his voice was real, that the joy on his face was not a cruel distortion from the salty water.  Her hand rubbed her eyes dry impatiently and with one final blink, she felt her own mouth curve happily.  She did not mind terribly at the brief glimpse of his expression she had, for the fierce passion behind the press of his lips against hers said more than his face ever could.  She finally released her grip on Tyler’s arm, much to the blond surgeon’s relief she was certain, but she had only done it for the more selfish desire throwing her arms around his neck.

A ripple of ‘aws’ and clapping for the pair spread through the restaurant, of which they were vaguely aware, but their main concern was getting enough of each other as possible.  To Derek, that seemed near impossible, as each tender suckle of her lips only made him want more.  Angie giggled as she felt his desperation and invited his tongue for a sensual dance.  They drank in one another, their embrace growing tighter until they felt the other’s heart pounding against their chests.  Finally, they were forced to relinquish their kiss for the sake of oxygen and settled for staring nose to nose, occasional chortles of joy breaking through their breathless pants.  

“Geez you guys!  Get a room already!” Tyler joked.  Leslie spared her boyfriend another jab to his side as she clasped her hands in front of her, hopping on the balls of her feet with delight for her friends.  The couple gave him a narrowed glare though their smiles removed any posed threat.  Still, Tyler offered his hands up in defense, his grin nearly matching theirs as he shook his head.  “All joking aside, congrats.  Seriously, I’ve never been happier for you, dude.”  

He stepped forward, prying his friend from his wife to give him rough hug and pat on the back, leaving Angie open for the embrace Leslie all but clobbered her with.  “I can’t believe you’re pregnant!” she squealed, drawing a laugh from both women at her response and Angie returned her friend’s hug.  

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing we stayed for dessert.”

The four looked up at the chuckling voice and were met with the ever composed Greg and Cybil Kasal.  For the sake of the news they just heard, they allowed their eyes to express almost every bit of joy they felt, their cool gazes having a distinct warmth to them as they approached the newly announced parents-to-be.  Greg slapped a hand on his former student’s shoulder.  “Congratulations, Derek.  You’ll be as good a father as you are a doctor.  I know it.”

“Th-thank you, Greg . . .” Derek stammered.  “It’s pretty overwhelming, but . .”

“Heh, you’ll see!” The elder surgeon gave a knowing shake of his head at that.  “Soon you’ll know the joys of the perpetual sleep deprived state that is fatherhood.”  A deep laugh escaped him at that, followed by a more nervous chuckle from Derek.  Greg cleared his throat in response and gave him a more serious look.  “But honestly, it’s worth it.  You’ll see that too.”

“Yeah . . . I know.”  Derek looked over to his wife and took her hand, gently pulling her towards him.  Leslie released the insistent hug she had entrapped Angie in to allow her into her husband’s arms.  He smiled as he looked into her eyes and wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close to him and lightly pressed a hand against her stomach.

He pushed into her cheek with a soft peck and felt her subtle blush heat up against his lips.  His own cheeks burned as he and his love took in a deep, longing sigh.  “You’re safe from having to ride Shadow Track for now,” he whispered, earning an eye roll from his sighing wife. “ . .but once she’s born . . .”

Angie arched a brow at him.  “Huh, what makes you think it’s a gir-mmmph!”

Derek’s abrupt kiss cut her off and she may have been annoyed with him, if she had not been just as longing to welcome the taste of him on her lips.  

-----

The memories of that night were intoxicating, causing her heart to pound longingly for the man who embraced her.  Angie somehow contained her desire to roll over and squeeze him as tightly as she could.  She could settle for just being beside him and feeling his slumbering breaths on her neck.  A small hiccup escaped her as something tickled her stomach and she looked down, giggling as his fingers gently brushed her skin.  She took his hand in hers, pressing it to her lips as she stroked his knuckles with her thumb.

A groggy twitch came to his fingers no sooner than she had finished planting his hand with a second kiss.  Derek stirred, drowsily pressing his fingers against her face and tilting it towards him.  She smiled and rolled over into his embrace.  “It’s about time you woke up.” Angie said, ending that statement with a bitten lip.

Bed head had a tendency to attack Derek without mercy.  Though as often as it happened, it never failed to make her laugh, seeing his hair stick out in every which way along with the groggy blinks of his eyes.  “Mmm . . . mornin’ . . .” he slurred, smacking his tongue slightly as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

“Afternoon, dear.”

“Whatever . . .”  He stretched his arms over his head, bringing them down to encircle his wife as she also sat up.  “Sleep well?”

“I did.” she smiled.  “You?”

“Next to you?  Always.”  He pulled her in closer and propped his chin on her shoulder, pressing their faces side by side.  The hand she had been tenderly kissing came to rest over her belly.  “And how did our little one sleep?”

“It-”

“She.”

“She slept fine . . .” she rolled her eyes as she humored his insistence over their child’s gender, but smiled when she earned a kiss from him.  She soon gave in to giggles as Derek’s other hand brushing her stomach and he softly began cooing over their baby.  Angie held a hand to her forehead as her laughter deepened to near gasps.  “Honestly, Derek, I’m not even in my second trimester yet.”

“So?  Why do I have to wait to start bonding with our daughter?”

She could only shake her head as her husband insistently continued murmuring and stroking her belly.  “You’re going to spoil our child, aren’t you?”

“Spoil?  No, no, I’m not going to spoil her.” he grinned.  “I’m just going to turn her into a gamer.”  He scooted himself up slightly, leaning over her shoulder to move closer to her stomach.  “Then maybe you’ll do better than your mommy did at the third boss of Otomedius -”

And as Angie swung her pillow into his face, she could not help but feel slightly bad as he fell back onto their bed.  But, only slightly . . .

-----

The late evening found the two exiting their apartment, fully uniformed and hand in hand as they walked towards the stairwell.  Their departures for work had a tendency to attract the unsavory attention of their batty old neighbor.  Like always, she threw her door open to scowl at them as they walked by and, like always, they smiled and waved, getting in a quick snuggle as it appeared her rising blood pressure could take it.  Her grunt spat through the otherwise empty hallway and she slammed her door, leaving the two to laugh.

“I can’t wait to see her face when you start to show.” Derek chuckled.

“Oh, I don’t know . . . her heart may not be able to take it.”  She reasoned despite the mischievous smile on her face.  

“You’re probably right, but there’s all the other crazies to look forward to, assuming we don’t send them into cardiac failure too.”

They shared a scoff as they reached the stairwell and began their descent.  People like their neighbor were going to make the upcoming months difficult for them, of that much the couple was certain.  Well, as far as the Stiles’ were concerned, they were welcome to try.  The unease and public humiliation that it started out as soon became something of a comfort.  For if those people hated them simply for being working professionals in love, then they had to have been doing something right.