Rage burned through his entire body. How dare she keep something like a baby from him? 

He was going to be a father. He and Rose were going to have a baby!

“How could you keep something so important from me?” He yelled. 

“I didn’t think you’d really care,” she mumbled. 

Didn’t think he’d care? This made him even angrier.

“The love of my life is having our baby and you don’t think I would care? Of all the stupid things you’ve done Rose...”

“Don’t say that,” she whispered, looking at the ground.

“What? That it was stupid?”

“No, that I’m the love of your life. Because I’m not, your work was always more important than me.” She finally looked at him. Her sad eyes were full of tears.

The pained look on her face twisted his gut.

“That’s not true. Yes, my job is important to me, but I did it all for you, for our future.”

“How could you not see how miserable I was? I hated LA. I hated that you always bailed on me at the last minute, all the time.”

“I’m sorry, okay. I didn’t realise. But Rose, keeping a baby from me. That’s low.” 

“No, you didn’t want me, you didn’t fight for me and you even tried replacing me. I was going to tell you, but when Gretchen answered your phone that night I rang, I decided you didn’t deserve to know.”

Wait... when did she ring? He hadn’t seen anything on his phone. Then the memory of a phone call and his phone being on silent came flooding back.

“I didn’t know you called. She didn’t tell me.”

“It doesn’t matter. We don’t need you, Ethan. I can do this on my own and we don’t need your money. I’m working again and we’ll be just fine.” She was full on crying now, her arms cradling herself. 

 It was odd listening to her talking about 'we'—her and the baby. 

“Do you know the sex?” He asked. 

She nodded, obviously reluctant to tell him.

“It’s a girl. I had a scan last week.”

A girl! He was going to have a daughter. The thought filled him with pride.

“No, you can’t keep our daughter from me. That’s not right, Rose. You should come back to LA. I’ll arrange everything. We can set up a nursery when you arrive. It’ll work, just let me show you it can work!” He said in a rush, getting more and more panicked at the thought of not being involved. 

Rose shook her head, the tears forming rivers down her cheeks. “No, I’m staying at home. I won’t put up with you neglecting this child in favour of your career like you did to me. You hurt me badly Ethan, made me feel like I wasn’t important, that I didn’t matter. I refuse to put my daughter through that.”

It felt like someone had punched him straight in the gut. He hadn’t been that neglectful, had he? He loved Rose and missed her like crazy. And there’s no way he would neglect his own daughter. That’s just absurd!

“I’m sorry you felt that way, but this is our daughter we’re talking about, Rose. You can’t just take her away from me? I won’t let you.” His anger was rising, and he was yelling again.

“I’ve made up my mind,” she replied, shaking her head. Then she turned and ran.

He watched as she disappeared through the garden. So stunned by what happened, he stood on the spot, unable to move. It wasn’t right, none of it was right. She should be with him, they should be a family—he wanted to be one. 

The thought of her working while juggling being a single mother left a sour taste in his mouth. She deserved so much more than that. And just thinking of them living on the other side if the world left him gasping for breath.

He bent over and placed his hands on his knees. He struggled to take breaths, and he was feeling dizzy. Oh god, he was having a panic attack. He hadn’t had one since he’d left home at eighteen. 

He used the techniques he was taught as a teen to calm down. With new determination, he decided to fight for Rose. He should have done it earlier, but better late than never. He wouldn’t lose her, he couldn’t. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” Tilly asked as he walked past the marquee. 

“Tilly, I’m really not in the mood. Have you seen Rose? I need to talk to her.”

“Yes, I saw her, and her red eyes, runny nose and tear-stained cheeks. She’s gone, John took her home.”

“To your place?” Ethan growled. He was getting impatient now. 

“Don’t take that tone with me. I’m your sister now and I can make your life miserable if I want to,” Tilly growled back.

“Look, I’m sorry, okay.” He ran an agitated hand through his hair. “I really need to find her, to apologise and tell her I love her and can’t live without her.”

“Now that’s better. Took you long enough to realise she’s the best thing to happen to you. And yes, she’s staying at my place until she flies out the day after next.”

“Thank you Tilly. I promise I’ll make things right,” Ethan said, pulling her in for a hug.

“By the way, she’s alone tonight. Daniel and I have a room here. So take your time,” she said, winking and pulling out of his arms. “Now go.”

“I’m going, I’m going. Congratulations, by the way,” he yelled and waved as he ran for his car in the parking lot. 

It took just under an hour to get to Tilly’s, giving Ethan plenty of time to rehearse what he was going to say.

The place was dark and quiet when he arrived. He almost knocked when he remembered he still had a key from when Rose lived there.

Quietly letting himself in, he searched around in the dark. Luckily, the light from the Street lamps lit enough of the flat for him to see where he was going. 

As he approached her room, he could hear sobbing. Her door was halfway open, and he peered in to see her curled in a ball, crying into her pillow. She was still in her bridesmaid gown. 

He tiptoed in and gently sat on the bed next time her. She froze at the movement, but didn’t turn around. He lay down behind her in a spooning position and gently stroked her arm.

“I’m sorry for everything. I was so consumed with making the business work and proving my father wrong that I pushed you away. It wasn’t my intention, but I did and I’m sorry.”

“You seem to be apologising a lot tonight,” she said between sobs.

“Well, I have a lot to apologise for,” he said, smiling against her back.

She moved her arm that he had been stroking and took his hand in hers. She guided it up her ruffled skirt and placed it on the smooth skin of her hard stomach.

It felt so odd to him. She pulled her hand away, leaving his there. He moved it around, amazed that there was a little human being in there.

“It feels so good to be in your arms again,” she whispered as he explored her taut bump. Then suddenly he felt something bump his hand. “Did you feel that?”

“Was that the baby?” He asked.

“Yes, she likes to keep me awake by doing somersaults in there at night.”

“Amazing.”

They lay there for a few minutes with his hand on her belly, feeling their little girl make her presence known. 

“I’m coming back with you to Auckland,” he said, surprising himself. 

She moved his arm and turned to face him.

“I want you Rose. It’s always been you. I just have trouble showing it sometimes. Everyone tried to convince me to move on when you left, but the moment I saw you last night, I longed for you so badly. I haven't been able to take my eyes off you for the last two days. I need you in my life. Like air in my lungs, I need you,” he said as he stroked her cheek. 

Tears streamed down Rose’s face, and her smile grew so large.

“I need you too. I’ve missed you so much.”

He moved in close and kissed her passionately. It had been four months since he’d been able to touch her and now he just wanted to devour her. He reached around and unzipped her dress. She wiggled out as he pulled it down. She lay there in only her panties, and his breath hitched. 

“Pregnancy suits you, you look amazing.” Then a thought occurred to him. “Wait... can we... you know, if you’re pregnant?” He asked hesitantly. This was entirely new to him. He knew nothing about babies and birth.

She laughed and pulled him back to her. “It’s perfectly fine. If you’re up for it, I could go all night.”

“Is that a challenge?” He said, brows raised.

“Maybe?”

“Still as horny as ever, I see.” He laughed. 

“You have no idea. Since hitting the second trimester, my sex drive has gone into overdrive.”

“I think I’m going to enjoy you being pregnant. Might have to have a few more after this one.” The more he got used to the fact that he would soon be a father, the more he realised he wanted it all. The wife, the home, the kids, and the pets... maybe? 

“Whoa there, slow down. How about we sort this one out first and then go from there,” she said.

“Sounds like a plan.” He kissed her forehead, then placed feather light kisses down her face.

He rose to her challenge, literally, and they made love four times that night. A new record—not that it lasted long. The second trimester did indeed become a rigorous experience. Rose had a thirst that just couldn’t be quenched, and Ethan loved every second.