Chapter Ten

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Paris "Pari" Rollins-Brooks
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paris_wrld

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paris_wrld Wrapped in love this Christmas. 🎄💍
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On December 22nd, Paris stood in the dimly lit bathroom, the soft hum of the fluorescent light flickering above her head. Her hands trembled slightly as she held the small white pregnancy test, her eyes fixated on the faint blue lines that had appeared.

Two lines—clear, unmistakable. She blinked rapidly, the reality of what she was seeing beginning to sink in.

For a moment, everything else in the room seemed to blur around her, the edges of the walls, the soft towels hanging on the rack, even her own reflection in the mirror. She swallowed hard, her throat dry, and brought the test closer to her face as if hoping the lines might disappear or somehow change.

But they didn't. There they were, two bold blue lines, confirming the one thing she hadn't expected to be confirmed today. She was pregnant.

Paris had never imagined herself in this position so soon after her wedding. It had only been twenty-one days since she and Phil had said their vows, pledging their lives to each other. They hadn't been trying for a baby. They'd agreed to take life one day at a time, letting things unfold naturally. If it happened, it happened. But now, it had happened. And her world, in a sense, had just shifted.

She let out a shaky breath, feeling the warmth of tears welling up in her eyes. It was a mixture of shock and joy, wonder and disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of love that seemed to fill her chest all at once. With a soft gasp, she placed the test on the counter, and her hand instinctively found its way to her stomach. Her fingertips grazed her lower abdomen, a strange sensation moving through her as the thought settled in: there was a little life growing inside her. Her child.

It was surreal.

Paris looked at herself in the mirror, the reflection staring back at her, wide-eyed and slightly dazed. Happy tears began to slip down her cheeks, leaving tracks of wetness on her skin. She reached up to wipe them away but only found more. She laughed softly to herself. "I'm pregnant," she whispered under her breath, almost as though saying it aloud would make it more real, more tangible.

The next few minutes felt like a blur of excitement and anticipation. What now? How would she tell Phil? She knew she had to. But the thought of seeing his face when he found out—seeing that moment of surprise, joy, and pure happiness—was nearly too much to contain. She felt restless, as if time itself had slowed to a crawl. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Two hours. In just two hours, Phil would be home from the gym.

Her heart fluttered at the thought.

A text from Phil came in, breaking her reverie. "Making Christmas cookies at Jon and Trinity's for the holiday party. Can't wait to see you!"

A grin tugged at Paris's lips. She smirked, a mischievous glint in her eye. Now, she knew exactly how to tell him. The perfect way.

She busied herself in the kitchen, pulling out the ingredients for the cookies. The excitement buzzed in her veins, her hands almost trembling as she arranged everything she would need. The scent of cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla began to fill the space, and Paris couldn't help but smile to herself. This would be the moment.

The sound of the garage door lifting interrupted her thoughts, and she immediately froze, her heart rate quickening. "I'm home!" Phil's voice called from the entryway, and she felt her pulse race.

Phil was home.

Paris heard the soft padding of his footsteps before he appeared in the doorway, a glimmer of affection in his eyes. As always, the sight of him made her heart skip. He dropped his gym bag at the door and walked over to her, pulling her into a gentle kiss. It was brief, but it was enough to fill her with warmth.

"You're already starting the cookies?" he asked, his voice light and amused.

"Of course," Paris replied, her smile playful as she turned back to the counter. "I have a few surprises planned."

The next few hours passed in a blur of laughter and shared glances as the two of them worked together to prepare the cookie dough, rolling it out and cutting it into shapes—snowmen, Christmas trees, and stars. It felt like a scene straight out of a holiday movie, filled with joy and simplicity.

"Okay, let's get these in the oven," Paris said, placing the last batch of cut-out cookies on the baking tray and sliding it into the oven.

Her mind raced as she thought about what to do next. How would she tell him? She opened the cabinets and pulled out bags of icing sugar and food coloring, knowing she needed to make the colors to decorate the cookies. She found herself moving on autopilot, her hands working steadily as her thoughts spun in circles.

Then, just as she was about to measure out the first bowl of icing, she felt the familiar press of Phil's body behind her. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her gently back into him. He rested his chin on her shoulder, watching her with quiet affection as she worked.

"Need help?" he murmured, his voice low and warm. His hands began to gently circle her stomach with his thumbs, a gesture that was both comforting and tender, as if they both already knew what was coming.

She relaxed against him for a moment, allowing the peace of the moment to wash over her. The soft sensation of his fingers against her skin, the warmth of his body behind hers—it was everything she needed, everything she had always dreamed of. But now, there was something more, something new between them. They were going to be parents.

Her hands began to shake a little as she mixed the icing. She had to focus.

"What are you thinking about?" Phil asked, his voice light but curious.

She didn't answer at first, just turned to grab the tray of cookies from the oven. There it was—the plan. She would decorate one cookie with the word "Daddy" and another with the word "Baby."

She carefully began to ice the first cookie, her hand steady despite the emotions bubbling up inside her. As she finished the last letter, she turned to Phil, who was watching her with that affectionate gaze.

"Phil, I think you should look at this one first," she said with a mischievous smile, nudging the cookie toward him.

He frowned for a moment, then took the cookie in his hands. As his eyes moved over the icing, he stopped, his eyes widening.

"Wait," he said slowly, his voice a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "What's this?"

Paris, unable to contain her excitement, pointed to the next cookie.

She had written "Baby."

Phil froze. His gaze snapped to her, his expression one of utter shock.

"Wait, what?!" he exclaimed, his eyes flicking back and forth between the two cookies.

Paris laughed, the sound full of joy. "I'm pregnant," she said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Phil's eyes widened in astonishment, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to find words. Then, without warning, he pulled her into his arms, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion.

Paris nodded, tears welling in her eyes again. "Two hours ago," she whispered. "I just found out."

Phil's grip tightened around her, and she felt his tears dampen her shoulder as he held her close. It was a moment of pure joy, a moment of disbelief, and a moment of love that neither of them would ever forget.

"Oh my God," Phil whispered, his voice breaking. "I'm going to be a dad."

"I know," Paris murmured, her heart swelling with happiness as they held each other. "We're going to be parents."

They stayed in each other's arms for a long while, simply enjoying the reality of what they had just discovered. Their future had just changed in a way they hadn't expected, but it was perfect.

As the night wore on, they finished baking the cookies together, still riding the high of their shared joy. Later, at Jon and Trinity's holiday party, Phil was extra protective, constantly checking on Paris to make sure she was comfortable and well taken care of.

Trinity, ever perceptive, raised an eyebrow when she saw Phil's fussing. "Phil, what's going on?" she asked, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Jon, ever the joker, grinned and said, "She's pregnant, right?"

Phil let out a nervous laugh, and Trinity's face lit up in realization. "Oh my God!" she squealed, rushing over to hug Paris. "Congratulations!"

The following day, Paris and Phil found themselves in a diminutive doctor's office, awaiting confirmation of the pregnancy and finding out how far along she was. Phil was by her side the entire time, holding her hand, his excitement was evident. The nurse's warm smile only made the moment feel more real.

"You're about ten weeks along," the nurse confirmed with a gentle smile. "Congratulations."

Paris and Phil exchanged a look, both of them trying to absorb the enormity of the moment. The journey they had just begun, the adventure of becoming parents, was something they could never have expected but had always dreamed of.

And now, their dream was coming true.