Victoria, who had been shrinking under the lecture, suddenly perked up at the last phrase. "Could you repeat that? I'm not sure I heard you correctly."
Dr. Carmen looked over at James, who shook his head to indicate he hadn't told Victoria yet. She decided to deliver the news herself.
"You're three months pregnant, dear."
"Surprise," James said softly, stepping forward with the ultrasound photo in his hands.
Victoria's hands shook violently as she accepted the grainy image. For a long moment, she simply stared at it, her eyes tracing the tiny form visible on the scan. Then the tears came, flowing freely as the reality hit her.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry for my negligence and ignorance. I didn't know, I didn't realize..." She was dealing with heartbreak and overworking herself she failed to realize her period had been absent for a while.
James immediately enveloped her in his arms, holding her close as she sobbed against his chest. "Everything's okay," he murmured repeatedly. "Everything's okay. Our child is unharmed. You're both going to be fine."
Dr. Carmen smiled warmly at the scene. "Congratulations to both of you," she said before quietly excusing herself to give them privacy.
Victoria cried tears of pure joy, holding James as tightly as her weakened state would allow. James held her back, one hand stroking her hair while he whispered reassurances and promises.
When her sobs finally subsided, Victoria pulled back with a watery laugh. "I'm not actually crying because I want to," she explained, wiping at her cheeks. "It just comes on its own. Now I understand why I've been crying so easily lately. It's probably the hormones."
She wiped her tears and placed both hands on her still flat belly. "It's still flat, but there's a life growing in me, James. Our child." She bit her lower lip and glanced at James, who was staring at her belly with wonder before meeting her eyes.
The love in his gaze was so intense it took her breath away. He looked at her like she was the only woman in the world, his only one. She was certain she mirrored the same expression as she caressed his cheek and lips before pulling him into another embrace.
"Thank you," she whispered against his ear. "Thank you for giving me this gift. I love you."
James brushed her hair back from her face, his touch infinitely gentle. "I love you more."
They remained in each other's arms until the IV drip finished and Victoria was cleared for discharge. Before leaving, Dr. Carmen introduced Victoria to a trusted obstetrician-gynecologist and scheduled her first proper prenatal appointment.
"Thank you for everything," James said to Dr. Carmen as they prepared to leave.
"Just take care of each other," the older woman replied with a knowing smile.
During the ride, Victoria held onto James's free arm possessively, as if afraid he might disappear if she let go. James had surprised her by driving to her place instead of his, and the familiar sight of her home filled her with emotion.
JJ, Victoria's white munchkin kitten, had grown considerably in James's absence. The cat bounded toward James the moment they entered, purring loudly and rubbing against his legs with obvious joy.
James bent down to pet the affectionate feline. "Thank you for taking care of your owner," he said seriously, as if the cat could understand every word.
JJ meowed in apparent acknowledgment, and after receiving sufficient attention, the cat approached Victoria to lick her leg in greeting before strutting away with feline dignity.
James chuckled as he straightened, taking Victoria's hand to lead her upstairs to her bedroom. He settled her gently on the bed, his movements careful and protective.
"Relax," he instructed. "I'm going to make us something to eat. It's getting late, and you need proper nutrition."
Victoria almost protested, not wanting him to leave her side even for a moment, but she held back and nodded instead. James pressed a tender kiss to her forehead before heading to the kitchen.
An hour later, he returned with a tray of carefully prepared dishes. The food was simple but nutritious, exactly what Victoria's recovering body needed. He fed her himself, ensuring she ate enough before touching his own meal. After she was satisfied, he took the dishes downstairs to clean up properly.
When he returned to the bedroom, he drew Victoria close against him on the bed. They lay together in comfortable silence, basking in each other's presence and the miracle of their reconciliation.
"You should take a bath," James suggested eventually. "It'll help you feel better."
Victoria's eyes lit up with a request that made him smile. "Can we go together?"
James agreed readily, leading her to the ensuite bathroom. Under the warm spray of the shower, he washed her thoroughly with reverent care, as if she were made of the most precious materials. She returned the favor, her hands gentle and loving as they reacquainted themselves with each other's bodies.
They kissed under the cascading water, the embrace serving as a promise, a vow, a connection that transcended words. Their lips communicated everything their hearts felt, sealing their commitment to face the future together.
Afterward, Victoria stood naked before the bathroom mirror, studying her reflection for any signs of the life growing within her. There was a slight roundness to her lower belly that she had attributed to bloating, no wonder she had failed to recognize the pregnancy.
James came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her cheek. His hands found her belly, rubbing gently over the place where their child was growing.
Victoria leaned back into his embrace, covering his hands with her own. The moment felt sacred, a preview of the family they would soon become.
James carefully dried her off and helped her into a soft robe before leading her back to bed. Under the warm duvet, they kissed repeatedly with a tenderness that spoke of new beginnings and healed hearts. It was passionate yet gentle, sensual yet sweet, every touch a promise of the future they would build together.
As they lay nestled in each other's arms, James broke another piece of life changing news.
"Let's get married tomorrow."
Victoria's head whipped around to face him, her eyes wide with shock and hope.
"I probably should have made this more romantic," James continued with a slight smile, "Victoria Sharp, will you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Victoria Sharp Mitchell?"
The proposal hit Victoria like a beautiful explosion. Her heart pounded so hard she was sure James could hear it. Her mouth opened, but no sound emerged as she struggled to process the magnitude of his words.
"No is not an answer," James said expectantly, brushing her hair away from her face with infinite tenderness.
Victoria nodded enthusiastically, her smile so bright it could have powered the entire city. "Yes! Yes, I will marry you!"
James's face lit up with pure joy. "Perfect. We'll go to the courthouse tomorrow and make it official. Then we can announce everything to our families and start planning a proper wedding ceremony. For now, I want you all to myself."
Victoria snuggled deeper into his embrace, her heart overflowing with happiness. She completely agreed and wanted him permanently bound to her in every way possible.
"Let's do that then," she whispered against his chest, already imagining their tomorrow as husband and wife, parents-to-be, and partners in every sense of the word.