for actiii_scenei

[cassandra_firebreath]

With the months passing quickly, the soon-to-be-parents had begun preparing for the baby's arrival. Baby-proofing rooms, and working on the nursery.

"How about John for a boy?" Cassandra asked while dipping her brush in the paint. They'd gone for a neutral color to stay faithful to their plan to find out the gender during birth. She paused for a moment to rest a hand on her growing baby bump, smiling as she waited to hear his opinion.

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[actiii_scenei]

He reached to cover her hand as she helped him clean up. "Ah, that might be my plan! I can sneak from room to room then." He kissed the back of her hand then grinned up at her again.

"What? That's my current title!" He didn't think that for a moment. "How dare they." He pointed at her stomach. "How dare you!" He shifted so he could kiss her bump. "You're gonna worry your momma and me if you do even half the stuff I did."

[cassandra_firebreath]

"The perfect disguise."

The kiss sent a pleasant flutter through her body. Alex was good at that.

"Yeah, sweetie. Listen to papa." She giggled, brushing her hair lovingly through his hair. "I love it when you kiss the bump. Our child is so lucky to have a dad like you."

[actiii_scenei]

"I thought so..." He laughed again.

He looked up at her, hands still on her bump. "Naw, you're better off listening to your mom. She's the voice of reason and the real smart one." He moved away, a little sad to take his hands off her but he had to, he needed to finish painting the corner he was working on, it wouldn't take long and he'd be done with that until it dried.

"How you feeling?" He looked at the open window. Wondering if she should be in there still.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"Your papa's smart and kind. We need to remind him every day."

Cassandra nodded, caressing her bump.

"Well, I probably should step out of the room for a little while. Just to be safe."

She already missed his hands on her bump, too. It was so sweet how he kissed and caressed it.

"We got pretty far with the painting today."

[actiii_scenei]

"Well why don't you go get a drink or something, I'll finish up on this corner then I'll come join you and we can discuss names more?" It would make him feel a little better about her getting some fresh air and a chance to sit down.

"I can probably get this all done in the next few days. Then we can move the furniture in. By we I mean me." He sighed in an exaggerated way for show.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"Okay. Sounds good." If he wasn't around to give her a push, she'd probably be working way more than she should in her state.

"I'm sorry, babe. This baby's really putting papa to work." She giggled, stepping out of the room after giving him a long, sweet kiss.

[actiii_scenei]

"And you're enjoying it!" He laughed as he watched her go. Smile still on his lips from the kiss.

He hoped that she'd get a drink and actually sit down to get some rest as he finished up the corner he was painting. It didn't take him long and soon enough he was wiping the bush he'd been using and tidying up the bits he couldn't leave around until he came back later to do some more.

Walking out to find her he finished wiping up his hands. Tucking the cloth he'd been using in his pocket. He poked his head into the kitchen to see if she was in there or she'd gone to sit elsewhere.

"Babe?"

[cassandra_firebreath]

He'd be happy to know she got herself a glass of juice and made herself comfortable on the couch, a blanket draped over her legs.

"I'm here." She smiled at the handyman look he was sporting. "That really suits you. It's pretty sexy."

Cassandra pats the spot next to her, wanting to snuggle with her fiance for a moment.

[actiii_scenei]

He poked his head in and saw her sitting there. "Let me grab a beer..." He headed back to the kitchen and grabbed himself a beer, opening it and taking a sip as he headed back to her, he set it on the table in reach so he could have his hands free as he settled with her.

"Really? This?" He laughed, he hadn't missed what she'd said.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"Yeah. I love watching you going into dad mode." She rested her head on his shoulder, sighing softly. "It's so attractive." Her fingers linked with his and she lifted his hand to kiss it.

"You make this feel less scary.. Thank you."

[actiii_scenei]

"Still going to be saying that when I'm making the terrible dad jokes?" He rested his head against hers. He wriggled his fingers.

"I's scared too, but I know you need me. Like I need you so we'll make it." He was glad he couldn't see his face easily, he was worried for her, for the baby, how good he was going to be. It didn't mean he was ging to leave.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"We'll make it," she repeated softly. "I'm so glad I get to do this with you, Alex. And I don't mind dad jokes."

She played with the ring on his finger, smiling as she thought about the moment when he proposed.

"You make me so happy."

[actiii_scenei]

"Do you ever think about if it had worked out differently?" It was more odd curiosity than him ever wanting that to happen. He wouldn't change anything... Well, no that wasn't true. He would change one thing. He'd try his hardest to stop her having her heart broken before he got a chance to be with her and he'd... Well he'd have his other best friend still.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"I do... But I feel like this is how it was meant to be. Even if I'd love to undo some of the painful parts."

Cassandra could never forget the look on his face when he came back. The pain, the grief. She's glad she could be there for him through such a horrible tragedy.

"Now there's a bright future ahead of us, babe."

[actiii_scenei]

"Sorry babe." He smiled softly, he didn't need to apologise for thinking about things like that. He felt bad he'd been thinking about it. Sean had been the first person he'd wanted to tell along with Scott. The two people apart from Cass he needed to share the news with.

"Maybe we could think of a theme, name all the kids from that!" He laughed at his silly suggestion.

[cassandra_firebreath]

"Nothing to apologise for." She kissed his cheek, smiling. Losing a friend leaves a deep wound and she'd never expect him to just be over it.

"I love your mind, babe," Cassandra giggled, kissing his cheek again. "What theme do you have in mind?"

[actiii_scenei]

He felt so lucky with her understanding, she'd been there though, she was the one who had helped him pick up the pieces. He considered it something that had strengthened the bond between them.

"Something like names from classic literature or something."

[cassandra_firebreath]

And she would always be there for him. She loved him so much, and the baby doubled that love.

"I like that idea. Books are underrated." She caressed her bump gently. "What do you think, sweetie?" And right at that moment she felt it; a kick.

"Oh my god.. The baby kicked." She grinned as she guided his hand to the spot.

[actiii_scenei]

Alex nearly fell off the sofa as he moved when she said that. It was... he let her guide his hand. The other moving to the opposite side.

"Well, I think that might be an answer of out theme..." He'd started grinning and still hadn't stopped, just moved to a better position to rest his hands. "Are you sure I'll feel it?"

[cassandra_firebreath]

His excitement was contagious. She's glad they could share this special moment.

"Come on, sweetie. Let papa feel your kick." She held his hand over the spot, smiling wider at the second kick. "There.. Did you feel it?"

[actiii_scenei]

He felt it. He nodded. Still not believing he was finally getting to feel it. "Is that what you've been feeling for..." He shook his head with a laugh. "When you said..." He laughed. "Oh I'm so sorry baby, all those times I didn't understand." He hadn't understood just how big a kick that was before.

[cassandra_firebreath]

She was glad that he got to feel the kick as well. "It's okay. Now you know." Overwhelmed with happiness, she leaned in to kiss him. "Our baby's strong. And this makes me even more excited for what's ahead."

[actiii_scenei]

He kept one hand on the bump as he settled back next to her. pulling the blanket back over them. "It'll be the best adventure with you."

[cassandra_firebreath]

"Likewise. We have so much to look forward to."

She snuggled against him with a happy sigh. The one place where she felt completely safe.

"What book names do we have?"

[actiii_scenei]

"What about Scout? Works for either." This might end up with him admitting the books he's read.