Like Loving A Lion (SEQUEL to I'm Not That Perfect)

"Austin, I’m leaving!" I called, grabbing my keys. He was upstairs doing god knows what in his man cave with Alan. "Austin Carlile!"
Alan leaned his head over the banister, looking down at me. “Bye, baby. Love you.”
"Shut up." Austin shoved him out of the way. "Bye. Love you. Are you sure you don’t need me to go with you?"
"It’s just a checkup. I’m fine." I waved my hand. "I’ll be back in a little while. Love ya."
I went outside, starting up my brand new car. God, I was starving. After stopping for a veggie burger I was on my way to the doctor. It’d been ages since I’d seen Dr Hepburn.
"Avery! Good to see you!" Dr Hepburn smiled whenever I came in. "Congratulations on your wedding, by the way. He’s a good one."
"Thank you. We’re both very happy." I smiled, sitting on the patient’s table.
"Good, good." He said. "So, just a checkup, yes?"
"Correct." I replied.
He pulled out his stethoscope and felt my heartbeat. “Your heart’s beating pretty fast, Avery.”
"Oh." I frowned.
He smiled reassuringly. “Nothing to worry about. It’s. . Step on the scale for me?” I nodded, getting up and walking over. ”You’re about fifteen pounds more than you were last time.”
"Oh." I repeated.
"Still not much to worry about. Let’s get your blood pressure." He said, wrapping the cuff around my arm. We waited for a moment while it read. "And you’re also a little high. Everything’s a little high for you today, isn’t it?"
"Is that bad?" I asked.
"No, not at all. Perfectly normal. Did you want to do blood tests today?" He asked. I did. He drew blood and I left, expecting to get results the next day.
**
"Hi, babe. How was the doctor?" Austin asked when I got home. Now his entire band was at our house.
"Um, cold. It’s really cold in here, actually." I realized I was shivering. "And I have cramps. And I’m hungry."
"Aren’t you just a ray of sunshine?" Alan said.
"Fuck off." I rolled my eyes. My back was really starting to hurt. “Uh, I’m going to go lie down.”
"Okay. Call me if you need anything." Austin replied. I collapsed in our bed and was asleep before I knew it.
Austin sitting down on our bed stirred me hours later. “Oops. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
"I don’t mind if it’s you." I smiled sleepily, holding his hand. "You’re so warm. Come cuddle with me."
"You’re so beautiful." He murmured, lying beside me.
"I love you." I replied.
***
"Ave! Your phone is ringing!" Austin called from downstairs the next day.
"Who is it?" I yelled.
"Dr Hepburn!"
"Answer it! I’ll be there in a second!" I called, walking down the stairs to find Austin. He was in the kitchen on the phone whenever I got to him. Austin’s face was incontestably the happiest I had ever seen it and he looked ready to cry.
"Thank you, thank you so much," He was saying, "Yes, here she is."
He handed me the phone. “Hello?”
"Avery!" Dr Hepburn cried. "Congratulations!"
"I’m sorry?" I asked.
"I ran your blood tests. Congrats, Avery. You’re going to have a baby!"
No. No. Impossible. I counted the days in my head, trying to figure out when this could have happened. No. No.
"Avery?" Dr Hepburn repeated. "Are you there?"
"When can I come in?" I asked, emotionless. "For an ultrasound?"
"I’ll fit you in tomorrow since this pregnancy is high risk, considering your last one. Eleven a.m good for you?" He asked.
"Yes. Thank you, doctor." I hung up.
"Ave, this is incredible! We’re going to have a baby!" Austin cried.
I took in a deep breath, leaning against the counter. “Yeah. Fantastic.”
"Why aren’t you excited about this?" He asked.
"Are you really asking me that? Do I need to remind you what happened last time?" I snapped.
"Avery." He said slowly. "Everything is going to be fine. More than fine. We were young and we didn't know what we were doing last time. Please be happy. We're married now. We're going to have a child."
I stared up at him, tears running from my eyes. "You don't get it! You weren't the one who gave birth! You were at home, so drunk off your ass you couldn't even remember my name! You were at home with your whore! Those are the memories I associate with having a baby! So excuse the hell out of me for not being super fucking excited!"
Austin shook his head, putting his arms around me and hugging me. I cried into his chest. "Ave, you'll never have to go through that again and I wish that I hadn't put you through it the first time. I just want you to be happy. Listen to me. Tomorrow we're going to get that ultrasound and the doc is going to make sure our baby is perfectly healthy this time. Okay?"
I nodded, taking in a deep breath. "Okay."

Notes

happy valentine's day betches ;)