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Dennis sat on the couch of their apartment, Trinity and Emma chattering in the kitchen just behind him. Trinity had tasked him with dinner because they didn’t feel like making a choice and that he “knows what’s good.”. He settled on their favorite Deli, and ordered DoorDash so no one had to leave– their consistent twelve hour shift (which were honestly more like fifteen hour shifts) weighed on them, and the cherished free time between them was best spent at home. Emma stood at the island, stretching her back out with her hands pressed firmly in the middle of her spine– she yearned for a crack and release but was left with only more tension which creeped through her shoulders.
She sighed, huffing as she made eye contact with Trinity who was leaning against the edge of the island, eyeing the way she was moving, obviously uncomfortable– beyond what was usual for her. “My back hurts. My boobs hurt. Something's gotta give.”
“Bows, I started my period two days ago, I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you” she gestures as she hops down, her hand circling the air in front of Emma’s torso.
“I’m never late. It’s just stress.”
“Yeah, stress, babe. Sure.”
Trinity looked her up and down, her eyes fell to the swollen breasts which lay on Emma’s chest, which were at least half a cup larger than her usual modest size. There was no straight way to tell her that though… what would she say? Hey, Emma, I think that you’re pregnant because your tits are huge.
“Work has been a lot and I-”
“It has! So I ordered Tommy's!” Dennis’voice broke through their circle as he slid behind Emma, his hands falling around her waist, fingers looped together. She cranes her head back smiling, the idea of a sub making her mouth water.
“Baby, you’re perfect. That sounds lovely.”
Trinity suppressed a smirk, the image of them connecting puzzle pieces in her head. She grabbed Emma by the arm and pulled her towards her bedroom, “Top secret mission, gotta steal her. Thanksss!”
She dragged Emma into her room without a protest from Dennis, who didn’t really care, and who knew that Trinity was making something up. The walls were thin enough that he was able to stay in the know, even if Trinity did her best to ignore the distinct lack of privacy she had–knowing exactly how they spent their limited days off– the movie days they had in their room was simply not a good enough lie anymore.
Emma plopped on the bed with a soft grunt, and moved her shoulders– popping her back loudly which elicited an even louder groan that borders on sexual to fall from her lips.
“Better keep it down Em, he’s gonna think I’m defiling you.” Trinity laughed as Emma rolled her eyes, propping herself up on her elbows and glaring at her.
“My back finally popped. Finally! It’s been sore for the last week. I don’t know what I did.”
“More like who you did.”
“Trin!” Her cheeks flushed a soft red, “We always use protection.”
“Protection isn’t foolproof!” Trinity threw her hands up, amazed that someone like Emma would fall for the misconception of foolproof protection. Nothing was one-hundered percent, and she should be the first to think of that with the amount of pregnancy announcements they get in the Emergency Department daily.
“There’s no way I can be pregnant… Right?”
“Well, there’s only one way to find out!” Trinity walked into her bathroom and rummaged around under her sink, before she pulled out a dented First Response box from the back of her sink and presented it to Emma.
“Why the hell do you have a pregnancy test?”
“Just call me a dyke, why don’t ya!”
“Trinity! Seriously! Do… Do you really think I need to take that?”
“Emma. You missed your period last month too. You’ve been sick, throwing up randomly, your back hurts, and you’re a solid C cup now. Please just take the damn test. You’re a nurse. Acknowledge the symptoms and act like it! Do I need to take the test.”
Emma rolled her eyes at the addition of her last remark, taking the box from her hand begrudgingly and entered the small, attached bathroom.
Five shaky minutes later, two dark lines appear. Trinity watched as Emma’s hand quivered while she flipped the test over. Tears fell from her eyes onto her bare thighs, making large wet splotches on her smooth brown skin.
“Pregnant.”
Trinity took the test from her hands with a warm smile, staring at the positive test. She knew that they would make amazing parents, the way they cared for each other, for their friends, and for the strangers they healed each and every day. She knew that they would be just fine.
“Holy shit. I’m fucking pregnant.”
Emma’s voice was a crackly whisper, tight with the smile that found its way onto her face.
She was now standing in the mirror with her shirt up, looking at the still flat surface of her stomach, placing her hand at the bottom.
“Are you gonna-”
“Yes. I mean. Yeah. Yeah I am. Dennis and I already,” She took in a deep breath, still smiling at her reflection before she turned to look at Trinity, “We already talked about this. If it happens, it happens…”
“And I guess it happened.” Trinity smirked before pulling her into a half-hearted hug, a pit of acid forming in her stomach. She was happy for them. Of course she was. But she couldn’t help but wonder how this was going to change things for them. If she would have to move out, or if they would technically move out since the apartment was in her name still.
“I guess it did.”
“How the hell am I going to tell him?” Her hands were shaking, tears leaked from the corners of her eyes still. Emma was overjoyed and overwhelmed with her newfound responsibility– a buzzing black hole forming in her abdomen that sucked everything in, jumping forward in time. A continuum where she was somehow ready to be a mother, where they are a family. Trinity’s hands came up and grabbed hers, taking the test out of her hand and lacing their fingers together.
“I think you just say it out right. I don’t think that there is some special way to tell him, you just.. You just kinda have to say it.”
Emma nodded, looking at the ground before meeting her bright green eyes. “What if he decides that he isn’t ready?”
Trinity’s face went stoic, completely serious, “He won’t. Trust me. He won’t.”
She knew that Dennis wanted a family more than anything in the world. She saw it in the way he cared for Emma, the way that he cared for the both of them. She saw it in the way that he cared for the children that came into the Emergency Department, and in the way that he jumped at the chance to watch Cassie’s kid. He was ready, especially if it was with the woman that he loved more than anything else in this world. Trinity knew that as a fact, like 2+2 or what medication to give to restart a heart– Dennis Whitaker loved Emma Nolan and wanted nothing more than a family with her.
The pair took far too long in the bathroom, what-if spirals cleared by Trinity and practice mirror speeches. By the time they leave the room, Dennis had already set up their dinner spread. Each sandwich individually plated with their preferred chips and a sweet treat. He had thought of everything.
Emma walked over to him, Trinity settled into the couch, pulling her sandwich to her and arranging herself. She watched as Emma nudged his knee open so she could stand between his legs.His hands instinctually wrapped around the backs of her thighs, “Dennis, I need to uh, I need to talk to you and it’s serious.”
His head jerked up, watching the scared look on her face, a white rectangle held firmly in her hands. He stood, pulling Emma up and crushing her in a hug holding her against the strong muscles of his chest.
“Oh my God. I’m gonna be a dad.”
He presses her into his torso, sobbing into her hair, the pressure of fatherhood now placed upon his shoulders. He inhales shakily and moves his hands to cup her face, wet with her own tears.
“We’re gonna be parents.”
“Is that okay with you?” Her voice is scared and small, nervous at his reaction.
“It is more than okay, my love.”
He presses a kiss to her lips, salty and soft. The world stopped just for a moment, his mind quieting before the flood of doubt returns. At this moment, it is just them. When he pulls away she is smiling tiredly at him, her nose crinkling and her eyes doing the same.
“I’m starving. Could we please eat now?” Her voice was soft, and it broke through the silence that had fallen between them as her gaze landed on Trinity’s features, the weary smile she had plastered on her face to hide the fear that peaked through her delicate expression.
“We can do whatever you want because you’re pregnant. Holy shit.” He broke into a wild grin, all teeth and dimples, his eyes crinkled, “You’re pregnant.”
“She’s pregnant.” Trinity states obviously, unwrapping her sandwich, taking a large bite before sitting back into the couch. She was bitter, and she hated that. She hated the jealousy she was beginning to feel, the sting of change. Of rejection.
“Oh my god she knew before I did!” His tone feigns jealousy, tossing a side eye her way. Emma giggles, shrugging her shoulders.
“Auntie privileges I guess!”
Home had never felt so comfortable, the three of them sitting together, chattering about their next steps. About names and future activities. They were reaping everything that they had sowed, their bountiful harvest blessing them. Turning three into perfect number four.
Trinity looked at Emma with her head tilted to the side, “Hey Em. You get that toasted?”
“No, why?”
“You might want to go and heat that up. Pregnant women can’t eat deli meat. It’s not recommended.”
Her jaw goes slack looking at the mess of oil, vinegar and lettuce which is infiltrating the meat she would have to remove to heat.
“Leftovers for me I guess..”
Dennis shook his head, handing her his phone, “No. Take my phone, order something else. Whatever you want.”
“Shit, maybe I need to get pregnant.” Trinity joked, smirking at the chuckle which Emma let out.
“As if I didn’t order you your favorite sandwich and get you a brownie. Uh huh. Yeah.”
She shook her head at him, knowing that he’s correct, feeling the unfamiliar tinge of jealousy still sitting in her stomach. Unsure of what would come. Of where she could fit into their lives now. Sure, for the next seven months things would be fine, but after? What would change when the baby came, when they started their own family and finally kicked her to the side?
She chose to ignore this thought and focused back on Emma who had declared she was ordering pizza and that no one was going to eat it but her. On Dennis who kissed her head, and on herself sitting opposite of them as if she was on her own island. Desolate in her corner of the couch with her legs tucked under the comforting, crushing weight of her body.
It was already starting.