"So can we get this party started, or what?" Mackie calls as he bursts through the front door,
"We've been waiting on you." Chris dead pans.
"A text or something would have been nice." Sebastian mutters,
"Aw come on, I'm not that late."
"Two hours, man." Amy pipes up from her perch on George's lap in the corner. You and Sebastian had set up a movie night, partly to make up for the one you ran out on a few weeks ago, partly because you thought it would be a good way to tell everyone at once about the baby. For the past two hours everyone has been eating and drinking in the kitchen awaiting the ever-late Anthony Mackie,
"Well now that I'm here, the fun can begin!" He scoops you up into a hug, "Long time no see, girl. You feeling better?"
"I am. And about that... I actually wanted-- we... Wanted to talk to you all... About something..."
Your hesitant stuttering gets everyone's attention, but then you're not sure how to begin.
"At least tell us if it's good or bad news." Amy says after several moments of silence,
"Oh, it's good." Sebastian jumps in, stepping closer to you, "In case any of you don't know: a couple of months ago, George introduced Y/N and me at an after party. That night..." He pauses, trying to think of the most sensitive phrasing, "We kinda..."
"We ended up--" You try to help him but are cut off by a gasp from Amy.
"When I told you you would hit it off, I didn't quite mean like that." George jokes, receiving an elbow to the ribs from Amy.
"Why are you telling us this though?" she asks, but then you see a recognition dawn in her eyes, "Unless..."
You nod and she tries to suppress a squeal,
"Unless what?" George asks, you look at Sebastian and he gestures for you to go ahead,
"I'm pregnant."
Amy is practically bouncing, doing a terrible job of containing herself, but waiting for the news to sink in for everyone else. Mackie is the first to speak,
"That's... Wow, that's big! I mean, it's great! ...it's great, right?"
"Yes." You say, glancing at Sebastian, "It's great." The small group gathers around, trading hugs and pats on the back with congratulations.
"So you two are finally together?" Chris cuts in with a growing smile,
"No," Sebastian answers haltingly, "we're not together. We're having this baby together but... No..."
"So you're staying... What, just friends?" Chris asks, brows furrowed in something between confusion and concern,
"We didn't feel like it would be the smartest move to get married just because of this." You want to speak up, almost feeling bad about letting Sebastian do all the talking, even as he parrots back your own words. But you found yourself speechless, looking at the confused, though pleasantly surprised faces of your closest friends.
You can tell Chris wants to say something, but he swallows whatever it is, forcing himself past his reservations,
"Well congratulations, man!" He finally pulls Sebastian into a rib crushing hug,
"Hey, you're officially the last one without kids, Evans, you better get a move on." Mackie teases,
"Whoa now, I'm just... Biding my time. Besides, this one isn't here yet."
"Oh, right! When are you due?" Amy asks,
"March 15th. Oh, you want to see?" You pull the sonogram picture from your pocket and everyone gathers around,
"Aw, look Y/N, they have your... Aversion to picture taking." George says. You can't help the belly laugh that barks out of you, "Seriously, though, this is like abstract art. 'Look in this corner and you'll see what I felt during my troubled childhood, in this splotch I poured all of my anxiety from my first kiss--'."
"In this little black spot here, you will see my baby." You cut him off, affecting the same moody-artist tone and pointing to what you hope is the right spot on the picture.
The room goes quiet as they all take a moment with you and Sebastian, looking at the sonogram. You feel Sebastian's arm sneak around your middle, his hand resting on your lower stomach. You lean into him unconsciously.
"What did your parents say when you told them?" Chris asks quietly,
"Mine were actually really supportive. I've always been able to count on them when I need them." You wait for Sebastian's answer, finding yourself just as curious as Chris,
"My mom was surprised, it was a little out of the blue, the last she heard from me was the day after Margarita and I--" he cuts himself off quickly, feeling the mention of his ex to be too out of place, "When the shock passed, I could almost see how excited she was about having a grandchild." He chuckled. "She was talking a mile a minute. My dad couldn't even get out a congratulations. The last time I heard her that wound up was when I told her I got into Rutgers."
"When did you tell her? And why haven't I asked before now?" You chuckle uncomfortably at your oversight,
"I called her when you were on the phone with your parents."
"You didn't seem too happy when I saw you after that, though."
"Oh, that was nothing." You look at him doubtfully, knowing there's plenty more to that story, but you can tell from his lack of eye contact that it's not something he wants to get into with the rest of your friends in the room.
"Okay, baby's first movie night. Let's go." Mackie chimes in when the silence stretches too long.
Everyone makes their way to the living room, food and drinks in hand, and gets settled, but Sebastian gets pulled aside by Chris when everyone else has left the kitchen. You can't hear what they're talking about, but they both sound a little frustrated. Just as you're wondering if you should interrupt, they both join the group wearing fake smiles to cover looks of disappointment, but if anyone else notices, they don't mention it.
"I hope you know I expect the full story soon." Amy whispers to you,
"Oh, I think a girl's day is long overdue." You whisper back, both of you being shushed as the opening sequence begins.
.
.
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Sebastian POV
We were on our way into the living room when Chris pulled me aside,
"Wanna tell me what's going on here?" He hisses, as discreetly as he can,
"What do you mean?"
"This crap about just staying friends. Why aren't you stepping up?"
Okay, that hurts.
"I wanted to... I still do. But she made it clear early on that she doesn't want to be with me."
"Early on? As in before all of this?"
"I guess..."
"Maybe she's changed her mind."
I just shake my head at him. I know I don't have an argument without getting into specifics, and I don't think she'd want that.
"But you could at least ask--"
"I'm not pushing her. I've already told her I'm staying with her through this whole thing, and I am. She seems... At least somewhat happy with that."
Chris stands there, shaking his head at me,
"You two belong together. We all see it. If you can't, you're crazy."
"I do see that. But I also think she may be right. A surprise pregnancy isn't the best reason to get married. If I tried to propose now, she would never trust that it has nothing to do with the baby."
He tries to speak up again, but I cut him off,
"I'm not going anywhere. And the time just isn't right." With that I head for the living room. By the time I get to the door, I can hear him following me.
I take a seat beside Y/N, throwing my arm across the back of the couch behind her without a second thought, and the movie night commences.
Yes, Chris has a point. It kinda makes me look like a chump that I didn't even try to propose, or at least forge a more permanent, more intimate relationship with her after the news. But he also doesn't understand how delicate the situation is.
She has to trust me.
Has to believe me.
She has to know it's real.
