Aftermath

Chapter 31

"Okay so does that mean a bigger apartment? A house?" He asks. "We have the money, I can give you what you want."

"I know you can." I say, putting my hand on his chest.

"Well tell me then baby." He says, smiling slightly. "What do you want?"

"I want a house." I say, and cross my legs. "But then there's the question of where and how big and-"

"When you say how big you mean how many kids we want to have." He interrupts, steering the conversation down another path. "I want the next place we live to be permanent."

"I do too." I agree, furrowing my brow. "How big are you thinking?" I ask, realizing that we've never talked about how many kids we want.

"Not that big." He says, rubbing his thumb on the fabric of my shirt. "I'm fine with one. Maybe two."

"Just one for now." I tell him, moving closer to him.

"I'll find a place." He nods, taking my hand.

I nod too and he kisses my cheek. For some reason it's awkward when he pulls away. I can tell there are some things left unsaid. I don't like this feeling but we were both trying to avoid a fight.

"I really am sorry about earlier." He says, reading my mind. "I know how much of a jerk I can be."

"I know." I nod. "But you're not like that. You're sweet, but it's when you get mad...it's like a switch goes off."

"Oh come on I didn't think I was that bad today." He says almost in a joking way.

"I'm not just talking about today." I shake my head. "This is in general. I hate fighting with you Marshall you know that."

"Rach." He starts, keeping himself calm and collected. "We're going to fight. We can't avoid that. But we always make up baby, I'm going to try and be better."

"I know you will." I say, genuinely believing him this time. "I will too."

He nods and then presses a long kiss to my lips. I press my chest against his and we sit on the couch kissing each other for a minute or two. Suddenly I'm forced to pull back by a pulsing in my stomach. I freak out for a second and my hand flies over it, my breath quickening. I feel myself start to get worried but then I realize what's happening and smile.

"What's wrong?" He asks, a worried expression on his face.

"Nothing." I smile and take his hand, placing it on the right part of my stomach. "She's moving."

His expression shifts and he looks at me confused, not feeling anything at first. But she bumps up against the side again and Marshall's face is priceless. I watch him react and he can't get the smile off his face. I rest my head on his shoulder and he follows her movements with his hand, completely fascinated by it.

"She's getting big." He says quietly, finally removing his hand and turning to look at me. "I can't wait."

As soon as he speaks the kicking stops, and I'm back at peace. I smile stupidly at my stomach.

"She stopped kicking." I tell him. "I think it's your voice."

He laughs once and then puts his hand back over my belly. He bends for a second and begins to talk to my stomach.

"I can't wait for you to get here and see how beautiful your mom is." He says quietly, glancing up at me and I laugh. "She has long dark brown hair, you'll probably have that too. And she has the most mesmerizing green eyes I've ever seen."

"Stop it." I joke, laughing and shoving his shoulder playfully. "Your father is a hopeless romantic." I say to my stomach.

"Don't listen to her, she never could take a compliment." He says, while still looking at me.

"Yes I can!" I protest, and he raises an eyebrow.

He sits back up and puts his hand on my thigh, moving his fingertips in small circles.

"Then how come every time I give you one, you blush and push me away." He teases, brushing his nose on my cheek.

"Because." I say, crossing my legs. "Whenever you give me one, you're touching me and that's why I blush."

"Oh come on you like it." He jokes, his hand sliding up to the base of my thigh.

"I never said I didn't like it." I tell him and put my arms around his shoulders.

I swing my legs up onto the couch and lay against him. He plays with my hair and I close my eyes. His body heat is inviting, his hand feels good rubbing my shoulder.

"You really think we can do this?" He asks me quietly, saying it more for himself than for me.

I nod, and he turns to the side, kissing my temple. We've decided a lot today, but at the same time it feels like we've decided nothing at all. There's no doubt in my mind that him and I will be okay wherever we move. It's explaining it to Thatch that I'm worried about.