"Hey!" Josh grinned, creaking the door open. "Guess who's home early!"
"Henry Cavill?" Mari grinned teasingly.
"Very funny," Josh laughed, dropping his bags.
Mari wrapped her arms around him. "I missed you."
"I missed you more," Josh sighed. "Work was pure torment without you."
"Why did you have to go in the first place?" Mari frowned.
"Well, I thought some change of scenery would be nice. And they really needed me. I kinda invented their programming so-"
"You thought a change of scenery would be nice?" Mari scoffed. "What? Are you sick of me?"
"Never you," Josh frowned. "Just the city. It's so packed. When we were in America, I took Violet to that park nearly everyday."
"What? We can't go to the park?" Mari frowned, crossing her arms with a shrug.
"We could," Josh stammered. "Babe, are you alright? You aren't acting like yourself."
"Why do you...why does everyone assume I'm the one with the problem? You're the idiot in this relationship. If anyone's not alright, it's you."
Josh's eyes narrowed. "Okay, that crosses a line."
"So, you had sucky parents. I didn't have parents, I-"
"Mariah, what the heck is going on?" Josh laughed.
"Maybe I'm sick of being stuck in here too, Josh. Did you even think to invite me to Vienna?!"
"I did!" Josh exclaimed. "You didn't want to go!"
"You should have asked twice! God, you're useless."
"Stop!" Josh yelled, slamming his fist on the table and making Mari jump backward in surprise. "That's enough!"
"I-"
"I said enough!" Josh exclaimed. "You swore to me, Mariah, you'd be my one safe place, and right now, you're acting just like every trash low life that's ever crossed my path! So just quit it before my respect for you is gone completely!"
"Nice thing to say to your pregnant wife!" Mari scoffed angrily.
"Honestly, Mariah, I'm disappointed that you could stoop so low," Josh continued, his face red from yelling.
Mari bit her tongue in her mouth and held back the tears.
"Now what the heck is wrong with you?!" Josh snapped.
Mari broke into tears. "I haven't slept in three days, Josh. I'm so scared. You're going to hate me. Jack told me and I didn't listen and now I don't know what to say or do or-"
Josh's eyes softened, and his pursed lips loosened as words attempted to form. "Wait. What?!"
"I can't say it again," Mari sobbed.
Josh took her firmly by the shoulders. "What did you say?!"
"Nothing," Mari whimpered, closing her eyes. "Nothing!"
"Mariah," Josh said softly, "Honey, I'm sorry. Now, what did you say?"
"I'm pregnant," Mari sobbed.
"W-w-what?" Josh stammered.
Mari sobbed harder and buried her face in his shirt as his hands hung helplessly at his sides.
Slowly, he placed one hand to her head and the other around her shoulders. "Mari, what on earth?"
"Please don't hate me. I shouldn't have told you. I'll die if you leave," Mari cried pitifully.
"Honey, I promised that I would never leave you. What makes you think I'm going to go back on my word?" Josh sighed. "I love you. Nothing is going to change that."
"I feel so guilty," Mari said between hyperventilated breaths. "I don't want it. We didn't- it wasn't supposed to be like this. I'm so sorry. I'm so scared."
"Don't be sorry," Josh said softly. "It's not your fault. We're in this together."
"I can't do it, Isaac. I can't," Mari said, terror in her eyes.
"We don't have a choice now, Hon. But I promise, I'll be with you through everything," Josh nodded as tears welled in his eyes. "God, you're pregnant. We're going to have a baby."
"Don't say it, please," Mari moaned.
"It'll be okay," Josh sighed. "It'll be okay."
"Will it?" Mari asked, looking up with big, round eyes. "Josh, really. Neither of us are prepared-"
"Matt and Catherine didn't exactly have a nursery set up when she got pregnant. You saw how Matt was. He was a wreck. Give it time."
—————
"Josh is back," Matt grinned.
Catherine picked at her nail, thinking of Mari's reaction to being told that she was expecting a few days prior. "Hm?"
"Are you alright?" Matt asked with concern.
"Yeah," Catherine sighed. "It's just...Mariah got some news the other day, and she took it pretty hard."
"Is everything okay?"
"She's pregnant."
"What?"
"Mhm. She started crying when Jack told her, and they weren't happy tears."
"Poor kid," Matt sighed. "Do you have any plans for today?"
"No," Catherine lied.
"Maybe we could watch a movie tonight," Matt smiled. "I miss being able to have a relaxing night with my wife."
"That would be great," Catherine grinned. Little did he know, she already had a few tricks up her sleeve.
"Good," Matt grinned, kissing her cheek. "I'm off to work. See you later, Babe."
"Just remember that your place is in an office, not the arts," Catherine teased.
—————
"How can I help?"
"Set out the ingredients for the cake," Catherine instructed. "Then go monitor the babies."
"You're wish is my command, Mrs. Collins," Carlos grinned.
"I want tonight to be perfect," Catherine sighed nervously. "I want it to be exactly like our first date."
"I think it's really sweet of you to surprise him this way," Carlos smiled. "You're a great person, Cath."
"Thanks," she smiled.
—————
"Zip me up quickly," Catherine nodded. "Matt will be home at any minute."
Carlos pulled up the zipper on his cousin's dress. "Looks great."
"And it fits like a glove. I'm surprised. After all, it's been two years...and two kids."
"Well, if anyone can pull it off, it's you."
"Thanks for everything, Carlos," Catherine smiled.
"Anytime," he grinned. "I'll be off now. Have fun!"
"Thanks again. Bye!"
Not long after Carlos left, Matt arrived home. "Cath, I'm back," he sighed.
"Hello, Matt," Catherine smiled as she stood in her off shoulder, black dress that she wore so many nights ago.
"Cath?" Matt laughed, his eyes full of surprise. "What's this?"
"Dinner is ready but we can wait if you'd like," Catherine chuckled, taking his coat. "I thought recreating our first date would be a nice surprise."
Matt smiled and wrapped his arms around his wife's waist. "You did this for me?"
"Of course," Catherine grinned. "I love you."
"I love you too," Matt beamed, kissing his wife gently. "Where are the twins?"
"In their room," Catherine shrugged. "We can bring them out later, if they aren't sleeping."
—————
"Cath," Matt smiled, "that was delicious."
"Thank you," Catherine grinned. "Now, I believe it is time to introduce our children to The Phantom of the Opera."
"No," Matt chuckled, "I don't think so."
"We've gotta start the obsession at a young age," Catherine laughed. "Besides, you're basically Erik. It's nothing new to them."
"I don't want them knowing anything about pain," Matt said softly. "The music is fine, but the plot waits until they're older."
"Alright," Catherine sighed.
Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to sunshinesparklehead. Thanks for your support!
The picture to follow shows the black dress Catherine wore from her and Matt's first date.