__________8 MONTHS LATER__________
Celestia
Ramon moved my things into the empty bedroom downstairs for me and you'd think that I'd get used to seeing myself with a large belly, but it just feels so weird.
"We're going to be late my love," says Ramon as he wraps his arms under my stomach, gently lifting it, giving me relief.
"Thank you," I whisper as he kisses my cheek. "I'm ready, I was just thinking."
"What about?"
"How I'm still not used to this," I laugh as I place a hand on my stomach, staring into the mirror.
"You're almost there. Only one more month to go. You ready to find out the gender?"
"I've been ready. I tried so hard not to peak at the info." I laugh and turn to face Ramon.
He smiles and gives me a quick kiss. "You look beautiful by the way."
"Thank you, baby," I say.
He takes my hand and leads me out of the house. Wyatt was waiting for us with the car and when he spots me he opens the door.
"Thank you, Wyatt," I smile.
"No problem, Celestia. How are you holding up?"
"Eh, could be better. I'm just ready to go back to my jeans." I laugh.
"Soon enough you will," he laughs with me as well.
Ramon pulls me close once Wyatt closes the door and gets inside.
"My mother is going to be so thrilled to see me, well more so her unborn grandchild but close enough."
"It is her first grandchild after all," says Ramon.
"True, she really hopes it's a girl so she can spoil her like crazy, don't know if I should be worried or not," I laugh. "Considering you might not be opposed to that and help along the way."
"I can't promise that, you know I'm going to spoil him or her."
"Don't spoil them too much, you've already broken me, I don't even use my own money anymore," I grimace at him.
He just smiles and rubs the top of my hand with his thumb.
"Again, no promises. Isn't that right little one," he says as he bends down to kiss the top of my belly.
"Oh!" I exclaimed as I felt a kick in my lower right side. "Ramon they just kicked!"
"Where?"
"Here," I say as I take his hand and place it where it happened.
The baby kicked again a little rougher this time.
"Ow,"
"You running out of space in there?"
"They might be, hang in there baby, one more month," I say.
"We're here,"
"Oh, welp, let's get this party started."
Wyatt opens the door for us and Ramon gets out first, holding out his hand for me. I take his hand and push myself out of the car. He holds onto my waist as we walk inside. My mother was waiting for me in the hall. She was wearing a baby pink blouse with baby blue slacks. Her hair was down and wavy.
"Hi, mom!"
"Hi, sweetie! Ramon lovely to see you as always, hope she hasn't made you want to run yet," she laughs.
"Not at all Madeline. I've kept her busy with books and food." he laughs.
"Y'all act as if I'm not here," I say shaking my head. "I'm not that bad."
"Considering what you put me through before giving birth to you, I'm surprised this little one hasn't caused you trouble too," replies my mother as she rubs the top of my belly.
"Alright, the others are probably waiting for us."
"Oh right, right, I was sent out here to tell them when you got here, hold on."
My mother sends off a quick text to someone and then gestures for us to follow her to the elevator. After a few seconds, the doors opened and we were now at the top of the building. The scenery was beautiful with all the flowers and fairy lights scattered everywhere. Confetti is popped when we enter and my mom walks us over to a table.
__________
"You ready mama?" grins Lucy as she hands me the huge black balloon.
"Definitely," I grin back as I take it from her.
I place the balloon in front of me and wait for them to finish counting down before I popped it.
The pink glitter explodes out, pink smoke surrounds us and everyone yells in excitement.
"Congrats my love, you got your girl," grins Ramon as he wraps his arm around me.
"I did, I really did. I can't believe that I'm having a girl," I smile, fondly staring down at my belly.
My mom pulled me for a side hug and I closed my eyes, smiling.
"I'm so happy for you baby," she whispers.
"Thank you mom," I reply as she lets go of me.
"Did you guys pick out names yet?" asks Stephanie after she comes up from her seat with Peach to congratulate me.
"No actually, we wanted to find out the gender first."
"Makes sense, by the way, Peach has been begging to see you," she laughs as Peach wiggles in her hand.
"Awe you missed mama Peach?" I smile and take the puppy from Steph. Peach licks my cheek and wags her tail in excitement when she sees Ramon coming over as well.
"Hey Peach," says Ramon as he rubs just below her ear.
I see a flash of a camera in my peripheral vision and I look up to see James taking another picture.
"You didn't think I wouldn't make an album of the both of you did you?" he smiles.
I lightly giggle at him and shake my head.
"By all means go ahead," I reply.
He continues to take pictures of us three and takes more pictures of us with our friends.
"Ah, there you are Peach, for a sec I thought that you disappeared on me." says my mom. Then she faces me with a huge smile on her face.
"I can't believe it's a girl, I get to spoil her rotten!"
"Not too much, I already told Ramon that y'all better not,"
"No promises," she winks and walks away.
I shake my head as Peach cocks her head at me.
"Only you listen to me Peach," I say, smiling at her.
"It's true, once that kid pops out of you it's going to cause you so many sleepless nights."
I look up and smile as I see Aurora with Evelyn in hand and Luna and Mateo at both of her sides.
"Aurora! When did you get here?"
"Hey! I just got here. I had to pick up the kids from school," she grins. "Congrats by the way! I'm so happy for you,"
"Thank you, hey Matty and Luna, hi Evelyn," I gush.
"Hi Princess CC!" replies Mateo as he looks up at me and Luna smiles and waves.
"Oh wow, I see you have a missing tooth Luna, did the tooth fairy give you anything?"
"She did! I got five dollars! I'm gonna get big girl teeth now!" she grins, even more, to show where the hole was.
"That's great!" I smile as I bend down and swipe at her chin.
"So, how are you holding up? Come, sit. You shouldn't be on your feet as much." asks Aurora.
We move to a table to continue our conversation.
"I'm hanging in there, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be, but then again it's different for everyone," I say.
"That's true. When I was pregnant with Matty, he caused me almost no pain and I barely had any contractions until it was time to give birth. I kept going to my doctor cause I thought that he wasn't moving and I had a miscarriage."
"Really?"
"Yep, But with Evelyn and Luna, they gave me hell." she laughs.
"Huh-Oh!"
I look down as Evelyn reaches over from her mother's lap and places both of her hands on the sides of my belly. I smile at her as she looks up at me with her pretty blue eyes.
"That could be your future best friend Evie," whispers her mother.
"I'm so happy I'm having a girl. I can dress her up and we can have matching clothes and everything." I say smiling as I think about it.
"I know, it's so much fun."
__________
"Thank you for this ladies. I loved it."
"Of course C!" smiles Rose. "We've been wanting to plan this for ages ever since you got pregnant."
"Right," agrees Lucy.
Steph nods in agreement as well. "Yep, it was so much fun, even I'm now tempted to have one.
"Mmhm, with who?" smirks Rose.
"I know with who," smiles Lucy as she pokes Stephanie's side. "Ethan, I've been watching them flirt all day while they were setting stuff up."
"I have no idea what ya'll are talking about, we're just friends."
"Just friends huh? I don't think friends look at each other like they're ready to risk it all."
"Oh come on not you too, we weren't flirting, we were simply-"
"Simply what?" says Lucy with a look.
"Talking. Having a normal conversation. That's it."
"Well I didn't see anything, but I did wonder if you liked him before," I state.
"Really?"
"Yeah, when we first met him and Luke, she kept making goo-goo eyes at him."
"Are y'all some type of love detectives?"
"Well let's say that you weren't flirting. He's super cute. I say you should go for it."
"She's right," I say.
"Go worry about your husband-to-be," Steph says as she smiles and shakes her head at me.
"Maybe I will," I say, sticking my tongue out at her playfully.
As Lu and Rose convince her to talk to Ethan, I walk over to where Ramon was sitting. He sees me walk over and smiles at me. Motioning for me to come and sit on his lap.
"Am I not heavy? I'm carrying a whole human."
"Nope, did you have fun today?"
"I did," I smile and kiss him.
"That's good,"
"You got any more plans for us today?" I smile at him.
"Not really, but if you want to go somewhere, I'll take you anywhere you want my love."
"I don't think I can walk anymore," I laugh. "But I do want Ice cream."
"A night in with Ice cream and a movie?"
"That sounds nice,"
"Alright then, wanna disappear now?" he grins.
I nod and slowly get up from his lap, letting in and out a deep breath.
"Jesus, I don't think I can hold myself up anymore."
"One more month baby, you got this. If I could take even just half of what you're feeling I would," he replies as he comes behind me and gently lifts up my stomach again like this morning, blissfully relieving some of the pain.
"What's wrong? Is she okay?" asks my mom as she walks over with a concerned look on her face.
"I'm fine mom, I'm just in a little pain."
"How much pain from one to ten? Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just gonna go home and lay down."
"Okay, call me if you need me."
"I will," I nod as she takes my hand in hers before she walks away.
"Ready to go?" asks Ramon.
"Yeah, let me just say bye to everyone."
He gently lets go and I walk to where the girls were.
"Hey, Ramon and I are gonna head out,"
"Okay, you've been here for hours, your feet must be killing you," says Lucy.
"Yep," I chuckle. "I'm gonna go home and pig out on Ice cream and watch a movie."
"Sounds cute, go rest and have fun," says Rose as she hugs me goodbye.
"Where's Steph?" I ask.
They smile widely and look at each other.
"What?"
"Well, we caught her and Ethan heading out the door a while ago. They looked very jumpy. I'm pretty sure that this very moment she's screaming his name at the top of her lungs." laughs Rose.
"Rose! Omg," I gasp.
"Tell me I'm not right," she laughs again. "They're definitely fucking."
"I agree with that, she really likes him. She just doesn't want to admit it," replies Lucy as she shrugs.
"Definitely text me if she comes out after I leave. I want all the deets." I grin as I wave them goodbye.
__________
"What movie do you wanna watch?"
"I'm feeling romantic comedy,"
"Romantic comedy it is," says Ramon as he hands me over the tubs of mint chocolate chip and Vanilla Ice cream.
He turns on the Tv and finds a movie for us. We watched Isn't It Romantic and 50 First Dates. The last thing I remember seeing before I fell asleep was Ramon kissing the top of my head and then all over my belly. Whispering sweet nothings to his future daughter.