Breathe For Love

So, I have to say, I was pretty entertained by the comments on the last chapter. They made me smile.

You all rock and make me want to write more. :) Thank youuuu!!!

Hayley stood up and paced around the living room, trying to calm herself down. She debated picking up the phone to call Sarah for a round of ass kicking, but in the end she decided to wait until she knew exactly what Josh was going to do. Knowing him, he could be working up some grand scheme of how to welcome the idea of a baby or he could be plotting his escape. It was hard to tell with him.

When she heard his footsteps move toward the stairs, she began thinking up what she was going to say to him. Even if he did end up coming down and being happy about the baby, she was still angry. Because, even if he did end up being alright with the situation, he had still walked away, leaving her alone and confused.

It was then that Hayley realized disappointed she was in him. She was so sure that he would be overjoyed at the news this time. But no, he had jumped at the chance to get away from her when Ethan cried. Maybe he hadn’t changed over the years as much as she thought he had.

“Come on, it’s ok.” Hayley heard Josh say as he descended. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and scowled when she realized he was bringing Ethan downstairs. Of course he had to bring Ethan down. Of course he had to have some sort of buffer so he didn’t have to talk about the baby.

Hayley was furious.

“Momma!” Ethan smiled tiredly when he and Josh entered the living room. Hayley plastered a fake smile on her face and took him from Josh.

“Hey buddy! Why are you up?” She asked. He shrugged and squirmed his way down to the floor to play with a nearby wooden puzzle set.

“Josh, if you leave me again I will fucking kill you.” Hayley whispered threateningly into his ear. Josh took a step back and raised his hands in the air innocently.

“Hey, I’m still here aren’t I?” He asked. Hayley rolled her eyes angrily and ran her fingers through her hair. Josh bit his lip and coughed to hide a laugh.

“What?” Hayley spat quietly. “What is so fucking funny?”

“You get mad too easily.” He replied with a barely contained smile. "Have some faith." Hayley clenched her hands into fists and bit her tongue to keep from yelling. She felt like she wanted to smack him upside the head for being so frustrating.

"It's hard to have faith when you do the exact same thing you did last time this happened." Hayley reminded rudely. 

Just in time to ease the situation, Ethan sneezed loudly, hitting his head on the couch from the force behind the sneeze. He froze, staring at the couch in shock and then turned around to look at his parents. His face clearly said ‘what the hell just happened?’ Josh snorted quietly and doubled over, laughing hard. Hayley bit her lip and tried her best not to laugh at her son.

Ethan cocked his head to the side and watched Josh who was laughing loudly now. A grin passed over the toddler’s face as he finally realized he had done something funny and he turned back to the couch, taking a nosedive into it. Hayley watched Josh in astonishment as he laughed harder. Suddenly the situation wasn’t funny at all anymore.

Josh was laughing too hard. He only laughed like this if he was nervous. He must be planning on leaving again. Or at least breaking up.  Hayley’s heart sank and she shut her eyes in hopes that when she reopened them everything would be ok.

But, of course, she had no such luck. She opened her eyes to see Ethan repeating his nosedive into the couch cushions over and over again to Josh’s amusement.

“Ok no. Ethan, stop.” Hayley said, gently pulling the toddler away from the couch. “Come on, you should be in bed, Eth."

“Dada said no.” Ethan frowned. Hayley glared at Josh, who covered his mouth with his hand to hide a smile.

“Come here EJ.” Josh said. Ethan grinned and hurried over to his father.

“Now Dada?” He asked as Josh sunk to his knees to get to Ethan’s level.

“Yep. You know what to do?” Josh asked. Ethan nodded and puffed out his chest proudly.

“Momma!” He said importantly.

“What?” Hayley asked, confused. Ethan twisted his hands together and looked up at her shyly.  He covered his face with his tiny hands and squealed, turning back to Josh. "You say, Dada."

“No! You can do it!” Josh encouraged. “Come on, it will make Mommy smile.” Hayley’s anger toward Josh was slowly being replaced with curiosity as she watched Josh whisper to their son.

“Ethan wants to ask you something.” Josh explained once he was done whispering. He gently pushed the suddenly shy toddler toward Hayley and nodded at him to go ahead.

“Get down, just like we practiced upstairs.” He reminded. Ethan giggled and got down on his knees.

“Momma?” Ethan asked quietly.

“Yes, baby?” Hayley asked hesitantly. Her heart was racing now, but she wasn’t entirely sure why. Josh scooted closer to Ethan and rested his hands on the toddler’s shoulders lightly.

Ethan turned to look at Josh once more for reassurance. Josh smiled back at him and nodded encouragingly. “Go ahead!” He urged.

“Momma, will you mawwy us?” Ethan asked with a smile.

Hayley inhaled sharply and raised her hand to her mouth. Her skin broke out in goosebumps and her heart stopped. “Wh-what?” She gasped, looking at Josh. He shrugged nervously and nodded down toward Ethan. She looked at her son and tears instantly spilled over her cheeks.

Ethan was holding out a silver diamond ring for her. “Will you mawwy us, Momma?” He repeated, looking hopeful. “Pwease?”

A sob escaped Hayley’s throat and she sunk down to her knees slowly. Ethan’s eyes went wide and he looked alarmed when he realized Hayley was crying. He dropped the ring and hurried to his mother.

“Is ok Momma! Dada’s not dat bad.” He said comfortingly, patting her arm lightly.

Hayley let out a short, barking laugh through her tears while Josh chuckled nervously. Hayley wiped away her tears and put an arm around Ethan.

“Seriously?” She choked out, looking at Josh. She had to be dreaming.

“No last minute ring this time.” Josh said quietly. “This one has been in the closet for months, behind that photo album you were so adamant about getting all by yourself a few weeks ago.” Hayley laughed quietly and pushed her hair behind her ear with a shaky hand. “I’ve been planning on asking for a while. I was just waiting for the right time.” He scooted closer to her and picked up the ring Ethan had dropped.

He lifted one knee off the ground, so he was kneeling properly in front of her, and held the ring out once more. “So, will you marry me?”

“Us!” Ethan corrected angrily.

“Sorry, will you marry us?” Josh asked with a smile.

“Juss say yesssss!” Ethan complained. Hayley laughed and nodded happily, throwing her arms around Josh’s neck. Josh bit his lip and grinned happily.

“Told you I'd say yes the next time you proposed.” She mumbled into his shoulder with a smile. Josh laughed quietly and hugged Hayley tight. In that moment, he was the happiest man on the planet.

“Second time’s a charm!” He whispered, jokingly.

“Shut up.” Hayley replied with a laugh.

“Dada, you have to kiss da bide now!” Ethan reminded impatiently as his parents broke apart from their hug. Josh smiled and did as he was told, kissing Hayley sweetly.

“Done!” Ethan ordered after a few seconds. “Etan’s turn.” Hayley laughed, and bent down so Ethan could plant a sloppy kiss on her cheek.

“Now we mawwied.” Ethan informed with a smile. “Wea family now.”

“We’ve always been a family, Eth.” Josh explained.

“Wea family again.” Ethan corrected with a shrug. “Gee Dada!” He added, as if the fact was obvious.

“Oh, I see.” Josh replied. He had learned quickly not to argue with toddler logic.

“Oh my gosh…” Hayley whispered as she looked at the ring that was still in Josh’s hands. “Is this really happening?” Josh smiled and nodded. He took her shaky hand into his own and slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly.

“I wanna do it!” Ethan complained as he watched. His lower lip began to tremble and before long he was crying.

“Ok, I think it’s time for bed, mister cranky pants.” Hayley said quietly to her son. Ethan shook his head no, but raised his arms in the air to be picked up.

“I’ll do it!” Josh said quickly.

“It’s ok.” Hayley said. “The ‘no heavy lifting’ rule isn’t in effect yet.” She smiled, referring to the fact that she might be pregnant.

After they got Ethan settled once more, Josh and Hayley walked into their bedroom. The second their door snapped shut, their lips met in a needy kiss. Their hands roamed each other’s bodies urgently and soft moans escaped their lips.

“We’re engaged!” Hayley giggled excitedly.

“Yes we are.” Josh replied, voice husky. He lifted her into the air with ease and walked toward the bed.

“And we might be having a bab-ohh!” She gasped as he bit her neck gently.

“Oh, the baby!” Josh said happily, suddenly more excited about a potential baby than what they were about to do. He had nearly forgotten. “Lets find out!” He said. He stood up and began digging around in the closet for some shoes.

“You sir, are crazy.” Hayley laughed. “We’ll find out at the doctor’s office tomorrow.”

“Yeah, well, I’m impatient. You should know that by now.” Josh replied. “I’m gonna go get one of those home tests.” He smiled excitedly. “And if you’re not pregnant, we can try to get you pregnant tonight!” He added with a wink. Hayley laughed and stopped him before he could get out the bedroom door.

“Hold on there speedy.” She laughed. She walked into the master bathroom and pulled out a pregnancy test from a cabinet under the sink.

“You have one already?” Josh asked curiously.

“It’s left over from the box I got… last time.” She said quietly. She hated thinking about the miscarriage.

Josh got very quiet and hugged her gently. “It’ll work out this time.” He whispered. “I promise. Last time just wasn't meant to be.”

“I know…” Hayley sighed. “Now scoot!” She said, pushing him out of the bathroom. Josh did as he was told and sat on the bed, waiting nervously.

He looked up eagerly when she reappeared from the bathroom moments later and bit his lip, playing with his lip ring anxiously. Hayley smiled faintly as she took in the look on his face. For once, he wasn’t able to keep the stone face he normally held, though he was trying like mad to show no emotion. There was no hiding the look of hope and excitement in his eyes.

“So?” He asked quietly. Hayley smiled and held up the test, nodding.

“Yes.” She said happily.

“YES!” Josh yelped loudly. Hayley jumped in surprise and grinned widely. He ran over and lifted her into the air, kissing her happily. “I’m gonna be a husband and a new Daddy.”

Hayley giggled and kissed him. “Finally.” She whispered. “Its finally our turn.”

“For what?” Josh asked curiously.

“For happiness.”  Hayley explained.

“Red, we don’t have to get married and have another baby to be happy. I have always been happy when I am with you and Ethan.” Josh whispered. “And I think you have too.” He added. “The rest is just bonus ‘happy’.” Hayley chuckled softly and nodded before kissing her husband-to-be. Things were finally going smoothly for her and her family. No more Josh and Hayley disasters. She couldn’t have been happier.

:D :D :D

I rewrote this so. many. times. (and probably missed a bunch of spelling/grammar stuff) !!!!!!!! hahaha.

idk when the next update will be :/ hopefully sometime toward the middle of this week. 

ilikethischapter ^.^