Change the Future

*Pregnancy*

Pregnancy

The kitchen was filled with warm, golden light and the familiar crackling of the old fireplace. Rory stood at the counter beside Molly, carefully chopping vegetables as the delicious smell of roasting meat began to waft through the room. She’d been humming softly under her breath when suddenly her hands froze mid-chop. Her stomach twisted violently. Without a word, she dropped the knife and bolted toward the bathroom down the hall, one hand clamped over her mouth. Charlie looked up from across the room where he’d been helping Arthur string fairy lights for the garden. The sound of Rory’s hurried steps made him immediately alert. He dropped the spool of lights and followed her without a second thought. Molly paused, wooden spoon in hand, watching the hallway with a thoughtful expression. Bill raised an eyebrow.

“She alright?” Molly didn’t answer at first. She slowly stirred the pot before turning to him with a gentle, knowing look.

“I only know of two reasons someone suddenly feels sick from the smell of meat like that” Bill leaned against the counter, arms crossed.

“Go on”

“One is they're already unwell” She smiled subtly, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “The other is they’re pregnant” Bill blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before his eyebrows shot up.

“You really think?” Molly just nodded toward the hallway with a fond little smile.

“Call it mother’s intuition”

Charlie knelt on the tiled floor next to Rory, gently pulling her hair back as she rested against the cool edge of the tub. Her face was pale, eyes watery.

“Hey, hey,” he whispered, rubbing soothing circles on her back. “You're alright. Just breathe, yeah?” She gave a weak laugh.

“Sorry. That was... very sudden” Charlie handed her a glass of water.

“Anything you want to tell me?” His voice was light, teasing, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. Rory hesitated, glancing down at the glass in her hands.

“I don’t want to get your hopes up”

“Too late” he said with a crooked smile, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face. “You think maybe?”

“I’ve been feeling off for a few days now” she admitted softly. “And I'm a week late. But I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to assume anything until—until today, I guess” Charlie was silent for a beat, absorbing it. Then he kissed her forehead gently.

“Let’s find out together” he said. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it side by side. Like always” She nodded slowly, her eyes meeting his.
From down the hall, they could hear Molly’s voice gently calling them for dinner.

Rory and Charlie sat side by side at the kitchen table once everyone else had gone to bed. Between them lay a small, white box — the pregnancy test. Rory’s fingers trembled as she reached out, lifting the lid slowly. Charlie’s heart pounded in his chest. She pulled out the little stick and stared at the window where the dark night sky stretched endlessly. After what felt like forever, Rory’s eyes flicked back down. Charlie swallowed.

“Well?” She held up the little stick in her hand, the pink lines on it clear as day. Her voice came out quiet and shaking.

“It’s positive.” Charlie blinked, his breath catching. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Then, slowly, carefully, he took her face in his hands.

“Hey” he whispered, searching her eyes. “Are you okay?”

“I… I think so,” she said, laughing through sudden tears. “I’m terrified. But… I think I’m happy, too” Charlie pulled her into his arms and held her tight, his own eyes wet.