AllFreeNovel
Share Us
With Jess, it was a complete shock, similar to this situation now. But I didn’t develop full feelings for Jessica when she told me she was pregnant. At least not right away. It also certainly didn’t happen as quickly as Dakota’s announcement which was also a tad scary to think about. Am I developing feelings too quickly?
I shake my thoughts as I jump out of bed, turning off my alarm before it has the chance to go off and jump into the shower.
I run it cold, needing the refreshment of the icy drops of water to relax my muscles and hide my thoughts. But it only suppresses them for a few moments before an image of a very beautiful and pregnant Dakota enters my mind.
The sky is light blue mixed with the watercolor effect of pinks and purples. She’s got on a forest green dress that flows in the wind with her fiery strawberry-blonde hair, the sun dipping below the trees in the horizon as she looks down at her belly, swollen withourbaby. Her eyes are shut, her lashes fanning over her field of freckles, and both of her hands cradle her belly.
My breath hitches as wind blows her dress a little too hard, splitting it open where the side slit is and revealing her pregnant belly slightly. The way she giggles as she tries to push the dress back into place sends fireworks in my heart. It’s obviously a dress more meant for aesthetic rather than versatility and day-to-day use, but it’s beautiful on her.
Then, a pair of calloused hands reach around her and slide on top of hers where she palms her stomach. She looks up at him, her green eyes colored in adoration and love as he portrays the same look in his dark, brown eyes.
My eyes.
The sun sets lower as I hold her like this in this perfect image of what a future could look like for us.
And then a small giggle echoes in the surrounding area of the field, coming closer as little feet trot to the middle of where we stand.
Aria joins the two of us, her hair flowing in messy waves of dark amber as her little hand reaches up to rub Dakota’s belly.
“I came up with a name, Daddy,” she says as I look down at my beautiful baby girl, but she’s focused on her baby brother or sister for a moment. Smiling as she gently palms Dakota’s belly.
“And what’s that, Princess?” I ask, letting go of Dakota to lean down to Aria, pulling my hand to make a gesture of cuffing my ear as if to gain better listening skills.
“Well, if I get a baby sister, I want to name her Iris,” Aria says sweetly, a small smile on her face.
“Why’s that, pretty girl?” Dakota kneels down with us, holding Aria’s other hand.
“Tell her, Daddy.” Her innocent eyes look at mine, reminding me just how genuine her heart is. That's why I named her Aria. Because it means noble just as mine does. Because it’s what my mother told me I was. Noble. My mother, whose name was Iris.
“It was my mother’s name.” I bow my head, feeling tears form for the first time in forever. The reminder of what family means to me as I think of my mom and look at my little girl. And at Dakota, who is an extension of everything I’d hoped for.
“I love it, Aria. It’s beautiful.” Dakota squeezes her hand while she rests her head against my shoulder.
“That or Princess. I couldn’t decide.”
“Why Princess?” I laugh.
"Cuz Daddy always calls me a princess and I think my little sister should be called that too.” She brushes her hair behind her ear, a small dimple forming as she smiles a big cheesy grin and my heart melts into something too big to explain.
“Okay, what if you have a baby brother?” I ask, shifting from one knee to the other.
“I think we should name him Baby Brother,” she says as she lets go of both our grips and throws her hands on her waist in a very serious manner, stomping her feet playfully.
“Umm, yeah. At least it’s original,” Dakota says as she looks at me from her peripheral.
“I couldn’t think of much else.” She laughs, and I pick her up in my arms and the three of us chuckle at potential names for the baby until the sun goes down.
“Daddy?” The sound of Aria’s in-person voice rips me from the daydream; my heartstrings have rippled happiness straight through my body as I open my eyes to view the bright white tile of the inside of my shower.
“In the shower, Aria. I’ll be out in two minutes,” I shout back, realizing I’ve been in here for over a half an hour; the cold water now lukewarm as it splashes on my backside.
A sudden gust of energy smacks me in the face when I think of how fucking lucky I would be if that could be my true future. Despite anything that we may have to combat or the unknowns that face us, I know more than anything that it’s what I want.
I want a future with Dakota, I want a life with at least the three of us. And possibly more.
I wash my body and hair as quickly as I can, promising myself I’ll do whatever I can to make it a reality knowing that I want to pursue that image of the perfect little family from my daydream. It’s real, I can feel it.
I know she’s scared to let someone in, but I’d say it’s a little too late at this point. And even if it wasn’t, I’d still be there for her. Because she’s what matters, she’s what I want. Because she’s my firefly and she lights up my whole Goddamn world.
