I stared at the test, my eyes blinking rapidly, willing for the two pink stripes to just disappear. This is not happening. Don't get me wrong. I am so crazy happy and am jumping like a crazy lunatic in my head. Just in my head. Physically, I am shaking.

Our wedding was like 8 months ago and Caleb was busy training for an internatinal swim title. He's in Colorado Springs at the moment. He'd be there for about a month more. We're both super busy and I'm not sure we're ready for a baby. Heck, Caleb just turned 23 two months ago! That's way too young to become a father. Not when he looks like a very well-built 17 year old. His face still looks like a teenager. There were times when he got carded entering a club where the bouncer said that he can follow his 'big sister'(and that would be me!) when he turns 21. Imagine my humiliation when Caleb showed him his id and put his arm around my shoulders and announced that he's my husband. The look on the bouncer's face was priceless. In fact it was a funny misunderstanding, but I dread to know Caleb's reaction. He might not be ready for a baby. This totally sucks.

I was in agony for days. I didn't tell Caleb when we face-timed last night. It was not something I would tell him on the phone. Plus, I would probably burst into tears even before he says hi just thinking about how awkward it would be if Caleb is disappointed.

I made a doctor's appointment and went for the checkup alone. I did not tell anyone. Mum and Dara would be too hysterical that they would let it slip to Caleb that I was pregnant. When it was confirmed that I was pregnant, I couldn't help feeling ecstatic. It suddenly dawned on me that there is a tiny human inside me that would change everything. I started to feel even more worried that I would not feel ready. Okay, now how the heck would I tell Caleb?? 

I tried to get on with life as normally as I could. I didn't tell Caleb at all. I busied myself with work and went on girly lunches with Dara. It was a good thing I was never much of a drinker. So, Dara never noticed anything when I kept ordering apple juice. To cope with the horrible nausea. Yeah, the morning sickness has started. And whoever came up with the expression morning sickness was seriously delusional. Or in denial. Or a clueless male doctor. I really should smack his face for giving me false hope.  Because I was sick morning, noon, night, midnight, dusk, twilight, dawn...you name it. It's never ending and has started to take its toll on me. I was starting to lose weight. Normally, that would be great news. But not when I'm almost 3 months pregnant.  I suffered horribly at work and kept nibbling on crackers non-stop. 

One night, about 3 days before Caleb is  scheduled to come home, we face-timed again. When he called, I quickly gave myself a once over and cringed when I saw my wan, pale face and bloodshot eyes. I quickly tried to make myself presentable. A quick swipe of lip gloss and I was ready. Sort of. The sickly cherry smell of the lip gloss was making my eyes water and I started to gag. Hastily, I wiped the darn thing off and groaned. Well, I guess me looking pale is better than me puking on the screen. I pasted a bright smile on my lips and answered the call. Caleb's gorgeous smile lit up the screen immediately. 

"Hi baby!" Caleb greeted with a smile.

"Hi Caleb." I said softly.

"Uh, baby, don't take this the wrong way but you look tired. Are you ok? Are you sick?" Caleb asked, sounding anxious. 

"No, I'm not sick. Just tired. Work's been hectic and I haven't had time to rest. How're things with you? Are you coming back this week?" I asked, somewhat anxiously, suddenly missing him so much. He's been away for almost a month. A few days before, the US team have won the International title and Caleb had won almost all the gold medals! So, it was normal to assume he'd be home in a few days. And I have this overwhelming need to be with him. And I couldn't wait to tell him that I'm pregnant. All the worry that he might not welcome the pregnancy has melted away. Replaced with the intense need to hold him and have him hold me. I miss him too much to care what he would think about the baby.

"Uhm, yeah..About that..I have to go to LA to sign a few endorsement deals with a few sports' apparel company who's sponsoring the team for 5 more years. The president wants to meet me, so I kinda have to go. I'm sorry Baby. I'll only be back in 2 more weeks." Caleb said as he sighed.

"What? In 2 weeks?! Caleb, you promised!" I suddenly cried, quite out of character. Caleb looked surprised and I have to be honest, I was surprised at my outburst myself. And before I cold stop myself, I felt my eyes became hot and filled with tears. Caleb looked like he was caught off-guard and was grappling for something to say, but I guess he was too surprised with my outburst.

"Baby, I'm sorry. Look, I'll make the deal as quickly as I could and be home as soon as I could ok? Baby, are you sure you're okay? What's wrong?" Caleb asked, a little panicky. All rational thinking seems to have left the building because the next thing I did was hang up on him.  And I switched off the phone. I stalked off to my bed and just threw myself on it. And I cried. And cried. And cried. I tried to stop the crying. I was alarmed myself at the intensity of my sobs. I hardly ever cried. But at that moment, it was as if a dam broke and I was literally crying a river. A whitewater river for that matter. 

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Caleb's POV
I stared at the blank screen in confusion. What just happened? I checked my phone to see if the battery has gone dead. It's not.

I called Charlie again.  And again. Every time I call,  it goes straight to voice mail. Aw crap.  What the hell is going on?  Did something happen to Charlie? Oh God,  is she okay?  Instantly a flood of horrifying scenarios started playing in my heaf,  rach worse than the next.  Feeling very worried,  I called my manager.  He would just have to reschedule the meeting.  Or cancel,  I don't really care anymore.

After a tense phone call to my manager,  I quickly packed my luggage and dashed out of the suite. I kept calling airline after airline, trying to get a flight to New York.  And everything's full.

"Damnit,  doesn't anybidy staying at home anymore!" I groaned in frustration as I hung up on another airline telling me their flight is full.

The Uber driver glanced at me from the rear view mirror every single time I swore after a disappointing call to an airline.  I was starting to get desperate as the Uber stopped at the airport to drop me off.  Saying a hasty goodbye,  I leaped out of the car and started running to the entrance,  dragging my luggage like a mad man on a mission.

As I stood in the ticket line,  I frantically tried to call Charlie,  but to no avail.  It still went to voicemail.  I was worried,  like crazy worried about Charlie.  God I hope nothing happened to her. Just then,  I got to the front of the line.  Finally!

"Yes sir,  may I help you? " A middle-age woman asked with a smile on her face.

"Yes,  um, I'd like a ticket to New York. Now." I said hopefully. The woman nodded and typed on her computer for a while.  Then she looked up at me and shook her head.

"I'm sorry, sir.  All our outgoing flights to New York is full until the next morning." The clerk said apologetically.  I groaned in frustration.

"I'm so sorry sir. Maybe you can try another airline." She tried to console me.

"I did.  They're full, too. Are you sure there's no seat available at all? I need to go home to my wife. She's not answering her phone and I'm worried. She was so upset..Look... I'm sorry.. Um, thanks anyway. " I said forlornly as I was ready to walk off when the clerk called me.

"Sir,  wait!" She called and I stopped short. I looked at her expectantly.

"Look sir, why don't you sit in the VIP lounge for a bit? I'll contact every available airline and inform you when there is a vacant seat,  ok sir?" The clerk said with a reassuring smile. I felt a little relieved.  I thanked her and walked to the VIP lounge.  And waited.  And waited.  And waited.  All thise time, I kept calling Charlie until my batteries went flat. After a while, I guess I fell asleep, because the next thing I knew, someone was gently shaking me awake. I sat up and rubbed my eyes to wake myself up. I focused my eyes and sa2 the same clerk looking at me with a smile in her face.  She was hansing me something.  I looked at it.  It's the first class ticket to New York.  I felt relief washed over me.

"Good evening sir.  Your ticket." She said and I took it from her gratefully.  I leaped from mu seat and hugged her,  boundaries,  be damned.  She hugged me back and chuckled. Then I let her go, my face, I'm sure is beaming like an idiot.

"You better get a move on Mr Matthews.  And congratulations for winning the title in South Korea." She said with a smile.  I was pleasantly surprised. She knew about my latest swim tournament?

"My daughter,  she idolises you.  She wants to be a swimmer just like you. And she's practicing really hard to qualify for the paralympics in a few years. Here, you better get a move on.  The flight's leaving soon." The clerk said. Her name tag says Marissa.

I was so grateful to her and was touched about her daughter. I opened my hand luggage and took out the windbreaker I got from the tournament.  I took my sharpie and looked at Marissa.

"What's your daughter's name?" I asked, my sharpie poised over the windbreaker.

Marissa looked at me in surprise. "Err,  Jenny.  Her name's Jenny." She stuttered. I wrote on the windbreaker and signed my name.

Jenny, Good luck and all the best with your swimming. I'll be rooting for you. ~Caleb Matthews~

I handed the windbreaker to a speechless Marissa and hugged her.  She smiled so widely and waved after me as I dashed to  boarding.

During the flight,  I kept praying that Charlie's alright and did not sleep a wink throughout the whole 3 hours and 40 minutes flight. I was to anxious to sleep.
************************************
Charlie's POV

The next morning, I was woken up by a raging nausea so intense, I barely made it to the bathroom. I dry heaved at the john, feeling my chest hurt and tears spilled out once again. In my groggy mind, I was confused at my crybaby situation.I hate crying. Just have to find a way to put a lid on this crying crap. After the nausea has subsided..somewhat, I got a shower and got dressed. I pulled on my work shirt and felt it snug around my boobs. Darn it. I looked down at my chest in dismay and groaned. Urgh, even with all the puking, my chest still retain their fat content. If possible, it looked like I have gone a few sizes up in the bra department. I rolled my eyes and just crammed the girls forcefully into my already snug shirt. 

After about 45 minutes I was already at work. I didn't talk to anybody. I just got to work and pretty soon, I was so deep into my work, my nausea and outburst are forgotten. I pushed Caleb from my mind, as far away as I could. Thinking about him made me all teary again and that just sucks.

The whole day passed in a blur. My phone was silent and I didn't bother checking it. Caleb can rot somewhere for all I care.  His work is sooo much more important, right?! He didn't even care that I miss him and that I am carrying his child! Okay, to be fair, he has no idea that I'm pregnant. But that's besides the point. He's supposed to be here in three days. He promised. 

That night in bed, I stared at the ceiling and willed myself to sleep and not to bawl like a baby. It wasn't easy. I almost chewed off my lower lip, trying to keep myself from crying.   But, somehow I doze off in the end, my dreams full of Caleb. 

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My eyes flew open. I was in semi-darkness. I thought I heard something and quickly sat up. Fear gripped me as I looked around my room, half-expecting a murderer to just jump out from the wardrobe, screaming at me demanding me to give him money or he'd slit my throat. I swallowed hard and was debating whether to get off the bed and check what the noise was. Yes, stupid, I know. Just as I stood up from the bed, a dark figure walked into my room. Without missing a beat, I screamed. And screamed and screamed my head off. I screamed even louder when the figure rushed towards me, holding me by the shoulders, shaking me.

"Baby, baby, hey! It's me!" The voice was crazy familiar. And the scent. His scent. Caleb?! What's he doing back?! I thought he said that he'd be back in 2 weeks? I strained my eyes to make sure it's Caleb. That hazel eyes, the dirty blonde hair, yeah it's Caleb alright.

When I could see his face, I threw my arms around him and hugged him to me so tightly. And I bawled my head off. Caleb held me tight and let me just cry like a crazy banshee, saying soothing words in my ears, making me slowly calm down.

"Shh, baby..It's okay. I'm here now, alright. Everything's good, ok." Caleb murmured into my hair, and then kissed my temple. I calmed myself down enough to finally let him go before I could suffocate him. Then I looked up at him, my forehead creased.

"What are you doing here? I thought you're only coming back in 2 weeks." I asked as I peered at him. Caleb sighed as he looked at me. I looked down, unable to meet his eyes. I was embarrassed that he had caught me crying.

"Well, after you freaked out on the phone and I hung up on me, I tried calling you but all my calls went straight to voicemail. So, I decided to just get the first flight to New York. But there was no flight. They were all full and I have to wait the whole day for a seat to be available. I was so worried sonething might happen to you." Caleb said and I felt really bad.  I took my phone in my quest hand and realized that I had forgotten to switch the darn thing on after my embarrassing meltdown yesterday.  I hung my head shamefully.  Then it occured to me. Caleb didn't go to that endorsement meeting?! Crap! 

"Wait,  so you didn't go to that meeting?! Why didn't you?" I asked.  Caleb looked at me weirdly and it took me a while to get why he didn't.

"Charlie,  you had a little meltdown when I told you I would be home later than you expected-"Caleb started to say when I cut him off.

"I did not have a meltdown." I said,  my voice dangerously low.  Caleb chuckled as he put his arms around my waist and pulled me close.  I resisted him a bit,  as a sign of protest.  Not that it worked. I miss him too much and he feels and smells wonderful.

"Ok,  you had a little freak out. And I got worried when I couldn't reach you.  I thought something horrible had happened to you. So,  I came home." Caleb explained matter of factly.

"Wait,  so you didn't go to the meeting? Oh, God.. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so selfish-" I said,  horrified at my selfishness.  Caleb just laughed and made me look at him. I did so shame-facedly.

"Look,  the meeting is not important.  You're more important to me than some endorsement deal." Caleb said as brushed my hair out of my eyes.

"But the endorsement deal..  It's probably worth millions-"I said,  dismayed that I had caused him to lose a huge endorsement deal that would have made him a very rich man.

"Look,  you're worth more than any product endorsement. There'll be other offers,  but there's only one you,  okay Baby?" Caleb said and kissed me on my forehead.  Then,  he got up to get cleaned up.  While he was in the shower,  I thought about how I would tell him that I'm pregnant.

While I was thinking about it,  Caleb came out of the bathroom and went to the walk-in closet to get dressed.  I gathered all the courage I could. I knew I had to tell him sooner,  rather than later.
After about a minute, he came out of the closet and went to the bed. He got under the covers, switched off the table lamp beside him and reached out for me. He started to pull me close to him and started kissing me, very passionately I might add. I responded enthusiastically as I really missed him. He was away for a month. It was awful without him around. Especially when I found out that I'm pregnant...Oh, crap. I have to tell him now before we go any further...Damn, his lips should be illegal..Caleb was kissing me on my neck and he was nibbling gently as he moaned softly. God, that moan is so hot..Maybe, I'll just tell him later...

********************************************************************************************

Caleb kissed me softly and then rolled off me, still holding me close. He laid still with his eyes closed, but I knew he's still awake. I gathered all my courage and turned on my side to face him. I laid my hand on his naked chest.

"Caleb, are you awake?" I asked, just buying time. I knew he's still awake.

"Yeah, what is it Baby?" Caleb murmured as he opened his eyes and looked at me. I took a deep breath.

"I..I have something to tell you." I said, bracing myself. Caleb didn't say anything. He just looked expectantly at me, encouraging me to speak further. I swallowed hard and clenched my eyes closed as I blurted.

"Caleb, I'm pregnant." I waited for him to say something. He didn't. Feeling worried, I opened my eyes. Caleb has sat up and was looking at me, his face looked drained off blood. Well, I thought it was although it was pretty dark.  He looked lost and he didn't say anything. Suddenly, he got out of bed, stood up by the bed and mumbled about forgetting his phone in the kitchen as he walked out of the room, stark naked. I stared at the door that he had just dashed out of, in the buff.  What just happened?! Did Caleb just bailed?! Oh God, he doesn't want the baby. He hates it. Crazy, outrageous thoughts played in my head as I sat on the bed, trying to grapple with the fact that Caleb practically ran out of the room after I told him I was pregnant. Fear started to grip me as I tried to think clearly about what would happen now that Caleb doesn't want the baby.

"So, you're really pregnant?" Caleb spoke suddenly. I looked up and saw him standing by the door, still naked.  I nodded my head dumbly. He walked closer towards the bed and towards me.

"Pregnant, as in we're gonna have a baby? Like, as in I'm gonna be a dad?" Caleb said as he came closer and finally sat on the bed near me. His voice sounded decidedly upbeat.

"Yes, you're gonna be a dad." I said simply. Caleb looked at me and suddenly he grinned widely and chuckled, like he was not sure what to do. Then he laughed and pulled me in for a tight hug. He was laughing and I started to laugh too. He kept saying Oh my God as he held me tight and kissed me repeatedly on my cheeks and temple. 

"Oh my God..We're gonna have a baby. We're having a baby!" Caleb kept repeating and then he looked at me, a different look on his face. I never saw his face look like that. He cupped my face and and kissed me so deeply. I swooned at the intensity of the kiss.

"God, Baby...I love you. I love you so much..." Caleb murmured in ear as he held me tight. I had a huge smile on my lips as I held him to me. It was the most perfect moment. 

***********************************************************************************************

Caleb was fussy. And annoying. And is a hoverer. As in he was like a drone, hovering over me, watching what I eat..or more accurately, what I don't eat since my