Christmas Surprise

Christmas Surprise:

Anna snuggled up next to her new husband, Slinkman, on the couch as they enjoyed the evening of their first Christmas together. It had been a wonderful one. It had been filled with laugher, love, and a beautiful Christmas tree. Slinkman had even gotten her a sapphire necklace. But it wasn’t quite over for the young slug.

Sometime had happened to her, something she was very excited about. She had felt…odd, even nauseous, over the past week. She had suspected what most women would have suspected. So she had taken the test. The results…?

Anna gave a content sigh as she glanced up at her husband. His head was leaned back against the sofa, and his eye lids were just beginning to close. She giggled a little. He could be so cute sometimes, especially when it was unintentional.

He would be such a good dad.

Anna gave another sigh, but this time it was to calm her nerves. She wasn’t sure how he’d take it. They had never discussed the topic of having children before. What if he didn’t want any? What is he wasn’t ready to be a father?

She had just about gathered up her courage when the deejay on the kitchen radio began to announce the end of her air time.

“This is Kitty Patnaude hosting your station for holiday favorites, 103.9 ASH FM. Well, it’s time for me to clock out. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and had much to be thankful for. I’ll leave you with Nat King Cole, with the song everybody knows.”

Right on cue, The Christmas Song began to emanate softly from the radio. Anna smiled softly and snuggled closer to Slinkman. She loved this song.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose…

Anna had just begun to dose off when she felt an arm wrap around her waist. She kept her eyes closed and smiled even wider. She heard him give a small chuckle.

“I know what I’m thankful for.”

Anna sat up and decided to play clueless with him. She leaned on his shoulder and innocently asked, “What?”

He smiled, turned toward her, and wrapped his other arm around her. She giggled as he pulled her closer to him. “You”, he simply said.

She blushed, which she always thought was funny. They had been married for a couple of months, yet he still made her blush whenever he complimented her. She then leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips.

“You’re not sick of me yet?” she asked him playfully. Slinkman shook his head, with a slightly serious look on his face. She rolled her eyes, “Oh you will be.” Slinkman laughed lightly at her.

They were silent for a few moments before Slinkman looked over his shoulder at the clock on the wall. It was eleven o’clock. No wonder he was getting tired. He yawned as he looked back at his wife.

“Well, my body is on a tight schedule. The rule is-.” He began to say, but his wife finished his sentence. “Yeah, yeah, eleven o’clock.” She rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated huff.

He looked at her with a small bit of surprise. “What’s wrong? Usually you don’t care about the rules I make for myself.”

While she hadn’t wanted to sound annoyed, she decided to use this opportunity to her advantage. This was the perfect time to tell him.

“Well, honey, I just didn’t want the night to end yet”, she stated. Slinkman then got a rarely-seen devilish look in his eyes. “Oh?”

She smirked at him. This was the side of him that only she would ever know about. When she was not around he was a rule-following dud.

“Hold your horses, big fella. Don’t get excited. Before you go thinkin’ you get a 13th day of Christmas, I need to tell you something important.” Her smile dropped as she said the last part. This was it. She had no idea how he would take it, what his reaction would be, or even if he would stay with her after this.

Slinkman saw her smile drop, and grew concerned.

“Something happened around day three…”, she began as she drew herself away from his body and averted her eyes from his. While he was scared by her sudden anxiousness, he kept his arm around her shoulder, as a symbol of support for her. Whatever is was, they would get through it.

Anna paused. She didn’t know if she had the courage to tell him this. They had just gotten married, and this would change everything. Was it too early? He wouldn’t ask her to get rid of it, would he? All she needed was a sign that he would be there. That he wouldn’t leave. One could easily fake support with an arm gesture. But one cannot hide the feelings that show in one’s eyes.

She took in a deep breath and then looked into Slinkman’s eyes. She gasped inwardly when she saw his expression. Concern , love, and support. Obviously he would be with her through this. That was all she needed from him. Suddenly her fears dissipated from her mind, and she let a smile touch her lips.

“Honey…”, she said quietly as she placed a hand on her belly. “…I’m pregnant.”

Slinkman’s hand drew back from her shoulder a little bit and he sat back against the sofa in shock. He didn’t know how to react. How was he supposed to react? They never taught this in Sex Ed in high school. But in less than a second, his emotions took over his mind.

She’s pregnant?

She’s pregnant.

Then it dawned on him…

She’s pregnant!!!!!!!

A wide smile became plastered on his face as he stupidly asked, “We’re going to have a baby?” Anna’s smile became just as big as she replied, “Yes!”

Now he knew how to react. His heart was filled with a love he had never felt before. His wife was carrying a child. Half of his chromosomes were to be in this child. He couldn't have been more happy in that moment.

He pulled Anna toward him and began kissing her cheeks, forehead, and lips.

Anna giggled as she tried to speak, “Sam. Sam. Sam! Goodness. Calm down a little.” She had to push herself away from him in order to get him to listen.

He had tears in his eyes when she finally pulled away. “How can I calm down? You’re pregnant! I’m going to be a dad!” He paused, and gently placed his hand on her abdomen. “Our baby is in there as we speak.”

Anna felt tears threatening. She held them back as best as she could.

“I was so scared to tell you this. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to keep it. I was even more frightened of you leaving me”, she said as she looked away from him, ashamed of her own worriment.

Slinkman sighed, “I vowed ‘For better or for worse’. Even if this were one of those ‘worse’ parts, I still wouldn’t leave you. I made those vows because I meant them. I would never ask you to…” He stopped himself short. He couldn’t find the right words to say to her. So, instead, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. He hugged her and kept one hand on her abdomen.

Anna could no longer hold back her tears. She began to cry silently as she leaned back against the man she loved so very much. They sat in silence for a few moments before Slinkman turned his head and kissed his wife’s cheek.

“Thank you”, he whispered.

She sniffled, “For what?”

“For the Christmas surprise”, he responded with a smile.
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Ahaha, I did get in a Christmas related Deviation. At about...11:40 p.m. Whoo! Hey, it still counts.

Oh, and if you didn't get the "13 days of Christmas" thing....well, it means that they were "busy" *coughcough* for 12 days before Christmas and Slinky got excited about a possibly 13th.

Slinkman (C) Joe Murray
Anna (C) Me
Art (C) Me