Chapter 2

Anthony woke and stretched as he sat up. The baby was still asleep which he was grateful for. He got outta bed and went to shower. Right as the warm water hit his belly the baby kicked and came to attention. He laughed silently. "Morning baby. You slept in late today huh?" he smiled as the baby kicked in response. He laughed, "Yeah kick me to death while you're at it." He finished his shower and went to clothe and dress.

He walked to the kitchen and made himself a vegetarian omelet which he had been craving ever since he got pregnant. He sat and ate in silence contemplating what to do before seeing Mariscka.  His phone rang and he went to find it. The last place he remembered having it was his bedroom the night before. He grabbed it on the last ring. "Hello? Hello...anyone there?"

He looked at his phone and noticed it was a text not a call. He sighed at his stupidity and opened the text. He smiled noticing it was from Mariscka. Hey gonna be a little late for our date. Mom is taking me shopping. He sent a reply of acknowledgement and went to play random video games on the net. He gasped noticing a game he found. It was a game where you get men pregnant and care for them like they were a pet. He scoffed watching the character have a temper tantrum or rubbing their stomach contently. He shut his laptop down and went to do anything.

He was happy when his time to go meet Mariscka arrived. He walked to the park to meet her. When he got there she was already sitting on a bench-their bench waiting for him. "Hi." He said as she got close. Mariscka turned and looked at him waving. He sat down by her slowly with a hand over his stomach. "So the baby has been kicking me to smithereens all day. It won't give up."

Mariscka put her hand over his stomach and laughed. You're right, I feel bad for you.  he smiled and kissed him. Other than being kicked from the inside out how are things going?

Anthony sighed. "Pretty well, I was bored all day but I am better now. I am great now actually. I thought about you a lot today." She looked at him expectantly. "I was wondering if you wanted to move in with me." Mariscka gasped. "And before you ask I would not make you do something you don't wanna do. I would be ok if you said no and stayed with your parents. It won't-"

Mariscka put a finger to his lips to shut him up. I would love to move in with you Anthony. I love you and I love the baby inside you. You both have made my life complete beyond measure.  She smiled at him and touched his belly again. I know that if I said no my life would be hell. So yes a million times over yes.

Anthony pulled her close to his body as his baby filled belly would allow and kissed her hard. "I will always love you Mariscka. Until the day I die you will be the only one in my heart." Mariscka frowned a little at the way he said only her. What about his baby? doesn't he love the baby? she asked herself. Anthony looked at her quizzically. "What are you thinking?"

She shook her head. It's nothing. Don't worry. How long before I can move in?

He laughed. "Anytime you want to love."

~~~~

After 1 month Mariscka was fully moved into his house. For the time being she had her own room and he had his. Her room was a dark green color with black curtains over the windows. She woke one morning to Anthony lying behind, spooning her with an arm around her middle holding her close as possible.

She felt the baby kicking her spine. She rolled over to face Anthony careful not to wake him. She put a hand to his belly wishing she didn't sound deformed when she talked so that she could tell the baby a story or maybe just let it know she loved it. She instead rubbed gentle circles over where the baby was kicking to calm it.

Anthony woke to her rubbing his belly and smiled. "Morning babe." Mariscka looked up and he to the moment to kiss her. "Wow, I like that. But um...how did I end up in your bed?" she shrugged. "Last thing I remember I was lying in bed watching a movie. That was around 3 AM....what time is it now?"

"9." Mariscka replied since her hands were occupied.

Anthony laughed. "Cool. So how about I go take a shower then make you breakfast ok?" Mariscka sighed and shook her head. "What?"

"I cook for you. You are pregnant and need to be cared for. So shower and breakfast will be ready when you are done." She stood and walked off before Anthony could say yes or no about the subject. He went to shower.

Once naked he looked at his 6 month pregnant belly in the mirror. "Well baby, you're getting big so I am also getting bigger." He sighed looking at himself from all angles. "Is it wrong that I still think about occasionally leaving you at the park? I mean I can't handle raising a baby. it's a miracle I can handle everything now cause of all the bills to get your vitamins and to get you checked out to be sure you're healthy." He sighed and got under the spray of the water.

When he got out the baby was kicking in rapid succession and he was already getting annoyed. He smelled bacon cooking in the kitchen. He pulled on a set of pajama bottoms and gave up on shirts when he couldn't find one that fit over his belly. He walked down and sat in his chair. "Hey breakfast smells really good Mariscka."

She smiled at him. "Eat before it gets cold." Mariscka noticed that ever since she moved in with Anthony she was more comfortable speaking than she has been her whole life. She knew that she definitely loved the pregnant man sitting across from herself. She smiled as they ate together in silence.

Chapter 4

Mariscka came home to find Anthony sprawled out on the couch with his hands over his naked belly. She listened silently as he talked to the baby. "Well little one we are getting closer to your birth. Soon we will be free of each other. You're gonna be so much better off without me. You'll have a family that loves you so much. I can't care for you like someone else can. But I know you'll be ok, I swear it.

I want you to have the best life possible and being with me means you wouldn't get that. I haven't decided where to leave you yet...but I am sure you will be safe. If I have to I will hide til someone picks you up. But I swear someone will find you." Mariscka gasped. Anthony sat up fat shocked that she heard everything. "Mariscka..."

She glared at him. "HOW DARE YOU! YOU KNOW WHAT I WENT THROUGH AND YOU ARE STILL GONNA LEAVE IT FOR AN UNKNOWN STRANGER!" She looked him in the eye. "Maybe you're not as nice as I thought. I thought you changed, guess I was wrong." He stormed out of the house. Anthony cursed and threw the pillow his had been resting on across the room.

Mariscka cried as she ran to her mother's house. She ran into the house, found Andrea, and cried into her chest. Andrea was shocked at first but held her tight. "Baby what's wrong?"

Mariscka took a deep breath. "Anthony is gonna leave the baby in the park once it's born. He thinks we can't handle raising it!" she clung to Andrea tight as she cried hysterically. Andrea led her to the living room and sat with her. After a while she calmed. "Mom, tell me about when I was born? And the real version. Not the one of you delivering me in a hospital."

Andrea nodded. "Ok baby."

Andrea left Sven by his father's grave for a few minutes alone to grieve. As she waited for his whistle to call her over she leaned on a tree. When the whistle came she ran over. She got to him and noticed he looked weird. My water broke.

Andrea gasped and tried to help him up. she got frustrated when he shook his head and fought her. "What Sven? We need to get you outta here." He shook his head again and she sighed. "What? Talk to me; what do I do?"

I want to have the baby here. I want to be near my dad for this. He was the only one who believed in me. He was gonna help me, but once mom found out I was forced to leave. I need to stay here. Andrea nodded and stood by his side. Andrea please, just trust me. I feel like I need to do this.

"I trust you Sven, this may be the dumbest thing you do but I trust you." He crawled over to the side of his father's tombstone and leaned against it. "Sven what do I do?"

Right now? Just stay with me and promise not to leave me. I need someone around right now. At first I was gonna do this alone so that I wouldn't be embarrassed but ever since I ran into you a few days ago I knew I needed someone around. For the time being Andrea sat next to him and squeezed his hand when he got contractions.

Andrea sat by his side waiting patiently for the baby to drop down enough for him to push it out. It was 3 AM when he started pushing the baby out. "Alright Sven, I know you can do this. Next contraction push as hard as you can ok?" Sven nodded and took deep breaths preparing for the next contraction. It hit faster than he thought. He put his chin to his chest and pushed hard. "You're doing great Sven. Deep breath and push again." Sven pushed and when the pain became too much he let out a chuffing noise which was meant to be a scream.

She watched him as he exclaimed that he was past being able to do it anymore. He begged and pleaded for her to end the pain. She waited as he pushed while his energy drained. Then he said the one thing that she knew he meant. Andrea. I want to keep the baby. I don't want to give it away anymore.

"Ok Sven, you can keep the baby but you need to get it here first. Now push!" Sven mustered his courage and pushed as hard as he could. His back arched as the pain of the baby stretching him made him want to die. Once the head popped out he just took a few moments to breathe. "Come on Sven, push again. You can do it. Just a few more pushes and you can hold the baby."

Not the baby, my baby. It is my baby, no one's but mine. He pushed hard when he heard the baby cry. Oh my god, it's crying. Listen to that beautiful cry. With one last Andrea caught the baby and laid it on his chest. Sven held the baby and wished he could talk to it. All of the sudden he felt weak and handed the baby over to Andrea. Take good care of her Andrea. And tell her that I loved her. Don't let anything happen to her. Please keep her safe. Andrea nodded and looked at the baby in her arms. she looked at Sven when he let out a weak whistle. Thanks for staying with me. And I want you to know I always loved you Andrea. I still love you. He reached his hand out and touched his baby. Goodbye my angel. I lo…

"I held you as I watched him die. He was with his father again. He went where he belongs. Once he was delivering you he got the connection to you that he so needed all along, but it came too late. He trusted me with you. I went and got paramedics. They declared him already dead which I knew before they arrived.

I go visit his grave quite often actually. I leave roses on his grave for each year of your life. If he could see you now he would be so proud of you Mariscka. I know he would kiss your cheek and tell you that he loved you very much. He would tell you that you're his little girl and that he's sorry for how he acted before your birth." She smiled as she hugged Mariscka tight.

"Stay here I'll be right back." Mariscka watched as Andrea walked off then came back some time later with a piece of paper in her hands. "Here I want you to have this. This picture was taken the last time I saw your father. He was pregnant with you at the time. It was the only picture I have of him while he was pregnant. I had to sneak to get it actually. But I am glad now that I took it."

Mariscka took the picture in her hands and looked at her mother by blood. A tear came to her eye as she looked at the picture of her father scowling at his belly as her foot pressed against his skin. "Oh mom, this is great. Thank you... and um... when are you going to see him again? I wanna come too."

Andrea smiled. "In a few days. And yes you can come. He'll like that."

Chapter 6

Anthony sat in the living room waiting for Mariscka to come home, he had no idea where she was and he was worried about her. He truthfully loves her, before meeting her he felt like there was nothing worth living for. Now the thought of losing her broke his heart. He heard the door knob turn and was up and waiting before she walked in. "Mariscka, I am so sorry for what I said. I didn't mean any of it that way." He walked to her. He went to her and noticed her casted hand. "Baby what happened to your hand?"

"I punched a tree." Anthony suppressed the laughter bubbling in his gut. He never knew his girl had strength and fury. Mariscka sighed bringing his attention back to her. "If you didn't mean what you said to me and the baby then what did you mean?"

He sighed. He knew she would want answers. He led her to the living room. "Sit with me?" she nodded and sat down. Once he sat by her she snuggled close and her good hand rested on is shifting belly. "What I meant is yes I want the baby but a part of me also doesn't want it. I mean I would be glad to be a parent really I would, but I am too young. We are only 18 Mariscka. We have our whole lives ahead of us. Why not give the baby to someone who can't have babies? Why not ensure that he or she has a great chance at life? Why not give it what we can't? I am not thinking of giving it away cause I'm selfish. It's because I want it to have a good life with a family that can do so much more for it then we can." He looked at his stomach. "Understand?"

Mariscka sighed. "Yes, but I know that we can raise this baby together. You and me, we can give it the best those people can and you can give it so much more. Think of how you felt when you learned you are adopted. It hurt, but I still love my mom and dad; don't get me wrong. But I wish I had known sooner." She rubbed his belly gently. "Please promise you me won't make a clear cut decision until this little one is born. You can look at adoption agencies, you can do all that but please wait til you fight for it and hold it in your arms." she looked him in the eye hoping he would listen.

Anthony sighed. "I'll wait, but you promise me that if I do give it away you won't be mad at me and that you will understand." Mariscka nodded and leaned up kissing him passionately.

Time passed and Anthony reached month 7 of his pregnancy. Mariscka smiled as she woke to find Anthony snuggled close to her side holding her like there was no tomorrow. She put her casted hand over his belly since her other hand was inaccessible. She laughed silently as the baby kicked at her hand. She sighed just watching Anthony sleep. "My family." She whispered in her distorted voice.

Anthony stirred and looked her in the eye. "Morning my love." he kissed her passionately. "How are you feeling?" Mariscka smiled. "I'll take that as good, so I was thinking of going into town today to get new clothes. Wanna come?" Mariscka nodded happily. "Great, wanna shower with me too?"

She giggled. "Um... Duh." She sat up and went to start the shower as he got up and spent a little time playing with the baby. Once he walked in she already had a plastic bag over her cast and was naked. "You're wearing too much."

He looked at himself. "Maybe just a little bit." He stripped and they went to shower together.

Mariscka and Anthony walked into the paternity clothing store together. Mariscka held his hand and led him over to the pants section. She smiled watching him as he tried on various outfits.

Anthony sighed as they paid in $300.00 in paternity clothes. The back seat of the car was loaded with bags of new clothes. On the way home they went to burger king for lunch. Mariscka sighed as they sat down. "Anthony?"

"Yeah babe?" he smiled at her.

"I was thinking about something. Well I noticed that we make love often and well..." she wrung her hands nervously.

Anthony put down the burger he was about to bite into. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Depends on what you're thinking." She smiled sheepishly at him.

He shifted closer. "Mariscka are you pregnant?"

She sighed. "It's possible... I'm 3 weeks late." Mariscka blushed a little. "Are you mad Anthony? You're awfully silent."

He smiled. "No baby I am not mad, thinking but not mad at all. Why would I be mad at you?" he picked up her hand and kissed it gently. "I love you very much. And if we're having a baby together I will love it very much. If we're not then I can hope it will happen one day." He smiled at her.

She bit her lip and looked at him. "And Anthony? Think of this if I am pregnant you're giving the baby you're carrying a brother or sister." She let her hand it on her flat belly wondering if it was true.

A few days later Anthony took Mariscka for a blood test at his doctor's. He held her hand and smiled at her the whole time as the blood was drawn. He took her home after the doctor said they would call later that afternoon.

At 4 PM the phone rang and Anthony answered it. "Hello?"

"Is Mariscka there? This is the Doctor."

"Hi this is Anthony. Can you tell me the news? She can't hear too well." Anthony rubbed his own belly as the baby kicked in rapid fashion. He listened intently. "Thank you, I'll let her know. Goodbye." He went and found Mariscka in their room reading. "Babe?"

She looked at him then set the book aside. "Yes?"

"I just got off the phone with the doctor." He walked over and sat by her.

"And?"

"You're-" Anthony passed out and fell by her legs unmoving.

She grabbed her phone. Called 911 and set the phone aside. "Anthony! Anthony please wake up!"

Chapter 8

Mariscka came home to find Anthony in the kitchen with his iPod on and ear buds in his ears. He was dancing as he cleaned up, she smiled watching him. She laughed silently when she shook his hips back and forth. The thing that made her laugh most was him trying pelvic thrusts.

Anthony danced along to the My Chemical Romance album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. At the moment Bulletproof Heart was playing. He had the volume on his iPod as high as it would go. He danced along to the music as he wiped off counters and washed dishes. As he finished the last dish he put it in the drainer to dry and started wiping up any loose water. He’d just done a pelvic thrust after throwing the towel onto the counter. He turned and that was when he noticed Mariscka.

Mariscka leaned against the door frame with a camcorder recording his whole dance routine. He also noticed her cast gone. He removed the ear buds from his hears as he took out his iPod and turned it off. “Mariscka? What’cha doing?”

“Recording you. You are very cute by the way.” She said in her distorted voice. “I say you should go for round two.” She smiled at him around the camera. “Please? It’s something to show the baby once it’s old enough. We can call it first dance with daddy.”

Anthony laughed. “Mariscka please turn it off. I am not cute, I am a whale.” He lifted his shirt to show her his belly that was starting to get stretch marks. “The only part of this that is cute is the baby. Otherwise I am the hunchback of Notre Dame and they put my hump in the wrong place.”

Mariscka giggled. “See baby? That is you inside daddy.” She reached a hand out and touched his belly. She smiled as a foot became visible when she pulled her hand away. “Hi baby, you’re so cute. Did  you like daddy’s dancing?” Anthony rubbed his belly as the baby kicked more and shifted round. Mariscka laughed. “See honey? Even the baby wants you to dance. Please?”

Anthony gave in. “Fine. Follow me.” he grabbed his iPod off the table and went to the living room. He plugged his iPod into it’s jack and turned it on playing more from MCR. He started dancing again as she filmed him. She put the camera on the table making sure he could be seen clearly and walked over. She started to dance with him and laughed.

Finally Anthony walked over and grabbed the camera and pointed it on her. “Come on mommy. Dance for the baby, show it what you can do.” Mariscka changed the music to Evanescence’s Imaginary and started dancing. She was slow at first but as the song went on she got faster and more active. Once it was over they were both laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

They agreed to leave the music on and sat down on the couch to snuggle. Mariscka sighed. “So my cast is gone...” She smiled at him. “Are you excited my love?”

Anthony nodded. “Very Mariscka. I am glad to see you’re back to normal instead of all hurt and casted up.” he picked up the hand that had been in the cast for the past 2 months and kissed it gently.

Mariscka giggled and blushed. “Such a gentlemen.” She smiled at him. “I love you.”

“I love you too Mariscka and that is why I wanna ask you something.” She nodded. Anthony leaned over to the table and opened a drawer. He reached in and pulled out a velvet box. “Mariscka will you give me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Mariscka gasped. “Oh Anthony! Yes! Always!” she kissed him passionately.

Anthony smiled and put the ring on her finger. “This makes me so happy love.” She smiled and nodded as tears flooded her eyes. She kissed him passionately and smiled. 

Chapter 10

 Anthony did his best to kneel down to pick up the sponge he had dropped. First he tried bending over but failed. Then he spread his legs wide as possible and tried again; another failure. He tried squatting with his hand on the counter for support and again failed. After the third attempt he gave in and left the sponge there ignoring it entirely. He went to the living room, sat on the couch, and rubbed his belly gently as the baby kicked and pawed at his insides. 
      
      He smiled. "That was and evil sponge huh? I say we leave it there and let it shrivel and die." He laughed when the baby kicked more. "Yeah, well mommy should be home soon. She's getting her first baby related doctor appointment today. We woulda joined her but I had to clean." The phone rang and he sighed as he dug into his pocket to get it. "Hello? What!? Please tell me this is a very cruel joke. Oh god.... I'm coming." He put the phone in his pocket and struggled to put his shoes on. He got into his car and drove to the hospital as fast as he could. 
      
      When he got to the hospital he signed in as a visitor and practically ran to Mariscka's room. He gasped seeing Mariscka on her side on the bed facing away from him. He bit his lip as he walked in. "Mariscka?" Mariscka heard him but ignored him. "Babe, please talk to me. They told me what happened." She still ignored him. He sat on the bed behind her and touched her arm. 
      
      "Do not touch me." she said in her distorted voice. He went to touch her again and she rolled onto her back glaring at him. "I said do not touch me. Is that so hard to understand Anthony?! Which part did you not get!? Just leave me alone! I do not need the sympathy from a person who is still pregnant! So just leave me alone!"
      
      Anthony gasped. "Mariscka I didn't cause you to lose the baby. Why are you treating me like this is my fault? I was nowhere near you when you miscarried! I was at the house trying to clean the house." She glared at him. "What? What do you want from me Mariscka? Do you want me to just leave you alone permanently? If you want I can move in with my father. You can keep the house." When she said nothing he stood and walked out trying to keep the tears at bay. He walked to his car and got inside. Right after he closed and locked the door he started crying. He didn't wanna lose the one person who really loved him. 
      
      After 5 minutes of crying he dried his eyes and drove to the home he shared with Mariscka and cleaned out his prized possessions and clothes then drove to his father's house. He moved back into his old room and immediately was belittled by his father for being pregnant. He sat in the window seat and just looked outside with his hand on his stomach. He felt new tears coming but shoved them back as he started putting things away in the closet and on shelves. 
      
      Mariscka laid on her hospital bed in the fetal position crying. In the matter of an hour she had lost her baby and her fiancée. She had no idea why she snapped at Anthony the way she did but regretted every word that crawled outta her mouth. She hoped that Anthony hadn't moved out but she would have no way of knowing until she was released to go home. One minute she was sitting alone and the next Andrea was hugging her close rubbing her back trying to calm her.