just take my hand

"They're definitely egging each other on, wherever they're at," Lovisa joked lightly, trying to forget her concerns for a moment, and she watched him for a moment before she shifted to sit down on the bed he'd tapped, setting her bag down at her feet for now. Resting her hands on her lap, she clasped them together tightly. "I, uh... I don't know." She chewed on her lip anxiously, ducking her head a bit. "I just... Well, the flu that we thought I had wasn't actually the flu. Instead, it's... Serious. Not like dead-serious, but life-altering serious and I just..." She shifted a bit, nervous, aware she was mildly rambling, and she cleared her throat. "I went to the Doctor, like you asked, and, um... I mean, like I said, it's not the flu." She cringed a bit internally at how she was trying to beat around the bush. "I'm pregnant, Luke..."

Michael smiled as he watched Jess, just so amazed with her, and so astounded by how at home she looked in that moment - and in complete awe of how much he had missed her. "That definitely answers that," he teased lightly in return, though his expression softened when he saw her toying with her lip and, while it was the most attractive thing he'd ever seen, he knew it was usually a sign of nerves for Jess. Shifting to close the tour bus door, he made his way over to her, sitting down beside her as he wrapped an around around her and tugged her close to his side, just wanting to provide whatever comfort he could for her while she was dealing with whatever was going on. "What's going on, babe?" he asked gently, peering down at her as he rubbed her arm gently before he kissed the top of her head. "Whatever it is, I'm here, I'm not going anywhere."

“You know it,” Luke grinned. “Ashton’s good at egging people on. Man, do I have a story to tell you.” He laughed, pushing his hair from his face happily, biting his lip as he took in the sight of Lovisa, loving how at home she looked on his bed. Sitting beside her, Luke placed a hand on her knee, squeezing gently, reassuringly as he listened carefully, although hearing the word pregnant, Luke blinked in surprise, his face breaking out into the biggest grin Luke swore he’d ever worn. “Really?” He asked quietly, his voice already so full of joy. “I’m gonna be a Dad, Lovisa...” he laughed happily. “Holy shit, baby, we’re going to be parents!” He grinned, pulling her into his embrace, clearly over the moon as he kissed the top of her head. “Holy shit.” He grinned, half in shock, half elated. “This baby is going to be perfect. And so loved.” He gushed. Realising though, Luke blinked. “How do you feel though, babe?”

Jess wrapped an arm around Michael’s middle as she settled her head on his chest, just having missed being beside him so much. Hearing his question made tears come to Jess’ eyes, and she sat herself up once more to paw at her eyes, not wanting to seem too nervous, knowing she’d make him nervous as a result. Deciding outright would be the best way to break the news, Jess sighed. “Michael, we — I...” she exhaled. “I’m pregnant, Michael.”

Lovisa had been waiting patiently, although anxious, waiting for an outburst, for shock, for anger or denial or any other negative thing that could come from Luke. Instead, though, she heard the joy in his voice and it prompted her to lift her gaze to him, her eyes wide in shock before her expression softened to relief and she could feel her eyes water. Seeing how happy he was about it, how excited he was, she felt awful for thinking of the worst reactions, and she sniffled as she wiped at her eyes. "I just - I was so worried you'd be upset or angry, I didn't really take the time to think about how I felt about the pregnancy myself," she admitted with a quiet, weak laugh, and she shifted, burying her face against him. "I was so afraid of losing you, I couldn't even think straight..." She cleared her throat a bit, smiling slightly up at him. "But, I mean, you know how often I get baby fever." She laughed, a little stronger this time, and wiped more at her eyes. "So, now that I'm not freaking out about you possibly freaking out, I'm really just... Happy and excited."

Michael examined Jess, blinking with concern when she sat up, his concern growing when he saw her pawing at her eyes, his heart constricting with the thought of her being upset and crying, wishing he knew what was wrong. But, then, when she finally spoke, it took him a few moments to really process what she was saying and, as he did, a broad, wide grin began spreading across his face, and he was sure it reached the corners of his face as quickly as possible. "Wait, really?" he asked, almost in shock, but that shock was overshadowed by the wonder and elation in his voice. "Seriously? We're gonna be parents?" And, as the truth really settled on him, he couldn't help but to laugh happily as he pulled her closer, onto his lap, and he cupped her face to wipe her tears away before kissing her for a long moment. "I'm gonna be a Dad? We're gonna have a baby Clifford? Like, an actual baby baby Clifford?" He chewed on his lip, trying to reign in his happiness, in case Jess wasn't excited about it, but unable to help it. "Holy shit, Jess, that's the most amazing news I've ever heard, I can't believe it!" Laughing happily still, he kissed her again, finding himself unable to help it, too excited and amazed with the news, feeling a rush of love flowing through him already for their baby. He pulled back, though, trying to remind himself to reign it in, to wait to see how she felt about it, and he pressed his forehead. "Wait, how do you feel about this?" he asked quietly, "Because, honestly, I'm gonna feel like such a dick with being this happy and overjoyed with the news if you're not actually happy about it, because that's completely unfair to you and I don't want to put you in a bad position or anything. But, God, Jess, I love you, so whatever you feel about it, it's okay, we're okay."

Luke smiled as he watched Lovisa, listening to her intently as she spoke. “Baby, this is amazing news.” He told her, his voice quiet, but sincere still. Cupping Lovisa’s cheek, Luke wiped any stray tears with his thumb. Hearing her comments about losing him, though, Luke smiled sympathetically. “You could never lose me. I love you too much. I told you when we first got together, I’m in this for the long haul.” He promised. “But now we’re going to have a Baby Hemmings and this is so amazing, Lovisa.” He told her honestly, placing a hand on her tummy. “We made a beautiful little baby. This little miracle is here because we love each other. How amazing is that?!” He asked, unable to stop the smile on his face from broadening once more. “This is going to be such a great chapter of our lives, Lovisa, I can tell. I just know it.” Luke grinned.

Jess blinked as she waited for Michael’s reaction, so terrified it would be negative. But when she saw his smile, when he pulled her onto his lap, as he kissed her, Jess smiled, returning the kiss. “Seriously.” She confirmed with a small smile, just watching him. But when the words ‘Baby Clifford’ left his mouth, an overwhelming sense of love and excitement flooded through her chest as she nodded, but when she heard his question, Jess smiled. “I’m happy, Michael. Excited. But I’m terrified.” She admitted. “But — I was so frightened of telling you, I — I thought...” she frowned, ducking her head in shame.

Lovisa offered a quiet, happy laugh, the relief flooding through her, and she leaned into his touch, closing her eyes as she nodded slowly. "I know, I know, I just... It was such a shock, and I know we've talked about our futures together and everything, but it just came out of nowhere, so I wasn't really sure," she murmured quietly, though she could feel herself relaxing the more Luke talked and she eventually shifted, leaning against him, her heart easing and swelling when she felt his hand on her tummy. "I love you, Luke, so much."

Michael's expression softened as he listened to her and he shifted, holding her closer, resting his hand on her tummy as he rubbed it gently and kissed her shoulder. "You thought I'd leave you?" he supplied gently before he offered a small smile, figuring that it was the only explanation for why Jess had been so distant lately. "I'd never leave you, Jess, not for anything in this world. And especially not for this - even if the news would have upset me, we both made the conscious decision to do what we did, so even that wouldn't have made me leave you, I promise." He held her closer to himself and moved, kissing her lips for a few moments. "But I love you, Jess, with everything in me - and I love this baby, our baby, too. Our little baby Clifford is going to be the most perfect baby to exist." He grinned. "And he or she is going to have the best mother ever."

Luke listened to Lovisa carefully, taking in her words and nodding, wanting her to know she had a place to turn to with him, and he always wanted to be her solace, the one who would hold it all up if she felt the weight on her shoulders. "I love you Lovisa, more than anything." He told her. "And now, I love our baby." He told her. "This tiny little thing that we made together, it's amazing." He smiled with the thought. "So what if our future came quickly? It gives us more time to enjoy it." He told her, rubbing her tummy, his other arm around her shoulders, pulling her protective to his side. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there when you found out." Luke murmured into her hair. "But I'm here now, you're here now... we've got this. And our baby is so lucky to have a Mama like you." Luke smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Jess nodded as Michael filled in the blanks, but relaxed when she felt his hand on her stomach, resting a hand over his protectively. Toying with her lower lip as she listened to Michael speak, Jess offered Michael a weak smile. "I'm sorry for distancing myself, Michael. The last thing I wanted to do was worry you, or scare you." She told him gently, her voice still quiet, tears still in her eyes. Hearing his promise that he'd never leave her, Jess looked to Michael, her eyes closing as he kissed her, returning the kiss as she moved to cup his face. "I love you so damn much, Michael Clifford." She told him, their lips ghosting over each other's. "And little baby Clifford," she smiled with those words. "Will be lucky to have you as a Dad."

Lovisa watched Luke as she listened to him quietly, though she shifted to lean against him, her heart swelling when she felt Luke's hand on her stomach. “I love you, too,” she whispered, “And we thought it was the flu, it's not your fault.” She smiled slightly, letting her eyes close over as she relaxed. “Our baby's lucky to have a Dad like you.”

Michael nodded slightly as he listened to her, cupping her face gently as he ran his thumbs under her eyes to wipe her tears away. “I understand, I do, but you don't have to hide anything from me, ever,” he whispered, “I love you, Jess, nothing will ever change that.” He grinned slightly, kissing her forehead gently before grinning with her kiss, relaxing under her touch. “I love you and baby Clifford so much.”

Luke watched as Lovisa relaxed, just wanting her to know that she could turn to him whenever she needed him, but the fact that he was going to be a father excited Luke to no end. "I love you, and I love our baby." He promised, rubbing Lovisa's still flat stomach, finding himself excited at the idea of a bump; of a kick, of a tiny little life they created out of love.

Jess smiled weakly, relaxing as Michael wiped her tears away, appreciating him so much, she couldn't begin to put it into words. "I was just scared." She whispered, focusing on her hands with her words, feeling like an idiot. "I'm sorry I didn't come to you as soon as I found out, but we have nine months to enjoy of this before bub comes along." She smiled, kissing Michael once more. "But we love you too."

Lovisa smiled as she watched him, her heart swelling with his words, with his contact, with the feeling of his hand on her stomach and she shifted, leaning to cup his face to press a kiss to his lips for a moment. “We love you, too, Luke,” she whispered quietly, “And we're so lucky to have you.”

Michael nodded in understanding, smiling sympathetically before he kissed the top of her head. “You don't have to apologize,” he whispered, “I'm just sorry you had to go through all of this alone, finding out about it, the first stages of it…” Holding her closer to himself, he grinned with her kiss but nodded. “We'll enjoy every moment of it, I promise.”

Luke smiled as Lovisa cupped his face, keeping his hand on her tummy, because he wanted to be as close to Lovisa, and their unborn child, as he could be. When she kissed him though, Luke's smile broadened to a grin, and he returned the kiss. "This is so surreal." He murmured into Lovisa's lips, and he meant it in the best way. He'd never known a happiness like this. "I can't wait to tell everyone."

Jess smiled weakly as Michael pressed a kiss to the top of her head, not quite understanding how she managed to get someone as understanding, as compassionate as Michael. Listening to him closely, she nodded, smiling as Michael held her close, because the only place in the world that cured her hiraeth was Michael's arms. "Every single moment." She nodded, kissing his jaw happily.

Lovisa grinned with the feeling of Luke’s hand still on her tummy, relieved to have him there, relieved to be there with him, but, more than anything, relieved that he was so happy with the news when it had been tearing her nerves apart with anxiety over telling him. “Yeah?” she murmured quietly, laughing against his lips as she leaned into the feeling, her eyes closing before she rested her forehead against his. “I can’t wait, either. I really can’t.” Now that she’d told Luke and knew that he was happy with it, she just wanted to spread the news, she wanted to tell their friends, their families, certain they’d be happy for them.

Michael held Jess against himself gently, pressing a gentle, loving kiss to her forehead, then to her cheek, then to her lips with a grin. “Absolutely,” he murmured quietly, breathing out happily as he ran his fingers through her hair, chuckling quietly with the feeling of her kissing his jaw. “It’s going to be perfect, Jess. I just know it. Every moment is going to be worth it and, in the end, we’re gonna have the most gorgeous baby in the world.” And, he couldn’t wait - dammit, it would be the best experience in the world, and he was so very happy that he was getting to experience it with Jess, the love of his life, the woman who meant the whole world to him.

Luke rubbed sweet circles into Lovisa's tummy, being gentle, afraid that, somehow, he'd hurt their baby. When Lovisa rested her forehead to his own, Luke smiled, listening to her words carefully, smiling softly. "This next nine months is gonna be incredible." Luke promised quietly. "I'll make sure of it." And lifting his hands to run his fingers through Lovisa's hair, Luke's smile broadened. "I'm so glad that, even though you were nervous about telling me, you still came on tour." Luke murmured. "I hate it when you're not with me, but now, knowing you're carrying our baby?" Luke grinned with just the mention of the baby. "I'd hate for you to leave again."

Jess smiled softly when she felt the sweet kiss Michael pressed to her forehead, giggling as he moved to her cheek, and then her lips, returning his kiss and making sure to be just as gentle. "God, Michael, where would I be without you?" She asked, her voice meek, lips still hovering against his jawline, not wanting to move away. "They have to have your smile." Jess smiled with the thought. "No doubt about it."

Lovisa couldn’t help but smile when she caught sight of Luke’s smile, his smile so infectious, and she loved him for it. “I’m not going anywhere,” she promised quietly, shifted to reach her hand up to catch one of his, giving it a squeeze. “I hate being away from you too much, after all.” And, it was true - she just wanted to be near Luke, relish in his presence, because any distance between them was too much.

Michael grinned slightly, pulling her closer to himself, rubbing her back gently, though his hands naturally returned to her stomach, eager to feel her belly grow, to feel the baby kick in the future. “Your eyes,” he told her quietly, loving how excited they both were, “They deserve your eyes. And your personality, because you’re the best damn person to exist, and I know that’s gonna have the best influence on our baby.”

Luke caught Lovisa's eye and his smile only broadened, his dimples becoming more visible. He wondered if Lovisa knew just how much he loved her, and just how much he loved their baby, even if the little peanut was only the size of a bean. "This is the best day of my life," Luke murmured, squeezing Lovisa's hand gently, nuzzling into her for comfort. "You know I'm never letting you out of my sight again, right?" He teased gently, even though it was true. He couldn't bear to be away from her, and knowing that she was carrying their baby just made Luke even more protective. "I love you so much, Lovisa." Luke breathed happily. "We're gonna be parents!"

Jess giggled as Michael pulled her closer; just the knowledge that Michael was happy with the news having eased her own anxiety greatly. Feeling his hands - large and warm - against her stomach, Jess smiled, placing her own hands on top of his, her thumb rubbing along his knuckles. "There's going to be feet kicking us soon," Jess murmured, but as Michael continued to speak, she smiled softly. "Your sense of humour," She teased, giving Michael an eskimo kiss. "I love you, Mikey."

Lovisa smiled slightly, relaxing in Luke’s hold, breathing out in content, because she’d never been happier than she was when she was in Luke’s hold. “Well, I’m glad to hear it, because I don’t intend to be that far away from you again,” she told him quietly, peering up at him, though she smiled and leaned to kiss him for a long moment. “I love you so much, too, Luke. More than anything.”

Michael grinned as he listened to Jess, and he couldn’t help but lean to kiss her temple lovingly. “I can’t wait,” he told her quietly, “We should video and document every milestone. Everything. Every bit of this whole experience.” Because, all he wanted was to enjoy every moment of all of this with her, to be there for their child and for Jess, to protect them both. “I love you, too.” Leaning, he kissed her but returned the eskimo kiss, grinning playfully.

Luke smiled softly with Lovisa's words, and as she peered up at him, their eyes met and his heart jumped within his chest, as though it recognised it's soulmate by just the shade of the colour of her eyes and the smallest details that Luke had committed to memory. "Good. Because I can't live without you, Love." Luke murmured, promising quietly. "I need you with me." Luke leaned in, meeting Lovisa's lips halfway, their kiss tender and sweet and so full of love that it was almost overwhelming. "C'mon, now that everything is settled, we can have fun." Luke smiled then. "As long as it's all baby safe. There's some awesome things to do on this tour, just say the word and I'd move the earth for you, Lovisa. Baby Hemmings, too." Luke sighed happily. "God, I'm so happy."

Jess smiled softly as Michael kissed her temple, and she looked to him with nothing but love, grateful that she had him by her side, and she was certain her heart swelled the more Michael spoke about documenting their journey to parenthood, and running her fingers through his hair, Jess watched Michael, and how animated he was with his movements. When Michael returned her eskimo kiss though, Jess laughed, her grin matching Michael's. "What did I do to deserve you, Michael Clifford, hm?" Jess teased, although she meant every word. She had clearly pleased the Gods in her past life, because she got to have Michael in this life. Reaching to kiss his lips once more, Jess hummed happily.