Give Me Your Heart

“Are you sure that you don’t want me to come with you, Riley?” Cassidy quipped as she pulled her car to a stop outside of the hospital, her eyes glancing at the brunette who sat in the passenger seat. It had been a few weeks, after Gerard had ended things with Alexa, Riley had only heard from him briefly, but it was a step in the right direction, something which pleased her slightly.

It was still a long way off being good between them, with Riley wanting to be certain before she committed to anything, there was still a little tension between them, but she was confident that that day would be fine. If there was one thing they’d grown good at it was ignoring their relationship issues when it came to their bump.

“I’ll be fine” Riley commented “Gerard’s on his way and he’s offered to give me a lift back to work when we’re done. I should be OK” she insisted.

“You two are going to be OK by yourselves?” Cassidy quipped, offering her friend a pointed a look.

“We’re adults, Cass” Riley quipped “And today isn’t about him and me, it’s about bump. We’ll be fine” she mused.

Cassidy offered her a slightly dubious look before she nodded. “You’ll call me when you know?” she posed.

“What makes you think I’ll find out?” Riley countered, a smirk on her face.

Cassidy snorted. “I know you, that’s what” she quipped “You could barely wait 2 minutes this morning for your breakfast to cook, I highly doubt you’ll make it through about 4 and a half months without knowing the sex of your baby” she added.

Riley rolled her eyes a little before she nodded. “You’ll be one of the first calls I make” she agreed.

Cassidy nodded. “I’d better be” she quipped with a teasing pout.

Riley offered her a bright grin before she ducked out of the car, taking in a breath before she padded into the hospital.

~#~
“You’re glowing, Riley”

Riley, who was flicking through a pamphlet about breastfeeding, lifted her head, offering Gerard a small smile as he moved to take the seat beside her. “You’re just saying that” she noted.

“I am not” he quipped “I mean, you’ve always been a beautiful woman, but with that pregnant lady glow…wow” he teased.

Riley rolled her eyes a little, something which made him smile. “You excited?” he quipped, his hand tentatively moving to rest against the bump which stuck out from beneath her shirt.

“I think so” Riley mused “I mean, a small part of me is terrified, but mostly, I am excited to see them again. It’s been a while since we got a new picture and I don’t know about your madre, but mine will not shut up about it” she noted, trying to keep the mood up and buoyant. The last thing she wanted was an awkward silence.

“She’s pretty excited” Gerard agreed “So much so, she wants to take you shopping sometime. She’s very excited at the prospect of buying little baby clothes or toys” he enthused.

Riley quirked a small smile. “We should probably think about doing that at some point” she noted.

“Probably” Gerard agreed “Have you given any thought to where you want to live yet?” he posed, a curious expression on his face.

“I’ve looked around a little” Riley quipped “But thus far, I’ve not found a place that I like that is close enough to work” she noted.

Gerard nodded. “You know, if you don’t find anything, the offer is there for you and bump to stay with me” he noted gently. He knew it was a sore point, Riley’s reaction the last time he had bought it up had confided it, but he wanted her to know that it was an option. He had more than enough space to accommodate him, Riley and a baby, even if she didn’t want to be in a relationship with him.

Riley offered him a small smile and nodded. “I know” she confirmed “And you’re sweet to offer but…”

“Just don’t rule it out, Ry” Gerard interjected, offering her a small smile.

Riley nodded her head. “Alright” she agreed gently.

Gerard offered her another look before Alison appeared ahead of them, offering them a soft grin. “You two ready to come in?” she posed gently.

Riley offered the midwife a small smile before she pushed herself to her feet, following her towards the private room which stood a little away from the waiting room. “How are you feeling, Riley?” Alison quipped as she moved to take her seat, offering Riley another warm smile.

“I feel OK” Riley enthused “I’m doing everything you told me to and everything the books say to, and I feel alright. Nervous, but OK” she babbled.

Gerard, who’d moved to take the seat at her side, shook his head a little before he reached out his hand, gently squeezing the one of Riley’s which messed nervously with the bottom of her blouse. “She’s doing a great job” he enthused.

Alison smiled. “I have no doubt about that. We’ll need to talk about a birth plan in the near future just so that we have it ready in time for the baby’s appearance, but I am pretty happy with how things are. I’d just like to do an ultrasound to make sure that everything is alright. Have you two given any thought as to whether or not you want to know the sex?” she posed as she moved to help Riley up onto the bed, her hand scooting the bottom of her shirt up.

“I’d like to know” Riley confirmed “Gerard?” she posed, looking up at him.

“You know me. Have I ever been patient before?” he quipped with a grin.

Riley rolled her eyes a little before she smiled at Alison. “We’d like to know” she confirmed softly.

The midwife offered her a swift nod before she smeared a little of the cool gel over Riley’s bump, causing the brunette to flinch a little. Gerard, who stood behind her, smiled at the small flinch and stepped a little closer, offering her hand another tight squeeze before the audible thumping of their baby’s heart filled the air. “They’ve got a good heartbeat, Riley” Alison enthused “It’s nice and strong” she added.

Riley nodded her head, her blue eyes fixed on the screen which sat a little away from her. “You’re sure about knowing the sex?” Alison posed.

“Certain” Gerard enthused with a grin.

“Then congratulations, Riley, Gerard, you’re going to be parents to a little boy” the midwife enthused before she stepped away, musing about going to collect a copy of the scan for the expectant parents.

Gerard watched the midwife out of the room before he flicked his attention back to Riley, marveling at the bump which was still exposed by her pulled up shirt.

“A boy” Riley murmured “Gerard, we’re going to have a boy” she repeated.

Gerard nodded his head gently and offered her a dazed smile before he ducked down, moving to press a kiss to her cheek.

Riley watched him lean towards her before she turned her head, allowing him to press the kiss to her lips, something which caused his smile to widen a little more.