In the End

Pulling a t-shirt down over his head, Gerard quietly padded back into the bedroom, his eyes settling on Ariella who sat up against the headboard, aimlessly scrolling through her phone. It had been a few weeks, after Jessica had told them that they were expecting a little boy, a little over two months had passed, and with October having rolled around, they were preparing to celebrate their first anniversary, an idea which seemed amazing to Gerard. It didn’t feel like a year had passed, with things having progressed quickly since they’d gotten back together, it felt like they’d only been reconciled for a few months, but Gerard couldn’t help but be a little proud that they’d made it to a year, especially after the way things had ended between them the first time around. He couldn’t help but be proud of the progress that they’d made.

Quirking a small smirk, he watched her flick through her phone for a couple of seconds before he padded back towards the bed, pressing a soft kiss against her cheek. “You were asleep when I got into the bathroom” he mused, pressing another kiss against her cheek.

Ariella, who had been staring down at her phone, started at the feel of his lips against her cheek before she looked up, offering him a small sleepy smile. “The shower woke me up” she mumbled “But I don’t think I would have got much more sleep anyway. Your son has decided to practice his kicking on my bladder” she added, her hand gently patting her stomach.

Gerard followed her movement, watching as she settled her hand down against her bump, before he shook his head. “My son?” he quipped, sparing her an amused look as a familiar doting smile spread across his face. He was still in awe of the fact that they were expecting a little boy together.

Ariella spared him a playful smile before she nodded, her thumb gently brushing over the front of her shirt. “Clearly, he’s already takes after you” she mused.

Gerard snorted lightheartedly before he dipped down, scattering a few kisses over her bump. “We’d be lucky if he was like me” he mused “I mean, I am clever, I’m confident and I’m adorable. Our son will be pretty amazing if he turns out just like his papa” he added as he looked up at her, a warm smile on his face.

Ariella admired his smile for a few seconds before she nodded her head, wordlessly agreeing with him.

Gerard smiled at her for a little longer before he shuffled back towards the head of the bed, allowing his head to fall onto the pillow beside hers. “You know what today’s date is?” he quipped playfully, disturbing the comfortable silence which had settled over the two of them.

Ariella, who’d moved to pull her hair into a ponytail, allowed a small smile to creep across her lips before she turned to him. “I think I might have an idea” she quipped “But why don’t you jog my memory?” she added teasingly.

“Well” Gerard played along with a bright smile, something which caused Ariella’s own smile to widen fractionally “Twelve months ago we decided to go out on a date together. You’ve not been able to shake me since and now you’re stuck with me” he added, his fingers gently brushing over her bump.

Ariella watched him, smirking as though she’d thought of an amusing retort, before she gently leant towards him, her head settling against his shoulder. “You’re not so bad” she mumbled “I could have done worse” she added.

Gerard rolled his eyes to himself before he dipped down, pressing a soft kiss against the top of her head. “I love you, Ella” he murmured “Happy first anniversary” he added, dropping another kiss on her head.

Ariella snuggled into his side slightly before she lifted her head, kissing his cheek softly. “I love you too” she murmured, smiling against his skin.

Gerard held onto her for a few seconds, enjoying their comfortable embrace, before he lifted his head slightly, a small sigh falling out of his mouth as he read the time off of the clock on the wall. “I have to go” he murmured “I’ve got training and a couple of meetings this afternoon, but I will be back here on time so that I can take you to dinner. I’ve made us a reservation and everything” he enthused as he pushed himself up slightly, moving to pull a pair of shoes onto his feet.

Ariella lifted an amused eyebrow. “A reservation?” she quipped “You’re really taking this first anniversary thing seriously” she added.

Gerard smirked. “It’s the first of many” he replied “I want to make sure you remember it” he added.

Ariella rolled her eyes playfully, something which caused Gerard to smirk before he leant over the bed, pressing a quick kiss against his lips and her bump before he stood up. “I’ll see you later” he mused, pulling his training bag onto his shoulder.

Ariella nodded. “See you then” she mused.

~#~
Gently twisting one of her dark curls around her finger, Ariella spared a look across the living room, her eyes settling on the clock which sat on the mantelpiece, its second hand ticking around the face as another minute passed by. It wasn’t overly late, the time on the clock confided that it was only a little past nine in the evening, but it was late enough for a familiar sinking feeling to have arrived in the pit of Ariella’s stomach, something she was trying her hardest to ignore.

It was the first time, since they’d reconciled, Gerard had made a point of ensuring that he was early for almost all of their dates, and whilst Ariella knew that he wouldn’t have been late lightly, she couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. She had been looking forwards to it, after the way things had ended their first time between them, she had been looking forwards to celebrating the fact that they’d been back together for a year, and she was slightly upset that he’d missed it, even if she was sure that it couldn’t be helped. She couldn’t shake away the feeling of disappointment.

Gingerly twirling her hair around her finger, she watched the clock for a few more minutes, hoping to hear the sound of Gerard’s keys in the lock, before she let out a gentle sigh, kicking the shoes she had put on off of her feet. Leaning forwards uncomfortably, she gathered her shoes up into her hand before she padded towards the stairs, stepping up a couple before she heard the front door close, something which caused her to turn, her blue eyes settling on Gerard who stood beside her, a bouquet of flowers clutched in his hand.

“Hi” he breathed sheepishly.

“Hi” Ariella replied, not looking up at him.

Gerard sighed. “My meeting overran” he noted gently “I should have called, I know that, but I couldn’t get away” he added.

Ariella nodded wordlessly.

“I got you these” Gerard noted, thrusting his arm forwards to offer her the flowers “I know they’re not much, but I thought they were nice” he added.

“They’re beautiful” Ariella replied as she reached out to take them “Gracias” she added as she stepped back past him, heading towards the kitchen.

Gerard watched after her for a few seconds before he followed, stopping in the doorway as he watched her place the flowers in a vase. “Ella...”

“It’s one dinner, Geri” Ariella interrupted “It’s not that big of a deal” she added, offering him a smile that didn’t quite light up her blue eyes like usual.

Gerard shook his head. “It’s our anniversary” he protested gently “It is a big deal and I am sorry for screwing it up. I didn’t think that the meeting would go on for as long as it did. I had plans for tonight, dinner, a walk along the beach where we had our second first date, and I am so sorry that I messed that up. I know how big a deal tonight was” he added apologetically.

Ariella shook her head. “Geri...”

“I messed up” Gerard cut in “You can say it, Ella” he added.

Ariella glanced at him hesitantly, chewing on her lip for a few moments, before she sighed. “I...I was looking forwards to tonight” she murmured “I mean, we’ve been together for a year, Geri and I...I was looking forwards to celebrating that, but it’s alright. We can do it some other night. It really doesn’t matter” she added with another half-hearted smile.

Gerard shook his head. “Ariella...”

“I’m tired” Ariella interrupted softly “And baby’s giving me a break from his kicking. I am going to go upstairs and get some sleep before he starts up again. I’ll see you in the morning?” she posed.

Gerard nodded stiffly. “Of course” he mused “Buenos noches, mi amor” he added as he stepped towards her, pressing a soft kiss against her cheek.

Ariella smiled gently at the feel of his lips against her cheek before she turned, pressing a swift kiss against his lips. “Happy anniversary, Gerard” she mused gently before she stepped out of the room.

Gerard watched her out of the door before he sighed to himself, knowing that he had to do something to make it up to her. He could see that she was disappointed, the way that her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes confided it to him, and he knew that he had to do something to make it up to her, not wanting her to worry about their relationship slipping. He knew that it would cross her mind, even if she would try and stay away from comparing their first relationship to where they were now, he knew the thought would enter her head, and he wanted to stop her worrying before she started. They were in a good place, their relationship was going well and they were both excited about the arrival of their son in a couple of months’ time, and he wanted her to keep seeing it the way he did, that they were good together.