All the King's Men ( An Urban Love Story )

♟Let's do it♟

"Daddy loves you so much already."

Desmond quietly talked into Jaden's round belly as he thought she was still sleeping.

A tear slipped down her face and she wiped it away before he could see it. She was 25 weeks into her pregnancy, and she was still as emotional as ever. She hated it, even though everyone kept assuring her that it was normal with the hormones of pregnancy.

"What's wrong with my crybaby?" Desmond coo'd, before kissing her stomach, looking up to meet Jaden's teary eyes.

"I just feel so many emotions all the time. It's so overwhelming." She said after taking a deep breath, trying to keep more tears from falling.

Desmond climbed up to lay on the pillows, "come here." He pulled her into his arms. "Tell me what you feelin."

"I love our baby, I do. I'm excited, but I'm also afraid."

"Tell me what you're afraid of." He told her, rubbing his hands through her hair.

"What if I can't handle it? I read that people who suffer from depression have a higher chance of having postpartum. What if I neglect my baby? What if I'm a bad mother?" She began to cry after finishing her last sentence.

"You could never be a bad mother. I'm here for you, Jae. I'll always be by your side. When you feel overwhelmed, I'm here. When you need to cry, I'm here. When you need a break, I'm here. You not alone in this."

She swiped her tears with the back of her hand and gazed into his light brown eyes, "Can I tell you something?"

"Go head, mama,"

"When they told me my estimated due date was around Christmas, I was dreading it. I never liked the holidays, especially Christmas."

"Oh," Desmond said, sadly. He had an idea of why, but decided to ask, "why?"

"The holidays were never a good time for me and I never had good Christmases. As I got older, my mother just became so mean to me. Thanksgiving and Christmas were just normal days. My birthday was only tolerable because my friends at school made me feel special." She shrugged.

Looking at his somber face, she smirked, still sniffing, "Thank you, Desmond."

"For what?" He asked, surprised.

"For giving what I didn't know I needed. You love me, protect me, and show me that I deserve a beautiful life. You've loved me through so much, and helped me learn to love myself." She expressed.

"You don't have to thank me, Imma be here as long as you let me." He kissed her forehead, " and since you have my child, even if you don't let me, I'm still gon be here."

She giggled in his arms.

"You really gonna make us wait til the baby's born to know what we're having?" He asked.

Shrugging her shoulders, she told him, "it's a Christmas surprise."

Jaden didn't want to know the baby's sex because she wasn't sure what she wanted, but she also thought once she knew, she'd become disappointed and want the opposite. Jace persists on referring to the baby as his niece.

"You aight?" Desmond sat up with her still in his arms, hearing Jaden softly gasp.

She took his hand and sat it on her stomach.

His eyes lit up when he felt his baby kicking his hand. This was the first time he was able to fully feel it. Every time Jaden would tell him to feel, the baby would change positions so he couldn't feel anything.

"My baby," he whispered, with the largest smile, "I can't wait to call you my wife."

"I can't believe you want me to be your wife." She said slightly laughing looking down.

He softly lifted her face, "You betta believe it. You playin not giving me a wedding date to look forward to. Imma take you to the courthouse in a minute."

"Actually," she started. That's exactly what Jaden wanted to do, but she didn't want to tell Desmond. She didn't have any family or close friends. She didn't know who she'd even invite to their wedding. "Would it be bad if we just did that?"

"Is that what you want?" he asked her.

"I feel bad because I know you want everyone there, but who will I have?" She asked, becoming emotional again.

"Baby, we only need us." He said looking into her eyes.

"Really?"

"Really, boo. Maybe Jace or Quis for a witness, but we don't need to have no big ass wedding. I just thought you were tryna wait for my Jr to be born." He admitted.

She smiled, "Then I don't wanna wait. I want us to be married before the baby comes. I want us all to have the same last name."

"Baby, you ain't said nothin but a word."

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