BITTERSWEET

CHAPTER 80 / EXPECTATIONS

About a week after Katelyn and Travis' winter wonderland wedding in early December, Nana and Zane found themselves lying out on the frosted ground, staring up at the blue sky above them. 

They laid on a picnic blanket and swaddled themselves in their winter coats and warm clothes, scarves, beanies and gloves. For the first time in days, the sun had come out to play after four days of a full-on blizzard. 

The couple used the break in the temperamental weather to enjoy the sun as it did down above them. One of their gloved hands was interlaced with one another, while Nana's free hand was on the newly bulging bump as Zane's was by his side. 

For a while, neither of them said anything, simply enjoying their company. Nana then turned to face Zane, using her arm to prop herself up. Zane did the same and gave her a warm smile, despite how chilly it was outside. 

"The baby will be here in five months," Nana said turning back to face the sky. 

"Yeah, it's all going so fast. He or she will be here before we know it." 

"What are you hoping for?" Nana questioned, gripping Zane's hand. 

"Becca and Zenix have their little boy. So, I was hoping for a girl." 

"I don't mind which of the two we have. But, Zane, when are we going to get married, officially?" 

Zane turned his head to glance at his fiancé then turned back above. 

"Well, I'd like to have a January or February wedding, with all the cherry blossoms blooming and the snow falling, it'd be beautiful for the both of us. After the baby, of course, so maybe the year after the next? We were only engaged in July, it's December now, but I love it how we are now. I adore this more than you could imagine, although I'm sure you do, yet, I don't want to rush anything while we have what we have now." 

Nana smiled and turned to Zane's blue eyes. "I'd like that. And, yeah, everything's perfect the way it is, I don't want to ruin that," she answered. 

"Thank you," he said, grasping her hand and giving it a light squeeze. They stayed in that position for what felt like seconds but turned out to be an hour. 

"Zane, how many kids would you want?" 

"I thought we've already had this conversation before," Zane said but sighed in consideration. "Perhaps four or five, meifwa can have big litters as you know. Three girls and maybe two boys? We have the space for them now, and I doubt we'd have to move," he explained. 

"There are the five bedrooms, then ours and the basement. I think we'll be fine," Nana replied.

"Hey, Nana."

"Yeah?"

"You know, for a while, I'd been thinking I hadn't got what it takes to be a dad, but I think, now, I'm ready. I want to have this baby with you."

"What changed your mind?"

"Seeing Becca and Zenix with Xander, and now that Travis and Katelyn are expecting too, I won't be alone in this. I have you, the most wonderful woman in the world, and everyone around me. We're growing up, changing, and maturing. I've come a hell of a long way from when I first saw you again on Mystreet, and yet again, we all have. Even Garroth has. Gene changed, Aaron changed, Travis changed, Katelyn, Lucinda, Laurance, Kim, Aphmau, heck we all have. 

"You've come from such of a long journey, and I can't imagine you out of my life, Nana. So, yeah, to continue maturing and growing up, I won't be the father our children deserve. I love you."

Nana sat up and took Zane with her. "Zane, we'll always have one another. I can't imagine what we'd all have been like if we hadn't changed over the years. Every morning, each day is a chance to begin a new adventure and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, Zane, I love you too, and I always will."

Zane grinned and pecked her lips. "Come on, let's make some hot chocolates before we catch a cold."

Zane was close, they had nine.