Together

Secrets

This one's for my squad girls who need a little pick me up today, they know who they are. Love you two x and here's some cuteness to hopefully make you smile. As for the rest of you, I hope it makes you smile as well. Comment/vote pleasssee xxx
-ab

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February 8, 2026

Patrick

"Hey, lovie," I smile at Harper as she walks in the door. "How was rehearsal?"

"It was amazing," she gushes. "Katherine is going to be so good."

"I'm glad," I tell her. "I already unpacked all of our things, and Taylor and Joe want to hear about the trip, so they're coming over for some dessert in about an hour and a half."

"Oh god," she groans. "Patrick, I had the worst diet ever on that trip, and now you're going to feed me more sweets?"

"You're too high-strung," I tell her. "You're so skinny."

She frowns, and I have a flashback to another time when we had this conversation.

I don't want her thoughts to escalate back to that bad place. If only my wife could see herself the way that I see her...

"Love, if you don't want to eat it, then you don't have to," I tell her, then dropping the subject. "So, Katherine is all excited for tomorrow?"

"Completely. But, just between us, I think that Nessa is even more excited. She's been texting me, basically non-stop, for the last hour, asking how the put-in went and such."

"She's coming tomorrow, right?"

"Of course," Harper laughs. "I'm pretty sure that she straight up threatened Kath, with something along the lines of 'if you don't get me tickets, then I'll conveniently "forget" to pay the rent on time.'"

"Has she done that before?" I ask, with horror.

"No, but almost, once. That was sort of my fault, though."

"Oh?"

"I told her the date wrong, and then I nearly forgot to tell her the right one, but thankfully, everything worked out and she was able to cough up the money with some that she had saved."

"Well, that's different," Patrick laughs. "An understandable situation."

"What she's threatening, on the other hand...."

"Yeah, maybe not quite as understandable," I chuckle. "But I think she was joking anyway."

Harper helps me to prepare a platter of fruit and biscuits, and shortly after ware are done, Taylor and Joe are at the door.

"Hey guys!" Taylor exclaims, pulling Harper into a hug. "How was the trip? I want to hear all about it."

"It was fun," Harper says. "I can't believe that you guys kept it from me for so long."

"So, you were surprised?" Taylor smiles, causing Harper to nod. "Good. How were the clothes that I packed?"

"Perfect. Way better than they would have been if Patrick would have done it. He probably would have picked the most revealing things that I own and-"

"Hey," I cut her off. "It's not nice to assume that."

"God, don't deny it. It's true," she giggles.

"Okay, yeah, you're probably right."

Taylor rolls her eyes. "Boys are so annoying, Harper."

I laugh, nodding. "But it's okay, Pat. I still love you."

"Good," I reply, grabbing her hand. "How about we all have a seat?"

Taylor and Joe kick their shoes off and follow Harper and I, as we lead them to the sofa. Harper and I cuddle up on the love seat, and Joe and Taylor share the sofa.

We talk for a little bit, munching off of the snack platter and sharing pictures of our adventures in the countryside.

Taylor and Joe look ever so loved up tonight. Maybe it's just because we are having a fun conversation, but both of them are incredibly smiley.

I eventually notice Taylor whisper something to Joe, who nods, with a smile.

"Can we tell you two a secret?" Taylor asks.

"Of course," I reply.

"This is seriously super hush," Joe insists. "Promise that you won't tell anyone?"

"Of course not," Harper insists.

"Okay. We just found this out and haven't told anybody else yet, but I'm pregnant," Taylor says, causing Harper to squeal.

"Oh my god! Taylor, congratulations!" She jumps out of her seat and throws her arms around Taylor, wrapping her in a massive cuddle.

"We just went to the doctor and got it all confirmed this morning," Joe explains. "She was just feeling so off, that we knew something had to be up."

"I'm so happy for you guys," I say. "I'm going to be an uncle, then?"

"I'd suppose so," Joe winks.

"Good, I'll get to spoil the little ones."

"How far along are you?" Harper asks Taylor.

"Not too far. Only a month or so. I'm due in October." In spite of having no bump yet, Taylor instinctively places her hand on her stomach, and I can already tell that she's going to be such a great mom. Her natural instinct is already to want to connect with her baby, and to keep it safe. Right now, her way of satisfying that craving is to touch her stomach like she is.

I can tell that Harper is absolutely enchanted with the idea of being an aunt to Taylor and Joe's little baby boy or girl.

"I'm going to spoil it so much," she announces.

"I know that you are, love," Taylor laughs. "You can take them to as many West End shows as you'd fancy."

"Perfect," Harper says. "You, the child, and I are so seeing The Lion King in like six years."

Taylor laughs. "Go book the tickets now."

"Taylor, they're not up for sale yet. Don't be silly," she deadpans, causing all of us to laugh.

We all know, that, of course, she's only joking and not actually wanting to book tickets yet.

We spend a few more minutes talking, but soon, it becomes evident that Taylor is starting to grow tired. It makes sense. It is starting to get dark outside, and she's growing a baby inside of her. That takes a lot of energy.

"Well," Joe announces, "I think we are going to head home and get this lady to bed."

"Totally," I nod, understandingly. "We will see you guys later, alright?"

"Alright," Taylor smiles. "Bye, you two."

We exchange goodbyes as Taylor calls her driver and the couple bundles themselves up in coats and boots.

Not too long after Taylor and Joe leave, Harper and I decide to head to bed as well. It's been a long day for both of us, but especially her. On top of that, Harper has a big day tomorrow, with Katherine's debut almost so close that she can kiss it.

In spite of it being tiring, though, I know that it's going to be such an amazing day for Harper, and even more amazing for Kath. I'm so excited for both of them.