Chapter Text
The day was warmer than you expected it to be for winter. In fact, the snow had practically melted, and you saw Shiro putting on a toque. He noticed you and grinned.
“Gonna go out for a run!” he said as he passed by you, “so don’t wait up to eat. I’ll be back by lunch.”
“Wait, um, Shiro? Can I tell you something before you go?” you blurted out. This was a better opportunity than any to spill the guts, because if he got mad at you, you could easily ask that he go out running to blow off steam. And, while he was out, you could take the keys and bail. Cowardice was not one of your favourite redundancy plans, but your news weighed down on you like a heavy stone, and you swallowed thickly.
“What’s up?” he asked, his brow furrowing once he noticed your expression. “Is something wrong?”
“Well… no. Yes. I mean… God, I have no idea how to say this.” Tears started to well in your eyes and you had to swipe them away, looking up to the ceiling in the hopes that they would go away. He took a step towards you before hesitating when you flinched away.
“I’ll listen,” he said softly. He went to the island kitchen and sat, patting the stool next to him. You took your seat and sniffled, trying to pick out words from the swirling mess of your mind to put something coherent together. Shiro, being the ever patient, ever loving man he was, waited quietly.
“I’d be okay if you wanted to leave… after I tell you this. You might be better off without me.”
“Don’t say that,” he said immediately, his voice flaring up with a temper you had never heard from him. He frowned at you. “I would never leave you for anything. I love you. You know that. So… what is it?”
“I’m…” you inhaled. “I’m pregnant.”
“You’re… what?” He looked only mildly confused and you took another shaky breath to steel yourself for the loss of the only man you had ever loved this much.
“Pregnant. With your kid. I’m pretty sure, I mean… I went to take a test and I haven’t been getting my period so I was like ‘oh no’ and the doctor was like yup your results are positive and then I didn’t know what to do because we’re not married so I don’t know if your parents will hate me my parents will probably kill me and oh G—”
He wrapped you up in his arms before you could start to cry for real and rubbed your back, shushing you. You closed your eyes and selfishly accepted the embrace. He was too good for you. Why did he bother with you? You were an average, struggling student who had 3 bucks in her pocket and a GPA reflecting that amount. He was smart, strong, and the image of perfection. Why would he want to stay with you when you’d only hold him back from doing great things? Especially with the kid, now... Shiro would feel obligated to stay, but you would hate yourself forever if you didn’t let him fulfill his true potential.
“I’ll take my things and leave,” you choked out, the mere thought causing your heart to seize up. “You can keep the place.” You tried to push away from him weakly, but he just tightened his hold on you.
“Why would you do that? I’m not going to leave you… But you’re serious? I’m going to be a dad, for real?”
You pulled away from him and looked at his lopsided grin, genuine and so ‘him’ that you were stunned into silence. He… wanted to stay with you? He wanted to have this child… with you?
“For real,” you breathed hesitantly. “You’re going to be a dad… for real.”
He hugged you again, carefully avoiding your stomach area, focusing the bone-crushing joy he felt to your shoulders. He laughed, the sound pure in your ears. The guilt and fear you had been feeling the past month melted away.
“I’m going to be a dad!” he cheered exuberantly, making you wince slightly. You laughed, the tears falling from your eyes now those of joy.
“You’ll be great,” you corrected. “You’re going to be a great dad.”
Fondly, he kissed you, burning away any other shame or self-doubts that might’ve lingered. You felt warm in his unconditional love, and for once, you were confident that things were going to work out okay.