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"Hey babe, I got here as soon as I could. What's this important news you have to share with me?" Mariah asked Tessa as she walked into their hotel suite.
"Hi honey, thanks for coming so soon. Come have a seat with me on the sofa," Tessa took Mariah's hand in her own and led her to the sofa. She positioned them so they were facing one another and took both Mariah's hands in her own, smiling sweetly at her beloved.
"Should I be nervous? Is this bad news?" Mariah asked with uncertainty. She didn't think she could handle any more bad news right now.
"No, nothing to be nervous about at all. And, I hope you'll consider this good news because it's something you've been wanting," Tessa did her best to allay Mariah's fear.
"A gift? I do love gifts," Mariah said as she let a smile grace her face.
"Yes, a gift of sorts but not something you can unwrap," Tessa explained.
"Tess, the suspense is killing me. Please tell me what it is," Mariah had never been a very patient person.
"Well, I've had a change of heart about starting a family with you right away. I'm on board with getting pregnant now if that's still what you want," Tessa told her girlfriend, gently squeezing her hands.
"You're..what..wait..did I hear you correctly?" Mariah stared at her girlfriend in shock. Tessa couldn't have been more clear about not being ready to start a family yet the last fifty times Mariah brought it up and she had finally accepted that now that she was thinking more rationally. But now Tessa was doing a complete about face which confused the hell out of her. What could have happened to make Tessa change her mind?
"You did. I'm ready to get the ball rolling if you still want a baby now," Tessa said with all the love she felt for Mariah shining brightly in her eyes.
"Yes! Yes, I want that more than anything Tess! Are you sure about this? I don't want you to feel pressured because I wouldn't let this go," Mariah tried unsuccessfully to contain her excitement at Tessa's news.
"I'm sure. I've given it a lot of thought since we last discussed the topic and decided that I'm ready, that we're ready to take this step," Tessa told her lover. "I love you so much Mariah and I want to have our baby."
"Oh Tessa, I love you more than I could ever put into words. You've made me so incredibly happy," Mariah pulled Tessa in for a deeply passionate kiss, pouring all the joy and love she was feeling in this moment into it.
"I'm so glad to hear that Mariah. You're going to be the best mother ever, our kid is going to be so lucky," Tessa said with a huge smile after their kiss ended.
"They sure will but it'll be because they have you as a parent. Your kindness, empathy and patience will make you the best mother ever. And, your capacity for unconditional love, can't forget that," Mariah's face was starting to hurt from smiling so wide but she couldn't stop. Tessa was making all her dreams come true.
"They sure won't want for love and support, that's a given. Now we just need to pick a donor and figure out how we are going to pay for the procedure," Tessa didn't want to dampen the joy of this moment but there were real world things to address.
"I think I might have the answer to both of those things in the form of one person," Mariah said as a picture of that person popped into her head.
"Really? Care to share?" Tessa asked curiously. Mariah clearly hadn't stopped thinking about this if she already had ideas about a donor and how to pay for the treatment.
"How about I just show you? Come with me?" Mariah asked as she took Tessa's hand and rose from the sofa.
"Okay," Tessa agreed and let Mariah lead her out of their room.
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"Mariah, what are we doing here?" Tessa asked her lover as they pulled up outside the very familiar residence.
"You'll see. Come on," Mariah smiled at Tessa before exiting the car.
Tessa reluctantly followed Mariah to the front door and braced herself as the redhead rang the doorbell. Her stomach dropped a little as the door opened and she saw a person she never wanted to cross smiling at them.
"Mariah. Tessa. So lovely to see you both, please come in," Victor addressed the couple warmly as he stepped aside to allow them to enter his home.
"Hi Victor. Sorry to drop by without notice but we have something very important to ask you," Mariah told the older man as she walked into his house.
"You're welcome here anytime. Like I said before, you're family and family is always welcome in my home," Victor told the younger woman as he led the two women into the sitting room. "Please, have a seat. May I offer either of you something to drink?"
"No thank you Victor. We don't want to take up too much of your time," Mariah said as she took a seat on the sofa next to Tessa. Victor sat in a chair next to the sofa, leaning back in it comfortably.
"So, what is it you'd like to ask me?" Victor inquired once they were all settled in their seats.
"Well, when we spoke last you mentioned if I ever needed anything I should come to you and there's something we need so I immediately thought of you. Actually, there's two somethings we need," Mariah told the imposing figure seated next to her. She glanced over at Tessa who had a shocked look on her face which gave her a moments pause but she continued on anyway. "Tessa and I have decided to start a family now but there are two things we need to make that happen. Money for the IVF treatment and a sperm donor," Mariah explained to Victor.
"That's wonderful news Mariah. Children are the greatest joy of life. I'm more than happy to pay for all the expenses associated with the IVF treatment. It's the least I can do for you after everything you went through to help Abby and Chance start their own family. I'm not sure how I can help with the donor issue though," Victor replied, stroking his moustache thoughtfully.
"Thank you Victor, that really means a lot. Regarding the donor, Tessa and I were hoping you'd be the donor," Mariah said, bristling slightly when she heard the soft gasp from Tessa. Maybe she should have discussed that with her before asking Victor. Too late now.
"Me?! Surely you can't be serious. Are you pulling my leg Mariah?" Victor was astounded by Mariah's request and from the look on Tessa's face, so was she.
"I'm completely serious but if I'm asking too much of you, just let me know," Mariah replied calmly despite the emotions swirling wildly within her.
"Mariah, what were you thinking? You want Victor to be our donor?" Tessa could no longer hold her tongue as it seemed Mariah had well and truly lost her mind. Regret raced through her and she wished desperately that she could take back agreeing to starting a family now. She thought Mariah had healed from her trauma but she was clearly mistaken.
"What's wrong with that?" Mariah asked her girlfriend defensively.
"Mariah! Mariah! Wake up babe, you're having a bad dream," Tessa shook her girlfriend gently as she attempted to wake her. Sweat was pouring down Mariah's face and she was thrashing about. When she finally opened her eyes and saw Tessa, she threw her arms around her neck gratefully.
"Thank god it was just a nightmare! Tessa, I'm so sorry," Mariah apologized to her lover as she clung to her.
"It's okay Mariah. I'm right here, I've got you. There's nothing for you to be sorry about my love," Tessa said softly as she cradled her girlfriend in her arms lovingly.
"If you knew what I did to you in my dream, you'd be furious with me," Mariah said guiltily.
"It was a dream Mariah, you didn't actually do whatever it was to me," Tessa assured her love she wasn't angry with her. "Would you like to talk about it?"
"No, I definitely do not want to talk about it. I wish I could forget it but since I can't, at least I can spare you that knowledge. Just know that I love you so very much and I want to make a promise to you that I will keep. I'm going to talk to a professional about what I went through and all the feelings and thoughts that resulted from that ordeal. And I mean I'll actually do it this time, not just say I will and then keep blowing it off like I've been doing. Oh, and it won't be Sharon I talk to because she can't be objective when it comes to me," Mariah knew this nightmare was the wake up call she desperately needed and was finally ready to really admit she couldn't handle things on her own.
"I'm so happy to hear that Mariah. I just want you to be happy and healthy," Tessa was relieved by Mariah's commitment to finally seek help. She had almost given up on that ever happening but she could never give up on Mariah.