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Being pregnant has taken its toll on her.
It's not that she dislikes it. She loves the fact that she's pregnant, that she's carrying Patrick Jane's child, the man she's absurdly in love with. She loves when he caresses her belly when they're laying in bed together, murmuring sweet nothings to the baby inside. She loves being pregnant. Lately, though, she's been feeling restless.
And, for lack of a better word, unattractive.
No matter how many times people will assure her that she looks great while being six months pregnant, she can never believe it. She takes one look in the mirror and feels disgusted, a sense of shame washing over her. None of her old clothes fit her anymore, so she's stuck with wearing maternity clothes that are far from her style and, while they are comfortable, make her look like a whale.
She huffs at her own reflection in her bedroom mirror, her hand unconsciously dropping to the swell of her belly. She's clad in a soft peach t-shirt that does nothing to hide her growing bump and pants that would be three sizes too big if she wasn't pregnant.
"You better be cute," she mumbles at her belly, although she already knows the baby will come out looking adorable. They have Patrick Jane as a father, the most beautiful man she's ever known.
Speaking of the man she's come to adore, his soft voice drifts into the bedroom as footsteps follow close behind. "Teresa, my love? Are you ready to go?"
She doesn't tear her gaze from the mirror in front of her. Her lips tighten into a frown, a wrinkle producing itself between her eyebrows. "I'm not sure I want to go out anymore."
She watches Jane's face in the mirror, searching for any signs of disappointment, but all he does is nod in understanding. "That's alright with me," he says gently, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her, softly caressing her baby bump. "Is Nugget giving you some trouble?"
She snorts at the nickname. They've both decided to wait until the baby is born to know the gender. Well, it's more like Jane convinced her to wait. She's not the most patient person, but he managed to sway her somehow. Thus, why he calls their baby "Nugget."
Shaking her head, she leans back into him and places her hands over his. "The baby's fine. I just don't feel like going out anymore."
It's not entirely a lie, but he knows there's more to it than that. She can never hide anything from him, which is both a blessing and a curse.
"Sweetheart, I know there's something wrong." His eyes are soft as he gazes at her. "We don't have to go out today, but I'd like to know why you changed your mind."
She sighs, stepping out of his arms and turning away from the mirror. She can't bear to look at her reflection any longer. "Because I feel disgusting, okay?" She trudges over to the bed and sits down, her heart feeling heavy. "I know it's selfish, but I just feel so unattractive and I look like a whale. I love Nugget more than anything, but sometimes I look at myself and want to scream. It's just all so new to me, and I don't know how to handle it."
Jane plants himself down beside her and throws an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. "Pregnancy is a scary and beautiful thing, Teresa. When Angela was pregnant with Charlotte, she felt the same way you're feeling now. She never felt she was beautiful. I had to make her see that she was the most beautiful to me while being pregnant with Charlotte. And you're most beautiful to me carrying our baby."
She manages a small smile, glancing up at him with teary eyes. "Really?"
"Really," he assures her softly, leaning in and capturing her lips in a soft kiss. "It's normal to feel the way you do, but I think you're gorgeous right now, Teresa. That's never going to change for me. You shouldn't feel disgusted with yourself. You're carrying a human life inside of you, our child, and that's the most beautiful thing in the world."
Her smile grows, her chest blooming with warmth. "I love you."
"And I love you," he grins, kissing her cheek. "Do you still want to stay in?"
She nods shyly. "Could we just order takeout? And watch a movie?"
"Of course. Whatever my lady wants." He retrieves his phone from his pocket. "What would you like?"
"Nugget's kind of craving Mexican food," she hums, her eyes tracing over every feature of her husband's face. Every line, every follicle. She could never tire of looking at him.
"Oh, are they now?" He chuckles and dials the number. "And is there a specific movie Nugget would like to watch too?"
"Fast and Furious," she immediately answers, batting her long eyelashes at him.
"Kind of dark for a baby," he teases, stealing a swift kiss from her lips.
Teresa shrugs. "It's what Nugget wants. Don't deny them."
"And you say I'm going to spoil them when they're born." He rolls his eyes playfully before ordering their takeout, knowing her exact order by heart.
"We both know you will," she points out when he hangs up. "You're going to be the cool parent while I have to set boundaries and establish rules."
He wiggles his eyebrows at her. "What if I teach Nugget how to pick locks?"
"Then we're never having sex again."