Work Text:
Aaron leaves the number for his hotel on a piece of paper, accompanied by three hundred dollars in cash and their ever-growing list of favorite restaurants to visit. Haley’s started to scribble baby names on the back, both boy and girl since they don’t know the gender yet, putting a heart by the ones she likes the most. According to her, belligerent as ever and in her own world most of the time, Megan Hotchner was winning. Aaron didn’t like it, but he refused to rain on her parade this early on.
“Alright.” He cleared his throat, setting the extra spare key to his car and the house beside one another, alongside the numbers to call incase something happened with the baby, or she somehow got food poisoning. Everything. Aaron had worried about everything, needing an out in his head, a way to save her when he wasn’t there. “The fridge is stocked, Hales. I tried to anticipate all your cravings, but if you need anything, go to the grocery store, not one of those sketchy gas stations and if possible, always have a friend with you. Wear baggy clothing so people don’t know you’re pregnant. You know where the gun is.”
Haley looks down at her stomach absentmindedly, not showing in the slightest, not even bloated after having a big meal, laughing to herself as her husband listed off all his stipulations. “Aaron. I’m not using a gun. You know I’m terrified of those things. I’d just end up hurting myself instead of the target.”
He knows it isn't true. Haley was strong. A little anxious, but stronger than he ever could be. "Remember when I showed you how to use it?" Just incase, two years ago, when they moved into a bad part of town. Haley shrugged, running a hand across his bicep anxiously as the color dropped off her cheeks. "You remember, baby. Just incase, Hales."
She hated it back then, Aaron's hands on her shoulders as he tried to calm her down. He knew how to use one for work. Something that made her throat sour in ways she didn't know were possible as she held the gun, palms trembling with fear as she missed the target miserably. " I don't want to."
"I'm not saying you have to, but what if someone broke in… what would you do?" Aaron moved his hands onto his hips, asserting dominance like they're on the verge of something terrible. Haley couldn't even think about it, sick to her stomach at the thought of someone hurting her when he's away.
She shakes her blonde ponytail, "I don't know."
"You'd grab the gun from the safe, Haley. Barricade yourself somewhere safe and then call the police before you call me."
Tears pool on her porcelain cheeks, heavy as she shivered, hugging him tight as he kissed her head. "Just incase, baby."
"I don't —" Haley shivered with fear, anxiety firm as it sat on her shoulders. "I don't even want to think about that, Aaron."
He pulled her in closer, resting a hand on her stomach, still flat as he washed away her worry. "You're okay, baby. I've got you."
Haley begins to spiral. "It's stupid. I should know what to do in an emergency. I'm a fucking adult."
"You're twenty-three, honey. You shouldn't have to know."
"But you know how do it!" Her voice raised two octaves higher than usual as her arms flew up in surrender. "Aaron. You know everything."
"Sweetheart…"
"Don't."
Aaron sighed, stroking her cheek as a certain sadness tinted her cheeks. "When can I call you?" Haley asked, a complete shift as she fixed her posture, trying to let it go.
“Most likely in the evening or if you’re up early in the morning. I’ll call, I promise.”
“I know you will. I just don’t want to miss it. My classes—"
"Are in the middle of the day." Aaron cuts her off, nodding. "I know. I'll leave a voicemail when I get up. The time difference is only two hours."
"Will you miss me?"
"Is that even a question?"
Haley laughs and he do anything to keep her like this forever, rounded cheeks and a bright smile. Up and down.
"Just don't get another girl pregnant."
Aaron chuckle, stealing a kiss as he stood, not breaking contact with her, helping Haley up as she leaned into him. "Too late."
All the lights are turned off as Aaron rammed his keys into the padlock. Anxious to see her after spending a week apart. Having called everytime he said he would.
Haley's out like a light. Aaron slowly takes the stairs two at a time, anticipating her as he rounded the corner. Opening their bedroom door as she lay in the middle, blankets drawn all over the place as he grinned, walking quietly as he watched her.
Haley flips over at the noise, Aaron in their closet, trying to grab his pajamas as she looks up. Panicking for a moment too long until she sees him. A shadow she hopes is her husband.
"Aaron?" She mumbled, sitting up a bit as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Haley doesn't catch the caught expression on his lips, sad that he woke her up. "You're early."
"Late, actually." His lopsided grin softened as he grabbed a t-shirt. His favorite one was missing. Something he credits Haley for. "My flight got delayed."
She pushed the covers off her legs, half-awake as he unbuttoned his shirt, ripping it off as he lost sight of her for a moment. Aaron tossed it onto the floor, something Haley hates, but let's go in the moment. She's right in front of him, arms wrapping around his waist as he looked down, feeling something against his chest.
"Hi, sweetheart." comes Haley, suddenly sober, smiling up at him. "I missed you."
"I love you."
His hands moved down her back, gently kissing her cheek, unable to really get a good look at her. "I love you more." He looks down, feeling her head against his chest as he suppressed a gasp, taking a step back, reaching for the lamp as his mouth widened in supense.
"What?" His wife asked. Almost scared of what he was going to say. He's silent. "Aaron, what's wrong? You're scaring me."
"Sweetheart… you — you — you're showing." His hand gently glided across her stomach, latched against the swell he's faced with, in complete awe as she looked down.
"Oh."
"That's our baby."
"Yeah…"
"Holy shit." Aaron laughed, unable to rip his eyes off of it, the smallest pouch on her stomach, a little round on the sides. "Honey. When did that happen?"
"It wasn't there when I went to bed." Haley shrugged, unable to replicate his joy, eyes stuck on the little bump staring back at her. "I'm not sure."
He grinned. He hadn't missed out on it. "I love you so much." Aaron brought her closer, stealing another kiss as he kept his hand there, resting above their unborn child.
"I love you even more." Haley immediately switched topics, not wanting all the attention on her as they moved to the bed, sitting atop the drawn comforter. "How was your trip?"
"Boring without you." Aaron said, matter of factedly, a stone expression in place of the smile she brought out of him.
"Someone kept flirting with me." Haley stiffened in his arms, cheeks paling as her eyelids widened. "But it didn't go anywhere. I couldn't stop thinking about you, Hales."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. It was funny." Haley didn't laugh. He did. He couldn't stop. "I brought up Grace and she immediately backed off. I guess she didn't want to be the mother of my children."
"Child."
"For now."
"You want more?" Haley asked, furrowing her brow as she rested her head in his lap. Aaron's hands found her hair immediately, gently running a palm against her light blonde hair.
"In a couple of years. When Gracie's a little older, but yeah… I want at least two."
"Three." Haley whispered, yawning.
"Three." Aaron settled, resting his back against the mattress, gently easing Haley onto her back as he moved away, wanting to properly tuck her in as he walked around. "I love you so much, Haley."
Sleep's already gotten her. Out like a light as he pushed the blanket towards her neck. The smile follows him around, unable to wipe it off as he hopped in the shower.