Chapter 25

The weeks passed. David and Brie, as she was insisting everyone call her, were spending every moment they could together. She was still the same Irian that he had watched for several months, but he was seeing different sides of her. She loved to cook, she loved good movies, and when she loved, she put her heart and soul into it. She gave 150% of herself to everything she did. It was very endearing. He just loved her more because of it.

HQ hadn't thrown the fit that Dan, Mike, and John had thought they would. In fact, they were totally fine with it. The guys were just scared that the other foot was going to drop and things weren't going to end well. Little did ANYONE know, but the other shoe was about to drop, and it would change David and Brie's lives forever.

HQ had devised a way for Brie to get Malachai. They liked her idea, so they set it up and Brie and David Draiman adopted Malachai Cartwright. Mother and son were reunited. The day they picked Malachai up, he wrapped his arms around David's neck and asked if he could call David "Dad". David choked up at first, but finally answered, "I would be honored if you did." So, Malachai Cartwright from that day on was Malachai Draiman. They even had paperwork that said so. But the real bombshell came not but a week later.

Brie had been waking up at odd times of the night and running for the bathroom in the Master suite and puking her guts up. She had to stop her morning work outs because she was having extreme waves of vertigo hit her at odd times. Finally, she got tired of guessing at what was wrong the day she was three weeks late and bought a pregnancy test. She took it at the store, praying that there was just something wrong with her brain or something. But, she knew better. She'd had the same symptoms with 'Chai. She knew she was pregnant. All the little stick did was confirm what she knew.

She drove home, unsure of what to say to David who was now more a husband to her than paperwork could say. She wasn't sure how he'd take the news. When she pulled in, she went straight for the house, hoping that David wouldn't be the first face she saw. She should be so lucky.

When she walked in, he was sitting on the couch with Malachai explaining how baseball went. He turned when he heard the door open. "Hey, baby. How was your trip?"

"Good. Can I talk to you in private for a minute, please, hon?"

A look of worry crossed David's face as he stood up and followed Irian to the kitchen. "What's up?"

"I have news. I'm not sure how you're going to take it."

"Just say it. The suspense is unnerving."

"David, I'm pregnant."

His jaw dropped. "Pregnant? Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I took a test at the store today." She reached into her bag and pulled the little stick out. It read positive.

David hit his knees. He was stunned. He didn't know what to say. "Oh, my God. I'm going to be a father." 

Once he had the ability to stand, he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "How could I be anything but happy? What were you so worried about?"

She sighed, laying her head against his chest. "I don't know, baby. I just scared to tell you. I didn't know what you would say."

He laughed softly. "Brie, I love you. How could I not love the fact that we're having a child together?"

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David made a conference call to the guys. "Hey, fellas, get ready to break out the cigars."

"What? Why?" they all said.

"Because I'm going to be a father. Brie's pregnant."

"WHAT?" Mike said.

"Way to go!" John said.

"That's great!" Dan said.

"Thanks, brothers. Like I said, get ready to break out the cigars." David hadn't stopped smiling since Brie had broke the news to him that afternoon. "She wants a midwife for a home delivery and her first appointment is next week. We'll find out exactly how far along she is then."

"We're happy for you, brother. It's about fucking time you got to experience the joys of a newborn in the house", Dan said. "It's an experience like no other."