requested! thank you. ♡
content: pregnancy, soft fluff, emotional, established relationship, mentions of anxiety
you hadn’t meant for it to happen like this.
not the timing, not the distance, and definitely not the way your hands were trembling so badly you had to prop your phone against the bathroom sink just to keep it steady.
the test was still there. two lines. unmistakable. life-altering. you stared at it again, like it might suddenly change its mind.
your reflection looked back at you — wide-eyed, a little pale, lips parted like you’d forgotten how to breathe properly. your brain was moving too fast and too slow at the same time, jumping from oh my god to joe to what do i even say?
because of course, the first person you wanted — needed — was him.
you grabbed your phone before you could overthink it. your thumb hovered over his contact for half a second, heart pounding so loudly it felt like it might echo through the walls.
it rang once. twice. three. “hey, baby—”
he picked up with that easy, warm smile that always made your chest soften instantly. he was sprawled somewhere familiar. his couch, probably. hair messy, glasses slightly crooked like he’d just put them on.
and then he saw your face. the smile dropped. “hey… hey, what’s wrong?” his voice shifted immediately, gentle, alert. “you okay?”
you tried to speak, but your throat closed up. your eyes flickered down to the counter, then back to him.
“i—” you swallowed, shaky. “i need you to just… not freak out, okay?”
joe blinked, sitting up straighter. “that’s—” a nervous laugh. “that’s a terrifying sentence, sweetheart. what happened?”
your hand moved automatically, turning the phone just slightly. just enough for him to see the test.
there was a pause. a long one.
and for a second, just a second, you thought your worst fear might come true. that he’d freeze. that he’d pull away. that he’d look at you like everything had just become too much.
instead, his eyes widened. “wait—”
he leaned closer to the screen, like he needed to make sure he was seeing it right. “is that—?”
you nodded, biting your lip, your voice barely above a whisper. “i took two.”
another pause. your heart dropped.
his voice wasn’t scared. it was… soft. almost breathless.
you nodded again, this time faster, your eyes already starting to burn.
“i’m so sorry, i know this is—i didn’t plan it and i know your schedule and your career and i just—”
his tone cut through your spiral instantly. gentle, but firm.
you looked up. joe was staring at you like you were the only thing in the world. “why are you apologizing?” he asked quietly.
your lips parted, but no words came out. he shook his head slightly, a small, disbelieving smile tugging at his mouth.
“baby… this isn’t something you apologize for.” your eyes welled over.
“i didn’t know how you’d react,” you admitted, voice breaking. “i didn’t want to scare you—”
“you could never scare me,” he said immediately. and then, softer— “not like this.”
there was another pause, but this one felt different. warmer. steadier. you watched him run a hand through his hair, pacing a little now, like he had too much energy in his body to stay still.
“okay,” he murmured, half to himself. “okay, okay…”
you sniffled. “that’s not exactly reassuring.”
he huffed a small laugh, glancing back at you.
“sorry. i’m just—processing.” his eyes flicked down again, then back up. “you’re really pregnant.”
another beat. and then his whole face changed. softened. lit up in a way that made your chest ache.
“holy shit,” he whispered.
you let out a shaky laugh, wiping your cheek. “yeah. holy shit.”
he smiled then. slow, a little stunned, but real. “we’re having a baby.”
the words hung there. and something inside you finally settled.
“we are,” you echoed, quieter.
joe exhaled, shaking his head like he still couldn’t believe it.
“i wish i was there,” he said suddenly, his voice thick with it. “i hate that you’re alone right now.”
“i’m okay,” you said quickly. “i just needed to see you.”
his expression softened even more. “you’ve got me,” he murmured. “always.”
you nodded, your fingers curling against the edge of the counter. “are you… sure?” you asked hesitantly. “about this?”
he didn’t even hesitate. “yeah.”
it came out so simply it almost knocked the breath out of you. he leaned closer to the screen again, eyes warm, steady.
“i’m sure about you,” he said. “and if it’s you and me… then yeah. i’m in.”
“hey,” he cut in gently. “we’ll figure everything else out later. the timing, the logistics, all that boring shit.” a small grin. “but this? this is ours.”
you laughed softly through your tears. “you’re being really calm about this.”
he shrugged a little, but there was something deeper in his eyes.
“i mean, yeah, i’m freaking out a little,” he admitted. “but it’s not… bad freaking out.”
you tilted your head. “what kind is it?” he smiled.
“the kind where i feel like my life just got bigger.”
your heart melted completely. “god,” you whispered, “i love you.”
“i love you more,” he shot back instantly, then softened again. “so much.”
there was a quiet moment, just the two of you breathing on opposite sides of the screen.
then— “wait,” he said suddenly. “are you okay? like, physically?”
you blinked. “yeah, i think so. just… shaky.”
“did you eat?” he asked, already slipping into it. into care.
you huffed a small laugh. “no.”
“okay, first of all — unacceptable,” he said, pointing at you through the screen. “you’re eating something. now.”
“yes, sir,” you teased weakly.
“don’t ‘sir’ me,” he muttered, but he was smiling. “i’m serious.”
you nodded, pushing yourself off the counter, grabbing your phone again.
“stay on the call?” you asked.
he scoffed lightly. “i’m not going anywhere.”
you moved into the kitchen, propping the phone up again while you rummaged for something — anything — to eat.
joe watched you the whole time, his gaze soft, attentive. like you were already something more.
“you know,” he said after a moment, “this is the most cliché way possible.”
you glanced at him. “finding out you got your girlfriend pregnant over facetime?”
you rolled your eyes, smiling despite everything. “romantic.”
“hey,” he said, holding up a finger. “when we tell this story later, we’re making it sound way cooler.”
“like… i was there. candles. dramatic music.”
“you fainted,” you added.
“i would never faint,” he protested.
you raised a brow. he paused. “…okay, maybe a little.”
you laughed, and this time it felt lighter. real.
joe watched you, something soft and proud in his expression. “we’re gonna be okay,” he said quietly.
you met his eyes. and believed him.
“yeah,” you whispered. “we are.”
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