Months later
Melina stirs awake in her sleep and gets out of bed. She doesn’t bother putting on her slippers before going downstairs to the kitchen. She opens the freezer and takes out the chocolate mint ice cream. She hates it, but the little one growing inside her loves it.
Melina is pregnant and is in her second trimester. So far, everything is great for her. That’s excluding the morning sickness and the weird craving she has lately, but other than that, it’s been wonderful. She’s excited to be a parent, and so is Thomas.
Melina remembered the day she found out she was pregnant. Words couldn’t describe the joy she felt that day. Her heart soared to the highest point the moment the doctor said, “Congrats, you’re pregnant.” Melina believed she saw the brightest smile on Thomas’ face that day. She also couldn’t stop smiling the whole day. They are really happy to be expecting their first baby.
They got married a few months after the trip to Thomas Island. Melina also believes that’s where they created their baby, with all the unprotected sex they had during the trip. She started working toward opening a center for battered women with Thomas’ help a few weeks after their wedding. Melina is excited to have the center open soon and available to women out there who need it, as she did. She doesn’t want anyone to have to go through what she did alone. She is really happy to do this and eager to help people. Melina knows she won’t save lives as a nurse would, but she believes she is still saving a lot of souls with her center, and that’s enough for her.
Tears fill her eyes once she opens the ice cream container and finds it empty. Her hormones are all over the place these days. She isn’t surprised she is on the verge of crying because there is no ice cream. Being pregnant makes you a baby.
Melina returns upstairs to their bedroom, holding the empty container. Stepping inside, she sits on the edge of the bed on Thomas’ side and gently taps his arm to wake him up. Thomas does not open his eyes after a few taps. Melina bites her bottom lip as more tears threaten to fall. She is saddened and frustrated that Thomas isn’t waking. How will I get my ice cream if he doesn’t wake up? Melina looks into the empty ice cream container and at Thomas. The tears run free from her eyes. She sits there crying, holding her empty ice cream container.
THOMAS
Thomas’ brow furrows in his sleep as he hears someone crying. He quickly opens his eyes, and once he sees his wife with the empty ice cream container, he immediately understands why she’s crying. He pulls the covers off his body and kisses her on the forehead. Getting out of bed, he walks to his closet to get dressed. She doesn’t have to tell him what she wants because he already knows. This isn’t the first time she has requested it so late at night, so he’s used to it. Thomas is excited to have his first child finally. He still remembers the day Melina told him she was pregnant. That was one of the best days of his life.
“Tommy,” Melina calls, walking into the closet.
“Yes, mi amore,” Thomas replies, walking toward her after throwing a t-shirt over his head. He rubs her baby bump before wrapping his arm around her waist.
“I want ice cream,” Melina says, looking at him through her tear-stained eyelashes. Thomas takes a moment to admire how beautiful she is, even with her cheeks stained with tears. So, fucking gorgeous.
“I know. Do you need anything else?” he asks, wiping away her tears. His hands move to her bottom lip, and he brushes his finger against them, parting her mouth open. His dick pulses in his pants. Thomas holds back the urge to drag her back to the bed to fuck her. I could fuck her when he gets back.
“No, just ice cream.”
“Alright, I’ll be back as quick as I can.” He leads them out of the closet to the bed. He tucks Melina under the covers and kisses her goodbye before walking out of their bedroom.
Thomas drives to the nearest 24 hours supermarket to get his wife the chocolate mint ice cream she wishes to have. He enters the supermarket, and because he’s been there so many times to get Melina ice cream, he knows exactly where to go. Thomas’ eyes widen in panic when he notices that they don’t have the brand Melina prefers. He still remembers the day he made the mistake of buying the wrong brand. Melina was so enraged at him that he was afraid she was going to kill him that day. He’s learned his lesson and always buys the same brand of whatever she wants to eat.
Thomas walks to the cash register and asks them if they have the brand Melina loves at the back. Unfortunately for him, they don’t. Thomas wastes no time leaving the supermarket and begins to drive to another one he can find open right now. He’s hoping that by the time he gets home, Melina won’t be upset that he took so long to get it.
***
Thomas takes the steps two at a time when he arrives home. He had to go to five different stores before finding the brand Melina preferred. He enters his bedroom, hoping his wife’s emotion hasn’t turned to anger since he left. He is constantly surprised by the way her emotions change. Sometimes he doesn’t know what to do and just sits there quietly until she returns to herself.
Thomas cracks a soft smile when he sees his wife. She’s sound asleep, clutching the pillow on which he rests his head. She once told him that his scent relaxes her and makes it easier for her to fall asleep. He wasn’t surprised that she was sleeping and didn’t wait for him. Neither is he annoyed by it. Thomas feels Melina could stress him out all she wants. She’s carrying his child, so he feels she has the right to make him go to five different stores at 2 a. m. and not eat the ice cream he gets for her. From everything he’s seen over the last few weeks, he knows it’s not easy to carry a child, so he’s willing to go to any length to make it easier for her. And she is the love of his life. He would do anything to make her happy, even at his own discomfort.
He places the ice cream on the nightstand and properly tucks her under the covers.
“Sogni d’oro principessa,” Sweet dreams, princess, he says, kissing her forehead. He smiles as Melina mutters gibberish in her sleep, feeling his lips against her forehead. She grabs his pillow tighter and hugs it closer to her body. He shakes his head, wondering if she thinks he wants to take it from her. He takes the ice cream from the nightstand and returns downstairs to put it in the freezer. He drinks a glass of water before walking back upstairs to sleep.
MELINA
The following morning, Melina wakes up to the smell of chocolate chip pancakes. She opens her eyes, smiling as she sees Thomas with a breakfast tray.
“Good morning, mi amore,” Thomas says.
“Good morning, honey,” Melina sits up, rubbing her baby bump as Thomas places the breakfast tray in front of her. He sits by the edge of the bed and kisses her lips, rubbing her baby bump.
“How was your sleep?” Thomas asks, pushing her hair out of her face and staring at her lovingly.
“It was good; I’m so sorry I didn’t wait up for you last night.” Melina apologizes, with remorse swimming in her eyes.
“It’s okay, amore; I know it wasn’t intentional,” He kisses her forehead and gets up from the bed. “I’ll run you a bath while you eat.”
“Thank you, I love you.”
“I love you, too, principessa,” he says before walking into the bathroom.
Later in the day, Thomas and Melina go outside to the gardens for their gender reveal party. They’re both dressed beautifully in white. Thomas is dressed in a white polo shirt and pants, while Melina is dressed in a white sundress. Thomas’ family and a few of their friends are here. Melina and Thomas greet everyone and thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to come here. Thomas leaves Melina to speak with his brother. She walks over to where Melissa and Andrea are seated. They make room on the couch for her as she approaches.
“How are you doing, Mel?” Melissa asks, handing her a non-alcoholic drink.
“Great, I was able to get some sleep last night,” Melina replies, rubbing her belly.
“That’s great to hear.” “When are you moving in?” Melissa inquires, taking a sip of her pink mocktail. Melina is moving into the family home now that she is pregnant and married to Thomas. Kat doesn’t want her grandchild to be around the Costanzo soldiers all the time.
“Soon, I’m almost done packing all my stuff.”
“That’s good, I can’t wait for Gwen to get here,” Melissa says, looking at her belly.
“Gwen?” Melina asks, tilting her head to the side. She can’t believe the name her sister-in-law gave her baby.
“It’s the name I picked for you guys if she’s a girl.”
“I love you, Melissa, but I am not naming my daughter Gwen.”
“How about Ivy?” Andrea asks.
“Nah.”
They begin to discuss what Melina will name the baby if it’s a girl. She laughs at some of the names they mention, but considers some of them. Kat joins them and suggests names for the baby if it is a boy. An ache settles in Melina’s heart as they continue to look for the best name for her baby. Looking around the room full of Thomas’ family, It pains Melina that the only family she has couldn’t make it. Franky missed her flight.
Melina feels someone’s eyes on her and turns. She locks eyes with Thomas, who is staring at her with unrivaled adoration. He says something to his brother and begins to walk toward her.
“Excuse me, ladies, but if you don’t mind, I want to speak to the mother of my child,” Thomas says, arriving at where they are seated. Melina smiles as her heart soars, loving hearing him call her the mother of his child.
“She’s all yours, brother,” Melissa says.
“Thank you, sis,” He takes Melina’s hand and lifts her off the couch. He walks them a few feet away from everyone before speaking.
“What’s the matter, principessa?” “You look sad when you should be happy,” Thomas asks, wrapping his arms around her. Melina’s baby bump makes it difficult for his arms to wrap completely around her body.
“Is it that obvious?” Melina asks, resting her head on his chest. She couldn’t believe he had noticed it as she tried her best to hide it.
“Yes,” He places his chin on her head.
“I wish my sister was here.”
“I know, which is why I did something,” Thomas says, and Melina pulls her head away from his chest.
“What did you do?” Melina inquires, curious. She looks at him, waiting for him to explain.
“Hello, sis,” Franky says from behind her. Melina quickly turns around to see if she heard correctly. A big smile spreads on her lips once confirming she did.
.
“Franky, I can’t believe you’re here,” Melina says as she pulls herself out of Thomas’ arms and into a deep hug with her sister.
“Thomas sent his jet over an hour after I told you I missed my flight. We didn’t tell you so we could surprise you,” Franky says, smiling as they pull apart.
“Aww, the two of you. I can’t believe I didn’t suspect a thing… But then, you guys don’t even have each other’s number,”
“Certain situations have caused Thomas and me to form a friendship,”
“That’s nice to hear,”
“Yeah, and you look amazing, by the way, sis. It still feels surreal that you’re pregnant,” Franky beams as she looks at Melina’s belly.
“I know,” Melina says, smiling. She is really hoping everything goes well and she can finally have her first child. She feels she deserves it after everything that has happened to her.
“I can’t wait to find out if I have a nephew or niece,” Franky places her hand on Melina’s stomach and rubs it a little.
“Which would you wish I am pregnant with?”
“Any is fine with me. All I wish is that you have a healthy baby.”
“Same here.”
“I hate to break your reunion, ladies, but it’s time to find out the gender of the baby,” Thomas says, draping his arm on Melina’s shoulder and pulling her closer to him.
“No problem, we have the whole weekend to catch up. There’s so much I want to tell you,” Franky says.
“Me too,” Melina pecks her cheeks before Franky walks away.
“Are you feeling better?” Thomas asks once Franky walks to join Thomas’ family, who have water guns in their hands filled with the paint of the baby’s gender. It’s not surprising they chose guns to reveal the gender of the baby. It’s a mafia family, after all.
“Yes, thank you for flying Franky in.”
“It was nothing, principessa. You’re the love of my life; I’ll do anything to make you happy,” Thomas says, wrapping his arms around Melina’s waist as he gazes into her eyes. She could see his love for her swimming in his beautiful blue orbs, and she bet hers glistened in her green eyes.
The family begins to count down to the reveal of the gender of their baby.
“3”
“2”
“1”
The family shoots them with the paint in the water gun, and pink paint stains their clothes.
“I can’t believe we are having a girl,” Thomas says. He doesn’t mind what gender the baby is, too; all he wants is a healthy baby.
“Me, too, I’m so happy, Thomas,” Melina squeaks, smiling.
“I bet she will be as fucking gorgeous as her mother.” He rests his forehead against Melina’s.
“I love you, Thomas,” Melina says, wrapping her arms around his neck and sealing her lips with his.
“I love you, too, Melina,” Thomas says once he releases her lips.
Melina couldn’t believe they were here today, smiling at each other, happy to be having a baby girl in a few months. If someone had told her this day would happen, she’d have said they were insane. Despite their suffering, Melina believes that what they have today would not be valued as highly if they had not suffered. In a way, she feels grateful to James for asking her to seduce Thomas. He didn’t know he was giving her the best gift life could offer, true love. Melina is so happy with her life right now and won’t trade it for the world.
THE END