“Of course our flight would be delayed.” Rory let out a sigh and took her hand, leading them away from the airline desk. “Well, mhuirnín, it looks like we have three hours to kill before takeoff. What do you want to do?”

After the hearing this morning and going through the long lines at security into the airport, she was honestly exhausted and just wanted to sit down. The emotional stress leading up to the decision, and then the absolute high after had absolutely drained her. Her stomach had been in knots all day, which she’d initially thought was nerves about the hearing, but seemed to be lasting.

“Now that we know where our gate is, maybe we just get a bite to eat somewhere in the terminal?” Her stomach rolled again at the mention of food. “Actually, you know what, I could use a bathroom.”

“There’s one right down there.” Rory pointed back down the terminal to a sign for restrooms. “Want me to hold your bag?”

“Yes, please.”

He leaned down to kiss her, but she just headed straight past him. Everything inside her felt like it was about to revolt, and she hurried her pace. Barely a minute later, she was bent over a toilet bowl, emptying the contents of her stomach. What is going on? She hadn't had the stomach flu in years, and nausea wasn’t one of her usual anxiety symptoms.

Grabbing some toilet paper, she began wiping her mouth when a realization hit her.

“Wait…” Clare slid her phone out of her pocket and glanced at the date, then pulled up the calendar. “Oh, my God. Oh, my God!”

She quickly cleaned up and rinsed out her mouth in the sink, before rushing back out to the terminal. Running back to Rory, she grabbed her purse from his hands.

“What’s the rush?” He chuckled lightly. “Where are you going?”

“I’ll be right back. Stay here.”

She was off again before he could question her. He’d certainly be annoyed, but the terminal was small and so he would easily be able to see her. Halfway down, she found a convenience store and searched the medical section until she found the one lone box she was looking for. It wasn’t the best option, but there was no damn way she could wait eight more hours until they were back on the ground in New York.

After paying, she tucked her purchase away in her purse and headed back to Rory.

“Everything okay?” he asked, standing from the low airport chair. “You’re worrying me.”

“We’ll find out. Come on.” She gestured for him to follow her.

“You’re being really weird, Clare,” he replied, but picked up their bags and followed her anyway. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“I will,” she promised, trying to keep the eagerness out of her voice but failing miserably. “In here.”

“The family bathroom?” Rory’s brows furrowed, then a wicked smile crossed his lips and he lowered his voice. “Quickie in the airport bathroom? Hell yeah, I’m down for that.”

She laughed as she closed the bathroom door and locked it behind them, leaving them in a small, enclosed room with only a toilet and sink. “No funny business. I need to pee.”

Rory’s smile faded. “Babe, I love you and I know we’re married, but are we really a pee-in-front-of-each-other type of couple?”

“Well, we’re about to become one,” Clare replied, laughing as she pulled her purchase out of her bag and held the box up to him. “Because I need to pee on this, and there’s no way I’m doing this without you.”

Rory’s eyes flickered down to her hands, recognition registering in his expression as his face lit up. “Pregnancy test?!” A smile spread across his face and he threw his arms around her in a giant bear hug. “Holy shit, we’re having a baby!”

“I haven’t peed on it yet!” Clare laughed and wiggled out of his arms. “I’ve been so distracted with the hearing that I didn’t even think about the fact that I’m late. It’s still a long shot, kinda early, but you never know. Okay, face the wall.”

“What? Why?”

“Because we’re not a pee-in-front-of-each-other couple!”

Rory turned around. “Thank God. I wasn’t ready for that.”

“I’ll never be ready for that,” she teased, sliding down her jeans and prepping the test. Making quick work of it, she slid the test between her legs and peed on the tip, then cleaned up, flushed, and pulled her pants back up. She capped the test and placed it on the sink before washing her hands. “Okay. I’m done.”

Rory turned back around and inspected the test. “Is that a plus sign?”

“Nope. It takes three minutes.”

“Fuck. That’s excruciating.” Rory ran his hands over his head. “What do we do for three minutes? We could always go back to that quickie idea.”

Clare laughed. “A whole three minutes? Wow, I’m such a lucky girl.”

Rory’s grin widened. Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her softly on the lips. Clare wrapped her arms around his neck and parted her mouth, allowing him in.

“God, mhuirnín, I could never kiss you enough.” He nibbled her lip, then kissed her more deeply. “I always want more of you.”

“What do you hope the test says?” she whispered, willing him to tell her he wanted a family as much as she did. They’d talked about it before, of course, and both wanted a family one day, but never so soon. Only a year into their marriage, they hadn’t started really trying yet since she was still finishing veterinarian school and he was building a new business from the ground up. “Do you want it to be positive?”

“Are you kidding, mhuirnín?” He pulled back slightly. Steely gray eyes stared back at her—sincere, wanting. “If you’re pregnant, I’ll be the happiest man in the world.”

She smiled. “Really? It’s not too soon.”

“With you? Never too soon. Hell, we’ve probably waited too long.” He kissed her deeply, squeezing her tightly against him like he couldn’t get close enough. “Fuck, mhuirnín, I want babies. So many little Rory and Clare babies. I hope it’s twins.”

“What! No way,” she sputtered. “Let’s start with one.”

He winked at her. “We’ll see. You want it to be positive, don’t you?”

Clare couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “Yeah. I really, really do. This trip…it’s closing one chapter and opening another. As strange as that is, it’s also kind of beautiful. I’m not that girl I once was. I’m not even the girl I was when we met. I’m happy. I’m in love. I’m completely ready to be a mom.”

The timer on her phone beeped, saying three minutes was up.

“Ready?” she asked.

“Hell, yes.”

Clare picked up the test and looked down at the indicator window. “It’s positive!”

Rory let out a whooping sound, pumping his fists in the air. “We’re pregnant!” He lifted her straight up off the ground, and she wrapped her legs around him. “Babe, we’re having a baby!”

Tears streamed down her face, her heart pounding in her chest, and a tiny fluttering in her belly that might be nothing, but might just be…someone.

“I love you, mhuirnín.” Rory placed her feet back on the ground, then bent down to kiss her stomach and talk directly to her belly. “I love you, baby. Mama and I love you so much.”

“We’re going to be a family,” Clare said, lifting Rory back up and kissing him. “Our own little family.”

“Oh, babe.” Rory chuckled. “We’re Kavanaghs. There’s nothing little about us.”

Clare rolled her eyes. "I hope the baby gets my sense of humor because you’re not even remotely funny.”

"I hope the baby gets my honesty because you're lying," Rory teased. "But I love you anyway, baby mama."

I’m going to be a Mama.

Holy crap.