It’s been three days and Danica has not opened her eyes. Twice her machines have gone off and they came and took care of her. Thanks to Lenny I’m on the visitor’s list as her fiancé. I just hope I have the chance to ask her. Vitals seem to be getting stronger but I refuse to leave. I have food delivered but haven't eaten anything. Without her I’m nothing.

I’ve never felt so alone than I do now as I watch the monitors. I wrap her delicate hand in mine. “Sweetness, I need you to come back to me.” I repeat over and over praying she’ll hear me one of these times. After a while, I begin to tell her all the things I have planned for our future.

DANICA

What in the fucking world is that constant beeping sound and why does it smell like disinfectant. Gross. The warmth of his touch in my hand brings me to the here and now. My eyelids so heavy, I try to open them, but struggle. “And if you agree to be my wife, I promise to love you forever. You can bet on it, and when we’re ready we can maybe put a bun in the oven…” he pats my stomach and I let the thoughts fill my head.

“I’ll build a swing set with my own two hands, okay maybe we’ll buy a swing set. But I can put rope around a tire to swing on.” He chuckles. “Danica, I’d love to see those beautiful brown eyes right now…” I fight the struggle as I listen.

“Come on sweetness, when have you ever given up on a challenge.” He wipes hair from my forehead. “Danica, come on. Do it for me, do it for us.” He’s upset and I hate I am the one causing it. “God damn it. I dare you Danica... I dare you to open your eyes,” and I do.

It’s cloudy at first and then begins to clear. I turn my head and tears stream down his face. “Hey beautiful, welcome back,” he says placing a kiss on my forehead, his aftershave lingering. My throat and mouth are dry, and I point to the water and cups. He pours and holds the straw to my lips. I suck in the refreshing cool liquid, drinking half of it.

“Well, I still know how to suck.” A sigh of relief escapes Hunter, “that’s my girl,” he says and holds me tight. “What the fuck happened? The last thing I remember was walking the red carpet.” He pulls out his phone and calls Uncle Lenny. The nurse comes in and checks my vitals and informs me he’ll let the doctor know I’m awake.

Once Uncle Lenny and Mark arrive they fill me in. Warren poisoned me because he was angry about our relationship. I was taking his money ticket away. I knew something wasn’t adding up, I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Blondie admitted to the brick but she never mentioned the pictures. I found that odd. Warren confessed the original threats were a publicity stunt, but who would have thought the others were to get rid of me. It doesn’t sit well; makes me wonder if it’s time for a career change. Don’t get me wrong. I love it, but at what risk?

The doctor comes in and asks everyone to leave so she can examine me. After checking the vitals and all, she closes the door, “Ms. Leroux I have some news for you. I understand you know about the poison and the treatment. But there is one last thing.”

My body tightens and nausea builds, something’s wrong, I’m not as healthy as they all claim I am. I push off the bed and grab the plastic container and throw up the water I had earlier.

The doctor hands me a cool wet washcloth, and I sit back. “Tell me. Give it to me straight Doc. I’ll handle whatever it is,” she glances at the chart and then sits in the chair next to me, taking my hand in hers.

“Well Danica it seems you are about five weeks pregnant,” I sit straight up in the bed “I’m what?” I scream out. The door flings open and all three men stand there with concern written on their faces.

“Oh no, wait. Go away. I need to talk to the Doc. Get out!” I yell trying to climb from the bed. The Doctor reassures them I’m okay, and they step back behind the closed door.

“Doc I have the implant, there’s no way I could be, it’s good for three years.” The doctor marks down on my sheet. I’ll have to have it removed. When she looks at my arm, “how long ago was it?” she glances from the paper to me.

“It was right before my twenty-eighth birthday.” She glances at my chart again. “Um, Danica you turned thirty one three months ago. They only last three years, like you said.” Holy shit, shit shit….I’m going to have to talk to Hunter, alone.

HUNTER

I don’t know what the fuck is going on, why did she yell? Then when we come in she rushes us back out the door. If the doctor is telling her something more is wrong we need to know. She is strong and feisty but she needs moral support too. She needs to know we are here for her. I rub my fingers on the velvet box in my pocket.

Once I get inside I’m laying it all on the table, I want a future with her, and she’s it for me. I put my claim on her the first time in the shower. It’s time to let the world know I’ve found my soul mate.

What the hell is taking the doctor so long? This can’t be good. But no matter what it is we’ll get through it together. Whatever time I have with her will be better than no time at all.

DANICA

“We’ll schedule the removal for later today. You and the baby are lucky. You received the treatment early so no long term damage. You are both healthy and could go home in a day or so.”  I climb into the bed and pull the blanket over my legs.

When she opens the door she asks for Hunter. He steps inside and I ask him to close the door. He does. “Is everything okay?” I nod. How am I going to tell him? Bite the bullet and do it like a band aid, hard and fast.

He sits and pulls the chair to the side of the bed. “Dani,” he takes my left hand in his. “Since the first day we met you had me on my knees and begging for mercy.” He kisses along my palm. “Yeah, I did,” I giggle remembering.

“So now I’m begging, no...no, I’m asking.“ He leans back and reached into his pocket. A black velvet box comes into view. My eyes fill with tears, because I already know the answer. “Will you be mine forever?” A lone tear travels down my cheek. I wipe it away. “Under one condition.” I take a deep breath and take the leap.

He releases my hand and sits beside me on the bed. “Sweetness, anything. Name it.” He wipes my hair from my face. His eyes searching mine, “Can we start a family right away?”

He lets out the breath he was holding and turns, trying to climb on top of me, “Can we start now?” his eyebrows wiggle and I let out a giggle before I pull him in for a kiss.

After a moment I push at his chest and tell him, “we already have.” He pulls back and I watch as he thinks about what I said. Then he realizes what I’m saying, it takes a moment but registers. The smile spreads across his face and has my heart leaping with joy. “When?” He sits back looking to my stomach.

“If what the Doc says it’s true, you planted your seed our first time, in the shower.” He stands and helps me up. “Well, seeds need water to grow, right?” he chuckles at his own joke.

I wrap my arms around his neck, “You claimed me, and it’s when I started falling for the dare.” He takes my hand and we stand. He drops to one knee. “You’re my lifeline. I promise to make you happy for the rest of your life, if you’d do me the honor and say yes to our forever.” More tears spill over, I nod and reach for him, “Yes, yes and forever yes.” Our lips seal together and we kiss the most passionate of kisses. One I feel all the way down to my toes.

Someone clears their throat and we part. Uncle Lenny and Mark step in. “Is everything okay?” Hunter places me on the bed and picks up the velvet box. As he slides the beautiful diamond ring on my finger he looks up. “Yeah, Lenny. Everything is perfect. I’ve got my woman.” He glances with a smile and then bends down kissing my belly.

“And our baby is doing well too.”

Congratulations go around the room and I watch as my three men beam with happiness and joy. “You’ve met your match,” Mark says patting Hunter on the shoulder and we laugh. “Don’t you dare fuck this up,” he says to me, Hunter hollers with laughter. Me and my dares.

“I’m sure if I do, Hunter will bend me over his knee and give me a good spanking.” Hunter’s face goes flush and Uncle Lenny immediately starts yelling “TMI—Dani, stop. Not in front of me.” He reaches over and wraps me in a hug, in a light whisper “your daddy would be so proud, I know I am.” With a kiss on my cheek, he says he has to get back to the precinct and sees himself out. Mark leaves a few minutes later.

HUNTER

I pull the blanket back and lay on the bed, one arm wrapped around Danica, the other rests on our baby. Danica’s head rests on my chest as she cuddles into me. “Are you sure?” she asks, I lift her chin with my finger. “I’ve never been sure about anything, until you came into my life. I love you Danica.” She tightens her arms around my waist.

“I love you.” The words she never had to say, because actions spoke louder than words, fill my heart. I’ve got everything I need right here. My forever is right here resting in this hospital bed. The woman I can’t live without and our baby. I’m right where I belong, with my family. No movie premiere or award could ever top this feeling.

The End