revengeandretribution:

‘ this baby kind of caught us off guard, too. ’  she grins at him. she thinks of christopher as their miracle. if they hadn’t of had him, allison probably would have never settled down in a normal life. or, as normal of a life she could have. and she would have never realized just how genuine happiness can feel. she only felt it for the first time when they placed her son in her arms. and then every day after that. every time he smiled at her. every time he laughed. every time he hugged her. every time he told her that he loved her, she would feel it all over again. 

but she’s not going to pretend that she — they — were anywhere near ready for this baby, just like with chris. their life had seemed to just recently settle down into a familiar and comfortable routine, and now, all of a sudden, she’s going to be a mother again. but, as she thinks about it, this baby came at the exact right time, too. right when the pair of them needed it the most. allison doesn’t believe in fate, but if she did, that’s what she would say was happening right now. but she doesn’t believe in fate, so she’s going to go with blessing. 

‘ a girl? ’  a smile spreads from one ear to the other as she looks at him. she’s honestly beaming. just as she says it, she feels a fluttering in her stomach, and she reaches for jeremy’s hand.  ‘ she hears you, jer. feel — ’  she places his hand low on her stomach as the baby inside of her continues to kick lightly. and there’s absolutely no doubt in her mind that the baby knows her dad’s voice.  ‘ our baby girl. ’  she says under her breath. 

and, suddenly, as she meets jeremy’s eye, all of her reservations disappear and she’s kissing him — really kissing him. kissing him like his lips are made of water and she’s desperate to drown, because she’s always been desperate to drown in the sea of jeremy gilbert. she wouldn’t say that he makes her whole, because she’s always been whole, but their souls are old lovers — magnates; always drawn back to one another, since the beginning of time. 

reading the words, over and over again, it’s a surreal feeling that shrouds his mind. being able to share this news with this woman– for the first time in his shallow memory, jeremy doesn’t feel like a complete fuck-up. it’s his fault they’re in this abandoned cabin off the beaten path, enjoying this moment without their chosen family around them. there should be more meaning to this moment, it should be special for allison. for putting up with a man like him, gods knew she deserves better. but she looks at him now like he’s the entire world and his chest swells.

his own child is reaching out to him, announcing her presence against the palm of his hand, and he cannot comprehend something so life-changing being so tiny. he kisses her in awe and with reverence, understanding in his own time that allison is the second chance– and now the third– that he never thought he’d get. and he can’t squander it; he cannot let anything happen to her, their son or this baby. his fingers press deeply into the small of her back, reveling in the way the curve of her body fits perfectly against his.

the mother of his children, the love of his life, his superior and his equal. there’s volumes of history between them, and he can feel the weight of that lifetime– and what’s yet to come– in the kiss they share. he finally breaks the contact of their lips with a gasp, his forehead pressing into hers as he tries to focus on breathing. it’s a difficult task with the caress of her own exhales tickling his skin. a hand traces the edge of her face, soaking in her warmth and the way her silky tendrils ghost over the backs of his knuckles. “listen,” he whispers against her mouth. “i’ll make you a PROMISE, sunshine–” a hum of content rumbles his jaw. “i promise to love our children forever. christopher and this baby– they are my life, now and forever. i promise raise them with you, to share in their triumphs and comfort them in their disappointments. – above all, i promise to always come home to you.”

with fingers still resting on her stomach, his other hand moved from her back to grasp hers. the pads of his fingertips stroke lightly over her smooth, snow-white skin. “i love you, allie. i love our life together. and i don’t want to lose you like i almost did– not ever again. back in the hospital, when i–” he feels himself start to choke up and pulls his head back enough to shake away the nerves. the wheels in his brain are moving, and now that the words are leaving his mouth, he couldn’t stop them if he wanted to. “i asked you who you were to me, and you couldn’t answer. everything we’ve been through, and i didn’t make it clear what you mean to me. i’m never making that mistake again…”

and he’s DROPPING TO HIS KNEE, still tightly holding her slender hand in his. “i know you wanted something special, and i don’t even have a ring. i had this whole thing planned out– well, lydia did– where christopher was going to help me, and i even asked your dad….” he’s rambling, and she’s looking at him like he’s crazy. he presses a kiss to the back of her hand, drawing strength from the connection. there’s another of sputter of nervous laughter, and the hunter’s heart is ready to explode from the pounding in his chest. “allison argent, i want to spend the rest of my life at your side. please, will you marry me?”