Margaret bit down on her bottom lip and watched as Toby locked the front door behind them.

They’d just returned from a rare evening out with the senior staff and assistants. The bar had been smoky however and Margaret had been on ginger ale while almost everyone else had been getting drunk. It was a relief to come home.

As she watched him, she couldn’t contain herself anymore. It had been nearly three days since had she found out about the pregnancy and she still hadn’t found the right time to tell him. In light of the fact she kept bursting into tears at the slightest thing, he was going to start asking questions soon.

No time like the present, she concluded and blurted out, “Toby. I’m pregnant.”

Toby froze, his eyes widening. “You’re pregnant?”

Margaret nodded, waiting for him to shout at her about being stupid.

“Shit. Leo’s going to kill me.”

“I think we have bigger problems than Leo,” Margaret snorted. “Like in seven months we’re going to be parents.”

Toby jaw dropped as realization hit him. “Wow. We are.” He stared at her, eyes wide as the news sunk in.

Margaret watched him carefully, waiting to see the flicker of emotion cross his face that would tell her whether or not he was happy. She sighed. “Toby, I’m not expecting you to stick around or make grand sweeping gestures,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Margaret?”

“Well, we’ve only been going out a few months,” she continued, walking to the window and standing with her back to him. “I’d like to keep the baby.”

“Are you dumping me?” he asked, a little taken back. The knowledge that she could do that so easily rocked him to the core.

“I just thought. . .,” she whispered, tears forming in her eyes.

“I love you,” he said, taking a step towards her.

“You don’t have to say that,” she choked, trying desperately not to let her hormones get the better of her.

“I love you Margaret,” he repeated, stepping closer. He stopped a few feet away and stuck his hands in his pockets. “How far along are you?”

“It’s yours,” Margaret sighed, turning by degrees to look at him. “I’m not trying to trap you.”

Toby groaned and closed the distance. “I didn’t think you were. Honey,” he began his hands moving to turn her completely to face him. “I wanted to know how far along so we can start making plans.”

“Plans?” Margaret asked very quietly. Her organizational abilities had deserted her the minute the doctor told her the news. All she could think about was how mad Toby was going to get. But here he was being incredibly sweet. Tears welled in her eyes again.

“Yes, plans. Neither of our apartments is exactly practical for a baby. And we’ll need to buy cribs and such.” His fingers made their way to her waist. “And we need to tell people.” He stopped suddenly. “That’s if you want to.”

Dropping his gaze, Toby took a step back but maintained the contact. “I mean we could get married.”

“Don’t sound so enthusiastic,” Margaret said sarcastically.

“It’s all a little bit of a shock,” he growled.

Tears began to fall onto Margaret’s blouse. “Well why don’t you go and think about it?”

“Margaret?”

“Just go home,” she wailed. “I want to be alone.”

Toby moved to pull her closer, but she pushed his shoulders with the palms of her hands.

“Please, just leave me.”

He shook his head in confusion. He wasn’t sure what she wanted, but he definitely didn’t want to spend tonight alone, his first in months.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and stared at a patch on his carpet. “And you’re not either.” He didn’t really think it was the time to point out that they were standing in his living room.

“Why?” she sobbed.

Toby’s sigh was deep. “Because I love you.”

“Stop saying that.”

“And we’re having a baby.” He lifted his gaze from the carpet to look at her face. “Margaret, he said softly, “we’re having a baby.”

Margaret removed her hands from her eyes and took a good look at him.

Toby was practically grinning, his eyes twinkling and she could almost see his brain in overdrive.

“You’re not angry?” she asked tentatively.

“Angry? Me? Never.”

“But the campaign, then there’s your job to think of,” Margaret babbled. “You haven’t got time to be concerning yourself with a baby and me.”

“Okay, I’m going to say this again. I LOVE YOU.” He raised his hands in surrender. “I want to have this baby with you, our baby. In fact, tomorrow I’ll start looking for somewhere for us to live. Women work and raise babies all the time, I’m sure we can manage between us.“

Toby was animated. He couldn’t believe his luck. First the woman he’d had a crush on for ages agreed to a date and now he was going to be a father. All it needed was for them to win another term of office and his life would be complete.

“And for the record, I could care less what people think.” He paused and rubbed his naked scalp. “Actually, how do you think Leo’s going to take this?”

“Leo’ll jump up and down and tear a strip off of you,” she offered, smugly. “Then as soon as he sees the baby he’ll turn into a big old teddy bear.”

“Maybe we should wait until you have the baby to tell him,” Toby offered lamely.

“You should be more worried about the President,” Margaret mumbled through a yawn. “Are you really sure you want to do this?”

He groaned audibly and slid his arms around her waist. “This is like hitting a home run for me. I‘m not gonna complain about having to run the bases.”

Margaret yawned again and Toby shook his head. He was certainly going to have his work cut out taking care of her. He smiled in the knowledge he didn’t mind a bit.

The End