Page 128 of Clinically Bewitched
He stared at me. Then at Morrison, who was still standing in the doorway, looking amused. Then back at me. “Pregnant,” he repeated.
“Yes.”
“With a baby.”
“That’s generally how it works,” Fitz said.
“A human baby,” Julien continued, as if he needed to clarify.
“As opposed to what?” Hayden asked. “A baby giraffe?”
“I just... I need to...” Julien sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair. “I need a minute.”
“Take all the time you need,” Gabriel said kindly. “This is big news.”
“Big news,” Julien echoed. “Right. Big news.”
“Are you okay?” I asked gently.
“I’m...” He looked at me, and something in his expression shifted. Softened. “I’m going to be a father.”
“You are.”
“We’re going to have a baby.”
“We are.”
“In approximately...” He looked at Morrison. “April?”
“Late April,” Morrison confirmed.
“So eight months,” Julien said, and I could practically see his brain starting to work again. “Eight months to prepare. That’s... that’s manageable. I can work with eight months.”
“Oh no,” Nathan muttered.
“Here we go,” Hayden said.
“He’s already planning,” Quinton observed.
“I’m not planning,” Julien said.
“You’re absolutely planning,” Fitz said. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re making lists right now.”
“I am not.”
“Nursery colors,” Hayden said. “Probably already decided.”
“Neutral tones,” Winnie guessed. “Beige. Maybe gray.”
“With organizational systems,” Nathan added. “Labeled bins. Color-coded by category.”
“A schedule,” Quinton said. “Feeding, sleeping, developmental milestones.”
“All cross-referenced with pediatric guidelines.”
“And backup plans.”
“STOP,” Julien said, but his face was red again. “I’m not... I’m not going to...” He trailed off.
