I stared across the table at my husband. He was busy on the computer. I assumed he was reading his e-mail, since he didn't like using the computer. Especially not mine. He really only used it for work related things.

His brow was furrowed in concentration.

When the doorbell rang, I stood up and fished my wallet out of my purse, then went to get the door. I came back and put the food on the table.

He still hadn't put the computer away by the time that I'd gotten plates, silverware, and drinks.

I stood behind him and wrapped my arms around his neck. I kissed his cheek, "You look so intense."

"Hm," was all he replied.

I rolled my eyes and stood up straight. I had no desire to read over his shoulder. Mostly because it would upset him, but also because he never received anything that I found to be interesting. I piled his plate with food and set it in front of him.

He was unphased. So not like him.

"Zackery," I said, using his full name to get his attention.

His head snapped up and he peered up at me, "Yes, dear?"

"What the heck is so interesting?"

"Oh, it's this job. My friend from college sent me the information,"

I handed him his drink, then sat down at the table, "Oh yeah?"

He nodded, "I think it'd be great."

I mentally cringed. Our idea's of a 'great job' were polar opposites, "Shoot,"

"It's a teaching job," he said.

"I thought you said you didn't want to teach anymore."

"I said I was going to take a break. I think a year is enough."

"Okay. So. What? College?"

"High school, babe."

I accidently stabbed my sesame chicken too hard, making a clanking sound on the plate. I just stared at him.

"Just listen before you shoot this down, okay?"

I didn't trust myself not to say anything, so I nodded and busied myself with my food.

He read off the computer, all about the job. The requirements, the salary, everything. I had to admit, it was a lot more money than the job he currently had, selling insurance.

"And it's here in town?" I asked.

He shook his head, "Seattle,"

I blinked, "So we'd have to move,"

"Yeah,"

"I…don't know if that would be a good idea,"

He sighed, "Of course not. Forget it,"

"Zack…don't be like that. I know you want to get back to teaching, and that's great. It is. But we'd be in the same school, no doubt. I mean, I'm still in high school. Don't you think it'd be weird to teach me? And what if the school found out?"

"Well, first, I think it'd be totally hot to teach you. And second, I would tell the principal right off that we're married. Obviously we couldn't like, have sex during school hours, or kiss or anything. And we wouldn't have to tell anyone, just the people who need to know."

He had a point. And I could tell he was excited about it. But I wasn't convinced it was a good idea.

"It's more money, we could afford a house instead of this apartment. And I know how much you love the rain. It rains all the time in Seattle. Baby, please don't say no. At least let me check it out more,"

I bit my lip, "Okay."

His face lit up, "Yeah?"

I nodded, "Yeah. If this is what you want to do, then I totally support you. If you get the job, you have to promise me that us being married will be a secret…and if it doesn't work out at school, you'll be okay with me doing an online school or something."

He nodded, "I promise."

"Okay. And you have to spend all night with me,"

"Babe, we do that every night,"

"No, I mean, while you're not preoccupied with something. It's Friday night. We should be having movie night, not off in separate rooms."

He frowned, "You're right. We haven't had much togetherness, have we?"

I shook my head.

"Well, then," he closed the lid on the computer and scooted to the chair next to mine, "I'm all yours,"

I grinned at him, "Oh, yes you are."

When we finished eating, we went into the living room. When he sat on the couch, I sat on his lap.

"It's your turn to pick the movie," I said.

"Honestly, Ari, I don't think I'll be able to concentrate on a movie if you're on my lap,"

"Oh?" I asked innocently, "What will you be concentrating on?"

"I wonder,"

I giggled and kissed him. His hands slid around my waist and kissed me back.

I pulled back, "So…does this school have uniforms?"

He raised an eyebrow, "I don't know. Why?"

"Because it would be fun. I'd get to tease, and you couldn't touch me."

"That wouldn't be fun for anyone but you,"

I nodded and kissed him again, "And you know how much I like it when you get jealous."

"Again, not fun for anyone but you,"

I sighed, "Are you going to play along, or are you going to ruin the mood? My buzz is being killed by the second here. Like ants sprayed with pesticide."

"Yeah, that paints a pretty picture,"

"Forget it. I'm going to bed."

"Ari, come on."

"No. Just. Leave me alone. Go research your new job or something," I got off his lap and walked towards our bedroom.

I heard him let out a sigh of frustration.

That didn't stop me from going into our room. Once I changed out into my pajamas, I went into the bathroom.

And saw red.

Literally.

"Oh thank god," I breathed. I flushed the toilet and washed my hands. I went through my nightly routine then went to kiss Zack goodnight.

"Z?" I asked.

He was still sitting in the same spot. He looked up at me, "Yeah?"

I went and sat next to him. I looped my arm around him and leaned on him, "I'm sorry," I whispered.

He pulled his arm away from mine and wrapped it around my shoulders. I felt his lips connect with my head, "It's okay, baby,"

I nodded, "It's probably a good thing we didn't get too far…I just got my period,"

"Ew. Sorry,"

I shrugged. I neglected to tell him that before tonight, I'd been having suspicions that I was pregnant. That was something that neither of us were ready for yet. Again. "Do we have ice cream?" I asked.

"I don't think so. Want me to go get you some?"

I nodded, "Get a lot. I'm feeling sad,"

"Oh no. Should we talk?"

"Probably. But I don't want to. Just go get my ice cream."

He laughed and kissed me softly, "I'll go. But promise me we'll talk?"

"Tomorrow," I promised.

"Okay. Chocolate-chocolate?"

"And cookie dough. And brownie. And-"

"Peanut butter, cookies and cream," he finished.

I nodded, "You know me so well."

"Well…you are my wife."

"That's true. I am."

He stood up and kissed me one more time, grabbed his keys, and then he was gone. I lifted myself from the couch and went into our room. I found the pregnancy test I'd hidden in the inside pocket of coat, in the back of my closet. I took it out into the kitchen and buried it underneath the empty cartons of Chinese food in the trashcan.

I picked up the dishes from the table and put them in the sink. I went back into our room and curled up on the bed.

Now that I wasn't panicking about what I would do if I were pregnant, I felt myself returning to normal. I didn't want to go through that again, not yet.

I heard the front door shut.

"Ari?"

"In here," I replied.

He came in a few minutes later, carrying a gallon of ice cream and two spoons. He crawled up on the bed with me and put the ice cream on my stomach, "Here,"

I sat up and opened the container, pulled a spoon out of his hand, and started eating. He put his arm around me and I nestled into him. He picked up the TV remote from the nightstand and turned on the TV.

"Babe?" I asked.

"Mhm?"

"Can we not watch anything with dead people in it?"

He smiled, "Okay. Hey, that movie you wanted to watch is playing. Want to watch it?"

"It's a girly movie," I said.

"I know."

"Actually, I just want to eat my ice cream. You can watch whatever you want. I'm just going to sit here and eat and enjoy being in your arms. I'll probably fall asleep soon."

"You sure you're okay?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

He let out a sigh, "Okay.

I lifted my head off of his shoulder and kissed him, "I'm really okay, Z. Really. I promise."

He smiled at me, "Okay, babe,"

"Good. Now hush and let me eat this ice cream in peace,"

"You gonna share?"

"I said hush! And yes,"

I absently ate the ice cream. I tried to focus on the show Zack had finally decided on, but I couldn't. At the moment, the only thing going through my mind was the fact that we had been careless once and I thought I was pregnant.

A pregnancy was what brought us together in the first place – and almost what tore us apart.

Zack and I met at a bar. I was with some friends. We had fake IDs. Long story short, I ended up getting wasted and hooking up with this hot older guy. Zack. After that night, we met a few times for coffee. Within a few times of meeting him, I told him that I was, in fact, only sixteen. He was worried, but I told him that one, sixteen is the legal age of consent, and two, I wasn't going to tell anyone.

And then a few weeks later, when I missed my period, I took a test and found out I was pregnant. Being the Southern gentleman that he is, he offered to marry me when I told him. At first I said no, but after my parents found out..we were married within a month.

I had allowed myself to fall in love with him, so two months into our marriage, when he suggested we move in together, I agreed. We didn't move in together right after getting married, because my mother was worried about what people would think. In the end, I decided to make Zack and myself happy, and not my mother.

And then I lost the baby. Through no fault of my own, the doctor had told me. When I went home with Zack two days after the miscarriage, all I did was lay in bed. I was physically and emotionally exhausted.

When I finally did get out of bed, things were more than tense in the Morrison household. Between us hardly talking, my refusal to see anyone about the effects of my miscarriage, and the fact that Zack was sleeping on the couch…well, that's pretty much a one way ticket to marriage hell.

Things started getting better when I finally told him that I didn't want to lose him, and I was scared about everything. I didn't know how to be a wife, and at that point, I could count on one hand the times we'd had sex.

"Ari," he whispered.

"What?" I asked.

"Whatcha thinking about?"

I shrugged, "You,"

"What about me?"

"I love you," I whispered. I took the carton of ice cream and put it on the nightstand, then straddled his lap.

"I love you too," he replied.

"I want you so much,"

"I want you too. But we can't,"

"Oh yes. We can."

"But you're on your period,"

I rolled my eyes, "No one ever said we couldn't have sex,"

"Are you-,"

"Oh, for god's sake, Zack. Just take me already," I kissed him, "Plus I read somewhere that orgasms can stop your period,"

He laughed, "First, I think that's the first time you've ever said 'orgasm'. It sounds weird. Second, why do you want to try this now?"

"Zackery. I swear to god, if you stall,, and I lose my mojo again ,I'm sleeping on the couch,"

"I'm not stalling, babe,"

"Good! Then just shut up and make love to me,"