105
Morning crept into the bedroom in soft golden streaks, spilling across tangled sheets and tangled limbs. The city was still half-asleep, the hum of traffic far below muted by the thick glass windows.
Amanda woke first, though only barely—her cheek pressed into the warm curve of Ericka's shoulder, their legs entwined under the covers like they'd been trying to hold onto each other in their sleep.
Ericka's arm was draped lazily across Amanda's waist, her fingers curled against bare skin in a possessive, unthinking hold.
Amanda shifted just enough to glance at her, and her heart did that stupid flip it always did when Ericka slept like this—unguarded, the sharp edges of her CEO mask nowhere in sight.
She leaned in, brushing a feather-light kiss across Ericka's collarbone.
"Mmm..." Ericka stirred, her voice still husky with sleep. "Morning."
"Morning," Amanda whispered back, fingers tracing small patterns over her side.
Ericka blinked slowly, then tightened her arm around Amanda as if she wasn't ready to let go just yet. "I could stay like this all day."
"Tempting," Amanda teased, "but you'd get restless before lunch."
Ericka smirked faintly, then sighed. "I have a doctor's appointment today."
Amanda lifted her head slightly, concern flickering in her eyes. "Everything okay?"
"Routine," Ericka assured her, giving her hip a squeeze. "After that, I'm working from home." She paused, brushing her thumb along Amanda's arm. "But you go ahead to the office. Call me if you need anything, and I'll come up."
Amanda tilted her head, studying her. "You sure?"
"Yes." Ericka kissed her forehead. "I'll still be keeping an eye on you."
Amanda chuckled softly. "Somehow, I believe that."
They lingered like that for another few minutes, exchanging lazy kisses and whispered nothings, neither in a rush to face the day. But eventually, Amanda sighed and slipped out of bed, stretching as she padded toward the bathroom.
Ericka watched her go, a small, private smile playing at her lips, before rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling—already thinking about how quickly she could wrap up her day and get Amanda back in her arms.
_____________
The car ride to the office felt quieter than usual.
Not the kind of quiet that came with tension, but the lingering softness of the morning they'd just had.
Amanda sat in the backseat, coffee in hand, her mind replaying the warmth of Ericka's arm around her, the lazy kisses, the unspoken promise in her eyes.
By the time the driver pulled up to the curb outside the building, Amanda had shifted into work mode—or at least she was trying to.
8:47 AM — She stepped out of the elevator and into the nearly empty floor, the air cool and still before the day's rush. She set her bag down at her desk, booted up her computer, and sent Ericka a quick message.
Amanda: Made it in. You good?
It only took a minute before her phone buzzed.
Ericka: Always. You look beautiful this morning, by the way.
Amanda smirked at the screen, shaking her head.
Amanda: You didn't even see me leave, sleepyhead.
Ericka: I saw enough.
She could almost hear the low teasing in Ericka's voice.
Amanda sipped her coffee, glancing toward Ericka's closed office door, even though she knew it was empty.
Amanda: What's your morning looking like?
Ericka: Leaving in an hour for the appointment. Working from home after that. Maybe order lunch and wait for you to come home.save
Amanda leaned back in her chair, fingers hovering over the keyboard before typing again.
Amanda: You sure you don't want me to go with you?
Ericka: You'd hover.
Amanda: Of course I would.
Ericka: Exactly my point.
Amanda rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered.
Amanda: Fine. But you better call me the second you're done.
Ericka: Always. And Amanda?
Amanda: Yes?
Ericka: Don't have too much fun without me at the office.
Amanda bit her lip, replying with a simple,
Amanda: No promises. I love you.
She tucked her phone away just as the first wave of employees started filing in. Work would take over soon enough, but somewhere in the back of her mind, she was counting down the hours until she'd see Ericka again.
____________
The driver eased the car to a stop in front of the sleek glass building, and Ericka exhaled slowly before stepping out. Her heels clicked against the polished lobby floor as she made her way to the reception desk, her usual boardroom confidence just a little dimmed.
The receptionist smiled warmly. "Good morning, Ms. Mathews. You're checked in—you can take a seat, and the nurse will call you shortly."
Ericka thanked her and sat in the far corner of the waiting area, back straight, legs crossed, phone in hand. She wasn't here for anything major... she hoped. Still, the weight in her chest had been building for days.
When the nurse finally called her name, she followed down the narrow hallway, the scent of antiseptic sharp in the air.
Once in the exam room, her vitals were taken—blood pressure, temperature, pulse—all neatly typed into the nurse's tablet before she was left alone with the steady tick of the wall clock.
The doctor entered moments later, his smile easy but professional. "Good morning, Ericka. What's been going on?"
She hesitated, then admitted, "I've been feeling... off. Tired. A little lightheaded sometimes. And..." She swallowed, forcing the words out. "I'm nervous it could be cancer again."
His expression softened immediately. "I understand your concern. It's always good to check these things early."
They spoke through her symptoms, the timeline, her medical history. As part of the routine work-up, he explained they'd run a series of tests—including standard bloodwork and a urine test. "We do a pregnancy test with all our patients as part of our initial work-up—it's just procedure."
She gave a short nod, barely thinking about it. Pregnancy wasn't even on her radar.
Minutes later, she sat on the exam table, arms folded loosely, watching as the doctor returned with a chart in his hand. His face carried a look she couldn't immediately read.
"Well," he began gently, "the good news is, your vitals are solid. And... your pregnancy test came back positive."
For a beat, Ericka just blinked at him. "Positive...? As in..."
"You're pregnant, Ericka. Based on the hormone levels, you're about four weeks along."
Her breath caught. "That's... not possible," she whispered, though the racing in her chest told her she knew better.
"It's very possible," he said with a reassuring smile. "I know this wasn't what you came in for, but your other concerns can wait until we follow up on this. Right now, there's no sign of anything else alarming. I'd like to schedule you for an ultrasound in a couple weeks."
Ericka's mind spun—Amanda's face flashing in her thoughts. She'd walked into this appointment terrified she might hear the worst, but instead... this.
The doctor's voice broke through her thoughts. "You okay?"
She managed a faint smile. "Just... processing."
Ericka sat frozen in the exam chair, the word pregnant still hanging in the air like it hadn't quite landed yet. Four weeks. She blinked, trying to find her voice.
"I... I need to tell you something that might explain why I'm so shocked," she said, her voice unsteady.
The doctor pulled up a stool, sensing the weight behind her tone. "Go ahead."
"I'm in a relationship," Ericka began, a faint smile flickering at the thought of Amanda.
"With a woman. Amanda." She paused, taking a deep breath.
"She's intersex. We were told... she was told.
.. that getting pregnant naturally wasn't something that could happen.
Ever. So we've never worried about it. We didn't think it was even possible. "
The doctor's expression softened with understanding. "I see. While natural conception in that situation is rare, it's not impossible, depending on her specific anatomy and fertility. Your case may be unusual, but not unheard of."
Ericka let out a shaky laugh that sounded more like disbelief. "We never tried. We weren't... planning anything. And now—" she trailed off, her eyes dropping to her hands.
"Now you have something unexpected to navigate," the doctor finished gently. "But from what I can see so far, everything looks healthy. The next step is an early ultrasound to confirm and make sure you're getting the right prenatal care."
Ericka nodded, but her mind was already somewhere else—on Amanda's face when she told her, on the shock, the questions, the whirlwind of what this could mean for them.
"She's going to be just as surprised as I am," Ericka admitted softly. "Maybe more."
"I imagine so," the doctor said with a small smile. "It's a lot to process. But you don't have to figure it all out today. Take your time."
_____________________
Ericka slid into the back seat of her car, the door shutting with a quiet click that felt far too loud in the silence. The city moved around her—cars weaving, sunlight catching on glass towers—but her own world felt... different now.
She stared at the small prenatal information packet in her lap, her fingers tracing the edge of the paper like it might reveal the answers she didn't have yet. The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror but didn't say a word.
Pulling her phone from her bag, she hesitated for a long moment before typing out the message to Amanda.
Ericka: Headed home now. Everything's okay. Doctor just said I need to rest for a few days.
Her thumb hovered, debating whether to add more—whether to even hint at the news sitting like a fire in her chest. But no. Not yet. She wanted to tell Amanda in person. She wanted to see her face, to watch the realization dawn in her eyes.
Amanda replied quickly.
Amanda: Okay, babe. You scared me for a second. You sure you're alright?
Ericka smiled faintly.
Ericka: I'm fine. Promise. I'll see you tonight.
She set her phone down, leaning her head against the window.
The hum of the engine was steady beneath her, but her thoughts were anything but calm.
She replayed the moment in the doctor's office over and over—the unexpected test, the quiet you're pregnant, the way her heart had jumped into her throat.
And then she pictured Amanda. How she'd probably blink in disbelief, maybe laugh at first, because how could this even happen? Ericka's fingers brushed over her own stomach without thinking.
She knew one thing for certain—tonight, their lives were about to change forever.