I Need To Tell You Something

Later that night Fluttershy and Band are having dinner. She hadn't made spaghetti for a while now, so she decided to make it for tonight.

Band was sweet and helped make it with her, suggesting to add a little garlic to make the sauce savory and a slight pinch of oregano, in his words, "To make it taste more Italian."

Fluttershy then teased Band, playfully quoting, "Taste more Italian?"

"Don't question my logic," Band laughed.

Band must've had a good day at work after he left, because he was in high spirits and having a good time with her. Angel got Fluttershy's affectionate attention by jealously pulling on her pant leg occasionally. She petted him, but she would turn her attention back to making dinner with Band. Eventually, dinner finished and Band set the dining table so she could plate the garlic bread and spaghetti.

Fluttershy gave Angel his carrot and Band sat her into her seat at the table like a gentleman. He often does give courtesy when he wants to please people, and he always balances his humorous side with his polite side.

___

Once Band sits down across from Fluttershy at the table he sees her glow with delight and says to her, "Dinner's beautiful, sweetie. It matches you."

She giggles and he begins eating the spaghetti. She admires him. Sure, he slurps his noodles like a pig, but he's honest about himself. He never breaks his own unique character when others are around, or even when meeting new people. He just acts like himself, and Fluttershy loves him.

Then she remembers. She needs to tell him tonight. Any later and she'd feel guilty about keeping her pregnancy a secret from him for even a day. But how should she go about it? She wonders.

"Forget preparing," Fluttershy yells at herself in her mind, "Just tell him!"

Fluttershy taps a fingernail nervously on the table and asks, "Band?"

Band swallows and wipes his mouth with a napkin, "Yeah?"

"I need to tell you something."

"What?" Band wonders.

"You know what we've been doing since our last long talk?"

"I don't know which one you're speaking of? We have different versions of what's a long talk and what's not."

Fluttershy hates nervously how this is starting, but just sighs to relax, "The one where we talked about having a child?"

"Oh. Yeah, sorry. What about it?"

"We've been trying and I think..." She stops.

"What do you think?" Band asks softly.

She hesitates, "I think we were successful."

It takes Band a moment to realize what she's saying and his face turns from wonder to surprise. He starts to say, "You're-" but Fluttershy adds it herself.

"I'm pregnant, Band," Her heart skips a beat as she finally tells him. After she realizes she's looking at her plate, she looks to Band for an answer.

Band seems very surprised with a stunned expression on his face, "Really?"

"Really," Fluttershy begins to sob a little.

"Why are you sad?"

"Because I'm afraid that you don't want this."

Band sits still for a moment, then gets out of his seat to come over to her and comfort her with a hug.

"What are you doing?" She asks.

He answers with a sincere counter question, "Why wouldn't I want this?"

"I don't know, maybe you weren't ready for this?"

He steps back to look her in her tear flooded eyes, "If I wasn't ready for this, would I have asked you if you were ready for this?"

Fluttershy sniffs, "No, I guess not."

Band smiles at her with soft eyes, "I want this. I want us. I want a child. I love you."

She hugs his waist as she sits and says happily, "I love you too."

They hug for a minute and Band asks, "How long have you known?"

"I found out today."

"Was that what you couldn't tell me right away?"

Fluttershy nuzzles Band's chest, "Yeah."

"Well," Band starts, "that's a great surprise for my great day."

Fluttershy looks to Band's empty plate, "You ate fast. Did you even taste it?"

Band lets off the hug and laughs, "Well yeah. It tasted great. What about you? You haven't even touched your plate."

She holds her stomach, "I had a big lunch with the girls at our picnic. I'll clean the table, do the dishes, and meet you in bed."

She starts to get up, but Band places a hand on her shoulder, "No, I got it. You've done enough today. I'll clean things up. You can go to bed."

"Okay," Fluttershy replies slightly surprised and gets out of her seat to head to their bedroom upstairs.

Once she closes the door, Band looks around and sees Angel seeming confused. He might not know what the two were talking about. Band picks up the plates and silverware and throws away the trash. He looks to the sink full of dishes and says aloud, "It's gonna be a long night."