Fiona couldn't believe her own eyes.
I probably thought it was funny last night. Now I don't. I will just have to call him and admit my stupidity. Arrrgh!
- I'm so sorry! I've made a complete fool of myself!
Niels just laughed. "There you go! You are sorry again!
Fiona had to smile.
- However, in all fairness, and as a punishment, you will have to go out with me on a real date.
And so they did. One date, became two. And three and four. And after some time they were a couple. They had fun together. They fell in love.
They spent a week at the lake cabin together. It was truly romantic.
- I'm so madly in love! Fiona told Stavroulla. But I am a bit worried now, because we... ah well we had an accident sort of.
- Accident?
- Well, you know. I think I might be pregnant.
- Oh gosh, that's awkward isn't it? If you are you have to move of course.
- ?!? Fiona felt her heart sink. - Yes, I guess it is too much to ask of you. I understand you don't want babies in the house.
- Not because of that, stupid! Because of B-cat! It is dangerous for pregnant women to be around cats! Because of toxoplasmosis, it is a parasitic disease. We had a lecture about it last year. I would love to have you and your baby in the house, you silly girl!
- Oh I see! But you are right of course. I can move in at Niels' place I guess. But I don't know if it is any better for the baby.
- His place is a dump.
After a couple of weeks Fiona was sure. She was pregnant. And it was time to move again.
The first thing Fiona did after moving in was to give the house a good scrub. Niels wasn't much help. It soon became clear that he was not used to domestic work. Fiona washed. Fiona tidied up. Fiona cooked. Niels watched TV.
- I don't think this is going to work out, Fiona thought to herself. I'm exhausted, and the baby is not even born!
She explained to Niels that this couldn't continue. And amazingly enough he promised to improve.
One crisp September night, just after midnight, Fiona woke up and felt very uncomfortable, and called her doctor friend Stavroulla.
- I think I actually peed on myself!
- Oh sweetie, your water just broke! Get Niels to take you to the hospital, I will meet you there!
And Stavroulla was right of course. At ten past seven the next morning, little Filipa was born.
Niels seemed to take his role as a father and family man very seriously. He single handedly painted the house when Fiona was at the hospital. And he got up to feed and cuddle little Filipa EVERY night the first weeks, so that Fiona could get her much needed rest.
The little family enjoyed their family life, and even though money were scarce, they managed to clean up and refurbish the house during the next few months.
Fiona was quite proud of her new kitchen. But she was quite disappointed in herself.
- I was so sure I would loose the extra kilos in no time! she complained to Niels and Stavroulla.
- Don't worry about that! They both said, You are more beautiful than ever.
By Christmas Fiona still hadn't lost any weight. But she put on a brave face, even though this really bugged her and made her feel very down. However, she was genuinely pleased to meat Gregoris, Stavroulla's new boyfriend. All in all the holidays were not that bad.
That winter her depression became increasingly depressed though. Filipa was a grumpy little one, hot tempered like her father as she was, not giving her mother any rest. - I never realized taking care of a baby would be this challenging, Fiona admitted to Stavroulla. - I love her of course, but I must admit that I can't wait to get back to work to get some rest! Well not rest maybe, but some change at least!
Things got a little better the next few months. And one night Niels asked, if they just shouldn't get married?
- He is not the romantic type you know, Fiona said to Stavroulla, but I thought it was a cool idea myself!
- I bet you did! Stavroulla laughed. When will it be?
- On Filipas two-year birthday. Quite a birthday-gift, right!?
- How wonderful! And one month before my little baby boy is due! Perfect timing!
But when the day came, the timing turned out not to be as perfect anyway, because little Sebastian was born just hours before the wedding (and four weeks before he was supposed to).
Fiona was full of doubts. Not because Stavroulla was missing, but because she had this nagging feeling that something was missing from her intire relationship with Niels.
- Is this what I really want?? I don't know what to do! It's not too late to say No, but.... Oh I really wish Stavroulla could have been here!
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