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It had been an interesting year to say the least. Finally, you'd pushed through and begun working on your biggest passion, supported by your wonderful lover. Mihawk. What a wonderful man. He ran a luxury clothing boutique, selling occasion dresses, suits and the accessories to match them. He'd done well for himself, and done it all by himself, from the ground up without help. Who doesn't love a self-made man? Mihawk was fashionable, handsome, and the tall, dark and quiet type. He was easy to love, even if he didn't make it easy.
Things had started rocky. You knew what you wanted, and were determined to get it, and Mihawk initially seemed oblivious, but of course not, now you knew better. Nothing gets past your partner. Rather, he was trying his hardest to ignore it, because he whole heartedly believed that you - and anyone for that matter - can do better than him. You'd been working on that feeling since you'd gotten together, both of you.
Really, you blamed his parents. Religious, just like him, but more extreme in their views and values. They'd never abandoned or disowned him, but they did still regularly comment on his 'choices'. Mihawk had come out as bisexual at age 21, and they still acted like it was the end of the world, in their strange, subtle way. Mihawk was far more gentle and loving with his beliefs, and allowed you yours just the same.
Now, the holidays were rolling around. You had news for him, that was important, and you knew it would change both of your lives so dramatically - but you were waiting for the day itself to tell him. You celebrated on the 25th, and visited his parents on the same day, because they were insistent and sometimes it was easier to placate them. They weren't outwardly hostile, and so you let Mihawk take the lead on where and when they were allowed in your lives. You'd gift wrapped it, just for him, and now you were waiting.
As the door opened, announcing the return of your partner to the home you shared, you stood and headed to greet him as you usually did. He shrugged off his long, dark coat and hung it beside the door, kicking off his boots to sit in the rack beneath it. He turned to you and caught your lips in a soft kiss, a small smile on his face. No matter the day he'd had, seeing you at the door to greet him always eased him just a little.
"I was thinking we'd have risotto tonight." He said when you separated, and you just nodded and gave him another quick kiss.
"Sounds good to me." Mihawk enjoyed cooking, and baking to a lesser degree, so you were only too happy to let him cook for the both of you. He was a better cook than you were anyway.
He would start cooking later, that you knew, because the first order of business was always to curl up on the sofa and just be together for a while, in silence. While he was perfectly capable of spending his day interacting with people, it definitely wasn't Mihawk's preference and he usually needed to recharge. He did that with you. Your head on his chest, his arms around your waist, with the quiet of the house to soothe his overworked senses.
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The holidays were closing in, just a few days away, and you were bursting with anticipation. You'd of course discussed the topic of children in the past. You weren't engaged yet, but knew that a wedding was something the both of you wanted. You suspected with a little one already incoming, you'd wait until they were old enough to partake before tying the knot. You could imagine a mini Mihawk, or a mini you, in their little formal wear, dancing the night away even if they didn't understand what was being celebrated.
Of course, you couldn't entirely keep this to yourself, and you'd desperately wanted someone to go to your first appointment with you since Mihawk couldn't. The lucky person? Mihawk's trusted friend Crocodile. Shanks was no doubt closer to Mihawk than Crocodile was, but he also had a far bigger mouth and as much as you loved him, you just weren't sure you could trust Shanks to keep that secret. Crocodile on the other hand? He wouldn't breathe a word and you knew it. Besides, he'd be an uncle soon enough, so you figured you'd let him have the honour.
He'd driven you to the appointment himself, and hooked his arm with yours the entire time that the two of you sat in the waiting room. He even went into the room with you, and held your hand as the scan was done. It had been nice, to share such a special moment with one of Mihawk's dearest friends. Crocodile, like your lover, was a more closed off man with little in terms of connections. He just seemed to have Mihawk, and a flamboyant man named Doflamingo who Crocodile swore up and down that he hated, but you were sure they were having sex. Just a feeling you had.
He'd gotten his own copy of the scan, and promised to hold onto the others to hide them from Mihawk. He was also the one to keep ahold of the wrapped positive test, again so that Mihawk couldn't find it by accident in the house. He was a good friend, and you knew that he'd be just as good as an uncle.
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December 24th, Christmas Eve. You couldn't help being excited. Mihawk had needed to go to work that day, purely for a few hours to get some things in order and that had been your chance. Crocodile had driven over and handed over the test, and helped you set up a small camera to record the entire interaction - he was taller than you, and insisted you couldn't be using a step ladder in your state, he was already being the overprotective uncle you'd expected he'd turn into. That's what happens when all of your partner's friends had bad childhoods, you supposed.
It was nice to have him there, and just spend an hour or two with him, ready for the holiday season. You were having a friendly gathering on the 26th, since the 25th was reserved for Mihawk's parents. It would be nice. Your best friend, Crocodile, Shanks, Buggy, yourself and Mihawk. It would be an interesting gathering, but you were looking forward to it all the same.
Now, it was just a waiting game. Mihawk was already on his way home, and you were brimming with excitement, and anticipation.
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The day had arrived. Mihawk had insisted on gifts at home after the way his parents had reacted to the gifts you'd given to each other last year - more of that quiet disapproval they tried to hide behind polite smiles - which meant your surprise got to stay a secret for just you two (and Crocodile) for now.
First however - breakfast.
Mihawk made a small Christmas feast for the two of you - his mother, a peak almond mom, tended not to make enough for you, so he was compensating. You enjoyed it thoroughly, it was all of both of your favourite breakfast foods, and it was nice to just be together and share such a nice meal. It was the perfect start to a wonderful day.
Then, came sitting down to exchange gifts.
"Mine is pretty big so, you should go first." You said, an excited laugh passing your lips. It was hard to contain it now, you'd already been hiding it for a few weeks.
"Oh mine is, quite big as well - I think you should go first." Mihawk replied, and your eyes widened slightly.
"Oh no, trust me, you should go first." You insisted, kneeling down in front of the tree to pull the gifts from underneath it. You loved the way the tree looked, you'd worked together to make it that perfect kind of tacky, so it just exuded love for the season.
"We'll do it together." Mihawk suggested, and you nodded. That seemed like the best way to go at this point.
You pushed Mihawk's gifts toward him - because of course the wrapped test and ultrasound weren't the only things that he was getting this year - and he pushed yours toward you. You took a pause to decide what to open first, then Mihawk counted down from three.
On three, you both tore the wrapping paper and opened the gifts in front of you, and you were immediately confronted by confusion. A t-shirt? This wasn't important. Not like what yours was. You lifted it up, then turned it over, and the text on it made understanding dawn on you.
*Will you marry me?*
You looked quickly up at Mihawk, not sure what to expect, but found the positive test in one hand, and the ultrasound in the other, and a stunned look on his face.
"You're-" He couldn't speak, the words caught in his throat, but you knew what he was trying to ask.
"Yes," there was hardly a pause, the moment he hesitated you spoke, "to both questions. Yes." Mihawk looked up slowly, awe showing in every inch of his face. He tossed the test aside and reached out for you. He got a gentle grip on your arms and pulled you toward him, crashing your lips together. You closed your eyes, and for a moment the world around you just stopped. In that moment there was you, and there was him, and that was all.
"We're having a baby." He whispered against your lips when you separated, and all you could do was laugh and nod. You were having a baby.
"We're getting married." You said in return, and then it was his turn to laugh.
"Your ring is in my back pocket." He reached back, albeit awkwardly because you didn't want to let him go, and he pulled the ring from his pocket. You reluctantly sat further back so he could slip the ring on to your finger. You'd never felt so happy.
It didn't happen what happened later at his parents' house, or tomorrow with your friends. You had Mihawk, and your baby. You didn't need anything else.