He began in such a typically Freddie fashion that at first, she didn't think anything of it. He was rambling away and she, of course, assumed he was about to explain how he'd finally conquered that damned queen. But the words leaving his mouth didn't match the game at all. Well, maybe they did. A whole other game. She wasn't sure she knew the rules, though, and felt the figurative carpet being pulled out from under her. She eyed him warily as he talked, unsure of where this subject was even going. One day she'd learn to read his mind and then she wouldn't constantly be blind-sided by things like this.
"You're nowhere near seventy, you idiot. And you could go on playing another ten or twenty years easy. What..." But he kept talking because god, Freddie Trumper could talk. Not like she didn't know that. She'd always known that, from the first time he'd sweet-talked her from across the board.
Finally, the words started to sink in. They were having 'that' talk. And she wasn't ready. Her hand reached down, grabbing for the edge of the table to steady herself. She was feeling impossibly light-headed. That was hardly what she'd been expecting when she'd come out to examine his board.
Was he serious? After all that, all the bickering and the fighting, and finally her acceptance, he was bringing it up? And she couldn't help it. She gave a little laugh, especially given his ridiculous little 'proposal'. "Romance is never going to be your thing, is it, Freddie?" she teased, and dammit, were those watery eyes happening? Not fair, body. So not fair. She reached down, lovingly stroking his cheek and looking into those beautiful eyes. Her son would have those eyes, she was sure of it. Or a daughter. She didn't care anymore. She was going to have one.
Which was when it hit her. He'd actually said he was ready to start a family. With her. And yeah, fine, those tears finally spilled over and she didn't try and stop them. "Get up, you idiot, you look foolish," she whispered, a large smile breaking out on her face. "You're certain, baby? You can't take them back, they don't come with receipts. If...when it happens...it's for good." But god, she wouldn't fight him for long on this. She'd wanted to hear him say it for so long that she'd hold on to it desperately. "Maybe it'll be them, maybe it won't. And even if it is, they won't be the same. Those kids knew Darcy and Roger and loads of other people who are gone now. And we have people in our lives who weren't there then. But Freddie... Any child of ours would be brilliant, you know that, you have to know that."