Chapter 8 - Max

My mind races faster than my truck as I speed through Pine Valley's streets. A father. Me. A family. Sure, I've got my crew – they're family in their own way – but this is different.

This is blood and DNA and tiny fingers wrapping around mine.

My heart pounds against my ribs like it's trying to escape. I haven't felt this kind of nervous energy since my last firefight in Afghanistan. My hands shake on the steering wheel – something that hasn't happened since those days either.

It's not the fires or the bullets I'm afraid of anymore. It's the thought of having two perfect reasons to come home safe. Two reasons I can't take unnecessary risks.

I pull into the station's parking lot, noting how empty it looks. Strange. The emergency call should have everyone scrambling, voices echoing off the brick walls, boots thundering across concrete floors.

But it's silent.

I push through the heavy doors, frowning at Sadie's empty dispatch desk. Even during calls, the Chief's daughter never leaves her post. Something's off.

Muffled voices drift from the kitchen. I approach slowly, years of military training kicking in. My hand reaches for the door, pushing it open fast to catch whoever's in there off guard.

Instead, I'm the one who freezes.

The entire crew stands there – Chief Luke, Sadie, Damon, Shane, Kane, Danny, and Ashton. They burst into applause and cheers the moment they see me.

"Dad Max!"

"Looking good, Papa!"

"There's the man of the hour!"

I blink, stunned, as Ashton steps forward, grinning like an idiot.

"How..." I start.

"We know, brother." He claps my shoulder. "We all know."

"But I just found out hours ago. How did you—" I stop, realization hitting me. "Emma told Autumn."

"And Autumn told me," he confirms, looking way too pleased with himself.

"And you told everyone?" I shake my head. "How'd you know I wouldn't freak out?"

Ashton's grin softens.

"Been your best friend for five years, man. You think I don't know you'd step up? Besides," he glances around at our crew, "you've been talking about wanting a family since we met. Now you get that, and the woman you love? It's a two-for-one deal."

"So," Chief Luke steps forward, his usually stern face breaking into a rare smile, "a baby Thompson. God help us all."

"Hey!" I protest, but I'm grinning. The tension in my shoulders eases.

These guys – this is what family looked like for me until today.

Kane throws an arm around my shoulders, nearly knocking me off balance.

"Better start baby-proofing that death trap you call a house, brother."

"And maybe buy a new car," Danny adds with a smirk, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"No way in hell—"

"Your truck isn't exactly car seat friendly," Shane points out.

"And you'll need space for all the baby stuff," Sadie chimes in. "Trust me, babies come with more gear than our entire station."

"Speaking of Emma," Ashton interrupts and something in his tone makes me nervous. "When did you officially ask her to be your girlfriend?"

The question hits me like a bucket of cold water. Shit.

"I... uh..."

"You didn't ask her?" Sadie's eyes widen to comical proportions. "Max Thompson, you got her pregnant before making it official?"

"I was distracted!" I run a hand through my hair, messing up what's left of my carefully styled look. "She told me about the baby, and then there was her aunt, and—"

"Dude," Shane shakes his head, looking genuinely disappointed. "You need to go. Now."

"But—"

"No buts," Chief Luke's voice carries that familiar command tone that got us through countless fires. "That woman is carrying your child. The least you can do is ask her to be your girlfriend properly."

"What about the fire?" I glance around at their dress uniforms for the first time.

No turnout gear in sight. No smell of smoke. No urgency in their movements.

The entire crew bursts out laughing.

"There is no fire, genius." Ashton pushes me toward the door. "We just needed to get you here somehow."

"You faked an emergency call?" I stop dead in my tracks, turning to face them.

"Sadie's idea," Kane grins at his girlfriend, who takes a dramatic bow.

"Had to get creative," she shrugs, twirling her dispatch headset. "Now go get your girl."

"But make it romantic!" Ashton calls after me. "None of that 'hey, wanna be my girlfriend' crap."

"And don't screw it up!" Shane adds. "This one's keeper material."

"Buy flowers!" Sadie yells, her voice echoing off the station walls.

"And a ring!" That's definitely Damon, the romantic fool.

"It's a girlfriend proposal, not a marriage proposal," I shout back, but my mind's already racing ahead.

A ring doesn't sound so crazy anymore.

"Why not both?" Kane wiggles his eyebrows.

"One step at a time," Chief Luke intervenes, always the voice of reason. "Though maybe start thinking about benefits paperwork. Family health insurance isn't a bad idea right about now."

I'm already halfway to my truck when his voice booms across the parking lot again. "Thompson!"

I turn.

"Congratulations, son."

The word 'son' hits differently today. Maybe because soon, I'll be someone's father. Maybe because Luke's been more of a father to me than anyone else ever was.

"Thanks, Chief." My voice comes out rougher than intended.

"Now get out of here," he waves me off. "And don't come back until you've done this right."

"And send us pictures!" Sadie calls out.

"Of the proposal, not the making up part!" Shane clarifies.

"Though if you want to share those too—" Ashton starts, but gets cut off by what sounds like Danny smacking him upside the head.

I climb into my truck, my crew's cheers and laughter still echoing in my ears. They're right. I need to do this properly. Emma deserves more than assumed relationships and unspoken agreements.

Time to go get my girl. For real this time.

My truck roars down Pine Valley's streets, probably breaking a few speed limits. But for once, I don't care. My mind's fixed on one thing: Emma. My Emma, who's carrying my child, who's waiting in my house, who I somehow forgot to actually ask to be mine.

Flowers can wait. Rings can wait. Right now, I just need her.

I screech into my driveway, barely remembering to put the truck in park before I'm out and running to my front door. My hands shake as I fumble with the keys – why are there so many damn keys? – until I finally get the right one.

The door swings open, and there she is. Emma's curled up on my couch, her blonde curls spilling over one of my throw pillows, her hand resting on her still-flat stomach. She looks up, startled.

"Max? What about the fire?"

"There was no fire." I cross the room in three strides, dropping to my knees in front of her. "The crew just wanted to congratulate us."

Her eyes widen. "They know?"

"Autumn told Ashton, who told everyone else." I take her hands in mine. "But that's not important right now."

"It's not?"

"No." I take a deep breath. My heart's pounding like I'm about to run into a burning building. "Emma Rose, I'm an idiot."

She blinks. "Okay..."

"I'm an idiot because I never properly asked you to be my girlfriend. Because I let us play this weird game of pretending we weren't really dating when we both knew we were. Because I needed Ashton, Sadie, and everyone else to point out that I got you pregnant before making us official."

A small smile tugs at her lips. "To be fair, I didn't make us official either."

"Let me fix that." I shift closer, still on my knees. "I love you. I have since that first day at the Christmas Festival. Everything about you – your sass, your strength, the way you call me out on my bullshit, how you light up when you talk about your students. Even the way you steal all the covers at night."

"I do not—"

"You absolutely do, but that's not the point." I squeeze her hands. "The point is, I want you. All of you. Not just as the mother of my child but as my partner. My girlfriend. Maybe someday, if I'm lucky, my wife."

She gasps softly at that last part.

"I know I don't have flowers or a ring right now. I know this isn't the romantic proposal you deserve. But I couldn't wait another second to ask you properly." I bring her hands to my lips, kissing her knuckles. "Emma, will you be my girlfriend? For real this time?"

Tears spill down her cheeks.

"You're sure?" she whispers. "Even with the baby and all the changes coming?"

"Especially with all that." I reach up to wipe away her tears. "You and this baby? I’ve told you. That’s everything I’ve ever wanted. Everything I never thought I'd have."

She launches herself forward, nearly knocking me over as she wraps her arms around my neck.

"Yes," she breathes against my ear. "Yes, you idiot."

I pull back just enough to kiss her properly, tasting salt from her tears and sweetness that's purely Emma. When we break apart, we're both breathing heavy.

"You know," she says, running her fingers through my hair, "for someone who forgot to ask me to be his girlfriend, you sure jumped straight to mentioning wife."

I feel heat creep up my neck. "Too soon?"

"No." She smiles, that brilliant smile that first caught my attention at the festival. "Just soon enough."

"The crew's expecting pictures," I tell her, pulling out my phone.

She laughs, the sound filling my chest with warmth.

"Of the girlfriend proposal?"

"Yeah. Though Ashton wanted the making up pictures too."

"Did you tell him those are reserved for the baby announcement?"

I freeze, staring at her. "Are you suggesting we tell everyone with steamy photos?"

"No," she grins, "but your face was priceless just now."

I pull her close again, breathing in her vanilla scent.

My girlfriend. The mother of my child. My future.

Not bad for a Sunday afternoon.