The baby shower

Soon it was evening. Anna went to Emily and somehow convinced her to go with her on a dinner. She even gifted her the dress that Jack bought for her with an excuse of having seen it in an exclusive boutique and how she thought it to be perfect for her. It was a red lace dress which embraced her baby bump beautifully and gave her a vibrant look. When she saw herself in the mirror, she said, "Anna, this dress is amazing. But don't you think it's too much for a dinner? I mean I can wear something simple and save it for some other day. And look at you. I mean you look beautiful but simple."

Anna smiled on hearing her and said, "Who told you I am going out in this? I am going to change into something better, just like you. Anyways, let's not talk about me... Ummm.... let me do your makeup now."

"..."

Emily placed the back of her palm on Anna's forehead and said, "Anna, are you okay? You talking about these stuff? Am I dreaming?"

"Hahaha..... Very funny Em. I just wanted a change that's why I am doing this. But seems like you didn't like it at all." She pouted and said.

"Of course not baby girl. I like it. But..." She tapped her finger on her chin and said impishly, "You would allow me to do your makeup too."

"What?" She yelped. "No Em....You know how I hate all of this."

"Please pretty please...." Emily said while showing her puppy dog eyes which she could never deny.

Anna finally agreed as she had no other choice. They dressed up and headed towards their way. The baby shower was organized at Anna's and Ashton's home as Jack wanted it to be an intimate affair with close family and friends in a comfy ambiance. When she came to know about it, she promptly suggested to organize it at her place. When Emily saw the familiar path, she somewhat got an idea of where they were heading to which bewildered her.

"Anna... you said we were going for a dinner but this street leads to your mansion. I mean aren't we going somewhere else?"

"Indeed we are going for the dinner but at my place Em. I know how you love to visit it as it adheres so many memories of Ashton. So I just thought of taking you there."

"Thank you baby girl." She beamed with joy. She actually loved that place because she knew how Ashton built each and every corner of the place for Anna with all his heart. Manytimes, he used to call her up for her suggestions and advices to assure himself if Anna would like it or not.

Soon they reached their destination and Anna carefully led Emily inside. However, when they opened the door, it was all dark.

"Ummm... baby girl, didn't you ask anyone to prepare everything beforehand? Why is it so dark?" Before she could continue further, Anna gently left her hand and went inside. Emily was baffled on her bizzaire behaviour and called her frantically, "Anna? Where did you go.....?"

"Surprise!" Everyone cheered and the lights illuminated the whole mansion gracefully. Emily was blinded for a few seconds due to the abrupt lighting but as soon as she opened her eyes, she was awestruck by what she saw.

The whole place was spruced up with blue, white and silver balloons. The center was decked up with a large teddy bear hanging loosely between the balloons with "Welcome Momma To Be" written in bold letters in front of it. Emily did not know what to say. She was surprised to see her close friends of Seattle, Richard, Anna and many more people which were indeed very close to her. Her eyes scanned the whole place but they stucked on one person who was the closest to her heart. It was then, when she realized that how much she missed him. It was Jack. She could not believe her eyes. Before she could express anything, she was engulfed in a loving hug by him and her eyes started watering. She was extremely happy.

"Jack? Did you do all this?" She whispered.

"I missed you so much baby." They were still standing in each others embrace.

"I missed you too. I love you so much."

Jack wiped her tears and pulled her for a loving kiss. "I love you too Em. Did you like the surprise?"

"Like? I love it. But when and how? When did you come?" Before she could ask further, she was called upon by Richard who was standing right behind her.

"Dad... you too knew about it?"

"Of course princess." He went ahead and kissed her forehead lovingly.

"Well... I came here two days ago and Anna aided me with all this stuff."

"Oh My God! How did I forget her? Anna... Thank you so much. This is the best surprise I have ever got and receiving it from the people whom I love the most makes it even more special. I love you baby girl."

Anna instantly came to her and wiped her tears. "I love you too Em. But honestly, I did nothing. I just assisted Jack here and there. It was all planned and executed by him. I must say you are blessed with the most loving husband. You should thank him."

She nodded her head and mouthed a thank you to him.

"Enough of thank you now let's start the party." Richard intervened and they went to the table decked aside the stage to cut the cake. Meanwhile, Anna excused herself to see the arrangements and insisted to join them in a while.

They had just reached the table when they heard a deep voice.

"Congratulations Emily." They turned around to see Regan standing across the table with a large bouquet of pink lilies.

"Welcome son." Richard greeted him warmly.

He gifted the flowers to Emily. "Regan, Thank you so much for this." She then turned to Jack and said, "And meet my husband, Jack Blossom."

When Regan entered the mansion, he immediately spotted them all but as soon as he saw Jack, his back stiffened as he didn't know how to react on his presence. He actually thought him to be Ashton. For a moment, he thought to leave the place but soon changed his mind as he had already decided to control his emotions around Anna for her happiness. But when Emily introduced Jack as her husband, he didn't know why... he felt his heart at peace. However, he knew that this feeling would not last longer as one day or the other, he had to endure the pain of her being with her love but the mere thought of it constricted his heart and it ached. Nevertheless, he came out of his reverie and exchanged pleasantries with Jack.

"Regan... although these flowers are for me but you know.... these are Anna's favourite flowers. She just love them." Emily said out of nowhere.

"Oh! I didn't know about that." It was a new piece of information about her which his mind instantly registered.

"Regan?"

He turned around to the source of voice which brought a pleasure to his ears but as soon as his eyes landed on her, he gulped on watching the beauty in his front. Anna was dressed in an emerald green off-shoulder princess dress that ended above her knees. She left her hair loose in soft curls on her back. Words got strucked in his mouth as he kept his firm gaze on her to take in her beauty.

Emily saw him checking out on Anna and chuckled. She secretly patted her back for her work that enhanced Anna's charm and elegance by tenfolds. She fake coughed to bring him back out of his daze.

"Anastasia" He snapped back and instantly greeted her. When he looked at Emily, she gave him a meaningful glance and his ears turned red as he got caught for openly checking her out. However, Anna seemed oblivious to it and he was thankful for that. They talked about random things for a while and soon the party started on its full swing.

Jack and Emily cut the cake and also danced on few songs. Anna was happy to see her home swamped with so many cheerful faces, just as Ashton always wanted it to be. Her heart was contented with the sight which brought a smile on her face. After a while, Emily took the mike as she wanted to share something with her loved ones. Her hands were intertwined with Jack's when she said,

"Thank you so much everyone to be a part of our happiness. Words wouldn't be enough to thank my husband for this wonderful surprise. Well... as you know, our little bundle of joy would be with us in a few months, we want to disclose the gender of our baby." She then handed the mike to Jack and he continued.

"It's the best feeling of the world. I don't know how happy I would feel when I would actually get to hold our baby in my arms. So let me tell you that I am going to be a proud father of a princess and I couldn't find words to thank my beautiful wife for the precious gift." He said and pecked her lips while the people cheered with joy and congratulated the couple.

"Well... this is not it. I would also like to introduce my baby's godmother to you all." Emily said and looked towards Anna. "Baby girl, would you be the godmother of my angel?"

Anna's eyes brimmed with tears on hearing Emily. She instantly went to her and said, "I would love to Em..... and I will spoil her rotten. She'll be my princess just as I am to you and dad. Thank you."

Regan was standing at a corner while taking in everything that was happening around. He could see the love between all of them. Their selfless relation made him realize that in order to love someone it's not necessary to be related by blood. He could clearly see the selfless love, care, respect and honor that they share amongst themselves without any expectations or desires. Then once again, his eyes landed on Anna. Time and again when he saw her smiling, his own heart fluttered with happiness. Somewhere he was enraged with himself for his livid thoughts about her. He always used to be decisive and determined about his opinions and decisions but he felt vulnerable in front of her to hold on his emotions. However much he tried to persevere his line of thinking, he was unable to withdraw his gaze from her, he wanted to be around her, to hold her, to tell her without any hesitation that how beautiful she was looking today... but he knew he was in no place to do anything that his heart desired. He somehow composed himself and went outside to get some fresh air with a glass of drink to calm down his nerves.

After some time he heard a voice which startled him and he groaned in his head to face it in his miserable state where he couldn't decide if he should side with his brain which never failed him in life or his heart which he felt as if it became alive with her mere presence around him.