#huxley and edgar had me wheezing tbh

[4lexnilsen]

poppy’s amusement is very much infectious,  causing the corners of alex’s lips to twitch even as he attempts to refrain from grinning.   he’s said it before,  but it’s one of the best days of his life and so naturally there’s nothing but pure,  unbridled happiness coursing through his veins.   and every time he as much as glances in his wife’s direction,  his features soften and eyes fill with adoration.   “i’m going with…   boy.”   not because he’s one of those toxic assholes who care about the gender of their baby and have a certain preference,  but because it’s fun to just take a wild guess.   “i mean,  my mom had four boys.   you have two brothers.   does that logic make sense?”   no,  it doesn’t.

alex fully expects poppy to burst out laughing or take a screenshot of the list and send it to rachel —   look what my husband came up with.   bless his heart lol.   kind of thing.   he’s somewhat surprised when she doesn’t do anything like this.   instead,  her reaction makes him feel so warm inside.   he stands behind her,  his chin resting on her shoulder as they go over the lists,  arms curling around her waist,  hands gently touching her stomach.   hi,  baby.   “really?   you think they’re good names?”   he asks,  surprised but still his lips brush her cheek.   the softest of kisses.   “alright,  i don’t mind letting go of edgar and huxley,  but virginia?   is it really bad?   not even up for negotiations as a middle name?”   he laughs,  figuring since he doesn’t have a middle name,  maybe their baby doesn’t need one either…  

he returns the sweet kiss without a second of hesitation,  his heart swelling and soaring,  chest all fluttery and light.   they’re having a baby.   they’re going to be parents.   it’s still so hard to believe that it actually worked out.   “yeah?”   pulling back with a soft smack,  he beams at his wife and picks her up so that she can sit on the counter with his hips lodged between her legs.   “it was my mother’s maiden name,  have i ever told you that?   maxwell.   i’d like to honor her in some way if that’s okay with you.   but if i’m wrong about this whole it’s a boy thing,  then i definitely want our daughter to have a pretty,  floral name like yours.   daisy sounds nice,  i think.”   though,  maybe it’s one of these names that work beautifully for a little girl and then become annoying as the girl becomes a woman.   would doctor daisy nilsen sound good or immature?   he’s somewhat unsure.

laughing as poppy’s comment pulls him out of this dreamy haze,  pale blue eyes flicker down and find her own gazing up.   a smirk blooming on his lips.   “and what kind of christmas present would you expect of me tonight?   it’s not even christmas day yet,”   he teases,  knowing very well what kind of present she’s talking about and blushing like a schoolboy.   “didn’t you let lilly sleep in our bed?”   he whispers in a hushed tone,  hands running up and down her thighs because really…   it’s not like they can’t get creative.   “that’s so crazy to think about,  poppy.   it’s our last christmas as just poppy and alex.   we’ll be mom and dad next year.”   and it’s such a heartwarming thought,  one that has him melting into a puddle.   he just prays everything goes well…

poppy rolls her eyes at her husband's teasing, fighting off the smile of amusement until she can't. ronnie wasn't the least endearing name for a girl, but when alex asks if she can tell what the baby might be, she shrugs. "sorry babe, but no dice. it could be either for all i know." poppy takes alex's hands at that, resting them on her stomach underneath her own. "what about you? any premonitions?"

when he gives over his phone, both of them look the lists together. poppy smirks as she reads them, able to reason why alex may have picked some of them without seeing their explanations. her only complaints were, "can't get with edgar, huxley, or virginia. but i'll admit," her gaze meets alex with a smile, "i love most of these. you have very good taste, mr. nilsen." their lips meet at poppy's insistence, placing the phone down in favor of further cuddling herself into her husband's arms.

the question of her own lists makes the brunette bite her lip. "i feel like the most anti-girl in world for saying this but, no? a flower name like mine could be cute. i like that a lot. and i've always liked the name max, too, actually." she'd never mentioned it to alex so seeing the name on his own list felt a little like fate. "and plot twist! i like it for a boy or a girl." maxine, maxwell. it would work for both. "but i think it'll be about how we feel when we meet them," she says as she steps back. "look at that, i didn't make fun of you at all. do i get a prize? a special christmas present?" poppy winks, not expecting one to appear. to her, the best present had already been delivered in the form of her positive pregnancy test, and she knows alex feels the same way. "just think, this time next year we'll have an almost six month old crawling around."