Fate

Hate Hospital Smells

GRACE'S POV

We arrived at the hospital and Luke was frantic. Tense.

He was trying to explain to the doctors what had happened, but couldn't get the word pregnant out of his mouth. James at that point stepped in and he was much easier to understand.

All we could do was sit in the waiting room while they took a bunch of tests on her. James had his arm around me and my head was resting on his shoulder. Luke was sitting across from us looking stressed and ready to punch a wall.

"Am I going to be a dad? What she said is true? That baby is mine?" He asked.

James and I both looked at each other to see who would answer. He sighed and looked at him.

"Yours." he said quietly.

Luke rested his elbows onto his knees and buried his face into his hands. He ran his fingers through his hair and squeezed his eyes shut.

He stood up and shoved James' chest further into the chair. "What the fuck, man? Why wouldn't you tell me something like that? I'm the father of a kid and you don't even tell me? I thought you were my friend? You're my brother, you don't hide shit like this from me!" He yelled.

Thankfully, we were the only ones in the waiting room since it was so late at night. James stood up and pushed him back.

"It wasn't my decision to tell you that! That's none of my business. Bridget didn't want to tell you because she didn't know how you'd handle it. She didn't think you would handle it! I mean look at how you're already acting! She thought that you were too much in lalaland and partied all the time to be a dad," he scoffed. It was true.

"Don't start James, you know I could shape up if I really needed to. I've missed her like crazy! I knew she hadn't moved on and I knew she wouldn't, unless I gave her some clarity to find someone else! I ended things for her. I love her, James! Just as much as you love Grace. She could be in my arms right now, not in a fucking hospital..."

He walked out of the waiting room and into the hallway. The walls were all made of glass so we could see exactly what he was doing. The doctor was opening the door to the waiting room when Luke had stopped him.

We couldn't hear what they were saying but as the doctor was speaking, he was looking back between Luke and his clipboard. By the time he was finished, Luke looked relieved and followed the doctor somewhere we couldn't see.

I stood up and quickly started towards the door, but James' hand on my arm stopped me.

"I need to make sure she's okay, James," I said panicky.

"Let him be. He needs to see her alone."

I sighed, knowing he was right and he pulled me into his lap and hugged me close to him.

"Let's go home. We can come back first thing in the morning. Okay?" He asked. I nodded and we walked out of the waiting room with his arm around my waist.

BRIDGET'S POV

I woke up with my head pounding and ringing in my ears. The last thing I remember is going to the bar last night. Walking in and... nothing. That's it. Blankness.

I rubbed my eyes and looked around, only to see an arm wrapped around me. My heart started racing. Did I hook up with someone? Did I drink? Please tell me I didn't do something to put the baby in danger...

I very slowly and carefully turned my head to see who's arms are wrapped around me, trying very hard not to wake them.

My eyes wandered onto the shirtless male who's face was more than recognizable.

Luke.

This has to be a dream. A dream that his arms are once again keeping me warm at night. I started to panic as I didn't know what to do. I can't stay here. I don't know why I'm here. I can't remember anything and I'm freaking out. I felt tears start to build in my eyes as I lifted his arm delicately from around me but didn't do it very well when he started moving. Shit.

He squinted his eyes then quickly shot up as he saw me with tears welled up in my eyes. "What's wrong?" he said taking my hand. "Everything is okay. I'm here," he said pulling me into a hug.

That's when I could no longer hold in the tears. This is the first time in a long time that I've had his arms around me and its probably the best thing that's happened to me in months. But I can't do it. I counted to five before I let go and wiped the tears from my eyes.

"I have to go, I'm sorry." I stood up and started walking but suddenly felt dizzy and my legs were wobbling under me before I stumbled to the wall for support.

Luke ran over and caught me, sitting me back down on the bed. I would leave if I could but I probably can't drive that well right now.

"I know," he said to me.

"What do you mean, 'you know'?" I asked not wanting to accidentally tell him something.

"That you still love me, that you miss me, that you're pregnant with my kid," he shrugged. "Do you remember anything from last night?" I couldn't look at him but I shook my head no.

"You were drugged at the bar and we took you to the hospital. Everything is okay with the baby. You're healthy, the baby is healthy, and you're just gonna be a little dizzy for the next few days," he spoke softly.

I just sat there, not knowing what to say.

"Bridge, why didn't you tell me? That's my kid too, ya know."

I closed my eyes. "I don't know. You hurt me, I didn't want to have anything to do with you. I didn't think you could help me. I didn't think you'd want to help me. I could ruin your life," I whispered.

He grunted and stood up. "Bridget Elise! I love you! I have never loved anyone more than I've loved you! You are the best thing to ever happen to me and I wish, I wish you knew that. I would do anything for you.

"I never stopped loving you babe and I probably never will. I only told you I stopped because I knew you wouldn't get over me. I needed to give you some closure. You needed that push to move on and I couldn't live with myself knowing that you were stuck with me in the back of your head making you sad all of the time. I love you Bridget. And I always will," he said grabbing my face and kissing me harder than I ever remember.

"That baby will grow up with me in his life and I will love them with all of the love I can muster. We created a new life and there's no way I could miss that," he pulled me into his arms.

I didn't dare say a word. There's nothing I could say that would make the silence any better.

He put his hand on my stomach and crouched down.

"Hi baby," he spoke, "I'm your dad." he gently kissed the slight bump that wasn't noticeable to anyone except me. I cracked a small smile as I saw him moving his lips while he spoke.

I put my hand under his chin and made him look at me. "This is really what you want? You want this baby and me? Because let me just tell you, I am not a second choice and I will have no problem raising this baby on my own-"

"I'm not leaving, even if you want me gone," he spoke seriously.

"I just can't have you promise to stay and then leave me when I need you most. This is a stay or go thing. You make a decision and you stick with it." I looked at him.

I love him. I do, but this baby is coming first and that will never change. If he stays, it's forever, or it's never. There's no in between.

He immediately stopped and grabbed my face in his hands.

"Move in with me."