Eventually Yours

✽ 100 - Part I

~Aiden

It was my favorite sound... our baby’s heartbeat.

I sat in the chair beside Breanna’s hospital bed, my fists clenched tight on my thighs. Tears slipped silently down Breanna’s face, but she stared out the window at the falling snow as the doctor checked her over. She still wouldn’t look at me. Not since she took that hard fall that spun my world off its axis. When she fell, it almost ended me.

Driving like a madman in the snow, I hauled ass to the hospital. The rest of our family and friends were taking a detour the minute I called them to tell them what was happening.

Now, with her elbow bandaged, she’s hooked up to a myriad of machines that monitor the baby and her. The lines jumped on the heart monitor, a steady pulse telling me our baby was okay. Still, the fucking anvil in my chest, the fist wrapped around my throat wouldn’t let me loose. Worry for the baby, for Brie, ate at me.

Doctor Wittmer straightened up on her stool.

“Right now, there are no signs of fetal distress or placental abruption. Or internal bleeding” She looked at Breanna. “You said you had a cramp?”

“Yes,” she replied with a sniffle. “After I fell.”

“Okay.”

The doctor turned a wise eye to the band strapped across Breanna’s belly. “We’re monitoring you for contractions. This could be the start of labor.”

My chest tightened, and I could barely force my next breath out.

“It’s too soon.”

Breanna pressed a hand against her mouth to smother a sob.

“The survival rate for babies at thirty-five weeks is the same as that for babies born at full term” Doctor Wittmer smiled and stood, her dark eyes crinkling at the corners. “Rest, relax. I’ll be back to check in on you.”

I’m frozen, processing the news, when Breanna’s heart-wrenching voice let out, “This is all my fault.”

I frowned.

“Don’t,” I gritted out.

Tears streaming down her face, she rested a hand on her swollen stomach, her gaze still trained out the window.

“I shouldn’t have gone outside.”

“I’m not going to do that, Brie. Or let you blame yourself. Absolutely not.”

“Why not? I deserve it” Another sob ripped out of her, shaking her frame. “I’m a terrible person. The baby could have been hurt.”

I shook my head, but she continued without even a glance my way.

“I know I overreacted” she swiped angrily at her tears. “I should have just stayed calm and eaten a croissant.”

I scooted closer.

“It’s not your fault you worry about your family,” I let out.

Finally, she faced me and there was fear in her eyes that made my stomach roil, nerves getting the best of me.

“Listen to me, my love,” I said, taking her slack hand in mine and stroking a thumb across her knuckles. “Everything's going to be fine” I brought her hand to my mouth, pressing a kiss against her palm. “I promise, okay?”

“You don't know that, Aiden,” she said, defeated and sniffling. “We can't lose this baby,” she said in a small voice. “It’s our child. We're responsible for keeping this baby safe. Nothing should happen to our child and I risked that. Do you understand?”