The Bank of Second Chances | Zarry

Chapter 28: Change

It had been two weeks since the terrifying scare with Harry's pregnancy, and those two weeks had felt like a delicate balancing act. Anne had moved in, a comforting presence that brought a semblance of normalcy and routine to their home. With Gemma, Niall, and Michael visiting frequently, their house was always filled with laughter and warmth, which helped to keep the looming fears at bay.

Anne was nothing short of a godsend. She had taken charge of the household, managing everything from meals to laundry, allowing Harry and Zayn to focus on Harry's health and the impending arrival of their baby girl. Gemma visited often, bringing books to read aloud and the latest gossip to share with Harry, which provided a much-needed distraction. Niall, always the best friend, was there to offer emotional support, his presence a comforting constant. However, not all moments were filled with light-heartedness.

Zayn had nearly lost his composure when he saw Michael rubbing Harry's belly during one of his visits and baby talking to their daughter like it was his kid. A surge of protectiveness had taken over, and it was all Zayn could do to not knock Michael's head off of his neck. The memory of that moment still made his blood boil, but he would get over it, knowing that Michael was doing it on purpose to mess with Zayn.

Harry, for his part, had embraced his role as a diva. With Anne and the others waiting on him hand and foot, he had taken full advantage of the situation. He even managed to recruit Arlo into his schemes, the little boy sneaking him snacks and treats when Harry was supposed to be napping. Zayn found himself having to remind Arlo repeatedly not to give in to Harry's whims, but it was a losing battle. Harry had cleverly formed an alliance with their son, and Zayn couldn't help but admire his partner's cunning, even as he struggled to maintain order.

Despite the pampering, Harry still had to take short walks around the house to keep his circulation going. They alternated who accompanied him, and today it was Zayn's turn. Hand in hand, they strolled through the house, talking softly about their hopes and dreams for their growing family. As they neared the hallway leading to their bedroom, Harry winced and reached back to his lower back, feeling a discomfort that was becoming all too familiar."Zayn, my back is killing me. And my feet are sore too. Can you give me a foot rub after our walk? You can also rub something else," Harry asked, a pleading look in his eyes. Zayn smiled and squeezed his hand. "Of course, love. Just a bit longer and we'll be back to the room."

But before they could make it to their bedroom, Harry suddenly stopped. His eyes widened in shock as he felt a gush of fluid soak through his shorts. He looked up at Zayn, panic written all over his face. "Zayn... my water just broke." For a moment, Zayn was frozen in place, his heart pounding in his chest. He sprang into action, yelling for Anne to call an ambulance, "Anne, please help, Harry's water just broke." Anne quickly dialed the number with shaking hands trying to keep calm for her son and his family that surrounded her. She had to give clear instructions over the phone but she was fighting through tears by the seconds.

Zayn quickly threw together a bag with essentials for him and Harry, he even threw in things for Sunny that she may need. He just  tried his best to keep his hands from shaking too much. He helped Harry sit down, doing his very best to keep him calm. "It's too early, Zayn. She's not ready," Harry whispered, his voice trembling."I know, love, but we need to stay calm and breathe. The ambulance is on its way. Just breathe, okay? We're going to get through this, we're about to be parents to a beautiful, healthy, baby girl." Zayn reassured him, though his own heart was filled with fear. The ambulance arrived within ten minutes, and they were rushed to the hospital.

Despite their best efforts to keep their baby girl safe, it seemed she was determined to make her entrance into the world eight weeks early, bed rest or not. The drive to the hospital felt interminable, every minute stretching out as they held onto each other, both trying to mask their terror with reassurances and whispered words of love and affirmation.

***

The hospital was a flurry of activity as Harry was wheeled into the labor and delivery ward. Medical staff swarmed around him, their faces serious and focused. Needle pokes here monitors there, everything was moving at lightning speed. Zayn held Harry's hand tightly, his own heart pounding in his chest. The fear was nearly overwhelming, but he knew if he showed any signs of weakness Harry would be hysterical and freak out.

The decision was made to perform an emergency C-section and of course, Harry lost it. The doctors explained that the baby was in distress and they needed to get her out as quickly as possible. Harry's eyes were wide with fear as they prepared him for surgery, and Zayn could see the terror in Harry's gaze."Zayn, I'm so scared," Harry whispered, his voice breaking."I know, love. I'm scared too. But we're in good hands. They're going to take care of you and our baby. Just hold on," Zayn said, his voice trembling with emotion.

Unfortunately for Harry, the epidural didn't kick in fast enough, so he felt almost every agonizing moment of the procedure. He clung to Zayn's hand, squeezing the color out of Zayn's skin, tears streaming down his face as the pain became nearly unbearable. Zayn watched in helpless horror, wishing he could take the pain away, wishing he could do something, wishing he could take Harry's place. Anything, to make this easier for Harry. Time seemed to stand still as they waited. The medical staff worked quickly and efficiently, but to Zayn and Harry, it felt like an eternity and something felt... off.

Finally, there was a rushed movement and a hushed silence that fell over the room. The baby was out, but she didn't make a sound. She didn't move, there was no cry, no reassuring wail to let them know she was okay. No skin-to-skin contact with Harry. The room was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the hurried whispers of the medical team. Zayn caught a glimpse of their daughter as she was quickly taken away. She was so tiny, so fragile, still and alone, and that's when Zayn broke. Tears streamed down his face as he looked at Harry, who was sobbing uncontrollably."It's all my fault. It's all my fault, Zayn." Harry cried, his voice filled with anguish. Harry took in a breath and let out the most earth-shattering scream at the top of his lungs in horror, not caring that he was in a hospital with people around him. Everyone on the labor and delivery floor probably could hear his pain and I'm sure they all empathized with the distress he was going through. "It's all my fault. It's all my fault Zayn that we lost our little girl."

Zayn leaned in, wrapping his arms around Harry as best he could. "No, love, it's not your fault. We don't know anything yet. We have to stay hopeful. I know it's hard, but we need to stay positive."Harry shook his head, his sobs growing louder. "I just want our baby. I don't know if I can do this, Zayn. I don't know if I can handle losing her."Zayn's heart ached with the weight of Harry's words landed on him like a ton of bricks. The reality of his second chance at fatherhood would be over as fast as it began. He wanted to be strong for him, to offer comfort and reassurance, but he was terrified too. The fear of losing their daughter was a constant presence that threatened to overwhelm them both. As they waited for news, Zayn held Harry close, whispering encouraging words. He knew they had to stay strong, for themselves and for their daughter. But the fear and uncertainty were nearly unbearable, and all they could do was hold onto each other and hope for the best.