Eight | W2S

SEVENTY THREE.

7 CHAPTERS TO GO!!!

I woke up with Harry's hand tightly wrapped around mine, his grip firm yet reassuring.

It took a few seconds for my mind to catch up, to piece together where I was and what had happened. Panic surged as I realised I couldn't remember anything clearly.

"Harry," I whispered, my voice trembling as I started to cry. He was already at my side, standing by the bed, his expression soft but alert as he noticed I was awake.

"Hey, Ken, it's okay. Calm down, alright?" he murmured gently, crouching so our eyes met. His voice was soft, like he was trying to anchor me back to reality.

"What happened? I— I can't remember," I stammered, my eyes darting around the room, trying to make sense of it all.

His face softened further, a bittersweet smile playing on his lips. "We've got a beautiful little girl," he said quietly. "She's in the NICU right now, but she's okay. And you will be too. It was... sudden."

His words hit me like a wave. "She's here? But I wasn't—" My voice cracked.

"I know," he nodded, his voice thick with emotion. "You went unconscious, and the doctors... they told me it was safer for both of you to do the procedure. They asked me to decide." He swallowed hard, guilt flashing briefly across his face. "You had a C-section. I made the call, Ken. I'm sorry, but I had to."

Everything felt so bittersweet - here I was, now, a mother, which should've felt like the happiest moment in my life, except I wasn't even conscious to experience it. Plus, I'd now have a scar right across my stomach for the rest of my life. 

"Ken," he spoke again, his tone even more gentle. "Do you want to go and see her?"

Tears welled up in my eyes knowing that he'd already seen her, and I hadn't, but I pushed them away, nodding my head determinedly. 

"I'll go and grab a nurse. Hang tight," he spoke, kissing the side of my head, leaving me alone for a moment. 

Everything had been so sudden...it felt like just a few minutes ago Harry was asking me to marry him, and now...now we had a child. 

I looked down at my hand, and sure enough, the beautiful engagement ring he'd received from my dad was sat perfectly on my ring finger, sparkling as I turned my hand over to properly look at it. 

A sharp pang shot through my body, aching at the thought of my mum, who should've been here. Should've met her granddaughter, but never would. 

My thoughts then transitioned onto my dad, and Harry's parents. Did they even know they were grandparents, now?

My brain fell silent as Harry returned with a friendly looking nurse, who was wheeling a wheelchair towards me. 

I didn't protest the wheelchair, and it was evident from Harry and the nurse having to help me out of bed that I seriously needed it. 

Harry ended up wheeling me to the NICU, after the nurse gave us directions as to where it was. Harry had insisted that we wanted to meet our baby ourselves, and the nurse had smiled, and agreed. 

"Harry...my dad, your parents -" I start, but he just squeezes my shoulder from above. 

"I've sorted it. Your dad is already on his way, and my parents are catching a flight tonight," he says gently. 

"Harry, what day actually is it?"

"December fifteenth."

"And when did you -"