jarah oneshots❤️‍🩹

the beginning of a new phase - p1

The sun had barely risen when Sarah woke up to the sound of seagulls outside. She stretched under the covers, her body heavy with fatigue despite having slept for hours. A dull ache settled in her lower back as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. This wasn't the first time she'd felt this way lately. For days, her body had been betraying her—small, seemingly insignificant changes that she brushed off. Her jeans felt a bit tighter, her chest was sore, and she had been hit with waves of nausea at the most inconvenient moments.

She got out of bed slowly, careful not to wake John B, who was sprawled out next to her, his arm flung across the mattress where she had been. Sarah tiptoed to the bathroom, her steps quiet on the wooden floor. Closing the door behind her, she turned on the faucet, letting the cool water run through her fingers. She splashed her face, hoping to wash away the persistent unease that had settled in her stomach.

Leaning over the sink, Sarah stared at her reflection. Her face was pale, her usually bright eyes clouded with worry. She pressed a hand to her abdomen, feeling the faintest flutter of discomfort. It wasn't pain exactly—just... different. Her heart raced as she tried to convince herself it was nothing. Just stress, she told herself again. Ward and Big John's death, the treasure hunt and her near-death experience in the crypt with Pope had taken a toll on all of them. It was natural to feel a little off.

Still, her mind kept circling back to the idea that had been haunting her for days. Could it be...? No. It wasn't possible. She and John B had always been careful. Besides, they weren't ready for that—were they?

She shook her head, pushing the thought away, but the nausea returned, stronger this time. Her stomach churned violently, and she barely made it to the toilet before she was sick. Her whole body shook as she knelt on the floor, clutching the edge of the sink. After a few moments, the nausea subsided, but the fear in her chest remained.

Sarah leaned her head against the cool bathroom tiles, trying to steady her breathing. She felt weak, her limbs trembling as if they couldn't support her. She needed to pull herself together. Her husband couldn't know how scared she was. Not yet.

A soft knock on the door startled her. "Sarah? You in there? Are you okay?" John B's voice was muffled through the wood, but the concern was clear. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "Yeah, I'm fine," she lied, forcing herself to stand. She couldn't let him see her like this. She couldn't let anyone see how close she was to breaking.

John B pushed the door open slightly, peeking in. "You sure? You don't look so good." His eyes were filled with worry, and he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He reached for her, pulling her into his arms, and the warmth of his body made Sarah feel even more fragile.

"I'm just tired," she whispered against his chest. "It's nothing." John B pulled back slightly, studying her face. "Sarah, you've been tired for a while now. Maybe you should see a doctor." Panic shot through her at his words. A doctor? No. She didn't need a doctor. She wasn't ready to face that yet. "I'll be fine," she said quickly, avoiding his gaze. "Just... give me a little time."

John B wasn't convinced, but he nodded, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Alright. But if it gets worse, you're seeing someone, okay?" Sarah nodded, grateful that he didn't push the issue. She watched him leave, her heart aching with the weight of the secret she wasn't ready to confront.

Throughout the day, she struggled to shake the feeling that something was wrong. They were all at the Château, trying to figure out what to do to get Elizabeth's amulet back, but Sarah barely paid attention. She felt like she was underwater, everything around her muted and distant. The others laughed and joked, oblivious to the storm brewing inside her.

Kiara noticed first. "Hey, you okay?" she asked, nudging Sarah's arm as they sat on the dock. "Yeah, I'm fine," she lied again, though the words felt hollow. Sarah could feel Kie's eyes on her, searching for cracks in her façade. "You don't look fine," her friend said softly, her concern evident. "If something's going on, you can tell me."