Drew Starkey Imagines

Watch Me Freak Out Rafe

Before the Chaos Begins-

The waiting room of the hospital was filled with an anxious energy. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting a dim glow over the row of uncomfortable chairs. The Pogues—you, Rafe (now that he has changed, he is a pogue, mostly for marrying you), JJ, Kie, Pope, and Cleo—were gathered together, waiting for the news.

Sarah was in labor, and while John B was in the delivery room with her, the rest of you were left to sit, pace, and pass the time however you could.

JJ was bouncing his leg impatiently, flipping a coin between his fingers. Kie was scrolling through her phone, Pope was pretending to read a magazine but was clearly just staring at the same page, and Cleo was leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, watching JJ's leg move like she was debating on smacking him for it.

And then there was Rafe.

He was sitting across from you, diagonal in the seat next to Pope, lazily scrolling through his phone like you weren't all on the brink of witnessing the birth of the first baby Pogue of the group. He looked so calm, so unbothered—which, of course, gave you an idea.

You smirked and nudged Kie beside you. "You wanna see something?"

Kie barely glanced up from her phone but smirked. "Sure. What?"

You sat up a little straighter, excitement bubbling in your chest. "This is going to be fun. Watch me freak out Rafe."

At that, she put her phone down and turned fully toward you. "Okay, now I'm interested."

With that, you stood and walked over, perching yourself on the armrest of Rafe's chair. He barely acknowledged you at first, eyes still locked on his phone. But when he finally did glance up, you saw the slight raise of his brow, silently questioning you.

"Honey?" you said sweetly.

"Yeah?" Rafe replied casually, still scrolling.

You took a deep breath for dramatic effect. "Listen, uh... I've been doing some thinking... and I think we should try to have a baby."

The words left your lips smoothly, and you braced yourself for what was supposed to happen. The freak-out. The stammering. The high-pitched voice that always gave Rafe away when he was caught off guard.

But instead...

"Okay," he said simply, nodding, before going right back to his phone.

Your entire body tensed. What?!

You blinked, turning your head sharply toward Kie, who was already staring at you wide-eyed with barely concealed laughter.

"What's that now?" you asked, whipping your head back to Rafe.

He looked up again, this time actually meeting your eyes. "Okay. I've been thinking about it too, and I think we're ready."

Your mouth fell open slightly, hands gesturing wildly as you tried to process what was happening. "Are you kidding me?! You think we're ready to have a baby? Now?!"

Kie let out a full laugh this time, leaning back in her chair. "This is fun."

You shot her a glare, but you were too thrown off by Rafe's reaction to argue.

JJ, who had been half-listening until now, suddenly perked up. "Wait, wait, wait—you're ready to have a baby?" He clutched his chest dramatically. "My boy's all grown up!"

Rafe shrugged, still looking at you. "You said you were ready too."

"Yeah, but I was screwing with you to try to get your voice all high and weird like—like mine is now!" You gestured wildly to yourself, your voice practically squeaking.

Rafe tilted his head slightly, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Okay, but... haven't you wanted a kid, like, forever?"

You took a step back, pointing at him like he was getting too close to something real. "Okay, just back off, mister." You swatted a hand at him for emphasis.

Rafe looked around at everyone, clearly confused at how he was somehow losing this conversation. He exhaled, sitting back down as he tried to figure out what just happened.

That's when you got an idea.

A genius idea.

With a straight face, you turned back to Rafe. "Because I am ready to have a baby."

Rafe gave you a wary look. "...Okay?"

You took a deep breath for effect.

"I just want JJ to be the father."

Silence.

Then—

"What?! Are you crazy?!" JJ's voice shot up an entire octave, eyes wide as he sat up straight in his chair.

You grinned. That was it. That's all you wanted.

"That's it right there!" You pointed at JJ, laughing as you walked back to your seat. "That's all I wanted."

JJ still looked stunned. "What kind of mind games are you playing right now?!"

Cleo clapped JJ on the shoulder. "Relax, white boy, she don't actually want your baby."

Kie was practically crying from laughter, and Pope just shook his head, muttering something about needing new friends.

Rafe sat back in his chair, looking even more confused than before. "So... we're not having a baby?"

You shot him a look. "No, Rafe, we're not having a baby."

"Oh. Cool." He nodded, going right back to his phone like nothing had happened.

JJ was still fuming. "I swear to God, my heart almost stopped."

You leaned back in your chair, satisfied.

Now that was fun.

⸻

After the Chaos-

About an hour later, the doors to the waiting room swung open, and John B stepped out, looking exhausted but grinning ear to ear.

"She's here," he announced.

The entire room erupted in cheers and excitement. JJ jumped up, grabbing John B in a hug, Pope and Cleo clapped, Kie wiped at her eyes, and Rafe stood, letting out a relieved breath.

You smiled at John B. "How's Sarah?"

"Tired, but good," he reassured you. "She wants to see you guys soon."

The group started filing toward the room, but as you and Rafe walked side by side, he leaned down and murmured, "So... we really aren't having a baby?"

You rolled your eyes, bumping your shoulder into his. "Not unless you want JJ to be the father."

JJ, who had somehow overheard, whipped around. "I swear to God—"

And with that, you laughed, linking your arm with Rafe's as you both walked into the hospital room, ready to welcome the newest member of the Pogue family.