𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

(V.+.M) she's in labour☃️

[SETTING.🕰️] Open sea, three days into the return voyage. Storm clouds gather above. A pirate vessel looms nearby, circling like a shark. Wind howls. The sea thrashes. The crew is tense.

"Hard to port! Hard to port!" Gally shouted, bracing against the helm as waves slammed against the side of the ship.

Rain poured like the gods were furious. Lightning split the sky in jagged bolts. The air was thick with salt, wind, and something worse: pirates.

Nico stood near the bow, blade at his side, eyes scanning the distant shadows. "They're not attacking, yet," he said, voice low. "They're waiting. Letting the storm do the work."

Thomas cursed, gripping the rail. "They know we're weighed down. Supplies. A damaged rudder. And too many people to fight back fast."

Another clap of thunder. Another wave nearly knocked Aris off his feet.

And then, above the chaos - Matt's comm crackled to life.

It was faint. Then clearer.

A single voice, frantic. Familiar.

"-Matt- Matt, pick up! I don't care if you're in the middle of a kraken fight- I'm in labour!"

Matt froze.

Everyone did.

"Did she just-" Minho blinked.

"Yep," Hugo deadpanned, mouth slightly open.

"She's having the baby?!" Frypan exclaimed, slipping in panic before catching the rail.

Matt's face went pale.

Then red.

Then completely feral.

"TURN THIS SHIP AROUND!" he shouted over the wind. "GET ME HOME RIGHT NOW!"

"We're trying to!" Gally bellowed.

"Try harder!" Matt nearly climbed the mast with adrenaline. "I left for two weeks! Two! I left her with morning sickness and swollen ankles and now she's about to push out a whole baby?! WITHOUT ME?!"

Thomas tried to calm him. "Matt- listen- Vicky's tough. She's got the girls. She'll be okay-"

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND," Matt roared. "THAT WOMAN WILL KILL ME IF I'M NOT THERE."

"He's not wrong," Nico muttered.

The ship rocked again, nearly sideways. The pirate vessel ahead fired a warning flare. No cannonballs - just a message.

They're not letting them pass.

Matt grabbed a rope and swung down like a madman. "IF I HAVE TO SWIM THROUGH THIS STORM I SWEAR TO GOD-"

"Someone get him!" Luke yelled. "He's losing it!"

Hugo tackled Matt before he could throw himself into the ocean. "Breathe! Your kid will need you, not a drowned corpse!"

Matt shoved him off, panting. "If Vicky's screaming in that delivery bed and I'm not beside her, holding her hand while she crushes every bone in mine - then I might as well be dead anyway!"

Nico's jaw tightened. He pointed at the approaching pirates. "Fine. Let's clear the path."

Thomas looked at him. "You serious?"

"I want to see my wife too." Nico turned to Matt. "We get through this storm, take the wind sharp around the rocks, outmaneuver the pirates and don't die, we'll get you back in time."

Matt nodded, eyes wild. "You better. Because if I miss my baby being born, I'm taking one of those pirate ships and sailing straight into hell."