After the Fact. -Ethan winters x Fem reader-

July 25th

Days had passed. You and Ethan went to the doctor and got the pregnancy confirmed.

Pregnant.

Actually pregnant.

The doctor had smiled when she told you. Ethan had smiled too.

You smiled because everyone else was smiling.

The ultrasound picture sat on the kitchen table in front of you. A tiny blurry shape that was somehow a whole person.

You stared at it.

Rose climbed into your lap and immediately tried to grab it.

"Nope."

You pulled it away before she could crumple it into a ball.

Rose frowned.

"Baby."

You blinked.

"What?"

Rose pointed at the ultrasound.

"Baby."

From across the kitchen Ethan nearly dropped his coffee.

"You told her?"

"I didn't tell her anything," you said, still staring at Rose.

"Mia taught her."

"I did not!" Mia yelled from the living room.

"Then how does she know what a baby is?"

"I don't know! Maybe she's smart!"

Rose smiled proudly. "Baby."

You looked back down at the ultrasound.

Pregnant.

The word still didn't feel real. You thought you'd be happier. Maybe you were happy. Maybe you were just scared.

The last time you were pregnant, Ethan was alive one day and dead the next. The last time you planned a future, Miranda ripped it apart.

The last time you felt safe, it turned out you weren't.

A hand landed on your shoulder. You looked up.

Ethan.

"You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Thinking too much."

You rolled your eyes.

"I'm pregnant. I think I've earned the right."

He laughed softly and leaned down to kiss your forehead.

"You've been staring at that picture for nearly twenty minutes."

"Yea."

"You wanna tell me what's going on in that head of yours?"

You looked back down at the ultrasound.

"I think if I get excited something bad will happen."

The smile disappeared from Ethan's face. "Don't think like that."

You stared at him, frustration rising. "And why can't I?"

"Because it's not healthy."

You scoffed. "There you go."

Ethan frowned.

"There I go what?"

"Acting like I'm crazy."

His head snapped up.

"I never said you were crazy."

"You don't have to."