“Mmmm, Dev,” you mumbled groggily, “I wanna sleep,” you gave him a soft shove with your arm. You’d been woken by him curled up with his head about even with your growing belly. He had slid your shirt up over the bump, rubbing it softly with his hand while he pressed kisses around your belly button.
“Sorry, love,” he smiled, scooting back up so his face was even with yours, “I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
You smiled, eyes still shut, “S'okay,” you mumbled. You felt his arm move up around your side and he hooked it around your back, gently pulling you closer.
You shifted, bending your leg and intertwining it with his as he planted the same soft kisses on your forehead, “How are you feeling, my love?” he traced patterns on your back with his fingers.
“Fine,” you whispered before feeling your body tense, “Ow,” you said quietly.
“Hmm?”
“Ouch. Jesus,” the pain brought you out of your tired stupor. You adjusted yourself, sitting up in bed and bringing a hand down to the bottom of your belly.
Devins’ face fell into a set expression of concern as he propped himself up on an elbow, protectively placing his other hand on your thigh, “Y/N? What’s going on?”
“I–I’m not sure, Dev,” your voice had a nervous edge.
He sat up in bed, meeting your eyes as you flinched–your abdomen was burning with cramps, “Is this normal?” you could hear the faint panic in his tone.
“Call my sister,” you demanded immediately. You tried to swing your feet off the bed and stand but the pain stopped you. You fell back on to the mattress as Devin flew out of bed.
“No, no. Not happening. Stay here. I’ll be right back,” he tugged the sheets back up over your body.
He returned moments later, phone pressed between his bare shoulder and his ear. You could hear your sister’s voice faintly.
“No, it’s just cramps, I think,” he muttered and you gasped with more pain, “More than just cramps, she’s hurting pretty bad.”
There was muffled speaking through the phone, “Not long, a few minutes. Yes. Okay. Yeah, I will have her call you. Thank you,” he threw the phone on the bed, “We’re going to the hospital.”
You didn’t stop him as he ushered you out of bed, down the stairs and into the car. The pain had subsided but only slightly. Your biggest concern had shifted from your agony to your baby’s life.
Devin drove like a madman, escorting you into the emergency room as quickly as he could. There was a crowd of people waiting to be treated but he demanded attention right then. “I don’t care if she isn’t dying,” he raised his voice at a nurse trying to convince him to wait, “Our baby might be.”
As aggressive as his actions were, they worked. Within 15 minutes, you were on a hospital bed. He had both your hands tangled between his which he pressed to his forehead. You were both quiet, too scared to speak.
A nurse came in trailing an ultra sound, she greeted you nicely before diving right in. She smoothed the jelly over your stomach, pressing the scanner to your belly, moving it gently across your skin.
“What’s happening?” you asked weakly.
Her face was set in a look of pure concentration, “One moment,” she stood and left. She returned with a doctor a few minutes later.
“Hello,” he greeted you, “I’m Dr. Kay. Mind if I take a look?”
Devin nodded solemnly, “Can you please just let us know what’s going on?”
The doctor took up the scanner once again. He was a little more assertive in his probing but just as the nurse had, carefully masked his emotions from his face. After several minutes, he withdrew his hands from your belly, “Mr. and Mrs. Booker,” he sighed, “Now, although it is very uncommon, it is no less tragic to have a miscarriage in the second trimester–”
“What?” you interjected.
You felt Devin tense, “That’s not possible.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Booker, I am terribly sorry for your loss.”
Time nearly stopped, or that’s what it felt like. You looked over at Devin and watched as he fell apart–as he imploded on himself. And you felt the same thing happening to you. Tears filled both your eyes and you reached up, bringing his head down to curl into your neck.
He mumbled into your neck, “This can’t be happening.”
You couldn’t bring yourself to respond. As soon as you opened your mouth, a sob tore through your throat.
“Shhh,” he ran a hand through your hair, “It’ll be okay, my love. It’ll be okay,” your body shook despite his embrace.
“Our baby,” you barely managed to speak.
“Our baby’s a little angel now,” he tugged you closer to him, “Shhh.”
