Table for Five

How To Save A Life

A/N: I swear to you I didn't want to do this.

I shook Pete's sleeping frame, "Pete! My water broke!"
He sprung up quickly, eyes wide, "Y-Your water b-broke?" I nodded quickly and Pete's face turned bright red. As his thoughts gathered, he swiftly picked me up and carried me to the carried me to the car.
"I-uh... Stay calm." Pete said, his voice shaky. I smiled at him and reached for his hand, I gave it a light squeeze as I started to feel more pain. "B-Babe? I'm.. Gunna need you to drive faster."
I let a groan escape my lips, I was trying my best to stay strong, but damn this little one wants out! Pete's face grew more and more worried as he pulled into the parking lot, "U-Um, you stay here... I-I think they'll go get you." I smiled, trying to calm him down. He was so worried, and I have to admit, it's adorable. He and several nurses rushed out to the car, pushing a wheelchair. I was sat in the chair and rushed back into the hospital. I was pulled into a room and quickly put into a gown. I was laid onto a bed and I clenched my fists, finally understanding all the fuss about giving birth. Pete fell to my side and grabbed my hand. "How are you feeling?" He asked, already knowing the answer. A sudden flashback of the night Pete attempted suicide came into my mind.

"Hey buddy! How are you feeling?" Patrick said, trying to cheer him up.
"Like shit." Pete said.

I looked down at Pete who was on his knees, his hazel eyes wide and worried. "Like shit." I grinned and squeezed his hand. "I hope the baby has your eyes." I said, getting lost in his gorgeous eyes. Pete blushed, "I hope it looks just like you, then there would be so much more beauty in the world."

<<time skip to after birth>>

My sight faded in and out, muffled speaking, blurry faces. My mind spun as colors swirled around the room. I could hear my heart beating, pounding.
Boom
Boom
Boom
And finally, I felt a rush of cold, and then I felt loss. Suddenly everything went black, my heart slowed and my muscles relaxed. After what seemed like hours my hearing returned and light reentered my eyes.
"P-Pete.." I whispered, my lips where dry and my skin had gone cold. A doctor hung above me, "Please rest, you'll see him soon." I nodded and closed my eyes again. My dreams haunted me, cries and screams, yelps of pain.
I was awoken by a familiar face, "Pete." I hummed, relaxing after the dream I had. He smiled a weak smile, his cheeks were stained with tears, his voice shaky, "Sweetheart.  T-The baby...it is....well, was.. a girl."
Was? Was a girl?

I looked at him with confusion. "W-Was?" Pete smiled weakly, trying to make the best of this, "She's dead."
"Dead?"
"Dead."
I felt the cold rush through my veins again. She's gone. My baby, our baby is gone. I looked over at Pete, tears filling my eyes, I began to shake. That's when the waterworks started, I cried and wailed at the loss of my child. Pete pulled me close and hugged me, crying with me. This is was all we cared about for months, all we lived for, all of our love poured into a baby that we never got to hold. The doctors let us out and Pete and I slowly walked to the car, I stumbling, holding tight onto him. We sat in the car for a while, completely silent, trying to wrap our minds around what had happened. The drive home mimicked the silence. The early morning sun rose and glistened on the dew covered leaves. The quiet town came to life as we drive through it. Two hearts, broken and hurting, stumbling through the glaze of early days. Two lost silhouettes swimming through a sea of acid, tearing apart their minds. Pete stopped at a McDonald's and got some food for us. He parked and gave me some fries. He cleared his throat, "Sweetheart... We can't let this tear us apart." I nodded, staring out the window. I researched for a fry, Pete grabbed my hand and forced me to look at him, "This is the end. Tell me this isn't the end." He looked at me, pure love in his eyes. "It's not over." I played with his ring, remembering our promise. We drove home, the various fast food restaurants and grocery stores all look the same when the light is gone. The door seemed like a dungeon. We opened it to hear yelps of joy and pleasure. Pete's mother ran up to us, beaming. "Where's my grandkid?" She asked, smiling widely.
I held my breath for a moment, looking for the right words to say.
She's...
Well..
I...
I can't do it.
Suddenly, Pete grabbed my hand firmly and stood tall. He took my pain and held it on his shoulders, he was becoming the husband I had dreamed about. He carried me up to his room, laid me in bed, and held me close. He whispered in my ear, "Now and Forever." I held the locket he had given me. We can always try again...