Pretty Little Liars: 16 & Pregnant (Sequel)

Heaven in Hell

The Next Morning
Ezra's Pov

"Daddy," I hear Stella's voice whimper "Wake up."

My eyes spring open, and are met with complete darkness. It takes a couple seconds for my eyes adjust, and when they do I see Stella sitting over me. Since Piper went missing Stella's been sleeping in our bed—right in between Aria and I—and sometimes even then I feel like she's too vulnerable to V if he wanted to do something.

"Did you have another nightmare?" I ask her "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want but—"

"No Daddy!" She cuts me off "It's Mommy. I don't know what's wrong but just listen." It's only then that I realize Aria is in the ensuite bathroom and not sleeping next to Stella. And sure enough, sharp, pained breaths can be heard from the bathroom.

"Aria?" I jump up out of bed. I get no response, so after a quick knock I twist the doorknob and walk in. Aria stands gripping the edge of the counter, and I'm fairly certain that if it weren't there she'd have collapsed already.

"Are you okay?" I rush over to her, and she immediately switches from the counter being her support system to me.

Clinging to me tightly, she sobs into my chest "It's happening too fast,"

"What's happening?" I ask, trying to cover up the panic in my voice. A part of me already knows the answer, but I wait for her to respond anyway.

"Labour," Aria breathes heavily "I'm in labour and I feel like it's happening too quickly."

"Okay, it's alright." I try and reassure her "It happens how it happens, there's no such thing as being too quick or too slow."

"But I-I'm not ready Ezra," She cries "I can't do it."

"You can absolutely do it, I have no doubt in my mind." I tell her "Now do you know how far apart your contractions have been? Do you think we'll need to head to the hospital soon?"

"Maybe," Aria starts, and not a moment later doubles over in pain as she grabs fistfuls of my shirt "Yes."

"Okay we'll count the time between this contraction and the next, but for now just breathe, you've got this." I rub her back "Do you want to go back to the bed?"

"No," She answers through gritted teeth "I'm good here for now."

"Alright, whatever you need."

As I do my best to help my wife through her contraction, I glance out of the corner of my eye at our daughter, who sits timidly on the bed watching us. I can't help but think of how her position of youngest child is soon about to be over forever.

My train of thought is interrupted by a stifled scream from Aria, who is shaking so badly that her teeth nearly chatter. She breathes heavily, her face sweaty and her eyes bleary.

"Whatever you need, just let me know." I say calmly "I'm here. You're doing great though."

She presses her face against my chest, tightening her arms around me and sobbing "It hurts so much."

"I wish I could take the pain instead." I blurt, although immediately remembering that hypotheticals never seem to help Aria in this scenario. After one baby I didn't know if the things that helped her were just circumstantial to that birth, after two I realized they weren't, and now at the third labour and delivery I should be more prepared to help my wife than ever.

"Hot towels," I say both Aria and I "You liked hot towels on your lower back to help with contractions. Do you want that now?"

"Yeah," She nods into my chest "Just...stay with me until this contractions finished, okay? I need you."