love within the silence

forty-four

I woke up the next morning and ally was still asleep, she was cuddled into my side hugging hotdog tightly. I gently moved, trying to ensure she would stay asleep as she was finally settled. I headed into the bathroom and I sat on the edge of the bath, my head was still banging. I washed my face and then headed back out into the bedroom, I grabbed my jumper and then a pair of leggings changing quickly before heading downstairs.

I was in the kitchen when I started to feel really uneasy, I quickly walked to sit down but I was unable to make it to the seat before I fell to the ground. I was lying on my back my eyes wanting to close, I was physically drained and barely had any strength. I tried to sit up when I felt small hands touch my neck, I opened my eyes wider and saw Ally. She had tears running down her face and I signed with the strength I had no tears, mummy's okay she shook her head and said up mummy I shook my head and I said I can't sweetheart, can you be a big girl and go over to grandpas? She shook her head and said stay with mummy, I raised my hand and signed I need grandpa sweetie, please for mummy I gently wiped her tears and she quickly ran out the back door, my eyes starting to close from my exhaustion.

5 minutes later I heard the back door open, FP was by my side in a few minutes. 'I've called an ambulance betts, I can't get ahold of Jughead I think he's already in the meeting. I need you to stay awake for me, for ally' I nodded and said 'I want to sit up, I'm okay' he gently helped me to sit up, I was leaning against the wall my hands on my stomach, his eyes worried. I smiled weakly and I said 'I'm okay FP, I don't know what's wrong but I'm okay' he nodded and then there was a knock at the door. FP quickly went to the door and soon I had two paramedics by my side asking questions. 'My baby? Is he okay? Please tell me he's okay, he hasn't moved...' I trailed off and the paramedic said 'we will know more once we're in the ambulance, you're in safe hands miss cooper' I nodded and then turned to FP, 'please look after Ally, she needs Jughead. Please get ahold of Jughead' he nodded and said 'I don't need you worrying about Ally, we've got her. We'll come and see you once you're settled' I nodded while they helped me onto the gurney.

The ambulance ride was quick and when in the hospital they did many tests. It was currently 2 in the afternoon when the doctor came back in, I sat up slowly and I said we gently 'please tell me my baby is okay?' The doctor smiled and said 'your baby is fine, miss cooper. We have a steady heart rate and he's going to be just fine. You on the other hand...' I look up and then he said 'your blood sugar was very low, and you are severely dehydrated. When was the last time you ate or drank anything?' I sighed and then took a moment to think, I ran a hand over my stomach and then shrugged 'I'm not too sure, maybe yesterday morning?' The doctor nodded slowly and said 'I'm not here to give you any lectures but miss cooper, your pregnant and anymore episodes like this and you could compromise your pregnancy. You need to start looking after yourself, you and your baby' I nodded and I said 'I'm sorry, my daughters be sick and I wasn't focused on anything but her. It won't happen again' he nodded, smiling back at me 'well good news is, we're going to put you on a drip and see how well your body responds to it. One is going to help your dehydration, the other your nutrients, I will be back to check on you in a while and I'm aware that your daughter is outside. Would you like them to come in?' I nodded and I said 'thank you doctor' he nodded and then headed out.

A few minutes later the door opened and Ally ran to the side of my bed, I smiled down at her and ran my hand across her head. She didn't have her hearing aids in and she was crying, when Veronica walked in after her I saw her worried look. She lifted Ally onto the bed and I hugged her close, Veronica sat down and she said 'how are you feeling?' I shrugged and said 'I'm okay, I'm tired but I'll be fine. Has she been okay?' She nodded and said 'she's been okay, dad told me she's unwell so she I gave her some medicine and then we went for a walk before heading here. What happened b?' I kissed her head and I said 'I haven't been looking after myself, my body needs more fluids and nutrients and I haven't been doing that. I didn't mean for things to get this bad, I thought I had only missed 1 meal but instead it was 4' Veronica sighed and said 'okay, it's okay. You'll get better, how's the baby?' I nodded my head and said 'he's fine, the doctor said he looked healthy and we have a steady heartbeat. Have... have you managed to get ahold of jug yet?' She shook her head, 'dads still trying but we can't get ahold of any of them. The meeting was suppose to be until 3:30 so we're hoping he will look at his phone then. We'll get a hold of him Betty, promise' I smiled slightly and then looked down at Ally who was tucked tightly into my side. 'She saw everything' I whispered to Veronica, she took my hand and she said 'she's okay Betty, she was scared and has been asking for you all morning. But she's okay' I nod while hugging ally closer and refusing to let her go.

Veronica stayed for the next hour but when she got a call from FP she left the room to answer it. Ally looked up at me and said where's daddy? I shrugged my shoulders saying he'll be here soon, mummy's tired ally she nodded and then tucked her head into my chest. I kissed her forehead and watched as she slowly fell asleep, me following soon after.

When I woke up Veronica and FP were both here, ally was sitting on Veronicas lap with hotdog. When I saw them I smiled and said 'hey FP' he smiled and said 'hey, how you feeling?' I shrugged and said 'I've been better' he chuckled and then I looked at the clock behind it read 5pm. I smiled and said 'where's jug?' I saw the worried look come across fp's face and I said 'what... what's wrong? Did you get ahold of him?' FP nodded his head, I sat up and said 'where is he?' FP sat on the edge of my bed and he held my hand. 'He's okay, he's doing everything he can to be here but there was a bit of a misunderstanding at the meeting. He has a concussion but they won't let him leave just yet, he is okay. Ally's spoken to him and everything's okay, he promised he will be here soon' a tear fell from my eye and I said 'what happened?' FP sighed and said 'the people who they were meeting with were ambushed, they thought that jug, Archie and Charlie were working for them and they all took a hit. They are all okay, archies got a couple of cuts and bruises and Charlie dislocated his shoulder but there fine. Jug will be fine, you can't stress yourself out Betty, it's not good for the baby' I nodded and I said 'I need to talk to him, please FP can you call him? Please' he nodded and then grabbed his phone. After a minute the phone was handed to me and they excused themselves so I could have some privacy while talking to him, I took in a shaky breath:

Betty: hello?
Jughead: hi baby
Betty: juggie, I need you
Jughead: I know, I know baby. I'm doing everything I can to get out, but I need you to stay calm. Betty, I need you to think of our baby, think of our little boy. I know you can be okay for the 12 hours until I get there. Ally is right there, Veronica has promised to stay with you because I know you hate hospitals and you can call me at any time, but I need you to stay calm
Betty: I'll try, please tell me your okay?
Jughead: I'm okay baby, I have a little headache and a couple of cuts and bruises but I am fine. I have spoken to ally, she's okay Betty, she was just scared
Betty: I'm sorry, I should have looked after myself better
Jughead: hey, hey stop talking like that. Everything's okay, you are going to be okay. Dad is going to speak to your doctor, they are going to help you settle for the night if you want it. You don't have to have it but it will help keep me at ease until I get there
Betty: I know, okay. I'll let your dad know. You promise you will be here soon, I need you here. Ally needs you here
Jughead: I'm am doing everything I can, but they need to monitor me. I love you sweetheart, if you start panicking promise you'll call me
Betty: I promise, I love you jug
Jughead: bye sweetheart
Betty: bye

I hug up the phone and waited a few minutes until they came back in . I handed the phone back to FP, he held my hand gently and he said 'do you want me to talk to the doctor?' I smiled and nodded. 'Can you take ally home? I don't want her to spend the night, you can bring her back tomorrow morning' FP nodded and said 'are you sure Betty? It might calm you knowing she's here?' I smiled and said 'I don't want her sleeping in a hospital and she doesn't have any of her things' he nodded and said 'okay, I'll take her home' I nodded and I said 'she might be anxious meaning she'll want to stay with you. If you put her in her room and sit with her for a while she'll settle' he nodded and said 'Betty, I've got her. I'll leave you guys for a minute' I nod and then I turn to Veronica. Ally is tucked into her chest, she gently stands up and lays ally next to me, she wakes up and I kiss her forehead making her smile. Grandpas taking you home and your going to have a good sleep and come back in the morning ally frowned and said but mummy stay here? I nod and said I will be home tomorrow she nodded and then said daddy said he home tomorrow I kissed her forehead and I said will you be a good girl? She nods and says will grandpa stay with me? I smiled and say he won't leave you and he will be downstairs if you need him. She rested her head on my shoulder and said okay mummy I kissed her once more and said I love you so much princess, I'm sorry ally sat up and said no mummy, don't be sad I wiped a tear and then she said I love you too mummy I kissed her and hugged her close until FP came back in to take her home.

Veronica stayed with me as promised and at 10 that night the doctor came in, ready to give me my sedative and as promised I fell asleep quickly. I knew I wasn't alone and that settled me, my sleep was un-disturbed and i knew that Jughead would be home soon. I was resting and our baby boy was healthy, he was okay, that was the main thing.