The Spirit Guardians Oneshots

The Story of Irene II. An Unexpected Joy

Rating: T (for swearing and implied sex scenes)

Summary: Irene unexpectedly finds herself pregnant with Miguel's child. This story details the trials of her pregnancy.

Ships: Irene/Miguel

Timeline: Takes place 1-2 years before the events of Enlightened, when Irene is 18/19.

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Her fingers couldn't stop trembling, no matter how hard she gripped them to the slick bathroom counter. Her legs, wobbling like jelly, felt like they were going to collapse under her. Irene kept quiet as her shoulders shook, but every once in a while, a faint cry would escape her lips. She had to place a hand to her mouth each time she did so, afraid someone would hear through the thin bathroom walls.

She was feeling nauseous again. Irene was afraid her legs would give out, but she was at least able to kneel down in front of the toilet and expel more contents from her stomach. Her throat stung from crying, and the vomit only seemed to worsen the pain.

What do I do? What do I do? she thought desperately.

In a fit of frustration, she slapped her hand against the counter, knocking the pregnancy test that had come back positive onto the tile floor below. She had expected the outcome. She thought she was ready to accept the outcome. However, once it became real, her entire world had shattered around her.

What do I do?

This had all been her fault. She had let herself get lazy with protection just this once, and now she was paying the consequences. Her missed period and waves of nausea were her reason for sneaking off to the pharmacy counter while Lillian was in the restroom during their outing in town earlier that day. Irene had hoped and prayed the test would come back negative, even if she had sensed, deep down, that her body had changed slightly.

Irene buried her face in her hands, letting out a groan. She sat down on the ground, against the wall, and hugged her knees close. What was she to do? She and Miguel had barely been dating a year. They had just recently celebrated their first year anniversary, and now she had this bombshell to drop on him. What would he think? How would the others react? She might legally be an adult at eighteen, but Irene still felt too immature to care for a child.

I have to pull myself together. I need to talk to Miguel. I can't keep this secret from him, she thought.

Irene picked up the discarded pregnancy test and carefully wrapped it in toilet paper to conceal its result as she tossed it in the trash. She stood slowly, her legs shaking under her. She lost her balance slightly as she walked, and her heart felt like it was going to burst from her chest, but she twisted the doorknob open and stepped out.

Miguel's door was open, signifying that he was outside. Should she go get him? But that would draw attention. But what if she lacked the courage later?

There was only one room that appeared to be occupied. Irene stepped back at first. No. She couldn't go there. It felt wrong, like a betrayal to Miguel, but Irene soon found her hand knocking lightly against Lillian's door.

The brunette answered a few seconds later, her eyes widening as Irene practically burst down into tears in front of her.

"Please...I need your help," she said as Lillian quickly ushered her inside the room, shutting the door quietly. Irene had only taken a few steps before she knelt to the ground and placed her face in her hands, coughing from her sobs. She could only see Lillian's feet approaching cautiously due to her limited vision.