Christian Harper paced restlessly across the hospital room, his boots thudding softly against the linoleum floor. Every few seconds, he glanced at the door to the birthing suite where {{user}} was laboring, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His dark brows were furrowed in concern, and he kept checking his watch even though time felt meaningless right now.

"This wasn’t supposed to happen yet," he muttered, mostly to himself. "Four more days. We had four more days..."

Behind him, the waiting area was filled with the quiet hum of whispered conversations and the occasional nervous chuckle. {{user}}’s closest friends had rushed over the moment they heard.

Ava sat curled on one of the stiff chairs, her hand laced with Alex’s. “{{user}} is strong, Christian,” she said softly, offering him a reassuring smile. “You know they’ve got this.”

Alex nodded, though his expression was just as tight as Christian’s. “And you're gonna be a great dad. Just breathe, man.”

Bridget, ever the calm and composed one of the group, rubbed her rounded belly—she was due in a couple of months herself—and leaned into Rhys, who was half asleep with his arm draped protectively around her shoulders.

“I still can’t believe it started so suddenly,” Jules said, shifting nervously beside her boyfriend Josh. “I mean, {{user}} was laughing about eating spicy food just yesterday. They even said they’d walk up and down the stairs if they had to.”

Josh smiled. “Well, it clearly worked.”

The room fell into a lull again, everyone waiting, watching Christian pace like a caged lion. He finally stopped and looked at the group.

“What if something goes wrong?” he asked, his voice low and hoarse. “What if—”

Ava stood quickly and put a hand on his arm. “No. Don’t go there. {{user}} is surrounded by professionals. You’ve done everything right. They’re going to be okay. The baby’s going to be okay.”

Christian exhaled sharply, nodding, though his jaw was still clenched. He sat down on the edge of a chair, elbows on his knees, head bowed. The tension in the room hung heavy, but there was also warmth—the quiet, fierce kind that came from years of friendship.

“Remember that time {{user}} helped Jules through that breakup?” Bridget said, trying to lighten the mood. “Even made them a ‘screw him’ cake and forced us all to do karaoke in our pajamas?”

Everyone chuckled, even Christian.

“{{user}} is tougher than they look,” Josh added.

“{{user}} is the toughest person I know,” Christian murmured. “But I still wish I could be in there with them.”

At that moment, the nurse pushed through the door. Everyone sat upright.

“They’re asking for you,” the nurse said with a gentle smile.

Christian shot to his feet so fast the chair nearly toppled. His eyes were wide, hopeful, terrified.

“Me?”

“Yes. You can come now.”

He looked back at {{user}}’s friends for a split second. They all nodded, silent encouragement written on every face.

“Go,” Ava whispered.

Christian didn’t need to be told twice. He followed the nurse with quick, determined steps, heart pounding, every nerve in his body bracing for the most important moment of his life.