The room is calm, only the low buzz of the TV filling the silence. You’re tucked against Rafe, his arm draped around you, his thumb brushing soft circles on your shoulder. The morning argument feels far away now—like it never happened. That’s always how it is: fire, then quiet.

You shift slightly, but a sudden, sharp pain rips through you, so strong it steals the air from your lungs. You gasp, clutching your stomach. Rafe’s head snaps toward you, worry immediately etching into his face. “What’s wrong?” His voice is urgent, almost scared.

You shake your head, trying to laugh it off. “It’s nothing, just cramps.” But then another wave comes, harder, forcing tears to spring to your eyes. Your body trembles.

Rafe doesn’t hesitate. He grabs the keys with shaking hands, practically lifting you into the car. The ride to the hospital feels endless—your breathing ragged, his voice cracking every time he tells you, “Stay with me, baby. I’ve got you. I’m not letting anything happen.” His fear bleeds through his words.

Inside the hospital, chaos takes over. Nurses rush you into a room, machines beep, questions fly at you too fast to process. You cling to Rafe’s hand, nails digging into his skin. His grip is fierce, grounding, though his face is pale with panic.

Then the doctor’s words cut through everything: “You’re in labor.”

The world tilts. Both you and Rafe stare at them, stunned. “That can’t be possible,” you manage to whisper, but the pain twisting through you says otherwise. Confusion, fear, disbelief flood the room.

The doctor explains quickly—it’s rare, but real: a cryptic pregnancy. Sometimes symptoms stay hidden, periods seem normal, nothing feels obvious… until this moment. Until labor.

Your chest tightens. Rafe’s eyes lock on yours, wide and glassy, searching for answers you don’t have. His jaw clenches, but beneath the shock there’s something raw—fear, yes, but also a fierce protectiveness you’ve never seen so clearly.

Everything around you blurs—the voices, the monitors, the movement. All that matters is Rafe’s hand gripping yours and the terrifying truth you’re both suddenly facing. A hidden life, now breaking its way into the world.