LThe room was quiet, save for the rhythmic breathing of Isa and Jey as they lay nestled together in the dim light of the hotel room. The twins, Sofia and Mateo, had been sound asleep, their small bodies curled up under the covers as the night deepened around them.

Isa was just beginning to drift into a peaceful sleep when a faint sound broke the stillness of the night. It was barely more than a whisper, but Isa's instincts snapped her awake.

"Mom?" Mateo's voice trembled in the dark, soft but unmistakable.

She sat up, instantly alert. Mateo rarely woke up at night, and when he did, it was usually because of a nightmare. But tonight, his voice sounded different-weak, strained.

"Mateo?" Isa called out gently, her heart already racing. She pulled the covers off and stood up, her feet brushing against the cold floor.

It didn't take long for her to reach the bed where her son lay, his tiny form trembling under the blankets. His breathing was labored, his forehead hot to the touch.

"Mom... I don't feel good," he whispered, his eyes wide and filled with discomfort. He shifted, trying to sit up, but his body seemed unwilling to cooperate, the effort only causing him to wince.

Isa's heart dropped into her stomach. She knew this wasn't just a case of a bad dream or a mild illness. Her son was sick-really sick.

"Mateo," she whispered, kneeling by his side. "What's wrong, baby?"

"I... I don't know, Mom... I feel... I feel bad." Mateo's voice cracked, his body curling into a ball as if trying to protect himself from the pain.

Isa's mind raced. The symptoms, the look in his eyes-it reminded her of the way things had been when Roman had first gotten sick. The lingering dread gnawed at her, but she pushed it aside. She couldn't let fear take over now.

"Hold on, baby. I'm gonna help you, okay?" Isa said, her voice calm but strained. She reached for her phone on the nightstand, her hands shaking as she dialed the hotel doctor.

But before she could finish the call, a familiar voice called out from the doorway.

"Is he okay?" Jey's deep voice broke through the tension in the room.

Isa turned, startled. Jey had clearly heard Mateo's distress and had rushed over, concern etched into his features. He moved quickly to Mateo's side, crouching down beside him.

"Mateo?" Jey's voice was gentle, but there was a tightness to it as he looked at the boy's flushed face. His eyes met Isa's, and there was a silent exchange between them. Neither of them needed to say it aloud. They both knew what it could mean.

"Jey..." Isa whispered, her voice trembling as she reached for Mateo's hand. "He's sick. Something's not right."

Jey immediately placed a hand on Mateo's forehead, his brows furrowing at the heat he felt. Without hesitation, he scooped Mateo up in his arms, holding him close.

"Let's get him to the hospital," Jey said, his voice firm, but his eyes betraying the worry that had already settled in. "Come on, Mateo. You're gonna be alright, buddy. We're gonna take care of you."

Isa followed closely behind, the weight of her worry threatening to overwhelm her. She grabbed her jacket, her thoughts scattered in a million directions. She had been so consumed with everything else-the tension with Jey, the twins' routine, the quiet battles she fought within herself-that she hadn't been prepared for something like this.

As Jey carefully placed Mateo in the back of the car, Isa climbed into the front seat, her fingers gripping the seatbelt as if it could steady her. Her heart hammered in her chest, the fear swelling inside her as the miles to the hospital seemed to stretch on forever.

"Jey," she said, her voice thick with emotion as she glanced back at Mateo, who was lying against Jey's chest in the back seat. "What if it's..."

Jey's hand reached out, resting on her shoulder. It wasn't the answer she was looking for, but the gesture brought her a strange sense of comfort. His touch, though heavy with concern, reminded her that they were in this together.

"It's not gonna be like last time," Jey said, his voice resolute. "He's gonna be okay. We're gonna make sure of it."

Isa nodded, her throat tight with unshed tears. She wanted to believe him, needed to believe him. But as the city lights blurred outside the car window, she couldn't shake the feeling that something darker was lurking just beyond her reach.

At the hospital, the doctors moved quickly, ushering them into a sterile examination room. Mateo was immediately hooked up to an IV, and the doctors ran a series of tests. Isa and Jey stood side by side, silent, waiting for any sign that their son would be alright.

Hours seemed to stretch on like days. But finally, the doctor returned, his face somewhat reassuring.

"He's stable for now," the doctor said, his voice calm but with an edge of caution. "We've run some tests, and it seems like he's dealing with a severe infection. We're going to keep him here overnight for observation, but we've given him medication to help with the fever. His vitals are good."

Isa let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Jey, who had been standing beside her, finally released the tension in his body, his posture relaxing slightly. But the worry was still there, lurking beneath the surface.

"Is he going to be okay?" Isa asked softly, her voice breaking a little.

The doctor nodded. "Yes, he'll be okay. But we'll need to monitor him closely. It's just important to keep an eye on his symptoms and make sure they don't worsen."

Isa didn't know whether to feel relieved or more fearful. She glanced over at Jey, who was still holding onto her hand tightly, his fingers digging into her skin in a silent expression of his own worry.

Jey leaned over, pressing a kiss to the side of her head, his voice low. "He's strong, Isa. He'll fight through this. We'll fight through it, together."

In that moment, Isa felt the weight of everything shift. The fear, the uncertainty, the worry-it was all still there. But for the first time in a long time, she realized she didn't have to face it alone.

Jey was here. And they would get through this, just like they had everything else. Together.

As they sat in the sterile, cold waiting room, holding each other close as they waited for updates on Mateo, Isa felt a quiet resolve begin to settle in. They would get through this. They had to.

For their son. For their family.