David's Pov

The dusty smell of books strangled my lungs, the wooden chair made my bones ache and if I didn't stop staring at this damn screen, I was one hundred percent certain I was going to go blind.

Fourteen days passed in an epic mess of chaotic white blur and I still didn't have a response to Dawn's ultimatum that was as painful as getting stabbed in the chest repeatedly.

Choose us or lose me.

I clasped my eyes shut and tightened my fists, refusing to give vent to my resentment as the words replayed over and over again, suffocating me.

Resigned, I opened my eyes, wiped the sweat away from my forehead, and refocused my gaze on the science documentary I'd been studying for the past hour.

The article Professor Hampton had written on human anatomy was endless. I scrolled through meaningless pages, searching for something that could be of help to me but like the last hundred research documents, there was nothing.

It was useless.

I took off my reading glasses and pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration.

Nothing was working. Nothing made sense.

I rested my head on my desk and let out a sigh.

Why me?

The study door creaked open at that moment but I didn't look up to see who it was. Her Chanel No. 5 gave her away.

I exhaled and tried to collect myself before lifting my head to see my mother who was supposed to be back in New Orleans glowering at me from beside the door.

Good grief.

She didn't speak but with the way her eyes bored into mine, I had a few guesses of what was running through her head.

I cleared my throat and sat up straight, saving the awkward silence from growing to enormous proportions by speaking. "I wasn't expecting you today, mother," I kept my voice composed, trying to hide how dehydrated and sick I felt.

"I sent a text." Her tone was scolding. "If you had bothered to check your phone all morning you would've known I was coming."

I groaned, dreading where this conversation was going. "I'm sorry for that."

"Your caretaker called and told me you rarely leave your study and you refuse to change your bandaid or eat. Is this the reason you made Stella get her private apartment? So you can go about trying to kill yourself?"

There it was.

I sighed and ran a hand over my face.
If it would save Dawn then yes, I didn't mind. "I'm fine," I replied, turning back to my computer screen and opening the next documentary by doctor Charles.

She released an exasperated breath, walking closer. "I understand that you're on edge right now but how do you expect to heal properly if you won't take care of yourself? Look at you. God, David, you look like you're about to kick the bucket."

"Healing can come later. Right now, I need answers." I deadpanned.

"And there is no answer." She retorted. "We've been over this before. Your father spent a year meeting up with experts after your mother passed on. A solution doesn't exist."

"Yes, it does." I defended. "We just haven't found it yet."

"And when is that going to be? After when your wife has suffered through pregnancy alone?"

I groaned, ignoring the question.

"Her baby is growing so well." She persisted. "And she's getting heavier by the day. You're missing out on watching your child grow, David. You should be with her."

Irritation pricked my skin. "No, I should be here, looking for solutions before she is taken away from me."

Her lips thinned. "Whether or not you go to her, she's going to have this baby, you can either choose to stay here and look for the nonexistent or go be with her and enjoy every moment."

More rage added to the already twisting cauldron of emotions inside me. I slapped my laptop shut and snapped my head up to glare at her. "So what? You expect me to go to her and smile and take care of the baby while counting down to her death? Is that it?" A cynical laugh erupted from me. "Bullshit."

She ambled towards me, softening. "I just don't want you to have regrets. You already missed out on Stacey, you've been given another chance."

My chest tightened at the slightest mention of her name.

"Forget about it," I told her, hoisting myself up. "The last thing I need right now is you coming in here and scolding me like I'm a kid. I make my own decisions because I'm a fucking grown-ass man and I'll take whatever approach pleases me." I circled out of my chair, ready to walk out of this grilling conversation but blood rushed to my head and my legs failed me, almost sending me face down to the floor.

"Oh my God, David!" Mother rushed to my side, holding me up. "See what I'm talking about!" She panicked, helping me back to my chair.

My gut ached. I winced, looking down at the bandaid still wrapped around my stomach. It wasn't healing, at least not as fast as it should but I didn't care because Dawn came first and if at the end of this, I could find a way, then a little pain was worth it.

"I'm fine," I assured her when she wouldn't let go.

"No, you're not." She chided, placing her hand over my head and recoiling in alarm. "You're burning up."

I gently brushed her hand off. "It's nothing. it'll go."

"Forget it, I'm calling the doctor and requesting that you be admitted on bed rest." She pulled out her cellphone from her purse but I snatched it out of her grasp before she could punch in the first digits.

"David!"

Her exclamation made me flinch. "Mum, let me handle this the best way I can. I'm almost close to finding an answer, please just..." I trailed off, shaking my head as my sight became unfocused for a moment. "I can do this..."

"It's clear you can't." She got in front of me, urging me to look up at those bright eyes coated with concern. "David, your mother made a sacrifice bringing you into the world because she knew how precious you were, she didn't give up on you even if she knew the cost. Dawn is doing the same and instead of running away from your responsibility because of fear, you should be embracing this too. You both need to be with each other now more than ever."

"And I want that too." More than anything, I wanted Dawn, her warmth, the feel of her, I wanted everything back. "It's just, the baby, it's-"

"The baby is fine, David." She cut me. "And so is your wife who will be giving birth soon and if she does that without you in the picture, you can very much kiss her goodbye forever because she won't be coming back to you."

I groaned and lowered my head because she was right and I knew it but how could I pretend everything was okay when it wasn't? For the first time in five years, I was happy, she'd made me happy. She was my light at the end of the tunnel and losing her... I didn't know what I would do.

I wrapped my arm around mothers waist, pulling her close so my head rested on her tummy. "What do you want me to do, mum?"

She released a breath. "I want you to cling to the faith that she is strong enough to fight through this. Your wife as you know it is hard-headed and she won't give up on her child, the least you can do is be there for her."

My lips trembled and I tasted salt in the back of my throat. Damn, this wasn't the time for that. "I can't stay..." I sniffed. "I don't want to lose her, mum, if she dies, I'll..."

"She won't," she vouched, soothing my head with gentle strokes.

"I miss her... I miss her so much..." I whispered, burying my face deeper into her belly as I felt tears prick my eyes.

"Shh...let it out, mummy's got."

Dawn's POV

"You look like shit," Becky observed the moment I slid into the chair.

My hands went to my back immediately and I arched forward, trying to relieve some tension. It'd been only two weeks but it felt like my stomach had tripled, so much so that I couldn't move around or tie my shoes, which explained why I had two unlaced sneakers on my three months of unshaved legs.

I adjusted my ass on my chair and looked up to meet Becky's grimacing gaze when I finally settled.

She was right. I did look like shit but that was because I'd spent last night crying my eyes out which led to me waking up sore and too weak to even look pretty.

Each day for the past two weeks had been a trial of strength and will for me. For the first half, I clung to a thread of hope, thinking David would call, text, or show up at my doorstep. I thought that maybe he just needed more time. I mean he was recovering from his injury and then the pregnancy thing was still there. It was a lot to take in and I understood that, but after a week and I still didn't get as much as a text, I assumed he'd made his decision.

"I take it you still haven't heard from David," Becky asked, shooting me an incredulous look from over the counter she currently wiped with a white cloth.

When I did nothing but slump my shoulders, she shook her head.

"It's bad enough that I have to volunteer for this work but seeing my best friend who is supposed to be cheering me up looking like a ghost just makes me sadder. David is totally an asshole for this. I can't believe he turned down your ultimatum." She huffed, wiping aggressively. "You know, I'm starting to think Paula was right. He is a piece of shit and it's high time I give him a piece of my mind."

I laughed softly, trying to mask my grief. "I don't think he's an asshole. I don't even know what to think but I know that with or without him, I will be fine." I rubbed my bump, looking down to smile at it. It was at the stage where it could hear now and I knew it was a little silly but I didn't want a negative perception around it. That was why I spent time reading happy baby novels where mummy loved daddy and daddy loved baby and they were one big family.

I chuckled to myself, all of a sudden reminded of Alex and his cute wide smile that melted my heart whenever I thought of him.

I shook my head to rid myself of the thoughts and focused on finishing my statement. "Regardless of his choice, in two months, I'll have my baby in my hand and we'll start a life together."

Blaming him wasn't going to solve my issue. He'd experienced unimaginable trauma and he deserved his own time to come to terms with what was happening and if his choice was to stay away, then fine. I wasn't even going to go to him. And although there'd been days when this yearning to go to him and check if he was healing properly was overwhelming, I'd managed to curb it, convincing myself that I needed to take a step back for my own good. I didn't trust myself, and right now, at the peak of my pregnancy where emotions were high, a little bit of contact could push me over the edge.

Becky crinkled up her nose. "So what? He's just allowed to go about his life pretending that you're not carrying his child while you get ready to suffer real trauma in the labor room?" She snorted. "He needs to man up and deal with reality."

"I'll be fine, Becky. " I assured calmly with a wry smile. "I've been doing okay without David and I'm still going to do fine without him in the picture. Now, can we please talk about something else?"

Talking about him felt like ripping a bandaid off a fresh wound. I could feel the tears already stinging my eyes and the last thing wanted to do was cry. My heart already hurt from thinking so much. Right now, all I needed was an outlet.

Becky regarded me silently for a moment but then sighed in resignation. "Okay, fine." She slapped the rag down on the counter and leaned forward, a grin on her face. "Let's talk about how shitty my own life has become since I started sleeping with my daughter's principal."

My eyes widened as I gasped. "Oh my God, Becky!"

She smirked, shrugging. "Do you want the highlights or not?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. This was going to be interesting.

***

It had started to drizzle when I arrived back home with a bag full of the creamy pastries Becky had packed for me because apparently I was starting to lose some weight and she wasn't okay with it.

Getting out of the car was a hassle. I parked in the garage and spent extra three minutes trying to lift myself. Once it was a success, I had to go through the most excruciating five minutes of my life climbing up the stairs.

Times like this I wished I had rented an apartment on the first floor.

By the time I made it into my room, the rain had started to pour down in heavy revolts. I flipped the lights on. My heightened paranoia made me check all the rooms to make sure I was alone and safe before I proceeded to store the pastries inside the fridge. I made a pizza order on my phone right after and retired to my room for a shower.

It was quick because standing for too long hurt my feet. One long baggy Yankees t-shirt and black panties later, I was walking out of my room and groaning from the vicious kicking that had just taken place.

I crashed on the couch, soothing my bump with circular strokes.

It was the third time today and the jabs got worse by the hour.

The first time it happened was four weeks ago at work. All of a sudden I felt a ripple against my belly. It was fleeting and ticklish and I'd thought it was just my stomach roaring from hunger but then I realized It wasn't hunger because I'd just consumed half a bowl of lasagna.

Then it dawned on me. My baby's first kick. It was a very weird and uneasy experience and I remembered standing in front of the toilet mirror, waiting for it to happen again. As weeks went by, the kicking got frequent and targeted, and sometimes, when I stood in front of my mirror, I could see it sort of bumbling around like a tiny alien trying to break out of its cocoon and-

The gentle knock on my front door cut my line of thoughts short. "Pizza delivery for Mrs. Dawn Argent." A masculine voice announced.

Finally.

I took a deep breath and hustled up to my feet. No more kicks. Thank God. A young man holding a flat square box smiled at me when I opened it.

He had water dripping from his blonde hair. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience." I apologized, accepting my order.

He waved me off. "No worries, ma'am. Enjoy."

"Thank you." When he left, I walked inside and shut the door. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a can of whipped cream.

Call me crazy but these days, pepperoni pizza and whipped cream were my go-to.

Excited, I walked back into my living room, and I was just about to sit on the couch when another knock sounded.

My brows furrowed.

Did he leave something?

I dropped my dinner down and ambled towards the door again to open it. "Did you-" air immediately left my lungs and I stepped back.

What-

David stood on my doorstep, soaked to the bones, looking as terrible as terrible could be with his clothes dripping water and sticking to his once-hard muscles that were now lean from malnutrition.

My heart hammered in my chest. He didn't look good. His eyes were clouded and those dark circles ate into his face. My first instinct was to usher him in because he looked like he was about to pass out, but then I remembered how he'd abandoned me for the past fourteen days, so I stood up straight instead and spoke with the iciest tone I could muster. "What are you doing here?"

He thumbed over his shoulder. "My car broke down a mile away..." He slurred, tapping his foot on the floor repeatedly like he was anxious. "So I walked here because I needed to talk to you..." He stepped forward. "But first, can I come in?"

My lips pursed. I took a step back. "Why?"

He took another step forward, his gaze shifting inside my apartment. "Because I need to go."

My forehead crumpled into a frown. "Go where?"

"Shit. I need to take a leak, Dawn, and I don't think I can hold it in any longer." His legs squeezed against each other as the foot-tapping got more intense. He wasn't anxious, he was pressed.

I blinked, stepping out of the way before he actually did go on my floor. "C-come in."

"Jesus. Thank you!" He dashed passed me before I could get a word out and I just stood there, blinking, stupefied.

This was definitely going to be a long night.