He pulls back just enough to look at me, his dark eyes soft in the early morning light.
"I will never judge you for fighting this battle," he says. "Every day you don't use is a victory. Every time you feel that craving and don't give in is a win. You're the strongest person I know, Vanna. And I'm gonna be right here, holding you up, for as long as you need me."
I kiss him.
It's soft and careful, mindful of my split lip, but it's the first real kiss we've shared since before the cabin.
Since before everything fell apart.
"I love you," I murmur against his mouth.
"I love you too." He brushes a strand of hair back from my face. "Both of you."
His hand settles on my belly, warm and protective, and I feel the baby shift beneath his palm.
Like the baby knows daddy's there.
The ultrasound is scheduled for that afternoon.
The doctor comes in with the portable machine, all professional smiles and reassuring competence.
She's been monitoring the baby since I was admitted, checking his heartbeat every few hours, making sure the trauma didn't cause any complications.
"Everything looks good so far," she says as she squirts the cold gel onto my belly. "But let's get a good look at this little one, shall we?"
Garrett moves to stand beside me, his hand finding mine automatically.
His face is carefully blank, but I can feel the tension in his grip.
The fear he won't let himself show.
We could have lost this baby.
We could have lost everything.
The wand moves across my stomach, and the screen flickers to life.
Gray and white shadows, blurry shapes that slowly resolve into something recognizable.
A head. A spine. Little arms and legs, curled up tight.
"There we go," The doctor says, pointing at the screen. "Looking healthy. Good size for twenty-three weeks. Strong heartbeat."
She clicks a button, and suddenly the room fills with sound.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh.
Fast and steady and perfect.
The most beautiful sound in the world.
Garrett makes a choked noise beside me. When I look up, there are tears streaming down his face.
"That's him," he breathes. "That's our boy."
"You’re right." The doctor smiles. "It's definitely a boy. Would you like to see?"
She adjusts the wand, and there it is. Unmistakable.
