Chapter 37: I Love You.

Akane's POV

I woke up feeling numb. I hardly got any sleep last night due to the all of the crying I did... I stood up from the bed and walked over to the mirror. I turned to my side and looked at my stomach, "You're getting bigger," I whispered. I smiled warmly as I stared down at the baby bump, "Today makes six months."

Talking to her like this, it... it makes all of my worries go away. I can't wait to meet her.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Akane," Zero said from the other side of the door.

My body froze, "Zero," I whispered. As if on cue, tears started to form in my eyes. I took in a deep breath and walked over to the door. I slowly opened it up and let him in.

He shut the door behind him and walked over to me, "Akane, I... I know that my words may mean nothing to you right now, but I at least want to get this off of my chest."

I looked down at the floor, avoiding his gaze, "What is it?"

He looked directly at me, "I love you more than anything. So much, that I have no idea how I can express that to you. Words cannot explain, and neither can any action. Just know that I love you. I made a mistake, but that's what made me realize just how much I love you."

A single tear slid down my face, "Is that right?"

He took a step towards me and grabbed my chin, causing me to look up into his breathtaking violet eyes, "I don't know how I can prove it to you, but I'm at least going to try." Immediately after he said that, he pressed his lips against mine.

Tears rolled down my face as I returned the kiss.

He broke the kiss and pulled me into his warm embrace, "I don't want to lose you... not again..."

I wrapped my arms around him tightly and buried my face in his chest, "I d-don't want to lose you either..."

At that moment, I felt a small force come from within my stomach.

Zero chuckled as he knelt down and put his hand on the baby bump, "You either, Little Akane."

I smiled as I wiped away my tears, "Little Akane?"

He nodded, "Until we think of a name for her, I'm just going to call her that." He stood back up and bore his eyes into mine, "I love you."

It was just then when I realized that he had tears in his eyes. I smiled warmly, "I love you too."

It was in that moment that I experience true happiness for the first time. Sometimes, it's worth all of the tears that come before. It's just like that saying, "There's always a rainbow after every storm." I'm so happy...

I've been alone long enough. I can't ever forget what it's like to feel so numb and hollow inside, but you carried me through it all, so I'm fine now. And when you carried me through it all, you gave me your heart. That's the feeling I never want to forget...

Zero's POV

It's been three months since then. Right now, I'm in the hospital with Akane, holding her hand. Today was the day we finally got to meet our daughter.

Akane was laying in the hospital bed, breathing heavily. She furrowed her brows as she looked up at me, "This doesn't feel right..."

I squeezed her hand reassuringly and shook my head, "It's going to be alright, just focus on your breathing."

The doctor smiled as he walked over to us, "Congratulations, it's a healthy baby girl."

I smiled warmly as I stared at the newborn, "Akane, look at her... She's beautiful..."

At that moment, the monitor began beeping loudly.

"Akane," I repeated, looking down at the pale girl.

The nurse's eyes widened, "Doctor, her BP is dropping!"

The doctor's eyes widened as well and he quickly handed the baby to the nurse, "Clear the room!"

I stood there, completely frozen, "What's wrong with her?"

"Nurse, I said get him out of here," the doctor shouted.

The other nurse then started tugging on my arm, "Sir, you need to leave the room."

I did as she said and waited outside the door. Tears started to form in my eyes as I stared at the ground, "What's going to happen to Akane?"

She's going to be alright, she has to be. It's Akane, nothing's going to happen to her... right?

Just then, the doctor came out of the room.

I looked at him with hopeful eyes, "Is she okay?"

He looked down at the ground as he placed his hand on my shoulder, "I'm sorry, but... she didn't make it."

A single tear fell from my eye, "No..."

He took a step back and held the door open, "If there's anything you'd like to say to her, go right ahead."

I simply nodded and walked into the room. The moment I stood beside the bed, both of the nurses left. I looked down at Akane's pale face, and pushed back her auburn hair, "Don't worry, Akane... I'll tell her all about her amazing mother." Tears were slowly escaping my eyes as I leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead, "I love you."

It's hard to think of a future without you... I love you so much. No matter how many times I say it, it'll never be enough.