Gareth's POV

I awoke early and strolled out into the living room to find Sadie, seated on the couch, fidgeting with the little plush dog in her lap.

She stopped when she heard my footsteps, looking up and giving me a little half smile when she noticed it was me."Hey, Early Bird. Sleep okay, last night."

"Define good." I chuckled.

"Well, better than me, at least."

I nodded. "Bad dreams, again?"

She shook her head. "Nahh, just couldn't sleep…..too much on my mind, you know?"

"Yeah...kinda hard to miss." I sighed, sitting down next to her. "You're usually up later than Albert, even."

She laughed a little at that.

"Speaking of which, where is he? He can't be awake already."

"I booted him out with the others, he was getting on my nerves." She answered.

"What else is new? I chuckled.

"Alright, he's super been getting on my nerves lately. Happy?"

"Not really….and I don't think he's the only thing that's been bothering you."

She shook her head again. "...yeah, I wish he was…"

"We can talk about it, you know.

She didn't say anything...and I could tell she was fighting a losing battle to hold back tears, about everything that was on her mind just then.

I put an arm up around her shoulders. "...Is it about the baby? I know you've been scared about that for a while, now."

Her voice croaked as she began to speak. "...It's about everything….It's about the baby...it's about leaving you a-" She buried her face in my shoulder, while I tried to comfort her.

"Sadie…." I said, gently. "It might still be okay…..you don't know that it won't be."

"You don't know that it will be either though."

"No, I don't…." I admitted. "...but I think that you will be, the baby too."

"How can you be so sure?" She sniffled.

"...maybe I just have a hunch, then. Aren't I allowed to have those?"

"...I suppose so.."

"And I've had hunches that were right before, right?"

She started to light up, just a little. "Yeah, about dumb shit….like, I bet Sadie'll eat what's left of the stale chips, or I bet the baby'll be a boy cause it kicked when I said he.

I raised a pointing finger "That one I still stand by….especially cause the chip one was right."

"Or maybe it kicked to correct you." She smirked.

"Whatever….still made you smile a little." I pointed out.

"...You caught me in a moment of weakness, you bastard!" She laughed, tossing a pillow at me.

"I know, what a terrible monster I am, maybe you should divorce me!"

"You wish." She teased.

"Nooooot a chance."

"...Well then you're dumber than I give you credit for." She laughed.

"Thaaat is not true, you made it abundantly clear last week, when I heard Martin come in the house and thought he was a dead one ."

"That was pretty dumb" She reaffirmed.

"IT WAS DARK, OKAY? I don't REALLY think he looks a dead one!"

"...Sounds like something someone who thought Martin was a dead one would say." She smirked.

"Can't you just cut me some slack once in a while?" I sighed.

"Noooot a chance."

Before I could protest again, the door started to open and I reached for my gun.

Martin, who'd been on the other side of it, put his hands up. "...I surrender."

Sadie shot me a look as I put my gun back down.

"Breakfast is ready, if you guys want any."

"We'll be right out." I chuckled.

Sadie raised her eyebrows as he shut the door behind him. "That REALLY just helped your case, babe"

"Will you just quit it and let me help you up, so we can go eat?" I sighed, holding my hand out to her.

She took hold of my hand, while she pushed herself off the couch with her free hand.

"...and they say chivalry is dead." She smirked.

I just rolled my eyes as we headed out the door.