Content warning: implied death
"One more." He said softly. "Just one more and he's here."
"Zane...I can't." Pixal breathed out.
Zane wiped a couple of her tears that fell down her cheeks. "Of course you can." He said as he moved to hold her hand between both of his. "I know you're tired, but you're doing so good. It's almost over."
Pixal nodded in response, her eyes closed, listening to her boyfriend's encouragement.
"Last one," the doctor reaffirmed, by their position at the foot of the bed, "make it a strong one-there you go!"
With all the strength she had left, Pixal kept going. She grunted, throwing her head back as their son was finally born.
"Congratulations!" The doctor exclaimed. "It's a boy!"
Zane felt immense relief. Pixal did so beautifully, the baby, their son was finally here.
A second passed.
And then another.
Silence.
And more silence.
The baby wasn't crying.
Pixal's voice weakly broke through "...Why...why isn't he...Zane?"
Zane, who was still holding her hand, cupped her face with his free hand. "It's okay. He'll cry."
He pressed a kiss to her forehead before letting go.
But as soon as he stood up from his spot at Pixal's bedside, the nurse seemingly appeared out of nowhere, right in front of him. And in her arms, where the baby should have been lay an empty white blanket.
"W-what?" Zane felt the panic constrict his chest. "W-where is he?"
Finally bringing his eyes up to meet those of the nurse, he realized she didn't have any.
To his abject horror, he was looking at a blank face. Startled at the sight, he stepped backward. He turned back to look at Pixal, but when he looked at the bed, her eyes were closed.
"...P-Pixal..? He reached for her hand, only to find it cold and limp in his grasp. "...No..."
"No!" He shouted, his hands immediately reaching up to his head, grabbing at his hair.
"Pixal!"
Zane shot up straight in bed, gasping for air.
Looking around, he didn't see her. The crib in the corner of his room stood empty.
He was completely alone.
His other hand moved up his face to grasp his hair, as he attempted to steady his breathing. He heard footsteps coming downstairs.
Pixal, once she came down and spotted him in his current position, quickly walked over to the bed, sporting a nearly seven-month bump. She placed the glass of water on his desk before sitting in bed beside him.
"Zane?" She said, placing a hand on his cheek, cupping the side of his face. "Are you alright?"
With no response, she began to coax his grip away from his hair, slowly bringing his hands into hers. However, he then immediately wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her neck. Pixal spoke in hushed whispers trying to calm him.
"It's okay. I'm here." She said as she rubbed his back. "We're here together. All of us."
Once he calmed his breathing, Pixal dared to ask.
"Nightmare?"
"...Yes."
He gripped her tighter, holding her closer to him.
She pulled away from him a moment. "Do you want a glass of water? I can get one now that I'm-"
"No!" he exclaimed, startling her just a bit. As if realizing his sudden outburst, his eyes softened, "I'm sorry. Please don't go."
Pixal smiled. "It's okay." She turned, reaching for the glass she had placed on the desk, before offering it to him. "I have some here. Drink."
Zane took a sip through shuddering breaths.
He wrapped his arms around Pixal once more.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She whispered. Zane remained silent, but she felt as his hands moved downward, settling over her belly.
"Zane?"
"What if I can't protect you both?" He said quietly.
Pixal pulled away to meet his eyes. "We'll always protect each other." She ran a hand through his hair. "I know how worried you've been. I know how hard you've been working. I know how little you've been sleeping."
Zane's eyes softened at her words. "Let me take care of you sometimes," She finished kissing his cheek.
"Besides," She said, taking his hand and guiding it, "I think someone else is worried about you too."
Upon feeling his son's kicks underneath his palm, Zane felt himself smile.
She's here. She's safe.
And you too.