Fandom: One Chicago

Title: Meant To Be

Chapter 2: Girl Talk

P O V: Stella Kidd

A/N: Thank you everyone for following, favoring, and reviewing. Hope you enjoy this chapter, and tonight's new One Chicago.

"Thanks for coming to meet me after shift, ladies." I cover Sylvie's shaking hands with my hands, trying to ease her nerves. "We know this is scary, Sylvie; no woman reacts perfectly when they discover they are pregnant."

Sylvie offers me a tight smile before looking down at the table. I can feel her hands trembling inside of mine so hard even the table is shaking, squeezing her hands. I try to think of how to comfort her, but I keep coming up empty every-time I look at her. I can feel my heart rip out seeing Sylvie's bloodshot red eyes swollen from lack of sleep, food, and crying. The ashen sweaty complexion, I study Sylvie worrying that she's losing weight, something a pregnant woman shouldn't be doing. I know she's stressed; I can't imagine the pressure she puts on herself being pregnant with a baby from a man who barely pays her attention.

"Take a deep breath, Sylvie, talk to me. How long have you suspected that you were pregnant?"

Sliding the glass of water over to her, I take my finger and push her chin up, so she is looking at me in my eyes. "When Gia got her period last month, it made me think I haven't had mine since before Thanksgiving." Glancing at Gia, who is sitting beside Sylvie across from me, I see this news shocks her as well.

"Ladies, can I get you anything?" The server whose name tag reads Amy comes over with a flushed face, breathing labored. "Sylvie, you need to eat sweetie, even if you are nausea and vomit, you need to get the nourishment into your body so it can fuel your body and mind."

"Stella, I can't eat, I am so damn nausea." Every word that comes out of her mouth is trembling; her lower lip quivers non-stop. Turning to Amy, I order for myself and Sylvie to eat whether she wants to. "Two orders of pancakes with cheesy scrambled eggs, and two glasses of orange juice, please."

"Damn girl, are you sure you ain't pregnant? That's a lot of food; how is your skinny ass gonna eat all that damn food?" Gia eyes me arching an eyebrow, twisting my emotions into overdrive. My throat feels sticky and raw, making swallowing difficult. "Funny Gia, but half of that is for Sylvie; she needs to eat nausea or not, now order your food, girl, so that Amy can get back to her life."

Amy laughs sarcastically, flipping back her hair. "Oh yes, I got quite the exciting life so many questions to ask. Would you like syrup with that? Jam with your toast? It gets even more exciting in a few hours when I get to change the questions up. Do you want fries with that or ketchup?" I can't tell if Amy is sarcastic for the sake of being funny or if the woman has a chip on her shoulder and needs to be slapped silly.

Sylvie is staring out the window, not a giggle; one tear rolls down her left cheek, followed by several more she sniffles, wiping her nose. "I can't do this, Stella. I'm not mother material." Sylvie's voice cracks; it is so soft I feel every word she states breaking my heart apiece. "Honey, take a moment, breathe. You may not see yourself in the same light as your friends see you, not at this moment when you are so confused and anxious. You've never been down this road before, and things with Matt are complicated. We get that, Brett, what you don't see right now is the bigger picture, you need to look deep inside focus on who you are at your core, how you were raised, what your values and beliefs are, sweetie, and when you are in doubt, look at your girls we will remind you of how incredible you are inside."

"Aw, that's touching whatever your name is, so Gia food or not?" Amy arched an eyebrow, popping her gum; Gia wipes her eyes, laughing nervously. " Yeah, spinach and ham omelet wheat toast, and coffee light and sweet, please."

"Yay, now I can get back to my exciting life, lucky me." I eagle eye Amy as she walks away, muttering to myself. "That bitch needs a good bitch slapping. She got some seriously corroded hot sauce up her ass."

"How can I raise a child working a full-time job? Matt and I both have dangerous jobs. Is it fair to bring a child into this world knowing we could both die, leaving this baby as an orphan? All their uncles and aunts are first responders. Isn't it selfish to bring a child into this world they would be worried and scared all the time for their parent's safety, for their future?"

"I notice you are using all non-gender pronouns."

"Yeah, I mean, none of us know how this baby will identify."

"Sylvie, it sounds to me like you are already thinking of this child as their own person, not as a fetus, or an inconvenience, Honey whatever doubts you have about your inability to raise a child, you have proven in that one phrase that you are wrong. You are going to be an amazing mom if that's the route you chose. A parent's first and most important rule is to put their child first, trying to make their life easier."

"As for being a child of a first responder, yeah, it'll be rough, they will face a different life compared to most of their peers, but that doesn't mean it'll be a bad life, and honey, bad things will happen no matter how much you shelter your kid. Parents die from illness and accidents; no one can predict when their time is up, but what we can and will do is surround this child with so much love, guidance, and support they will always feel cared for and loved. This baby will have all the best of everything in life, and the chances of you and Matt both dying are rare, Honey."

"Not impossible though, Stella."

"No honey, not impossible but rare. You need to focus on the positive, not the negatives. Remain hopeful, allow the sunshine to lead you from this tunnel of doubt, and fear be the light, and your child will feel your love and strength even when you are afraid."

"Thanks, Stella, it's just so hard, so complicated my mind is racing almost as fast as my heart."

"I get it, babe."

"No, Stella, you don't please don't take this the wrong way. I know you mean well, and I don't question your sincerity and love, but you can't possibly know how I feel if you've never been in my exact position. I'm sorry.."

When Sylvie cries, there is a rawness to it, like the pain is an open wound. Clasping the table, her fingers turn white, her chest trembles, sounds which resemble a whimper of a kicked animal escape from her throat, which sounds dry. Brett's body shakes; the sobs are stifled at first as she attempts to hide her grief, then overcome by the wave of her emotions, she breaks down entirely, all her defenses washed away in salty tears.

She breaks me every damn time. Leaving me speechless and utterly sick at how powerless I am to help heal her broken heart or solve her questions. Mackey pulls her close trying to soothe her hurt.

"Brett." Mackey attempts to be a voice of reason since Sylvie isn't hearing me anymore. Gently she rubs Brett's arm stroking little fingers over the raised hair on Sylvie's arms. "Maybe talking to someone who has been or is also in your situation can help."

"Yeah, like who, Gia?"

"I have a friend who you should talk to." Amy brings the food, which I cut up, sliding a plate to Sylvie taking her hand, placing a fork into her tightly clenched fingers. "maybe you'll feel a little better after you eat, sweetheart."

"Or puke."

"Yeah or that, but you need nourishment your mind is spinning without food, sleep it dehydrates you. It'll cause changes in your brain chemistry, causing depression, anxiety eat honey even if it's only a few bites you never know you may feel better."

"Stella's right, Honey, and my friend's name is Echo Jasira. She is fifteen and pregnant. Echo is my youngest brother's girlfriend. Grayson is seventeen, and believe me, when they first found out they were expecting, they were not prepared or happy; they both felt every emotion you are currently going through. Anxiety, fear, nervousness, Echo didn't think she could raise a baby on her own; her mom kicked her out after she told her she was pregnant and refused to have an abortion."

"My parents took Echo in, but neither one of them are happy or supporting their choice in keeping this baby, but they won't throw their grandchild onto the street. Echo is stepping up through working hard to get good grades, working at McDonald's on weekends and three times a week, the other two days she works at my parent's childcare."

"Echo didn't come from much her mom barely makes end's meat, she's an addict, no father in the picture, she ain't come from much Sylvie, but she is damn sure gonna make sure her past isn't her child's future."

"At fifteen?" Wow, I feel like a complete bitch complaining here when I have so much compared to her a good job, a house, being thirty-two."

"Oh, honey, no, I didn't tell you this to diminish your feelings, Sylvie. No matter how old you are or where you are in life, an unexpected pregnancy can be scary, and cause so many unrelenting feelings. None of them are invalid."

"You should talk to Shay's or Herrman's children; no one knows how it feels to be a child of a first responder better than them."

"Yeah, Gia's is right, but first Sylvie, you need to eat, and we need to go to see a doctor to make sure these tests are correct."

"We, Stella?"

Swallowing, I take a sip of my water." Yes, cause you aren't wrong. Brett. I wouldn't know how you feel unless I am in your position, and I am. I'm pregnant to Sylvie, and all the emotions and thoughts racing through you are also running through my heart and brain."