They bought another (cheaper) bottle of wine across the street from the restaurant. Swigged it in the cab on the way home. Fell up the stairs laughing. Stumbled into Rosie's room and onto the bed.

"You're cute."

Eddie changed color when wine-drunk, it turned out. He had to fight to keep her away from his ruddy face. "Get off!"

"Hehe. No."

"You're pinching my cheeks!"

"I know that."

"And you know that only makes them redder?"

"Yes."

"Stop!"

"Cute!"

Rosie woke in his arms, stale-mouthed and tender-headed. A narrow beam of sunlight hitting her right in the eyes. She tried to fend it off, but ultimately had to leave the safety of the covers. Neither of them had bothered with pyjamas, so she delicately covered Eddie before pulling on her robe. Mouthwash always made her feel better, and water. She took a glass and an antacid and left them next to him.

A low squawk brought her round again. Eddie belched charmingly and slurped his water. Swallowed the pill and chugged. She reached over and rubbed his bare back supportively.

"You alive?"

"No."

She giggled. Still dramatic. Her foot caught in something as she tried to prod with her toes, and she retrieved his boxers from the covers.

"Here."

He shook them off his head, frowning. "Did we...?"

"I assume so."

Eddie flopped back, pushing thumbs into his eyes. "I don't even remember."

"I doubt it was memorable."

"With me? Always a masterpiece."

"Pfffft."

He didn't even have the energy to chastise her. He was still trying to focus on the ceiling. "Rosie?"

"Huh?"

"We used...protection, right?"

The word hung in the air. They had run out, and just used other methods since they both kept forgetting to buy more.

Rosie gulped. "I don't know."

"We must have bought some? With the wine?"

"Dunno."

Didn't have a problem focusing on her. Horror in his eyes. "Don't joke about this."

"Why would I joke about it!"

"You're not?"

"I'm not!"

"Oh, shit!"

"We wouldn't be that dumb...right?"

Eddie was already counting from the box. "Were there any left in the box?"

"I don't know!"

The box sailed across the room. "FUCK!"

A hard thump on the wall. Gabrielle was not in the mood for their drama.

Rosie struggled to get her thoughts together. It was agony. Her head was throbbing. "It's fine. There's a drugstore down the street."

"Right!" Eddie whirled. "You can take stuff to stop it!"

"Right!"

"Great!"

"I just need a pill. It's fine."

"Fine." The crack in his voice was not fine. "Can you take a test?"

"It won't show anything the day after."

"How long?"

She shrugged. "A few weeks."

"Weeks!" Panic. Rising from his twitching limbs to overtake his expression.

"I think."

"You think?!"

"I've never done this before!"

Poor Eddie looked on the verge of a heart attack. Rosie didn't feel much better, but hugged him all the same. "It's okay. Nothing's gonna happen."

"Sure."

"Breathe." She squeezed him, brought him back down to sit beside her. Inhaled and exhaled with him. She felt sick. So soon? Could morning sickness happen so soon? Surely that started once there was. Rosie pressed her stomach, already half-expecting to it to feel swollen.

"What?" Eddie caught her.

"Nothing just breathe. It's not gonna happen. Not now. Not like this."

"It can't!"

"Yeah."

They each returned to their calming exercises. Two more minutes, and Eddie turned again.

"What if it does?"

"Don't."

"If it does...?"

Rosie bit her lip. "I'm not ready for that. Any of that."

"Same."

"Then I suppose I would get rid of it."

He thought a minute, then nodded. "Yeah. Agreed."

"Besides. There's like... six flights of stairs in this building."

"Not funny."

"You can do the honors."

He glared. Rosie mimed going for a tumble. "Sometimes I worry about you."

It took their combined energies to get showered, then dressed. Eddie put his arm around her as they walked down the street. His hand squeezed her shoulder when they entered the store. Rosie could feel his apprehension in it, hooking a thumb under his belt. The store was big enough that they didn't draw too much attention, but somehow she felt like everyone turned to glare at them.

"Stay here." Rosie patted his hand and approached the counter. Eddie watched the clerk frown at her as she spoke, then go into the back to fetch a doctor. She disappeared into the back, and his heart began to thunder. He pretended to look at shaving cream, checking the clock every few seconds.

Fifteen minutes. Was something wrong? Could she not get it? He edged closer to the counter, looking to the clerk for some sort of sign. When the curtain slid back, Rosie did not look happy. She waved a piece of paper like a prize hard-won.

"What happened?"

"Not here." She whispered back. "What are those?"

He had picked up some tests. More condoms, too. Upset as she looked, Rosie laughed. They tried not to meet the clerk's eye as she rang them up, though Eddie received a glare when he paid.

"The fuck happened back there?"

"You don't wanna know." Rosie threw her purse on the bed, not trying to conceal her annoyance.

"Did they say something?"

"Plenty."

"Tell me."

"Well, as soon as they got it into their skulls that you didn't force yourself on me," Rosie shot him an apologetic look. "I got a whole lecture on responsibility and consequences."

"Is that normal?"

"They seemed to think so."

It was just a single pill in a plastic packet, but it came with a whole novel of instructions. Rosie skimmed through, then went to get a drink. Eddie unfolded the whole thing and started to scan.

"Babe. Is this safe?"

"Should be." She was already opening the packet.

"Wait! Wait!" He held up a palm as he read: "Bleeding, nausea, cramps, dizziness..."

"Pregnancy's worse."

Eddie flinched. "I guess so."

Rosie knocked it back with some water. His face must have betrayed his concern, because she sat down an started to cuddle him. "I'll get a prescription."

"For this?"

"The regular pill. I don't think it's as...severe. And we wouldn't have to worry so much."

"You don't have to."

"I know. I'd just prefer not to go through this again."

"I am with you on that."

Hours wore on, and Rosie quickly came to understand just how much she did not want to take such medications again. She curled up on the bed, breathing through cramps. Wasn't sure which symptoms were from the hangover, and which were from the pill. Eddie, utterly lost in this situation, turned on the TV, spooned her helplessly, and tried to rub where she asked. His hands were warm, his presence even more so.

Static on the screen. His eyes cracked open. The room was dark, the building silent. Rosie was finally asleep. Eddie had felt himself drifting after her, but had they really slept that long? In his arms, Rosie fretted again, wheezing. Did it hurt that much? He lifted a hand to her forehead, staring at the sweat that transferred to his palm. Side effects. Surely they shouldn't be this bad?

"Rosie?"

"Eddie?"

"Are you okay?"

"I think so."

"Are you sure?"

Almost on queue, a jolt shot through her spine. Eddie saw her limbs stiffen, and heard Rosie grunt through gritted teeth.

"Eddie!" It came out as a sob. Her breathing quickened, and she let out a stifled wail.

"This isn't normal!"

"It's not." She agreed, another ripple of agony moving her. Her body shifted with it.

What could he do? Did she need a doctor? An ambulance? Fear gripped his throat. Growing stronger with each pained cry. "What do I do?"

"There's no time."

"What?"

"No time!"

"What do you mean?!" His voice piqued with terror. No time. Was she in trouble? Was she dying?

"I mean it's coming now!"

"Huh?"

"The baby. It's coming!"

"The wha-"

It couldn't be denied. Rosie rolled, drawing his hand up to rest on her swollen belly. Eddie felt himself retch with revulsion. How had she grown so big so soon? Even worse, something was moving in there. Creating waves under her skin. He just felt them at first, then saw them. Like a parasite trying to claw its way out. Another wail, louder, more terrible, erupted from Rosie. She writhed in pain, watching with him as her stomach heaved and shifted.

"EDDIE!" She bawled, her face a mask of fear and pain. "HELP!"

"I-I-I don't know what to do!" He wept. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"

Rosie's next word caught. She choked, eyes going wide. "Guh!"

"Rosie?"

Spluttering, gagging. Blood bubbled up from her mouth. She wasn't struggling any more, but twitching and jerking.

"ROSIE! ROSIE!" Eddie tried to tilt her, to free her airway. It just kept spilling out, gushing up from...

From her stomach. He heard the wet crunch as it split open. Just stared, frozen as the seam grew from chest to crotch. A tiny, clawed hand reached out, and the parasite climbed forth from its host. It was still growing, he realized. First the size of an infant, then a toddler, child, adult. Until it hunched forward over him. Hungry, its face divided in five as it crouched to devour him.

"Hey!" A slap. Just with her fingers. Sharp. "Heeey!"

Eddie sprang back to the real world. Rosie hovered over him, hair in his face. "Uh?"

"We both tapped out."

"Huh?"

"It's 5pm." She stretched, shoulder popping. "You hungry?"

"Um." No.

Rosie sniggered, brushing his face with her fingers. "You're still asleep."

He blinked hard, dispelling his demons. Soft kisses against his skin helped. Her hair tickled him there it fell. "Awake. Now."

"Pleasant dreams?"

Eddie pressed her stomach mistrustfully. When nothing bit him, he forced a smile. "All about you, Babe."