Once they'd picked up their belongings in silence, Michael began leading the way out of the forest.
They'd been walking for like what seemed the longest five minutes of April's life when Michael spoke.
"Did you know?" Michael inquired.
"No," April replied. "Not really. I mean, I knew something was going on with me, but not what."
She shook her head. "I should have known though. I should have paid more attention to my body and the symptoms. It all makes sense now. How I often felt tired in the middle of the day even though I got plenty of sleep, and the other times I was unable to sleep for long. I reacted more to smells than I normally would and I threw up. And then there was my increased hunger and the slight weight gain..."
She stopped and wrapped an arm around her waist, the realization that she was going to be a mother setting in.
Michael noticed that she had stopped and turned to face her. "Are you alright?" His expression was full of concern.
"I'm okay," April assured him. "I'm just..."
"We need to keep moving," Michael interrupted her.
April frowned, but followed him as the first rays of dawn broke through the trees.
"What are we going to do about the aswang?" she asked.
"Once I bring you home, I'll come back to finish her," Michael answered.
April grasped his shirtsleeve. "No. You're not coming back alone. I won't let you."
"I'll get Charlie to help me then," Michael decided. "The important thing now is to get you out of here safely."
April tripped on a root just a he finished, and Michael quickly caught her in his arms.
"Be careful," he warned.
April laughed as she wiggled out of his arms. "I'm pregnant, not made of glass."
Michael appeared to be sheepish. "I know. I can't help it. I am feeling very protective of you right now."
April smiled warmly. "That's alright."
She kissed him and they continued to walk back to their vehicle.
Michael wanted to keep hiking until they got to their pick-up but a few hours later April insisted that they rest. She was exhausted and they both needed some shuteye.
Michael was hesitant but agreed. He pitched the tent and they settled down into their sleeping bags.
As they waited for sleep, April placed her hand on her stomach and thought about the baby, which led her to remembering how quiet Michael had been since they found out about her pregnancy.
She turned in her sleeping bag to face him. "Are you happy?"
"About your condition?" Michael questioned.
"About being a father," April said.
"The idea will take some getting used to," Michael told her. "I never really thought about it. We never discussed it, and when I was an angel it was, of course, forbidden."
"But are you happy?" April repeated.
Michael thought for a moment and nodded. "I think so. What I do know is that I have never felt so protective of you before. I've always wanted to keep you safe at any cost but the feeling is much stronger now. Now that we know."
April smiled.
"We need to get to sleep," Michael said. "The aswang hasn't fed on a child for a long time, it seems. She'll be desperate to know the taste. We will need to wake up in a few hours in order to reach the truck before nightfall."
April nodded. "Okay."
She kissed Michael then turned onto her side, facing away from him.
He wrapped her up in his arms, and they fell asleep.