Again…still DO NOT own it

Thanks everyone for reading! I'd really love reviews – I'm trying to become a better writer, but I can't unless I hear some feedback from y'all.

Special shout-out to Luri22 who not only reviewed, but gave me some wonderful affirmation in my personal belief that ArJoe is unmatchable. I'm not even sure if that's a word, but there.

Zhi Shu didn't need to hear anything else. He swept past the doctor into Xiang Qin's room.

There she was. Still and quiet. She was never this still and quiet, even while sleeping. That's what he loved about her - her inexhaustible energy, always doing everything with a smile.

Swallowing hard, he sat beside her and took her cold hand in his, pressing it against his cheek. A twitch. He whipped his head to see Xiang Qin open her eyes. She was so pale. Even her lips were bloodless, and it terrified him.

"Xiang Qin…" he whispered, looking into her eyes intensely. She couldn't respond because of the trach tube, but he could read as clear as day what she was thinking - I'm scared. It hurt him to see her like that, and he turned away sharply so that she wouldn't see his tears.

She was the one person in the world he could show tears to, show his weaknesses, but at all costs, he would not let her see them today. He breathed deeply and faced her again with a weak smile.

"It'll be all right."

It was the trust in her eyes that undid him. The way she looked at him with such faith, when he knew that he very well may not be able to deliver. He clasped her hand tighter, kissing the ring on her middle finger that was a symbol of their love. She was his second button - how could he survive without her? That one day without her - the morning he woke up to find her gone - still gave him nightmares. Xiang Qin doesn't know, but sometimes he'll dream about finding her side of the bed empty again, and he'd be startled awake in cold sweat. He never could go back to sleep after those dreams, so he would just spend the night gazing at Xiang Qin.

And this child... what would she do? Being a father had scared him enough as it was, but without her, Zhi Shu would have to take the role of mother and father. Parenting was Xiang Qin's strength, not his. As forgetful and careless as she may be, it was Xiang Qin that knew the true meaning of empathy, kindness, and love. He just struggled to mimic her, barely managing a bad imitation. Wasn't it supposed to be a give and take, where the child learns from both parents? Love from Xiang Qin, depth from Zhi Shu. He didn't know if he could do Xiang Qin's half...Would this child be able to feel his love?

Abruptly he stood up, knocking the chair over, and nearly bolted out of the room. Even as he was doing it, he knew. He knew that he, Zhi Shu the genius of over 200 IQ who could do anything, was running away. He ran harder than ever before, desperate for some sort of escape, the walls of the hospital closing in all too closely.

He realized where he was as soon as he stopped, leaning on his knees to catch his breath - the nursery.

Chest still heaving, he walked hesitantly over to the window to see the newborns, and there she was. 2nd from the corner. He stared at their little girl breathing rhythmically in the incubator. Even as an infant, he could see that she had her mother's eyes with long curling eyelashes. Could she grow up without her mother?

No. NO. He straightened himself with determination. He would not let Xiang Qin die. At all costs, he'd save her.