When Saanvi's eyes creaked open, she found herself lying in a small hospital room with beeping machines attached to her. Her confusion lasted only a moment before her realization came flooding back to her, and she began to hyperventilate in panic.
"Saanvi, you're awake!" Alex exclaimed in relief as she rushed to Saanvi's side. "I was really starting to get worried. You were sick, and then you passed out...how long have you been feeling like this?"
Saanvi couldn't bring herself to formulate a response, so Alex just squeezed her hand. "It's going to be okay," she assured. "They've been running all kinds of tests on you. I'm sure we'll have some answers soon." Her phone suddenly beeped, and she stood up. "The girls are in the waiting room downstairs. I'll be right back."
"You don't have to," Saanvi said, trying to sound calm. "Go ahead and take them home. I'll be fine. I'll let you know when I hear something."
"No, I'm not just leaving you here," Alex insisted. "You're terrified. I can see it in your eyes. You shouldn't be alone."
Just as Saanvi started to respond, an ER doctor walked into the room. "Well, I'm glad to see our patient has come to," he smiled, warmly. "Good news is that there's nothing wrong with you, but there is something we need to discuss. Would you like your visitor to stay?" he asked, glancing at Alex.
"Oh, I'm her girlfriend," Alex clarified, as Saanvi looked down. She knew the doctor was silently judging her as a cheater.
"She can stay," Saanvi decided, figuring that Alex would have to be told eventually anyway. She just worried that it would destroy their relationship, because she'd never be able to explain the truth of the baby's conception. How could she expect Alex to believe such an outlandish story?
"Okay," the doctor started. "Well, you've tested positive for pregnancy."
And there it was. Out in the open. Saanvi exhaled a shaky breath.
"Pregnancy?" Alex repeated. "But that's not possible." She turned to Saanvi, surprised that she wasn't disputing the diagnosis. "Unless you've been with someone else recently," she realized.
"I didn't mean for this to happen," Saanvi said, quietly. "It was one person, one time...Alex, I didn't think we had a future at that point."
Alex shook her head, her expression unreadable. "I turned my whole life upside down for you," she finally spoke. She looked like she wanted to say something else, but instead she just hurried out of the room- slamming the door behind her.
Saanvi fought to contain tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. She was strong. She could handle this.
The doctor awkwardly cleared his throat. "Well, according to your hCG levels, I'd estimate that you're close to two months along. We'll take you in for an ultrasound to get a more precise due date, and to make sure that the pregnancy is developing normally. You'll need to start taking a prenatal vitamin, reducing stress, drinking plenty of fluids-"
"I know," Saanvi said. She was a doctor herself, after all. "Thank you," she spoke, curtly- just wanting this conversation to be over with.
Once the ER doctor left the room, she finally allowed the tears to stream down her cheeks. She'd been through so much over the years, but she'd never felt so alone before.
She wasn't alone though.
Saanvi felt a strange warmth spread through her as she stared at the ultrasound image on the screen in front of her. It looked more like a blob than a baby at this stage, but the flicker of a strong and steady heartbeat made it real. This wasn't just a disastrous situation anymore. This was her son or daughter. It felt surreal.
"Everything looks good," the tech noted. "Since we calculate from the first date of your last period, you're about nine weeks. Looks like it'll be a December baby."
Saanvi managed a slight smile, trying to hide her mixed emotions. One part of her was truly amazed. After all the death and destruction she'd witnessed, she now carried the hope of a new life within her. A life that she instinctively wanted to love and protect.
While her rational side wondered if she could handle parenthood. The idea was so new to her. She thought she would eventually be a stepmother to Alex's kids, but that wasn't the same as being the primary caregiver of a newborn. She had so much to learn in the next few months, and she probably wouldn't have her girlfriend to help her through it.
But the person she really needed at that moment was Ben. She just wanted him to hold her and tell her everything would be okay, that they'd figure it all out. But how could she tell him about their baby when she knew that it might destroy his marriage and family?
Saanvi picked up her phone, realizing that she needed to talk to someone about this situation. Someone whose judgment she trusted, who would understand all angles. She typed up a text message:
Hey, are you free for breakfast tomorrow? I could really use some advice.
Michaela Stone knew something was wrong. It wasn't like Saanvi to reach out for help in the middle of the night. Or at all, really. Not to mention, the beautiful doctor looked pale and miserable when she walked into the coffee shop and made her way to Michaela's table.
"Thanks for coming," Saanvi murmured, to which Michaela stood up and hugged her.
"Of course. What's going on with you? You look terrible," Michaela noted as the two women sat down.
"Morning sickness," Saanvi stated, bluntly.
Michaela's eyes shot open. She wasn't expecting such a revelation this morning.
"You're having a baby?" the blonde questioned in stunned surprise. "Wow. I mean, I want to congratulate you, but I'm kind of sensing that this isn't a congratulatory situation."
"It's complicated," Saanvi sighed, glancing around to make sure no one was within earshot of them. "It happened just before the Death Date. It was one time. And we agreed that we were better as friends..."
"It's Ben," Michaela suddenly realized. "He's the father, isn't he?"
"Yes." Saanvi briefly closed her eyes. "I don't know what to do. I don't want to hide this from him. He has a right to know. But I also don't want to ruin his life either. He just got Grace back. They have a family. This could tear it all apart."
Michaela exhaled a heavy breath. "It could," she agreed. "Ben will have to tell Grace the whole truth. It'll be the only way to save their marriage."
"But the truth sounds ridiculous," Saanvi pointed out.
"Zeke believed it," Michaela shrugged.
"I don't think Alex would," Saanvi admitted. "That's why I let her think it was some random fling. Better that than her wondering if I've lost my mind. As much as it hurts, I know that I'll survive if this relationship doesn't work. It's happened before. But with Ben...it's different. I can't lose him, Michaela."
"Saanvi, he would never abandon you or this baby-"
"I know. But things between us will never be the same if I cost him his family."
"Look at me," Michaela directed, taking the other woman's hands over the table. "Whatever happens with Ben and Grace, you are not to blame for it. You didn't do anything wrong. Neither of you did. We'd been living in a timeline where Grace died years before. Yeah, the situation is complicated now. But you can't stress yourself out worrying about things that are not in your control. All you can do is tell the truth. Ben has to know, Saanvi. That's his baby too. He would want to know."
Saanvi let her words sink in for a moment before nodding. "You're right. I know you are."
Michaela offered her a small smile. "I'm here for you, okay. Any time you want to talk, or cry, or just want someone to go baby shopping with...because I'm gonna spoil this kid, just letting you know in advance."
Saanvi smiled back, feeling a bit more reassured to have a friend in her corner at a time like this.