Happy TTPD release day to everyone who celebrates! I'm sorry I didn't post last week; I was struggling to keep up with school. I hope to post next week, although I've discovered Bridgerton so that's what I've been doing in my free time.

-CL

"Why are we doing this again?" I grumble, a tad bit grumpy. I'm tired, and I've been feeling weird all day, not to mention my stomach cramps from time to time again. I shouldn't have drunk that smoothie so quickly.

"Bella, it's our niece. Ames and Michael should be back here soon anyway," Maxon says, playing peek-a-boo with Annabella. Her laugh echoes throughout the room, causing me to wince. I wish we had our own child. Instead, they're in the ground.

"I just hope they actually enjoyed themselves and didn't talk about work," I say. Maxon chuckles. "Not like I know from experience or anything."

Maxon elbows me gently, smiling. "Yes, yes, you've brought this up a lot, my dear. Still holding a grudge?"

"Maybe," I say, smirking. He's talking about a time we went to a party in Italy, and all he did was talk strategy with the—

Suddenly, the door opens. Annabella turns her head to face it, a laugh spilling from her. Another stomach cramp overtakes me, and I shove myself into the corner of the wall, trying not to cry out. Damn it, that smoothie. I don't know what they put in it. "Hey, Annabella," Ames says, holding her arms out for her. Maxon hands her Annabella, then searches the room to find me. I try to push myself out of the corner, so as to not worry him, but he finds me. You ok? His eyes say. I nod, pushing myself to meet him to prove it. Maxon nods, placing his arm around my back, pulling me close to him. I breathe in, trying to relax.

"Did she behave for you?" Michael asks, shaking Maxon's hand.

Maxon nods. "She is very well-behaved."

Ames smiles. "Who's a good girl?" she coos. Annabella laughs in response.

Michael smiles at Ames and Annabella, lovestruck. He turns to us. "Thank you again for watching her. Ames and I…well…"

I mime barfing. "Keep the details to yourself, please."

Michael chuckles, mocking a bow. "As you wish." My mind flashes back to practicing for the masquerade ball, my cheeks heating.

"Well, we'll leave you all in peace," Maxon says after a beat.

Ames walks to us, giving me a one-armed hug. Maxon shakes hands with Michael. I allow Annabella to grab onto my finger, gently moving her arm up and down. Annabella laughs. "See you soon, Ames," I say.

Maxon holds out his arm for me, and I take it. We exit their room, starting to head to ours. "You've been quiet," Maxon says, trying to start up a conversation.

"Yeah, there's a lot on my mind," I say, only giving him a grain of the truth.

"Do you want to—"

Suddenly, there are shouts and gunshots from down the hall. Maxon pulls me toward him, running toward a wall. He—

The gunshots get closer, and the door to the safe room opens. I stand outside the doorway, looking down the hallway—

"Bella!" Maxon shouts, dragging me into the room. He slams the door shut, the lock activating. I fall on my knees, another cramp taking over. This time, I can't help but let a small noise slip. Maxon kneels next to me. "What's the matter, my dear?"

"Cramps," I bite out. The cramp slowly fades, allowing me to relax. "I'm fine, Maxon."

Maxon helps me stand up. "Here, sit down—"

"Hold up," I pant, trying to catch my breath. Maxon supports me by holding me around the waist, gently helping me sit on the bench. "Thanks."

"Bella?" Maxon questions.

I sigh. "I'm fine. I drank a smoothie too quickly and my stomach didn't like it. I'm fine, Maxon, really."

Maxon sighs, kissing the top of my head. "Looks like we'll be in here for a while."

"Any word—" I start, but another cramp overtakes me, this one strong enough to make me fall on my knees. I hiss, gently punching my stomach.

"Bella!" Maxon says, falling to his knees next to me. The new angle seems to help at least.

He tries to lift me into his arms, but I shake my head. "I'm fine right here." I lean against the bench, taking a deep breath. I look at Maxon and force a smile. "I'll be fine, Maxon."

Maxon shakes his head. "We should get out of here. Get you some pain meds or a heating pad."

"I'll survive," I say. I place my hand on his. "I promise." I bite my lip and tilt my head back, trying to keep the cry in my mouth. My grip tightens on Maxon's hand. He must feel it because he uses his other to tuck hair behind my ear.

"I'm right here, my dear," Maxon murmurs. "Are you sure it's just cramps?"

"It's stomach cramps from the smoothie," I say between my teeth. "Although…never mind."

As if the cramp doesn't want me to forget, it comes back with a vengeance. This time my back arches off the bench, and the cry flies from my mouth. "Hey, hey," Maxon says, grabbing both of my hands. He pulls me into his lap, and my arms fly around his neck. "Shh, my dear, I'm right here."

"Maxon," I whimper. "Something's not right." I feel something moving down. "Maxon—" I pant. "I'm scared, Maxon."

"I'm not going anywhere, Bella." Maxon pauses for a moment. "Do you have any idea what's wrong?"

I shake my head. "The only thing I can think of is my uterus is falling out, but I've hardly researched it." I hiss when another cramp starts.

"Do you think you could be—" Maxon pauses for a moment before finishing "—pregnant?"

I shake my head vigorously. "I would have had more symptoms by now. Plus, I'm not showing at all. And when would I have gotten pregnant?"

"We just—"

"That wouldn't have affected me right now. It's way too early to even consider—" I'm cut off by another cramp—or contraction.

"There was that time in the office. Before I was in my coma." He pauses a moment and continues when he sees the confusion on my face. "When you needed help with your paperwork."

It's like a lightbulb turned on over my head. "You mean after we finished the paperwork," I say. I completely forgot that we took it…farther after we finished. I try to think back to—

"Maxon," I gasp, running through my memories. "I haven't gotten my period before you've been in the coma. Before…" I trail off, the news sinking in. "Maxon, I'm—"

"—pregnant," Maxon finishes. He looks at me in awe, his hands moving to my stomach.

A cramp—contraction, I remind myself—washes over me. I breathe out, trying to remember the breathing techniques I've been taught. "More specifically, I'm in labor," I say with a wry smile. "Surprise?"

Maxon chuckles but quickly turns serious. "Have you seen any doctors—"

"No, why would I? I just realized that I was pregnant." The cramp—contraction—fades away, allowing me to relax.

"What about your period? Didn't you ask them about that?"

I shake my head. "I wasn't really tracking it, and I thought not having it was from stress or not eating—"

"What do you mean 'not eating'?" Maxon asks, looking meaningfully at me.

"Uh—" I stutter. "While you were in your coma, I wasn't really eating properly," I say, ducking my head.

"What does 'not eating properly' mean, Bella?" Maxon asks, a hint of anger and concern entering his voice.

"I—" I take a breath. "I wouldn't eat enough. A calorie deficit. I would only eat one meal like—" I hiss as another contraction hits, this time stronger than the last. "Maxon—" I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my head in his neck. I get on my knees, placing them apart. "Maxon, take off my skirt," I command with a gasp. Maxon quickly takes it off and allows it to pool at my feet. I kick it away, the contraction finally fading. I allow my arms to fall. I place my hand on Maxon's shoulder for support and use my other hand to feel down there. My fingers—

"Maxon," I breathe, "can you look?"

Maxon nods. I lean back on my hands and open my legs, allowing him a clear view. Maoxn kneels in front of me, looking. "What am I—oh," Maxon gasps. "Is that—?"

"—the head," I finish. I take a deep breath. "I guess it's time."