THE STORY CONTAINS MENTIONS OF MISCARRIAGE, AND BLOOD. PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED...
Beep! Beep! Beep! Be-
Ember turned off the alarm, yawned, and stretched. She groaned at her annoying alarm. "I hate that alarm noise. I want it to be a song or something. I'd never love someone whose eyes see right through me... or maybe a Thousand Years... or just I'm a bun.. some Spongebob? Aha! A remix of Morning Flower! That will surely be dance-required. It'd surely be able to wake me up, and not annoy me!"
Ember quickly unplugged her phone and opened her clock app while walking out of the bedroom.
"Mornin'," Ken greeted.
"Mornin'," Ember replied, still using her phone. Once she updated the ringtone, she clicked the save button and turned it off. She looked up, "I had to update my alarm ringtone. The beeping was annoying."
"Fair," Ken replied, facing back to the kitchen counter.
"Watcha doin'?" Ember asked, glancing at the counter.
"Making a cake for your baby shower," he replied.
Ember giggled a reply, "That's not until week 34. I'm at week 23."
"Nicole has to leave for a business trip for a bit, and wanted to do it early," Ken answered.
"Dang, how long she plannin' to be gone?" Ember asked, grabbing a banana.
Ken shrugged, "I don't know, she only told me to make it earlier."
Ember sighed, "Alright, fine."
Ken turned back toward the kitchen counter and continued icing the cake. He put the piping bag down and stood back to look at his work, while Ember casually walked to the living room couch and sat down, turning on the TV.
Ding-dong!
Ken walked to the front door and opened it.
"Package for... Ember Jade," Larry said, handing Ken a small box.
"Uh, from who?" Ken asked.
"Ohio," Larry replied, closing the door back.
Ken shrugged and handed the package to Ember.
"From?" Ember asked, searching around the outside of the box.
"Somewhere in Ohio," Ken responded.
"Only in Ohio," Ember noted before opening the package. When she saw what was in there, she turned to Ken with a huge smirk.
"No. Ember, no," Ken said, knowing where this was going, "No Takis."
"But the Ohio person brought me some!" Ember said, grabbing at them and opening the bag. She shmiled and ate a handful.
Ken facepalmed with a growl, "Only in Ohio would you actually listen to me."
"Lighten up a little, Kenneth," Ember said, handing Ken a Taki, "You haven't had one in awhile!"
"No thanks," Ken said, "I'm good."
"Suit yourself," she replied, eating the one she offered.
"You're gonna realise one day that I'm right," Ken said.
"Ha, doubt it," Ember said, looking back at the TV.
Ken gave Ember the side eye as he grabbed the box and headed to throw it away.
Ember swallowed the crumbs and opened her mouth to speak. "What if we had the baby shower in school? Like the auditorium?"
"We'll see. I'll have to check with Brown."
"Awesome," Ember replied, eating another Taki.
Ken grabbed his phone and called Principal Brown.
"Brown, can we use the auditorium for a baby shower?"
"Sure."
"Thanks," Ken replied and hung up Principal Brown. He turned to Ember and said, "Brown allowed it."
"Awesome," Ember said, "It'll be tomorrow."
"Monday, got it," Ken said, texting someone.
"So, you sure you don't want some of these Takis?" Ember asked, shoving a Taki in Ken's face.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Ken said, turning to the counter.
"Chillax, scaredy-cat," Ember chuckled, "It's not that personal..."
"It's not that it's not personal, it's that I don't want Takis," Ken assured.
"Suuuure, sure," Ember replied, rolling her eyes.
"Are Takis even healthy?" Ken asked.
"Yes, of course they are," Ember replied, "To a certain extent..."
"Why would you risk it anyways?" Ken questioned.
"Let's just get prepared for tomorrow," Ember said.
"Fine, fine," Ken said, giving up.
Ember opened the stage curtains and saw bunches of people she knew all sitting in the auditorium chairs. Her heart was beating a little too fast and loud. She could hear it clearly as if it was right in her ear. She took some deep, calming breaths to calm down, while she closed her eyes. She felt her anxiety rise as she opened her eyes back up, still seeing everyone blantly staring at her.
She took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"Hello, everyone. Welcome to the baby shower. It's a little bit early for it but... there's nothing bad about having an early baby shower, amirite! Heh... er... well..." Ember shook her head, getting rid of a thought and continued on, "Let's just get it on!"
Ember turned to Ken to signal him to release a banner. Ken went to pull a string, but the ladder fell and he started hanging from the ceiling.
"HELP!" Ken said calmly.
"Ken, how the heck-"
"HELP!"
Ember groaned, "Fine."
Ember walked over to the wall and grabbed Ken by the legs. "Let go."
"Not happening," Ken said, "Get the ladder."
Ember glanced at the ladder and groaned. She picked it up and fixated it right beside him.
"There, use that."
Ken latched onto the ladder and climbed down quickly. "Phew, that was close. I felt my hands slipping. My eyes flashing before my life!"
"I... don't you mean- nevermind." Ember turned to the audience. "Sorry everyone for the random intermission. Uhm.. how should we start this baby shower..."
"Ooh, ooh, I know, I know!" Ken exclaimed, excitedly. "We could-"
Ember moved her hand to her stomach and tightly closed her eyes out of pain. She yelped and squatted.
Ken looked over at her. "Ember? What's wrong?"
"Someone... get me... to a hospital.." Ember said, before collapsing from the pain. The audience gasped, and Alana quickly ran to the rescue.
"Ember!" Alana had screamed. She turned to Ken and yelled, "Close the curtains! Close them!"
Ken ran over to the curtain strings and pulled the strings. The curtains closed after a few seconds and so Ken let go of the strings and awaited further instructions.
Alana turned to Ken, "I'm gonna take her to the hospital. Y'all stay here in case people have questions. I'll text you when there's an update."
Alana reached her hand out to Ember, who was on the floor in pain. Ember looked up at her and grabbed her hand, following Alana slowly to the car.
When they got to the hospital, the receptionist called Ember to a room, as well as a doctor to assist.
"Doctor, I think something's going on with the baby," Alana explained, seeming to be anxious and worried. Her hand was holding Ember's, who had her eyes shut tightly.
"It seems like it. I'll go get you some pain medicine and schedule an ultrasound and surgery." The doctor nodded at Alana before exiting the room. Gumball, Darwin, and Ken entered, seeming worried.
"Is everything okay?" Gumball asked instantly.
"Well obviously not, I'm bleeding out of me!" Ember snapped.
"You kinda had that coming, Gumball," Darwin sassed. Gumball slapped him. "Ow! What was that for?"
"Y'all stop screaming at each other," Alana demanded. "I'm already anxious enough."
Ember looked up at them slowly, trying her best to smile. "Thanks for coming, I'm fine."
"It might've been those suspicious Takis that were sent," Ken scoffed and crossed his arms. "I did warn you, anyways."
Ember rolled her eyes, "Yeah, right. These things are normal."
"Random labour?" Ken raised his eyebrow.
Ember nodded slightly, "Yes."
"Sure, sure," Ken turned to Diamond.
"Well, what did the doctor say?" asked Gumball.
"Getting ready for a procedure," Ember sighed and looked towards the window.
Alana looked toward Gumball and said, "He's gonna do an ultrasound to see if that's the pain Ember is feeling. And if the baby is healthy enough, we'll do a c-section most likely."
"I hope the baby will be okay," Darwin said.
Ember sighed, "You and me both."
"And me, too," Alana spoke up.
After about an hour or so, the doctor entered the room with clipboards and pictures from the ultrasound they had took.
"Good news, the baby is perfectly fine and might even be developed good enough to where we can have a c-section. But it won't be today. We need to stay and monitor the baby for a bit to make sure it is all safe for the c-section. The surgery should be completed by tomorrow if everything looks okay."
"Okay, good," Alana said, relieved.
"Wait, but we have a huge test tomorrow in Mrs. Simian's class," Darwin spoke. "Which means none of us might be able to stand by Ember's side."
"No, I am gonna stay," Alana said.
"But this test can be the future of college or something! And plus it's mandatory, so if you're not dying like Ember is, you gotta go," Gumball said.
Alana groaned, "Ugh, fine."
Alana woke up in the hospital room. She had fallen asleep in the chair beside Ember's bed after everyone left. She checked the time with her watch and quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out. It was 6:45 in the morning and she had to get home quickly and get ready for school. Today there was a huge test, which means Alana wasn't allowed to stay with Ember.
Alana put on some of her pink clothing and blue jeans and then headed to the yard to wait for the bus. It wasn't long before it got here, and when it did, she entered the bus and walked towards the middle where Gumball, Darwin, Penny, and Carrie were.
"Hey, Alana!" shouted Gumball with enthusiasm.
"Hey." Alana had a lifeless expression. All she could do was think about Ember.
Penny scooted over to Alana and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Ember will be okay. She'll pull through."
"She'll find a way, Alana. I know she will. Besides..." Darwin smiled. "Love always finds a way."
Alana smiled. "I'm just worried about her without me. She doesn't really have anyone to stay with her but maybe Nicole. But Nicole is getting ready to leave anyways."
"What about her parents?" asks Gumball.
"We do not talk about them near her," Alana said, firmly and serious. Ember's parents had abandoned her in this world due to her love in nature and being with a girl. Her parents were heavy believers in God. So was Ember, but Ember's beliefs were different. Ember believed that love is love, and that God made her perfectly the way she is.
The silence was loud, but before they arrived at school, Alan had floated his way to Alana's seat and peeked down beside her head.
"Hello, Alana."
"AH!" Alana jumped and about hit Alana out of impulse, but was able to fortunetly stop herself. "Oh, hey, Alan."
"Hi, Alana. How are you?"
"Pushing through. You?"
Alan smiled, "I'm good."
The bus arrived at school shortly after Alan started talking. Everyone crowded the aisles and left the bus in a chaotic mess. Gumball, Darwin, Penny, and Carrie met up with Alana at the front door, who was walking alone.
"Guys, you have your own classes to go to," Alana chuckled while watching them follow her.
Ken butted in, "Me, Penny, Diamond, and Anais have Algebra 1 honors together."
Alana sighed, "I am so not ready to do this test."
"None of us are," Penny chuckled, even though she was the smartest in the group at this point.
"Well, I'm sure Ember's got this," Gumball smiled and patted Alana's shoulder. "She has been through way worse and pulled through okay."
"I'm more worried about her because of the baby," Alana admitted.
"She'll be alright, I know it!" Penny said, hopeful. She grabbed Alana's hand and smiled, "Let's go do that big test. Whaddya think?"
Alana smiled at Penny, "Let's do a test!"
Ken, Diamond, Penny, Alana, and Anais skipped happily to the math class and sat in their seat. Alana's smile faded a slight bit when she thought of Ember. Ember loved big tests. And this test involved her favourite subject: Math!
Mrs. Jenkins entered the class and closed the classroom door behind her. She grabbed a stack of papers and turned to the students. "Today is the day of the PSAT testing. Is everyone ready?"
Half of the class yelled no, one quarter yelled yes, and the other quarter didn't answer.
Jenkins started passing around the papers as each student tried finding a No. 2 pencil.
Ember had finally woken up, and when she did she saw she was being monitored by a doctor with three other people in the room. Her face filled with anger when she aw them.
"Why are my parents and sister here?!" she turned and yelled at the doctor.
The bandaid doctor turned to her, "Well, they came here claiming they wanted to see you and that they were your family."
"Well, I don't want them! Get them out!" Ember sat up, yelling.
Ember's Mom, Sandy, walked up to Ember. She was a rhombus. "Ember, we're just trying to do what's best for you."
"You don't know shit about what's best for me!c Ember yelled. "You only want to take the person I love the most away from me! You call that good intentions???"
"We're just trying to make sure you make it to-"
"Bullshit, Sandy!" Ember shouted, but grunted and leaned back from pain and nausea. The doctor walked to her rescue and put something in the saline bag for her IV. It calmed her nerves and reduced the pain and nausea.
"Don't talk to Mom like that, Em," said Delilah, Ember's sister, gently.
"Just get out," Ember said, emotionless but firm.
"Let's just go," said Roy, her dad. The three exited the room and the doctor checked the ultrasound once more.
"Baby is about ready. Seems healthy. A girl, too," Doctor replied as he removed his gloves and put them in the trashcan.
"Okay," Ember had her eyes closed and was trying to rest.
"Let's go ahead and preare you for surgery." The doctor stood up and walked out, heading for a surgeon's office.
Alana was trying to think of an answer to a question, but Ember wouldn't leave her mind.
Was it mode or median... Alana thought, I forgot... okay, median is the middle number... mode is the number that appears the most... and I think mean is the average... Ugh, I can't do this!
Alana slammed her pencil down and stood up abruptly. She was looking down at her desk, breathing heavily. Her breaths were short and hyperventilated.
"Alana, please sit down and continue your test," Mrs. Jenkins asked politely.
Alana continued standing up, staring at her desk, emotionless.
"Alana?" called out a voice that seemed to be Penny from the back of the room. All of the other students had their eyes fixed on Alana, staring deeply.
Alana swang her leg over and rushed out of the classroom in a hurry. Penny quickly stood up and followed her into the hall.
"Alana, wait!" Penny called out to her. Alana took a glance at Penny but continued running to one of the bathrooms. Penny followed her in one where she had stood at a sink.
Alana was hyperventilating and was grabbing onto her chest tightly. She couldn't seem to breath and was having trouble gripping onto reality. Penny stood behind Alana and hugged her tight, hoping the pressure would release the aura of attack out of her.
It was about five minutes before Alana finally calmed down. When she did, she collapsed into the floor, alomg with Penny, and closed her eyes. She was exhausted and didn't want to finish the test without knowing Ember and the baby would be alright.
Luckily, by the time the attack was over, Penny's phone buzzed from her pocket. She checked it and showed the screen to Alana. It was a message from Ember.
Ember: Out of surgery, baby girl is safe and healthy. Come after school with Alana and the group.
Penny: Alright
Alana took a sigh of relief and stood up alongside Penny.
"See? She's alright," Penny said, gently. "I told you she would be alright."
Alana slapped a few splashes of water on her face. She turned to Penny after shutting the water off and smiled. "Let's go finish a test."
Later, after the test was finished, the group finished with school and rushed to the bus.
"The day is finally over," Gumball sighed relief as he sat in his seat in front of Anais. "I could not remember what median was!"
"I couldn't remember median and mode at all," Alana chuckled and looked towards the window with a bright smile.
Darwin noticed Alana's joy and commented, "You seem better now, Alana."
Alana turned her head to Darwin and nodded, "I am. Ember texted and said she's okay and well and that the baby girl was delievered safely."
"Aw, that's amazing," Anais smiled and looked back down to her math textbook she was holding.
Alan smiled, "Glad she's alright."
Alana turned towards the window again. "I am, too, Alan. I am, too."
Alana rushed into the hospital room, leading a line with Gumball, Darwin, Penny, Anais, Diamond, and Ken.
"Ember!" Alana shouted, happy that she was okay.
Ember turned her head and smiled, "Alana, you're here."
Alana hugged Ember from the bed and gave her a forehead kiss.
Ember sat up and gave the baby, who was wrapped warmly in a blanket and swaddle, to Alana. Alana smiled and got the baby out of Ember's arms. She had a big smile, and even a few tears left her eyes.
"What's her name?" Gumball asked, putting his hands in his pockets and reaching the bed.
Ember smiled and looked towards the others. "Adrianna Ann Rosalie Jade."
Alana turned to Ember and smiled. "Magical Adultz?"
Ember smiled and nodded. "MA."
The bandaid doctor entered the room, flipping papers on the clipboard they were holding. The doctor looked up and saw everyone in the room. "Uh, when did they get here?"
Ember smiled. "Just a few seconds ago." She looked to the others and chuckled. "They were always beside me, though."
"You were beside us first, though, Ember," Gumball reminded her. "You remember, right?"
"Ah yes, karate day," Ken smiled as he looked down and turned to Diamond.
"I will forever appreciate that day," Gumball admitted, looking to the ceiling. The memories overlapped his vision.
Penny smiled and walked up to the bed, placing a hand on Ember's bed. "We have had a bunch of adventures together. All of us. And we will continue having even more adventures in the future." She turned to the others. "Won't we?"
The others exclaimed together in harmony, "Yeah!"
Gumball smiled and then raised his arms abruptly. "Oh right!" Gumball quickly took his phone out and opened Elmore Uploads. He opened the music video for a certain, familiar song and turned his volume all the way up.
The video played. "This little world we live in..."
The others sang along. "It's so amazing... you're my fully-fleshed friend... so many memories..."
Ember and Alana entered the house, which was cold and empty. They walked to the new nursery room and placed Adrianna into the crib, still swaddled in her blanket. They exited the room, turned off the light, and closed the door.
Alana smiled and turned to Ember, "We did it."
Ember smiled back. "We sure did."
"Together."