Vince's body trembled with every breath. His back was on fire, his lower abdomen a battleground of sharp, relentless contractions. He gripped the edge of the workbench in the garage, his knuckles turning white. Every sound in the room seemed muffled, his heartbeat pounding in his ears as the familiar ache from the past few days intensified. This was it. This wasn't just another wave of discomfort—his body was screaming, betraying him in the most terrifying way possible.
"Shit," Vince cursed under his breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead. His hands were slick, his breath shallow as the pain hit again, sharper, fiercer. It felt like the very air around him was suffocating him, pushing down on his chest. He leaned heavily against the workbench, trying to steady himself, trying to hold it together.
The garage was silent except for the buzz of the overhead lights, the hum of engines, and the sound of tools clinking in the background. The smell of gasoline, oil, and exhaust filled his senses, normally comforting, but today it only made the nausea twist in his stomach.
"Vince?" Dom's voice cut through the fog of pain in his mind. Vince looked up to see Dom, Mia, Letty, Leon, and Jesse gathered around a car in the far corner of the garage. They'd been so caught up in the work, in the task at hand, they hadn't noticed how pale Vince had gone, how his jaw was clenched in agony. His eyes locked onto Dom's, and the concern in Dom's gaze was instant.
"I'm fine," Vince muttered, his voice rough, trying to sound convincing as another contraction sent a jagged line of fire through his spine. He gripped the edge of the bench even harder, the breath catching in his throat. His vision blurred, his body trembling. He wasn't fine. Far from it.
Another wave hit, and this one took him by surprise—longer, fiercer, unbearable. Vince's legs wobbled as he clenched his teeth, trying to breathe through the pain, but it was getting harder to focus. His mind was slipping, lost to the sensation that rippled through him.
Letty, who had been watching him closely, pushed herself off the car with a concerned frown. "You okay, Vince?"
"I'm fine," he repeated, but his voice cracked, betraying him. Letty wasn't fooled. None of them were. They'd all seen him go through this before, the swollen belly, the restless nights. But this... this felt different. This wasn't just the usual discomfort of nearing the due date. This was the beginning of something far more intense. Something terrifying.
"Vince..." Dom said softly, his steps hesitant but purposeful as he approached. His voice was laced with something Vince hadn't heard in a long time—concern. "You're shaking. What's going on?"
Vince opened his mouth to respond, to say I'm fine again, but the words died in his throat. And then—it happened.
A warm, wet gush flooded his pants. Vince's eyes widened in shock and panic. His breath hitched as his water broke, the reality of the situation crashing down on him like a wave. The floor beneath him felt slick, cold, and suddenly, the world was spinning out of control.
"Oh, shit..." Vince hissed, staring down at the puddle of water beneath him, his heart racing. His chest felt tight. His breathing shallow.
Mia's face turned ghostly pale. "Vince, are you—"
"I'm going into labor," Vince gasped, barely able to catch his breath. Another contraction hit, and his knees buckled, his body folding in on itself as the intensity surged. He barely had the strength to keep himself upright, his vision fading to black at the edges.
"Dom!" Letty snapped, already on the move. She knew what had to be done. "Get him to the car. Now."
"I can't move," Vince groaned, his voice raw with panic. His hands gripped the workbench again, but it did little to ground him. His body was betraying him in the most brutal way possible. Where the hell was Brian? Vince thought desperately. He needed Brian. But Brian was at work—miles away, unaware that everything was spiraling out of control.
"Mia, get the bag!" Dom barked, his voice tight, strained. He was trying to keep it together, but Vince could see the worry etched on his face. The urgency, the panic creeping in.
Leon and Jesse were already clearing the way, unlocking the side door to the car, ready to help Vince to the hospital. Vince could hardly focus on them. His body was a wreck. Every contraction ripped through him with savage intensity. His breath was coming in ragged gasps. He couldn't even think.
"Vince, focus on me," Dom said, his voice steady but laced with an edge of worry. "Just breathe. Just focus on me. We're getting you there, alright?"
"Shit, Dom… the baby…" Vince gasped, his vision swimming as another contraction gripped him. His heart was thundering in his chest. Every fiber of his being screamed in panic. This wasn't supposed to happen yet. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
"We're gonna get you through this, brother," Dom said, his grip strong as he helped Vince stand, supporting him as they made their way toward the car. Vince's legs were shaky, his body betraying him with every step.
Mia had already returned, her eyes wide with worry as she handed Dom the bag. "Let's go. Now."
Vince couldn't even process how they got him to the car. His body was in survival mode, fighting against the pain that was coming faster and faster. The contractions were relentless now, coming in rapid succession, each one stronger, sharper. It felt like everything inside him was breaking. He needed Brian. He needed his husband here, now. But he was too far away, too out of reach.
They were driving now, the car roaring down the street. Vince's world had narrowed down to the pain, to the rhythmic crashing of the contractions that didn't stop, didn't give him a moment of relief. His body was trembling uncontrollably, and he couldn't breathe. He was losing control, and the thought that he might not make it—that scared him more than anything.
The hospital came into view, but Vince didn't even have the strength to look. He was too far gone. Every inch of him was pulsing with pain, the world spinning faster than he could process. He felt like he was suffocating.
Dom helped him out of the car, but it was like he was floating. His feet didn't quite touch the ground, his mind was numb. Mia was there, pulling him along, keeping him upright. The hospital was a blur. Nurses rushed toward him, but it was all white lights, sterile halls, and the echo of his own panicked breathing.
"Vince, you're doing great. Just breathe," Mia said softly, but even her voice seemed far away.
"I can't… I can't…" Vince moaned, his voice breaking, his body shaking as another contraction gripped him. His fingers dug into Dom's arm, desperate for some sort of anchor. Everything was slipping, and he was losing his grip on reality.
And then, from the doorway, a voice—his voice. Brian.
Vince's blurry eyes met Brian's, and the weight of his presence brought everything into sharp focus. Brian's eyes were wide with fear, but there was something else—something strong, something grounding. Vince wanted to fall into his arms, wanted to let go of the pain, but he couldn't.
"I'm here," Brian said, his voice rough with emotion. He rushed to Vince's side, his hands warm and steady as he gripped Vince's trembling fingers. "I'm here, baby. You're doing great."
"I'm scared, Bri," Vince whispered, his voice breaking. "What if—what if something goes wrong?"
"Shh… no. You're not alone. I've got you," Brian murmured, his forehead touching Vince's as he leaned down to kiss him, gentle but full of urgency. "We're in this together, you hear me? We're gonna get through this. I love you."
Vince squeezed Brian's hand, his heart aching with relief. Brian was here. Everything else faded away. He could do this.
And then, with one final, desperate push, the room erupted in noise. The sound of a baby crying, loud and raw, filled the air.
"You did it," Brian whispered, his voice trembling as the baby was placed into Vince's arms.
Vince's body shook with exhaustion, but there was something else. A sense of peace, of triumph. He held their baby, their child, his heart swelling with love. Tears fell freely from his eyes as he gazed down at the tiny, perfect being in his arms.
"I love you so much," Vince choked out, his voice breaking as he pressed a kiss to his baby's forehead.
Brian's lips brushed against Vince's, their foreheads touching. "I love you," he whispered. "And I love you both."
In that moment, in the stillness of the chaos, Vince knew—every second of pain, every moment of fear had been worth it. Because this moment, this new life, was everything.