Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Warnings: mentions of murder, mental health issues, depression, suicidal ideation?, being in love with a criminal lmao. If I forgot anything, let me know.
**I will continue this probably and maybe even write the ending of the series in my own way and it will probably HURT LIKE HELL.**
Neither you or Pope knew how long it had been happening. He had been so busy running jobs with his brothers and getting the skate park off the ground he hadn’t notied anything was wrong.
Not until the power went out.
He’d come home, tossed his keys on the counter, and headed for the microwave to heat up some food. Instead, the dark display blinked bakc at him, the clock flashing an unfamiliar time.
Then there was the cereal box.
It was turned the wrong way.
He was particular when it came to keeping things clean and orderly. Some people might’ve called it obsessive, but to him, it was simply the wya things were supposed to be. After parties at Smurf’s, while everyone else slept off hangovers, Pope would be outside picking up beer bottles, sweeping the patio, and taking trash to the curb.
Nothing was ever out of place.
Until now.
And now, he was spiraling.
“Can you relax?” you asked, stepping up behind him and rubbing your hands over his tense shoulders.
A heavy sigh escaped him.
Pope glanced toward the sliding glass doors before dragging a hand over his face. “A cop’s tailing me.”
“Let’s make sure first, okay?” you said softly. “No spiraling until then.” You pressed a kiss to his cheek.
If you were being honest, the thought of Pope ending up back behind the bars terrified you.
Baz was gone. Smurf was gone.
That only left Pope, Craig, Deran, and J.
And if Pope went back to jail—prison this time, more likely—you had a feeling he wouldn’t be coming home for a very long time.
The worst part is you knew exactly what he was capable of.
You knew what happened to his sister-in-law.
You knew Smurf had put the idea in his head, twisting and manipulating until he couldn’t tell where her voice ended and his began. Somehow, she always found a way to get inside his head, to convince him that whatever she wanted was the only choice he had.
Smurf might have been dead, but the damange she’d done to Pope was still very much alive.
“What if they know I killed Cath?”
“Then we’ll deal with it,” you said, meeting his gaze. “But until we know what this is, you’re not going to sit here and convince yourself it’s already over.”
“There was this woman,” he said quietly. “She told me she was looking for Taylor. I spent half the day driving her around town, helping her look for him.”
A bitter laugh escaped him as he looked away.
“I should’ve known she was a fucking cop.”
“Andrew.” You said his name firmly, waiting until his eyes found yours. “Stop.”
He held your gaze for a moment before giving a small nod. “Okay.”
Little did you know, he barely slept that night.
He spent most of it lying awake.
Sometimes he turned away from you, staring out through the blinds. Other times he lay on his back, eyes fixed on the ceiling. And when neither of those helped quiet his mind, he turned toward you and watched you sleep soundly beside him.
Sleep never came easy when he had this much to lose.
The next day, Pope headed straight for the skate park.
The moment he spotted Taylor, he made a beeline for him.
“Tell me what the hell is going on,” he demanded.
Taylor barely had time to react before Pope was in his face, his patience already gone. Every sleepless hour from the night before had only made him more agitated.
“Because if you’re keeping something from me,” Pope warned. “you’re gonna start talking. Right now.”
Eventually, Taylor cracked.
He admitted he’d been talking to a cop—a detective who had been pretending to be his mother the entire time.
Worse, he confessed that she had broken into the Cody house herself. The power outage. The things being moved around. Every little detail had been carefully orchestrated to get inside Pope’s head and make him paranoid.
It had worked.
Pope didn’t tell you any of it, but by the time he left the skate park, he’d already decided to take matters into his own hands.
Unfortunately for him, the detective was one step ahead.
When Pope finally confronted her, she made it clear she knew exactly what he’d done to Catherine.
The words hit him like a freight train.
For a moment, everything around him started to fall away. The noise. The anger. The plan he’d spent all night obsessing over.
Gone.
His entire world shattered with a single confession.
That’s when Pope finally came clean to his brothers and nephew.
He told his brothers, Deran and Craig, as well as J, the truth about what happened to Catherine.
The confession landed exactly how you’d expect.
J took the news better than anyone else, remaining surprisingly calm as Pope explained everything. Craig, on the other hand, was so shaken that he got up and left. Deran didn’t say much at all. Instead, he closed the bar down early and crashed there.
That was the moment it felt like the family started to come apart at the seams.
In the days that followed, J reached out to an attorney for advice. After hearing the situation, the attorney told them the best thing Pope could do was turn himself in for the assault chargers involving Taylor.
If he was going to be investigated, cooperation would work in his favor.
At least, that was the hope.
Both you and Deran went with Pope to the police department the day he turned himself in. The attorney was already waiting when you arrived.
The entire walk inside felt surreal, as if you were watching someone else’s life unfold instead of your own. No one said much. There wasn’t anything left to say.
When the officers moved to handcuff him, Pope turned and looked at you.
Just looked at you.
The sight of those handcuffs around his wrists felt like a punch to the chest.
You couldn’t breathe.
Couldn’t think.
You watched as the officers began reading him his Miranda rights, but the words barely registered. Their voices faded into the background, becoming nothing mroe than distant noise. Your mind drifted somewhere far away, disconnecting from the reality unfolding in front of you.
Because if you let yourself fully process what was happening, you weren’t sure you’d survive it.
Deran stepped closer and wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into a gentle side hug.
“It’s gonna be okay,” he murmyred, giving your arm a reassuring squeeze. “This isn’t forever.”
You wanted to believe him. God, you wanted to.
But as you watched Pope disappear further into the police station, it felt impossible. The officers continued speaking to him, explaining his rights and the next steps. Pope listened quietly, his expression unreadable.
He knew the drill.
He’d been through this before.
The moment they tried asking questions, he gave them the only answer they getting.
“I want my attorney.”
And that was that.
No explanations. No excuses. No conversation.
Just silence and a lawyer.
The way he’d learned long ago.
But everything changed when the detective managed to get him alone. As soon as they placed Pope in the interrogation room, she started pushing. She laid photographs across the table. Photographs of Catherine.
Or what was left of her.
Years had passed since her death. The woman in the pictures was gone, reduced to little more than skeletal remains.
Pope tried not to look. Tried not to react.
The detective noticed. And she pressed harder.
She told him that if the case went to trial, Lena could end up being involved. That one day she might have to hear every detail of what happened to her mother.
Worse, she implied Lena could be forced to see the photographs.
The thought alone made him sick.
She claimed she knew you had known about Catherine’s death all along. That you helped keep the secret. That she could charge you as an accessory.
It was a bluff.
At least, Pope hoped it was.
But sititng there, staring at those photographs while the detective threatened the two people he cared about most, certainty became a lot harder to hold onto.
For the first time since turning himself in, he felt the walls beginning to close in.
And he confessed.
After evwerything—the attorney, the warnings, the promises to keep his mouth shut—he admitted to killing Catherine.
You didn’t know what had happened inside that room.
You only knew something was wrong the moment the detective walked back out.
She was smiling.
The sight of it made your stomach drop.
Beside you, Deran immediately straightened.
“When is he coming home?” he asked.
The detective’s smile never faltered. “Oh, he’ll be spending the night with us.”
A knot formed in yourt throat.
“Why?” Deran demanded.
The detective glanced between the two of you.
“Because he confessed to murdering Catherine Belen.”
The words hit like a ton of bricks. For a moment, the world seemed to tilt beneath your feet.
No.
No, no, no.
Pope wasn’t supposed to talk.
He knew better than that.
You could barly hear anything over the sound of your own heartbeat pounding in your ears.
Out of the corner of your eye, you saw his attorney’s expression darken. Furious didn’t even begin to cover it. Without another word, he stormed past the detective and disappeared down the hallway to speak with Pope. Leaving you and Deran standing there in stunned silence.
On the way home, you let go.
It didn’t happen all at once, but slowly—like something inside you finally gave out.
Deran kept one hand on the wheel, the other occasionally reaching over as if he wasn’t sure whether to touch you or leave you alone.
“Hey,” he said quietly, trying to pull you back from wherever you’d gone. “We’re gonna figure this out.”
You didn’t respond immediately.
Not because you didn’t hear him.
But because you weren’t sure you believed him.
You didn’t remember pulling into the Cody driveway. You didn’t rememeber the car coming to a stop or Deran helping you out of your seat.
One moment you were staring blankly out the window, and the next you were standing outside on the patio.
Everything in between was a blur.
The second you stepped ont he patio, J was on his feet.
His expression tightened as he looked past you, as if expecting Pope to come behind you.
“Where’s Pope?” he asked.
Deran’s eyes found yours first.
When it became clear you weren’t going to speak, he let out a quiet sigh and explained everything to J.
For the rest of the night, Deran did everything he could to make sure you were okay.
He brought you food at one point, setting the plate down beside you and gently encouraging you to eat. You never touched it.
Mostly, you sat alone in the bedroom.
Sometimes you stared at the wall. Sometimes at the empty space beside you on the bed.
Everytime you looked at it, your chest tightened.
Pope was supposed to be there.
Instead, he was sitting in a jail cell.
Eventually, you crawled beneath the covers and curled into his side of the bed, clutching one of his pillows to your chest.
It still smelled like him.
That was your breaking point.
The tears came harder than before, and sometime during the early hours of the morning, you cried yourself to sleep.
At least, what little sleep your aching heart allowed.
You weren’t sure when it happened, but somewhere along the way, you stopped caring whether the sun rose and the day began.
Life was beginning to lose its purpose.
Without Pope, everything felt meaningless.
The days blurred together. The house felt too quiet. And no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t imagine a future that didn’t have him in it.
Deran grew so concerned about you that after a few days, he started dragging you to the bar with him. He claimed he needed the extra help, but you both knew that wasn’t the real reason. He just didn’t want you sitting home alone.
Deran and J wasted no time making arrangements. Whatever favors needed to be called in were called. Whatever money needed to change hands did.
One way or another, they were going to make sure Pope was taken care of on the inside.
The morning of the visit, you almost backed out.
You’d spent days barely holding yourself together, and now you were expected to sit across from Pope and see him like this.
Behind glass.
Like a stranger.
Like a criminal.
Deran noticed your hesitation the second you walked into the kitchen.
“You ready?” he asked.
No.
Not even clsoe.
Still, you nodded.
The drive to the jail passed in a blur. Deran tried making conversation a few times, but neither of you had much to say.
The reality of where you were going sat heavily between you.
By the time you arrived, your stomach was in knots.
The correctional officer led you through a series of locked doors before stopping in front of a visitation room.
Rows of thick glass divided the room in half.
Telephones hung from the walls on either side.
Your chest tightened.
This was real.
Pope was really here.
The officer directed you and Deran toward a pair of chairs. “Wait here.”
You sat down.
Your hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
Minutes ticked by. Then the door on the opposite side opened.
You breath caught.
Pope stepped into the room.
For a moment, nobody moved.
He still looked good. Hair still dark and curly. He might have been a little thinner.
But something was missing from his eyes.
Something defeated.
The sight of him nearly broke you.
Slowly, he lowered himself into the chair across from you. The glass separating you felt a thousand miles thick. You stared at each other. Neither of you knowing where to begin.
Eventially, Pope reached for the phone.
You did the same.
The second his voice came through the receiver, your eyes filled with tears.
“Hey.”
His voice was rough. Like he hadn’t used it much.
You swallowed hard. “Hey.”
A sad smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Neither of you spoke for several seconds. You were too busy looking at him. Memorizing him. Trying to convince yourself he was actually sitting there.
Pope glanced down at the floor.
“I’m sorry.”
The words were barely audible.
Your throat tightened.
“Andrew—”
“I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
You felt tears spill down your cheeks.
On the other side of the glass, Pope looked just as miserable.
He lifted a hand and placed it against the glass barrier.
Instinctively, you mirrored the gesture. Your palm pressed against the glass directly across from his.
So close.
Yet completely unable to touch him.
The reality of it shattered whatever composure you had left.
“I miss you,” you whispered.
Pope closed his eyes.
For a second, he looked like the words physically hurt him.
When he opened them again, they were glassy.
“I miss you too.”
Behind you, Deran quietly looked away, giving the two of you whatever privacy he could. Because for the first time since Pope had been arrested, you were finally together.
And somehow, the glass between you made his absene hurt even more.
Pope looked away first, his jaw tightening as he stared down at the phone in his hand.
"How's Lena?"
The question came softer than everything else, like it cost him something just to ask.
You swallowed before answering.
"She's okay."
Pope's eyes searched yours immediately.
"Yeah?"
You nodded.
"She's still with the foster family."
A flicker of emotion crossed his face.
"They take good care of her, Andrew. She's got friends there. She's doing well in school."
Pope listened quietly.
You knew how hard that decision had been for him.
"I went to see her last week," you continued gently. "She's happy."
For a moment, he looked down at the phone in his hand.
Then he nodded.
A small, sad smile touched his lips.
"Good."
His voice was rough.
"That's good."
The smile disappeared as quickly as it came.
"She shouldn't have to deal with this," he muttered.
"Andrew—"
"She already lost her dad." His voice cracked. "She lost her mom. Smurf. Now this."
He swallowed hard, struggling to hold himself together.
"I don't want her dragged through court."
Your chest tightened.
"They told me what the detective said," you whispered.
Pope let out a humorless breath. "Yeah."
His eyes finally lifted to yours.
"They would've brought Lena into it. Put her on a stand. Made her hear everything."
A tear slipped down your cheek.
"Andrew—"
"I can't do that to her."
The words were final. Unshakable.
"I won't."
Silence settled between you, heavy and suffocating.
Then his gaze shifted, sharper now.
"Same goes for you."
Your breath caught. "What?"
"They were already talking about you," he said, grip tightening on the phone. "Saying you knew. Saying they could charge you."
"It doesn't matter," you said quickly.
"It matters to me."
That was the first real crack in his voice.
"It matters."
His eyes shone now, held too much in them.
"I already ruined enough lives."
"No," you said immediately.
"Yes."
The word came out rough.
"Lena," he said quietly.
"J. Craig. Deran."
Then, almost barely audible—
"You."
Your heart broke at that.
You leaned closer to the glass.
"Look at me."
He didn't move at first.
"Andrew."
Slowly, his eyes lifted.
And when they met yours, you felt everything inside you tighten.
"I love you," you said softly.
The words hung in the space between you, heavy and absolute.
Pope's breath hitched.
His eyes closed for a second, like it physically hurt to hear it.
When he opened them again, they were glassy.
"I don't deserve that," he whispered.
"That's not your choice," you said.
Your hand pressed harder against the glass.
"And I'm not going anywhere."
A tear slipped down his cheek.
You swallowed hard, voice shaking but steady enough to hold him.
"I love you, Andrew."
This time, he didn't argue.
He just looked at you like he was trying to memorize the sound of it.
Like it was something he might lose again the second he blinked.
Slowly, he lifted his hand and pressed it to the glass over yours.
And for the first time since he'd been locked inside those walls, he didn't look completely alone.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Warnings: really just tooth-rotting, sweet fluff. A small warning alluding to sex at the end and having another baby but other than that, it's soft.
Author's Note: This idea came to me very late and even though I am busy with a shit work schedule this week and college, I had to get this out of my head. I was also insired by the latest pics of Shawn 🤪 Anyway, I hope you all enjoy! For my besie @josephs-quinns
Between raising a daughter and working nights as an ER attending, Jack Abbot rarely had a moment to himself. Yet no matter how long the hours or how heavy the exhaustion settled into his bones, he always made time for his daughter and you. Somehow, he never stopped showing up. Today was no different.
After twelve relentless hours at PTMC, Jack was running on little more than caffeine and stubborn determination. Yet as he stepped out of his truck and looked toward the warm glow of the house, a small smile tugged at his lips. He knew exactly what was waiting for him on the other side of that door.
With a tired sigh, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and grabbed the stainless-steel tumbler that had carried him through the night. Empty now, it swung lightly from his hand as he climbed the front steps. With his free hand, he fished around in his pocket until his fingers found the familiar shape of his key.
He eased the key into the lock and slipped through the front door as quietly as he could. Chances were you and his baby girl were still asleep, and he intended to keep it that way. The house was peaceful, and after the chaos of the emergency room, he found himself reluctant to disturb it.
He dragged a hand down his face, feeling the coarse stubble that had taken over his jaw over the last few days. Shaving had fallen somewhere near the bottom of his priority list.
Easing out of his tennis shoes, he left them by the door and carefully set his backpack beside them. The house was quiet, the kind of peaceful silence that only existed in the hours before the rest of the world woke up.
He crossed the hardwood floor on silent feet and slipped into the kitchen. Setting his tumbler in the sink, he winced at the faint metallic clink that broke the stillness, then paused to listen. When no movement followed, he continued on, relieved he hadn’t disturbed anyone.
He decided a quick shower downstairs was in order before making his way upstairs. Then he’d crawl into bed beside you, burying himself in the familiar comfort of your arms and the scent of your shampoo before exhaustion finally claimed him. It had become a rountine neither of you ever spoke about, but one he looked forward to after every shift.
In a few hours, you’d wake before he did. You always did. While he caught up on the sleep he’d sacrificed all night for strangers, you’d keep your daughter occupied downstairs, filling the house with breakfast, cartoons, and quiet laughter so Daddy could rest a little longer.
As the hot water poured of him, Jack felt some of the day’s weight begin to slide from his shoulders. Twelve hours of chaos, fluroscent lights, and life-or-death decisions swirled down the drain along with the soap and sweat.
By the time he shut off the water, the knot between his shoulder blades had loosened, if only a little.
He grabbed a towel and dried himself off, the familiar scent of fresh detergent clinging to the fabric. The corners of his mouth twitched upward.
You always made sure the towels smelled good.
Dressed in a pair of sleep pants, he paused in front of the mirror and studied his reflection. Dark circles shadowed his eyes and several days worth of stubble covered his jaw,.
“Jesus,” he muttered under his breath.
He looked exhausted.
Worse than exhausted, really. Worn down. Like the last few weeks had caught up to him all at once.
It felt worse than when his daughter had first been born. At least back then, there’d been a reason for the sleepless nights. Tiny cries at three in the morning. Bottles. Diapers. The indescribable joy of holding his little girl against his chest.
This?
This was just work. Endless, exhausting work.
He decided—one again—that shaving could wait. Another day. Maybe two. At this rate, he might accidentally end up with a beard.
The thought made him huff out a quiet laugh.
Leaving the bathroom behind, he made his way upstairs, careful to avoid the creaky spots he knew by heart. The house remained silent around him as he climbed the staircase and headed down the hall toward the master bedroom.
The door was closed.
Of course it was.
You always slept with the door shut. Whether it was for privacy, comfort, or simply habit, he wasn’t entirely sure anymore. He’d stopped questioning it years ago. Now the sight of the closed door waiting for him at the end of a long shift felt oddly comforting—a small sign he was finally home.
He took a deep breath as his hand settled on the doorknob. Turning it carefully, he eased the door open, mindful not to disturb the peaceful scene he was certain awaited him on the other side.
As the door cracked open, you came into view.
You were curled up on your side of the bed, buried beneath the blankets, your hair spread across the pillow.
A smile immediately tugged at Jack’s lips.
Then his gaze shifted, and the smile grew.
Nestled beside of you was your four-year-old daughter, fast asleep and sprawled halfway across the mattress as if she owned it. One tiny hand rested against your shoulder, her favorite stuffed animal trapped beneath her arm.
Of course she’d ended up in your bed.
She must have wandered in sometime during the night after another bad dream or a sudden need for Mommy cuddles.
The sight alone was enough to melt away what remained of the exhaustion clinging to him. After twelve hours spent dealing witht he worst moments of other people’s lives, this felt like stepping into a different world entirely.
His world.
Jack quietly crossed to your side of the bed and leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head. His fingers slopped through your hair, brushing a few stray strands away from your face.
“Hey, baby,” he murmured.
You let out a sleepy hum, your eyes still closed.
“Mornin’,” you mumbled.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You awake?”
“Barely.”
Your hand drifted up, finding his jaw. The moment your fingertips brushed the rough stubbe there, you paused.
A sleepy frown crossed your face.
“Ow.”
Jack snorted. “Ow?”
You rubbed your thumb against his jaw again. “Your face is scratchy.”
“I just got home.”
“Mhm.” Your voice was thick with sleep. “And still haven’t shaved in days.”
He laughed quietly. “Is that a complaint?”
“It’s an observation.”
Your eyes fluttered open just enough to look at him. “A very, sexy concerning observation.”
Jack shook his head. “It isn’t that bad.”
“It absolutely is.” You yawned. “You kissed me and I thought a cactus had attacked my forehead.”
That earned a geniune laugh from him.
His gaze drifted down to your daughter, curled uop between the two of you, her stuffed rabbit tucked tightly against her chest.
“What happened here?”, he whispered.
You glanced down at her, your expression immediately softening. “Bad dream.”
His smile faded into concern. “Yeah?”
You nodded. “Came into our room around two in the morning crying about a monster in her closet.” You brushed a hand through your daughter’s messy hair. “I checked three times, but apparently sleeping with Mommy fixed everything.”
A sleepy chuckled escaped Jack. “Sounds serious.”
“Oh, extremely serious. The monster was apparently ‘this big’.” You held your fingers a few inches apart. “Terrifying stuff.”
He smiled, watching his daughter sleep peacefully now. “My poor baby girl.”
Careful not to wake her, Jack leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
The moment his stubbel brushed her skin, your daughter scrunched up her face in her sleep and let out a displeased little whine.
“She was okay after a few cuddles.” You glanced back up at him. “Though she did steal your side of the bed.”
Jack looked at the little girl sprawled diagonally across the mattress and huffed a laugh. Her tiny hand came up and rubbed the spot on her forehead before she burrowed deeper into the pillow, still fast asleep.
You immediately bit down on your lip, fighting a laugh.
“Even she thinks it’s scratchy.”
Jack groaned. “She’s four.”
“And yet she still agress with me.”
“I will shave soon,” Jack sighed, though a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Mhm.”
“I will.”
“That’s what you said three days ago.”
Then your hand found his jaw again. “I do mean it, though.”
Jack looked back at you. “What?”
“The stubble.”
A sleepy smile curved your lips.
“It’s sexy.”
His chest warmed instantly. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, almost makes me want another one of these with you.”
You nodded towards your daughter.
“Maybe we can arrange that. Later.”, he laughed before kissing you on the lips.
“But seriously,” you began, breaking the kiss. “If it gets much longer, our daughter is gonna start introducing you as a mountain man.”
Jack laughed hard enough that he had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from waking her.
“Now come to bed, mountain man”, you whispered, lifting the comforter for him. “Before you fall asleep standing up.”
Jack carefully climbed beneath the blankets, trying not to disturb his daughter. The moment he settled in, she instinctively scooted toward him in her sleep, throwing a leg across his waist.
You snorted. “Looks like she missed you.”
Jack wrapped an arm around her tiny frame and smiled, careful to kiss her hair this time. “Missed her too.”
There was nowhere else in the world he’d rather be.
Warnings: Pregnancy, mentions of labor, birth, etc. If I forgot anything, let me know. Also, if anyone knows who this gif belongs to, let me know and I will add credit!
Author's Note: I proof read this but I am exhausted between college and work so pleaseu ignore typos or mistakes. I might have made Jack OOC but I needed to get this out of my head. For my bestie @josephs-quinns
By the time summer began to fade, neither of you could quite remember where it had gone. After the Fourth of July, life settled into a relentless rhythm of work schedules, nursery preparations, and endless lists that seemed to grow longer by the day. The anticipation of your baby’s arrival filled every corner of the house, leaving little room for you and your husband, Dr. Jack Abbot, to simply be husband and wife.
Much to your dismay, Jack had insisted you begin maternity leave weeks earlier than planned. The long twelve-hour shifts at PTM, once exhausting but familiar, were suddenly behind you. Trading the controlled chaos of the emergency department for quiet days at home had proven more difficult than you’d excpected. Nursing had always given your days purpose and structure. Yet every time you protested, Jack would simply smile, press a hand to your growing belly, and remind you that there was another job waiting for you now—the most important one you’d ever have: becoming a mother.
The excitement had only grown after you learned you were having a little girl. Suddenly, the spare bedroom became a nursery, shopping lists doubled in length, and every conversation seemed to drift back to the daughter you and Jack were so eager to meet.
It was late, the house wrapped in a comfortable silence. For once, Jack wasn’t working. Your due date was only a few days away, though you had a feeling your daughter had other plans. Between the occasional cramps, the relentless pressure in your lower back, and the way your daughter seemed determined to use your ribs as a jungle gym, it felt as though she might decide to make her entrance at any moment.
Jack stepped into the bedroom and immediately noticed the loon on your face. Your features were pinched with discomfort, one hand braced against the small of your back while the other rubbed slow circles over your swollen belly.
He couldn’t help but smile.
“What’s she doing now?” he asked, crossing the room and settling onto the edge of the bed.
As if she heard him, your daughter answered with a sharp kick that made you wince.
“Terrorizing me,” you muttered, shooting your stomach an accusatory look. “She’s running out of room. I swear she’s trying to claw her way out.”
A quiet laugh escaped him as he rested a hand against your belly, waiting to see if she’d offer him the same treatment. “Funny. She always seems much nicer when I’m around.”
“Because she’s already a daddy’s girl,” you sighed, settling father against the headboard.
Jack’s hand moved slowly across your belly, his touch gentle and familiar. The moment he spoke, the relentless kicks seemed to ease, as if your daughter recognized the sound of his voice.
You narrowed your eyes. “See? That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
A smug grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Smart girl.”
You rolled your eyes, though a reluctant smile followed. “She’s not even born yet and she’s already got you wrapped around her finger.”
“Can you blame me?” he asked, leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead.
Another flutter ripplied beneath his palm, softer this time.
Jack’s expression immediately softened. The teasing disappeared, replaced by the quiet wonder that still crossed his face whenever he felt her moved.
“Not much longer now,” he murmured.
The room fell quiet for a moment, both of you focused on the tiny life nestled beneath his hand. Only a few days remained until you finally got to meet the little girl who had already managed to completely change your world.
You let out a breathless laugh. “Easy for you to say.”
His brows furrwoed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
You hesitated, picking at the edge of the blanket.
“A few weeks before I went on leave, there was a woman who came into the ER,” you said quietly. “She was in labor. Everything was supposed to be routine until it wasn’t.”
Jack’s expression softened immediately.
You swallowed hard. “I still remember how scared she looked. How scared her hsuband looked. Everybody was moving so fast….” Your hand instinctively tightened over your stomach. “I keep thinking about her.”
The room fell silent.
“I’m the one who has to push her out,” you muttered after a moment. “The closer it gets, the more I keep thinking about everything that can go wrong.”
The admission hung in the air between you.
Jack shifted closer, slipping an arm around your shoulders.
“Hey.”
You looked over at him.
“I know,” he said softly.
You frowned. “You do?”
“Of course I do.” His thumb brushed gently over your shoulder. “You worked in that ER for years. You’ve seen people on some of the worst days of their lives. You know better than most how quickly things can change.”
Your eyes dropped to your lap.
“But that’s exactly why you’re scared,” he continued. “You’ve seen the exceptions. The emergencies. The cases that stuck with you because they went wrong.”
He waited until you looked back at him.
“What you don’t see are the thousands of deliveries that go exactly the wya they’re supposed to.”
You were quiet.
“Every appointment you’ve had has been good. Every scan has been good. Our daughter is healthy. You’re healthy. Your OB isn’t worried.”
His hand settled over yours on your stomach.
“Believe me, if there was something to worry about, you’d know. Neither of us would be able to stop your doctors from talking about it.”
A reluctant smile flickered across your face.
“That’s true.”
“Very true.”
He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to your forehead.
“I can’t promise labor will be easy,” he said. “I can’t promise it won’t hurt. But I can promise that you’re not walking into it unprepared. You’ve got a great medical team. You’ve got people who know you. And you’ve got me.”
His fingers intertwined with yours.
“I’ll be there the entire time Every contraction. Every complaint. Every time you squeeze my hand hard enough to break a bone, telling me you hate me for getting you pregnant.”
A small laugh escaped you. “And when it’s over?”
His eyes softened. “When it’s over, you’re going to be holding our little girl.”
The thought alone made your chest tighten.
Jack smiled, resting his forehead briefly agaisnt yours. “A few days from now, all of this waiting and worrying is going to be replaced by a tiny human who keeps us both awake at three in the morning.”
The time, your smile came easier.
“There she is,” he murmured, squeezing your hand. “That’s the woman I know.”
You leaned against him, letting your head rest on his shoulder.
For the first time all day, the knot of anxiety in your chest loosened just a little.
Jack’s hand drifted lazily over your belly, his thumb tracing small circles against the fabric of your night gown. Beneath his touch, your daughter gave a gentle kick, as if reminding you both she was still there.
“You need some sleep.” he said softly.
You wanted to argue, but the exhaustion sitting heavy in your bones made it difficult. Between the constant discomfort, the endless trips to the bathroom, and your mind’s refusal to stop worrying, a full night’s sleep had become a distant memory.
“I’m not that tired,” you mumbled.
Jack raised an eyebrow.
The look alone made you huff.
“Okay, maybe a little.”
“A little?” he repeated, amused.
You rolled your eyes.
Without another word, he helped adjust the mountain of pillows that had somehow become necessary for sleeping. Once he was satisfied, he patted the mattress beside him.
“Lay down,” he instructed gently. “Get comfortable.”
You shifted with a groan, settling onto your side as carefully as your very pregnant body would allow. The moment your head touched the pillow, you realized just how exhausted you truly were.
“There we go,”, Jack murmured.
His hand found your stomach again, rubbing smooth circles over the curve of your belly.
The room was quiet except for the ceiling fan.
“You know,” he said quietly, “ a few days from now, we’re probably going to wish we could get this much sleep.”
A sleepy laugh escaped you. “Speak for yourself.”
His chest rumbled with a soft chuckle.
You snuggled closer, your eyes already growing heavy.
“I love you,” he murmured.
Jack pressed a kiss into your hair.
“I love you too.”
With his hand still resting protectively over you and your daughter, it didn’t take long before sleep finally began to pull you under.
You weren’t sure how long it had taken you to fall asleep, or when Jack had finally drifted off beside you. At some point during the night, the two of you had shifted beneath the blankets, settling into the unconscious search for comfort that came with sleep.
A sudden wet sensation jolted you awake.
Your eyes flew open.
For a moment, you lay perfectly still, disoriented by the darkness and lingering haze of sleep.
Then you felt it again.
Your heart immediately began to race.
“Jack.”
Your voice came out barely above a whisper.
Beside you, he stirred.
“Jack.”
This time it was sharper.
He sat up almost instantly, years of being in the army and being an ER doctor made him a light sleeper.
“What is it, baby? What’s wrong?”
You pushed yourself upright, staring down at the damp sheets beneath you.
“I think….” You swallowed. “I think my water just broke.”
For a second, neither of you moved.
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t know,” you admitted, suddenly nervous. “I was asleep then I woke up because everything felt wet.”
The baby shifted inside you, earning a hand pressed instinctively against your stomach.
Jack reached over and switched on the bedside lamp, bathing the room in a soft golden glow.
Your eyes met.
The reality of it hit both of you at the same time.
This was it.
The waiting was over.
Your daughter was on her way.
He glanced down at the soaked sheets before looking back at you. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Your water broke.”
For a moment, neither of you moved.
The words seemed to settle over the room.
Your water broke.
It was such a simple sentence, yet it changed everything.
Your hand drifted to your stomach as your heart began to pound.
“No, no, no…” you whispered.
Jack's eyebrows shot up. “No?”
You shook your head, tears unexpectedly burning behind your eyes.
“We're not ready.”
A soft smile tugged at his lips as he reached for your hand. “The nursery's done.”
“I know.”
“The car seat's installed.”
“I know.”
“The hospital bag has been sitting by the front door for three weeks."
Despite everything, a small laugh escaped you.
“I know.”
His thumb brushed across your knuckles. “We're ready.”
You swallowed hard.
A few hours ago, you'd been lying awake worrying about labor and everything that could go wrong. Now the moment was here, and somehow that felt even more overwhelming.
Jack seemed to understand.
He moved closer, cupping your face gently. “Hey,”he said softly. "Look at me."
You did.
His eyes were warm, steady, and reassuring.
“You've carried her for nine months. You've taken care of her every single day. You've done everything right.”
A tear slipped down your cheek.
“You can do this.”
Your lower lip trembled. “What if I can’t?”
His expression immediately softened. “Then I'll remind you that you can.”
Another tear followed the first.
Jack brushed it away with his thumb.
“You're not doing this alone," he said. "Not for a second. I'm going to be right there with you.”
You let out a shaky breath. “You promise?”
“I promise.”
For a moment, neither of you spoke.
The baby shifted beneath your hand, earning a small laugh through your tears.
“Apparently she's ready,” you murmured.
Jack glanced down at your belly and smiled before placing his hand over yours. “Yeah.”
His smile grew softer. “I think she's tired of hearing us talk about her.”
That earned another laugh.
The tension in your chest eased enough for you to breathe again.
“Okay,” you said quietly.
“Okay?”
You nodded. “Okay.”
Jack stood and immediately slipped into doctor mode—not panicked, just focused.
“Let's get you changed out of those wet clothes.”
You watched him move around the room, grabbing your hospital bag from the corner and double-checking things that had already been checked a dozen times.
The sight made your chest ache in the best way.
This was really happening.
In a matter of hours, it wouldn't just be the two of you anymore.
Jack caught you watching him.
“What?”
You smiled. “Nothing.”
His eyes narrowed. “What?”
Your gaze drifted to your stomach before returning to him. “We're going to meet our daughter.”
The words stopped him in his tracks.
For the first time since waking up, his composure cracked.
Emotion flashed across his face, quick but unmistakable.
“Yeah,” he said softly.
He crossed the room, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to your forehead. “Yeah, we are.”
And suddenly, for the first time that night, the nerves were accompanied by something stronger.
Excitement.
The next few minutes passed in a blur.
One minute you were sitting on the edge of the bed trying to process the fact that your water had broken, and the next Jack was helping you change into dry clothes while reminding you not to rush.
"Slow down," he said for what felt like the tenth time.
You shot him a look.
"Easy for you to say."
“I’m not the one trying to sprint to the front door nine months pregnant."
“I am not sprinting."
Jack raised an eyebrow.
You ignored him.
A few minutes later, hospital bag in hand, you found yourself standing in the hallway.
The house was quiet.
Still.
For some reason, your feet refused to move.
Jack noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?"
You glanced down the hall. The nursery door was cracked open.
Without a word, you made your way toward it.
Jack followed.
The room was dark except for the soft glow of the nightlight plugged into the wall. Everything was waiting.
The crib. The rocking chair. The stack of books on the shelf. The tiny clothes folded neatly in the dresser.
For months, this room had represented the future.
Now it felt impossibly close.
Your throat tightened.
"The next time we're in here..." you began.
Jack's arm slipped around your waist.
You looked up at him.
"The next time we're in here," he finished softly, "she'll be with us."
Tears immediately filled your eyes.
"Oh, great," you muttered, wiping at them. "Now I'm crying."
"You've got a pretty good excuse."
You laughed weakly.
Jack leaned down and pressed a kiss against your temple. “Ready?”
You took one last look around the room.
The empty crib. The stuffed rabbit sitting patiently in the rocking chair. The blanket folded over the side.
Everything waiting for her.
For your daughter.
A deep breath filled your lungs.
This time when you nodded, you meant it. “Ready.”
The drive to the hospital was strangely quiet.
Not uncomfortable. Just quiet.
The roads were mostly empty at this hour, streetlights casting long stretches of gold across the windshield. You sat with one hand resting on your stomach and the other wrapped around a bottle of water Jack had insisted you bring.
Every few minutes he glanced over. "You okay?"
You nodded.
Three minutes later:
"You okay?"
Another nod.
A minute later:
"Jack."
"What?"
“You asked me that already.”
His fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel. "Sorry."
The admission made you smile. "You nervous?"
He laughed softly. "A little."
"A little?"
"Okay, a lot."
That earned a genuine laugh.
"You're an ER doctor."
"Yeah."
"You deal with emergencies every day."
“Yeah."
You watched him for a moment.
“You seem scared.”
His eyes stayed fixed on the road.
"I wouldn't say scared."
You waited.
After a few seconds, he sighed. "We're about to have a daughter."
The words settled warmly in your chest.
His voice softened. "I've wanted this for a long time."
You turned to look at him.
For a moment, he was quiet.
"When I was younger, I always assumed I'd have kids someday." A small smile crossed his face. "I thought there'd be plenty of time."
You knew exactly what he meant.
Life hadn't turned out the way he'd expected.
His late wife had gotten sick, and somewhere between hospital rooms, treatments, and trying to hold everything together, the future he'd imagined had slowly slipped away.
"I stopped thinking about it after a while," he admitted. "Or at least I told myself I did."
Your chest tightened.
Jack glanced over at you before returning his attention to the road. "Then you came along."
A tear immediately burned at the corner of your eye.
His smile grew. "And now here I am, in my fifties, driving to the hospital in the middle of the night because my wife is about to have our daughter."
Emotion thickened his voice just slightly. "I don't think I've ever been happier to be scared."
Your eyes stung.
Jack reached over and found your hand.
"I've wanted to meet her for months," he said softly. "I've imagined what she'll look like. Whether she'll have your eyes or my nose. Whether she'll hate my music and think I'm embarrassing."
You laughed through the tears threatening to spill."She definitely will."
"Yeah, probably."
His thumb brushed across your knuckles.“I just want you both okay.”
You squeezed his fingers. "We will be."
For the first time since leaving the house, some of the tension in his shoulders seemed to ease.
A contraction rolled through your abdomen then. Not terrible. Just stronger than the ones before.
You sucked in a sharp breath.
Jack's head snapped toward you. “You okay?”
You laughed despite yourself.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The doctor."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
The contraction faded. You settled back against the seat.
A few minutes later, the familiar outline of PTMC came into view against the night sky.
Your heart skipped. This was it.
After months of waiting, worrying, planning, and dreaming—you were finally about to meet your daughter.
The moment Jack pulled into the hospital parking lot, everything suddenly felt real.
Not nursery-real.
Not baby-shower-real.
Not "we should probably finish packing the hospital bag" real.
Real.
You stared up at the familiar building as Jack parked the car.
For years, PTMC had simply been where you worked. Tonight, it was where your daughter would be born.
"You okay?" Jack asked quietly.
You nodded.
Then immediately shook your head. "I don't know."
A soft smile touched his lips. "That's probably the most honest answer you've given all night."
Before you could respond, another contraction tightened across your abdomen. Stronger this time.
You closed your eyes and breathed through it.
When it finally passed, Jack was already out of the car and opening your door.
The cool night air hit your face as he helped you out.
"You know," you muttered as you slowly straightened, "I used to walk into this place for twelve-hour shifts without a second thought."
“And?”
You looked up at the building. "I'm terrified."
Jack immediately slipped an arm around your shoulders."You’re not doing this alone, baby.”
Easy for him to say.
Still, you leaned into him as the two of you made your way toward the entrance.
The automatic doors slid open.
Within seconds, a familiar voice rang out.
"No way."
You froze.
Jack groaned.
A nurse from the emergency department looked up from the nurses' station and immediately pointed.
"Oh my God. It's happening."
Within seconds, it seemed like half the department had noticed.
The news spread fast.
A few nurses hurried over.
One of them immediately wrapped you in a careful hug.
"Look at you!"
Another glanced at your stomach.
"Finally. We were starting to think she'd never come out."
You laughed.
Jack sighed dramatically. “This is exactly why I wanted to sneak in.”
"You work here," one of the nurses said. "What did you think was going to happen?"
"You work here too," another added, pointing at you.
That only made everyone laugh harder.
A contraction interrupted before you could answer. Your smile vanished. You grabbed Jack's arm.
Instantly, the teasing stopped.
His hand settled against your back."Okay?"
You nodded through clenched teeth.
A familiar nurse's voice spoke up. "She's definitely in labor."
"No kidding," Jack deadpanned.
The contraction passed.
You let out a shaky breath.
The group immediately shifted from coworkers to professionals.
Within minutes, someone had called Labor and Delivery. Someone from transport appeared with a wheelchair despite your insistence that you could walk.
"Absolutely not," the nurse said.
"I can walk."
"Sure you can."
"I can."
The nurse pointed at your stomach.
"You are carrying an entire human."
You opened your mouth to protest. Then closed it. “Fine.”
"Smart woman." Jack looked entirely too pleased with that outcome.
A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened onto Labor and Delivery.
The atmosphere was completely different from the emergency department.
Quieter. Softer. Anticipatory.
You were guided into a labor room while nurses introduced themselves and began asking questions you'd answered a hundred times before.
Name. Date of birth. How far apart were the contractions? When had your water broken?
Through it all, Jack stayed beside you. Never more than a few feet away.
Eventually the room settled. The monitors were in place. The paperwork was done. The nurses stepped out to give you both a moment.
For the first time since arriving, silence returned. You looked around the room.
The hospital bed. The clear bassinet tucked beside the wall. The tiny pink hat folded neatly on a nearby counter with the white blanket.
Your breath caught. Jack followed your gaze. Neither of you said anything for a moment.
Then quietly: “That's for her.”
You nodded. A lump formed in your throat.
In a few hours—or maybe less—that bassinet wouldn't be empty anymore.
Your daughter would be here.
Jack pulled a chair closer and sat beside the bed.
Without a word, he took your hand.
The monitor continued its steady rhythm beside you. For a while, neither of you spoke.
You simply sat there together, listening to the sounds of the floor and feeling the weight of everything that was about to change.
Finally, you looked at him. "Nervous?"
Jack let out a small laugh. "Terrified."
You smiled. "Good."
"Good?"
"If I'm scared, you should be too.”
That earned a genuine laugh. The kind that eased some of the tension sitting between you.
Then his expression softened. He lifted your hand and pressed a kiss against your knuckles. A simple gesture.
But one that said everything.
No matter what happened next, you wouldn't face it alone.
The room remained quiet for awhile. The steady beep of the monitor filled the space as Jack sat beside you, his thumb lazily brushing over the back of your hand. You were just beginning to relax when another contraction hit.
This one made you suck in a sharp breath.
Jack immediately straightened. "That one's stronger."
You nodded. “Yeah, a lot stronger.”
The contraction lingered longer than the others had. By the time it eased, you felt slightly breathless.
A knock sounded at the door before one of the Labor and Delivery nurses stepped back inside."How are we doing in here?"
You glanced at Jack. "Tired."
The nurse laughed knowingly.
"Well, unfortunately, I can't fix that part."
She checked the monitor before looking back at you. "Dr. Myers is on the way, but I'd like to see where we're starting if that's okay."
You knew exactly what she meant. A cervical check.
You nodded. "Okay."
A few minutes later, the nurse finished and stepped back.
"Well."
The single word immediately made your stomach drop.
Jack noticed. "What?"
The nurse smiled. It's not bad."
You stared at her. "That's not exactly reassuring."
She laughed. “You're four centimeters and completely effaced.”
You blinked. "Really?"
"Really."
Jack's eyebrows lifted.
For someone who spent his days around medical emergencies, he suddenly looked remarkably proud.
"See?" he said. "You've already done part of the work."
You rolled your eyes. "I hate when you sound optimistic."
"Good thing you married me anyway."
The nurse grinned. “I’ll let you two argue about that.”
After she left, Jack settled back into his chair. "You okay?"
You nodded. For now, you were. Still nervous. Still uncomfortable. But okay.
The reality was finally beginning to sink in. This wasn't a false alarm. You weren't getting sent home. You were having a baby.
Another contraction interrupted the thought.
You squeezed Jack's hand.
Hard.
His eyes widened slightly. "Wow."
"Don't."
"I'm just saying."
"Jack."
He immediately held up his free hand. "Not another word."
The contraction faded.
You leaned back against the pillows and closed your eyes. Exhaustion still clung to you.
It was sometime in the middle of the night—or maybe early morning by now. You weren't entirely sure.
Time felt strange. Minutes stretched. Hours disappeared.
At some point, Jack convinced you to drink water.
Then he convinced you to eat a few crackers.
Then he convinced you to stop apologizing every time you squeezed circulation out of his fingers.
“You know," he said, adjusting the blanket over your legs, "most husbands don't get to watch their wives work this hard."
You opened one eye. "Most husbands are the reason their wives are working this hard."
A laugh burst out of him. A soft smile crossed his face.
"There's my girl."
Another contraction arrived before you could enjoy the victory. This one was different. Your breath caught.
The pressure was stronger. Sharper. You instinctively curled forward.
Jack was immediately on his feet. "Hey."
His hand found yours before you even reached for it. You gripped his fingers tightly as the contraction rolled through you. And kept rolling.
Longer than the others. Stronger.
Your breathing faltered. You squeezed your eyes shut.
Jack stayed close, one hand wrapped around yours while the other rubbed slow circles against your back. "That's it," he murmured softly. "I've got you."
You nodded, unable to speak. The pressure continued to build.
For a moment, frustration and exhaustion crashed into you all at once. Tears slipped free before you could stop them.
Immediately, Jack leaned closer. "Hey, hey."
His voice was gentle. "So good, sweetheart. You're doing so good."
You shook your head weakly. "It hurts." The words came out smaller than you intended.
His expression broke your heart a little. Not because he looked scared. Because he looked helpless. Like if he could take every ounce of pain from you himself, he would do it without hesitation.
"I know," he said quietly.
He brushed a tear from your cheek. “I know.”
The contraction finally began to ease.
You sagged back against the pillows, exhausted. Jack didn't let go of your hand.
Instead, he lifted it and pressed a kiss against your knuckles. A simple gesture. One he'd done a thousand times before. But somehow it felt different now.
More emotional. More meaningful.
Because in a matter of hours, the two of you wouldn't just be husband and wife anymore. You'd be parents.
“Ow.” The sound escaped before you could stop it.
Jack's expression changed instantly. That single word had sounded different. Like something had shifted.
The nurse must have noticed too because she appeared a few moments later.
“Talk to us, baby,” Jack breathed. “tell us what’s going on.”
You took a breath. "They're stronger. They hurt so bad.”
The nurse nodded. "Let's take another look."
Jack remained beside you while the nurse prepared for another exam. You tried to focus on your breathing, but your heart was already racing. The contractions had changed.
You could feel it. Everything felt different now.
The nurse checked your progress while you stared at the ceiling, waiting for some kind of answer.
At first, she didn’t say anything. Then her eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Well."
Your stomach immediately dropped.
Jack leaned forward. "What?"
The nurse finished and pulled away, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"That explains why things are feeling more intense."
You looked at her expectantly. "How far am I?”
She glanced between you and Jack. "Take a guess."
You groaned. "Please don't make me guess."
The nurse laughed. "Fair enough."
Your heart pounded.
"You're six centimeters."
For a second, you were convinced you'd heard her wrong. “What?”
"Six centimeters."
You blinked.
"Six?"
"Six." she confirmed.
Jack looked just as surprised. "Already?"
The nurse nodded. "Already."
You stared at the wall for a moment, trying to process it.
Just a little while ago you'd been four centimeters. Now you were six.
Labor wasn't just happening anymore. It was moving. Fast.
A strange mixture of excitement and panic flooded your chest. Six centimeters. You were more than halfway there.
Another contraction began building low in your abdomen, and suddenly the number felt very real. You gripped Jack's hand as it intensified.
He immediately squeezed back. “You're doing great,” he said quietly.
You laughed breathlessly. "I don't feel like I'm doing great."
"Trust me.” he smiled. “You are.”
The contraction finally eased. The nurse adjusted the monitor before looking at both of you.
"My guess?" she said. "You're going to be meeting your daughter sooner rather than later."
The words settled over the room. Neither of you spoke right away. The nurse gave you both a knowing smile before stepping out to update the rest of the team.
As soon as the door closed, silence filled the room again. Your eyes found Jack's. His found yours. For a long moment, neither of you seemed capable of saying anything.
Because suddenly this wasn't some distant event waiting somewhere in the future. It wasn't a countdown on an app. It wasn't another doctor's appointment. It was happening. It was now. Your daughter was on her way.
Jack let out a slow breath and shook his head slightly, almost like he couldn't quite believe it.
"Six centimeters," he murmured.
You nodded. "Six centimeters."
A smile slowly spread across his face. The kind that was equal parts joy, disbelief, and awe. And for the first time all night, neither of you looked nervous. Just a mix of excited and overwhelmed.
The contractions became stronger. Closer together. Sleep became impossible.
At some point the nurses dimmed the lights. At another point, someone convinced you to drink water. Then came another contraction. And another And another.
By early morning, you had completely lost track of time. Another contraction began building, each one becoming more relentless than the previous. The nurse was in and out. So many times that you had lost count.
You gripped Jack's hand and focused on your breathing. The monitor beside the bed continued its steady rhythm.
Then suddenly—A different sound. A sharp beep. The nurse's attention immediately shifted toward the screen.
Your stomach dropped.
Jack noticed it too."What is it?"
The nurse didn't answer right away. Instead, she stepped closer to the monitor. The silence was enough. Every terrible thought you'd spent weeks trying to ignore came rushing back.
The woman from the ER. The fear in her husband's eyes. The way everyone had started moving faster.
Your heart immediately began to race. "What's wrong?" you asked.
The nurse looked over. “Nothing's wrong.”
But she was still watching the screen. Which wasn't exactly comforting.
A second nurse appeared in the doorway. Then a third. Not rushing. Not panicked. Just…there. The sight made your pulse spike anyway.
Jack's hand tightened around yours. “Is she okay? Is our daughter okay?”
Things were a lot easier when it wasn’t happening to you. In the ER, you both could remove yourselves from the situation. It wasn’t personal.
The nurse glanced between you both. "Her heart rate dipped a little during that contraction."
Your entire body went cold.
The nurse immediately continued. "Which can happen."
You stared at her. "Can happen?"
She nodded. "Sometimes labor puts temporary stress on the baby. We watch for it.”
The monitor continued to beep. A few seconds felt like a lifetime.
Then one of the nurses smiled. "There she goes."
Everyone's attention shifted back to the screen. The atmosphere in the room changed instantly. The tension evaporated.
The first nurse looked back at you. "See? She's recovering beautifully."
You let out a shaky breath you hadn't realized you'd been holding.
Beside you, Jack did the exact same thing. He lifted your hand to his mouth to place a soft, reassuring kiss.
The nurse pointed gently toward the monitor. "Strong heartbeat. Strong recovery. She's doing exactly what we want her to do."
Your eyes immediately filled with tears. Not because something was wrong. Because for a few terrifying seconds, you'd thought it might be.
Jack leaned down and pressed a kiss against your forehead. "She's okay."
You nodded. "She's okay."
You were trying to convince yourself.
The nurse smiled. “She's already keeping all of us on our toes."
That earned a watery laugh from you. “Sounds like my daughter.”
"Definitely our daughter," Jack agreed.
The scare passed, but it left both of you quieter afterward. Every kick. Every heartbeat on the monitor. Every contraction. You noticed all of it.
As the hours passed, exhaustion had settled deep into your bones. Another cervical check. Then another.
Until finally—"Nine and a half."
You stared. “What?"
The nurse laughed. "Nine and a half centimeters."
Jack blinked. "Seriously?"
He thought he might be hearing things or hallucinating…..maybe he needed his morning coffee. He wasn't a morning person after all.
"Seriously."
For the first time all day, the finish line felt real.
Not long after, the pressure changed. Heavier. Stronger.
The nurses noticed immediately.
One of them stepped back into the room and took a look at your face. "Feeling pressure?"
You nodded. "A lot of pressure."
The nurse smiled knowingly. "That's what I thought."
Jack straightened beside you.
You pointed at him.
"Don't."
“I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
His mouth twitched. “I was not.”
The nurse laughed. "You two are adorable."
You groaned before rolling your eyes and crossing your arms. “I’ve been in labor for twelve hours. I'm not adorable.”
Jack immediately shook his head. “For the record, you're still beautiful."
You stared at him. "Jack."
"I'm serious."
"I look like I've been hit by a truck."
"You look like the woman who's bringing my baby girl into the world."
The softness in his voice made your chest tighten. His thumb brushed across your hand. "And I think you're beautiful."
Heat crept into your cheeks despite everything. “You are unbelievably biased."
"Absolutely."
A little while later, the nurse checked again. You were getting more irritable each time. Jack could tell, giving your hand a gentle but reassuring squeeze. But then the nurse smiled.
"You're complete."
Ten centimeters. You were finally ready.
And before you knew it, the room became busier. Purposeful. Nurses brought in an infant warmer along with a tray full of tools. They were intimidating to see when you were the one about to give birth.
Your OB, Dr. Myers arrived.
Equipment was checked. The bassinet was moved closer. And before long, it was time.
Time became strange after that. Minutes blurred together. Contractions. Pushing. Breathing. Jack's voice.
The encouragement from the nurses. The pressure. The exhaustion. Part of you wanted everything to stop. But you knew you had to do this.
Every time you opened your eyes, Jack was there. Every single time.
At one point, your forehead rested against his. "I can't."
His eyes immediately met yours."Yes, you can."
"I'm serious, Jack.”
“So am I. You’re so close,” he breathed before kissing your damp forehead. “You’re almost done, baby. You’ve done so good.”
A tear slipped down your cheek. Frustration and exhaustion coming to a head. "I'm tired."
His expression softened. "I know."
His thumb brushed the tear away. "I know, sweetheart."
Then he smiled. The kind of smile that made your heart ache. "She's almost here."
The words settled over you. Your daughter. A real baby girl. A little girl who would call him Dad. A little girl who would call you Mom. Emotion tightened your throat.
For all the years he'd spent convincing himself fatherhood wasn't going to happen...He was only moments away from holding his daughter.
The nurse glanced toward. Dr. Myers. Then back at you.
"One more good push."
The next contraction built quickly. You pushed.
The room erupted with encouragement.
Then suddenly—
"Oh,” Dr. Myers smiled. "Look at that."
“What?” you breathed.
Jack had already looked. His expression changed instantly. Wonder. Pure wonder.
"Oh my God." Emotion cracked his voice.
"What?" you asked louder this time.
The nurse laughed. "She has a lot of hair."
A surprised laugh escaped you. Another push. Another breath. Another.
Then—Relief.
The pressure vanished. And a sound filled the room. Small. Sharp. Beautiful.
A cry. Your daughter's cry.
Everything stopped.
For one perfect second, the world stood still.
The tiny cries filled the room.
Your eyes immediately flooded with tears. "Oh my God."
Jack wasn't any better. He never cried. But today, he did. Tears streamed down his face as he stared at the tiny baby being lifted into the world.
For years he had dreamed about this. Wondered if it would ever happen. And now she was here.
Real. Healthy. Perfect.
A laugh broke through his tears. "That's our girl."
A few moments later, they carefully placed her on your chest. She was crying, obviously shaken up by her transition into the bright, loud world. No longer in her mommy’s warm, safe womb. Warm. Tiny.Perfect. The instant she touched you, everything else disappeared.
There was only her. Your daughter. One impossibly small hand stretched outward. Tiny fingers. Tiny fingernails. Tiny everything.
You stared. Completely overwhelmed. Nine months. Nine months of carrying her. Wondering about her. Dreaming about her.
And now she was here.
"Hi, baby girl,” you whispered.
Jack moved closer. His hand shook slightly as he reached out and touched her back.
Just one finger. Almost like he couldn't believe she was real.
Your eyes lifted to him.
Every dream he'd ever had of becoming a father was written across his face.
"She's beautiful," he whispered. “Just like her mother.”
The little girl shifted against your chest, letting out a tiny sound.
Jack laughed softly through his tears. "She definitely has your eyes.”
You smiled. “And daddy’s nose.”
A nurse smiled from across the room. “Have you decided on a name yet?"
You and Jack exchanged a look. The answer had been decided months ago. Still, saying it out loud suddenly felt monumental. Real.
You looked down at the tiny girl resting against your chest.
A smile touched your lips. "Lainey."
Jack's eyes immediately softened.
"Lainey Abbot,” he repeated. “My beautiful baby girl.”
The name sounded different now.
Not a name on nursery decorations. Not a name whispered during late-night conversations. It belonged to someone. It belonged to her.
You looked down at your daughter. At Lainey.
Jack leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead. Then another against yours. His hand settled over both of you. His girls.
A quiet, emotional laugh escaped him. "Welcome to the world, Lainey."
And for the first time since she arrived, your daughter opened her eyes. As if she was saying hello right back.
Tag list: @generation-zero @nyxmoretti @rkentzler9 @robbyxabbot @kidd3ath @purplekitty2019
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
An undertow is a strong, subsurface current that pulls water back out to sea after waves break on the shore.
Rating: 18+ MATURE THEMES.
Warnings: mentions of death, grieving, Cody family business, nausea, vomiting (again, obvious where this is headed). IF I FORGOT ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW.
Summary: Just days after Baz’s death, Pope makes the sudden decision to become Lena’s guardian. But you have a secret of your own.
“How do I tell her?” Pope questioned, pacing the length of the Cody family kitchen while you sat quietly on a barstool by the counter. Nervous energy rolled off him in waves, sharp and restless.
“I don’t know,” you admitted softly.
“Her father is dead.” The words left Pope in a strained, uneven breath, grief cutting through his voice. He swallowed hard, shaking his head as though refusing the truth even as he spoke it. “My brother is dead.”
You offered him a sorrowful smile before reaching out to take his hand. “I know.”
“Lena has no one,” Pope said through a shaky breath, his face tightening as grief overtook him.
“That’s not true,” you said softly. “She has her Uncle Pope.” Your thumb brushed gently over the back of his hand. “And I’ll be there for her too.”
Pope lifted his gaze to yours, his eyes glassy with emotion. “Nicky asked if she was going to foster care.” His voice cracked around the words, thick with desperation. “I can’t—” He shook his head sharply. “I won’t let that happen.”
You nodded softly in agreement, your grip on his hand tightening just enough to steady him. “She’s not going to foster care,” you assured him softly.
Pope had been taking care of Lena more and more lately, especially after Smurf was arrested in connection with Javi’s death. Not long before that, Baz had confessed to the family he’d set her up. He’d stolen the money she kept hidden in her storage unit, and only days later, he was shot dead outside his house.
He’d been planning to flee to Mexico, but before he could even leave his driveway, bullets tore into his chest. Four of them were bullets from a 9mm gun. Pope had driven himself nearly insane over the last few days, turning the question over and over in his mind, trying to figure out who would want his brother dead.
“We should tell her the truth, Pope. Lena’s a smart girl. She understands more than you think.”
Baz had always been more absent than present in Lena’s life, his attention consumed by planning the next job or chasing after his new girlfriend, Lucy—a relationship he’d started while he was still married to Catherine.
“She shouldn’t be going through this,” he breathed, his voice heavy with grief. “It’s not fair.”
“No,” you agreed softly as you rose from your seat. Crossing the kitchen, you wrapped your arms around him, holding him close as his grief threatened to swallow him whole. “It’s not. But she’s a strong girl, Pope. She’s already been through so much.” You pulled back just enough to look at him. “And with us? She’s going to be okay.”
He nodded, though it looked more like he was trying to convince himself than agree with you.
Over the past few months, you and Pope had become a little reckless. You’d started missing your birth control. He’d stopped wearing condoms. Smurf would have definitely called it stupid—maybe even careless. But Pope was tired of feeling like he didn’t have a family that truly belonged to him.
Sure, he had his brothers. He’d had his twin sister, too, until she died from her heroine overdose. Her name was Julia. He had his nephew, J, and now Lena. But it had never been enough to quiet the ache inside him. Pope had always wanted children of his own.
And Baz’s words had stayed with him ever since they were spoken, burned deep into his mind like a brand.
No one is ever gonna have a kid with you. Ever.
So the first time he cautiously brought up the idea of wanting that kind of life, he hadn’t been sure how you’d react. But you’d been open to it in a way he never expected.
So far, every pregnancy test had ended in disappointment. It had started to feel like pressure—heavier than something so deeply wanted ever should’ve felt—so you and Pope decided to stop forcing it. If it was meant to happen, it would.
Still, the want never went away. You both carried it quietly, stubbornly, in the spaces between everything else.
And seeing him with Lena only made that ache inside you both grow stronger.
Despite what everyone else believed about him, Pope would make a good father.
“I’m going to go pick Lena up from school. It’s almost four,”, he said quietly, drawing in a slow breath as he pulled away from you.
“Okay,” you breathed. “Be careful.”
“I will,” he promised. His voice softened at the mention of Lena. “I’ll bring her home, then we can talk to her.”
You nodded, slowly, one hand drifting absentmindedly across your stomach before falling back to your side. “Alright.” Your eyes lingered on hima. moment longer. “I love you.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of your head, lingering there for a moment. “I love you too.” Pulling back slightly, his eyes searched yours with quiet concern. “You sure you don’t need me to pick up anything for your stomach?”
You shook your head, offering him a small, reassuring smile. “I’m sure it’s just some kind of virus or something.”
“Okay, baby,” Pope breathed softly. “I’ll be home soon.”
You nodded, forcing a small smile despite the unease twisting in your stomach. “Alright.”
With one last hesitant glance in your direction, he grabbed the keys from the truck from the counter and headed out, the sound of the sliding patio door echoing through the house behind him. The house fell quiet after he left, the silence settling heavily around you as you moved to the sink and poured yourself a glass of water, your thoughts spiraling faster than you could keep up with.
Lately, the nausea had been almost unbearable in the mornings, lingering long after you first woke up and leaving a constant knot in your stomach. You didn’t want to let yourself get excited yet. It could be stress. Nerves. Anything other than what you secretly hoped it was.
“Hey.”
Nicky’s voice pulled you from your thoughts, startling you slightly as you looked up from the glass in your hands.
“Hey,” you murmured in return, your voice quieter than usual as you tried to pull yourself fully back into the moment.
Nicky stood in front of the refrigerator, rummaging through its shelves in search of what you assumed was lunch, the door casting a pale glow across the otherwise dim kitchen. You watched as she pulled out bacon and eggs before reaching for the loaf of bread on the counter, moving around the kitchen with the kind of familiarity that came from spending too much time raising yourself.
“Late breakfast?”, you asked with a soft sigh, leaning back against the counter
J and Nicky had been asleep most of the afternoon, the house quiet except for the occasional creak of floorboards and low hum of the refrigerator.
Now that Baz was gone, the Cody boys seemed untethered, drifting through the days without really knowing what to do with themselves.
Nicky dropped the bacon and eggs into the pan, and the stove answered with a soft, steady sizzle. The smell hit you almost instantly—rich, greasy, overwhelming—and nausea twisted hard in your stomach, sharp enough to make your face tighten before you could stop it.
“I’ll be back,” you managed quickly, pressing a hand against your stomach as you tried to swallow down the nausea rapidly climbing your throat.
“Are you okay?” Nicky called, turning from the stove to watch you hurry through the house.
You lifted your hand in a small wave, brushing off her concern even as you picked up your pace.
Your other hand clamped tightly over your mouth as you shoved open the bathroom door. The second you made it inside, you dropped to your knees against the cool tile floor, barely making it in time before the nausea finally overwhelmed you.
You tried to stay quiet as you got sick, one hand braced weakly against the edge of the bathtub while you fought to keep the sounds contained. Heat rushed through you almost instantly, leaving your skin clammy and your face damp with sweat as you brushed loose pieces of your hair behind your ears.
Was this finally what you thought it was? If it were, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Especially now, with Baz’s death and the responsibility of Lena suddenly resting on your shoulders alongside Pope’s. Lena’s life had already been turned upside down lately, and this would only be another massive adjustment—for all of you. The thought of bringing a newborn into the middle of all this chaos made your stomach twist almost as badly as the nausea had.
“Hey.”
Nicky pushed the cracked bathroom door open gently, her voice careful and quiet as she stepped inside.
“Yeah,” you rasped, your voice rough as you slowly straightened up, trying your best to look like you hadn’t just been violently sick moments earlier.
“Are you okay?” she asked softly, concern written all over her face as confusion knitted her brows together.
“Fine,” you answered a little too quickly, wiping at your mouth before avoiding her gaze. “Why?”
“You just threw up,” Nicky pointed out carefully, “Right after I started cooking.”
“And?”, you asked, trying for indifference even as your stomach knotted with unease.
All you wanted to do was crawl into bed and take a nap—maybe even sleep for the next twelve hours. Your body felt heavy and drained, your head pounding hard enough to make every sound feel sharper than it should. The last thing you wanted right now was to stand in a bathroom being interrogated by Nicky.
“And,” Nicky started carefully, clearly trying to piece the thought together out loud, “that’s usually…..”
“Usually what?” you challenged, sharper than you intended, as you finally looked at her.
“Are you pregnant?” she blurted out, the question landing between you with enough force to make the room suddenly feel smaller.
You stared at her for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh, your shoulders sagging beneath the weight of it all.
“I don’t know.”
“Does Pope know?” Nicky asked carefully, her voice quieter this time.
“No,” you admitted, leaning back against the sink. After a brief pause, you shook your head. “And I’m not planning on telling him yet.”
“Have you taken a test yet?”
“No,” you admitted quietly, the single word leaving you in a breath as you glanced down at the tile floor. “There’s been too much going on,” you said quietly, rubbing a tired hand across your face. “Baz died, and now Pope wants us to take Lena in…” Your voice trailed off as the weight of it settled over you all over again.
“I can go with you if you want,” Nicky offered softly. After a small pause, she added, “To the store to get a pregnancy test.”, she added.
“I can do it by myself,” you said quietly, though the words sounded far less certain than you meant for them to.
“But you don’t have to,” Nicky said softly, resting a gentle hand on your shoulder.
And somehow, less than twenty minutes later, you found yourself sitting in Smurf’s Jaguar beside Nicky, headed to a small convenience store to buy a pregnancy test. Without saying much to each other, the two of you headed into the store. You made a beeline for the pharmacy aisle, your eyes immediately scanning the shelves for what you needed.
With slightly trembling hands, you grabbed a couple of boxes from the shelf, clutching them tightly against your chest.
Just in case.
You barely managed a polite greeting to the cashier as you paid, your mind too loud to focus on anything else.
The drive back to the Cody house was quiet, the only sounds the low hum of the engine and the occasional flick of the turn signal as neither of you seemed to know what to say.
You dragged a tired hand down your face before killing the engine. The two of you headed back inside, and you set the grocery bag with the pregnancy tests carefully on the counter, as they might somehow explode if handled too roughly.
4:30.
Pope would be home with Lena any minute.
“Are you gonna take it now?” Nicky asked, glancing between you and the boxes sitting on the counter.
You looked over at her, exhaustion and nerves tangled together behind your eyes. “Maybe,” you said quietly.
“You need to.”
“I know that,” you shot back, your voice tighter than you intended. You let out a shaky breath, rubbing your temple as the headache behind your eyes throbbed harder. “I know. There’s just… a lot going on right now.”
“It isn’t going to go away,” Nicky said, like this was nothing.
“You think I don’t know that?”, you snapped, frustration finally spilling over.“I’m a grown-ass woman, Nicky. I don’t need an eighteen-year-old lecturing me about this.”
Nicky went quiet immediately, her expression faltering as she gave a small nod and looked away. “I’ll be around if you need me.”
“Thanks,” you replied flatly, guilt already beginning to creep in beneath the stress.
You watched her disappear down the hallway and into the bedroom she shared with J before finally reaching for the box of tests on the counter.
With a heavy knot twisting in your stomach, you made your way back toward the same bathroom you’d been sick in earlier.
With shaky hands, you locked the bathroom door behind you before sliding your jeans down and sitting on the edge of the toilet, the unopened box resting heavily in your lap.
You tore the plastic wrapping off with nervous fingers, tossing it—along with the empty box—into the trash beside the sink. You didn’t bother reading the instructions. You already knew what they’d say.
Two pink lines meant you’re having a baby.
Staring up at the ceiling as if it might somehow steady your nerves, you forced yourself to do what you needed to do. A moment later, you recapped the test with trembling hands and set it carefully on the sink beside you.
Two minutes.
That was all it would take for everything to either stay the same or change completely.
You pushed yourself up from the toilet and moved to the sink, turning the faucet on with unsteady hands. As the water ran over your skin, you lifted your gaze to the mirror, staring at your reflection like you barely recognized yourself.
“Baby!”
The sound of Pope’s voice echoed through the house, warm and familiar enough to make your chest tighten.
“We’re home.”
“Hang on!” you called back quickly, your voice thinner than you intended as panic flickered through you.
It hadn’t even been two minutes yet.
Still, your pulse pounded hard enough that you reached for the test anyway, unable to stop yourself.
You felt your heart drop into your stomach as you lifted the test into view.
Two bright pink lines stared back at you.
You barely had time to process the result before panic kicked in, Quickly, you shoved the test into your back pocket and pulled the bathroom door open to find Pope standing right outside of it.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” he echoed back, relief flickering across his tired face the second he saw you. Before you could say anything else, he reached for you, pulling you gently against him and pressing a lingering kiss to your lips.
He nuzzled his nose into your neck.
“Lena’s in the kitchen,” he said quietly as he pulled back, his thumb brushing absentmindedly against your side.
You nodded, trying to keep your voice steady despite the secret burning a hole in your back pocket. “Why don’t we take her for ice cream on the beach?” you suggested softly. “Maybe ease her into the news a little.”
Pope nodded slowly, exhaustion and grief still lingering heavily in his expression. “Okay.”
Seagulls cried somewhere in the distance as the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon, streaks of pink bleeding into the darkening blue sky above the water. Lena sat quietly on the swings, absentmindedly kicking her feet through the sand as she ate her chocolate ice cream.
The beach around you was nearly empty.
Just you, Pope, and Lena.
“Thanks for the chocolate ice cream,” Lena said, glancing over at her uncle with a small smile.
“You’re welcome,” Pope replied softly.
For a brief second, a faint smile touched his face too, but it faded almost as quickly as it appeared. He swallowed hard, his gaze drifted toward the ocean as the reality of what he had to say settled heavily in his chest.
How were you supposed to tell a seven-year-old little girl that her father was dead?
“Lena,” Pope began gently, his voice quieter than usual. “We need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
She looked between the two of you, almost eerily calm, like some part of her had already learned that serious conversations usually meant something bad. For a child so young, she wore that kind of acceptance far too easily.
You and Pope exchanged a brief glance. His eyes flickered with panic and grief, silently asking for help when the words refused to come.
“It’s about your dad, sweetheart,” you said softly, smoothing a hand gently through her dark hair.
Lena’s brows pinched together slightly as she looked up at you. “What about him?”
“Your dad is gone,” Pope said quietly, the words painfully simple as they left him.
Lena looked between the two of you, confusion clouding her face. “Is he coming back?” she asked softly. “Did he go to look for Mommy?”
Pope looked up at you again, his top lip trembling slightly as emotion threatened to overwhelm him. His eyes were glassy, desperate for the strength to say the words Lena was too young to hear. You reached over and rubbed his shoulder gently, grounding him with the quiet touch as he struggled to hold himself together.
“No,” Pope said softly, forcing the word out as carefully as he could. “He didn’t.”
“Then what happened to him, Uncle Pope?” Lena asked quietly, clutching the melting ice cream tighter in her small hands.
“He died,” Pope choked. “He stopped breathing, Lena. Do you know what that means?”
Lena nodded slowly, sadness settling across her small face.
“Who’s gonna take care of me?” she asked quietly. “Grandma Smurf’s in jail. Mommy’s gone. Daddy’s dead.”
She repeated the facts so plainly that it made your chest ache.
“We are, sweetheart,” you said gently, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Me and your Uncle Pope.”
“Please don’t make me move,” Lena whispered, looking up at the two of you with wide, tearful eyes. “I like my room at my house. I can hear the ocean at night.”
The sadness in her voice was so small and pleading that both you and Pope felt your hearts crack wide open.
“We won’t,” Pope promised immediately, his voice firm despite the emotion thickening it. “You’re not gonna have to leave.”
Lena looked at him carefully, still clutching the melting ice cream in her hands.
“We’ll move into your house instead,” he added gently. “If that’s okay with you.”
She stared at him for a second before giving a small nod. “Yeah.”
“Yeah?” Pope echoed softly, forcing a small smile onto his face despite the tears threatening to fall from his eyes.
The second she nodded again, both you and Pope pulled her into a tight hug, surrounding her carefully as she melted against the two of you.
Later that night, the three of you had found yourselves at the house Lena had grown up in—the same house Baz and Catherine had once called home together.
Outside, the ocean rolled steadily beneath the dark night sky, waves crashing softly against the shore in a rhythm that somehow made the silence inside the house feel even heavier. Pope stood quietly in the kitchen, both hands braced against the counter as he stared out toward the dark windows. The dim light above the stove cast soft shadows across his tired face.
Lena was already asleep, completely worn out from everything the day had forced her to endure.
“Wanna get some sleep?” you asked softly as you came up behind Pope, slipping your arms around his waist and resting your cheek lightly against his back.
“Don’t know how much I’ll actually get,” he admitted with a tired sigh, his body slowly relaxing into your touch despite the tension he’d been carrying all day.
“We can at least try,” you murmured softly, tightening your arms around him just a little.
“Yeah,” he sighed. “Let’s try.”
Pope turned in your arms slowly, exhaustion carved deep into his face. Up close, you could see the redness lingering in his eyes from holding back tears all day.
One hand slid up your arm gently. “You okay?” he asked quietly, studying you closer now that the chaos of the day had finally settled.
Your stomach tightened instantly.
You forced a small nod. “Just tired.”
“Yeah,” he breathed, like he understood that feeling too well.
For a moment, neither of you moved. The ocean rolled outside somewhere beyond the windows, steady and endless against the shore.
“The—” you started, but his hand was already brushing against your back pocket.
The pregnancy test.
You stepped back too quickly, fingers curling around his wrist. “It’s nothing.”
Pope’s expression shifted immediately, confusion mixing with concern. “Baby.”
You looked away, suddenly unable to breathe right under the weight of his eyes.
“It’s not nothing if you’re hiding it from me.”
Silence stretched painfully between you.
The house creaked softly around Lena sleeping peacefully, completely unaware that yet another life-changing moment was unfolding downstairs.
You swallowed hard before finally pulling the test from your pocket with shaky hands.
Pope stared at the two pink lines.
And stared.
His entire face went blank for half a second, like his brain couldn’t quite catch up to what he was seeing.
Then his eyes slowly lifted to yours. “Are you serious?” he whispered, voice cracking around the words.
of his eyes.
Tears instantly burned at the backs of your eyes.
“I found out right before you got home,” you admitted quietly. “I didn’t even have time to process it.”
Pope kept staring at the test in your hand like it might disappear if he blinked too hard. His chest rose sharply with a shaky breath.
“You’re pregnant?” he whispered again, softer this time. Almost disbelieving.
You gave a small, emotional laugh despite yourself, wiping quickly beneath your eyes. “Apparently.”
For a second, neither of you spoke.
The weight of everything sat heavily between you — Baz’s death, Lena asleep in the house, the move, the grief still hanging in the walls of the house around you.
And somehow, right in the middle of all of it, this.
Pope dragged a hand over his mouth, eyes glassy as he looked down toward the floor. “Jesus…”
“You don’t have to say anything right now,” you said quickly, nerves suddenly crashing into you all at once. “I know the timing is horrible and Lena needs us and—”
“Hey.” His voice stopped you instantly.
Pope stepped forward, both hands finding your face gently but firmly. “Don’t do that.”
Your breath caught.
“This baby isn’t a bad thing,” he said, emotion thick in his voice. “Bad timing? Maybe. But not bad.”
A tear finally slipped down your cheek.
You laughed weakly. “I was terrified to tell you.”
His face crumpled slightly at that. “Why?”
“Because everything already feels like it’s falling apart.”
Pope shook his head immediately, pressing his forehead against yours. “Then maybe this is something putting itself back together.”
A sob escaped you before you could stop it.
Pope immediately pulled you against him, wrapping his arms tightly around your body as you buried your face against his chest. For the first time all day, he let himself break too. You felt the shaky breath leave him as his chin rested against the top of your head.
Outside, the ocean continued rolling against the shore beneath the dark sky, steady and endless.
Lena slept peacefully in the room she’d begged not to lose.
In the middle of grief, exhaustion, and a future neither of you could fully predict, Pope held you a little tighter as the reality settled around both of you.
Alright if I wrote another part where Jack and the reader with the baby would that be something you all would read? And let me know if you would want to be tagged!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming