A Problem Shared

6

The words seemed to echo in your head for a while as you stared at the doctor, dumbstruck by what he'd just told you.

How were you pregnant again?

"I'm pregnant?" You managed to squeak out after a few tense moments of silence and the doctor nodded.

"Yes." He replied simply "We can't tell from your bloods how far along but-"

"Well, we haven't had sex for three months so at least that." Marcus interrupted when he noticed that you were unable to process much more beyond the fact you were pregnant again.

Your name being called pulled you from your thoughts and you looked at Marcus with wide eyes as he gazed back at you with soft ones.

"It's going to be okay." He said sweetly but you were already shaking your head.

"No, it isn't" You sobbed "Because I'm pregnant and you're sick again.. and I can't help you... I'm going to be alone again because I can't help you-"

"Calm down." Marcus urged as he grabbed your wrist and pulled you to him, cupping your cheek with his large hand "It's going to be okay, I promise you."

"How can you say that?" You choked and he just smiled sweetly at you.

"Because I have to have faith that things will work out for the best." He said simply "I might not live to see this baby but I can die knowing that they have the best mommy they could hope for."

You broke down at that.

How were you here again? Marcus sick and you pregnant with his child. History truly did like to repeat itself. You didn't know what to do or say as you collapsed back into the chair behind you. Eyes filled with fresh tears as you placed your hand over your stomach.

"I don't want to do this again." You sobbed and Marcus' heart started to race, pulling your attention to him.

"You want to get rid of it?" He questioned as his sad eyes bore into you.

"No... god no I don't want to go through all this again." You stated "I don't want to sit here and watch you die as I grow your baby inside me. The next baby I had with you, I wanted it to be as a happy, healthy family but instead, we're separated and you're-"

"We will work this out sweetheart," he assured you but you knew that he was saying it to calm you down.

There was no way he could make that promise to you.

...

The next few days were a whirlwind of emotions. You ended up returning to your previous schedule of working, hospital and then home. The two main differences this time being that Marcus was awake in the hospital and you had a baby at home.

Marcus got weaker as the days went on. His skin took on a sickly yellow complexion and his breathing seemed to get more and more strained. The dialysis seemed to keep him going but his other symptoms only seemed to increase quickly. His fever continued to rise and with that came its own new set of problems. He seemed to be less and less coherent with each visit, something that upset Bella when you took her to visit.

On his better days, he would hold her, feed her even if he could but on his bad ones... He didn't even know who she was.

You had hoped that Marcus would come to your scan when the date came around, but when you'd arrived a little early to collect him he'd taken a turn. You had walked up to his cubicle, only to find him seizing and a bunch of nurses and doctors desperately trying to get it under control.

Your legs had given out at the sight.

So you'd gone to that scan alone, just like you had with Arabella and the same nurse gave you a sympathetic smile when you told her that once again...