𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥'𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 | 𝟏𝟖+

40

Hunched over the toilet, I throw up all the contents of my empty stomach. It's been like this for days now - constant nausea, exhaustion, weird aversions to foods I normally love. At first, of course, I deny it and just chalk it up to stress.

But, my period is late. Like, really fucking late.

Damien's right there with me, holding my hair back and rubbing soothing circles on my back as I puke my guts out. "It's okay, baby," he murmurs, his voice gentle.

I nod miserably, spitting one last time before I flush the toilet and slump back against the wall. "Damien," I rasp, "I think... I think I need to take a pregnancy test."

He goes still beside me, his eyes widening as he processes my words. "You think?"

I shrug helplessly, my hand drifting to my stomach almost unconsciously. "I'm late," I whisper. "And with the way I've been feeling lately..."

Damien's on his feet in an instant, "Okay. Okay, I'll go get one. Just... just stay here, alright?"

I blink up at him, surprised by the urgency in his tone. The last time we were in this position, when I first found out I was pregnant with his baby, he was terrified. Like the idea of bringing a child into the world was the worst thing he could ever imagine.

But now? There's something different in his eyes. I can see it all written right there on his face. Joy.

It makes me realize just how much losing our baby, Faith, must have destroyed him all that time ago. How deeply he must have grieved for our child, even if he never let it show.

The thought brings fresh tears to my eyes, but as much as I want this, I'm terrified now. I'm afraid of putting another piece of my heart out there just to have it ripped away again.

What if I can't protect this baby? What if something happens, what if it gets taken from me just like Penny was, just like my unborn baby was? I don't know if I'm strong enough to survive that again. I don't know if Damien is, either.

Damien comes rushing back into the bathroom forty-five minutes later, a little plastic bag clutched in his hand. "Here," he says, thrusting the bag at me. "I got a couple, just to be sure."

Damien hovers anxiously as I pee on the little sticks, his eyes glued to the timer on his phone. The minutes seem to drag by each second an eternity as we wait for the results. I can't even look at him.

Finally, finally, the timer goes off. I take a deep breath as I reach for the tests.

And there it is again. On all three tests. Two little pink lines.

Damien sweeps me up in his arms and spinning me around like we're in some cheesy rom com, kissing me all over as he sets me back down on my feet.

"We're having a baby," he keeps saying, over and over again like he can't quite believe it. "Cat, we're fucking having a baby!"

I try to smile and match his enthusiasm. Damien must see the fear in my eyes, because his expression sobers, his hands coming up to cradle my face. "Hey," he murmurs, "It's gonna be okay, Cat. I promise. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you or our baby."

"I know," I whisper. "I just... I can't help but be scared, you know? After everything that's happened..."

Damien pulls me into his arms, holding me so tight it almost hurts. "I know, baby. Believe me. But we're gonna do everything right this time. Starting with staying put, right here at my dad's place. We can't go back home, yet."

I pull back slightly, frowning up at him. "What?"

Damien's jaw clenches, his eyes going dark and distant. "The Ramirez' are gonna be planning a counterattack. They'll be laying low for a while, but it's safer here."