Page 15 of Echos and Empires (After #3)

Fear and anticipation swirled within her, creating a tumultuous emotional landscape.

What if she was pregnant? How would her men react?

They had talked about starting a family someday, but the reality of it happening now, in the midst of them still settling in, would they still want it?

It’s not like they took precautions to prevent it.

How did I not think of this?

Emma finished and washed her hands, her movements mechanical. She stared at the sample, a small window into her future. With a trembling hand, she opened the door and passed the cup back to the doctor when she stepped out.

As she sank back into her chair, the walls of the examination room closed in on her, squeezing her heart in her chest in a way that was physically impossible.

The weight of the unknown pressed down on her chest, making it difficult to breathe.

She closed her eyes, trying to center herself, but her thoughts spiraled out of control.

What if she wasn’t ready for this? What if something went wrong? The fears and doubts that had lingered in the back of her mind now surged to the forefront, threatening to consume her.

Emma clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She had to stay strong, for herself and for the tiny life that might be growing inside her. No matter what the results showed, she knew she had the love and support of her partners to guide her through this uncharted territory.

You just need to know.

But as the minutes ticked by, each second stretching into an eternity, Emma couldn’t shake the feeling that her world was about to change forever. And she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.

The doctor’s return jolted Emma from her thoughts, her heart pounding in her chest as she searched the woman’s face for any hint of the news she carried.

The doctor’s expression was unreadable, a practiced mask of professionalism, but there was a softness in her eyes that made Emma’s breath catch in her throat.

“Emma,” Doctor Madeline began, her voice gentle yet firm, “your test results are in.” A wide smile spread across her lips.

“You’re pregnant. And your HcG levels are quite high.

You’re not showing, and you’ve been sick for a week, so I imagine it’s still too soon for an ultrasound to confirm much more than the test.”

The words hung in the air, a confirmation of what Emma had already suspected but couldn’t quite bring herself to believe. A rush of emotions—joy, fear, disbelief—all vyed for dominance within her as her mouth hung open and no words came out.

“I know this may come as a shock,” the doctor continued, “but I want you to know that you have options and support here on the island. We have a comprehensive prenatal care program, and our medical team will be with you every step of the way.”

Emma nodded, her mind struggling to process the information. She knew she should be listening, absorbing every detail, but her thoughts were a jumbled mess.

“You’re positive you can’t guess how far along I am?” The question was stupid, but she wanted to try to determine when it happened.

“Based on not knowing your last menstrual period and the hormone levels in your urine, I’d estimate you’re about three to four weeks along. We’ll need to do an ultrasound to confirm the gestational age and ensure the pregnancy is progressing normally next week.”

Three to four weeks.

The number echoed in Emma’s mind. She thought back to that night with Chris, the passion and love they had shared. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she realized that their love had created a new life.

But the smile quickly faded as the gravity of the situation settled upon her. A baby, in this world of uncertainty and danger. How could she keep a child safe when she could barely keep herself safe? How crazy would the unit be about protecting her?

The doctor must have sensed her unease, for she reached out and placed a comforting hand on Emma’s shoulder. “I know this is a lot to take in, but remember, you’re not alone. You have your partners, and you have us. We’ll make sure you and your baby receive the best care possible.”

Emma swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She knew the doctor was right. She had an incredible support system, a family bound not by blood but by love and loyalty.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I...I think I need a moment to process all of this.”

The doctor nodded, understanding in her eyes. “Of course. Take all the time you need. I’ll be right outside if you have any more questions.”

As the door closed behind the doctor, Emma let out a shuddering breath. She placed a hand on her still-flat stomach, marveling at the tiny life growing within her. A life created by love, in a world that had forgotten what that meant.

She knew the road ahead would be difficult, filled with challenges she couldn’t even begin to imagine. But with her partners by her side and the strength of their love to guide her, Emma knew she could face anything.

After all, they had already survived the end of the world. What was one more adventure?

“Em?” Alex’s voice came just after a knock.

She hastily wiped away the tears that had managed to escape, taking a deep breath to compose herself. “Come in,” she called out, her voice steadier than she felt.

Alex stepped into the room, his brow furrowed with concern. “Hey, is everything okay?” he asked, moving to stand beside her. “What did the doctor say?”

Emma’s heart raced as she met his gaze, a tumult of emotions swirling within her. She wanted to tell him, to share the news that would change their lives forever. But something held her back, a nagging fear that whispered in the back of her mind.

What if he wasn’t ready? What if the responsibility of a child was too much for him to bear? She knew Alex loved her, but a baby... that was a whole different level of commitment.

“I’m fine,” she said, forcing a smile to her lips. “Just a bit of a too much of a good thing, thing, that’s all. The doctor gave me some medicine to help with the nausea.” She wiggled the bottle and hoped Alex would assume it was UTI medication.

It’s not that she wanted to lie to him, but she needed to process this, and they all deserved to know at once.

Alex’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of doubt crossing his features. He knew her too well, could read the subtle nuances of her expressions like a book. “Are you sure that’s all it is?” he pressed, his hand reaching out to take hers.

Emma’s fingers trembled in his grasp, and she fought the urge to spill everything right then and there. But she needed time, needed to gather her thoughts and find the right words to say.

“I’m sure,” she said, injecting a note of reassurance into her tone. “I promise, Alex. I’m okay.”

He studied her for a long moment, searching her face for any sign of deception. Finally, he nodded, though the worry didn’t quite leave his eyes. “Alright. But if there’s anything else going on, you know you can tell me, right?”

Emma’s heart clenched at the sincerity in his voice. She knew he meant it, knew that he would be there for her no matter what. But this... this was something she needed to do on her own terms.

“I know,” she said softly, squeezing his hand. “And I will. I just need a little time to process how it happened.”

Alex’s lips quirked into a half-smile, and he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Take all the time you need, Em. None of us are going to be upset if you tell us no for a bit.”

As he pulled away, Emma felt a rush of love and gratitude for the man standing before her. For all of them, really. They had been through so much together, had faced the worst the world had to offer and come out stronger for it.

And now, with a new life growing inside her, Emma knew that their bond would only continue to grow. She just had to find the courage to take that first step, to trust in the love they had built and the future they could create together.

With a deep breath, she stood up, her hand still clasped tightly in Alex’s. “Let’s go home,” I think I want to nap.

Emma’s mind raced as she and Alex made their way back to the house, her hand unconsciously drifting to her stomach every few steps.

The weight of the news settled heavily on her shoulders, a mix of joy and trepidation swirling in her gut.

She knew her men would be thrilled, but a part of her couldn’t shake the nagging fear that this recent development might somehow upset the delicate balance they had all worked so hard to achieve.

Not yet. After the first ultrasound. Then it’s real. Then I can tell them.