Page 25 of Echos and Empires (After #3)
THIRTEEN
Alex’s heart raced as he meticulously prepared the medical check-up room, his mind consumed by the significance of the impending moment.
With each instrument he laid out, a wave of excitement coursed through his veins, tempered only by the weight of responsibility that settled heavily upon his shoulders.
There was nothing more important than this check up, except Emma herself.
As he moved through the tasks, his thoughts drifted to Emma and the journey that had led them to this point.
From the moment he first laid eyes on her—shy and more than slightly disheveled—he’d known she was special.
She’d survived on her own in conditions most surrendered to.
In the months that followed, as they fought side by side against the harsh realities, he’d only fallen more and more in love with the fiercely determined woman she was.
Now, as he prepared to conduct his first pregnancy check-up on her baby, Alex couldn’t help but marvel at the depth of his feelings for her.
She had become his rock, his reason for pushing forward in a world that seemed determined to break them.
The thought of being able to care for her and their unborn child filled him with a sense of purpose he had never known before.
He paused for a moment, his eyes sweeping over the room to ensure everything was in its proper place.
The sterile white walls and gleaming metal surfaces stood in stark contrast to the chaos that reigned outside, a reminder of the fragile bubble of safety they had managed to carve out for themselves.
It wasn’t his usual role to fill, but no one seemed to want to object when he’d asked last week. A baby was a huge deal, and even if there was some time before they could tell whose baby it genetically was, as far as anyone would ever need to know, the baby was his in every way that mattered.
With a deep breath, Alex straightened his shoulders and turned towards the door, ready to greet Emma with a smile and the reassurance that everything would be alright.
Because it would be. Because nothing was going to go wrong, even if the island wasn’t as inviting as it had been the weeks or days before their accidental discoveries.
“Right this way,” Alex heard a nurse say moments before the door opened.
Emma stepped into the room, and the usual surge of affection threatened to overwhelm him. He watched as she took in her surroundings, her hazel eyes wide with a mix of nervousness and excitement. Clearing his throat, he stepped forward, his voice soft as he broke the silence between them.
“Emma, before we begin, I want you to know that you have options,” he said, his gaze locked on hers. “If you’d feel more comfortable seeing another doctor for this check-up, I completely understand.”
Emma shook her head, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Alex, there’s no one I trust more than you,” she replied, her voice firm with conviction. “I want you to be the one to do this. I need it to be you.”
Her words sent a wave of warmth cascading through his chest, and he found himself closing the distance between them, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek. “I’m honored,” he murmured, his thumb brushing gently across her skin. “I promise I’ll take the best care of you and our baby.”
Emma leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment. “I know you will,” she whispered, her breath ghosting across his wrist. “You always do.”
Unable to resist the pull between them, Alex dipped his head, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. It started soft and sweet, a gentle exploration of the love they shared, but quickly deepened as Emma wound her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
He lost himself in the moment, the world around them fading away until all that existed was the heat of their bodies pressed together and the rhythm of their heartbeats in sync.
When they finally parted, both breathless and flushed, Alex rested his forehead against hers, a smile tugging at his lips.
“We should probably get started,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “As much as I’d love to keep kissing you, we have a very important appointment to keep.”
Emma laughed softly, the sound like music to his ears. “You’re right,” she agreed, stepping back and smoothing her hands over her shirt. “Let’s do this. Together.”
With a nod, Alex guided her towards the examination table, his hand resting gently on the small of her back.
As he helped her settle in, he marveled at the strength and resilience of the woman before him, and the depth of the love he felt for her.
No matter what the future held, he knew that as long as they faced it together, they could overcome anything.
As Emma settled onto the examination table, Alex took a moment to simply gaze at her, his heart swelling with the depth of his love. He reached out, taking her hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze, his voice soft as he spoke.
“I love you, Emma,” he murmured, his eyes locked on hers. “More than I ever thought possible. And I’m so incredibly grateful to be sharing this journey with you.”
Emma’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a watery smile spreading across her face. “I love you too, Alex,” she whispered, her fingers tightening around his. “So much.”
With a final squeeze of her hand, Alex set about conducting the check-up, his movements confident and precise. He started with her vitals, monitoring her heart rate and blood pressure, his brow furrowed in concentration as he jotted down the numbers.
As he moved on to the ultrasound, Alex felt a rush of excitement, his hand trembling slightly as he applied the gel to Emma’s abdomen. “Let’s see how our little one is doing,” he murmured, his voice filled with anticipation.
The steady thrum of the baby’s heartbeat filled the room, and Alex felt his own heart swell with pride and love. “Everything looks perfect,” he said, his gaze fixed on the screen. “Our baby is growing strong and healthy, just like their mother.”
But as he continued to study the image, Alex’s eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. There, nestled alongside the first heartbeat, was a second, equally strong and steady.
“Emma,” he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. “Hold on a moment.”
He double-checked the screen, his mind racing as he confirmed what he was seeing. Two heartbeats, two tiny lives growing inside the woman he loved more than life itself. He needed to hear it for himself.
Alex shifted the wand just slightly and a slightly quieter rhythmic sound filled the room.
“Holy fucking shit!”
“What? Alex, what?” Emma sat upright so fast she almost launched the wand from his hand.
“Emma,” he said again, his voice louder this time, giddy with excitement. “You’re going to need to have another talk with the guys. Because there aren’t just one, but two babies hanging out in there.”
Emma’s eyes flew wide, her mouth falling open in shock. “What?” she gasped, her hand flying to her stomach. “Twins? Are you serious?”
Alex nodded, a grin spreading across his face. “Absolutely serious. We’re having twins, Emma!” he gestured for her to lay back and set the wand on her stomach again, moving it so she could hear the difference in the two sounds.
Tears spilled down Emma’s cheeks, but the smile that lit up her face was radiant. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. “Two babies. Our babies.”
He gathered her in to his arms, holding her close as they both laughed and cried, overcome with the joy of the moment. “I’m so happy,” Emma murmured, her face buried in his chest. “I never thought I could be this happy.”
Alex pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his eyes stinging with tears. “Me neither,” he admitted, his voice rough with emotion. “But, I do need to report this because things could be very different now. Hang tight, Em.”
As Alex stepped into the backroom, the sound of hushed voices caught his attention. He paused, his brow furrowing as he strained to make out the words, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach.
“...so many people came in, all with the same symptoms,” one doctor was saying, his voice laced with concern. “And all men, too. You don’t think we’re dealing with some kind of virus, do you?”
“I hope not,” the other replied, a note of weariness in her tone. “But we can’t rule it out. We need to stay vigilant and keep an eye on the situation.”
Alex cleared his throat, stepping further into the room. “Excuse me,” he said politely, drawing the attention of the two doctors. “I couldn’t help but overhear. When did this influx of patients with similar symptoms start?”
Rob, the more senior doctor of the two, sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Just today,” he admitted, his eyes shadowed with worry. “We’ve had over a dozen cases already, and it’s only getting worse.”
His thoughts drifted back to the conversation he’d had with Chris, about the vitamins they’d been distributing to the community. Could there be a connection between the supplements and the sudden outbreak of symptoms among the men?
Alex nodded, his mind racing as he processed the information. “I see,” he murmured, before straightening his shoulders and meeting the doctor’s gaze. “On a different note, I wanted to let you know that I believe Emma, the patient I was just examining, is carrying twins.”
Rob’s eyebrows shot up, a smile breaking through his troubled expression.
“That’s fantastic news,” he said, his voice warm with congratulations.
“I’m sure you’ll want to keep a close eye on her, given the current situation.
Perhaps it’s best if she comes back later, with a mask to protect against anything airborne, just to be safe. ”
“Sure, I’ll get her and we’ll go now.”
“With this illness going around, it’s best to limit exposure with what we need to do next. I’ll get her.” Rob didn’t seem nervous, but he did let his gaze go past Alex twice as he spoke.