Page 6 of Rose

They reached the hospital in no time, A’Mazi parking fast and helping her inside. The check-in was a blur. The nurse’s voice faded in and out as she filled out paperwork and waited to be called.

Once she was finally in the back, the doctor’s questions came one after the other, quick and clinical. Then came the cup.

“Just routine. Let’s rule a few things out.”

She did it without hesitation, confident this was nothing but a stomach bug or exhaustion. But when the doctor returned, his expression softened, something careful in his voice.

“You’re six weeks pregnant.”

The words hit her like a freight train.

Pregnant.

She sat down hard, head spinning. Her mind raced back to all the moments with William—how often they made love, how neither of them cared much about protection. They both knew it was possible, but she wasn’t ready for this. Not now. Not with their careers barely slowing down.

But ready or not, here it was.

The doctor offered an ultrasound, and she found herself nodding before she could process what she was saying.

The cold gel on her belly barely registered before the image appeared on the screen.

Small. A little bean. But alive. And when the heartbeat filled the room, rapid and strong, everything inside her crumbled.

Fear faded. Doubt disappeared.

All she felt was love.

Raw. Unexpected. Overwhelming.

This baby was created in love. No matter the timing, no matter the fear, it was real. She wiped at the tears blurring her eyes and smiled for the first time that day.

A’Mazi drove her home, sneaking glances at her every few seconds like he expected her to break apart again.

“I’ll drop your car off later,” he said, watching her until she stepped safely inside before driving off.

William wouldn’t be home for hours. Perfect. She had time.

She wanted this moment to be special.

William always talked about wanting kids, joked that if it was up to him, she’d already be a mom to two or three little ones by now. But he respected her decision to wait, to focus on their careers, their marriage, their life together before adding more to the mix.

But now...

Now she couldn’t wait to see his face.

She was going to give him everything he ever dreamed of.

The minute A’Mazi dropped off her car, Ahzii wasted no time making a store run to grab everything she needed for the surprise. A pregnancy reveal right before their baecation to Thailand felt perfect, like the start of a beautiful new chapter.

Back home, she set the scene. The lights in the living room dimmed to a soft glow, a simple but romantic dinner prepared, and the gift bag sitting front and center on the coffee table.

She slipped into one of her favorite lingerie sets, deep red and laced in all the right places, hidden beneath a silk white robe.

Her curls cascaded down her back—just how William loved it.

When the sound of keys jingled at the door, her heart fluttered.

“Beautiful?” William’s voice called through the dimmed house, warm and deep, making her heart melt like it always did.

“In here,” she answered softly, waiting in the living room.

When he walked in and saw her, his face lit up like Christmas morning.

His eyes always found her first, and every time they did, it was like seeing her for the first time.

He crossed the room and kissed her deeply, over and over again, his black suit still sharp from work, and all she could think about was how much she loved peeling him out of it. But tonight wasn’t about that. Not yet.

“It smells amazing in here. You cooked?” he asked, surprised.

She laughed softly. “Yes. Go shower and then join me for dinner, handsome.”

His eyes roamed her frame, hungry, already imagining what was underneath the robe.

“You getting in with me?” he teased, heat lacing his words.

“Not this time,” she smirked, brushing her hand against his chest. “But I have a surprise waiting when you get out.”

That was all it took. He grinned and practically ran upstairs, making her laugh quietly to herself.

After his shower, they sat down to eat. He kept side-eyeing her, confused every time she passed on the wine.

“You sure you’re good? You always say wine goes with everything.”

She just smiled and brushed it off.

Then came the moment she waited for.

When they finished eating and moved back into the living room, she looked at him, heart pounding but face calm.

“You ready for dessert, daddy? ”

William’s eyes darkened instantly, the love and desire in his gaze saying everything his mouth didn’t.

She slowly untied the robe, letting it slip from her shoulders to reveal the red lingerie beneath. His body reacted before his mind could.

He started to reach for her, ready to devour her right there, but she stopped him with a playful smirk.

“Not me. Not yet.”

He frowned, confused but obedient as she handed him the gift bag.

“Open it first.”

He sat down, curiosity flashing across his face, pulling out the tiny baby onesie inside. The words made him freeze:

You can stop asking now.

He blinked at her, confused.

“There’s more,” she smiled, biting her lip.

He reached back into the bag, pulling out a strip of ultrasound photos, their baby small but perfect.

His head snapped up, eyes wide.

“Wait. For real?!”

Tears filled her eyes as she nodded, the words finally leaving her lips.

“I’m pregnant.”

For a moment, the world stopped.

Then William jumped up, scooping her into his arms so fast she let out a squeal.

“My baby’s having my baby?” he said, staring down at her like she hung the stars in his sky.

“Yes, baby.”

He spun her around, laughter and joy filling the space where only their love lived.

The questions came fast after that—when did she find out, how far along was she, was she happy. She answered each one with a smile, her heart fuller than it had ever been.

That night, their love grew even deeper, wrapping them both in something they never wanted to let go of.

And when she whispered, “Now for the real dessert,” grabbing a cupcake and dragging her tongue across the icing before smearing it along her neck and cleavage, William didn’t hesitate.

He carried her upstairs, lips tracing every sweet trail as they made love, knowing their baby was born from this same love—real, raw, and forever.

The memory faded, but the pain stayed.

Sobs.

More sobs.

Ahzii broke—right there between the graves of her husband and child. That night, that perfect night, played over and over in her mind like some cruel joke.

The love. The laughter. The life they dreamed of.

Gone.

“I failed you! I fucking failed you!” she screamed, her voice cracking through the cemetery air, shattering what little peace surrounded her .

Before she could collapse further, Kyre was there—dropping into the dirt beside her, pulling her into her arms, holding her through the storm.

“You didn’t fail them. You loved them. And they love you back,” Kyre whispered, rocking her gently, her own tears falling into Ahzii’s hair.

But Ahzii couldn’t stop. The guilt drowned out the truth.

Her cries tore from her throat, raw and violent, because no amount of comfort could change what was gone.

She didn’t deserve this pain. She didn’t deserve the hell she lived in now. All she wanted was to kiss them again. Hug them. Be with them.

But she couldn’t.

Her baby girl. Her husband. The two people who carried her heart in their hands— were gone.

And all that remained was her shattered soul screaming into the earth, praying for a way back to them that would never come.