MY BABY DADDY IS MY SISTER'S FIANCE

Rhys stood in the kitchen humming Aurelia's favorite song, All of Me by John Legend while he stirred a pot on the stove.

The smell of food filled their small apartment. He had taken the day off work just because Aurelia had mentioned a particular dish she was craving the night before. For the past week, she had been craving everything in sight.

Rhys shook his head with a smile and tasted the sauce.

"Hmmm...nice but not quite there yet."

Just as he was about to add more seasoning, two arms wrapped around his waist from behind and his smile widened instantly.

"Sweetheart?"

Aurelia rested her cheek against his back and inhaled deeply.

"Yes baby. That smells amazing."

Rhys chuckled and lowered the stove heat before turning around to face her.

"Didn't I tell you to stay in bed?" Rhys asked, caressing her face that was quite swollen from pregnancy.

Aurelia pouted. "Yes but I missed you already."

"Really?"

Aurelia nodded in quick succession making a cute face at him and Rhys couldn't help but laugh.

He dragged her cheek playfully. "You are too cute."

"I know right?" Aurelia responded with pride. Rhys leaned down and pressed a quick kiss against her lips but the moment he pulled away, Aurelia reached for another kiss.

Rhys raised an eyebrow.

"Someone is clingy this morning."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Mhm."

His gaze dropped to her swollen stomach and his expression softened. Carefully, he lifted the hem of her shirt and crouched down.

Aurelia smiled as he pressed a kiss against her bare stomach.

"How are you, little man?"

She laughed softly and ran her fingers through his hair.

"I bet he's doing good." Rhys looked up at Aurelia with a smile then kissed her stomach again before putting her shirt down and straightening up.

" I can't wait to meet him." He said and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Me too." 

 Rhys grinned before guiding her toward the kitchen door.

"Now go sit down and wait while the food gets done."

Aurelia frowned a bit, being offended. " But I want to help."

"Ofcourse, you can help me by staying out of my kitchen."

Aurelia narrowed her eyes.

"Your kitchen?"

Rhys immediately corrected himself.

"Our kitchen."

"But..."

"Baby." Rhys cut her off.

"No."

"Auri."

The nickname almost made her smile.

"Nice try."

Rhys laughed and returned to the stove. Aurelia shook her head and started walking toward the doorway.

Halfway there, she stopped and gripped the wooden frame with one hand. She felt a strange discomfort shot through her body and her smile faded.

"Auri?"

Rhys didn't turn around.

"Hmm?" She swallowed. Another sharp pain that was stronger this time, followed.

"Rhys."

"You should sit, baby," he replied, unaware of the situation. She squeezed her eyes shut while the pain intensified.

"Rhys..."

Something in her voice finally made him turn around and the smile vanished from his face in an instant.

Aurelia was bent over slightly and she used one hand to clutch her stomach while the other gripped the doorway tightly.

"Auri?"

Another pain hit her and a small cry escaped her lips.

"Ahhh..hmmm."

He rushed toward her immediately.

"What happened..are..are you okay?"

She grabbed his shirt.

"I think..."

Aurelia sucked in a sharp breath.

"I think the baby is coming."

Rhys froze. "What?"

Another wave of pain hit her and she pinched his arm so hard he nearly yelped.

"Ow!"

"The baby!" she cried.

Rhys stared at her in panic.

"But...the doctor said we still had time."

Aurelia blinked and another contraction made her double over. Rhys immediately regretted his words.

"Okay. Forget what I said."

He grabbed her shoulders while breathing heavily himself.

"Take a breath."

Aurelia glared at him.

"You take a breath."

Rhys then noticed the liquid on the floor and his eyes widened.

"Oh my God."

Aurelia looked down.

"Oh jeez...you see?"

"The baby is definitely coming."

Twenty minutes later, they were at the hospital. Aurelia was rushed into a wheelchair while Rhys followed closely behind.

He was disoriented and had never been this terrified in his life. Not even during the hardest days of his life. Nothing compared to seeing Aurelia in pain.

A nurse quickly wheeled her away.

"Sir, you'll have to wait outside."

Rhys immediately shook his head.

"No. I'm coming with her."

"Sir..."

"My wife is in..."

"Ohhh...ahhh..baby.." Aurelia winced.

Rhys reached for her hand. " Sorry, I'm here okay?"

Aurelia nodded in pain.

"You can't follow us, sir." The nurse continued and Rhys was about to protest when Auriela gripped his hand hard. "It's okay."

"No, it's not."

Despite the situation, she almost smiled.

"Rhys."

His eyes met hers and he surrendered. "Alright. But I'll be here, waiting. I love you."

Aurelia nodded and a few moments later, she disappeared behind the double doors. Rhys was forced to wait and he hated every second of it as he paced the floor frantically.

Nearly an hour later, Rhys already sat and a doctor approached him. The expression on the man's face immediately made Rhys stand.

"Doctor? How's my wife?"

"Uh Mr Wilson...we're experiencing complications."

Rhys felt his stomach drop. "What? Why?"

"The baby is under stress."

The doctor's voice remained calm. "We need to perform an emergency cesarean section."

Rhys stared at him in disbelief and scoffed bitterly.

"No.You..you..what if..."

The doctor sighed.

"Mr. Wilson..."

"There has to be another option."

"There isn't."

The doctor handed him some forms.

"If we delay any longer, both your wife and child could be at risk."

Rhys looked down at the paperwork and his hands trembled. He didn't want Aurelia cut open.

He didn't want any of this, he just wanted his wife safe but this was the only way out.

"Will she be okay?" he asked quietly with a shaky voice, his eyes almost teary.

The doctor paused.

"We'll do everything we can."

That wasn't the answer Rhys wanted. His grip tightened around the forms.

"What about the baby?"

"We'll do our best."

Rhys closed his eyes briefly, then he grabbed the pen and signed on the paper.The moment he finished, he looked up.

"Doctor...if something goes wrong..." 

He swallowed hard.

"Please save my wife."

The doctor looked surprised. "Mr Wilson..."

"We can always have another child" his voice cracked and his eyes had turned red. 

"But I can't lose her."

The doctor nodded and patted his shoulder.

"I understand."

A few minutes later, Rhys was allowed to see Aurelia before surgery. She was lying on the bed in the hospital gown and fear filled her eyes.

The moment she saw him, she reached for his hand and Rhys grabbed it immediately.

Neither of them spoke for a moment. Finally, Aurelia forced a smile.

"Hey bro..." Rhys laughed weakly. "Hi sis..."

For a few seconds, some of the fear between them eased.

"You look scared." Aurelia continued.

Rhys shook his head.

"I'm terrified."

That earned him a small laugh. Then silence returned.

Aurelia stared at him.

"What if something happens?"

"Nothing will happen."

"Rhys..."

"You and the baby will be fine."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"You hear me?"

Aurelia's eyes began to sting but she nodded anyway.

"Yes. We'll be fine."

His hand moved to her stomach and rubbed it.

"Be gentle with mummy. We love her."

A tear drop had fallen by the side of her eye. Rhys cleaned it and planted another kiss on her forehead while trying to stay strong.

"When you wake up," he whispered, "I'll be right here."

Aurelia nodded.

The nurses began preparing to move her and Rhys reluctantly released her hand. Their fingers separated and the hospital bed rolled away.

Aurelia kept looking at him until she disappeared through the doors.

Hours later, she woke up feeling heavy all over her body. Slowly, she opened her eyes. A nurse immediately noticed.

"Mrs. Wilson?"

Aurelia blinked and the nurse smiled.

"Congratulations."

Aurelia looked confused but the nurse laughed softly.

"You have a healthy baby boy."

Aurelia's eyes widened.

"Really? We made it." she said almost in a whisper.

"Yes."

The nurse nodded.

A weak smile appeared on Aurelia's lips and her hand instinctively moved towards her tummy. It was flat, the baby was really here. Rhys was going to be unbearable. She could already hear him bragging.

I told you so. The thought almost made her laugh.

"Can I see him?"

"Not yet."

The nurse adjusted her blanket.

"You need a little more rest."

Aurelia nodded. Then her eyes moved around the room and her smile slowly faded.

"Where's my husband?"

The nurse hesitated.

"He stepped out."

Aurelia relaxed and didn't think much of it. Probably buying something or calling everyone he knew like an excited idiot. That sounded exactly like him.

"Okay."

Several minutes passed. Then another hour and Rhys still hadn't returned.

Aurelia frowned. When the same nurse came back to check up on her again, she asked.

"Please can you help me call my husband?"

The nurse nodded.

"Of course."

She picked up Aurelia's phone from the bedside table, found Rhys's number and dialed but the call lasted only seconds.

The nurse frowned slightly, then she tried again and it was the same result. Aurelia felt something unpleasant settle in her stomach.

"What happened?"

The nurse lowered the phone, her expression had changed.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilson."

Aurelia's fingers tightened around the blanket.

The nurse swallowed.

"His number is unavailable."