________________...The car ride to the hospital for the check-up was silent as the seas. Rowan gave off major nervous energy as he drove. I had told him to relax multiple times but the man would not listen. We were doing the amniocentesis test today and Rowan had almost fainted at the sight of the needle. "You can relax now." Dr. Derek Mathewson, brother of Ophelia Mathewson, grinned at Rowan. He just grunted in return. My gyneac had to take leave due to unforseen circumstances, which left the other gynaec in the clinic, Ophelia's brother, to do the procedure today. "Everything is looking great." While I was accommodating of him, understanding the fact that my spite with Ophelia had nothing to do with her brother as a person, Rowan seemed like he wanted to rip poor Derek's head off. "Thank you so much." "It says here you don't want to know the gender. Why is that?" He had the easiest grin on his face. The man seemed as though he had been doing this job for a while and was

____________________...Eric and Gabby were back together. That was two down, one to go.Zoe and Kevin hadn't fought in the last two months and my wife was currently five months pregnant and showing.She had become emotional and stubborn and I had shifted to the couch in her bedroom because "I want to be with my children."I was also taking advantage of Rory's paranoia about something going wrong to stay at her place."What's that smell?"I turned around and my breath hitched in my throat at the sight of her. She was wearing yoga pants and a sports bra.She had gained weight over the last two months. Her face was fuller, so was her breasts and ass. Her body had moulded into such a beautiful form that I could not help the reaction of my body to her no matter how much I tried not to.There was only one thing I did not like about her right now. And that was her friendship with Derek Mathewson. Yes, it turned out the old obstetrician could not come back due to undisclosed reasons and

________________________...I sniffed as I cried into my handkerchief. The pregnancy hormones were making it impossible for me to keep in the waterworks.Zoe's wedding dress was her mother's. A gown of timeless elegance and grace with a fitted bodice and a sweetheart neck that cascade down the waistline onto a tulle skirt. The back of the dress was a work of art, with intricate lace detailing and a row of covered buttons trailing down to the hem. Completing the look was a sweeping train that trailed behind Zoe as she walked, adding a touch of drama to her ensemble.The girl said she was not going to wear a veil and let her hair out.She was the most beautiful bride in the world."You are the most beautiful bride in the world," I told her."That's what you say every time." Bianca rolled her eyes."You all keep on outdoing each other." I dabbed my eyes. Thank you for the makeup technology for the waterproof mascara."You can say whatever you want, but you remain the most beautiful br

_____________________...Rory hummed as she waddled through the pavement to the supermarket, two blocks down the road. As much as I was paranoid about her tagging along, watching her, it really seemed as though she needed this outdoor trip. Rowan was one paranoid father and he would not let her take a step out of the threshold of the house ever since she got diagnosed with preeclampsia. He was scared to death. But my sister had faired well and reached term safely. Any day now and I would become an aunt, though I already felt like one. I was going to be the fun aunt who was going to spoil my nieces and nephews rotten. My phone rang in my pocket. "Ten bucks say it is Eric Rogers the second." Rory pointed at my pocket. "Then I am not even going to bother to check it." I rolled my eyes. She gave me a flat look but Rory being Rory, did not bug me to take the call. She knew I wouldn't budge, that was one thing, but she was also the most understanding sister in the world who always t

____________________...Tears flowed like a river as I stared at the serene, cyanotic face of my beautiful baby girl. She was a ditto replica of her mother with her button nose and pouty lips. "I am sorry Dadda failed to protect you, my precious." I kissed her forehead as the nurse told me it was time to say goodbye. I placed another kiss on her forehead. "This one, on behalf of your Momma. She loves you so much." My voice broke as I said it, and the nurse took my dead infant away from me.I slid to the ground as grief racked through me. Tears spilled out even as I tried to be strong for my other daughter and my wife."Rowan..." Zoe sat down near me, leaning against the wall. She didn't say anything else. She knew there was nothing she could say that could fix this.Everything was over."Rory is going to wake up, you know." She finally said."The doctors say the chances are very less." I reminded her."Still, I know she is going to wake up." She decided."How am I going to tell h