"Where are we going?" She asked midway as I drove through the silent night, mentally trying to think of plan.

"A place to sleep in for the night." I answered, making it a task to throughly think of the plans ahead.

"Okay." She replied in a impassive manner, turning away from me as she looked through the window.

Despite the divided attention, I kept an eye on the road driving straight towards our destination. Knowing she was under a whole lot of stress at this point of time, it would best to give her the time to relax and the rest of the plans will follow after. A hotel in downtown appeared on my sight and as we approached the establishment, I put the car to a stop as I turned to my side to see a defeated look on her face.

"I won't let anything happen to you, okay?" I spoke, reaching out to caress her cheek for encouragement.

"I know." She responds short as she forces to flash me a small smile but her features held a blank expression, not in the mood to talk.

Once we got accommodated, she went straight to the bed to take a seat as she frustratedly ran her fingers through her hair and an exasperated grunt came after her mouth. Closing the door, I took a seat beside her.

"Go get some sleep, babygirl." I said, making sure she gets the care that she needs and especially for the baby.

"I'll be fine. You go get some sleep, I don't even feel like sleeping ... I'm sure you're tired from all the work done." She responds worriedly, blankly staring into space.

"I can manage. It's you who I'm worried about." I spoke, surprised that I was in no time for sleep from all the problems that I had encountered lately.

"I said I'll be fine. Alright?" She snapped, and her eyes were momentarily at my direction.

I couldn't help but to chuckle, amused as to how I have no clue of her sudden behavior.

"I'm just doing what's best for you. But if you can't help me—"

"Can't help me or what? I just needed to think and you can't even shut up for five seconds." She scolded, basically glaring at me as she shrugged her shoulders.

"My apologies that I could not even shut my mouth for five seconds. But what is this all about? You getting all angry, am I supposed to be the problem in here?" I sarcastically respond, frowning as I have a hard time understanding her point.

"Well I don't fucking know! Be my guess, that is why I was trying to think!" She countered as she was practically raising her voice.

"Really? You don't know?" I mischievously smirk and like a clue came out of the puzzle, I think I already know what this all is about.

"Oh, I know ..." I mutter, as I stood and walked away.

"Where the hell are you going?" She said, as she demanded for an answer, stopping me in my tracks.

Despite her being mad, it was evident that she was worried as her voice was filled with concern in all of a sudden. Where am I off to? outside, to take a breather and give her the space that she'll need but not until I had expressed my thoughts out.

"You're regretting things are you, huh? ... that I got you pregnant and you're not supposed to be. Is this what it is? tell me." I spoke, disappointment flooded my features.

"What do you mean? I–" She chuckles sarcastically, as she was on her feet to fuel the argument.

"You're not dumb, Cleo. Try a little harder." I retorted, lips pressed tight for I was irritated from the choice of words that she had on the argument.

"You're disappointed ... because you have no way out of this. You got a baby on the way, your parent basically disowned you and you're stuck with me." I spat, riling her emotions while it felt fucking good to let her hear what I was thinking.

"You see, this is what I was expecting! I knew you'd feel this certain type of way and maybe the next thing you'll tell me we might not just as well keep the baby!–" The words flew out of my mouth just as the same time a hard slap comes right on my fucking cheek, taking me off guard.

"That's the best you can fucking come up with?!" She yelled, tears brimmed her eyes.

"What the do you expect me to, Cleo?! do you think I'd be fucking fine and dandy? I've been trying to keep my shit together! and to see you doubting, disinterested. Now I ask you, can you blame me?" I spoke, clenching my jaw and squeezing my eyes shut to keep my emotions in check.

"Yes, I admit it! I'm anxious and I'm fucking scared Theo! ... this whole thing's been overwhelming that I was starting to doubt myself, us! can we do this? are we even capable? these questions have been fucking up with my thoughts but I knew better! I fought, I tried to find a way to cope up and keep up with you ... until shit happened, we couldn't even defend ourselves Theo! let alone do anything!" She wept, revealing her frustrations this whole time that I failed to see.

"Of course, they fucking won't! What do you think this is? some fairytale shit? they won't understand Cleo! Get over it." I argued scolding her like she was a child while I chuckle, finding it humorous and going against my better judgement.

"You never saw a light in this situation, do you?" She said as her face twisted into a scowl, a look of disbelief.

As she expected for a response, I held my tongue. My mind could not even comprehend in the first place of what words will I have to say to make things easier for her because the truth is, a family reconciliation was far from my expectations. I wouldn't like to get her hopes up because life ain't no fucking sunshines and rainbows and if there was one thing they'd feel, it was for sure the hatred from the fact of us, wrecking their happy home while we do ours. Like everything made sense from her perspective, she stayed still in her position crying her heart out while she was shaking her head, downhearted and in disbelief.

"I want you to leave. Get out." She demanded, as she cast her eyes down that felt like she was ashamed of my actions.

"You have to understand–"

"I said leave! leave me the hell alone and get the fuck out!" She seethed as I was cut off short, tears streaming down her face.

"Fine." I spat, my lips pressed tight as I tried to breathe in and breathe out.

I was basically done trying to explain myself as she could not even give me a fucking minute, and so be it. I have lost my patience and I might as well need to take a breather until she's ready to face me, face the reality. But when I turned on my heel to walk away, something caught my eye that made me stopped into a halt bringing me back, while I suddenly walked towards her.

"Take a seat." I said with so much worry in my voice while I held her in my arms, supporting her body as she carefully took a seat on the bed.

To see that she was clutching her belly with a look of discomfort made me feel like a total dick. I knelt on the floor in front of her, as I do my best to intently watch of her condition.

"Where does it hurt? are you okay babygirl? does it still hurt?" Frantically asking her questions as I brush her hair away from her face to give her some room to breathe.

"Please answer me." I plead, stroking her belly while I caress her hand, giving it a light squeeze.

"I'm fine." She said as she drew in a deep breath.

"It ached for a bit, but I'm good." She adds, reasoning.

While I'm somehow convinced by her explanation, it was a relief that it was nothing severe. Just the thought of something bad happening to her as a result of my stupidity, the guilt was about to fucking eat me alive and let alone be able to forgive myself. Making a mental not to bring her first thing in the morning to the doctor, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"God, fuck. I'm so sorry babygirl." I apologized, my voice heavy as the same way guilt weighed down upon my shoulders.

"It's okay, I understand and ... I should know better, it should be us against the problem ... not the other way around." She explained, giving me a small apologetic smile.

"You scared the shit out of me." I breathed a sigh of relief, reaching out as I cupped her cheek in a gentle caress whilst her eyes gradually closed, leaning into my comfort.

"I— just can't believe it happened you know, like that quick." She spoke in a low gentle voice, her eyes fixated towards me.

As a reaction, I pulled her close to me wrapping her into an embrace. I was helpless to say the least, she was under this pressure the whole time and as quick as the confrontation occurred in the household, it became her breaking point and to see her in such a vulnerable state, I knew I just had to be strong to be with her.

"They might have taken another car when they went home, which explains we haven't notice them come through the front door." I explained based from my observation, clearly taken aback as well as to how things went in all of a sudden.

"I just knew we had to leave the second they knew, we had caused so much trouble already. But I wished it could have been after, you know we could have worked things out." She said, venting out her frustrations whilst she was about to cry this time again.

"And I promise you, we will try to. Okay? I'm so sorry Cleo." Encouraging her and apologizing once again, hoping I'd get a light out of the situation.

To think of it, I have seen this coming from a long mile away. Ever since we started hooking up and it may be hard to believe but, I had never looked at her as just a one time fling. I knew that she was something else, something more important and as time went by. She was proving me right; because the more I tried to act oblivious, the more her presence took my attention and the next thing I knew, it was hard for me to stop. It was just a matter of time until they find out and clearly we had to think of a plan but before we could even think of any, shit happened.

"But I just need you to calm down, please? can you do that for me baby?" I said with my brows furrowed, as her distress was definitely worrying the heck out of me.

Then she lightly nodded her head for a response, trying to choke back her tears. While I held her close to my chest, stroking her hair and rocking her gently as I pressed kisses into her hair. Trying to breathe softly in spite of her heightened emotions at this point. I was thankful of the outcome, it was best to avoid putting her under too much of stress and pressure, I just had to convince her to rest.

"I love you." She muttered, her features softened as she was looking up at me giving me warmth and a soft feeling all over my body.

"I love you too." I genuinely spoke, breaking into a grin, delighted from this moment.

As we both slowly lean in, I gaze at her intently while I occasionally glance down to look at her lips. Closing the gap between us, she closes her eyes and very softly in a subtle manner I brush my lips across hers. Her lips parted and then I start to kiss her fully on the lips and in a slow movement, my lips were firm against hers. She was kissing me back passionately, in an eager manner as she stifled a moan as the warmth of my lips captured hers, her body causing to flush with heat. With soft kisses, I slowly drew away ending the kiss as carefully I rest my forehead against hers, gently wiping her tear-stained cheeks.

While we both lovingly gazed into each other, her eyes flashed with adoration. I knew from that moment on, through thick and thin we will make out of this together and much more stronger.

💖