enjoy!

❥

I'm woken up by a piercing scream erupting through the house. I sit up, nudging a sleeping Issac next to me. "What is it?" He turns over, rubbing his eyes.

"Did you not hear that?" I look down at him, feeling my hair sweep against my back. What time is it? I reach over, the brightness of my phone screen glows over my face. I squint my eyes, "No, what is it?" He sits up, more alert now.

I thought he was supposed to be a light sleeper? "A scream, someone screamed" I mumble, taking my turn to rub my own eyes. It's early morning, it's slowly growing lighter outside. "Ellie" He quickly get to his feet, ripping on some clothes before shooting out the door.

I hold back the temptation to roll my eyes. Ellie is now moved in, everyone thought it was best, apart from me and Amelia but we got outvoted. I sigh, her dad is now moving into a flat meaning he can quit one of his jobs and hopefully relax a little bit.

The past month has consisted of helping him move and put all Ellie's mothers things into storage. I'm glad he'll be able to relax but Ellie living with Issac is as problematic as I always assumed, she calls Issac's help for absolutely everything. Sometimes I think it's just to annoy me but I like to think better of her.

I have to get used to it, she's going to be here until she can afford her own place which won't be for a while yet since she can't work with a newborn. This time I do roll my eyes but I shake it off, lifting myself up to see what the commotion is about.

I see Issac on the stairs, I frown my eyebrows and quicken my pace. "Is everything okay?" Sam runs out of her room, "Ellie's waters have broke!" Issac shouts, informing the whole street. I gulp. "I'll get the bags" I scurry back off to Issac's boyish blue room.

I check the time again, seven forty-five exactly. I quickly slip some clothes on and throw my hair up then make my way to Ellie's room and pick up her hospital bag. She's packed and unpacked this bag so many times. "C'mon, I'll drive" John looks alarmed.

I follow after him, meeting everyone downstairs. "We'll all have to cram into my car" John mutters making sure he's got everything. We head outside into the cold morning breeze, I hug Issac's hoodie closer to me. "Ellie in the front" Sam opens the door for her.

Ellie looks scared which matches everyone else's expression. Unlike me, I've been preparing myself for months and now that it's actually here I feel so overwhelmed. Sam, Issac and me shovel into the back, the hospital bag lying on my knees.

I feel a sweaty palm grip mine and realise Issac has taken my hand. I look up at him, he looks as pale as a sheet of paper. Beads of sweat gather on his forehead and he sounds like he's just run a marathon. I reassuringly squeeze his hand and give him a quick peck on the lips.

I hear Ellie contacting her midwife, her voice is shaky and panicked. I watch out the window, the sun is breaking light behind the trees. We're close to the hospital now.

When the car park comes into sight we find a space pretty quick and help Ellie out the car, her belly makes everything a struggle for her. "Over here" Sam points towards the maternity building. "Okay" Ellie nods a bit breathless, me and Issac follow behind.

"How are you feeling?" I look up at Issac, his face is drained of any colour. "I'm okay, this is scary and very sudden" He gulps. "Sudden?" I laugh lightly, he breaks a smile too. "You know what I mean, even though she's nine months pregnant I didn't expect her waters to break today" He becomes embarrassed. I know what he means.

"It'll be okay, they'll both be okay" I kiss the back of his hand as the wind flows through my loose strands of hair. When we get into the building it all happens very fast, they assess Ellie and monitor her. She looks scared and small lying in the hospital bed.

"She's not in labour yet but we can't let her go because her waters have broken and we don't want any infection" The nurse informs us. We nod and go to join Ellie.

"How are you feeling?" I ask, stroking her hand. "Scared, she's actually coming" A tear rolls down her cheek, I frown. "Everything will be okay, you're going to do amazingly"

She smiles appreciatively and takes my hand.

After a few hours and nothing has happened we all debate on what to do. "I've a shift at work in an hour" I frown. "Well Ellie's dad should be here by now, he's finished his night shift" John checks his watch.

"Why don't you take Darcy home then to work and me and Issac will stay here, maybe get Ellie some water or the nurse said energy drinks?" She looks at Issac for conformation, he nods. "Are you okay with that?" I look at Ellie, she looks tired.

"Yes, go to work" She manages a smile. "Text me if anything happens and I'll catch the bus back" Me and John stand. She nods, "Where's my little girl?" Ellie's dad walks onto the ward with blankets and all sorts. "Dad" Ellie almost cries.

We leave them to it, escaping the ward. "I wonder when she'll go into labour" John mumbles, checking his watch again. "It could be anytime now" I shrug, I'll be so upset if I'm not here for the birth. I know me and Ellie haven't been the best since I found out about the lie but, I was the first one to know about this pregnancy.

We hit the cold breeze as we exit, I hug myself. "How you doing chicken?" John's expression is concerned, I don't think I'm the one he should be worried about. "Today isn't about me. I'm okay" I smile at him before sitting in the passenger seat.

"Just because today isn't about you doesn't mean you don't feel anything, I want to know how my little chicken is" He pinches my cheek, bringing another joyful smile to my face. "I'm okay, seriously. I feel like I'm walking in oblivion almost, like it hasn't hit me yet" I shake my head.

"I'm glad you're holding up, if it wasn't for how strong you're being Issac would be lost. No pressure or anything but we really do appreciate it" His smile glows down on me. "But I know what you mean, I might be a grandad and it hasn't sunk in" He starts the car, it purrs to life smooth and effortlessly.

"Maybe it will when we get the DNA results" I look out the window as we drive off, watching the cars pass. "I don't know if I want Issac to be the dad or not" He sighs. I'm shocked, John is being so open with me, I'm honoured but at the same time shocked. I thought he would be loving the thought of being a grandad.

"Oh?" I glance at him, he frowns. "Even though he's eighteen, he's still my little boy and I want him to get out there and make the most of his life. I think having a baby now will delay that and these are his most important years, these are the years to make the future happen" He offloads.

"I know, he has dreams" I take my eyes off him, diverting them to my lap. "But I think he's grown attached to the thought of being a dad" I frown, fiddling with my fingers.

"He has, you can tell" John mumbles, worry laced in his deep voice. "Even though me and Ellie have had many ups and downs, I still want the best for her. If Nathan is the dad I know he wouldn't help and she'd be on her own" My heart sinks, the thought saddens me.

"Issac would love the bones of that baby" John's voice is very still and quiet. We drive in silence for the rest of the journey to my house, which isn't long. When I arrive I jump out and head inside. I quickly shower - avoiding getting my hair wet - and shove on my work clothes. Trying to make myself as presentable as possible, I french plait my hair.

"Have a good shift" Mom calls from the living room. "Thank you, love you" I shut the front door behind me and I'm back in John's car. "That was quick" He chuckles.

"Can't be late" I shake my head and we head off. The journey seems quicker than I would have liked. I'm in a dishevelled mood today and work isn't what I'd prefer to do right now. "Thank you for driving me" I smile, John returns it.

"No problem chicken, have a good shift. I'll see you later?" He finishes his sentence unsure. "Yes" I nod, swinging my legs out the car, "If anything happens let me know" I lean back and give him a side hug before getting out the car.

From the minute I enter the building my shift is slow and boring. I love being here, surrounded by all these beautiful pieces but today I'm worried, unsure of what's going to happen. I see a couple, on a date and smile. That was me and Issac once, my heart churns.

I wish he was here, he's make fun of the paintings and I'd tell him off, saying he needs to be more appreciative but as always, he'd reply "The only thing I appreciate here is you, darling Darcy" My heart warms. I love him.

I carry on walking around, everyone seems in adoration with the art which puts me in a better mood. "What's up?" Loz approaches me, the biggest frown on her face.

Me and Lozzy have created such a good work friendship, sometimes I only come in to see her. Maybe I should meet up with her outside of work. She's very refreshing to be around, she's funny and she's the only person right now out of my friends who isn't involved in this whole baby drama. It's nice to talk about something else.

Nowadays it's all about the baby, where will she sleep? Eat? Where will all her clothes go? I need something different. "Ellie went into labour" I show a lopsided smile. "Oh god!" She exclaims, "Is everything alright?" My heart warms again, she's so caring.

"We hope so" I sneakily check my phone for any updates, "She's not gone into labour yet but her waters have broken" I slip it back in my pocket. "Well I hope everything is okay, how are you feeling?" We sit down on some chairs in the middle of the dark green wallpapered room.

"Scared, it's slowly hitting me that this is actually happening" I slump my shoulders. "As in the baby's actually coming?" She bends her head down to catch my eyes. They're wide and dripping with concern

"No- well yes but it's sinking in that my boyfriend might actually be the father, we're going to have a baby in our lives and again, he might be a father" I offload like John did earlier. "The baby will be in our lives anyways but it could be in two very different ways"

"Everything is going to be okay, I know that's hard to believe now but you can do this Darc. You're the strongest person I know, months ago you were lying in a hospital bed after a suicide attempt, but look at you now! Handling something you thought all those months ago you couldn't, you probably would of laughed" She takes my hand, squeezing it. "You're being strong for someone else as well as yourself which is a big thing. It's okay to not be okay all the time"

"I know but, this is not the time to be breaking down. Issac was there for me now I've to be there for him" I look at her reassuring grip on me. "Yes but that doesn't mean you've to be strong all the time, you can escape for a little bit and have some you time. You can always come to my house, from the sounds of it you haven't had a girls night in some time" She smiles, I laugh in agreement.

"Thank you" I squeeze her hand back. I can get through this and Loz is right, I haven't got to be strong twenty-four seven like I once thought. All this is very overwhelming, sometimes I just need some time to step back and think.

"Everything will be okay"

❥

I walk in what feels like slow motion, it's been nearly twenty-four hours since Ellie's waters broke and finally, the baby is here. She was born at twenty to eight in the morning.

Me, John and Sam got here about an hour ago, Ellie started her contractions at four this morning. Issac has only left once to return home and shower.

I can't believe she's actually here. I feel like I'm dreaming, not sure whether its a nightmare or not but Issac might be a dad. From today on everyone's life could change forever, definitely Ellie's. She's a mom now.

It's so weird to think that after all these months I've known Ellie, after everything that's happened, I'm about to see her new born child. It's crazy, if someone told me this was going to happen when I first met her, I would of cried laughing in their face.

I walk into her room, all her blankets and other things are in corners of the room. It's like she's moved in. I look over and I've never seen anything like it, Ellie is holding the baby, cradling her with the biggest smile. Full of love and in complete awh.

Everyone instantly crowds around but I stay at the end, nervous to go up. I feel like I'm ruining a moment, like I shouldn't be here. "Oh, she's beautiful" Sam coos, leaning over Ellie.

"Come see her, Darc" Issac waves me over. I slowly takes steps towards him, my legs feel like jelly. This could be my boyfriends daughter.

Ellie carefully hands her over to Issac. To say she's just given birth she looks great. Her hair is a mess and she looks tired but she looks so happy and in love with the baby it over shadows everything else.

"Come" He nods his head, signalling me over. I smile nervously and go over.

I lean over his shoulder and gasp, she truly is beautiful and right now, in this moment. I know that she's his baby.

❥

hi so, this is my last chapter. i hope you've all enjoyed this book.

thank you so much for all the love and support during this book, it means the most. this book has helped me through so much and i want you to know how thankful i am for helping me during my darkest moments.

i'm not sure if there's going to be a second book but if i do decide to write one i'll let you know.

i love you, thank you.