At 7.56 pm there was a knock on the door. First I recognized Brittany; the other person revealed herself to me through the clack clack clack of heels on the slick floor. Doctor Heartley, finally. Instinctively, Hunter got up to greet her with a handshake. "Good evening, Mrs. Heartley." "Hunter, good to see you. Sorry for the circumstances I always add." He backed off so she could take his spot by my bedside. "[Y/n], darling. How are you feeling?" "Ok," I replied to the middle-aged woman who just patted my hand. "I can't see right since yesterday, it's all blurry, like I can't see your face clearly for example. And my headache's back." While listening Mrs. Heartley took a closer look into my eyes. "Can you follow my finger?" She moved her pointer before my face. "Not really. I see the shadow but... That other doctor said you can't do anything about it?," it was a question. "I'm afraid not. The symptoms you're experiencing are a result of the hormonal processes happening in your body due to the pregnancy. When the baby's here, it'll all go back to normal." She was checking my pulse on my left wrist now. "He also said everything could get worse, like... how..." "Is there anything else she could get?," Hunter joined in with a frown. "There are a couple of complications that are known to occur. But with any disease it's not a given you will get them all." "Like what?," I wanted to know. "There is a possibility for patients to develop breathing problems or high blood pressure which that would be really concerning but we should focus on making you feel better now. Have you been able to eat?" "No." "We want you to take in about 2200 calories a day. The solution you receive intravenously will keep you hydrated and provide you with some calories and vital nutrients. However, we need to top this up with real foods. What we'll try now is another medicine to get rid of the nausea." The woman in white got up and was handed a syringe by the nurse. She injected the clear fluid into the top of the IV bag. "Fingers crossed this will take care of it. If not, there is another option that's a little more invasive, so we want to keep that as a last option, ok? What I brought for you is –" She took a step aside to point at what looked like three juice boxed on a trey. I couldn't quite figure out the shapes, when Mrs Heartley put one of them into my hands. "What is that?" I wasn't sure. "These are special drinks high in calories, vitamins and all basic good stuff for you and baby, ok. And I want you to try and snack on them in about an hour, ok? We've got chocolate, banana and strawberry – Which would you prefer?" "Um ... is it bad if I say none?," my stomach turned. "No. I'll leave them all here then. Lay back for me, please." Doctor Heartley pushed my shirt up to expose my belly. She felt it in several places, pushing down. "Ok," she said more to herself than to us. "The long-term cardiotocograph looked good today. Heart rate's normal. She's positioned well, moving around. She's just too small because at the moment you're too small," she spoke over the hems of her glasses, eying me and Hunter alternately. I was looking down at the sheets. "I want her to be healthy. I'm scared of her having her to be delivered early and the c-section and all that." "I know. And we're all working towards getting her full term but you have to be patient now and not stress." I still looked worried. "It's good that you're here now and we can monitor everything and react if necessary. Homework for tonight: a quarter of that box. Minimum. And these are your regular prenatal vitamins." She cast me a sympathetic smile and put a little cup with three orange capsules next to the packs. "Ok." "I'll see you in the morning. Hunter –," she shook his hand. "Thanks, doctor." Clack, clack, clack she was gone again. My husband sat back down while I fumbled to reach one of the liquid food packs. "That's not too bad, is it?" "My grandma had these before she passed away," I said quietly and lost in thought. "I mean it had nothing to do with the drink, I'm just saying. She couldn't eat normal foods anymore in the end. She liked the strawberry ones." "D'you wanna try?" Hunter replaced the pack in my hands with the right flavor and helped me pierce the straw through the right spot. I got nervous but took a draw anyway until the slimy liquid ran over my tongue. It tasted more horrid than expected and I couldn't hide my disgust. Yuck! I pressed it down. "You try it," I held the pack out to Hunter. Willingly, he took a rather big gulp. Although I couldn't see his facial expressions clearly, he didn't bother hiding that he couldn't stand the taste either. It showed in his voice. "Ok, that's... interesting. Not sure that ever saw a real strawberry." "A third she said?" "U-huh." "That's gonna be a long night." There was a knock in the door. I expected another doctor wanting to prick or torture me in some way when two men in dark jackets came through the door rather timidly. "Hi there," the one in front said and I recognized Devo's voice immediately. My face lit up. "Hey!" Hunter got up to greet his band mates with a handshake and hug before they got close to my bed. I sat back up in lotus position. Hunter gently stopped Devo from greeting me with a hug. "She's not good with smells at the moment." Not seeing any of that I held out my hands to make contact with lovely Devo. He gently took my hand and pressed a little kiss to it. "We were never good with your smells either, Hunt," Sam took a dig at Hunter from behind D. I chuckled. My temples started to throb but I so didn't care. "How are you, sweetheart?" "I'm alright. I can't see you right. It sucks." I was still smiling trying to make a brave face to all of this. "You look great," Sam said. He sat down on the edge of the bed. "You really do," Devo added. "Hottest optically challenged Mommy out there." D. again. "Matt sends his love. He wanted to come but couldn't make it." "It's okay. How was recording?" "Good," Devo answered, "we got a lot done." "Nice. I'm sorry I kept Hunter from recording time. I tried to sent him away but he wouldn't go." "Don't worry about it." "Yeah, it's not like he's the voice of the band or something," Devo went on in his accent, "We just needed one more looker with the blonde hair and the smile and stuff." Hunter smiled at the comment. "Oh, we got you some chocolates." Devo put a hug box of chocolates on bedside table. "And a little bear saying 'Get well soon'." In my eyes it was a big brown blob but I loved how caring they were. "Aww, thank you. I'm not big on the chocolates at the moment." "You never know when the cravings might return," Devo said. His voice was so reassuring. Suddenly I got self-conscious about looking weird as I couldn't determine where their faces were; I just roughly guessed where their faces must've been. Did I do weird stuff like Stevie Wonder? Finally, Devo sat down in the chair; Hunter was standing casually leaning against the wall. "So what did the doctors say anyway?" I sighed. "That I need to stay and they wanna monitor me." "But the baby's doing alright?," Devo asked with caution in his voice. "Yes, she is. Thank the Lord," Hunter answered for me. A bit of an awkward silence followed. "If you'd rather sleep or something, just kick us out, yeah," my friend said. "No way, I love that you came." I squeezed his hand a little harder." "Can you belief they put a needle in me?" "No, I was just gonna point out how much of a trooper you are." "That's the second one as well. Don't get pregnant. They do all these crazy things to you." "I won't, I promise." We both chuckled. "Actually, it's been forever that I touched your belly. Can I touch?," Sam asked from his place. "With me being an uncle and all that." Hunter features sunk, he seemed a little concerned with his bandmate's boldness. "Sure." I brushed up my shirt. He squeezed next to Devo and very gently put his palm on my bump. Devo wasn't sure at first but then decided to reach out too. He placed his palm somewhere on the side and asked. "Does she kick already?" "Yeah. Just not now. She's asleep I think." "Amazing man," he said, clearly touched. "I can't wait." He looked over at my husband and I knew he was talking about starting a family with his girl. One last stroke and they both pulled my T-Shirt back down. "If Hunter's not at the studio tomorrow, you have to come and get him here. I mean it." I looked his way. "We'll see," he said. "I'm at hospital. What can happen?" I exhaled deeply. "Two more months here. Just lying down. I can't imagine." Sam asked: "Why not? This is like a hotel minus the pool." I knew they were all just trying to cheer me up. "Hey, your IV thingy is almost empty," Sam noticed. "I'll go tell the nurse," Hunter said and headed out the door. "What's in there anyway, vodka?" So Sam. "I wish! It's just sugary water and vitamins and such. I can't for the life of mine keep anything down. I just had half a sip of this-" I pointed towards the table with the food packs on. I'd been happy to get distracted by my visitors. "- but everyone would puke having to drink that." Sam took the open pack and examined the information on it. "Looks like old people's food," Devo stated. "Or protein shakes." "Exactly. But it's disgusting." Sam sniffed near the straw, then pulled a face. "Why did you choose strawberry anyway? I'd be banana all the way." "They'll change the IV in a little bit." Hunter was back. "Hey, put that down. [Y/n] still needs to finish that." Sam obeyed. "Finish?! One third she said. Don't get it twisted." God, my head was killing me again. "Right, I think we better go now," Devo informed me and moved to get up. "We've been bothering you long enough." I made a sad smiley face. But I knew he was right; I felt kind of exhausted. I held my arm out, luring him into a hug. To be safe I held my breath as Devo pecked my cheek and said his goodbyes. "Take care, sweety." Sam did the same. His stubble felt scratchy. "We'll see you soon. Bye Maddie Samantha," he waved towards my belly."Nice try," Hunter said dryly as he playfully pushed him through the door. "I'll call, yeah?" "Bye, man."