Chapter 18: Chapter 18

I huddle against the hospital doors, clutching onto my bag. It's pitch black outside, pathways lit up dimly by the street lamps. Cold air whips against me, causing my body to erupt in shivers and goosebumps. The hospital is almost deserted with only one or two patients outside in their dressing gowns, getting some air or having a cigarette break.

"Come on Tobias..." I murmur, closing my eyes and leaning against the brick wall. All I want is to go home and crawl into my bed, pull the covers right over my head and sleep for a decade.

How amazing would it be if I could sleep through the next few months only to wake up once the baby is ready to come out? Pretty damn amazing.

The beep of Tobias' car interrupts my thoughts and I open my eyes to find him parked several feet away. He rolls the window down of his black car, gesturing for me to get inside. I smile at him, feeling grateful to see a familiar face instead of a different doctor or nurse every five minutes. I push myself off the wall and head for the passenger door, pulling it open and sliding into the smooth leather seats.

Tobias' car is always immaculately clean, the scent of pine and leather filling the atmosphere. I sigh deeply, feeling my body relax against the seat as I pull over the seatbelt.

"Thank you for picking me up," I tell him, turning my head towards Tobias who's observing his mirrors before heading off.

"Don't worry about it, how are you feeling?" Tobias asks me warily, glancing at me for a second before turning his eyes back towards the road. I sigh, closing my eyes and rubbing the space between my eyebrows.

"I want to sleep for an entire decade." I answer him truthfully, turning my head in the opposite direction and snuggling into the seat. I hear Tobias press a button and the car begins to warm up, the seat heating up underneath me. I feel myself relax further, my body becoming heavy from exhaustion.

"Hey T?" I mumble quietly, my voice drifting off.

"Yes?" Tobias murmurs, the soft whirrs of the car filling the silence between us. The sound is almost soothing and I feel myself beginning to drift off.

"I'm keeping the baby." I tell him, my eyes fluttering closed. It takes Tobias seconds to respond, his voice neutral —

"Okay Emily, if that's what you want."

I smile at how easy it is for him to accept my decision. I feel him turn towards me, reaching for something in the back seat. I don't have the energy to open my eyes so I remain still. The last thing I feel is Tobias covering me with a soft blanket, tucking it in around my body so it doesn't fall.

*****

I feel a gentle shake on my shoulder, stirring me awake from the deep sleep I'm in.

"Go away." I mumble, settling further into the blanket. It's the perfect temperature where it sends you into the dreamiest of sleeps.

"Come on, we're home." Tobias' voice cuts through the peace inside my mind. The blanket is gently pried away from me and I stiffen up. Cold air greets my warm muscles and I groan, my body weak with exhaustion.

"Five more minutes Tobias?" I mumble back sleepily and he chuckles in response.

"Come on, lets get you to your bed." Tobias says firmly, reaching over and unbuckling my seat belt. I force my eyes open and groan, shifting positions in the car seat. My neck shoots up in pain from where I'd fallen asleep awkwardly and I reach up, rubbing the area.

"Sleep awkward?" Tobias asks, smirking at me as he leans against the passenger doorway.

"Go away," I mumble grumpily, placing one foot outside before getting out slowly. I groan as short bursts of pain flow through my body that's desperate for me to rest.

"Need a hand?" Tobias asks me, watching with concern as I struggled to walk forward. I sigh, feeling like a liability before nodding slowly. He stands forward, placing his arm around my waist and guiding me forward. He uses his other arm to shut the passenger door and lock the car.

"Is Jake home?" I ask him, glancing at the front door of the house.

"I have no idea." Tobias replies, supporting me as we both shuffle forward slowly.

"Should you have been discharged?" Tobias asks with concern, his eyebrow raised as he watches me struggle with the simplest of tasks.

"Yes, I'm so sick of being in that hospital. It would make me the happiest girl alive if I never saw white walls ever again."

"It's a shame you're pregnant because you're going to be seeing white walls very often." Tobias laughs, taking my bag off me and draping it over his shoulders. His arm tighten around my waist and he gently pulls me towards him, letting me lean on him for support.

"Big step here, okay?" He murmurs and I nod, stepping over it slowly. I turn to look at him and give him a grateful smile.

"Thank you Tobias, for everything."

"That's what friends are for." Tobias says quietly. We both pause as we reach the front door and I sigh, wondering whether I'm ready to face the hundred and one questions as soon as I step inside. Tobias senses my hesitation and gestures for me to go inside with a nod of his head —

"Let's get you to bed," Tobias says quietly, turning his keys in the lock and pushing the door open with his hand. I nod, my stomach a bundle of nerves. I don't know how the rest of the family will react to my decision of keeping the baby and I definitely don't want to upset anyone . . .

I shuffle through the front door, hearing nothing but the sounds of the television coming from the living room. The door is ajar slightly and flickers of the screen reflect against the dark wall.

"Do you need help getting upstairs?" Tobias asks me softly, placing my bag down onto the floor in the hallway. I nod silently and he keeps his arm around my waist securely, leading me towards the bottom of the stairway.

"Easy now," he mumbles, noticing my face wince in discomfort from the strain on my body.

"A good sleep is all I need," I smile at him briefly, trying to reassure a worried looking Tobias. He's watching me like a hawk, dark brown eyes filled with concern. We're halfway up the stairs when the living room door creaks open.

I turn towards it and my eyes connect with Ivory's. She freezes on the spot before quickly tearing her eyes away from me and disappearing towards the kitchen. The look of disappointment on her face is etched inside my mind and I pause. An invisible lump lodges itself inside my throat, my eyes brimming with tears at her rejection.

"What the hell was that?" I question quietly, looking up at him. His jaw is set firmly in anger, dark eyes flashing with annoyance.

"That is when someone can't accept your decision. Who knew it would be so hard for people to accept what you want to do with your body?" Tobias mutters, placing his hands on me to help me up the rest of the stairs.

I feel my stomach churn with a nauseas feeling that makes me want to throw up immediately. I suck in a deep breath, holding my head high as I continue up the rest of the stairs. I know Ivory thinks I've made the wrong decision but as soon as I place my hand on my stomach. . .

I'm reminded exactly why I haven't.