(A/N: Sorry it took so long for me to post a new chapter! Things got a bit hectic. Also, a lot of babies in this chapter. Haha. Also, I apologize for the lack of screenshots and short chapter. I'll have a 1+ year post up soon, since I missed my 1 year.)
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Bart’s Point of View
Falling in love with Ariel Spencer was so… easy.
One second, we were friends, and the next we were…
What are we?
That thought, the thought that enveloped my mind every moment of every day, the
want, the need to be more.
And I was going to ask her, that night…
The night she fell.
It was such a confusing night, first she was under, and then she… wasn’t.
She was safe. I dragged her out of the water, laying her down on the bed and
waiting out her unconscious state.
When she awoke, she had no idea what had happened. The last thing she
remembered was standing there, seconds before falling.
Everyone was too spooked to stay at the island, so we ended our trip early,
catching an early flight back to Monte Vista.
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I was awoken by the sounds of vomiting emanating from the bathroom next to the
bedroom Ariel and I shared. I looked around the room, my vision hazy as I
blinked away the sleepiness from my eyes. I patted the space next to me,
noticing it was empty. “Ariel?” I croaked, my voice hoarse. I cleared my
throat, calling her name again. “Ariel, you okay?”
“Yeah.” She coughed, a toilet flushed behind the closed door. “I’m fine, just
ate some bad food or something…” The door opened, and I saw Ariel standing on
the other side, her skin sickly pale, the expression on her face pained. Her
stance was weak, and she was leaning on the wall for support.
“You sure?” I reached forward to help her, but she swatted me away. “I can take
you to the doctor, if you need.”
“No, I’m fine.” She attempted to let go of the wall and stepped forward, before
falling down. I rushed forward, catching her before she hit the floor.
“Ariel, you aren’t fine.” I held her up, leading her to the bed. “I’m taking
you to the doctor in the morning. Okay?”
“Fine,” She mumbled, lying in bed. I slid the blankets over her, making sure
she was warm.
Could it be that she contracted a sickness when she fell? That she actually ate
bad food?
Could it be that she-
No, no way. I mean, it was possible. But she didn’t find a father during the
trip. None that I knew of, anyway.
But if she was, could it be mine?
I shoved the thoughts away, crawling into bed next to her.
The lights drifted away, fading into the pure blackness of peaceful slumber.
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“Mr. Spencer?” The doctor slid out of the room, holding a clipboard in his
hands. His expression was calm, but I knew by now not to trust doctor’s calm
expressions. Not after Jake, or his parents.
“Oh, no. Mr. Holmes, we aren’t married.” I quickly corrected him. “We’re just
friends.”
“Okay. Well, Mr. Holmes, I have some… news.” He tacked the last part on, a
strange, unidentifiable tone in his voice. “Ariel seems to be… pregnant.”
I was struck with shock, adrenaline pumped through my veins and even though I
expected this, it still surprised me. “Oh… Uh, okay.” I quickly recomposed
myself, thinking about the news. I noticed the tone he said it in, and pointed
it out to him. “Why did you say that in… that
tone?”
“Because, she seems to be pregnant with… octuplets.”
“Octuplets!?” I yelped, my voice loud before I quieted down. “You mean, eight
babies!? Is that even possible?”
“Yes, Mr. Holmes. It’s possible, however very rare, and dangerous.” The
doctor’s voice was low, his speech slowed. “We’re going to have to insist that
we keep her over the course of her pregnancy, to make sure she’s safe.”
“Okay.” I rushed, my thoughts going a mile a minute. “So, uh, she’ll be okay,
right? You’ll make sure she’s safe?”
“We’ll do the best we can.” The doctor stated.
I noticed he didn’t say yes. He didn’t say she’d be safe.
“Can I see her?” I asked, walking towards the door. The doctor nodded and I
slipped past him, into the room.
“Hey, Bart.” She smiled, a beautiful smile that always made its way into my
heart. But this time, it was weak. “Octuplets. How exciting, right?”
“Ariel…” I sighed, trying to find the words to say. “Are you feeling okay?” I
gently sat on the side of the bed she was laying in, resting my hand on her
leg.
“Yeah. I mean, they gave me a bunch of medication, so I guess I am.” She
smiled, placing her hand over mine. “Hey, uh, Bart? Can I ask you a question?”
My heart skipped a beat when she touched me, like it always does. “Anything. I
promise.” I smile back at her.
“Before I fell, you were going to ask me a question. What was it?” Her eyes
shone with curiosity, and I was afraid. Afraid she would reject me, afraid it
would upset her.
“Nothing important.” I smile, squeezing her thigh lightly. “I forgot, to be
honest.” I lied, guilt creeping up on me. “You get some rest. I’ll be here
beside you, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Bart. You’re a great friend.” She started to doze off, the
medicines taking effect.
“Yeah, I know.” I whispered when she was asleep, sighing down at her. “I love
you.”
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The days passed in a conflicting mix of slow and fast; almost like I could
blink and miss weeks at a time, and then spend eternity on just one day.
I spent most of my time at the hospital with Ariel, reading her books or
miscellaneous other past-times. Soon enough, though, it was closing in on her
due date. Her condition fluctuated; sometimes she was happy and healthy, other
times she was sick and could barely stay awake. When it neared time for her to
give birth, her condition was the latter. The doctors were worried, although
they didn’t show it. But I couldn’t hide my emotions as well as them. I spent
most of my times during these days locked in the bathroom, trying to hide the
tears spilling from my eyes.
“Mr. Holmes.” A nurse approached me one morning as I entered the hospital, a
blank expression on her face. “Ariel Spencer has entered labor about half an
hour ago. Everything seems to be fine, but we’ll keep you informed in case
anything changes.”
“Okay.” I followed her to the waiting room, grabbing a book to read during my
wait.
Some hours later, the same nurse exited the delivery room, a smile on her face.
“How is everything?” I rushed to her, worry filling me.
“Just fine, Mr. Holmes. Everything went great, Ariel is fine and the babies are
in good condition. But, uh, Ariel is asleep… Have you two talked baby names?”
“No, not really.” I thought. “But, I can help name them, if you’d like?”
“That’d be great, Mr. Holmes.” The nurse smiled, gesturing me to follow her. We
entered a room where I filled out the paperwork.
4 baby boys, Achilles, Ajax, Ambros, and Andreas, and 4 baby girls, Acacia,
Anthea, Amaryllis, and Alpha.
