You woke up to the sound of Minho's alarm ringing right next to your head, and you groaned, your eyes still heavy with sleep. Stretching your arms, you tried opening your eyes little by little, trying to gradually get used to the morning light.

The cats were following your movements closely and imitating you by stretching their limbs as well, Dori even letting out a small squeak while turning with his belly up, trying to get a little more sleep in while indulging himself.

"Morning." Minho yawned, his arm draping over your body, his eyes still closed.

"What time is it?" You asked softly, finding it hard to talk so early in the morning.

"8 AM. Still plenty of time before I have to open up the restaurant, but I need to go and start cooking. You can sleep in if you want." Minho matched the softness of your voice and explained things in a slow succession that was easy enough to follow.

You woke up feeling clingier than usual, and felt the need to hug and cuddle with Minho, but much to your dismay, he got out of bed not long after he spoke.

You decided to close your eyes again and tried to fall back asleep to no avail, so, after 20-something minutes, you decided to also get up and get changed, going downstairs to help Minho.

~

Time flew, the clock on the wall indicating 8PM, and your feet were hurting pretty badly after a long day of being up and about serving customers and washing cutlery and plates in the kitchen sink.

You heard the chime of the entrance door's bell, so you went out of the kitchen to bring menus to the new customers. You grabbed them from the counter, but before scanning the room with your eyes to check which table got occupied, you stopped by Changbin's table and asked him if he wanted anything else to drink.

He shook his head and smiled sweetly at you, before his eyes darted back to his laptop. What he was working on, you had no clue, but he seemed focused, so you decided to not inquire any further and made your way towards the newly occupied table.

When you noticed who was sitting down at it, though, you immediately started hyperventilating and turned around, praying to God that they didn't notice you.

You didn't think that your reunion with Dan would happen this way – or at all – but there he was, sitting leisurely with Ara and her boyfriend, and your biggest fears came true.

He found you somehow, probably through Ara, since you just met her yesterday. How she ended up tracking Minho down, however, you didn't know, but it didn't matter either, because she was here, in the restaurant, with the man you ran away from and hoped you'd never have to face ever again.

You wanted to run back to the kitchen and hide, to alert Minho somehow, but before you got the chance to leave the room, Dan had already gotten a good grip on your wrist, turning you around and dragging you towards his table. He tried to make you sit down next to him, but you resisted with all your strength.

God, you forgot how strong he was. You forgot it all, and you didn't want to remember.

Anxiety was rising from your stomach in the shape of bile down your throat, and you felt yourself on the edge of throwing up. You tried swallowing it back down, but your whole body had such a strong reaction against Dan, that you didn't think you'd hold on for much longer.

Dan didn't have a chance to speak any words before Changbin got up from his chair, and you were so glad he decided to come to the restaurant tonight, because not only was he observant and paying attention to you, but he also noticed Dan's eerie behaviour.

"Everything alright here?" Changbin approached the table right away, and when you began shaking your head, he knew something was wrong.

"No, man. Nothing's wrong. We're just some old friends who haven't seen her in a while. We just want to talk. Right, baby?" Dan's grip on your wrist got stronger as he directed the question to you.

He was threatening you once again, making you feel small, and your eyes immediately darted towards your feet, a habit you apparently still had whenever Dan spoke to you in that fake sweet tone.

You fought the urge to nod your head and act submissive, just as you've always done because of him. You didn't want to do it this time, so you had to fight against every nerve in your body telling you to just listen to him and downplay the situation.

"I don't know, man, but I don't get any friendly vibes from you." Changbin's eyes narrowed, being ever so observant of your demeanour. "Let go of her wrist while I'm still asking nicely."

Dan scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Why don't you just mind your own business?"

"Because it seems to me you're acting quite inappropriately." Changbin countered.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Dan retorted, his grip on your wrist only growing tighter. "Come on, baby, tell him to back off and sit down." He redirected his attention to you, and you felt yourself growing even smaller.

The cramps were suddenly back, and a sharp pain travelled once more throughout your body, making you shut your eyes tight.

"It's true! You see, he is her boyfriend, and he's been really worried! There's nothing wrong here!" Ara chimed in, noticing that you didn't reply, but Changbin had a hunch you didn't want to be around these people.

"Sure, I believe you." Changbin smiled in a fake manner. "That doesn't mean I find it appropriate to force her to sit down next to you. Let her go while I'm still asking nicely." He placed his own hand on Dan's wrist, trying to make him listen before things turned violent.

"Or what?" Dan provoked.

"Or I'm gonna-"

"What's going on?" Minho came out of the kitchen, hearing the commotion, and froze when he saw you sheepishly looking at your feet while a tall man held tightly onto your wrist.

Ara whispered something into Dan's ear, making him instantly turn his head to look at Minho.

He let go of you and straightened his back, shaking Changbin's hand off his wrist as well and coming threateningly towards Minho, pushing against his chest with his index finger.

"So you are the bastard she's been cheating on me with."

Minho looked at you briefly, and your eyes met. You didn't know what to do, but you hated that you involved Minho in this. You hated this so much.

Your eyes involuntarily watered, and the cramps got even worse.

"Come on, man, it's obvious what's going on." Dan grinned. "I came here to take back what's mine."

"What's yours?" Minho let out a mocking chuckle. "And what's that?"

"You wanna play dumb?" Dan chuckled as well. "Fine, then. Come on, Dal-Rae, time to go home." He returned next to you and grabbed your wrist again, and it was like a chain reaction, because Changbin grabbed Dan's wrist, and Minho followed, grabbing his shirt.

"Let me go." You spoke weakly, but knowing that Minho was willing to fight this battle next to you, and that even Changbin seemed to be on your side, gave you courage.

You looked Dan right in the eyes and for the first time in your life, you decided to stand up against him and were unfiltered.

"I said let go of me!" You shouted, this time confident, and snatched your hand back.

Dan seemed taken aback for a brief second, before his anger took over, and he sent a powerful slap your way, making you wince and move back a few steps. You stumbled on one of the chairs and fell, feeling a new wave of pain circling throughout your body.

His reaction was so unexpected that Minho and Changbin didn't have time to react and keep him away from you or help you from falling. Even Ara and her boyfriend seemed taken aback.

"I see what this is." Dan spoke. "You've been cheating on me the whole time, like the whore you are! Is that even my baby?!" He started walking towards you, possibly wanting to hit you some more, or maybe finish what he started the night that convinced you to finally leave him.

Maybe he wanted to kill you for real this time. His expression sure told you that.

He didn't get to you this time, though, as Changbin and Minho began stopping him, and even Ara's boyfriend stepped in front of you, trying to stop his friend.

"Man, a cheating bitch is not worth it." He tried to reason with Dan, but he wouldn't hear it. He turned around and punched Minho in the face, moment when Changbin saw his chance and tackled him down.

"Dal-Rae, call the cops!" Changbin shouted as Minho regained his senses, warm blood flowing from his nose.

Minho managed to stand up and look at you, but you were crouched on the floor, holding onto your belly.

Everything hurt, and it was hard to breathe. With every breath you took, sharp pain invaded every part of your body, and your belly hurt so much, you couldn't even hear anything else happening around you.

"Dal-Rae?" Minho immediately got concerned, noticing your pained expression, as well as the liquid starting to form under you. "Fuck! I'm calling an ambulance, hold on!" He shouted and grabbed Changbin's phone from the table, dialling the emergency services while Changbin and Ara's boyfriend held Dan down.

Shortly after, an ambulance and a police car arrived at the restaurant, and Minho briefly explained the situation. He went with you into the ambulance, while Changbin stood behind to give the police a more detailed account of what went on regarding Dan's behaviour, which most likely resulted in you going into premature labour.

~

The way to the hospital was excruciatingly painful for you, but you were at least glad Minho was there holding your hand tightly.

He tried whispering sweet words in his soft voice, but it was getting harder and harder to hear him over all the loud thoughts in your mind.

To say you were scared would be an understatement. You were way more than that.

What if you or your baby wouldn't make it?

You were terrified.

The doctor in the ambulance tried to talk to you, but his concerned expression made you anxious, and things started becoming fuzzy.

Nothing made sense anymore. The lights were too bright, so you closed your eyes shut, and all the words thrown around you were inaudible. It was like the doctor and Minho were speaking another language you couldn't quite understand.

The things you did hear were not good. Blood loss, high blood pressure, preterm labour.

Your head was spinning, you felt sick, and you were in so much pain – God, you would've never believed someone would be able to feel this much pain and survive.

Maybe you wouldn't. Maybe this was where you died, and maybe Minho would be the sweetheart he's been all these months and adopt your baby and raise her in your place.

Maybe the last thing you'd hear in this world would be words that made no sense to you, and the last thing you'd feel would be pain and fear.

You took one last shaky breath, and with your eyes closed, you embraced the serenity of unconsciousness.

~

(A/N) Yeah... no words for this chapter.

What are your thoughts? Will Dal-Rae and her baby make it?

Let me know!

Love,

Storm