Content Warning: The following chapter contains depictions of mental health issues and distressing situations that may be triggering to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Bella's POV

Joey provided me with a ride home; Skylar opted out, leaving an unexpected silence in the car. He and I usually sparked engaging conversations effortlessly, yet today, it was impossible. The news had created a tense atmosphere. Skylar not coming had Joey conflicted about leaving her.

"Bella, would it be okay if I accompanied you to your next doctor's appointment?" Joey's worried tone asked as I arrived home.

"Yeah, it's for next month," I assured him, noticing the hint of concern in his nod.

As May stood looking in our hallway mirror, she inquired about our conversation. I offered a faint smile, evading further discussion.

"Bella, you can talk to me," May insisted gently, fixing her gaze on me.

"It's fine, let's catch up after you've met the family," I deflected, trying to lighten the mood.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, observing May pacing around nervously.

"Alright, I guess, but..." She trailed off as she looked at herself again.

"You look stunning," I complimented, admiring May's elegant transformation.

Her lightly applied makeup enhanced her flawless complexion, granting her an ethereal glow. Her once-blonde locks, now a sleek black hue, beautifully framed her face in a newly cut, chic bob, accentuating her graceful features.

"Do you think it's too much? Not too overdone?" May questioned, glancing doubtfully at herself in the mirror, her nerves palpable despite her poised exterior.

"You look beautiful and sophisticated. If I weren't expecting, I'd ask you out," I teased, prompting a chuckle from May.

"I'd have said yes, but I'm neither bossy nor brooding, so maybe not," May quipped, lightening the atmosphere with a joke about Skylar and Joey.

Suppressing my nerves, I chuckled, not wanting to worry her. Yet, her genuine smile indicated her growing ease.

"You'll have a great time," I reassured her.

As the doorbell chimed, May's apprehension heightened once more.

"You look amazing," I complimented. I offered May a reassuring squeeze as we opened the door to Jake.

"Hey, Bella," Jake greeted me warmly, his gaze shifting to May, his expression transforming into pleasant surprise.

"Wow," he exclaimed, genuinely impressed.

"Too much?" May nervously ask.

"No, you look perfect," Jake replied with a beaming smile.

"Are you ready?" Jake asked her sweetly.

Glancing at me with concern, May asked, "Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" I playfully nodded, determined not to dampen her evening.

"Now go have fun," I stated as they left and locked the door.

Observing May and Jake together, their relationship seemed like the epitome of perfection. It reminded me of how Jake had initially strived to impress May, proving himself beyond the tag of a wealthy boy.

I longed for the peaceful bliss that seemed to envelop May and Jake, contrasting sharply with the complexities of my relationships with Joey and Skylar. Joey's agreement to join me for the next doctor's appointment was a relief. Yet the weight of Skylar's unexpected reaction lingered, leaving me puzzled about her feelings of betrayal.

Joey's POV

I can't believe I was going to be a father again. It's crazy that I got Bella pregnant. Only once had I ever not used condoms with Bella, and that was our first time. I knew Bella was telling the truth because she was not a good liar.

I didn't quite like Bella at first. She was occupying Skylar's mind. I knew if I told Skylar, she would have ended her interest and not pursued it.

But the same way I knew she would have, I knew I wouldn't be happy to cause her pain if not experiencing it. She deserved to understand this new feeling.

I was grateful for Skylar to include me in it. I slowly began to realize how sweet Bella was. The feeling just started to appear. As we spoke on the phone, Bella discussed her desire to volunteer.

Bella encouraging me to be generous and not teasing me about my care for animals felt nice. The way she would sometimes unconsciously hum once she was engrossed in a song. Her lack of awareness of doing it made her more adorable. When she tried to lie, she always bit my lip.

I was beginning to care a lot for Bella, but her pregnancy was coming as a shock. I am happy she wants to keep the pregnancy, but my fear of her getting hurt or losing another baby scared me.

Flashback

"Joey, if there was a choice between me and our Peanut. Pick Peanut, I had a wonderful life," Sky happily said with a smile as we lay down.

"Sky, I loved our peanut," I said with a smile as I kissed her belly, "But I don't think I could sacrifice you," I stated with seriousness.

"Joey promised me you would pick Peanut," she pleaded as she stared at me, "I won't be able to live if you pick me," she cried as tears fell from her eyes. I didn't want to agree, but I didn't want to cause her any pain. I hoped it would never come.

"I promised," I whispered as she stared at me. Once I uttered it, a smile shined on her face.

For the rest of the night, we spent it relaxing and watching movies. It was a fun night as we cuddled with each other.

Once Skylar entered her second trimester, the doctor put her on bed rest because she was getting exhausted fast and dehydrated, so Skylar was fainting a lot.

Skylar had fainted and hit her head on the hard cold tile. I was not quick enough to catch her, and she was unconscious. Her parents met me at the emergency room as the ambulance brought her.

The doctor informed us they had to do an emergency surgery on Skylar to stop the brain bleeding. By them doing it, the baby was not going to make it. If they tried to take the baby out early, they couldn't promise it would survive or if Skylar would ever wake up with them delaying her surgery.

I couldn't imagine losing any of them. I knew I made the promise to Skylar, which I had to keep.

"Take the baby out first," I said with tears welling up, "Sky would wake up. She had to," I pleaded with the doctor.

Her parents decided it wasn't a good idea. They informed the doctor to sacrifice our baby. They had the decision-making for Skylar since we were not married, and Skylar never filed for me to have power over attorney for medical decisions for her.

I told them Skylar wanted her baby to have a chance, but they told me they couldn't take the chance of losing their only child.

Once Skylar woke, she was heartbroken and filled with pain.

"Where is our peanut," she asked as she hugged me. I wasn't able to utter a word it hurt me.

"Honey," her dad said, with a sad look as Skylar held a confused.

"It was a choice between you and the baby. We had to choose...." her mom said with a guilty look.

"No, "Skylar screamed as she broke in front of us.

"Joey-why didn't- you tell," she said as tears welled in her eyes as she stuttered.

My heart broke as the doctors had to sedate her as she tried to hurt herself. It was the worst I ever saw her. Sky had to go to the psych ward to protect herself. She was so feeble then, and she had a look of pain.

I hated myself for not being able to protect her, although I didn't know how to. From that day, I decided I didn't want kids again, at least biological.

Flashback Ended

It took a while for Skylar to become herself. I stayed there through it all, although she didn't want me or her parents to visit her for a while.

I got a small tattoo with a peanut at the end of the tattoo with Skylar's name to always remember our lost baby. When she was finally released, she moved back in with me. She was always a shallow version of her old self until she met Bella two years ago. The smiles she showed about Bella made me happy she returned but envious that I wasn't the cause.

***Triggered Warning***

The house was eerily quiet, and the blinds were down. I saw the dishes broken, and Sky was sitting in the middle with tears falling. The sink water has flown down on her. It was a clear sign Sky had a mental breakdown.

I wished I was strong enough to not be in this situation. I lifted Skylar and gave her a warm bath as she shed tears. Once done, I placed her in clothes and held her tight.

"Joey, what if something happened...." she whispered, her voice trailing off with the suffering high.

I didn't know what to say because I was scared as well. I knew I had to figure out how to help Sky not go deep into the darkness and be there for Bella. I don't want to tell Bella about our Peanut, not because of a lack of trust but because the topic always makes me emotional, and I don't want pity.

1541 Words

How did the flashbacks concerning Joey and Skylar's past impact your perception of their current struggles? Did it change your perspective on Joey and Skylar's relationship dynamics?

What emotions did you experience while reading about the tension between Skylar, Joey, and Bella? How did their individual perspectives affect your understanding of the situation?

Thank you so much to everyone who is reading my story! I hope you enjoying! An if you are enjoying the story please vote and comment. I apologize for the late update. It is not edited and I am working on the two chapters for today now.