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"Congratulations, you're pregnant!"

I gazed at my doctor, my eyes wide in shock, as she clutched the results in her hand, a bright smile illuminating her face. When I first received the positive test at home, doubt crept in, and I dismissed it as a mistake. I had convinced myself it was a mistake. So, I canceled the date I had today and rushed to her office, insisting that it was urgent.

My voice faltered, a lump forming in my throat. "But how did this happen? You told me it was impossible for me to get pregnant."

She placed the paper gently before me, her eyes sparkling with a mix of joy and disbelief. "I said it was unlikely, but nothing in life is ever guaranteed, (y/n). I also mentioned that miracles do happen," she said, her enthusiasm evident as she gestured toward me. "And it appears one has. I can only imagine how thrilled Arthur will be."

A wave of realization washed over me, reminding me that she hadn't been around since our breakup, leaving her unaware of the truth. "Actually, um, Arthur and I aren't together anymore. It's been some time," I said, clearing my throat to mask the weight of my confession. "How far along am I?" I quickly interjected, hoping to steer the conversation away from my personal life.

She gave me a look of concern, but didn't push any further, "We'd need to perform an ultrasound to determine that," she replied, her tone professional yet warm. "But the last time you were here, the test was negative, so you can't be more than four or five weeks along."

This child was not Arthur's, I didn't need any test to prove it. The timelines fit together just right. Not to mention how unsafe Anakin and I were because let's be honest, I didn't believe it was important to use protection, and I certainly didn't care about where he finished.

This can not be happening.

"Shit," I muttered, stretching the syllables as anxiety coursed through me. My fingers danced nervously along the hem of my shirt, while my foot drummed a restless rhythm against the floor.

"Are you not thrilled about this?" she inquired, her brows knitting together in concern.

I met her gaze, a smile breaking through my unease. "I am, really I am," I admitted, warmth blooming in my chest at the thought of finally getting what I have always wanted. "It's just," My smile died, "I'm worried about how the father will react." The thought of breaking the news to him sent a shiver down my spine. "After Arthur and I ended things, I took this trip and—"

She cut me off with a wave of her hand. "You don't need to explain further; I understand. But don't let it weigh on you too heavily. If he doesn't accept this baby, remember, they will have you, and that will be more than enough."

I exhaled a long-held breath, a wave of relief washing over me. "Thank you," I murmured, my hand resting gently on my abdomen, a smile forming on my lips once more, "Hi." I whispered.

🍼

With the positive results in my pocket, I stepped out of the elevator and onto my floor. I had made sure to carry them with me, just in case he suspected I was playing a prank on him.

Taking a deep breath, I hurried toward his office, deliberately avoiding the eyes of my colleagues. It was clear he had made a fuss about me being late; the countless phone calls from him, along with the calls from my friends, made that obvious . "He's going to kill you," Talia whispered as I passed her desk.

"I doubt that," I mumbled under my breath.

As I reached his closed office door, I took a moment to mentally rehearse my words one last time before raising my hand to knock.

The moment I did, a wave of regret washed over me. A part of me didn't want to tell him anything, to avoid the inevitable outburst that was sure to come. Maybe this wasn't the best place to share my news, but it was the only time I had the chance to see him. Inviting him out after work would only lead him to believe he was getting lucky—again.

"Come in," he demanded, his tone stern.

With a deep breath, I tore off the band-aid and entered his office, shutting the door firmly behind me. "We need to—"

Anakin's eyes bore into me from his chair, a storm brewing within them. "I specifically instructed you not to be late today, and yet here you are at eleven o'clock. Four hours late." He interrupted me, his voice laced with venom.

I stepped towards his desk, "I know, but listen—"

The air in the office was thick with tension as I confronted him. "We had a meeting today with Destiny regarding a new book, which is precisely why I needed you here. But, as usual, you chose to ignore me and let it slip away." He cut me off, his voice sharp and dismissive.

Frustration bubbled within me, and I snapped, "Could you just shut up for a moment and let me finish?"

"I have no interest in hearing about your date. Frankly, I couldn't care less. Now, leave my office." He gestured toward the door, acting like a child during a tantrum.

Choosing to ignore his demand, I approached his desk, retrieving the piece of paper from my pocket. "I didn't go on that date; I was at the doctor's," I declared, unfolding it and slamming the paper down in front of him.

He stared at the document, his expression unreadable, "What's this for?"

In that instant, words eluded me, and a wave of panic washed over me. My heart raced, and my palms grew clammy. It was as if I had swallowed my tongue while, losing my ability to speak. With an exasperated sigh, he picked up the paper, his eyes scanning its contents. "I'm pregnant," I blurted out, desperate to make sure he heard it from me rather than from the paper.

The moment the words escaped my mouth, his gaze lifted to lock onto mine, his hand falling away as the paper slipped back onto the desk. Silence enveloped us, not a sound breaking the tension.

"I visited my doctor earlier today to confirm, and what you see there are the results," I said, my throat tightening with anxiety. "And the baby is yours."

Even now, he remained silent, his gaze locked onto mine. The thoughts swirling behind his eyes were impenetrable, leaving wondering what he was thinking.

"I'm sharing this with you out of courtesy," I pressed on, desperate to break the uncomfortable silence. "But you don't have to get involved. You can walk away, and I swear I won't ask anything of you. I won't even tell anyone that you're the father." The words had been rehearsed in my mind, yet they tumbled out with uncertainty, my voice trembling slightly.

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes still fixed on me, as if searching for something. "You're—" he started, hesitating for a heartbeat, "You're pregnant?"

"Yes," I whispered, questioning whether he had truly heard what I had just said.

"And," he pointed to himself, "And I'm the father." That time it didn't sound like a question, more like he was making a statement—trying to put it all together.

I studied him, making sure he wasn't about to have a stroke. "Yes, you are."

He paused, taking a deep breath as he shifted in his chair, the hinges creaking beneath him. "Are you certain it's mine?"

I met his gaze, nodding slowly. "The timelines match up with Seattle. And Arthur and I, we hadn't—" A wave of discomfort washed over me at the thought of revealing too much, "You know, in quite some time, so there's no way it could be his. You're the only other person I've been with."

He ran his fingers through his hair, a clear sign of his own rising anxiety. "I'm really confused. You told me you couldn't get pregnant."

"I believed that too," I exclaimed, my hands flying up in frustration before dropping back to my sides. "But it turns out nothing is ever a hundred percent certain."

His eyes flicked from mine to my stomach. "So, you're planning to keep it?"

I placed my hand gently on my stomach, mirroring his gaze. "This could be my only chance, so yes, I am. That's why I'm offering you a way out; I won't pressure you into this." Neither of us expected this, or hoped for this, or even thought this was possible. So, I felt like it would be unfair of me to drop this on him and expect him to be involved.

He lowered his eyes to the desk, where the paper lay like a heavy weight. "I need a moment alone, please," he murmured, his voice barely rising above a whisper.

"Sure, take your time," I replied, sensing the gravity of the situation. There was no point in pressing him; shock had a way of demanding solitude. "I'll be just outside whenever you're ready—"

"No," he interrupted, still not meeting my gaze. "You should go home."

"What—"

"Please, just go home (y/n). I'll call you or see you tomorrow—I don't know." His eyes remained glued to the paper, the word "positive" glaring back at him like a cruel reminder.

I nodded slowly, retreating from his office, a knot of worry tightening in my chest as I wondered what was going to happen now.

🍼

I found myself seated on the cold floor of my apartment, surrounded by a few scattered boxes that begged to be unpacked. Time seemed to stretch as I glanced at the clock, noting that it was already 8 PM, and Anakin had been silent for nearly nine hours.

With a soft sigh, I pulled out a picture frame, revealing a cherished photo of my younger self with my childhood dog. I studied the image, pondering if I were to have a daughter, would she resemble that innocent girl? Just as I lost myself in nostalgia, a gentle knock echoed through the stillness of my home.

Furrowing my brows, I set the frame aside and rose from the floor, making my way to the door. Peering through the peephole, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. "You're not here to push me down the stairs, are you?" I called out, half-joking, half-serious.

Anakin rolled his eyes in response. "Open the door, (y/n)."

I stepped back, unlocking the door and pulling it open. Our eyes met for the first time since I had shared the news, and he momentarily glanced around at the chaos of my apartment. "What brings you here?" I asked, a sigh escaping my lips. I knew the reason for his visit, but I was curious about what he intended to say.

His hands were buried deep in his coat pockets, and he shifted his weight nervously. "I've had a lot of time to think."

"About nine hours," I replied, a hint of sarcasm lacing my tone.

He shot me a stern look before continuing, "I've never wanted children, (y/n). Never." He shook his head slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I don't know if I have what it takes to be a father."

"That's okay," I reassured him gently. "Neither of us anticipated this." If we had known it was a possibility, we would have taken every precaution to avoid it, but life has a way of surprising us.

"But it's still my child, and I want to be part of this. All I ask is for a little patience; I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Well," I exhaled, relief washing over me—I was prepared to do it alone, that doesn't mean I wanted to. I opened the door wider, inviting him in. "Neither do I."

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I know some of you wanted more drama, but as much as an ass this Ani is, he has a big heart. But there will be drama to come, it's not just going to be them running through a field of flowers the rest of the book, we need a little chaos, no?