Five years later...

The sterile smell of antiseptic lingered in the air, mixing with the sounds of beeping monitors and hurried footsteps outside the door. But inside the room, all that mattered was the moment. Priscilla, drenched in sweat, her face flushed with exhaustion, clutched Evie's hand as tightly as she could. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling from the exertion, but she wasn't alone.

"One more push, Priscilla! Just one more!" the doctor encouraged from the foot of the bed, their voice both firm and calming.

Evie stood beside her, unwavering. "You've got this, Pris! You're almost there," she whispered, her words soft yet powerful, radiating belief. Her grip on Priscilla's hand was steady, an anchor in the storm of pain and effort. "You're so strong. You're doing amazing."

Priscilla let out an exhausted and frustrated sigh and shook her head, leaning back into the pillow. "I can't do this." She whispered with a small cry. "I can't do it without him. Without Carlos."

Evie nodded her head, "Yes, you can." She whispered into Priscilla's ear. "You can do this, Pris. You may not see him in the room but believe me. He is here with us." Evie assured her, placing her hand on Priscilla's chest, on top of her fastened heart. "Okay?"

"Okay." Priscilla repeated with a nod before gritting her teeth, drawing in another deep breath as she summoned the last of her strength. Her body obeyed, and with a final, desperate push, the room was filled with the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard—a baby's cry.

The tension broke. Priscilla slumped back against the pillows, her body spent, but a breathless laugh escaped her lips. Tears welled in her eyes, the overwhelming relief and joy colliding inside her chest. The nurses were quick, wrapping the baby in a soft, white blanket and placing the tiny, squirming bundle on her chest.

"Congratulations, Priscilla," the nurse said, her tone warm and gentle, "You've got a healthy baby boy."

Priscilla looked down, her eyes wide, blinking through tears as she saw her son for the first time. He was small, his skin pink and wrinkled, with a tuft of dark hair poking out beneath the blanket. Her heart swelled, the love immediate and fierce. She let out another quiet laugh, this one broken by sobs as her fingers delicately traced the curve of his cheek. "He's...he's perfect," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.

Leaning forward, Priscilla pressed her forehead to the baby's, her tears mingling with the newborn scent of his skin. She closed her eyes, lost in the moment, the world around her disappearing as she held him close. The tiny weight on her chest was everything—life, hope, love, all wrapped up in that fragile, perfect little form.

Evie, still by her side, reached over and gently pushed back the damp strands of Priscilla's hair, her smile broad, filled with happiness and relief. "You did it, Priscilla," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so proud of you."

Priscilla nodded, too overwhelmed to speak, her tears still flowing as she kissed her baby's head. Evie's hand remained on her shoulder, steady, grounding her in the tidal wave of emotions.

A few minutes later, one of the nurses approached with soft words, gently taking the baby from Priscilla's arms to clean him up and run a few checks. As soon as the tiny weight was lifted, exhaustion took over, pulling Priscilla into a deep, well-deserved sleep. Her face softened, her body sinking into the bed, finally at peace after hours of labor.

Evie watched her, her smile lingering as she stood by the bedside, her own heart filled with pride and affection. She walked over to the door of the hospital room and opened the door, looking out in the hallway where Mal, Jay, and Diana were sitting on the nearby chairs, all of them speaking quietly. Evie gestured to them that they could now come in. their eyes flicking between Priscilla and the door where the nurses had taken the baby.

"She did it," Evie whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Mal was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, her tough exterior softening in moments like these. "Of course, she did. She's strong. Just like us."

Jay stood near the window, peering out into the evening sky, soft grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "She's going to be an amazing mom."

Evie nodded in agreement, her eyes flicking down to Priscilla's still form. "Yeah, she is. All of this feels surreal."

Before anyone could respond, one of the nurses returned, pushing a small bassinet. She walked quietly over to Evie, her expression warm and congratulatory.

"Here he is," the nurse said, gently lifting the baby from the bassinet, carefully wrapped in a soft white blanket with tiny blue designs. His skin was pink and fresh, and a tiny blue hat sat snugly atop his head. She handed him over to Evie, who accepted him with reverence.

Evie looked down at the tiny, perfect face, eyes still squeezed shut, a soft whimpering sound coming from the little boy's mouth. She felt her heart swell in a way she hadn't expected. This little baby, so small and fragile, was the beginning of something new for Priscilla. She glanced down at his small, peaceful face, and the corners of her eyes softened as she whispered, "Hi there, little one."

Mal stepped closer, her tough exterior cracking as she looked down at the newborn. "Wow," she said quietly, "he's even smaller than I thought he'd be."

Jay joined them, crossing his arms and shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't believe she did it. Priscilla's a mom now."
"She's going to be amazing," Diana added, her voice full of confidence. She sat down on the edge of Priscilla's bed, her hand resting gently on her sleeping friend's arm. "She's always been strong. She's been through so much this past year, but now... now she has him."

Mal nodded in agreement. "She'll teach him everything she knows. And maybe we'll teach him a few things too." Her lips curled into a sly smile.

Evie gently sat down in the chair beside Priscilla's bed, rocking the baby slowly in her arms. "He's going to have the best family," she whispered, as if making a silent promise to the little one.

A few moments passed in peaceful silence. Priscilla stirred, slowly waking from her deep exhaustion. She blinked her eyes open, her body still heavy from the labor, but her gaze immediately fell on Evie, holding the baby.

A soft, disbelieving smile spread across Priscilla's face. "Is that...him?"

Evie nodded, her smile bright and full of love. "Yeah. Do you want to hold him?"

Priscilla nodded weakly, and Evie carefully placed the tiny baby in her arms. Priscilla's eyes filled with tears the moment she felt his weight against her chest. She looked down at him, her heart expanding in ways she hadn't thought possible.

"Hi, baby," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm your mama." She leaned down, pressing her forehead to his, her tears falling freely now. "I'm your mama," she repeated, her voice full of wonder.

Evie, standing beside her, brushed Priscilla's damp hair back again, her smile unwavering. "You're already doing so great, Pris. He's so lucky to have you."

Priscilla looked up at her, her face still streaked with tears. "I couldn't have done this without you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Evie. Thank you all of you guys for everything."

Evie's eyes shimmered as she nodded. "You don't have to thank me. I'm always here for you. We all are."

"Always." Evie added

Diana, Jay, and Mal gathered around the bed, forming a protective circle around Priscilla and the baby. Jay leaned down and grinned at the newborn. "What're you going to name him, Pris?" he asked softly.

Priscilla looked down at her son, gently tracing a finger along his tiny cheek. She paused for a moment, then smiled. "His name is Pierre... Pierre Carlos De Vil"

"Pierre," Mal repeated, her lips curving into a sad but happy smile. "It suits him. Strong name for a strong boy."

Jay gave a nod of approval. "Pierre it is. Welcome to the world, little man."

The room filled with a warm, quiet joy as the group watched Priscilla hold her son, each of them silently vowing to protect and guide him, just as they had each protected and guided one another throughout their own lives.

Diana, Mal, Evie and Jay exchanged glances, their smiles soft as they watched over the two. They knew this was just the beginning of a new chapter in all of their lives— a chapter filled with love, hope, and endless possibilities.

For now, though, they would savor this quiet moment, together as they had always been, but with a new addition to their family-one that would change everything, in the best possible way.

As Priscilla continued cradled the baby in her arms, her breath caught for a moment. She hadn't noticed it before in the chaos of the delivery, but now that she was holding him so close, she could see it clearly. The baby's face, though still scrunched with newborn softness, bore a striking resemblance to someone she'd never thought she'd see again.

Carlos.

His tiny nose, the shape of his chin, the way his lips curved—it was all there, unmistakably him. Priscilla's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, the world outside the birthing room seemed to fade away. Her chest tightened as memories of her lover. Her best friend, came flooding back, bittersweet and tender.

Jay, noticing the sudden shift in Priscilla's expression, frowned. "Pris? You okay?"

Priscilla nodded slowly, but her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. She glanced at Jay, then at the others, her voice barely above a whisper. "He looks just like him... like Carlos."

Jay ran a hand through his hair, his usual bravado replaced with a quiet, reflective sadness. He leaned over slightly to get a better look at the baby, a soft smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Man, I didn't even see it at first, but now? He's the spitting image of Carlos."

Mal crossed her arms, her violet eyes misting as she peered down at the baby. Her expression was a mix of nostalgia and sorrow. "It's like he's here with us, through him."

Priscilla let out a shaky breath, her fingers tracing her son's small features—the same features she had memorized on Carlos's face years ago. The resemblance was almost too much to bear, but at the same time, it was comforting. She'd feared her son would grow up never knowing what his father had been like. But now, with every glance at his tiny face, she was reminded of the love they'd shared, of Carlos's playful smile and kind eyes. In some way, Carlos had given her a gift, leaving this little piece of himself behind.

Priscilla's voice broke as she whispered, "I wish he could see him. I wish Carlos was here to hold him, to meet him."

Evie crouched beside the bed, her hand finding Priscilla's once more. "He is here, Pris. Look at him. He's right here. Carlos lives on in your son, in you. And we're all going to make sure he knows just how amazing his dad was."

Priscilla blinked back tears, nodding as she cradled her son closer, the weight of grief and love intertwining. "I'm going to tell him everything. Every story, every memory. He'll know how much Carlos loved him, even if he never got to meet him."

Jay smiled gently, his eyes a little glassy. "We've got your back, Pris. Carlos was like a brother to us, and we'll make sure his boy grows up with all the love in the world."

Mal's usual tough exterior softened as she stepped forward, placing a hand on Priscilla's shoulder. "You've got a family here, Pris. You're not doing this alone. And we'll make sure he's got the best life. Carlos would want that."

Priscilla let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, comforted by the presence of her friends. Despite the loss of Carlos, she knew she wasn't alone. Her son would be surrounded by love and support, the kind that Carlos would've wanted for him.

As her son stirred in her arms, his tiny fingers curling around a strand of her hair, Priscilla leaned down and kissed his forehead. "You're going to know all about him," she whispered to her son, her voice thick with love. "I promise you that."

She closed her eyes, resting her forehead against his, allowing herself to simply feel the moment—grief and joy, loss and love, all tangled together in this little life that now lay in her arms.

Evie wiped at her eyes, her smile unwavering. "Carlos would be so proud of you, Priscilla. So, so proud."

Priscilla's tears fell freely now, but she smiled through them, her heart lighter than it had been in years. "He would've loved him so much."

Jay chuckled softly, his voice breaking the quiet. "He would've been bragging to everyone in Auradon, no doubt. Saying something like, 'That's my boy!'"

The group shared a soft laugh, the weight of grief lifting just a little as they remembered their friend. It wasn't the same without him, but in this tiny new life, there was hope, and there was love.

In her heart, she knew Carlos was watching, smiling down at them, and in that moment, she could almost hear him whisper, "I love you both."

And with that, surrounded by her friends, her family, Priscilla knew she was ready to begin this new chapter of her life. For her, for her son, and for Carlos.

Priscilla looked up at her friends, each of them watching her with such love and support that it nearly overwhelmed her.
She took a deep breath, knowing that, despite the heartache, despite the absence of Carlos, her son would grow up surrounded by the best family she could have ever asked for.

Carlos may not have been there to hold his son, but his love-his memory—was alive in each of them. And that, in its own way, was enough.

As the baby stirred in her arms again, Priscilla leaned down and pressed another kiss to his tiny forehead, closing her eyes as a sense of peace washed over her. "I love you," she whispered to him once again, her voice full of the promise of a future they would build together.

And in the warmth of that moment, surrounded by the people she loved, Priscilla knew that everything was going to be okay.

(I miss you guys already 😔 I'll definitely miss writing Priscilla and Carlos but now I can move on to the next.)