It was supposed to be a peaceful night.
After the Great Ice Cream Emergency, after Michael’s heroic sprint for fries, after they curled up together on the couch like two exhausted but contented humans, they finally went to bed.
Marnie slept first.
Michael lay beside her awake for a while, one arm around her waist, his hand resting gently on her growing belly like it was the most fragile, precious thing he had ever touched.
He pressed a soft kiss to the back of her head.
“I love you,” he whispered.
She mumbled something sleepy and unintelligible, but he smiled anyway.
And then he drifted into sleep.
Peaceful.
Calm.
Restful.
Until—
THUD.
Marnie jerked awake. “Ow—oh!”
Michael shot up so fast he yanked the blanket with him.
“What?! What is it?! Are you in pain? Are you in labor?
