The hours after Ruby woke blurred together, threaded with tears andughter, relief and disbelief. Stefan barely left her side, except when Doctor Noreen insisted on examining her.

    Ruby drifted in and out of sleep — her body weak, her voice fragile — but each time she opened her eyes, Stefan was there, his hand in hers.

    Sometimes Rayna would be perched on the edge of the bed, whispering softly to her. Sometimes Ethan lingered in the corner, his steady presence a quiet reassurance.

    And sometimes Elizabeth came, her motherly touch smoothing the nket or brushing Ruby''s hair back from her forehead. She''d insisted oning after hearing Ruby was finally awake.

    For the first time in what felt like forever, the room was filled with something other than fear: it was filled with hope.

    "Try a sip," Rayna said gently, holding a straw to Ruby''s lips.

    Ruby obeyed, her throat parched, the cool water sliding down like heaven itself. She sighed softly, and when she looked up, Rayna was smiling through fresh tears.

    "You scared the life out of me," Rayna whispered, squeezing her hand.

    Ruby gave a faintugh, her voice still raspy. "I scared myself too."

    From his chair, Stefan leaned forward, his eyes drinking her in as though afraid she might vanish if he looked away too long. His bandaged hand rested protectively near her arm, and Ruby''s gaze flicked to it again.

    Every time she saw his hand, she was reminded of how he''d wrestled with fire to make sure she didn''t die.  He didn''t even care about his life but had been by her side.

    She squeezed his hand, her heart swelling with love. Despite the weakness in her body, she felt stronger knowing how fiercely she was loved by him.

    For a while, the room was filled with light conversation — soft jokes, small stories of what had happened during the days she had been asleep. Ruby listened, sometimesughing, sometimes simply closing her eyes and letting their voices wash over her.

    But then, when theughter quieted and the conversation lulled, a shadow crossed her gaze. Her hand drifted, almost unconsciously, down toward her stomach and then she realized she hadn''t asked after her baby.

    Stefan followed her hand and stiffened instantly.

    Her fingers brushed lightly over the thin hospital nket covering her abdomen. Her brow furrowed, her lips parting as though to form the question.

    Stefan''s chest tightened, panic wing at his ribs. He wasn''t ready. Not yet.

    Ruby looked at him then, her eyes tired but searching. "Stefan… the baby…" Her voice was soft, uncertain, as if she wasn''t sure she wanted the answer. "How''s it? I hope nothing happened to our baby."

    Stefan''s breath caught. The air seemed to thicken around him. His throat burned with words he couldn''t force out.

    Rayna shifted ufortably, ncing at Ethan. Elizabeth lowered her gaze, her hands twisting in herp.

    But Ruby''s eyes never left Stefan''s. Her voice broke as she whispered again, "Answer me, love. The baby… is the baby okay?"

    Stefan swallowed hard, forcing a smile that didn''t quite reach his eyes. His thumb brushed her knuckles in slow, soothing circles. "Ruby… right now, what matters most is that you''re awake, that you''re here with me."

    Her brow furrowed, confusion and unease flickering in her gaze. What did he even mean by that?

    She wanted to ask, to press further but exhaustion weighed on her, pulling her under again before she could press further.

    Her eyes fluttered closed, her breathing evening out. She drifted back into fragile sleep, her hand still clinging to his.

    Stefan bowed his head, tears sliding silently down his face. Relief that she was alive warred with the dread of the truth he would have to shatter her with.

    Not tonight. He couldn''t break her tonight.

    He pressed her hand to his lips, whispering against her skin. "Forgive me, Ruby… just let me have this little while longer, before I tell you."

    Elizabeth, Rayna, and Ethan looked at her, and their hearts twisted with pain.

    "She''d be broken when she finally learns of this," Rayna said, thinking of how much Ruby had loved the baby. Ruby had gained the determination to live again, for herself, because of that child, and now, she had lost it.

    The thought of how it would break her, haunted not just her but everyone standing in that room.

    Morning sunlight streamed faintly through the blinds, painting the room in pale gold. The machines hummed steadily, a softer sound now that Ruby was awake, and breathing on her own.

    Stefan sat in the chair by her bed, his body sagging with exhaustion, but his eyes alert. He hadn''t really slept — every time her eyelids fluttered or her breathing shifted, his heart would leap. He couldn''t take his eyes off her.

    Ruby stirred, hershes lifting. She blinked against the light, then turned her head toward him. Her gaze found his instantly, and the faintest smile touched her lips.

    "You''re still here," she whispered, her voice raspy but steadier than the night before.

    "Always," Stefan said softly, his fingers tightening around hers.

    For a few blessed moments, they simply looked at each other — the kind of silence that felt like a balm after endless days of fear. But then Ruby''s hand shifted again, drifting slowly, unconsciously, down to her stomach and she recalled how the conversation had endedst night.

    Her eyes clouded as she looked down at herself, her voice breaking into the quiet. "Stefan… the baby." She paused, swallowing hard. "I askedst night, but you didn''t answer me."

    His heart mmed painfully in his chest. He remained silent, knowing there was no escape from it now.

    Ruby looked back at him, her eyes wide now, pleading. "Please, tell me. The baby''s okay, isn''t it?"

    Stefan''s throat closed. Every fiber of him screamed to lie, to protect her from the de of truth that would cut her to pieces. But the weight of silence was crushing him, and he knew he couldn''t hide it forever.

    He reached for her hand, both of his trembling as he held it against his chest. His lips pressed to her knuckles, lingering there as his tears began to fall.

    When he finally lifted his head, his voice was ragged. "Ruby… I''m so sorry but there''s no baby. Our baby''s gone."