V. Impacts

I awoke in our warm bed. I opened my eyes to a rainy day. The room was dim. I could hear the raindrops hit the window rapidly. I could feel Hayden's warm body behind me, with his long arm wrapped around my waist. I was terrified to turn around and face him after last night's breakdown and news. Surely, he had something to say, but I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it. I laid still, pretending to be sleeping, so I wouldn't have to deal with Hayden's questions just yet. Just another minute of peace, before the storm. As I closed my eyes absorbing the last couple minutes of peace I had before I turned around and faced Hayden's questions, a loud knock landed on our front door. Hayden groaned loudly, waking himself out of his slumber, before getting up to get the door. Potentially this was the perfect distraction, and maybe I was going to have a semi normal breakfast. I got out of bed as I heard Harley's quiet voice enter. Suddenly I was mortified that she would tell Hayden she knew about the pregnancy before he did. I quickly wrapped a soft robe around me and made my way into the kitchen, where I could hear them whispering.

"Morning." I said meekly, as I peeked my head into the kitchen. They both turned at once, surprised by my voice. Hayden's face looked a lot more concerned than usual and I was worried that Harley had said something to him.

"Morning sweetheart, how are you feeling?" Harley came closer and took my hand in hers. I smiled, her warm hand warmed my whole body.

"I'm okay." I smiled with a nod.

"What happened last night at the bachelorette party?" Harley and I both quickly looked up at Hayden who looked to be worried and unaware of anything that happened the night before. He doesn't know? How can he not know? I told him last night, I'm sure of it!

"What do you mean?" I felt the blood drain from my face. My heart began to tremble. I thought I was done. I'd told him and I could relax.

"Last night? You came home crying and collapsed in my arms. I called the doctor; he should be here any minute." Hayden explained. Oh god. If I don't tell him now, the doctor certainly will. Harley's head slowly bowed down, looking at the floor. I could see the worried expression on Hayden's face.

"I have to..." I began when Harley loudly cleared her throat.

"I'll leave you guys to it. I hope you're feeling better soon Evelyn. See you both later." She smiled brightly, quickly taking her exit and leaving us alone.

"What's going on Eve? I'm getting really worried." I leaned against the kitchen counter, praying it held me together as I could no longer. My heart and hands trembled as I assembled the words inside my head. A knot began to form inside my throat as I opened my mouth to speak.

"I-I'm... I'm pregnant." I didn't have it in me to look up at his expression, but I could see his body sway back slightly before he gripped the corner of the kitchen counter. I slowly moved my eyes up to his face. His expression was drifting, even though he was looking right at me.

"Wha-what are you talking about?" He scoffed, shaking his head. We both were thinking the same exact thing. He's infertile. I could tell by his expression that he was considering the possibility that I had cheated on him. Having been through it with Rose, his consideration was fairly valid.

"I wasn't sure. I thought I had a cold or I had overworked my body beyond its capability, but at the bachelorette party Harley held my hand..." my eyes began to well up as I tried to explain myself and my own shock.

"And she could see it?" He finished the sentence for me, and I nodded along, looking at the floor of our kitchen. I'd been too overwhelmed to figure out how I'd felt about it. My lungs felt crushed as I tried to breathe through the sharp butterflies rushing through my body. His silence was unnerving. I needed something, reassurance, any display of emotion that would indicate that he was happy about it. There was nothing. Like he'd been frozen in time. Glued to the kitchen floor. His expression was still downcast. As if I had said that the baby wasn't his. He didn't seem happy. He didn't seem empathetic of my shock or drastic symptoms. I felt like I could fall apart right there, in front of him and he wouldn't even notice. I waited another minute, hoping he would say something, anything.

"I have to get ready for work." I said quietly, before pealing my back off of the counter and walking past him towards out bedroom. I felt a tight grip wrap around my wrist, as he pulled me back towards him.

"Don't. The doctor is on his way and you said you'd take today off. I'll get somebody to cover you." His hand fell from my wrist. That's it? That's all you have to say. I felt even worse than before. How can you not say anything? I slowly made my way back to our bedroom, hoping he'd stop me or follow me in and say something about the pregnancy, but he didn't.

He got ready for work without a word. Like nothing had happened. I laid back in our bed, still hoping to hear him say something. There didn't seem to be anything he had to say, as he kissed my forehead and left. Don't cry Eve.

**

"He's in shock honey, just like you were last night." Harley tried to reassure me as she placed a cup of tea in front of me. I didn't know where else to go. The doctor had come by and confirmed that I was pregnant. Not that I doubted Harley, or my drastic symptoms. My overwhelming feelings had begun to turn to anger. How could he not say anything? He hadn't texted or called. There was nothing to indicate that he wanted to hear from me or that he cared about us being pregnant.

I felt like a maid inside Harley's 3 storey mansion. Everything was gold and white. I was afraid of even walking on her crisp clean floor. If this is her house in the Underworld, I can't imagine what her house in Olympus is like.

"I just hoped he'd say something. Reassure me or display any kind of emotion. I guess I assumed he'd be happy." I bowed my head, taking the silver, shiny spoon and stirred my tea.

"Just give him some time. I'm sure he will come around." Harley smiled, trying to reassure me further. I didn't know how long I was willing to wait. What if he didn't want it? I can't get rid of it. It's a miracle we're even pregnant.

I made my way home, feeling a little bit better. Harley had calmed my nerves with her tea, and I felt upbeat. I looked forward to seeing Hayden and finding out if he had anything to say. My body shivered from the cold wind as I approached the building.

"Where have you been?" I was startled by Hayden's deep voice as I entered through the door. His dark shadow was standing at the end of the hall. His arms were crossed over his chest, as he awaited my explanation.

"I went to see Harley." I explained, taking off my jacket and hanging up my bag with it. I felt a nervous shiver run down my back as I looked back to the end of the hallway.

"Did you see the doctor? Did he confirm?" He began to come closer.

"That I'm pregnant? Yeah, he did." I chuckled. Unbelievable. I'd hoped he would apologise or at least acknowledge his lack of emotion earlier that day, but there seemed to be nothing.

"And Harley? Did she?" He continued and his face didn't seem to shift. I'd seen that same expression on his face before, whenever he confronted me during an argument.

"Did she what?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest, to match his. I'd hoped he could see how ridiculous he was being.

"Confirm? Did she say it was mine?" I was stunned. I could tell instantly that he regretted saying it, bowing his head in shame.

"Excuse me?" I laughed, unable to contain the rage stewing inside me. "Who else's would it be?"

"Surely you understand. After what Rose did and then finding out I'm infertile. This is a little hard to believe." He tried to explain himself, which failed to calm my stewing rage. How dare you?! How can you compare me to Rose and then guilt me for not understanding?

"No, I don't understand." I shook my head. I'd never felt more insulted or angry. I picked up my bag and turned back around.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?" Ignoring him I stormed for the door. "Evelyn?" I slammed the door behind me, picking out my phone from my pocket. I called Penelope, in hopes I could stay with her for the night. I couldn't stand to look at Hayden let alone sleep in the same bed as him. I felt tears collecting in my eyes as I waited for Penelope to answer. I didn't want him to follow me, but it made me even more upset that he hadn't. I didn't know this Hayden.