My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Raelynn sat on the exam bed, moving restlessly while the room stayed silent. The ticking of the clock on the wall seemed louder with every passing second, its rhythm matching the pace of her growing impatience. Zake and Elion had been gone for a while now, far longer than she thought necessary. They're just catching up, she told herself for the fifth time, trying to quiet the nagging doubts in her mind. Nothing's wrong. Everything is fine. Both the baby and I are fine.

But the unease lingered, like something was pressing down on her chest. Raelynn started rubbing her hands together, trying to shake off the cold, but it didn't help much. She looked toward the door, biting her lip. Why are they taking so long?

Boredom soon replaced her unease. She couldn't just sit there any longer. With a frustrated sigh, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door. She cracked it open slightly, peeking out into the hallway. No sign of anyone—no Elion, no Zake. The hallway was dead quiet, just the faint buzz of the fluorescent lights in the background.

Raelynn paused for a second. She didn't want to interrupt their conversation, but her curiosity and restlessness got the better of her. Slipping out of the room, she found herself wandering aimlessly, letting her instincts guide her. The hospital's layout was unfamiliar, and the hallways seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. A nurse or doctor would walk by once in a while, but none of them really paid her any attention.

Eventually, Raelynn found herself in front of a large window overlooking the baby ward. Rows of tiny cribs lined the room, with babies either asleep or shifting around a little.

Raelynn pressed her hands against the glass, her breath catching in her throat.

The sight was mesmerizing. Their tiny fists were curled up by their faces, their little bodies shifting slightly in their sleep. Some yawned, others stretched their fingers as if reaching for unseen dreams. Raelynn's chest tightened with a mix of emotions—wonder, fear, and awe.

She touched her stomach absentmindedly, her fingers brushing over the soft fabric of her blouse. That's going to be me soon, she thought, her heart swelling at the idea. Her baby was growing inside her, a tiny life she couldn't yet see but already felt fiercely protective of. What would they look like? Would they have her eyes? Elion's piercing gaze? A soft smile curled at the corners of her lips as her thoughts wandered.

"You seem deep in thought."

The sudden voice made her jump, and she spun around to find Elion walking toward her, looking both panicked and annoyed. His hands were shoved into his pockets, but his steps were quick and focused, his eyes locked on her.

"What do you think you're doing here?" he demanded, his voice low but sharp.

Raelynn blinked at him, still a bit dazed from her thoughts. "I was looking for you," she said calmly, folding her arms.

Elion raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "So you decided to look in the baby ward?"

"I ended up getting lost," Raelynn shot back. "Don't blame me for wandering around. You two were taking forever. Why did you need so much time to talk to Dr. Zake, anyway?"

Elion sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as though trying to maintain his patience. "And why couldn't you just wait in the room like I told you?"

Raelynn took a step closer to Elion, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "You know what?" she said, her tone sharper now. "Maybe if you'd actually explain what's going on instead of keeping me in the dark, I wouldn't have to go looking for you."

Elion's jaw tightened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "I wasn't exactly expecting you to wander off in a hospital where you don't even know your way around."

"Well, excuse me for not being psychic!" Raelynn shot back, her voice rising. "How am I supposed to know what's happening when you refuse to tell me anything? Am I supposed to just sit in that room forever and blindly trust that you've got everything under control?"

"Yes," Elion snapped, his golden eyes narrowing. "Because that's what I told you to do, and I thought you were smart enough to follow a simple instruction."

Raelynn bristled at the remark, her cheeks flushing with indignation. "Smart enough? Oh, that's rich, coming from the guy who thought it was a great idea to disappear for half an hour without saying a word. Newsflash, Elion—communication is a thing!"

Elion let out a frustrated sigh, brushing his hair back with one hand. "And what, Raelynn? You think wandering around a hospital unsupervised is a better idea? What if you'd gotten hurt? What if something happened to you or the baby?"

Raelynn placed her hands on her hips, glaring up at him. "Nothing happened! I'm fine, the baby's fine, and you're being ridiculous." Raelynn snapped, jabbing a finger at his chest.

Elion looked down at her finger, then back up at her face, his expression darkening. "I'm being ridiculous?" Elion repeated. "Maybe you should learn to-"

"Mommy?"

A small voice interrupted their brewing argument, and both of them froze. They looked down, where a little boy with messy dark hair and tear-streaked cheeks stood clutching a stuffed animal. His large, watery eyes darted between them, his tiny frame trembling slightly.

"Daddy?" the boy added, his voice cracking a little.

Raelynn and Elion exchanged a bewildered look, neither knowing what to say. The child sniffled, rubbing his face with his chubby hand before looking up at them with a mix of hope and confusion. His gaze settled on Elion first, as though searching for recognition.

"Mommy and Daddy," the boy repeated, his voice a bit stronger this time. He took a hesitant step closer to them, his stuffed animal dragging on the ground.

Raelynn and Elion exchanged a confused glance, their argument forgotten in an instant.