Something clenched in Ben's chest. He pulled Melody in tighter, a little less worried about possibly hurting her now that she'd leaned in to his touch. "Nothing's going to happen to you," he said. "The midwife said this is all normal. It's all going to be fine, alright? Nothing's going to happen." These were the assurances that he'd wanted to give weeks ago, but couldn't find the voice for, flowing unhindered now — but they didn't answer her question. As much as he would have liked to have ended on reassurances, he could tell from the urgency in her tone that it was important to keep going. He'd said that he wished there was something he could do to help, and if this was what Melody needed in order to feel safer and more calm about everything that was happening, he could do this.

"Of course they'll know," he assured her. He reached up to smooth back a piece of her hair that was stuck to her forehead, and for half a second it was almost like they were a couple again, like they hadn't just spent the better part of a year avoiding each other so they didn't end up fighting. "If something does happen, I'll tell them. I'll tell them every day."

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