“What about if I sang… I finished the album and it’s on there. But before the whole world hears it I-. As her hands explored the curve of her abdomen, her fingertips applying the precise amount of pressure she needed she nodded. As he sung, voice tired , strained and out of key, she smiled through gritted teeth. “It’s -mmm..” she trailed off her eyes closing and he stopped. He leaned over , her grip on his hand tightening as she gasped . “Don’t stop-“ as her breath was stolen by the intensity of her womb . As he sang the next line with  a gritty tone, the song he’d written for their unborn child , she focused the familiar sound, falling back into the pillows , panting. “It’s perfect. But please stop-“ . His smile was exhausted as he leaned back , a monitor beeping over his next words . 

 “You know how I might have told a few fans on YouTube that our baby was a miracle .. that she..or he …was at risk of being born too soon-“ . As her fingers curled around his forearm she managed “Yeah.. “ and pulled his arm closer , his hand finding hers. He ran a thumb over her knuckles as he continued “well I wanted to keep this song as a hidden track . It won’t be all over the airwaves . But I wanted to share a moment with all the people who’ve prayed for our child . “ her eyes glistened with tears as she held his phone up in the dim hospital room . “I want to thank them all too. This baby will be famous, but loved . “ As she tapped the record button his head rested against her temple and she pointed at her bump , covered in electrodes . “When you all see this , our child will be in this world safe and healthy . Their father is lucky to have you all , he really is. Tell us in the comments if you think he’ll cry when -“ She shut off the screen as another contraction gripped her , and he took the phone from her hand . “Breathe through it baby, you’ve got this “ he murmured , as the video automatically posted itself and they were alone in the sterile room again, a screen suddenly erupting with the jumping of a needle. “My heart jumps when that goes off-“ she breathed , her eyes moving to the graph , her baby’s heart rate erratic yet again. As a doctor placed a Doppler over her navel her reassured “ Baby is holding in there , position is optimal . Try and stay upright and lean forward as much as possible. “ Seemingly a world away , her groan filled the air as the doctor turned to her husband and said “tell her that she’s doing well and everything is progressing fine. But at her last check she was five inches along, and if her waters don’t break soon we will have to discuss rupturing her sac. We anticipate this baby to keep moving along , considering their low tolerance of labor . “ As her grip tightened on his arm, pulling him closer he muttered “how about I sing now. I’m honestly too tired to remember a thing I wrote.” As he began to sing , his voice flat and devoid of tone , her nails dug into his flesh with force. “Hey Jude, don’t make it sad-“

“Babe just help me-“ she plead and he sighed as his eyes drifted to the screen , jumping wildly with the peak of her contraction. 

“I’m here , I’m not sure I’m bein’ all that helpful but-“

“I think my wa-“

Her hands snatched up the buzzer hanging on the arm of her hospital bed and a nurse confirmed the trickle of amniotic fluid  “No need to intervene after all , baby is moving down and our water are breaking “ .  He looked away from the monitor as she cradled her stomach , pain etched in her features as she focused inward . He sank further back into the chair , a nurse passing him a call buzzer. “If you need anything..” . His eyes closed as he played with the buttons for the television, the shows all blurring before his eyes. “Y’know when I played Wembley . It was massive but-it was all ah ooh hey, y’know? But this-this is terrifying . “ As her contraction subsided as a nurse toweled fluids from her thighs she began “I know-I think something is-“ . As a monitor seated through her temples she bit her lip , and the screen flatlined. “Ok , baby’s heart rate is dropping . We may need to consider an injection to slow contractions while we evaluate options moving forward. “ Her voice scratched against the walls of the room as he asked “what options ? The c section? We’re already well aware of that risk but-“ . He voice was skirting a whisper as he leaned closer “Don’t worry, your gonna be ok. You’re both-“ She whimpered his name , and his eyes rolled toward the ceiling, watery and nerve racked as he leaned on an I.v pole . “I’m here -“ . Her name drawled into his roughened rice, the raw fear alerting him to the rapid progression around him. “We’re going to give you an epidural , because you’re already having an urge to push at seven centimetres dilation. “What ? She can’t push? “ he asked no one in particular, as if addressing a crowd in an arena that never sold a ticket.