"I think I might know what they're up to!" Lily exclaimed, grabbing Alexander's sleeve and rising. Perhaps it was the sudden movement, the surge of emotion, or simple fatigue, but a sharp pain seized her stomach.

"Hiss..." she gasped, clutching her abdomen and bending over.

"What's wrong?!" Alexander cried, rushing to support her, his face etched with worry. "Does your stomach hurt?"

She nodded, enduring the fleeting pain, and slowly sat back down, still holding his sleeve. The discomfort, though not severe, seemed triggered by something, making the twins inside her restless.

"I'll take you to the hospital!" Alexander panicked, his usual composure shattered by his wife's pain. The memory of Lily's pale face and weakness after Galen's birth—a delivery otherwise uncomplicated—haunted him. The doctor's warnings about potential dangers resurfaced, fueling his fear of losing her. He frantically summoned help to prepare the car and contact the hospital, his anxiety so intense he didn't notice Lily tugging at him.

Only a sharp pull brought his head down. "What's wrong? Is it excruciating? Hold on, I'll get you to the hospital!" He scooped her up and headed out.

"Don't—" Lily winced, the pain hindering her speech. "I'm fine."

"How can you say you're fine when you're in so much pain?!" Alexander strode downstairs, assuming she was trying to reassure him.

Despite her pregnancy, he effortlessly carried her, his hurried steps quickly carrying them to the car. He had not forgotten to grab a blanket to wrap her in. By the time she could speak again, she was settled in the vehicle.

"I'm okay. It doesn't hurt much now," she said, her arms around his neck. "There's no need to go to the hospital."

"Who knows how serious stomach pain can be? Especially pregnant. You can't be too careful. We should at least get a checkup," he insisted, his eyes brimming with fear, mirroring his distress during Galen's birth.

She remembered little after entering the delivery room and seeing him, on the verge of tears, his eyes red-rimmed as he held her hand, his grip a silent promise of unwavering support. Galen, a well-behaved fetus, had made for an easy delivery. Yet, Alexander's panic persisted.

It unsettled Lily. Gently, she caressed his face. "I'm fine, really!" Her voice, though soft, held conviction. Slowly, he calmed, his features softening. Still, he stubbornly insisted, "Even if everything's fine, let's go for a checkup. Think of it as a pregnancy checkup. It'll ease my mind."

Lily, understanding his anxiety, nodded her consent.