The evening had been perfect. After a long day, Cuddy and you had enjoyed a quiet dinner together, just the two of them, basking in the gentle glow of their shared life. There was laughter, soft touches, and the warmth of knowing that in just a few months, you would hold your baby in your arms. After dinner, you had curled up together in bed, Cuddy resting a protective hand over the swell of your belly, feeling the faint movements beneath her palm. It had become a routine, one she cherished, one she never wanted to end.

Sometime in the middle of the night, Cuddy was stirred from sleep by a sharp intake of breath. The sheets rustled, followed by a quiet, trembling whisper of panic. Then she felt it, your body tense against her, a shudder moving through you as you shifted slightly. Cuddy's sleepy mind snapped awake. She turned, barely able to see in the dim light until her eyes landed on the dark stain spreading beneath you. A pool of blood.

A sickening dread settled in her stomach as she bolted upright. "No, no, no, no." Her hands fumbled to turn on the bedside lamp, the soft glow making the sight worse. Too much blood. Too fast. Her heart pounded in her chest as she reached for you, voice trembling, trying to keep her calm even as terror seized her own body. "We're going to the hospital. Now."

The drive was a blur of trembling hands, hurried reassurances, and desperate glances. Every red light, every second wasted, felt like a lifetime. Cuddy gripped your hand the entire way, squeezing, whispering, trying to keep the panic from consuming you both. The moment you arrived at the hospital, nurses and doctors took over, leading you away as Cuddy followed closely, unwilling to let go, unwilling to believe what she already knew in her gut.

Then the words came. The doctor's voice was calm, clinical, but the weight of them crushed Cuddy's world in an instant. "I'm so sorry... we couldn't save the baby."

Her breath caught in her throat. It felt unreal, like a nightmare she was waiting to wake up from. She turned to you, helpless, aching, feeling her own heart shatter into pieces alongside yours. "Oh, God..." The words barely left her lips before she pulled you into her arms, holding you as tightly as she could, as if somehow, she could shield you from the unbearable pain of your loss.