"Chapter 21: Life-Changing News"

The alarm on Joe's phone pierced through the air, snapping him out of his worried reverie. He had spent the night on the couch, beside Brooklyn, keeping a watchful eye on her as she slept fitfully. As he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he noticed that the ferry was already on its way, its arrival imminent. With a deep breath, he gently shook Brooklyn awake. She groggily opened her eyes, a pained expression still etched on her face. "Where...where are we?" she stammered, taking in their surroundings. "We're going to the mainland," Joe explained, helping her sit up. "The doctor on the island thought it would be best if we got you to a proper hospital, just in case." Brooklyn's eyes widened as she took in the information, but she didn't protest. Instead, she nodded weakly, still looking a bit disoriented. As they disembarked from the ferry, Joe quickly hailed a taxi, directing the driver to the nearest hospital. The ride was a blur, with Brooklyn dozing off in his arms and Joe's mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Upon arrival, they were quickly whisked away to the emergency room, where a team of doctors and nurses swarmed around Brooklyn, taking her vitals and asking her a barrage of questions. Joe paced anxiously in the waiting room, his mind racing with thoughts of food poisoning, dehydration, and other possible explanations for Brooklyn's condition. But as he waited, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something more significant was at play. Finally, a doctor emerged, a kind smile on his face. "Mr...?" he asked, looking at Joe expectantly. "Joe," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Mr. Joe, we've run some tests, and it appears that Brooklyn is...pregnant," the doctor announced, his words sending Joe's world spinning. Joe's eyes widened in shock as he stumbled backward, his mind reeling with the news. Pregnant? Brooklyn was pregnant? The words echoed in his mind like a mantra, as he struggled to process the revelation. As the doctor continued to explain the details, Joe's thoughts drifted back to their time on the island, to the countless nights they had spent together, and to the realization that their lives were about to change forever. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, and made his way back to Brooklyn's side, where she was sitting up in bed, a look of confusion on her face. "Hey," he said softly, taking her hand in his. "Hey," Brooklyn replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Joe smiled, his eyes locking onto hers. "We're having a baby," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. Brooklyn's eyes widened, and a smile spread across her face, as she nodded in agreement. "We are," she said, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation. As they sat there, hands entwined, Joe knew that their lives were about to embark on a new journey, one filled with uncertainty, but also with hope and promise.