Reader x Billy Hargrove
Billy almost doesn’t make it to his child’s birth? Well only because he didn’t really know it was his.
Susan wiped her hands on a dish towel before picking up the receiver.
"Hargrove residence."
On the other end, a shaky voice answered. "Hi... this is Y/N's mom. Is Billy there?"
Susan frowned at the nervousness in her voice. "He's home. Is everything okay?"
There was a brief silence before the woman spoke again.
"Y/N's in labor."
Susan's eyes widened.
"The baby's coming."
For a moment, she couldn't find the words.
"Oh my goodness..."
"It's Billy's," Y/N's mother added quietly. "I know they aren't together anymore, but... I thought he deserved to know."
"Thank you for calling," Susan said gently. "I'll tell him."
She hung up the phone and turned toward the dining room.
Billy was leaning back in his chair, clearly annoyed by being interrupted during dinner.
"What?"
Susan took a steadying breath.
"Billy... Y/N is at the hospital."
"So?"
"She's having the baby."
His expression froze.
"...What?"
"The baby is coming."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Billy looked completely speechless.
Neil looked up from his plate.
"Well?" he said gruffly. "What are you sitting there for?"
Billy blinked.
"I..."
"That's your kid," Neil continued. "Get to the hospital."
Billy stared at him in disbelief.
"You serious?"
"I'm not raising another child," Neil replied. "If you're old enough to become a father, you're old enough to show up."
Susan looked at Billy with a small, encouraging smile.
"You'll regret it if you don't go."
Billy swallowed hard.
He hadn't seen Y/N in months.
Things had ended badly—too many arguments, too much fear, too much pride. Neither of them had known how to handle becoming teenagers who were suddenly expecting a baby.
He'd convinced himself she didn't want him there.
Now he wasn't so sure.
Without another word, he stood, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the door.
"Drive carefully," Susan called after him.
Billy gave a quick nod before disappearing into the night.
The hospital smelled like antiseptic and coffee.
Billy hurried through the halls, trying to ignore how fast his heart was pounding.
A nurse looked up from the desk.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm... uh..."
The words caught in his throat.
"I'm here for Y/N."
The nurse smiled knowingly.
"The father?"
Billy hesitated before quietly answering,
"Yeah."
"She's in Room 214."
He thanked her and walked down the hallway.
Outside the room, he found Y/N's mother pacing.
When she saw him, relief washed over her face.
"You came."
Billy rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I almost didn't."
She smiled softly.
"I'm glad you did."
From behind the door came a cry of pain.
Billy's heart sank.
"Is she..."
"She's been asking for you," her mother admitted.
He looked up.
"She... has?"
She nodded.
"I think she was afraid you wouldn't come."
Billy took a deep breath before slowly opening the door.
Y/N looked exhausted, her hair damp with sweat, but the moment she saw him standing there, tears filled her eyes.
"You came..."
Billy walked closer.
"I wasn't gonna miss this."
She reached for his hand without saying another word.
He took it immediately.
The hours that followed were filled with encouragement, tears, and nervous laughter between contractions.
Billy stayed beside her through every second.
When the baby's first cry echoed through the room, everything else disappeared.
"It's a healthy baby," the doctor announced with a smile.
Billy stared in complete amazement as the tiny bundle was placed into Y/N's arms.
The baby opened sleepy little eyes.
Billy felt his own fill with tears.
"I... I made that," he whispered in disbelief.
Y/N laughed through happy tears.
"We made that."
A nurse gently asked if Billy wanted to hold the baby.
His hands shook as he accepted the tiny bundle.
"Hey there," he whispered. "I'm your dad."
The baby's tiny fingers wrapped around one of his.
Billy's breath caught.
"I've got you," he promised softly. "Both of you."
Y/N looked at him with the first genuine smile she'd given him in months.
"I think we'd like that."
Billy looked between her and their child.
"I know I messed up."
She nodded.
"I know."
"But... if you'll let me... I'd like another chance."
She reached over and intertwined her fingers with his.
"We'll figure it out."
It wouldn't happen overnight.
There would be sleepless nights, diapers, bottles, and learning how to be parents while they were still growing up themselves.
But they wouldn't be doing it alone anymore.
As Billy held their baby and Y/N rested against his shoulder, Susan quietly peeked through the doorway, smiling when she saw the little family together.
Sometimes, the hardest journeys led to the happiest beginnings.