David came in from the kitchen, carrying two mugs of herbal tea. He set them on the coffee table before carefully sitting down next to Cara.
"How are you feeling, honey?" he asked, his hand joining hers on her belly.
Cara smiled softly, "Pretty good, all things considered. The little one's been kicking up a storm today though."
As if on cue, there was a strong kick against their hands. David's eyes widened in wonder.
"That's amazing," he breathed, "I still can't believe there's a tiny version of you growing in there."
There was a knock at the door.
“Oh, that must be Jeff,” Eddy got up, “Remember him? One of Dad’s old friends.”
"Right, Jeff," Cara nodded, smoothing her maternity dress over her rounded belly, "I remember Dad mentioning him."
David opened the door, greeting Jeff warmly, "Hey buddy, come on in!"
Jeff entered, his eyes immediately landing on Cara's pregnant form.
"Wow, look at you! You're absolutely glowing," he said with a wide smile.
Cara blushed, still not entirely used to the attention her pregnancy brought, "Thank you, Jeff. It's good to see you."
Jeff settled into an armchair across from them, his gaze flicking between David and Cara, "So, how are you two lovebirds doing? Excited to become parents?"
"We're thrilled," David answered, his voice filled with genuine emotion.
Jeff broke into laughter, “Kyle? Eddy?"
Cara and David froze, exchanging a panicked glance. How could Jeff possibly know?
"W-what are you talking about?" Cara stammered, her hand protectively covering her rounded belly.
Jeff's laughter died down and he fixed them with an intense stare. "Come on, you two. I know you're not really David and Cara - you're Kyle and Eddy, their future sons."
David stood up abruptly, "How... how do you know that?"
Jeff held up his hands placatingly, "Relax... I'm the one who sent you back in time in the first place."
Cara gasped, her eyes widening. "You? But... why?"
"Because this is how it's always happened," Jeff explained calmly, "And I'm only here now, cause it's time for you to return."
Kyle gasped. So this is how their dad got the device? From Jeff?! Did that mean that they weren't meant to be their parents after all?
"Return?" Cara’s hand instinctively cradled her pregnant belly, "But... we can't. Not now."
Jeff's expression softened as he looked at Cara's rounded stomach, "I understand this is difficult, but you've done what you needed to do. The timeline is secure. It's time for you to go back to your own lives."
David shook his head vehemently, "No. We can't just leave. What about the baby? What about... us?"
Jeff sighed, leaning forward in his chair. "Look, I know this is confusing, but you have to trust me. The real David and Cara - your parents - they need to come back now to live out the rest of their lives. To raise you two."
Cara felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"But... I am Cara now. And David..." She reached out to grasp David's hand tightly, "We can't just go back to being Kyle and Eddy. Not after everything we've been through."
Jeff's expression was sympathetic but firm, "I know this is hard to accept, but you have to understand - you were never meant to stay here permanently. Your parents, the real David and Cara, they need to live out their lives. To raise you both as children."
"But we are the real David and Cara now. We've lived their lives for months. We're having a baby together!" Eddy's voice cracked on the last word.
"A baby that needs to be raised by its true parents," Jeff said gently. "Think about it - do you really want to raise yourselves?"
Jeff leaned forward, his expression serious, "I know this is painful, but you have to think about the bigger picture. If you stay here, you'll create a paradox. The Kyle and Eddy of this timeline will never be born, because you've taken their parents' place. You'll erase your own existence."
Next part NOW!
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