Morning had settled in.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Leah woke slowly.
Eyes half-open.
Still.
Her hand moved.
Across the bed.
Empty.
A pause.
Her fingers pressed into the sheets.
Cold.
"…Iz?"
Nothing.
She turned her head.
His side—
untouched.
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"…You didn't come back."
Her hand moved to her stomach.
Rested there.
Small.
But real.
Her thumb brushed lightly over the curve.
"…You stayed up again."
A quiet breath.
She pushed herself up.
Careful.
Always careful now.
Feet touched the marble floor.
Cold.
Grounding.
She stood.
Slow.
The room felt bigger without him.
Quieter.
She stepped out.
Into the hall.
Still.
Silent.
The nursery door—
slightly open.
Light spilling through.
She stopped.
Just for a second.
Then—
pushed it open.
The room smelled like wood.
New.
Clean.
Half-finished.
Boxes.
Tools.
Pieces laid out with precision.
And—
him.
Izana.
Leaning forward.
Head resting against the edge of the almost finished changing table.
Asleep.
Completely still.
A tool loose in his hand.
Leah didn't move.
Just watched.
A long pause.
"…You actually stayed."
Soft.
Barely a whisper.
She stepped closer.
Slow.
Measured.
Her eyes moved across the room.
Everything aligned.
Nothing rushed.
Every edge clean.
Every piece exact.
Of course.
Her gaze returned to him.
Hair slightly out of place.
Sleeves rolled.
Tension still in his shoulders.
Even now.
Even asleep.
Her chest tightened.
"…You're unbelievable."
Not frustration.
Something softer.
She knelt beside him.
Careful.
Her hand hovered.
Then rested lightly on his arm.
Warm.
"…Iz."
No response.
She smiled faintly.
"…You worked until you passed out."
Her fingers moved.
Brushing his hair back.
Gentle.
"…You're supposed to stop before that."
A pause.
Then—
he stirred.
Barely.
A quiet breath leaving him.
"…mm…"
Her smile deepened.
"…There you are."
His red eyes opened slowly.
Heavy.
Unfocused.
Then—
locked onto her.
Immediate.
"…Li…"
Low.
Rough.
"…Morning."
Soft.
A pause.
He blinked again.
Trying to wake fully.
His gaze dropped.
Straight to her stomach.
His hand followed.
Resting there.
Like it belonged.
"…You're up."
"…So are you."
A beat.
"…Technically."
He ignored that.
Of course.
"…You shouldn't be walking around alone."
"…You weren't there."
Simple.
That one landed.
His jaw shifted slightly.
"…I was here."
"…Exactly."
Silence.
Leah tilted her head slightly.
"…Did you even rest properly?"
"…I closed my eyes."
"…That's not rest."
"…It worked."
She gave him a look.
He didn't react.
Of course.
Her fingers moved.
Resting against his cheek.
"…You push too far."
A pause.
He leaned into her touch.
Just slightly.
"…It needed finishing."
"…It could have waited."
"…No."
His gaze flickered.
To her stomach.
"…I wanted it done."
A beat.
"…After yesterday."
Leah's brows softened.
"…Yesterday was fine."
"…It was."
A pause.
"…You smiled the whole time."
She blinked.
"…You noticed that?"
"…I notice everything."
A small silence.
Then—
"…Then why this?"
Her hand gestured slightly.
The room.
The unfinished pieces.
Him.
A pause.
Then—
"…Because before that… I wasn't there."
There it was.
Correct.
Precise.
Leah softened.
"…That wasn't your fault."
"…It doesn't change anything."
A beat.
"…You still went without me."
Her fingers curled slightly against his sleeve.
"…And then you came with me."
"…I should have been there both times."
Quiet.
Firm.
Leah exhaled softly.
"…You can't be everywhere."
"…I can be where it matters."
Silence.
Then—
"…You already are."
A pause.
Then—
lighter—
"…Did you talk to them all night too?"
He didn't look up.
"…Sometimes."
"…Sometimes?"
"…When it was quiet."
She huffed softly.
"…What did you say this time."
A beat.
Then—
"…Told them to stop making you sick."
She blinked.
Then laughed.
"…That's not how it works."
"…It should be."
"…You're negotiating with a baby."
"…I'm setting expectations."
"…You're unbelievable."
"…Effective."
She shook her head.
Still smiling.
Then—
quiet—
"…I missed you last night."
That one stayed.
Between them.
He looked up.
Slow.
"…I was one room away and I came to visit a few times when you were asleep."
"…Still."
A pause.
Then—
he moved.
Carefully.
Standing.
His hands found her waist immediately.
Steady.
"…Iz—."
He lifted her.
Effortless.
Controlled.
"…No floor."
"…I was fine."
"…No."
He placed her gently on the nursey armchair.
Close.
Safe.
His hand returned.
Of course.
Resting over her stomach again.
"…You stay here."
"…And supervise?"
"…Yes."
"…That sounds better."
A faint shift in his expression.
Almost amusement.
"…Good."
A pause.
She watched him.
Then—
"…You're really serious about this."
"…I am."
A beat.
"…About both of you."
Her expression softened.
"…I know."
Silence settled.
Comfortable.
Then—
he leaned down.
Pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Then—
lower.
To her stomach.
Slower this time.
Lingering.
"…You're still causing trouble."
Leah smiled.
"…Now you're blaming them again?"
"…I'm observing."
"…Unfair."
"…Accurate."
She laughed quietly.
Then—
he straightened.
Looked at her.
Really looked.
A pause.
Then—
"…We're finishing it today."
Leah blinked.
"…Today?"
"…All of it."
A beat.
"…You already cleared your schedule."
"…I did."
"…So you planned this."
"…Yes."
Simple.
Final.
She studied him.
Then—
"…You stayed up to get ahead."
A pause.
"…Yes."
"…So we can actually enjoy today."
Silence.
Then—
"…Yes."
Her chest softened.
Warm.
"…You're doing too much again."
"…Not enough."
"…That's not true."
"…It is to me."
A beat.
Then—
she leaned forward.
Wrapped her arms around him.
Careful.
Close.
"…Okay."
Soft.
He didn't move at first.
Then—
his hand came up.
Resting against her back.
The other—
over her stomach.
Always there.
"…We finish it together."
"…Together," she repeated quietly.
A pause.
Then—
lighter—
"…And then we go out again."
He looked at her.
"…Again?"
"…Essentials this time."
A beat.
"…You're not stopping me."
"…No."
"…You're encouraging it."
"…Yes."
She smiled.
Warmer this time.
"…Good."
And this time—
nothing felt missing.
Not yesterday.
Not today.
Not him.