Sera’s belly had grown round beneath her hands, the gentle weight of new life moving inside her a constant, quiet reminder of all that was coming. She sat curled on the couch, her legs tucked under a soft blanket, one hand resting atop her bump.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” she whispered, brushing her fingers along the side of his face, her touch feather-light. “But I’m so, so grateful I get to raise our baby with you.”

Her voice was soft, breathy with emotion. “I can’t wait to see them… to hold them. To see you holding them.” She laughed gently through the lump in her throat, blinking away tears. “They’re gonna know love from the second they open their eyes.”

She took his hand and placed it on her belly, where a tiny foot kicked right beneath his palm. “They already do.”

Sera smiled softly, her fingers still threading gently through his hair. “A surprise sounds kind of magical, doesn’t it?” she murmured, resting her other hand on her bump. “I think I’d like that too… seeing them for the first time and just knowingin that moment.”

She looked down at him, her eyes warm and full of love. “But thank you… for always thinking of me. For letting me choose, even when you already have an answer.” She leaned down, brushing a soft kiss to his temple.

There was a pause, comfortable and quiet, before she spoke again. “Hey,” she murmured, voice laced with a little hope. “Would you want to… maybe go baby shopping with me sometime this week? Look at cribs, tiny clothes, maybe pick out a few little things together?”

She smiled, cheeks coloring slightly. “I know we’ve got time, but I just… I want to do it with you. I want to see you holding baby booties and arguing with me about whether ducks or bears make a cuter theme for the nursery.”

Sera’s heart fluttered at his words, a soft laugh escaping her. She leaned in, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Yeah?” she whispered, her voice full of warmth. “Good. I’ve been secretly looking forward to it.”

She tucked herself a little closer against him, resting her head on his chest and listening to the steady beat of his heart. “I think it’ll feel even more real once we start picking things out together,” she murmured. “Like… we’re really preparing for this little life we made.”

Her fingers trailed lazily along the hem of his shirt, thoughtful. “Do you think we’ll cry when we see the crib set up for the first time? Or when we fold those teeny tiny onesies?” She chuckled softly. “Because I probably will.”