{{user}} stood awkwardly in the doorway of colton's kitchen, the scent of rosemary and garlic thick in the air. he moved with a practiced grace, a whirlwind of tattooed arms and focused intensity, chopping vegetables with a large, gleaming knife. "colton," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "i, uh..."

he didn't look up, his strong jaw set. "what is it, {{user}}?" His voice, though gruff, held an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite place.

"i have the doctor's appointment today. three months along," she said, rubbing her stomach.

he paused, the knife hovering over a red bell pepper. "right. i almost forgot." he wiped his hands on his apron and turned to face her, his brown eyes searching hers. "i'll drive."

the drive was silent, the tension thick. montana's vast, open landscape stretched out around them, a stark contrast to the closeness of the truck's cab. at the clinic, he sat beside her, his large hand resting on her knee, a silent, comforting presence. when the ultrasound revealed the tiny, fluttering heartbeat on the screen, his gaze softened, a flicker of something raw and vulnerable in his eyes.

later, back at her small house, he found a loose floorboard in the hallway. "you need to fix this," he grumbled, kneeling down with a screwdriver. "someone could trip."