The Gull was quiet for once, the low hum of the refrigerator in the corner filling the silence between you and Duke. He was leaning back against the bar, beer in hand, smirk tugging at his lips as if he already knew you were hiding something.

“You’ve been weird all day,” he drawled, raising an eyebrow. “Not your kind of weird either. More like… nervous-weird. What’s going on, sweetheart?”

Your fingers curled tighter around your coffee mug, the ceramic suddenly too warm. The words were there, heavy on your tongue, but your mind was spinning. This wasn’t just news—this was the kind of thing that could change everything. You glanced at the door out of instinct, half expecting Nathan to walk in at the worst possible moment.

Duke’s smirk softened into concern. “Hey… talk to me. Did something happen?”

You took a deep breath, your heart hammering in your chest. “Yeah. Something… pretty big.”

Duke set his beer down, the playful edge in his eyes dimming as he straightened up. “Okay… now you’re scaring me. Just rip the Band-Aid off.”

Your throat felt dry, but you forced the words out before you could lose your nerve. “I’m pregnant.”

For a moment, the world went still. Duke blinked once, twice, his mouth parting like he was about to speak—then closing again.

“…Wait. Pregnant pregnant? Like… baby, diapers, tiny human, holy-crap-I’m-gonna-have-to-buy-a-car-seat pregnant?” His voice cracked just enough to make you bite back a laugh.

“Yeah,” you whispered, your fingers tightening around your mug. “Pregnant pregnant.”

Duke ran a hand through his hair, pacing two quick steps away before spinning back toward you. “Okay. Okay. That’s… wow. That’s a big one.” He laughed—short, almost nervous—before that signature grin slipped back into place. “Well… guess I’m about to be the hottest dad in Haven.”

You rolled your eyes, but the way his hand slid to your waist and lingered there told you the bravado was just covering the storm of emotions underneath.

You searched his face, half-expecting the grin to fade, but instead Duke leaned in, resting his forehead gently against yours. His voice dropped, softer than you’d ever heard it.

“Hey… you okay with this?”

You blinked at him. “You’re asking me?”

“Yeah,” he said, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “Because if you’re not… we figure it out. Together. No bailing, no running off on the Cape Rouge to ‘think about things.’” His smirk twitched, but his eyes stayed locked on yours, serious and unflinching.

Your chest tightened. “I’m okay. Scared out of my mind… but okay.”

“Good,” he murmured, letting out a long breath like he’d been holding it since you’d walked in. “Because I’ve never done the whole family thing before, but… I wanna do it with you.”

The weight in your chest shifted, replaced by something warm that made your eyes sting. Duke noticed instantly, pulling you in until you were tucked against him, the steady thud of his heart under your ear.

“You know,” he said after a beat, his voice lightening, “this means I’m gonna have to baby-proof the Cape Rouge. Which basically means removing all the knives, booze, and explosives.”

You laughed into his shirt. “So… the whole boat, then?”

“Pretty much,” he grinned, kissing the top of your head.