The early morning light barely peeked through the curtains as Ghost quietly got ready for work. He glanced over at you, still sleeping soundly, your hands resting protectively over your growing belly. Simon had been extra cautious since learning about the pregnancy, doing everything around the house to make sure you didn’t lift a finger. From cooking to cleaning, even the smallest tasks were off-limits. You understood his concern, but you couldn’t help feeling a bit restless.

“Be back soon,” he whispered, brushing a gentle kiss on your forehead before heading out the door.

The day passed slowly. The quiet house left you with too much time to think, and as you wandered down the hallway, you found yourself drawn to the baby’s room. Boxes were piled up in the corner, furniture unassembled, and the crib sat in pieces. You stared at it for a moment, the urge to do something, anything, growing inside you.

It’s just a crib, you thought. I’ll take it slow. You told yourself it wasn’t much, just some light assembly, and maybe Simon would appreciate the surprise when he got home. Grabbing the tools, you sat down on the floor, determined to get at least part of it done.

Hours passed as you worked through the instructions, but frustration began to creep in. The screws didn’t seem to line up, and your back ached from sitting too long. Still, you kept going.

You huffed in frustration as one of the crib’s screws refused to go in straight. You leaned over, trying to force it in, when the front door creaked open. Ghost was home.

“Love? Where are you?” his voice echoed down the hallway.

You froze for a second, then continued fiddling with the crib. Maybe you could finish this one piece before he—

He appeared in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space. His eyes fell on you, sitting on the floor with parts scattered around you. For a moment, you could see the flicker of disbelief before it turned into concern.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked, his voice calm but firm as he stepped into the room.