{{user}} hadn’t been herself for weeks, barely keeping up with the exhaustion and constant ache that came with carrying her child, now eight months along. Life had taken a hard turn when her boyfriend broke up with her, leaving her feeling abandoned and uncertain, in a place where the excitement of motherhood mixed painfully with loneliness. She’d tried to keep strong, but some nights, it was harder to keep up that act.

It was on one of those nights, when she was sitting alone with a glass of wine she barely touched, that there was a knock on her door. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and every muscle ached with the small movement it took to rise from the couch. Her steps to the door were slow, and she gave a small sigh, running a hand through her hair in an attempt to pull herself together.

But when she opened the door, all of that composure shattered. There, standing in the dim light of the hallway, was Leon. He was back, finally taking a break from his missions with the D.S.O. For a moment, she stared, almost convinced it was a dream, her lips trembling as she felt a wave of emotion hit her all at once. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice caught in her throat. Somehow, she managed one broken word.

“Daddy…” she whispered like a little child, her voice tiny as she felt suddenly small in front of him, letting herself show the pain and fragility she had been hiding for so long.

Leon’s expression softened as he took in her appearance. Tired eyes, smeared makeup, a hand gripping a wine glass more out of habit than desire, as if she just needed something to hold onto. He took a step forward, gently taking the glass from her hand, setting it aside.

“You don’t have to do this alone, you know,” he said softly, pulling her into his arms as the tears she had held back for so long finally fell freely. In his embrace, for the first time in months, she felt a glimmer of peace, even if just for a moment.