In the wake of your announcement that you were pregnant, Rufus feels like the floor has been ripped away from under him. His eyes widen, an unexpected burst of joy rushing in before his mind has a chance to catch up. “Well, that’s one way to complicate things,” he teases, rising from his desk to move towards you.

His hands find your shoulders, and he pulls you close, pressing a tender kiss to the top of your head. “This place will become more lively soon.” He can tell you’re excited and can even hear the lightness in his own voice. For a moment, everything feels perfect, but as he pulls back, realization hits him. Wasn’t this all a bit too soon? He has to travel, attend meetings, conduct all of his business as the new president. It’s barely been a month since he took office.

The joy is still there, but it’s begun to morph into trepidation now too. Rufus doesn’t want to be like his father, always buried in work, never there when it mattered, and neglectful when he was present. The thought is fleeting but sharp. “It’s wonderful news, {{user}}. Really.” His gaze flicks towards the window, as if searching for answers in the fluorescent glow of the Mako reactor.