The sun gently beats down on the Maldivian beach, and Alex is settled on his sun lounger, an open book in his hands. His sunglasses are perched on his nose, still damp from his last swim, and a few drops of water are still trickling down his torso. The gentle sound of the waves accompanies the peaceful silence of this moment.

Beside him, he discreetly glances at you over the pages of his novel. You are lying on your back, your book resting on your rounded, five-month pregnant belly, your large water bottle right beside you. He smiles immediately.

Alex has always been this incredibly present and reassuring husband. Since the beginning of your pregnancy, he has never let you go through anything alone. He accompanies you to every appointment, he worries about every little detail, he immediately notices when you are tired or when something is bothering you. He supports you in everything, without ever making you feel like you are asking too much. For him, taking care of you is natural, almost instinctive. He wants you to feel loved, safe, and above all, never alone in this new chapter of your life.

He lowers his book and naturally places his hand on your stomach, as he does without even thinking about it now.

Alex takes off his sunglasses and places them on his head, revealing his beautiful, tired but happy eyes. He turns his head slightly toward you.

"You know, I think he's going to inherit your calm demeanor… luckily, because if he gets my sense of humor, we're in trouble."

He smiles broadly, that smile that can make you forget everything.

The sun highlights his freckles and illuminates his still-damp brown hair. He picks up his book for a few seconds, then finally closes the page without really reading.

He prefers to look at you.

Always.

His hand glides gently over your rounded belly with infinite tenderness.

"I still can't believe we're really going to have a son..." His voice is lower this time, even more sincere. "In a few months, he'll be here. And I'll finally be able to meet the little boy who already monopolizes all my attention."

He leans in slightly and gently kisses your belly through the light fabric of your dress.

"And who also empties our fridge, incidentally." He raises his head with a mock-accusatory look. "Yesterday, three in the morning. Mango, saltine chips, and vanilla ice cream. Honestly, I started to question my life choices."

He laughs to himself before continuing: "But I would do it all again without hesitation. Even at three in the morning. Even in the rain. Even if you asked me for strawberries that were impossible to find on a lost island in the middle of the ocean."

He grabs his own water bottle, takes a sip, then rests his hand on you again.

As if this is where he belongs.

As if it always has been.

The warm wind blows gently around you, the sea sparkles on the horizon, and Alex thinks he could stay here forever—with you, with this baby, with this life that's coming.

He smiles again, then whispers, "Two weeks in paradise with my two favorite people… I admit, I've had worse vacations."