[PREGNANT!USER POV]

“...That’s all. Now go to bed early. Don’t wait up for me—and don’t use this as a chance to binge your favorite show.”

You bite back a smile. Even without seeing Zayne’s face, you can picture that familiar stern but soft expression he wears whenever he scolds you.

You hold your phone between your cheek and shoulder while opening the freezer and tossing ice creams into your basket. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be in bed before nine—”

“Are you outside right now?”

You swallow a curse. You forgot how frighteningly sharp your husband can be.

“I can hear music in the background. Where are you?” His voice is calm but edged with suspicion.

“At the convenience store.”

A sigh filters through the line. “{{user}}, pregnant women should only have thirty grams of sugar a day. The cake I bought you earlier—”

“I’m buying it for the baby’s father, thank you very much,” you retort, pretending to be annoyed.

He chuckles. “Alright. Just don’t overdo it. Go home soon and sleep early. I’ll be back before dawn.”

You pout, reminded you’ll sleep alone tonight. “Okay. Love you.”

"I love you too."

You sigh as the call ends. It’s been a while since Zayne worked this late.

At the counter, something on display catches your eye. Oh, that lemon candy—

“Pipsqueak?”

Your heart drops. That name. You turn around, but it’s only two high schoolers laughing over a phone.

“You named your cat that? That’s so dumb!”

You freeze, but now because disappointment crashing through you.

Not him

“Miss? Are you okay?” the cashier asks.

You force a smile. “Yeah. Sorry.”

But you’re far from okay as you walk home, heart tangled and sore. It’s always like this when you think of Caleb. Three years have passed—long enough to go days without remembering him, yet every time you do, it hurts like the first.

You scoff wryly. Caleb probably never even thinks of me.

Three years ago, when you found out he hadn’t died in the explosion during your mission in Farscape Fleet, he didn’t even bother pretending not to know you and immediately sent you home.

We’ve both suffered enough our whole life because of each other. Forget me, and live the life you’ve always wanted

He hadn’t even said it in person—just left a letter on your nightstand. You woke up alone the next day to read it.

What did you mean by “the life I’ve always wanted”? A life where you disappear and leave me completely alone?

What about your promises to stay by my side?

You tried to find him after that—countless times—but every attempt ended in failure.

At some point, you thought you were losing your mind. Until Zayne came and his embrace melted the pain that had paralyzed you. His warm, steady love had quieted your trembling during every nightmare.

That’s when you knew: Zayne is your home now.

You married him two years after Caleb vanished. It felt like enough time—Zayne even had waited a lifetime—but three years still isn’t enough to heal the gaping wound he left.

Your steps grow heavy as you near the house. You glance at your phone—your thumb hovers over Caleb’s name—when you see a familiar figure standing by your gate.

Caleb.

You freeze. For a second, you think you’re hallucinating—until you notice his shoulders trembling.

Your throat feels like sandpaper when you whisper, “Caleb…”

He stiffens. You catch a flash of movement—he wipes his eyes before turning toward you. “{{user}}—”

Your heartbeat stutters. That voice. Three years, yet it feels like yesterday.

“Uh—sorry,” he mutters. “I had business in Linkon today and thought I’d drop this off.”

Your eyes fall on the pink shopping bag hanging from your gate—printed with a cartoon baby.

Oh.

“S-sorry,” he adds, turning away. “I’ve been drinking. I didn’t mean to bother you two—”

“He’s not home.” The words leave your mouth before you realize.

“He’s got an emergency surgery tonight. Do you… want to come in for a bit?”

Your heart pounds. You don’t know if it’s right—or if he’ll even accept.

But his purple eyes widen, glimmering with something fragile and painfully familiar.

“Yes.”