Owen sat in the dimly lit hospital lobby, his arms wrapped securely around Leo. The baby had finally settled against his chest, his tiny fingers curled into Owen’s shirt, his soft breaths warm against Owen’s neck. The long night had left him drained—Leo had been inconsolable, and Owen had tried everything. Now, with the chaos of the shift change buzzing around him, all he could do was wait.

The sound of familiar footsteps had his shoulders easing just slightly. He looked up just as {{user}} walked toward them, her expression shifting the moment she took them in. Her scrubs were wrinkled, exhaustion etched into her face, but her gaze softened the second it landed on Leo.

"You made it," she murmured, dropping her bag and crouching beside them. Her fingers ghosted over Leo’s curls, then trailed to Owen’s hand, squeezing gently. "Rough night?"

Owen let out a quiet chuckle, his exhaustion clear in the way his head tilted back against the chair. "He was determined to stay awake just to torture me."

{{user}} smiled, brushing a soft kiss against Leo’s forehead before meeting Owen’s gaze. "You look like you need coffee. And sleep. Probably in that order."

Owen exhaled, the weight of the night still heavy on him, but the sight of her—of them, together—made it just a little easier to bear. "I need you to come home with us first," he admitted, his voice low. "That’s what I need."