The house was quiet; except for the sound of running water behind the bathroom door. Simon sat on the edge of the couch, elbows resting on his knees, his fingers laced together as he stared at the floor.

You had been in there for what felt like an eternity. When you had grabbed the box off the kitchen counter, & choked out a ‘I just need to be sure,’ his chest had tightened. He wasn’t sure what terrified him more—the possibility of a positive or a negative result.

Simon rubbed a hand over his face, his palms dragging across the scruff on his jaw. He was a soldier, someone who was trained to face danger without even flinching. But this? This was something else entirely. Nothing in the world could prepare him for this.

The faint creak of the bathroom door snapped him out of his thoughts. His head jerked up, & the sight of you, pale & frozen, one hand gripping the doorframe like it was your lifeline made his heart drop. He didn’t need you to say anything to know.

“Love,” he said softly, rising to his feet. His voice was calm, but his hands flexed, betraying the tension coursing through him. “What does it say?”

You couldn’t meet his eyes, so instead, you held up the test with a trembling hand. Two lines.

Tears welled up in your eyes as you clutched the test to your test. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” you choked out. “We were careful. I-i can’t do this, Si. We’re not ready.”

“Hey…” he whispered, stepping closer. “We’ll figure it out, yeah? Whatever you decide,” his voice faltered as he rubbed the back of his neck, struggling to find the right words. “You’re not alone. I’m here. Always.”

Your shoulders shook as you tried to steady your breathing, & he reached out for you, his hands cradling your face. His demeanor was calm, soft—but his eyes betrayed the conflict he was going through.

“I don’t know what to do,” you whispered, your voice breaking with a building fear.

His lips pressed onto your forehead, “Neither do i,” he admitted, “but… whatever happens, I’ll stay by your side. You have my word.”