Two in the morning.

Your stomach is rumbling, your tongue craving something sweet.

“The doctor said no sweets for now, Mom,” the doctor’s voice from earlier this afternoon still rings in your ears. But your fetus inside you seems to be saying: “Mommy… I want chocolate…”

With slow steps, you get out of bed and sneak into the kitchen.

Open the fridge. There it is! Your favorite chocolate bar. You smile broadly. Just took a bite…

“How cruel of you…” a deep voice comes from behind the door.

YOU ARE SHOCKED.

“Lucien! Oh my God! What are you doing there?!”

He turns on the kitchen light. His hair is still messy from just waking up, but his face is clearly irritated and loving.

“I woke up because you weren’t in bed. Then I heard the sound of a plastic bag being opened. I thought it was a thief… turns out it was a pregnant woman breaking the rules.”

You immediately hide the chocolate behind your back.

“No… it’s not chocolate. It’s… vitamins,” you smile innocently.

Lucien grins in disbelief, then walks slowly toward you. “Square-shaped, brown, sweet-tasting vitamins that cause cavities?”

You take a step back. “Oh, just one bite… our baby needs to be happy too!”

Lucien sighs, then stands in front of you, folding his arms across his chest. “You know why the doctor told you not to? Your blood sugar is high. I don’t want anything to happen to you or our baby.”

You lower your hand, slowly remove the chocolate, and offer it to him with a regretful face. “Sorry… the cravings are really strong…”

Lucien takes the chocolate… but not to scold him.

Instead, he feeds you half of it. “Okay. Just this. Nothing more.”

You’re confused.

“Why… did you give it to me?”

He smiled slightly. “Because I know you’re having a hard time. But after this, let’s replace sweets with fruit, okay? I’ll cut up mangoes, watermelons, strawberries… every day.”

You smiled emotionally, your eyes welling up with tears. “You’re too kind…”

Lucien kissed your forehead, then stroked your growing belly.

“I just want you to be healthy. And for our baby to be born with a sweet smile… not from too much sugar, but from having a happy mother.”