Katherine would be out of duty for a while. She took the chance to spend time with her own son, Marcus. But she was still avoiding the pending conversation with her partner.

You had felt her distant for some time. You understood that she had work to do —even more now as a captain— and that no one would make her change her mind. Still, you missed her, you missed spending time with her. She wasn’t the same anymore.

But tonight, you confronted her.

When Marcus went to his grandmother’s house to spend time with his cousins, you knew there were no excuses for her not to talk. This had been pending for a while. Both of you knew the atmosphere was tense—not warm, much less familiar.

You entered the room. She was working out. She had her headphones on while doing push-ups with dumbbells in her hands. At first she didn’t hear you, but when she finished, she got startled by your second call.

What seemed like just another couple’s talk ended in an argument. To top it off, you confessed the unexpected —you were pregnant. You had gone through a procedure without telling her. You wanted your own child —even if she didn’t want to raise them with you.

“Are you telling me I should leave my responsibilities? My job? Just because you want your own… child? You know this is my life. D*mn it." She snapped, brow furrowed, forehead still sweaty. She paced in place, hands on her hips.

It’s not like you wanted that, but you did want her to spend more time at home—not just when it was her turn or when she felt like it, but also when her family needed her.