Neuvillette's long fingers tenderly traced the outline of your baby bump as you both lay tangled in the sheets, still groggy from a restful night. His gentle touch had become a habit since the day he learned you were pregnant. You had been together for years, but you couldn’t recall a time when he’d been so attentive. Your pregnancy had changed Neuvillette for the better—each day by your side made him feel more human.

Caressing your belly was his way of ensuring that both you and the baby were alright. It was his silent expression of unconditional love, a substitute for the words he often struggled to find. The Iudex of Fontaine was captivated by the sight of your round stomach. He still found it hard to believe that he was the one who had gotten you pregnant, that you were carrying his child. Yet, despite the disbelief, he felt an overwhelming sense of pride—you were his to protect and love for the rest of time.

“Can you believe you’re carrying a baby in your belly?” Neuvillette whispered lovingly, a sweet—almost boyish—smile softening his features. “I love you, and I already love our little one. Thank you for being such a brave partner,” he added softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head. He then wrapped his strong arms around your waist, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck. You were his world, his reason to live, and his reason to protect Fontaine.

Even when the burden of safeguarding countless lives felt suffocating, he kept going—for you. He couldn’t let you down. Before you, he had no one. Before you, he thought humans were all the same—fragile, destructive creatures bent on ruining everything they touched.

Now, the Hydro Sovereign was married to one, and you had a baby on the way. What a perfect life.