But before she could finish, Gabrielle's gaze lowered — to the soft swell beneath Bella's loose shirt. A silence stretched between them. Bella froze, her fingers clutching the towel tighter.
The air shifted — heavy, uncertain.
Gabrielle's face softened, then tensed, emotions flickering too fast to read — surprise, confusion, hurt, realization. She wanted to hide, to explain, but the words stuck in her throat. The air shifted. This wasn't how she imagined it. She wanted to tell her—but not like this.
"Bella…" Her voice trembled. "You… you're pregnant?"
Bella's lips parted, but no sound came. Lucas felt her go still beside him, every muscle tightening like she was bracing for something.
"I was going to tell you, Aunt," she finally managed, voice breaking. "I just didn't want you to worry until I was sure… I'm sorry."
Gabrielle exhaled shakily, her gaze darting between them — between Bella's pale face and Lucas's steady calm. "You should have told me," she said softly, though there wasn't anger in her tone, just the ache of someone who had always cared too much.
"I know," Bella whispered, her head lowering. "I wanted to. I just… didn't know how."
For a moment, the three of them stood in silence — the warmth of the morning flickering, delicate as glass balanced on the edge of breaking.
Lucas stepped in gently, voice even but warm. "Please, come in."
Gabrielle hesitated, then nodded.
Once inside, Bella guided her toward the couch, her hands trembling slightly as she poured water. Lucas took care of the rest — drawing the curtains halfway to soften the light, clearing space as if to make everything less overwhelming.
Gabrielle sat quietly for a moment, then looked up. "I know you both got married," she said. "You told me you wanted to give him a chance, remember? But now…" her eyes moved to Bella's belly again, her voice lowering, "…was it because of this?"
Bella froze. Lucas's hand brushed her shoulder — steady, silent reassurance — before he spoke. "It was, at first."
Gabrielle's eyes flickered to him, measuring, maybe even expecting excuses. But he didn't offer any.
"We both wanted to give the baby a name," Lucas continued. "And Rachel… she deserved a family. One that didn't feel temporary or uncertain." He paused, his tone softening. "But now, it's not about that. Not just about duty or the baby. It's about us — the family we've built, the bond we've found."
Gabrielle looked at him quietly — studying his face, as if trying to decide whether to believe him. And then, slowly, she nodded.
Her gaze shifted back to Bella. "You look… happy," she said finally, voice gentler now.
Bella's eyes shimmered, and she smiled — small, grateful. "I am," she whispered. "Scared sometimes, but happy."
Gabrielle exhaled, the last of her tension melting into something like acceptance. "That's all I wanted for you," she said. "To see you loved and cared for."
Lucas inclined his head respectfully. "She deserves nothing less."
Gabrielle smiled faintly — that knowing, motherly smile Bella had missed so much. "You sound sure of that," she teased softly.
"I am," he replied without hesitation. His answers each time made her feel like she is worthy of all the love in this world.
The conversation eased after that — soft laughter blending with the faint clatter of cups. Gabrielle asked about Rachel, about Bella's health, about the baby. Bella told her the doctor said everything was fine, that she was eating better now, that Lucas made sure of it.
At one point, Gabrielle turned to Lucas. "You take good care of her, don't you?"
He didn't answer right away, just smiled — that quiet, deliberate smile that said everything. "I try," he said simply.
When Gabrielle finally stood to leave, the heaviness that had entered with her was gone. She hugged Bella tightly, resting her chin on her shoulder. "Don't hide from me again, alright?"
"I won't," Bella promised, her voice thick.
Then Gabrielle turned to Lucas. "Thank you… for being there when she needed someone."
"You don't need to thank me for that," he said quietly. "She's my family."
Gabrielle's eyes softened once more before she finally left. The door closed behind her with a soft click.
Bella turned toward Lucas, her eyes misty but calm. "You handled that well," she murmured.
He chuckled, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Handled what? The interrogation?"
She laughed softly, shaking her head. "The way you spoke to her. The way you… made it sound like we really are a family."
Lucas stepped closer, his gaze steady on hers. "We are, Bella."
Something in his tone made her chest tighten — not in fear, but in something dangerously close to warmth. She looked away first, cheeks flushing. "You should go pick Rachel up," she said quickly.
He smirked, eyes lingering on her a moment longer before nodding. "Alright. Don't burn the kitchen while I'm gone."
"Ha-ha, very funny," she said, rolling her eyes.
When he left, the apartment felt quieter — but not empty. Bella tied her hair back and started cooking, the rhythm of it calming her nerves. The smell of tomatoes and garlic filled the air as she stirred the pot, humming softly to herself.
The apartment was still humming with the faint aftertaste of Gabrielle's visit when the door opened again. Rachel's laughter filled the hallway before her small figure appeared, running straight toward Bella with open arms.
"Mama!"
Bella knelt down just in time to catch her, the weight of her little body and the familiar warmth grounding her completely. "Hey, sweetheart. Did you have fun with Dada?"
Rachel nodded, her hair bouncing. "We saw ducks! And he bought me juice."
Bella smiled up at Lucas, who stood a few feet away, with an amused look in his eyes. "So you bribed her again?"
He gave a casual shrug. "It's not bribery if she smiles."
She tried to hide her laugh but failed. "You're impossible."
"And yet you keep me around," he said, brushing past her toward the kitchen.
The domestic ease of it—the way they moved in sync without effort—was starting to feel like something too natural to question.
Lunch was simple: spaghetti, fresh salad, and a few slices of garlic bread that Lucas had bought on their way back. Rachel insisted on serving herself, which meant half the sauce ended up on the table, and Bella was laughing too hard to care.
Lucas just sat back and watched them, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. There was something about this—Rachel's happy chatter, Bella's soft laugh—that made everything else fade. The meetings, the tension, the shadows of his world—they didn't exist here.
After lunch, Rachel dragged both of them to the couch, clutching her favorite storybook. "One story," she pleaded, blinking her wide eyes.
"Only one?" Lucas teased. "That doesn't sound like you."
"Fine, two," she bargained, grinning.
So he read—his voice steady and deep—and by the end of the second story, both Rachel and Bella were curled against the cushions, asleep.
Lucas stayed quiet for a long time, just watching them. Rachel's hand was tucked into Bella's, their breathing matching, their faces peaceful in a way he didn't know he needed to see. Something inside him softened, something that felt frighteningly close to peace.
When Bella stirred awake an hour later, Lucas was still sitting nearby, his laptop open but untouched. "You could've woken me," she murmured, rubbing her eyes.
"I didn't want to," he said. "You both looked too perfect to disturb."
Her cheeks warmed slightly. "You're getting good at saying things that make me blush."
He smiled without looking up. "I was always good at that Bella."
She pretended to ignore him and got up to make coffee, though the faint curve of her lips gave her away.