Morning arrived without drama—just soft light slipping through the curtains and the distant sound of traffic waking the city. Bella stirred before the alarm, one hand resting unconsciously on the gentle curve of her belly. A little more than nineteen weeks.
The number still felt unreal sometimes. She lay there for a moment, breathing slowly, grounding herself in the quiet. Then a familiar wave of nausea rolled through her—not sharp, not urgent, but persistent enough to make her grimace.
Before she could even sit up, Lucas was already there.
"Bathroom?" he asked quietly, his voice still rough with sleep.
She nodded, surprised. "How did you—"
"You shifted," he said simply, helping her sit up. "And you make that face."
"What face?"
"The one where you pretend you're fine when you're not."
She huffed a small laugh but didn't argue as he steadied her all the way to the bathroom, one hand firm at her back, the other ready in case she lost her balance. He didn't rush her. He didn't ask unnecessary questions. He just waited.
The nausea passed after a few minutes, leaving behind only fatigue—and the strange comfort of not being alone through it.
By the time they stepped out of their room, Rachel was already awake, sitting cross-legged on the bed with her schoolbag open. She was attempting to shove a water bottle into a space that clearly didn't exist.
"This bag has shrunk," she declared seriously.
Lucas crouched in front of her. "Impossible. Bags don't shrink, munchkin."
"Yes they do," Rachel said, offended by the suggestion otherwise. "When they don't like homework."
Bella smiled, leaning against the doorframe as Lucas took the bag from Rachel and reorganized it quietly, moving books and folders with the concentration of someone solving a puzzle. When he handed it back, it fit perfectly.
"There," he said. "Crisis averted."
Rachel beamed. "You're very smart, dada."
"I know," he replied gravely.
Bella rolled her eyes, but warmth spread through her chest before she could stop it.
Breakfast was simple—toast, fruit, milk. Lucas hovered just enough to be helpful without being annoying, sliding a plate closer when Bella slowed, refilling her water without comment, making sure she actually finished eating.
"Doctor day," Rachel announced suddenly, swinging her legs beneath the table.
"Yes," Bella said. "But you'll go to school first."
Rachel nodded thoughtfully, then turned to Lucas. "Will you come back in the noon?"
"Of course."
"Promise?"
He didn't hesitate. "Promise."
Satisfied, Rachel leaned forward and hugged him tightly around the neck. Lucas froze for half a second—clearly surprised—then wrapped an arm around her gently, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Bella looked away before the emotion could show too much. Rachel was growing more attached to him. Bella told herself that was a good thing.
After dropping Rachel at school, the car felt noticeably quieter. Bella rested her hands over her belly, staring out the window as the city moved past them. Lucas noticed immediately.
"Nausea again?" he asked.
"A little," she admitted. "It's not as bad as before, but it hasn't completely gone."
"Do you want me to open the windows?"
"Yes."
He did so without comment. After a moment, he asked, "Did it help?"
"Somewhat."
He nodded, filing it away. She could almost feel him doing it—paying attention, remembering, noticing.
At the hospital, Lucas walked slightly ahead, opening doors, adjusting his pace when she slowed. He didn't rush her. He didn't hover. He was just… there. Leading her without forcing it and she realized that was one of the many things she liked about him.
When they sat down in the consultation room, the doctor smiled warmly.
"How are we doing today?"
Bella answered the basics about sleep, appetite, movement. Then Lucas spoke.
"She still gets nauseous sometimes," he said calmly. "Even now. Not severe, but frequent enough."
Bella blinked, startled by his care. She hadn't mentioned it more than once.
The doctor nodded. "That can happen. Some women experience lingering nausea well into the second trimester. As long as there's no vomiting, severe dizziness, or dehydration, it's usually normal."
Bella relaxed slightly.
"And she's over nineteen weeks," Lucas added. "Everything is developing as it should, right? The baby is normal?"
The doctor smiled again. "Yes. At nineteen weeks, the baby is growing steadily. Movements will become more consistent soon, if they haven't already."
Bella smiled softly, pride blooming in her chest—not just about the baby, but about the way Lucas sat there, composed and involved, like this wasn't obligation but instinct. Then Lucas cleared his throat.
"There's… something else too."
Bella turned to him, surprised. What more is left?
He looked at the doctor, not her. "Is it safe for us to be physically intimate? Or should we avoid it?"
Bella's ears burned instantly.
Oh God, he actually asked.
I thought he was just joking back then.
The doctor didn't even blink. "In a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy, intimacy is perfectly safe. As long as Bella is comfortable and there are no warning signs—bleeding, pain, or irritation—you don't need to avoid it."
Bella stared at her hands, mortified. She wanted the chair to swallow her whole.
Lucas nodded once. "Thank you."
The doctor continued, professionally. "Just be mindful of comfort. Positions may need adjusting as the pregnancy progresses. Communication is important."
"Yes," Lucas said quietly.
Bella managed a polite smile, counting the seconds until the appointment ended.
Afterward, Lucas didn't tease her. Didn't mention it. Just walked beside her like always, holding the door, letting her set the pace.
Once they were back in the car, she finally spoke.
"You didn't have to ask that," she muttered.
"I wanted to," he replied.
She looked at him. "Why?"
"Because I wanted us to be sure," he said simply. "And because if something involves you, I want to do it right."
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
They stopped at a small café on the way home. Lucas insisted she sit while he ordered....nothing heavy, nothing greasy. He watched until she finished eating before relaxing himself.
"You've been very… attentive lately," she said, trying to sound casual.
He glanced at her. "Is that a problem?"
"No," she admitted. "Just… new."
He smiled faintly. "You'll get used to it."
Maybe she would.
As they drove toward Rachel's school later, Bella rested her head against the seat, one hand over her belly. The city hummed around them, ordinary and steady.
For the first time since everything had changed, a quiet thought settled in her mind not loud, not dramatic. Maybe she hadn't made the wrong decision after all.