The door opened quietly.
Izana stepped inside.
The room was soft.
Warm light spilling across the floor.
Calm.
Leah sat on the bed.
Baby clothes spread around her.
Small.
Neatly folded.
Tiny sleeves.
Soft fabric.
Her hands moved slowly.
Carefully.
But something felt off.
Izana paused.
Watched her.
A small smile touched his lips.
Then faded slightly.
She looked… quiet.
Too quiet.
He stepped forward.
Slow.
Measured.
Each step deliberate.
He stopped beside the bed.
Lowered himself to one knee.
Close enough to reach her.
Close enough to feel the distance.
His hand lifted.
Brushed a loose strand of her hair back gently.
Tucked it behind her ear.
"…Li."
Soft.
No response.
Her hands kept moving.
Folding.
Smoothing fabric that didn't need smoothing.
Avoiding him.
His gaze lingered on her face.
Studying.
Understanding came quickly.
Too quickly.
"…You're upset."
Silence.
Intentional.
He exhaled quietly.
"…I'm sorry," he said.
"…I couldn't go with you."
Nothing.
Not even a glance.
A small pause stretched.
Then—
something shifted in his expression.
Subtle.
Almost amused.
He didn't push.
Didn't call her out.
Instead—
he stood.
Moved around the bed.
Laid down on his side.
Back facing her.
Still.
Quiet.
Waiting.
Time passed.
Just enough to settle discomfort.
Leah slowed.
Her hands stopped moving.
Her gaze flicked toward him.
He hadn't moved.
Not even slightly.
A small frown formed.
"…Iz?"
No answer.
Silence.
Heavy now.
She shifted slightly.
"…Are you… upset?"
Nothing.
Still nothing.
Her chest tightened slightly.
"…Hey…"
A pause.
No response.
Guilt settled in.
Quiet.
Uncomfortable.
She moved closer.
Careful.
Leaning forward.
Trying to see his face.
But he stayed turned away.
Unmoving.
"…Are you ignoring me now?" she whispered.
Nothing.
Her brows pulled together.
She shifted even closer.
Now right behind him.
Trying to look over his shoulder—
Then—
movement.
Fast.
Controlled.
His hand caught her waist.
Pulled her down.
Pinned her gently to the bed.
Leah gasped.
"…Iz—!"
He didn't answer.
Not yet.
His fingers slipped under the hem of her shirt.
Lifting it slowly.
Careful.
Always careful.
Just enough to reveal the soft curve of her bump.
Small.
But undeniable.
Then—
he leaned down.
Pressed a kiss to her stomach.
Warm.
Lingering.
Leah froze.
Then—
"…You planned this!"
A breath of laughter escaped her.
He didn't deny it.
Another kiss.
Then another.
"…You ignored me," he murmured quietly against her skin.
"…So I adapted."
Leah laughed.
Trying to push him lightly.
"…That's not fair—."
Another kiss.
"…It is."
His lips moved slowly across her stomach.
Unhurried.
Intentional.
Then his voice softened.
Lower.
"…You see this?" he murmured to their child.
"…Your mother ignores me."
Leah covered her face briefly.
Laughing.
"…Iz…"
"…Very disrespectful," he continued quietly.
"…I should be compensated."
Another kiss.
Leah squirmed slightly beneath him.
"…Stop—."
But she was smiling.
Her hands barely resisting.
"…Should I stop?" he asked softly.
A pause.
Then—
he kissed her again anyway.
Leah let out another laugh.
"…You didn't even wait!"
"…I didn't need to."
Another kiss.
Then—
his tone shifted again.
Gentle.
Soft.
"…You behave better than her," he murmured to the baby.
Leah shook her head.
"…You're unbelievable…"
"…I'm accurate."
Another kiss.
Her laughter softened.
Turned quieter.
Her hand slid into his hair.
Holding him there.
Grounding him.
"…I'm sorry," she whispered.
He didn't stop immediately.
Another kiss.
Then another.
"…Not yet," he murmured.
Leah blinked.
"…What?"
"…I'm deciding."
Another kiss.
She laughed again.
"…Izana…"
"…Hmm?"
"…Stop…"
But she wasn't serious.
Not really.
He lifted his head slightly.
Looked at her.
Eyes softer now.
Warmer.
He leaned up.
Pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"…Are you talking to me again?"
A pause.
Leah looked at him.
Then—
silence.
Deliberate.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
"…I see."
He lowered his head again.
Back to her stomach.
Leah's eyes widened.
"…Wait—."
Too late.
Another kiss.
Slower this time.
More deliberate.
"…Iz—!"
She laughed again.
Trying to pull away.
"…Okay—okay, I'm sorry!"
He didn't stop.
"…I'm listening," he said calmly.
Still kissing her stomach.
Leah squirmed beneath him.
Laughing harder.
"…I said I'm sorry!"
"…Not convincing."
Another kiss.
"…Iz, stop—!"
"…No."
A pause.
"…You started this."
Leah covered her mouth.
Trying to stop laughing.
Failing.
"…You're impossible…"
"…And you love me."
"…Unfortunately."
A faint smirk touched his lips.
Then—
finally—
he slowed.
Stopped.
Rested his forehead gently against her stomach.
Breathing steady.
His hand rested over her bump.
Protective.
Grounded.
"…Don't ignore me again," he murmured.
Leah's hand moved to his.
Holding it there.
"…I won't," she whispered.
A pause.
"…I didn't think it would hurt you."
His thumb brushed lightly over her skin.
"…It didn't," he said quietly.
A beat.
"…I just preferred this outcome."
Leah laughed softly.
"…Of course you did."
He lifted his head.
Looked at her again.
Eyes calm.
Soft.
He leaned forward.
Pressed one last gentle kiss to her stomach.
"…You behave," he murmured to the baby.
"…She's trouble."
Leah lightly hit his shoulder.
"…Hey!"
He smirked faintly.
Then leaned up—
pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
Short.
Gentle.
Certain.
"…Better?" he asked quietly.
Leah smiled.
Warm.
"…Better."
A quiet moment followed.
Their breathing slowing.
The laughter fading into something softer.
Izana shifted slightly.
Sitting up beside her now.
His hand still resting over her bump.
Like he didn't want to move it.
Leah watched him.
"…You really wanted to go today," she said softly.
A pause.
He didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
His gaze lowered briefly.
"…I don't like missing things like that anymore."
Leah's expression softened.
"…You won't miss everything," she said.
"…I missed today."
"…You had work."
"…That doesn't matter."
A pause.
"…You matter."
His hand pressed slightly more firmly against her stomach.
"…Both of you."
Silence followed.
Warm.
Then—
"…Then don't miss the next one," Leah said gently.
His gaze lifted.
Met hers.
A small shift in his expression.
Decision.
Clear. Immediate.
"…I won't."
A pause.
Then—
"…I'll clear my schedule."
Leah blinked.
"…What?"
"…The rest of the week."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Iz—."
"…We'll go together," he said.
"…Every shop. Every part."
A beat.
"…You won't go without me again."
Leah stared at him.
Surprised.
Softly overwhelmed.
"…You're serious?"
"…Yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Her lips curved into a small smile.
Then a bigger one.
"…You don't have to do that."
"…I want to."
A pause.
"…I should have done it today."
Leah reached for his hand.
Squeezed it gently.
"…Then we'll go tomorrow," she said.
"…We will."
He leaned forward.
Pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Then another to her stomach.
"…We'll do everything properly."
Leah smiled.
Resting her hand over his.
"…Together."
"…Together," he repeated quietly.
And this time—
neither of them pulled away.