ASTHERIEN'S POV :-
It's the final month.
My belly is bigger now, heavy enough that even standing for too long makes me tired.
I was standing beside the table, looking out through the glass window, one hand resting over my belly.
Mom was on the terrace, while Kai was getting ready for his morning jog.
A faint smile appeared on my face.
Everything felt so peaceful.
Until suddenly, I felt something warm.
I froze.
I looked down, but I couldn't see much because of my big belly.
But I knew.
It felt like...
I quickly held the edge of the table.
"Kai..."
My voice came out quieter than I expected.
He immediately turned toward me.
"What happened?"
He hurried over, reaching for me as if I might lose my balance.
"I think my water broke."
I looked at him.
He stared at me for a second, clearly confused.
I was confused too.
Then realization slowly crossed his face.
"It's time."
My heart started pounding.
"Let's go to the hospital," he said immediately. "Wait, I'll call Mom."
He rushed toward the terrace to inform her.
I stayed there for a moment, my hand still resting over my belly.
After all these months...
It was finally happening.
Our baby was coming.
KAIZA'S POV :-
I barely had time to process everything before she was being taken toward the delivery room.
Her one hand was holding mine, tighter than ever, while her other rested over her belly.
Her breathing was shaky as she lay against the pillow, her eyes squeezed shut.
She was in pain.
The nurses finally pushed her bed through the doors, and I stayed beside her.
Everything around me suddenly became a blur.
The nurses began preparing everything while the doctor spoke calmly to her, explaining what was happening.
She nodded weakly.
Her fingers tightened around mine again.
I leaned closer and gently moved a strand of hair away from her forehead, brushing my thumb over her knuckles.
"Don't leave," she whispered, her eyes still closed.
"I won't."
I tried to keep my voice steady.
But my eyes were already filling with tears.
Another contraction hit.
She gasped, gripping the edge of the bedsheet.
I felt completely helpless.
I couldn't see her like this.
I wanted to take the pain away from her somehow.
But all I could do was stay.
Stay beside her.
Hold her hand.
Remind her that she wasn't alone.
With every passing second, her grip tightened.
Time blurred around us.
Every shaky breath.
Every cry.
Every time she squeezed my hand.
I stayed right there.
And then, slowly, everything changed.
The doctor and nurses began preparing for the baby's arrival.
My heart was pounding.
I could barely breathe.
Then, in what felt like only a few minutes, I heard it.
A cry.
A tiny, beautiful cry.
I froze.
"It's here!" I said, my voice breaking with excitement.
I looked at Astherien.
"Are you okay?" I asked quickly, tears filling both my eyes. "It's done. You're okay."
I held her hand tightly.
She finally let out a tired breath and sank back against the pillow.
A few moments later, the doctor came toward me, carrying the baby carefully.
"Congratulations," the doctor said with a gentle smile. "It's a boy."
A boy.
Our boy.
Akai.
I looked at Ash.
Then at the tiny baby in my arms.
She slowly opened her eyes.
The exhaustion was obvious on her face.
She didn't say anything.
She simply looked at him.
Then she lifted her hand, reaching toward him.
I carefully brought him closer.
His tiny body was warm and delicate.
His little hands moved slightly, his cries filling the room.
I couldn't explain the feeling.
It was too much.
Too beautiful.
Too real.
I bent slightly, bringing him closer to Ash.
His tiny feet brushed against her hand.
And then...
She smiled.
It was the smallest smile.
But I'd been waiting to see it for months.
I looked at her and smiled too.
"Our son," I whispered.
She looked at him again.
"Akai..." she murmured.
---
Three or four hours had passed since then.
Ash was resting now, finally asleep after everything she'd been through.
Our baby was lying beside her in a tiny crib.
The whole family was outside the room.
For the first time in hours, everything was quiet.
I stepped out and slowly made my way down the stairs toward my car.
There was something I wanted to capture.
I opened the dashboard and took out the small pocket camera I'd kept there.
I wanted a picture.
Something to remember this day by.
I reached into my pocket for my phone.
Nothing.
I checked again.
My heart sank.
I'd left it at home.
Of course I had.
I'd been in such a hurry that I'd completely forgotten it.
I had already insisted that Jaff bring Dad back home since Akki was here, and Mom and Dad were both at the hospital.
So I got into the car.
After informing Mom that I was going home for a moment, I drove back.
It was about a half-hour drive.
When I finally reached home, the house felt strangely empty.
Everything was still exactly how we'd left it.
Clothes were scattered around.
A few things had been left out in the hurry.
I quickly looked around.
Then I spotted it.
My phone.
It was almost at the edge of the table.
I grabbed it and hurried back toward the car.
During the drive, I called Akki.
"Is she fine?"
There was a pause.
Then she assured me everything was okay.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
Good.
Everything was fine.
And yet...
Something still felt wrong.
I drove back to the hospital as quickly as I could.
When I reached the parking lot, I looked up.
Her room's window was clearly visible from there.
When I'd left earlier, the curtains had been open.
Now...
They were closed.
Maybe the sunlight was disturbing her.
I ignored the strange feeling in my chest and hurried upstairs.
I reached the first floor.
Then I saw Akki walking toward me.
She looked furious.
There was sweat running down the side of her temple.
I stopped.
"What happened?"
She looked at me.
Her expression made my stomach drop.
"She's not there."
That was the only thing she said.