Three months later.
The mansion had changed.
Not in structure.
Not in appearance.
But in rhythm.
Everything moved around one thing now.
Her.
Leah stood near the window.
Slowly.
Carefully.
One hand pressed against her lower back.
The other supporting the underside of her stomach.
Her baby bump was large now.
Heavy.
Noticeable in every movement she made.
Even breathing had changed.
Deeper.
Measured.
Controlled.
She shifted slightly.
Winced faintly.
"…He's heavy today."
Her voice was quiet.
Not complaining.
Just stating it.
A pause.
Then—
movement behind her.
Close.
Familiar.
Izana.
He didn't speak right away.
Didn't ask questions.
He already knew.
He stepped in behind her.
Close enough that she felt the shift in air.
The warmth.
Then—
his arms moved.
One sliding carefully beneath her baby bump.
The other supporting from the side.
Lifting.
Not forcefully.
Not suddenly.
Just enough to take the weight.
Leah froze for a second.
Then—
a breath left her slowly.
Relief immediate.
"…Iz…"
His voice was low near her ear.
"…Relax."
She did.
Without thinking.
Her shoulders dropped.
Her back eased.
Her body leaned slightly into him.
Trusting the support.
Letting him carry what she had been holding all day.
"…That's… better…"
A pause.
Then softer—
"…Don't move."
"…I won't."
His hold adjusted slightly.
Making sure her balance was right.
Making sure she wasn't straining anywhere else.
Leah closed her eyes for a second.
"…I didn't realize how much it hurt until you did that."
"…You don't say it."
"…I don't notice until it stops."
A small silence.
Zarek moved.
Strong.
A slow, heavy shift across her stomach.
Leah inhaled lightly.
"…He's awake."
Izana's hand adjusted instantly.
More secure.
More grounded.
"…He's always awake."
Another movement followed.
Heavier.
More deliberate.
Leah exhaled through her nose.
"…He's getting bigger."
"…Yes."
"…You keep saying that like it's not a problem."
"…It isn't."
"…For you."
A faint pause.
Then—
she leaned her head back slightly.
Resting it carefully against his shoulder.
"…You haven't left."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"…No."
"…At all?"
"…No."
Leah opened her eyes slightly.
"…Not even for meetings."
"…No."
Silence settled.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… noticeable.
Leah's fingers moved lightly over his arm.
Still supporting her.
"…Dante's handling everything."
"…Yes."
"…And you're just here."
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…That's not like you."
Izana's voice stayed calm.
"…It is now."
Leah turned her head slightly.
Trying to look at him.
"…Why."
A beat.
Then—
"…Because you need me here."
Leah blinked.
Her expression softening without her meaning to.
"…I didn't say that."
"…You don't have to."
Silence followed.
But it felt different now.
Fuller.
Leah leaned back into him again.
Letting herself rest.
Letting him hold her.
"…You stayed."
"…Yes."
"…For me."
Izana didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
That settled something.
Deep.
Unspoken.
Another movement came.
Stronger.
Zarek shifted again.
Leah tensed slightly.
"…Okay—."
Izana reacted instantly.
His hand moved over her stomach.
Slow.
Steady.
Rubbing gently.
That same rhythm.
The one he had learned.
The one that worked.
"…Breathe."
Leah followed it.
Her breathing slowed.
Matched his pace.
The movement softened.
Not gone.
But calmer.
"…He listens to you."
"…He settles."
"…Not like that for me."
"…You hesitate."
Leah frowned slightly.
"…I don't hesitate."
"…You do."
"…How."
"…You think before you move."
"…That's normal."
"…Not for this."
Leah huffed softly.
"…That's annoying."
"…It works."
A small silence.
Then—
"…Can we sit."
"…Yes."
He didn't let go immediately.
Adjusted first.
Making sure she wouldn't lose balance.
Then slowly—
guided her.
Step by step.
Measured.
Careful.
Until she reached the bed.
He helped her sit.
Still holding her weight until she was fully stable.
Then—
only then—
he let go.
Leah exhaled deeply.
Her hand resting over her stomach again.
"…I feel like I'm carrying everything."
Izana sat beside her.
Close.
Within reach.
"…You are."
"…That's not comforting."
"…It's true."
Leah glanced at him.
"…You really don't sugarcoat anything."
"…No."
"…You could try."
"…It wouldn't help."
She shook her head slightly.
A faint smile forming anyway.
"…You're impossible."
"…Yes."
Another movement.
Strong.
Leah inhaled sharply.
Her hand pressing instinctively.
"…He's pushing."
Izana's hand was already there.
Over hers.
Steady.
"…He's running out of space."
Leah let out a slow breath.
"…So am I."
Silence followed.
Izana didn't dismiss that.
Didn't correct it.
He just stayed close.
His hand grounding her.
Then—
"…Any pain."
Leah shook her head faintly.
"…No."
A pause.
"…Just pressure."
"…Tell me if that changes."
"…I will."
A beat.
Then—
"…You'll know anyway."
Izana didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
Leah leaned back slowly.
Adjusting against the pillows.
Izana moved instantly.
Fixing them.
Lifting slightly.
Supporting her back.
Making sure nothing strained.
Leah watched him quietly.
"…You've been doing this a lot."
"…Yes."
"…You don't get tired."
"…No."
"…That's not normal."
"…It's necessary."
A pause.
Leah's expression softened again.
"…You've changed."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"…No."
"…You have."
"…I adjusted."
"…That's the same thing."
"…No."
Leah tilted her head slightly.
"…What's the difference."
A pause.
Then—
"…This was always there."
Her gaze held on him.
"…You just didn't show it."
"…It wasn't needed."
"…It is now."
"…Yes."
Another quiet settled between them.
But it wasn't empty.
Leah's hand rested over his.
Still on her stomach.
"…He's calmer."
"…He is."
"…Because you're here."
Izana's thumb moved faintly.
"…He knows."
"…Knows what."
A pause.
Then—
"…He's safe."
Leah stilled slightly.
Her eyes lowering.
Then—
"…So am I."
Izana didn't respond.
But his hand didn't move.
Didn't leave.
The room stayed quiet.
Soft.
Heavy in a different way.
Leah's fingers traced lightly against his hand.
"…Any day now."
Izana's gaze stayed on her.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then—
Leah shifted slightly.
Her hand pressing faintly against her stomach.
Her brows pulling together.
"…Iz."
His attention snapped instantly.
Sharp.
Focused.
"…What's wrong?"
Leah inhaled slowly.
Her expression uncertain.
"…That felt…"
A pause.
Her fingers pressed again.
"…Different."
Silence.
Complete.
Izana didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But his entire presence sharpened.
Leah looked at him.
"…It's probably nothing."
He didn't answer.
Didn't look away.
His hand pressed slightly firmer over hers.
Grounding.
Watching.
Waiting.
Zarek didn't move.
Not immediately.
That alone was different.
Leah's breathing slowed.
But her eyes didn't leave Izana.
"…He's quiet."
Izana's gaze dropped.
Focused.
Listening.
Waiting.
Then—
a faint movement.
Slow.
Heavy.
But there.
Leah exhaled softly.
"…Okay…"
Izana didn't relax.
Not fully.
His hand stayed where it was.
"…Tell me if it happens again."
"…I will."
A pause.
Leah leaned back slightly.
Careful.
Tired again.
"…Maybe I just moved wrong."
"…Maybe."
But his voice said otherwise.
He didn't believe it.
Not completely.
Leah watched him.
"…You're thinking."
"…Yes."
"…Don't."
"…I will."
She sighed softly.
"…You always do."
"…Yes."
Another quiet moment passed.
Zarek shifted again.
More normal this time.
Leah's shoulders eased slightly.
"…There he is."
Izana's hand remained steady.
"…Yes."
Leah leaned her head back.
Eyes half closing.
"…I'm tired."
"…Rest."
"…Stay."
"…I'm here."
He didn't move.
Didn't step away.
Didn't look anywhere else.
Just stayed.
Watching her.
Watching every breath.
Every movement.
Every shift.
And even when the room fell quiet again—
it wasn't the same quiet.
Not peaceful.
Not calm.
It was something else now.
Something waiting.
Something close.
And Izana felt it before anything else did.
This—
wasn't far anymore.