Leah shifted slightly.
Slow.
Careful.
One hand pressed into her stomach.
The other resting on the bed beside her for support.
"…Iz."
Her voice was quieter this time.
Not panicked.
Just certain something had changed.
Izana looked up immediately.
Already moving closer.
"…I'm here."
Leah breathed in once.
Then—
"…That feeling again."
Izana didn't call anyone yet.
He sat beside her first.
Close.
Not rushing.
"…Tell me."
Leah frowned slightly, trying to focus.
"…It's the same… but stronger."
A pause.
Izana's hand covered hers gently.
Warm.
Steady.
"…Does it hurt."
Leah shook her head.
"…Not exactly. Just… uncomfortable."
Izana nodded once.
Like that was enough information.
"…Alright."
He stood.
Leah caught his sleeve lightly.
"…It's probably nothing."
Izana looked down at her hand.
Then back at her face.
And his voice softened.
"…Maybe."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…But I'd rather make sure you're okay."
That was all.
No alarm.
No pressure.
Just him.
Leah let go slowly.
Izana stepped out.
The doctor arrived quickly.
So did Dante.
He didn't speak at first.
Just looked at the room.
Then at Leah.
Then at Izana.
"…Boss."
Izana didn't look away from Leah.
"…What."
Dante hesitated.
"…There's a situation outside. They're pushing the meeting back up—."
Izana cut him off immediately.
Not sharp.
Just final.
"…Not now."
Dante blinked slightly.
"…It's urgent."
Izana finally turned his head.
And when he did, it wasn't cold.
It was just certain.
"…It can wait."
Dante paused.
Because he understood.
Not the words.
The decision behind them.
Leah noticed the shift.
Her voice was quieter.
"…You should go."
Izana looked at her instantly.
"…No."
Leah raised an eyebrow faintly.
"…You didn't even think about it."
"…I did."
Immediate.
Simple.
Leah studied him.
"…And still no."
Izana didn't argue.
Just stepped closer again.
"…Doctor is here."
As if that explained everything.
Dante exhaled slowly.
"…I'll handle it."
Izana nodded once.
That was enough.
Dante left without pushing further.
The door closed softly behind him.
The doctor examined Leah carefully.
Quiet movements.
Measured instructions.
Leah stayed still.
But her fingers tightened slightly on the sheet.
Izana noticed immediately.
He stepped closer.
Not interrupting.
Just close enough for her to feel him there.
The doctor spoke after a while.
"…You're not in labor."
Leah let out a breath.
"…Good."
But the doctor continued.
"…You are very close."
Silence.
Leah blinked.
"…Everyone keeps saying that."
Izana's hand moved slightly over hers.
Grounding.
Warm.
The doctor nodded.
"…Because it's true. It could begin at any time now."
Leah sighed softly.
"…That's not helpful."
The doctor gave a small, apologetic look.
"…It's the most accurate answer I can give."
Izana spoke again.
Quiet.
Controlled.
"…She's stable."
The doctor nodded.
"…Yes. Fully stable."
Izana didn't ask anything else.
Just looked at Leah.
Like that was the only confirmation he needed.
The doctor left soon after.
The room settled again.
But not fully.
Not anymore.
Leah leaned back slightly.
Tired.
"…So this is just… waiting."
Izana sat beside her again.
Closer this time.
"…Yes."
Leah exhaled.
"…That's not comforting."
Izana looked at her properly now.
And his voice softened.
"…I know."
A pause.
"…But it means I can stay here with you."
That made her quiet.
She glanced at him.
"…You were going to anyway."
Izana didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
Leah huffed faintly.
"…You didn't even hesitate."
"…There was nothing to hesitate about."
Simple.
Honest.
Leah shook her head slightly.
But there was a faint softness in her eyes now.
"…You're impossible."
"…Yes."
Zarek moved suddenly.
Stronger than before.
Leah inhaled sharply.
"…Okay—he's very active today."
Izana's hand moved immediately to her stomach.
But gently.
Not pressing.
Just resting there.
"…Easy."
Leah watched him.
"…You're getting better at that."
"…At what."
"…Knowing what he needs."
Izana didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…I just pay attention."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…That sounds like an understatement."
Zarek shifted again.
Then settled.
Izana's thumb moved slowly once.
Leah relaxed slightly.
"…He listens to you."
Izana glanced at her.
"…He listens when you're calm."
Leah narrowed her eyes lightly.
"…So it's my fault again."
Izana's voice softened.
"…No."
Immediate.
"…It just helps when you're not worried."
That landed differently.
Leah didn't respond right away.
Then—
"…You say things like that too easily."
Izana tilted his head slightly.
"…Is that bad."
Leah hesitated.
Then shook her head.
"…No."
A pause.
"…Just… different from how you used to talk."
Izana looked at her for a moment.
Then—
"…I don't need distance anymore."
Leah went quiet.
That was simple.
But it stayed.
A knock came.
Dante again.
This time more careful.
"…Boss."
Izana didn't move away from Leah.
"…What."
Dante stepped in.
"…It's handled. I pushed the meeting back."
A pause.
"…They weren't happy."
Izana nodded once.
"…They'll adjust."
Dante hesitated.
Then looked at Leah.
"…Is everything okay?"
Leah nodded faintly.
"…Apparently I'm just being monitored by two people now."
Dante gave a small, relieved breath.
"…That sounds about right."
Izana didn't react.
Just kept his hand on her stomach.
Dante glanced at him.
Then added carefully—
"…You should rest too."
Izana looked at him.
Dante immediately corrected himself.
"…I mean her."
Leah let out a faint breath.
"…Too late."
Dante gave a small nod.
Then left again.
Silence returned.
Leah shifted slightly.
"…You didn't have to stop everything for this."
Izana didn't look away from her.
"…I did."
"…Why."
He paused.
Then answered simply.
"…Because it's you."
That was it.
No explanation added.
None needed.
Leah stared at him for a moment.
Then leaned back slowly.
"…That's unfair."
"…No."
"…Yes it is."
Izana's hand stayed where it was.
Warm.
Present.
Zarek moved once more.
Then settled again.
Leah's eyes started to soften with exhaustion.
"…I think I'm getting tired again."
Izana nodded slightly.
"…You should rest."
Leah sighed.
"…You always say that."
"…Because you don't."
That got a faint breath of laughter from her.
"…You're starting to sound like the nurse."
"…She's correct."
"…You're both annoying."
Izana's hand stayed where it was.
Warm.
Steady.
"…Sleep."
Leah looked at him.
"…You're not going to."
It wasn't a question.
He didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…Not yet."
Leah studied him for a moment longer.
Then her expression softened.
"…You're watching too closely."
Izana's voice lowered slightly.
"…I want to notice if something changes."
Leah nodded slowly.
Then reached out.
Lightly grabbing his sleeve.
Not pulling.
Just holding.
"…Nothing's going to happen yet."
Izana looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
And his voice softened further.
"…I know."
A pause.
"…I just want to be ready."
Leah didn't argue.
She just leaned back into the pillows.
Tired again.
"…You're always ready for everything."
Izana shook his head slightly.
"…Not everything."
She looked at him.
"…What aren't you ready for."
A beat.
Then—
Izana's voice came quieter.
"…You in pain."
That stopped her.
Completely.
No teasing answer came after that.
Just silence.
Then Leah shifted slightly.
Her voice softer now.
"…I'll be fine."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
Just moved closer.
His hand still on her stomach.
Grounded.
Present.
Then—
"…I know."
But it wasn't cold.
It wasn't factual.
It was quiet.
Certain.
Like he believed it more than anything else.
Zarek moved again.
This time calmer.
Leah exhaled.
"…He's settling."
Izana nodded faintly.
"…Good."
Leah's eyes started to close slowly.
Sleep pulling her under again.
"…Stay."
She said it without opening her eyes fully.
Izana didn't hesitate.
"…I am."
And he didn't move after that.
Not even when the room fell completely quiet.
Because now—
there was nothing outside that mattered more than the small world between them.