Izana didn't move.
Not after the cry.
Not after the room started breathing again.
He was still kneeling beside the bed.
Still holding Leah's hand.
Still close enough that nothing else in the world mattered.
Leah's fingers were warm at first.
Then they loosened.
Just slightly.
Izana noticed immediately.
"…Li."
No response.
Her hand slipped a little further in his.
His grip tightened instantly.
Not rough.
Just firm enough to anchor her.
"…Li."
Her head tilted faintly into the pillow.
Eyes closed.
Too still.
Izana leaned closer.
"…Leah."
Nothing.
That's when the change came.
Not visible.
But immediate.
A shift in him.
His hand tightened again.
"…Wake up."
A doctor stepped in quickly.
Calm.
Focused.
"…She's okay."
Izana didn't look away from her.
"…She's not responding."
The doctor didn't hesitate.
"…She's asleep."
A pause.
Then—
"…Exhaustion. Her body has completely given out."
Silence.
Izana didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Just stayed there holding her hand.
Elias spoke softly from the side.
"…She pushed far beyond what she should have."
Izana finally exhaled.
Slow.
Controlled.
But still tight.
Still alert.
His thumb brushed once over Leah's knuckles.
"…Li."
No response.
The room stayed busy.
But Izana didn't register it anymore.
Until—
movement.
At the edge of the room.
A doctor stepping back.
Carefully holding something wrapped.
Small.
Izana's eyes sharpened instantly.
He stood halfway without even thinking.
"…Where are you taking him."
The doctor paused at the door.
"…He needs to be cleaned and checked."
Izana's gaze locked on the bundle.
"…Checked."
"…Routine care."
A pause.
Then—
"…You can come with."
Izana hesitated.
Just once.
His eyes flicked back.
Leah.
Still asleep.
Still breathing.
Still there.
Then back to the bundle.
Zarek.
Elias stepped closer slightly.
Not interfering.
Just steady.
"…Go."
Izana didn't answer immediately.
Elias added quietly—
"…I'll stay with her."
That landed.
Izana's grip on Leah's hand loosened slightly.
Not letting go.
Just trusting.
"…Watch her."
Elias nodded once.
"…Always."
A beat.
Then Izana gave a faint, rare smile.
Small.
Controlled.
But real.
Then he released Leah's hand.
Paused.
Looked at her one more time.
Longer than necessary.
Then stood.
And followed the doctor out.
The corridor outside felt colder.
Stripped of warmth.
Too quiet after the room behind him.
The doctor walked ahead carrying Zarek carefully.
Izana followed beside him.
Close.
Always close.
His eyes never left the bundle.
Zarek made a small sound under the blanket.
Izana's attention sharpened instantly.
The doctor spoke as they walked.
"…Strong heartbeat. Everything is stable."
Izana didn't respond.
Just watched.
Zarek moved slightly.
Tiny fingers shifting under the wrap.
Izana's gaze narrowed faintly.
"…Leah's hair," he said quietly.
The doctor glanced at him.
"…Yes. Very similar colouring."
Izana didn't say anything else.
Just kept walking.
The corridor opened into the stairs.
They stopped briefly.
Then—
the front doors opened.
Unexpected.
Cold air slipped inside.
Izana stopped instantly.
So did the doctor.
Footsteps.
Then Dante stepped in.
He paused the moment he saw them.
His eyes shifted quickly.
Doctor.
Bundle.
Izana.
Then he walked closer.
"…Izana."
Izana didn't turn fully.
Dante's gaze dropped to Zarek.
A beat.
Then—
a faint smile.
"…He's got Leah's hair."
Silence.
Izana looked down briefly.
Just once.
Then back up.
"…Yes."
Dante nodded slightly.
No further words needed.
Just understanding.
He stepped aside.
Let them pass.
Izana continued walking.
The medical corridor downstairs was brighter.
Sterile.
Controlled.
Everything too clean for how new life felt in his arms.
The doctor moved immediately to a prepared station.
Nurses waited.
Izana stopped just behind them.
Not interfering.
But close enough to see everything.
Zarek was placed down carefully.
Izana didn't move.
Just watched.
Warm water.
Soft cloths.
Gentle hands.
Careful cleaning.
Every movement precise.
One of the nurses glanced at him briefly.
"…He's healthy. No concerns."
Izana didn't answer.
Just kept watching.
Zarek made a small sound.
Izana's eyes followed instantly.
The doctor continued.
"…Strong reflexes. Normal response."
Izana's voice came low.
"…Good."
That was all.
The nurse finished the checks and carefully wrapped Zarek again.
Then looked at Izana.
"…Would you like to hold him?"
Silence.
Izana didn't answer immediately.
His eyes stayed on Zarek.
Smaller now.
Wrapped.
Calm.
Then—
a pause.
The nurse noticed.
Stepped in gently.
The doctor added quietly—
"…Like this."
He demonstrated briefly.
Izana's arms shifted slightly.
Slow.
Careful.
Still unsure.
The nurse guided him gently.
"…Support here."
Izana adjusted.
Correct.
Precise.
But cautious.
Then—
Zarek was placed into his arms.
Everything stopped.
Izana froze.
Not fear.
Control.
Too much at once.
His hands hovered for half a second.
Then settled.
Careful.
Stable.
Zarek made a soft sound.
Izana looked down.
Fully now.
Not distracted.
Just him.
Small.
Alive.
His voice came quietly.
"…You're small."
Pause.
"…Too small."
Another pause.
"But everyone said you're big..."
Zarek shifted faintly.
Izana didn't move away.
Just adjusted his grip slightly.
Better now.
More secure.
The nurse watched carefully.
"…You're doing fine."
Izana didn't respond.
Just kept looking.
Zarek's fingers twitched under the blanket.
Izana's grip tightened slightly.
Not fear.
Attention.
Then—
"…Leah's."
Barely a whisper.
But real.
Zarek made another small sound.
Izana didn't look away.
Not even once.
Then—
slowly.
Carefully.
He leaned down.
Pressed a soft kiss to Zarek's head.
Barely there.
A pause followed.
Then—
a single tear fell.
Landing on the blanket.
Izana didn't react to it.
Didn't wipe it away.
Just stayed still.
Holding him.
Looking at him.
Like something inside him had finally stopped resisting what it already knew.