Nora lay on the gurney, her long brown hair tucked neatly under a disposable surgical bonnet. The hospital gown felt flimsy and unfamiliar, tied in the back with Jack’s careful hands just moments ago. Now, all he could do was hold her hand, squeezing it tighter than he realized.

  She gave him a small, reassuring smile, though he could see the flicker of nervousness in her eyes.

  “You okay?” he whispered.

  Nora nodded. “Yeah. Just… ready.”

  Jack swallowed hard. Was anyone ever ready for something like this?

  He forced a smile, brushing his thumb over the back of her hand. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  The moment stretched between them, fragile and fleeting. Then the nurse appeared at Nora’s side, glancing at the monitor before giving a small nod to the orderly.

  “It’s time,” she said gently.

  Jack felt his stomach drop.

  The gurney jolted slightly as the wheels unlocked. Nora’s grip on his fingers tightened, but within seconds, the movement pulled her hand from his.

  Jack instinctively stepped forward, his hand reaching for hers, but they were already moving her away.

  Too fast. Too soon.

  His breath caught as Nora was wheeled through the sterile white doors, disappearing into the procedure room. The last thing he saw was her looking back at him, eyes wide with something between excitement and fear.

  Then she was gone.

  Jack stood frozen, staring at the closed doors as if willing them to open again.

  For the first time in his life, he felt powerless.

  He had spent years in security, protecting clients from threats they never even noticed. He had carried people out of danger, fought off attacks, planned escape routes, and ensured that no harm came to those in his care.

  But now? Now, when it mattered most?

  There was nothing he could do.

  He let out a slow, shaky breath, forcing himself to step back.

  He sat in one of the stiff plastic chairs, but he couldn’t keep still. His knee bounced, his fingers tapping against his leg. Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then twenty.

  He stood, paced the room.

  Is having a child worth all this?

  The thought slipped into his mind uninvited. He shoved it away.

  Yes. Yes. They had dreamed about this moment for years. They had fought for it, worked for it, sacrificed for it.

  Stolen story; please report.

  So why did he feel like he was standing on the edge of something irreversible?

  The clock on the wall ticked on. Sixty-two minutes.

  Then, finally, the doors opened.

  A nurse wheeled Nora back into the room, her head tilted slightly to the side, exhaustion pulling at her features. Jack rushed forward, dropping to one knee beside her, reaching for her hands.

  “How are you, baby?” His voice came out rougher than he intended. He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment.

  Nora blinked up at him, her expression hazy but soft. “I’m okay,” she murmured.

  “She did well,” Dr. Falsgraft said as he approached, standing beside her chair with a clipboard in hand. “The procedure went exactly as planned.” He smiled, but it was detached, just part of the routine. “The wheelchair is hospital policy for all outgoing patients.”

  Jack barely glanced at him, his focus locked on Nora. “Are you sure? Do you feel?”

  “I’m fine,” she assured him.

  Dr. Falsgraft cleared his throat. “We’ll need to see you back in about a week to monitor implantation. We’ll conduct a few tests, and if all looks good, we won’t need to check in again until the end of the first trimester.”

  Jack stood and shook the doctor’s hand, barely registering the exchange. “Thank you, Doctor.”

  As he turned to wheel Nora toward the exit, Dr. Falsgraft placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

  “Oh, one more thing,” the doctor said, his tone casual but firm. “No relations under any circumstances for the next two weeks. Understood?”

  Jack felt the heat rise in his face. He nodded quickly. “Got it.”

  Dr. Falsgraft gave a curt nod, then turned back to his tablet. “Good. You’re free to go.”

  Jack wasted no time getting Nora out of there.

  ~

  For the next couple of days, Jack hardly left Nora’s side.

  By the time they got home, Nora was exhausted. Jack settled her into bed, making sure she had everything she needed, water, extra pillows, the remote.

  She slept most of the first day, waking only for small meals and bathroom trips, each of which Jack insisted on helping her with, whether she needed him or not.

  She let him hover. She knew he needed this—needed to do something, anything, to make sure she was okay.

  By the second evening, she was feeling more like herself, though Jack still wouldn’t let her do much.

  They curled up on the couch, watching a mindless crime drama. The show followed a fugitive on the run, but neither of them were really paying attention.

  Jack kept her close, his arm draped over her shoulder, fingers idly tracing patterns on her arm.

  She glanced up at him. “You know I’m not going to break, right?”

  He gave her a small, sheepish smile. “I know.”

  Nora smirked. “You don’t, actually.”

  He sighed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Just… humor me.”

  She did.

  But by the time the show ended, the tension had shifted.

  Jack wasn’t watching the TV anymore.

  He was watching her.

  She smiled, tilting her head back. “What?”

  Jack’s fingers traced her jawline, his expression unreadable. “Nothing. Just… how did I get so lucky?”

  Nora felt her heart swell.

  She shifted, pressing a hand to his cheek. Their eyes met deep, searching.

  Slowly, she leaned up, brushing her lips against his. The kiss was soft at first. A whisper of warmth. But then his hands found her waist, pulling her closer, deepening it.

  For a moment, there was nothing but this.

  The feel of him. The way he melted into her, the quiet desperation in his touch, as if he was terrified she would slip away.

  She shouldn’t. They weren’t supposed to.

  But it didn’t matter.

  Self-control crumbled.

  And nature took over.