Zavien
The talk of marriage seemed almost bigger than their current situation, like a bigger commitment than having a baby together; and yet, Soh didn't back down. She leaned into him, going so far as to claim she'd marry him now. It sent his heart racing, hoping her answer wouldn't change by the time he got around to asking her, wishing desperately that he already had.
Still, they agreed that now wasn't the time. Their eventually engagement deserved its own attention without being tangled in the emotions of a new pregnancy. He wanted his love for her and her alone to be what shone when he got down on one knee, and although the timing may never be perfect with this new addition, he'd find a way to make it special.
His head nodded, confirming everything she'd said as he rubbed along her arms and back, just appreciating having her here. "That's all that matters." Their love. With that, they could face anything.
As she glossed easily over the last name question, not a moment of hesitation. It made him laugh, his chest beginning to ache with the affection pounding against his sternum, the feeling only increasing every time she casually mentioned marriage, like it was an inevitability. "Have I mentioned how smart you are recently?" His smile widened as he pressed an endearing kiss to her forehead. "You always know exactly what to say." Because she knew him, she saw what he needed and gave it willingly, smoothing worries and fears into distant memories.
And yet, he wasn't sure she'd be able to do the same for the darker pitfalls of his heart, and he winced slightly when she returned the question to him. Honesty was an instinct at this point, the truth flowing like an unencumbered stream, especially because his answer wouldn't surprise her. It was the same as before, and he smiled slightly at the irony of it all. "Having twice as much to love - and twice as much to lose." Zavien leaned his head back into hers, breathing her in as he quieted the fear, feeling the beat of her heart against his, letting the emotion linger before passing, refusing to let it paralyze him or steal the joy of this moment.
Pulling back, he gave her a sheepish grin, already knowing how she would respond to his next quiet admission. "I also have this tiny, completely irrational fear that you'll end up resenting me." It was said as a joke, light and buoyant as dust in a sunbeam, but there was an underlying substance to it. Everything was fine and bright despite how scary it seemed, but once that faded and Soh was in labor and the baby was crying and everything had changed, he knew that she might look for someplace to direct her pain or frustrations. Zavien wouldn't be surprised if that fell on him, even if he knew that she'd never fathom doing such a thing. Things changed. People changed.
Still, they agreed that now wasn't the time. Their eventually engagement deserved its own attention without being tangled in the emotions of a new pregnancy. He wanted his love for her and her alone to be what shone when he got down on one knee, and although the timing may never be perfect with this new addition, he'd find a way to make it special.
His head nodded, confirming everything she'd said as he rubbed along her arms and back, just appreciating having her here. "That's all that matters." Their love. With that, they could face anything.
As she glossed easily over the last name question, not a moment of hesitation. It made him laugh, his chest beginning to ache with the affection pounding against his sternum, the feeling only increasing every time she casually mentioned marriage, like it was an inevitability. "Have I mentioned how smart you are recently?" His smile widened as he pressed an endearing kiss to her forehead. "You always know exactly what to say." Because she knew him, she saw what he needed and gave it willingly, smoothing worries and fears into distant memories.
And yet, he wasn't sure she'd be able to do the same for the darker pitfalls of his heart, and he winced slightly when she returned the question to him. Honesty was an instinct at this point, the truth flowing like an unencumbered stream, especially because his answer wouldn't surprise her. It was the same as before, and he smiled slightly at the irony of it all. "Having twice as much to love - and twice as much to lose." Zavien leaned his head back into hers, breathing her in as he quieted the fear, feeling the beat of her heart against his, letting the emotion linger before passing, refusing to let it paralyze him or steal the joy of this moment.
Pulling back, he gave her a sheepish grin, already knowing how she would respond to his next quiet admission. "I also have this tiny, completely irrational fear that you'll end up resenting me." It was said as a joke, light and buoyant as dust in a sunbeam, but there was an underlying substance to it. Everything was fine and bright despite how scary it seemed, but once that faded and Soh was in labor and the baby was crying and everything had changed, he knew that she might look for someplace to direct her pain or frustrations. Zavien wouldn't be surprised if that fell on him, even if he knew that she'd never fathom doing such a thing. Things changed. People changed.
I love you with everything I am,
everything I've been,
and everything I hope to be.
everything I've been,
and everything I hope to be.
