Chapter 244

Chapter 244
Emily's POV

"Always," Stefan murmured into my hair. "I'll always protect you, Emily. You and our baby."

Our baby.

The words sent a shiver through me. This tiny life growing inside me—a piece of both of us. A miracle neither of us had dared to hope for.

I pulled back enough to look at him. His eyes were bright with unshed tears.

"We're really doing this?" I asked. "We're going to be parents?"

"Yeah." A smile broke across his face—genuine and unguarded. "We are."

I kissed him then, pouring everything I felt into it. Gratitude. Love. Wonder.

When we finally broke apart, he stood and helped me to my feet.

"Come on," he said. "You should eat something. And then we need to call Dr. Harrison to schedule proper prenatal care."

I nodded, letting him guide me toward the closet. But as we passed the mirror, I caught sight of us together—him tall and protective, me leaning into his strength—and felt my throat tighten again.

"Stefan?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you. More than I ever thought I could love anyone."

He turned to face me fully, his hands coming up to cup my face.

"I love you too," he said quietly. "And I promise you, Emily—this child will know nothing but love. No secrets. No lies. Just... family."

The word hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning.

Family.

Something neither of us had truly had since childhood. Something we'd both lost and mourned.

And now, against all odds, we were building it together.

---

Stefan's hands moved with practiced efficiency, gathering my hair and securing it with one of the ties from the vanity. His fingers were gentle against my scalp, careful not to pull.

"There," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "Better?"

I nodded, watching him in the mirror. He'd been like this since I woke up—attentive to the smallest details. Making sure I was comfortable. Anticipating my needs before I could voice them.

He reached into the closet, pulling out a soft cashmere wrap. Dark green, the color he'd once said brought out the gold flecks in my eyes.

"Arms up," he instructed.

I obeyed, and he draped the wrap around my shoulders, his hands lingering for a moment on my upper arms.

"It's cold downstairs," he explained. "Jonathan's been complaining about the heating system all week. I don't want you catching a chill."

"I'm fine," I started to say, but he was already adjusting the fabric, making sure it covered me properly.

I caught his eye in the mirror. Something flickered across his face—worry, maybe. Or fear.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Nothing." But his jaw was tight.

"Stefan."

He was quiet for a long moment, his hands still resting on my shoulders. When he finally spoke, his voice was low.

"I just want to make sure you're taken care of. That's all."

There was something underneath the words. Something he wasn't saying.

But before I could press him on it, he stepped back and offered his hand.

"Ready to go down?"

I took his hand, letting him lead me toward the door. But as we reached the hallway, he stopped abruptly.

I looked up to find him staring at me with an intensity that made my breath catch.

"What—"

"You'll always love me, right?" The question came out rushed. Almost desperate. "Even with everything that's happened. Even with the baby coming. You'll still—"

"Of course I will," I interrupted, squeezing his hand. "Stefan, why would you even ask that?"

He didn't answer immediately. His free hand came up to touch my face, his thumb tracing the curve of my cheekbone.

"I just need to hear it," he said quietly. "That this changes things, but not... not us."

Oh.

Understanding crashed over me.

He was afraid. Afraid that once the baby came, I wouldn't need him anymore. That I'd transfer all my focus to our child and forget about him.

My heart clenched.

"Listen to me," I said firmly, turning to face him fully. I placed both hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat under my palms. "Yes, we're going to have a baby. And yes, that's going to change our lives in ways we can't even imagine yet."

His expression tightened, and I rushed on.

"But that baby doesn't replace you, Stefan. Nothing could. You're not just the father of my child—you're the person I chose. The one I fell in love with. The one I want to spend every day of my life with."

His eyes searched mine, looking for any hint of doubt.

"Even when the baby cries all night?" he asked. "Even when I'm exhausted and irritable and completely clueless about what I'm doing?"

"Even then." I smiled. "Especially then. Because we'll figure it out together. Just like we've figured out everything else."

He pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me and burying his face in my hair.

"Promise me," he whispered. "Promise you won't forget that you're mine first."

"I promise," I said without hesitation. "The baby will have both of us. But you—" I pulled back to look at him. "You'll always be first. Always."

The tension in his shoulders finally released. He kissed my forehead, then my nose, then my lips.

"Thank you," he breathed.

"For what?"

"For choosing me. For staying. For giving me a family."

I blinked back tears. "You don't have to thank me for that."

"I do." His voice was fierce. "Because I know how easy it would be for you to walk away. To decide that I'm too damaged, too complicated, too—"

I kissed him, cutting off whatever self-deprecating thing he was about to say.

"Stop," I said when we broke apart. "You're not too anything. You're exactly what I need. Exactly what our baby needs."

He stared at me for a long moment, and I could see the exact instant he chose to believe me. The fear in his eyes softened, replaced by something warmer.

"Okay," he said quietly. "Okay."

I took his hand again, lacing our fingers together.

"Now can we please go eat? I'm starving, and apparently, I'm eating for two now."

A genuine smile crossed his face. "You heard the doctor. You need to keep your energy up."

We started down the hallway, but I felt his eyes on me the whole way. Protective. Possessive. Loving.

And despite everything—despite the secrets we'd kept and the lies we'd told—I knew with absolute certainty that we were going to be okay.

Because whatever challenges lay ahead, we'd face them together.

As partners. As lovers.

As family.