Always

Always
Her throat tightened, emotions swelling as tears threatened to blur her vision. She tried to laugh it off. “You can’t keep saying things like that, Arnav. I’ll cry, and then you’ll call me a hormonal mess again.”
“I would never,” he said solemnly, though his smirk betrayed his amusement. “But if you do cry, I’ll just kiss away your tears.”
True to his word, he leaned in and pressed a feather-light kiss to the corner of her eye, then another to her cheek. Each touch was soft, deliberate, like he was memorizing her all over again. Raellyn’s breath hitched, her heart tripping over itself as his lips found the edge of her jaw.
“You’re…” She struggled for words as warmth bloomed under her skin. “…dangerous.”
“I prefer ‘dedicated husband,’” he murmured against her skin.
Raellyn shivered when his hand slid to the small of her back, steadying her as he adjusted their positions so she could lie more comfortably against the pillows. His tenderness was a contrast to the playful mischief in his eyes, a balance only he could master.
“You’ve been carrying our little prince for nine months. Let me take care of you.”
“You already do too much,” she whispered, though her body instinctively melted under his touch.
“Not enough,” he countered. “Never enough.”
And then his mouth was on hers, not hurried, not desperate, just a deep, lingering kiss that spoke of a love that had grown from fire into something unshakable. Her fingers curled into his hair, holding him close as she lost herself in the moment. Every brush of his lips, every slow caress, was a reminder that she was his, and he was hers, in the most profound and irrevocable way.
When they finally broke apart, Raellyn’s breaths were uneven, her lips tingling. “If you keep doing that,” she murmured, her voice husky, “I really will melt into this bed.”
“Then I’ll be here to catch you,” he said without hesitation, kissing the tip of her nose. “Always.”
As Raellyn entered her ninth month of pregnancy, her routine monthly checkup had arrived once again. Like every visit before, Arnav was at her side, his hand firmly clasping hers as they stepped into the familiar clinic where they had entrusted their journey to the same doctor since the beginning.
By now, Arnav had become almost obsessively prepared. He had already reserved a VVIP room in the hospital they trusted most, unwilling to take any risks. From stories his personal assistant had shared, he knew that births rarely cared about schedules, labor could arrive unannounced, shattering any carefully laid plans.
Raellyn, despite the calm façade she wore, was never entirely free from unease. Each day that edged closer to her due date carried a shadow of both excitement and fear. The thought of holding her child in her arms thrilled her, but the unknowns of labor whispered at the edges of her mind.
As they waited in the softly lit consultation room, her voice trembled when she finally admitted, “Arnav… I suddenly feel so scared.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them, and once they did, a heaviness settled in the air. Her other hand instinctively moved to her belly, as though the soft, protective gesture could shield both herself and the little life within.
Even though Arnav’s expression remained calm and composed, deep inside he was anything but. Beneath that steady façade lay a heart that thudded with worry for his wife, and for the tiny life they were both waiting to welcome.
“Stay calm, my love,” he murmured, his voice low yet steady as he reached for her hand. “No matter what happens, I’ll be right here with you.”
Raellyn knew he was trying to be her pillar, the unshakable presence she could lean on. Yet she could sense it, the same current of unease running through him, mirroring her own. Her palm drifted to her rounded belly, now heavy and taut like a ripened melon, and she stroked it in slow, gentle circles as if to soothe both herself and the little one inside.
“I just hope everything goes smoothly,” she whispered, her eyes soft but glistening with unspoken prayers.
“Mrs. Raellyn, sorry to keep you waiting.”
A young male doctor’s voice suddenly called her name, prompting Raellyn to turn toward him.
“Yes, that’s me,” she replied politely.
“Here for your usual consultation?”
Raellyn nodded. “Yes, we’re here to check on our baby’s delivery.”
Arnav, however, stiffened and narrowed his eyes. “Wait! who are you? Where’s the doctor who usually handles my wife?”
“My apologies, sir,” the young doctor said carefully, his voice polite yet a touch nervous under Arnav’s intense gaze. “Your wife’s usual doctor is unwell today and couldn’t come in. I’ve been asked to take over her appointments. Mrs. Raellyn, please come inside.”
Arnav’s jaw tightened. He clearly didn’t like the situation one bit, but what could he do? Finding a female doctor at this very moment was impossible. Swallowing his annoyance, he followed Raellyn into the examination room, though the air around him practically bristled with irritation.
The check-up began, and from the moment the young doctor laid a stethoscope on Raellyn’s rounded belly, Arnav’s eyes never left him. Every move the doctor made was under strict surveillance.
“You should try to relax, Mrs. Raellyn,” the doctor said gently. “Tension can make the process more uncomfortable.”
“She is Mrs. Arnav,” Arnav interjected sharply, his voice laced with authority.
“Arnav,” Raellyn hissed softly, cheeks flushing in embarrassment, “this is not the—”
“Call her Mrs. Arnav,” he repeated, his gaze fixed on the doctor like a silent warning.
The male doctor could only offer a patient, almost fatherly smile in response to Arnav’s behavior, which Raellyn secretly found a little childish.
“Very well, Mrs. Arnav,” he said softly, as if choosing his words carefully, “please try not to worry too much. Stay calm.”
He then lifted the file in his hand, scanning the detailed records of Raellyn’s pregnancy. Every checkup, every note from the previous doctor before speaking again in a measured tone.
“From the medical history in front of me,” he began, “it appears that delivering naturally may be difficult for you. A cesarean section is the safest option we can offer at this stage. Please don’t be alarmed; many women deliver their babies this way. C-sections are common procedures with a very high success rate. All you need to do is place your trust in us.”
He paused, his calm gaze moving between the husband and wife. “What do you think, Mr. and Mrs. Arnav?”
Arnav exhaled slowly, his hand tightening protectively around Raellyn’s. His voice was firm, leaving no room for doubt.
“I only want my wife and our child to get through this safely… and for both of them to be healthy. That’s all that matters to me.”