Because she is my son's mother.

Because she is my son's mother.
Diana

When the last person left through the door, I could finally breathe like a human being. The house fell into that lovely silence, you know? That silence that feels like a hug. I leaned against the living room wall, relieved, and Ethan came up behind me, hugging me from behind like he wanted to swallow me whole—in a good way, of course.

"We survived," he murmured in my ear.

I laughed. "I'm exhausted, Ethan. Your family is a soap opera."

"That's why you love me." He turned my face to him and gave me a slow kiss, half calm, half too tender. "Now… come here. I want to talk to you."

"Oh my God," I grumbled. "Here we go."

He took my hand and pulled me into the bedroom. I went laughing, still a little dizzy from the whole night, and when we got there he closed the door as if it were a state secret.

"Diana…" he began, running his hand through his hair in that dramatic way, "I was thinking about something very important." I frowned, because when he said that… nonsense was coming.

"Speak," I replied, crossing my arms.

He took a deep breath, very serious. "What do you think about us giving the baby a really unusual name?"

I stared at his face. Thinking it was a joke. Waiting for the punchline.

But nothing.

He was really serious.

"What do you mean… unusual?" I asked slowly.

He gave a smile that I knew would irritate me.

"Like… Falcon."

I blinked. "Falcon? You're kidding."

"Why not? It's strong. Memorable. Nobody will make fun of it."

"Ethan, for God's sake," I said, letting my body fall onto the bed. "It doesn't even make sense for our child to be named Falcon. It sounds like a Marvel superhero name."

"But it's cool!" he insisted, sitting next to me. — Imagine him at school: Falcon Alencar.

— Imagine the child hating you at five years old — I retorted.

He laughed, but he was still excited.

— Okay, then think of another different one. It can be a girl too.

— That doesn't make sense — I said, laughing and shaking my head. — We live in Brazil, honey. Do you want the child suffering during roll call at school? “Falcon Alencar? Are you present?”

He huffed, defeated, but in that dramatic way of his that always made me laugh.

— I just wanted something unique.

I turned my face to him and ran my hand over his chin.

— We make a beautiful, smart, healthy baby… that's unique enough, honey.

He smiled crookedly, that smile I always found endearing.

— Okay. But when he's born, if I want to give him a strange nickname, will you let me?

— It depends — I said. “If you don’t go around naming my son ‘Thunder,’ ‘Titan,’ or anything that sounds like a racehorse’s name… everything’s fine.”

He burst out laughing. I did too.

Then he stood up.

“Come with me,” he said.

I frowned. “Where to?”

“The bathtub. I want to continue this conversation there.”

“Ethan…”

“Diana.” He raised an eyebrow. “You deserve to relax while you’re pregnant.”

Okay, I confess… saying “no” to him at times like these was impossible.

He filled the bathtub with warm water and added those bath salts that leave a fancy spa scent. The light dimmed, just a twilight, and I already started to feel lighter.

“Get in,” he said, taking off his shirt.

I just watched. That man made me angry, but he also made me love him to the last hair on his head.

I went in first, slowly, and the warm water embraced me in such a good way that I couldn't even hold back a sigh. Then he came in and settled behind me, my back against his chest.

His hand slowly moved across my belly, so gently that it made me want to cry.

"You know, I'm happy," he whispered. "Much more than I thought I'd be."

"Me too," I said softly.

He kissed my shoulder gently.

"But…" he continued, "I still think the name Falcon would be iconic."

I nudged him lightly with my elbow. "Ethan!"

He chuckled, his mouth touching the back of my neck.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop. I just wanted to see you angry for a little while."

"Me, pregnant, and you wanting to test my patience. Congratulations, you know? Brave."

"I'm not afraid of you," he said, squeezing my waist.

"Yes, you are." “—I really do— he laughed. —But I like it.

I turned my face to look at him. The way he smiled… it seemed like he was seeing the future in my face.

—Ethan…— I said softly. —Do you think we can handle it?

He held my chin and turned my face completely towards him.

—We’ve handled much worse, Diana. We survived Meredith. Nothing tops that.

I laughed, because it was true. And sad. And ironic.

—I’m scared— I confessed.

He slid his hand over my belly again.

—Me too. But we’ll do it together. Everything. Every step. Every scare. Every tear. Every joy.

I felt something inside me relax. A weight I didn’t even know I was holding.

—And as for the names…— he continued, with that mischievous smile—I’m open to suggestions.” "Just no common names like 'John'."

"John is great!" I protested.

"There are Johns on every corner. Our baby deserves more personality."

"He's not even born yet, Ethan! How are you already thinking about a personality?"

"—Because I'm the father."

I let out a dramatic sigh. "—My God, it's going to be a long journey."

He laughed and pulled me closer. The water stirred slowly, warming my whole body.

"—Diana?"

"—Hm?"

"—Thank you."

I turned, confused. "—Why?"

"—For being the mother of my child."

My heart melted to the floor.

"—Silly," I murmured.

"—But it's true," he insisted.

I rested my head on his shoulder and we stayed there, just listening to the water, just feeling each other's warmth.

"—Just promise me one thing," I said, closing my eyes.

"—Anything."

"—No weird names."

He sighed dramatically. "—Okay. But I still think 'Falcon' was perfect."

— Ethan!

— Okay, okay. I'm quiet.

But I knew he wasn't quiet.

I could feel it.

He was still going to try to throw some crazy name in the middle of it.

And honestly?

I was already laughing at that.

Because in the end…

It was our life.

Our chaos.

Our family starting there, in that hot water.

And I wouldn't trade it for anything.