Bella crouched beside Rachel, whispering something into her ear. The little girl giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she nodded excitedly.
Lucas, standing a few feet away, arched a brow. "What are you two plotting?"
Rachel grinned and turned to him, her small hands clasped together. "Dada?"
Lucas froze. His breath hitched, and for a moment, he wasn't sure if he had heard her correctly. His heart pounded against his ribs as he looked down at Rachel, who was smiling up at him with pure innocence.
His throat tightened. Dada. She had never called him that before.
Bella watched him closely, her own heart squeezing at the way his expression softened, how his usually composed features faltered under the weight of that single word.
Lucas knelt in front of Rachel, his voice lower than usual. "What did you just say?"
Rachel giggled. "Dada! Can I call you that?"
A lump formed in his throat. He hadn't realized just how much he wanted this, how deeply he had craved belonging to this little family.
He swallowed hard before nodding. "Yeah, princess. You can call me that."
Rachel squealed and threw her arms around his neck. Lucas wrapped her in a hug, his eyes briefly shutting as he let the warmth of the moment settle into his heart. He had never felt anything like this before—this kind of love, this kind of acceptance.
Bella watched them, smiling softly. Lucas wasn't just a part of their lives anymore. He now belonged with them,with Rachel, with her.
After the guests left and everyone has dinner, they finally left the wedding venue, making their way back home. As they stepped inside, Bella glanced around. The place was exactly the same—nothing had changed. And yet, somehow, it felt different. Warmer. More complete.
Lucas seemed to feel it too. His gaze swept over the familiar space, and for the first time, this didn't just feel like Bella's home. It felt like his home too.
After helping Rachel change, Bella tucked her into bed, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. The little girl mumbled sleepily, "Good night, Mommy. Good night, Dada."
Lucas, still reeling from the new title, leaned down and whispered, "Good night, princess."
Once Rachel had fallen asleep, Bella turned to find Lucas standing near the bedroom doorway, a somewhat hesitant expression on his face.
She tilted her head. "What?" Lucas cleared his throat. "Where… um, where should I sleep?"
Bella smirked, crossing her arms. "Well, the couch is always an option."
His lips pressed into a thin line, but the flicker of disappointment in his eyes was unmistakable. He nodded slowly. "Right… I understand."
Bella burst into laughter, shaking her head. "I'm kidding, Lucas. Of course, we'll sleep together."
His eyes snapped to hers, and the relief was almost comical. "You—" He sighed, shaking his head with a smirk. "You love messing with me, don't you?"
"Maybe," she teased before grabbing his hand and leading him toward their room.
As the door closed behind them, Lucas exhaled deeply, allowing the realization to settle in. He wasn't just a visitor in Bella's life anymore. He was home.
As Bella and Lucas stepped into their bedroom, they both froze. The room was decorated in soft, romantic hues—candles flickered on the bedside tables, and delicate rose petals were scattered across the bed. The faint scent of fresh flowers filled the air.
Bella's face turned red instantly. "I-I think someone went a little overboard," she mumbled, gripping the hem of her dress.
Lucas ran a hand through his hair, letting out a quiet chuckle. "I have a strong feeling my mother had something to do with this."
Bella turned to him, eyes wide. "You think?" she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Lucas smirked but didn't deny it. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, clearly amused by her flustered state.
"I'll just…change," Bella said quickly, grabbing her nightwear and slipping into the bathroom.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. But as she reached behind to undo the strings of her dress, she realized the intricate knots were nearly impossible to manage alone. A frustrated sigh escaped her lips.
A knock sounded on the door. "Need help?" Lucas's voice was deep, teasing. Bella hesitated but sighed in defeat. "…Yes."
The door opened slightly, and Lucas stepped inside. He met her gaze in the mirror, his eyes darkening slightly as he took in the sight of her exposed back. His fingers brushed against her skin as he carefully untied the strings, moving with deliberate patience.
Bella held her breath, her skin tingling from his touch. Once the dress was loose enough, she quickly pulled it up to her chest and turned to him. "T-Thanks," she stammered, avoiding his gaze.
Lucas simply smirked. "Anytime, Bella."
Bella stepped out of the bathroom, now dressed in her nightwear, only to find Lucas standing by the bed, arms crossed as he stared at the overly romantic setup. The soft candlelight flickered, casting shadows over his face, but the smirk tugging at his lips was unmistakable.
"Do you think if we sleep still enough, the petals will just… disappear?" he mused, flicking one off the pillow.
Bella bit her lip, stifling a laugh. "I don't think that's how it works."
Lucas sighed dramatically and ruffled his hair. "Did they really have to go this far?" He picked up a handful of petals and let them fall through his fingers. "Not that I don't appreciate the effort, but I think we'd wake up buried under these things."
Bella shook her head, stepping forward. "Let's just clear some of it."
Together, they brushed away the excess petals, Lucas making a show of dramatically tossing a few into the air, much to Bella's amusement. Once the bed looked more suitable for sleeping and not a scene out of a romance movie, they both stood at their respective sides.
Lucas glanced at her, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Are you sure you don't want to keep the candles on? You know, set the mood?"
Bella shot him a glare, her face already warm. "Lucas."
He chuckled but didn't push further, reaching over to blow out the candles. She also helped him blowing out candles.
Lucas watched her from where he stood near the bed, his jacket already discarded, leaving him in his white shirt, sleeves rolled up. There was something surreal about this moment—being in her home, in their home now.
Bella turned, catching his gaze. "You're staring," she murmured, a teasing lilt in her voice.
Lucas smirked, stepping closer. "Can't help it," he admitted, his voice low. "My wife looks beautiful."
Bella's cheeks warmed at the casual way he called her that. She shook her head, trying to focus. "You should change. You must be tired."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "You're kicking me to bed already?"
She rolled her eyes, shoving a set of comfortable clothes into his hands. He already asked Mark to move his belongings to her house."Go change."
Chuckling, he obeyed, disappearing into the bathroom. Bella exhaled deeply, running a hand through her hair. It was strange—having him here, sharing a space that had always just been hers and Rachel's. But instead of feeling overwhelming, it felt… right.
When Lucas returned, dressed in a plain T-shirt and sweatpants, he looked far more relaxed, though there was still something unreadable in his expression. He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "I have a feeling you're overthinking things again."
Bella huffed. "I am not." "You are." He walked over to the bed, slipping under the covers with a content sigh. "Come here," he said, patting the space beside him.
She hesitated, then finally climbed in, keeping a slight distance between them. Lucas turned on his side, propping his head up on his hand as he studied her. "You look exhausted."
"I am." She sighed, closing her eyes briefly. "Today was… a lot."
"A good 'a lot' or a bad 'a lot'?" he asked softly.
Bella opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. "Good," she admitted.
He smiled, satisfied. Then, after a moment, he reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You can relax, you know. I don't bite."
She scoffed. "Liar." The word came out before she can think of it, making her blush. After a few times of rethinking in the past few months, she now remember what happened that night and answered him instinctively. Lucas chuckled, shifting closer. "Okay, maybe a little."
Bella narrowed her eyes at him. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" He grinned. "A little."
Lucas's gaze softened as he traced her features with his eyes—her slightly flushed cheeks, the tired but content look in her eyes. "Bella," he murmured.
She swallowed. "Hmm?" His fingers brushed against her hand, barely there, but enough to send a shiver up her spine. "Thank you," he said, his voice unusually serious. "For today. For trusting me. For everything."
Bella stared at him, something unspoken passing between them. Her chest felt tight, emotions swirling in a way she wasn't sure she was ready to name.
But instead of speaking, she simply squeezed his hand back. "Good night, Lucas." He held her gaze for a moment longer before smiling slightly. "Good night, Bella."
The couple drifted to sleep holding each other's hand. Silence settled between them, comfortable yet filled with unspoken emotions. The reality of being married, of sharing this space together, hung in the air.