The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Bella stirred slightly, a warm weight pressed against her side—Rachel, still deep in sleep. But as soon as she shifted, a familiar wave of nausea hit her. Her stomach twisted painfully, and she quickly sat up, pressing a hand against her mouth.
Lucas, who had been sleeping beside Rachel, instantly noticed the sudden movement instinctively. His brows furrowed in concern.
"Bella?" His voice was husky with sleep. She didn't answer, instead throwing the blanket off and rushing towards the bathroom. Lucas immediately followed, just in time to see her kneeling by the toilet, heaving.
"Damn it…" He crouched beside her, his large hand moving to her back, rubbing slow, soothing circles.
Bella hated this part of pregnancy. The exhaustion, the nausea—it made her feel weak. She clenched her eyes shut as another wave hit her, and she gripped the edge of the sink. Lucas stayed with her the entire time, whispering small reassurances, his touch grounding her.
When it finally subsided, she leaned back against the cool tiles, breathing heavily. Lucas stood up and quickly grabbed a bottle of cold water from the fridge. He twisted the cap open and held it out to her.
"Here. The doctor said cold water helps," he reminded her gently. She took small sips, the coolness easing the rawness in her throat. Lucas kneeled in front of her, brushing back a few damp strands of hair from her face and gently wiping her tears.
"Better?" he asked, his gaze scanning her face for any lingering discomfort. Bella nodded weakly. "Yeah…just exhausted."
Lucas sighed, his jaw tightening. He hated seeing her like this—drained and struggling. He was reminded of the time when he came back after a week from a trip and met with a pale and weak Bella, who looked like she would collapse anytime. He wanted to take it all away for her, but all he could do was be there.
"Come on, let's get you back to bed for a while. You should lay down." She shook her head. "No… I have to wake Rachel up and get her ready. I'm fine.... for now."
Lucas exhaled through his nose but didn't argue. Instead, he helped her stand, keeping his hand on her waist for support as they walked back to their room.
Rachel was still curled up in bed, her tiny frame rising and falling with soft breaths. Bella smiled fondly, her heart warming despite her own discomfort. Leaning down, she gently brushed Rachel's hair away from her face.
"Sweetheart, time to wake up," Bella murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Rachel groaned, turning her face into the pillow. "Five more minutes…"
Bella chuckled. "Nope, school is waiting." At the mention of school, Rachel's eyes fluttered open. She stretched her arms with a sleepy yawn and blinked up at Bella.
Lucas, who had been watching from the side, smirked. "If you don't wake up, you won't get the special lunch I packed for you."
Rachel perked up immediately, sitting up with curiosity. "Special lunch?" Lucas crouched to her level. "Mhm. But you have to get ready first."
That was all the motivation Rachel needed. She quickly hopped out of bed, making Bella laugh. "I'll get her changed," Bella said.
Lucas nodded. "I'll handle breakfast." As Bella helped Rachel with her clothes and finished her and Rachel's morning routine, Lucas moved to the kitchen, brewing coffee and preparing breakfast. The scent of eggs and toast soon filled the house. When Rachel came out, dressed neatly in her school uniform, Lucas was already setting her plate down.
"Eat up, princess." Rachel grinned. "Thanks, Dada!" Bella smiled softly at the interaction, feeling her heart swell.
After breakfast, Lucas packed Rachel's lunch, slipping in a small chocolate treat, making sure Bella didn't see. Then, he grabbed the car keys.
"Ready to go?" Rachel nodded eagerly. Bella followed them to the door, pressing a kiss to Rachel's forehead. "Be good at school, okay?"
Rachel nodded. "Okay, Mama! Bye-bye!" Lucas turned to Bella before leaving. "I'll be back soon." Bella gave him a small smile. "Drive safely."
He nodded and walked out, Rachel's small hand in his as he led her to the car. Soon Lucas returned home only to find Bella sitting on the couch, lost in thought. Her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on her lap, her brows slightly furrowed. He paused in the doorway, observing her in silence for a moment before stepping forward.
"What's on your mind?" he asked, his voice gentle yet firm.
Bella looked up, momentarily startled. "Nothing, just…thinking," she admitted, sighing. "About everything. Pregnancy, motherhood, how I'll handle it all."
Lucas sat beside her, his presence warm and grounding. "I already told you before, Bella. You don't have to do it alone," he reminded her. "I'm here, whenever you need me."
Bella let out a soft chuckle. "I know. It's just—there's so much to figure out. Everything feels new and I feel like I'm walking on a thin rope. One wrong step and everything will fall apart."
"I know you never expected it and now you are scared. To be honest, I'm scared too about the future. I'm trying to figure it out too and now I know. You don't have to figure it all out at once. We can take things slower and follow doctor's advice."
He leaned back, studying her. "I know you've always been independent, but you don't have to carry everything on your own. We'll take it one step at a time and try to learn from every experience."
His words, steady and reassuring, made something in her chest unclench. She exhaled slowly, nodding. "You're right." Lucas smirked. "I usually am."
Bella rolled her eyes, but the small smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement. He was impossible sometimes.
"To take your mind off things, why don't you do something you enjoy?" Lucas suggested. "Didn't you once mention you liked painting?"
Bella's eyes lit up at the thought. "I did. It's been so long since I picked up a brush, though."
"Then maybe it's time you did." With that, they set off to find her supplies, rummaging through storage boxes until they unearthed a set of paints and canvases. Lucas carried everything to the living room, watching as Bella eagerly spread out her materials.