Lucas stepped out of the car, rolling his shoulders as the weight of the day settled on him. His meetings had been long, the discussions with Renato and Mark still running through his mind, but despite everything, his thoughts had drifted to Bella more times than he cared to count.
As he unlocked the door and stepped inside, the familiar warmth of home greeted him. It was strange—how quickly this place had started feeling like home. It felt like all the tensions of the meeting was left behind him once the familiar smell of home, drifted into his senses. The soft glow of the living room lamp cast a cozy light over the space, and his gaze immediately found Bella sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under her as she read.
She looked up at him, her lips parting slightly in surprise, as if she hadn't realized how late it had gotten.
"You're home early," she noted, closing her book.
Lucas raised a brow, toeing off his shoes. "It's almost nine."
Bella blinked, glancing at the clock. "Oh."
His lips twitched at her reaction. "Didn't even notice, huh?" He stepped closer, slipping off his blazer and tossing it over the chair. "Should I be concerned that my wife is so unbothered by my absence?"
Bella rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips curved slightly. "You're always so dramatic."
Lucas smirked, but before he could tease her further, a small figure suddenly ran toward him.
"Dada!" Rachel crashed into his legs, looking up at him with bright eyes. "You're back!"
His features softened instantly as he lifted her into his arms. "Did you behave today, princess?"
Rachel nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! But I missed you."
Bella watched the interaction, something warm settling in her chest as Lucas pressed a kiss to Rachel's forehead. He looked completely at ease, like he belonged there.
"Are you hungry?" she asked, standing up. "I can heat up dinner."
Lucas shifted Rachel in his arms and glanced at her. "Did you eat?"
Bella nodded. "Rachel and I had dinner earlier."
Lucas hummed in approval. "Good. But yeah, I'll eat."
Bella disappeared into the kitchen while Lucas sat on the couch with Rachel still in his arms. She babbled about her day, telling him about school, her friends, and a butterfly she saw in the garden. He listened, nodding at all the right moments, but his eyes flickered toward the kitchen every now and then, where Bella was moving around.
After a while, Rachel yawned, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "I think it's bedtime for you, little one," Lucas murmured, brushing her curls back.
Rachel pouted but nodded. "Can you tuck me in?" Lucas smiled, standing up with her still in his arms. "Of course."
Bella, who had just finished setting his plate on the table, peeked out. "I'll be there in a minute."
Lucas nodded and carried Rachel to their room. After few minutes Bella came to make her sleep, giving him enough time to change into comfortable clothes and start his dinner.
Once Bella returned after making Rachel sleep, she found him at the table, casually eating his dinner. She sat across from him, watching him for a moment before asking, "How was work today?"
Lucas let out a slow breath, his mind briefly flickering to the ongoing mafia conflicts, but he simply said, "It was good."
She didn't push, but he caught the slight crease in her brows. She is beginning to notice something is wrong with him. To shift the mood, he leaned back, smirking. "By the way, why didn't you reply to my text earlier?"
Bella blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. "What?"
Lucas tilted his head. "I asked if you missed me. You never answered."
Bella's face heated. After thinking about his text whole afternoon, she finally forgot it but he is again bringing it back. "That was a ridiculous question."
Lucas leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. "Was it?" Just by looking at her face, he felt proud of his effect on her. Oh! How much he loves to tease her, just to get this reaction.
She looked away, pretending to focus on the napkin in her hand. "Obviously." Lucas chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Alright then." He took another bite, then casually added, "Just so you know, I did miss you." He didn't even realise when those words left his mouth. He was planning to tease her a bit more but he just blew his own cover.
Bella's breath hitched, but before she could react, Lucas stood up, grabbing his empty plate. "I'll wash this." He quickly ran to the kitchen, leaving a confused Bella. She stared after him, her heart doing something strange in her chest. She blamed the pregnancy hormones for making her feel like this.
_____________________________________
Lucas was a light sleeper—he had to be. Years of living with danger lurking in the shadows had sharpened his instincts, making even the faintest sounds pull him from sleep. So when he heard a noise in the middle of the night, his eyes snapped open instantly.
The room was dark, the only sound the soft breathing of Rachel beside him. He blinked, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the curtains, and turned his head again toward Bella's side of the bed—only to find it empty. His body tensed.
Without wasting a second, he slipped out of bed, his movements swift but silent. His mind raced through worst-case scenarios as he reached for the drawer where he had discreetly stored a gun, but then he caught another faint sound. The clinking of utensils.
Lucas exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face before making his way toward the kitchen. The sight that greeted him nearly made him chuckle.
Bella stood by the stove, her hair slightly messy from sleep, a concentrated look on her face as she stirred something in a pot. Her one hand rested on her waist and the other was busy stirring the food. She was dressed in comfortable oversized clothes, otherwise he would be able to see her rounded belly. To be honest he can't tell if her baby bump is growing everyday but he knows that she looked more plump, more full....more beautiful than from the first time he saw her.
The faint glow of the kitchen light cast a warm hue over her features, making her look softer, almost dreamlike. If someone ask him right now, what does an angel look like, he would answer them 'like Bella' without a bit of hesitation.
Lucas leaned against the doorway, crossing his arms. "Should I be worried that my wife is sneaking around at midnight?"
Bella jumped slightly, turning to find him watching her with an unreadable expression.
"You scared me. I—I just woke up to drink water," she started, then hesitated before mumbling, "but then I suddenly craved something…"
Lucas raised a brow. "Cravings?" He stepped closer, glancing at what she was making. "This is the first time."
Bella nodded, stirring the food again. "Yeah, I guess my body finally decided it wanted something."
Lucas watched her for a moment before shaking his head. "And instead of waking me up, you decided to play chef in the middle of the night?"
Bella rolled her eyes. "It's just food, Lucas. You don't need to act like I ran off into danger."
Lucas gave her a look. "You disappearing in the middle of the night is dangerous. Do you have any idea what that did to my heart? I almost had an heart attack."
Bella blinked at his serious tone, her grip tightening slightly around the spoon. Before she could respond, Lucas sighed and reached past her, turning off the stove. "Next time, you wake me up. No exceptions."
Bella hesitated, then nodded. "Okay." Lucas grabbed a spoon, scooping up some of the food and bringing it close to her lips. "Here. Taste it."
She blinked at him but opened her mouth, letting him feed her. Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment as she chewed, savoring the taste. This is exactly what she wanted. Lucas watched her, his expression unreadable.
"…Good?" he asked after a beat. Bella nodded. "Really good."
Lucas smirked. "Guess I won't have to call a five-star chef at this hour then." Bella let out a small laugh, shaking her head at him, thinking he was just kidding, unknown to the fact that this man would actually call a Michelin chef in the middle of night, just to make whatever she craved. "You're impossible."
He simply handed her the spoon. "Eat. Then we're going back to bed." She didn't argue, finishing her meal while he stayed beside her, arms crossed, ensuring she ate properly. Once she was done, he gently took her plate and set it in the sink.
"Come on," he said, holding out a hand. Bella took it without hesitation. They walked back to the room, slipping into bed on either side of Rachel.
As Lucas lay down, his eyes drifted to Bella. She looked peaceful now, curled up comfortably. A small, satisfied hum left her lips as she whispered, "Goodnight, Lucas."
He exhaled softly. "Goodnight, Bella."
And with that, they both drifted into sleep, the quiet comfort of their growing family settling around them.