Premiere

First Day of My Life 2/2

Bradley

"Hey," the knock on the door is soft. "It's me."

The very instant he lays eyes on her, the knot unfurls, piece by intricate piece. Her presence in the room both calms and fortifies him and he has to take a minute to pause, to take her in.

Gold, this time around, instead of pink feathers. Brown hair, not blonde, and it falls in waves down her shoulders. But just like a time that seems like it was decades ago, as he watched her get out of the car, he finds himself captivated, unable to move, unable to speak. 

She strides up to him, her arms on his and hugs him with every ounce of strength in her. Her body presses to his, her cheek rests on his shoulder and he feels her let go...physically feels the strength and the resolve drain from her.

"You look so good," she says quietly. It's muffled, said into his tuxedo jacket, and his grip around her waist tightens. 

His hand drifts to her belly, flattening over the bump and a well of protectiveness overtakes him. "Stef--"

It's all he has to say and she pulls back to regard him. "We're doing this. I know you're worried about me. Please don't tell me you think it's a bad idea. I can handle it from just about everyone else but you."

He pauses to choose his words carefully. "I know we talked about it and it's what we decided. I just---"

"You just what?"

She catches the defensive edge to her voice and sighs. "Sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry. This is hard for everyone. Hey," he caresses her cheek, thumb sliding down her jaw. "My only concern is you. I don't give a shit about what anyone else says."

"We don't have to fight so hard anymore. I'm tired of it."

There was a difference in protecting themselves, protecting their child, protecting Lea and battling against the cavalry that was the press, that was the general public. It had been fodder for many discussions, the fact that they would try to live as normally as possible, though it was easier said than done, especially when they were in New York.

"I know. So am I." 

"Doesn't mean I want our life under a microscope but we're both good at staying away when we have to," she murmurs, linking their hands. "But to be able to just...live? It's a fucking relief."

He hears what she's not saying. "It's okay to be scared, though. It is... it's scary."

"Only reason I'm not because you'll be there. Which is only fitting, isn't it?"

Her eyes are clear and Bradley drags a hand down over her back soothingly. "Since day one."

"So, we'll just go out, together, and we'll let them have a field day, taking pictures and being invasive and we don't have to answer a single thing. Because we know what's important," she takes his hand and places it on her belly. 

For a minute, he just holds her, his nose buried in the crown of her hair as they spend the last quiet moment before the chaos ensues. 

"Adam already told me he'd step in if we needed him," she says softly, unmoving. "He said to just wave him and Joanne over."

"He's a great guy."

"He is. But I don't need to tell you that this press tour wasn't remotely the same."

Teasingly, he thumbs her chin, "hope not."

"I mean it," Stefani implores, "I know the whole thing was complicated because of what we were feeling, but I wouldn't change it for the world."