If She Gives You Her Heart Don't You Break It || Kate & Leo Oneshots

Just like a dream.

Cradling Mia against my chest, I was astounded by the delicate weight of her presence. Her breaths, soft and rhythmic, created a miniature symphony that seemed to echo the melody of my heart. Sunlight streamed through the half-drawn curtains, painting the room in strokes of warmth and gold. The air held a gentle hum of tranquillity, as if the universe itself was taking a pause to savour this sacred moment. Leo took her out of my arms and tiptoed upstairs to settle her down for a nap, leaving me with a rare moment of solitude. I looked around, watching the clock tick steadily on the mantelpiece and the curtains tumble from the rod. The room was bathed in soft, golden light, casting a warm glow on everything it touched and I was in it. I was a part of it.

My eyes turned from the curtains to my stomach. Under my fingers was the scar that marred my abdomen – the unexpected aftermath of the emergency C-section. Mixed emotions tugged at me, an intricate tapestry woven from gratitude and disappointment. The journey to bring Mia into this world had not unfolded as I'd envisioned. The scar bore witness to a story of twists and turns, a tale of resilience and unforeseen paths. My fingers trembled as I lifted my shirt, revealing the still-sensitive scar. It marred the canvas of my skin, an imperfection that felt like a silent reproach. My thoughts spiralled as I watched the line angrily traverse my body. I didn't do it properly. I've failed. I've never been good enough. The scar seemed to magnify every insecurity I had ever harboured.

Leo's footsteps on the stairs were like an anchor, grounding me to the present. I looked up, shaking myself out of my trance and swallowing. His eyes, as perceptive as always, captured the trails of tears that I'd failed to hide and I darted my own eyes between his, pulling down my shirt. Concern furrowed his brow, etching lines of worry on his otherwise serene face.
"Hey," he murmured, his voice a gentle caress,"what's wrong?"

I offered a shaky smile, trying to push back the tears that threatened to resurface. "Nothing, I'm just feeling... I'm glad Mia's home."
"Kate." He pushed. He knew something was up, he always did. I looked down at my hands, weaving my fingers together, and I pushed all the air from my cheeks.
"I... I just wanted everything to go right, Leo," I confessed, my voice quivering with emotion. "A natural birth. I wanted to prove something to myself, to everyone. But then it all went wrong. I can't shake this feeling of failure. Did I fail, Leo?"

Leo knelt before me, his touch as tender as his gaze. His fingers found my chin, lifting it until our eyes met in an unspoken connection. In his eyes, I saw a reflection of my vulnerability, of the woman beneath the surface. He showed the softest of smiles as his spare hand rubbed my knuckles. 
"Of course you didn't fail, Kate," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "Not even for a moment. What's this about, hm?"
I looked down to my stomach again and then away. Three minutes had passed since I last checked it, no four. He caught my gaze and looked down.

"Your scar?" He traced its outline with the pad of his thumb, "Kate, your scar is not a mark of defeat. It's a testament to your strength, to the extraordinary lengths you went through to bring Mia into our lives."

A fragile smile tugged at my lips, accompanied by a shimmer of tears. His words were a lifeline in a sea of doubt, a lifeline that I desperately clung to. I swallowed again, feeling my eyes dart across the room. His eyes stayed on me and he rubbed my arm, bringing me back to a state of calm.
"You always know what to say," I managed to whisper, my voice catching on a fragile breath.

Leo's thumb brushed away a stray tear, his touch soothing in its familiarity. "You're brilliant, Katie," he reassured me with a gentle smile. "Brilliant in ways that surpass words."

The weight of his words was both humbling and empowering. I let out a shaky breath, my vulnerability dissolving into the comfort of his presence. His embrace enveloped me like a shield, his arms the sanctuary that I sought refuge in.
"I'm sorry," I admitted, my voice tinged with a mix of emotions. "You don't need to deal with this."