Moments in Time

from the ashes

When her alarm rings, Feraye is already awake. She turns it off quickly, then returns to her previous position; one hand under her pillow, the other on her belly, and her eyes roaming Ateş' face, taking him in.

He's handsome, features sharp and elegant. Despite that, though, she's never felt anything but safe around him- she'll never forget the day she felt her world crumble around her, and he'd been her first call, and his arms had been her safe place.

Feraye flops onto her back, sighing as she stares at the ceiling. This man is good to her. He's kind, and decent, and he doesn't deserve living in this lie with her. She bites her lip, closes her eyes.

For you, she thinks, rubbing her belly. No matter what happens, and even if this blows up in my face, I'm going to do my best to protect you, baby.

A sharp inhale breaks her out of her thoughts, startling her, and she turns her head to see Ateş flinch awake. He sits up abruptly, his chest heaving as he struggles to regulate his breathing.

"Ateş?" Feraye calls out cautiously, moving from under the covers.

She must have caught him off guard, because he turns to her quickly, and she sees the sorrow in his eyes before he was able to mask it.

He smiles at her. "Good morning, Feraye."

Her heart gives a weak flutter, but it's gone too quickly. "Are you okay?"

He gets up, rolling his shoulders and wincing. Sleeping on the couch must not have been comfortable, she thinks guilty.

"I'm fine," he smiles, placating.

She wants to push, but fear holds her back, so she just nods.

He makes a beeline to the balcony, and she can't help but watch him as he braces his hand on the brick, shoulders slumped and head hanging low. It worries her, how defeated he looks, but she doesn't think it's her place to say anything, so she doesn't.

.

She goes down to the kitchen, and she's thankful when it's empty. She makes herself a cup of tea, and makes Ateş some coffee. When it's done she takes both their cup upstairs to their room (and wow, isn't that weird to say.)
She finds him in the same position she left him, and her worry spikes. "Ateş?"

He straightens up, turns so he's facing her. His eyes drop to the tray she's holding and he gives her a small smile. He takes a step towards her, grabs the tray from her hand and rests it on the brick rail. Then, he brushes past her, grabs a chair from the room and brings it to her.

"There's no need-" He silences her with a look, and she purses her lips to keep from smiling. "Thank you," she says as she takes a seat.

He nods, takes his coffee, and leans back, facing her. They don't say anything, just sitting in comfortable silence, and she marvels at the fact that she can just be. No expectations, just two people existing together in this moment.

"You have a doctor's appointment today, right?"

Her eyes meet his. She nods, stunned to find he remembered the casual comment she'd made a week ago about this appointment. "You remembered."

His brows furrow, like he can't understand her shock. "Of course I did," he says dismissively, like it's nothing. "Do you want me to take you?"

She hesitates. She'd told Hazal they would go together, but- part of her is thrilled he offered, and part of her wants him to be there for this moment. "Yes," she says quietly, "I'd love that."

.

She's nervous as they walk in the doctor's office. Ateş must notice because he puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Everything okay?"