"cut from the same cloth" - their story.

Chapter 34 - a day

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bedroom. Autumn stood in front of her closet, sifting through her clothes to find something to wear for work. She reached for her favorite shirt, a soft, well-worn top that always made her feel comfortable and confident. But as she slipped it over her head, she felt an unfamiliar tightness around her growing bump. She tried to adjust it, but the fabric stretched uncomfortably, and the shirt simply didn't fit anymore. A wave of frustration and sadness washed over her. This shirt had been her go-to for so many important days, and now it felt like yet another part of her life that was changing beyond her control. Autumn looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes welling up with tears. The emotions of the past few months surged to the surface, and she began to cry, her shoulders shaking with each sob. Winter, who had been in the kitchen making breakfast, heard her crying and immediately rushed to her side. He found Autumn standing in front of the mirror, her face buried in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Autumn, what's wrong?" he asked gently, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

Autumn turned to face him, her eyes red and puffy. 

"It's just this shirt," she choked out between sobs. "It doesn't fit anymore. I know it's silly, but it's my favorite, and now I can't even wear it."

Winter looked at her with understanding, his heart aching for her. 

"It's not silly at all," he said softly, brushing a tear from her cheek. "I know how much that shirt means to you."

He held her close, allowing her to cry into his chest. 

"Your body is going through so many changes right now," he murmured. "It's completely normal to feel upset. But remember, these changes are because of our little one. Your body is doing something amazing."

Autumn nodded, trying to take comfort in his words, but the tears kept coming.

 "I just feel so overwhelmed sometimes," she confessed. "Everything is changing so fast, and I can't keep up."

Winter pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. 

"You don't have to do this alone, Autumn. I'm here with you every step of the way. And we'll find new clothes that you'll love just as much. We'll make new memories."

She sniffled, managing a small smile. 

"Thank you, Winter. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He kissed her forehead gently. "You're strong, Autumn. And you're going to be an amazing mother. We'll get through this together, one step at a time."

Autumn took a deep breath, feeling a bit more grounded. She nodded and wiped her tears.

 "Okay. One step at a time."

Winter smiled, giving her one last squeeze before releasing her. "Why don't we take today off?

 We can go shopping for some new clothes that make you feel as good as that shirt did."

Autumn hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "That sounds nice."