Entitled

Chapter 122

The air in your chambers felt thick, heavy with anticipation and an unspoken tension that neither of you could quite shake. As you sat on the edge of the bed, you watched Severus carefully assemble the two bassinets, his movements precise but not without a hint of nervousness.

The small, simple outfits you had chosen for the babies lay neatly folded on a nearby table, ready for the day when they would finally be worn. But despite the preparations, there was an undercurrent of unease that seemed to cloud everything.

The weight of your pregnancy was becoming almost unbearable, each small contraction a reminder that the moment you had been waiting for could come at any time.

You could feel the pressure, not just physically, but emotionally as well—the knowledge that you were about to bring new life into a world that was still so uncertain, so full of dangers and unknowns. It was as if the very walls of your chambers were closing in on you, and all you could do was wait.

Severus finished setting up the bassinets and turned to you, his dark eyes filled with a mix of concern and determination. You could see the lines of worry etched into his face, the way his brow furrowed slightly as if he were trying to solve a puzzle with too many missing pieces. He walked over to you, his hand reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair behind your ear.

"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly, his voice tinged with the worry he couldn't quite hide.

You managed a small smile, though it didn't reach your eyes. "Heavy," you admitted, one hand resting on your swollen belly. "And tired. But more than that... I feel like we're not allowed to be happy about this. Like there's a shadow hanging over everything."

Severus's expression softened, and he knelt down in front of you, his hands coming to rest on your knees. "I know," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "It's hard to find joy in the midst of everything that's happening. But that doesn't mean we don't deserve it, Violet. These babies... they're a light in the darkness. Our light."

A small contraction rippled through you, and you winced slightly, reaching out to grasp Severus's hand for support. He squeezed your hand gently, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on your skin.

"The midwife said the contractions are normal, remember?" Severus reminded you, his voice steady. "The babies could come any day now, but that doesn't mean you need to worry. We're prepared. Everything is ready."

You nodded, but the weight in your chest didn't ease. "It just feels like... like the world won't stop spinning long enough for us to catch our breath," you said softly. "And I can't help but think about what's coming, what we'll have to face. How can we be happy when there's so much at stake?"

Severus lifted your hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to your knuckles. "We'll face it together," he promised. "No matter what comes, we'll stand side by side. And these children... they'll be our strength, our reason to keep fighting. They're the future, Violet. Our future."

Another contraction hit, a bit stronger this time, and you couldn't help but clutch Severus's hand a little tighter. His other hand moved to rest on your belly, his touch grounding you in the moment.

"Remember," he said quietly, his eyes never leaving yours, "we're in this together. You're not alone."

You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. "I know," you whispered, your voice trembling slightly. "I just... I want them to be safe. I want us to be safe."

"We will be," Severus assured you, his tone filled with a quiet resolve. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect you and our children. That's a promise."

You nodded, feeling a tear slip down your cheek. "Thank you," you murmured, your voice thick with emotion. "For everything."