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THE MONTHS PASSED in a blur of new sensations, changing emotions, and an ever growing baby bump that you couldn't ignore, no matter how hard you tried. what started as a terrifying revelation became something that felt, if not normal, at least a little less overwhelming. and through it all, mattheo was there, in ways you never would've expected.
it started small - glances that lingered longer than they should, teasing remarks that had lost their harsh edge, and the steady presence of him at your side, more often than not. but as the months rolled on, something deeper began to form between the two of you. the tension, the old resentment, seemed to melt away, replaced by something warmer.
mattheo showed up to your appointments. he wasn't always on time, but he always made it, usually with a bag of sweets or a bottle of pumpkin juice he'd gotten on the way. and while he never let go of his sarcastic remarks, there was an undeniable softness in the way he treated you now. every time you grumbled about being uncomfortable or snapped at him because of your hormones, he'd just smirk and hand you something sweet to eat, muttering something about "feeding the little riddle."
the wind outside carried the crisp chill of early winter as you made your way through the familiar halls of st. mungo's, mattheo walking beside you. his usual bad boy swagger was present, but there was an underlying tension in his movements, a subtle nervousness that hadn't been there in months prior. today was the day - the day you would both find out whether you were having a boy or a girl. and despite everything, despite his tough exterior and the way you'd started this journey as enemies, you could sense something different in him today. something soft. something vulnerable.
mattheo's hand brushed against yours, and for a fleeting moment, you saw him glance down, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to hold your hand but wasn't quite sure if he should. you pretended not to notice, giving him the space to navigate his own feelings. it was strange, seeing him like this. the same mattheo who'd smirked at you, infuriated you, gotten under your skin in every possible way - now here he was, walking next to you, trying to act tough while his nerves betrayed him.
"are you nervous?" you asked, trying to break the silence. mattheo scoffed, though it came off weaker than usual. "me? nervous? about finding out the gender of our kid?" he shrugged, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "nah, not really."
you raised an eyebrow, smirking at him. "right. that's why you've been bouncing your leg for the last ten minutes."
he shot you a glare, though there was no real malice in it. "i'm just... look, i'm not used to this, alright? doesn't mean i'm nervous. just... unsettled."
"unsettled, you say?" you couldn't help but tease. "i think you're more excited than you're letting on."
mattheo said nothing for a moment, his eyes flickering with something you couldn't quite place. then, just as you were about to walk into the examination room, he muttered, "yeah, maybe i am."
