The Wedding Night...

Bossy Baran 2.0...

While Kerem desperately tried to reconnect the call with Okhan, Baran called his friend's superior officer. "All I can share for now is that they had an accident. I'm heading there myself to assess the situation. If you don't mind, I must finish the call." After hanging up, Baran returned with his friend. "Did you manage to find out anything?" Kerem indicated no. "Me neither... It would be best if you went to Istanbul, Kerem. We need to know what happened. We need to find out where Hassan is." His friend nodded and left. "I'll see Dilan and head back to Istanbul myself." Baran grabbed his dad's shoulder. "I'll join you as soon as the doctor gives Dilan the okay to travel... I'm going back inside." He walked him to the room and peeked inside as he opened the door. She was still asleep. Baran closed the door behind him and lay again next to his wife. But he had too many things on his mind to fall asleep again. Instead, he watched her, brushing her hair out of her face so he could view her properly. Something about her had changed since they learned about the baby. What exactly? Baran could not be sure, but whatever it was made her look even more beautiful and composed if that was possible. His hand traced down to her hand that rested on her belly. It was like she was holding their baby. Letting him or her know that she was there. He joined her and felt the warmth underneath. He still could not believe they were going to be parents. What he wanted for so long was becoming a reality. "I will always keep you and your mom safe. You won't grow up like I did. I will stand behind you like a mountain, and together with your mom, we will support and love you unconditionally."

"Amen!" Dilan added. "I didn't know you were awake." She winked at him and caressed her belly. "I didn't want to interrupt our baby's first talk with his/her father..." He kissed her lips. "Eardropping other people's conversations is a bad habit, Ms. Dilan. We can't teach that to our baby. Can't we?" She shrugged. "It's not my fault. From now on, we will be a combo, Mr. Baran. You need to wait for the baby to be born if you wish to have any private conversations." He traced her chin with his index finger and watched her lips parting. "No, no, no. You are making excuses, and that behavior needs to be corrected." She tried to distance herself from him, and the motion hurt her. He could see it on her face. "What is it? I'll call the doctor." She tugged at his arm, and now he was the one in pain. He tried but failed to hide it. "Baran... Baran, what happened?" She was half seated by now. "Nothing, I already told you. The doctor said you needed rest. You and the baby need to rest." The mention of the baby did the trick. "No, you brushed it off yesterday, and I wasn't myself still. Tell me, Baran." Her voice said, 'I'm not playing.' He gave her the summary and partially removed his shirt so she could see his bandage. The look on her face was that of pain, but not for her, for him. "I'm fine, my angel." Her eyes screamed skepticism. She took his hand on hers. "I should have paid more attention to it yesterday." A tear was starting to show in her eye. "Shush! I'm fine. I'm fine enough to care for my wife and baby." She tried to sit again, and he touched her healthy shoulder. "Dilan..." His eyes went to her belly, and she got the message. "Now, who is using the baby as an excuse?... And just so you know, I'm aware you didn't tell me everything. So out with it, because even from this bed, I will find out. I have my ways."

Baran seemed amused by her threat. And it showed. "I mean it." He smiled. "I know you do... it is just..." He laughed. "Baran!" She didn't find the situation at all amusing. And the fact that he wanted to stop laughing but couldn't made it worse. "Now I know what is different about you." She frowned. "What are you talking about?" He pressed his lips together, and she was losing her patience. He noticed. "Okay. Okay... I'm laughing because you look just like my mother whenever she used to scold me as a child." She smiled. "Am I really?" He nodded. She was pleased with the comparison even though she knew Baran didn't mean it that way. And the reason she was because Dilan heard nothing but good things about her mother-in-law. And now that she was becoming a mother, she only hoped to be like her. She hoped to see that sparkle in their baby's eyes when looking at her like Baran's eyes did when he spoke of Ms. Ayten. Her mind wondered some more before she realized what happened. "Bravo, Baran Karabey. You succeeded in changing the topic, but you won't get out of it that easily." He was laughing again. "You need to stop that. You are getting on my nerves." This time, he stopped. "I guess mood swings are real..." Was that what was happening? She went from feeling enticed by her husband to being worried about him. Then, from almost crying to being upset. No, it could not be. This was all Baran's fault and his endless teasing. She was her usual self, and that was the end of it. "What else don't I know?" He breathed out loud. "Hassan was sentenced..." Her eyes opened wide. "But that is good news..." His face indicated otherwise. There was more.