Sheva's house
Early morning
May 16th
As sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, painting the room in soft golden hues, Sheva stirred awake. She blinked away the remnants of sleep and turned her head to the other side of the bed. Dean lay sprawled across the sheets, his hair tousled, a faint snore escaping his slightly parted lips. A smile tugged at her lips as she leaned over, brushing a gentle kiss against his cheek. "Mmm," he murmured, shifting in his sleep but not waking.
"Time to rise and shine, sleepyhead," Sheva whispered, slipping out of bed. The coolness of the floor sent a shiver up her spine as she padded into the bathroom.
As the warm water cascaded over her, she let her thoughts drift. She cherished these quiet mornings, moments where she could connect with her baby, who was already making his presence known with his nocturnal kung fu movements. "You like to sleep in, huh?" she murmured to her belly, chuckling softly at the thought. "You're going to be a handful."
Breakfast for the crew was a ritual she held dear, a small way to nurture the family she hoped to build one day. Although the weight of her responsibilities sometimes felt heavy, today it felt lighter. "Just a little more effort." She encouraged herself, envisioning the smiles that would greet her at the breakfast table while the crew recovered from their latest mission.
It had been a little over a week since Sheva's baby appointment. The blood work had come back clear, showing no signs of danger to the infant, but the doctor had advised her to take precautions as she entered the end of her second trimester. "Ask for help if you need it." The doctor had said, her words echoing in Sheva's mind as she mentally prepared for the day ahead.
After her shower, Sheva dried off with a soft towel, then slipped into a loose, comfortable nightgown before heading to the kitchen. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as she set about preparing breakfast. Sheva hummed a tune, the sizzling of eggs in the pan accompanied her melody, the rhythmic clinking of utensils punctuating her song.
"Do you always hum like that?" Dean's voice broke through the morning hush, rough and sleepy. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a grin spreading across his face. "I thought I was dreaming about breakfast."
Sheva laughed. "Not dreaming, I promise. Just trying to wake you up with a little music."
"More like waking me up with the smell of eggs." He replied, stepping closer. He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder and placing his hands on her belly. The baby responded with a gentle kick, a reminder of the life growing inside her.
"He must recognize your voice." Sheva said, her heart swelling. "I was talking to him in the shower, but he wasn't interested."
"You showered without me? Boo." Dean teased, feigning disappointment.
As Sheva poured a steaming mug of coffee, a sudden chill swept through the kitchen, causing her to shiver. She paused, glancing around. "Did you feel that?" She asked, brow furrowing.
Dean looked at her, concern flickering across his face. "Feel what? It's just a draft from the window."
"It felt... different." She replied, the uneasiness gnawing at her. "Maybe I'm just being paranoid."
"Probably just too much coffee." He joked, taking the mug from her hands. "You know I can't keep up with you, especially when you're on a caffeine high."
"It's decaf." She laughed, waiting for a Dean spit take to follow suit.
Just as she was about to return to her cooking, the air shimmered, and a voice broke through the silence, clear and resonant. "Sheva!"
