Under His Protection

Chapter 29: Signs and Suspense

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm golden hue across the bedroom. Taylor stirred under the covers, her body feeling unusually heavy. She turned her head to see Travis still asleep beside her, his arm slung protectively over her waist.

She smiled softly, her fingers brushing over the back of his hand. Moments like this, when the world outside couldn't touch them, felt like stolen treasures.

But something was off.

For the past few days, she'd been feeling... different. Her energy levels were all over the place, her emotions swinging unpredictably. And then there was the nausea—the kind that had her rushing to the bathroom more mornings than she cared to admit.

She chewed on her bottom lip, her mind racing. It couldn't be, could it?

Later That Morning

Taylor sat at the kitchen island, her hands wrapped around a mug of tea. The warm drink did little to settle her nerves. Across the room, Travis was on the phone, his deep voice carrying a calm authority as he spoke to Ross about the next phase of their plan.

Her eyes drifted to him, her heart aching with a mixture of love and fear. If she was pregnant, how would this change everything? Could they even bring a child into a world as dangerous as theirs?

"Taylor?"

His voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up to find him standing in front of her, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, setting his phone down on the counter.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, though her voice betrayed her unease.

Travis tilted his head, his piercing gaze narrowing slightly. "You're a terrible liar, Angel."

She sighed, setting her mug down and running a hand through her hair. "I'm just... thinking."

"About what?"

Taylor hesitated, debating whether to tell him. But this was Travis. He deserved to know.

"I think I might be pregnant," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, the room was silent. Travis stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he reached out, his hand covering hers.

"Have you taken a test?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with an edge of urgency.

"No," she admitted. "Not yet."

"Okay," he said, nodding. "Let's do that first. We'll figure out the rest after."

A Little While Later

Taylor sat on the edge of the bathtub, the small white stick resting on the sink in front of her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at it, the seconds dragging on like hours.

Travis leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed but his posture tense. He was trying to stay calm for her sake, but she could see the storm of emotions in his eyes.

"Whatever happens," he said, breaking the silence, "we'll handle it. Together."

She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "What if it's positive, Travis? What if we're having a baby?"

"Then I'll protect you and our child with everything I have," he said without hesitation. "No one will ever touch you. I'll make sure of it."

Taylor's heart swelled at his words, but the fear didn't entirely dissipate. This was a world filled with danger, and the thought of bringing a child into it was terrifying.

The timer on her phone went off, jolting her from her thoughts.

Travis straightened, his eyes locking on hers. "You ready?"

She shook her head, letting out a nervous laugh. "Not even a little."

He stepped closer, crouching in front of her and taking her hands in his. "No matter what it says, we're in this together. Okay?"

She nodded, taking a deep breath before standing and reaching for the test.

Her eyes scanned the result, her breath catching in her throat.

"Taylor?" Travis prompted, his voice steady but filled with anticipation.

She turned to him, her expression a mixture of shock and wonder. "It's positive," she whispered.

For a moment, Travis didn't move, the words hanging in the air between them. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face—a rare, unguarded smile that lit up his entire expression.

"We're having a baby," he said, his voice filled with awe.

Taylor let out a laugh, the sound half-sob, half-joy. "We're having a baby."

Travis pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if she might disappear. "I love you, Angel," he murmured against her hair. "More than anything."

"I love you too," she said, her voice muffled against his chest.

For the first time in a long time, the future felt uncertain, but it also felt full of possibility.