The unexpected meet

FINDING PEACE 🕊

Aahana's pov :-

He pulled me close, one hand on my back, the other splayed protectively over my bump. I crumbled against him, sobbing into his chest like I never wanted to let go again.

"You're safe now" he whispered into my hair. "You both are. I swear, I'll never leave again. Not even for death."

I tipped my head up and whispered brokenly "I missed you."

"I missed everything." His thumb wiped my tear-streaked cheek. "Your voice. Your laugh. The way you snore when you're too tired to care. The way you call me out when I act like a jerk. I missed us."

Then, gently, he tilted my chin and kissed me. Not hard. Not hungry. Just deep and slow and aching, like we were finally remembering how to breathe.

My fingers tangled in his shirt as I kissed him back, tears slipping between our lips. His hands trembled as he cupped my face like I was something holy.

But when I gasped softly, his hands moved instinctively to my bump.

And fuck... his knees gave way.

He dropped down, resting his forehead gently against my belly.

"Hi baby" he whispered to the baby. "I'm your dad. The idiot who missed everything. I didn't hear your first kick, or feel you roll. I didn't get to kiss your mom's belly at night or sing to you while she fell asleep... I missed it all. And I'm so sorry."

His voice cracked, and he pressed a kiss to the bump.

"But I'm here now. I swear to God, I'm not leaving again. I'll be here for your first word, your first cry, your first everything. I'll protect you, love you and ruin anyone who dares to hurt you."

I slid down to my knees beside him, cupping his face, crying with him.

He blinked up at me. "Is it a boy... or a girl?"

I smiled softly through my tears. "I don't know."

He blinked. "You don't?"

"I didn't want to find out without you" I whispered. "It didn't feel right."

That broke him all over again.

"You... waited for me" he whispered.

"Always" I said before placing soft kisses on his eyes and forehead, my fingers brushing through his hair like I was soothing every ache the world had carved into him.

"I'm so damn sorry, baby" he whispered against the bump, voice breaking. "I should've been there... every kick, every midnight craving, every tear. I should've never left you alone."

I held his face, guiding him back to me. "You're here now, Reyaansh... and that's all I need. Me and our baby—we waited for you... and we're not letting go."

He looked at me like I hung his whole fucking universe from my eyes.

His hand cradled my jaw like I was something breakable and sacred all at once. And I... I melted, my body leaning into his touch like a prayer finally answered. My breath hitched when his thumb grazed my bottom lip. That single touch—so light, so reverent—sent a ripple down my spine.

My skin flushed where his palms rested—warm, grounding, familiar. Reyaansh's lips brushed my temple, feather-soft, and my whole body reacted, heart racing beneath his fingertips like it remembered what being truly alive felt like.