𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

breathe with me

[SETTING.🐞] Minutes after Hiro's birth.

The room had quieted. Hiro was fast asleep, wrapped in a warm blanket and tucked in Nico's arms. 

The storm outside had lessened into soft thunder, a rumble in the distance.

But Bea... wasn't speaking.

Nico turned toward her and his heart stopped.

Her lips had paled, a sickly grey-blue. Her chest rose shallowly. Her fingers trembled where they gripped the blanket. Her face had lost its usual warmth, her amber eyes glazed and unfocused.

"Bea?" he whispered, crouching back beside her. "Bea. Look at me."

She blinked once, slow. "I... I think I need..."

Her breathing hitched.

Harriet noticed it instantly. "She's wheezing. Nico, her inhaler, left side drawer!"

Nico surged to his feet, passing Hiro to Brenda with trembling hands before diving for the cabinet drawer. His movements were sharp, fast, but not frantic. 

He knew this routine. He'd lived it before. But never, never, when she'd just gone through childbirth.

"Breathe with me, Bea," Nico whispered as he knelt back down, pressing the inhaler gently to her lips. "Come on, baby. Deep breath in."

She exhaled weakly, then sucked in the medicine with effort. Her hands clutched his arm.

"One more," he urged gently. "Just like we practiced."

She did. Her chest rose, the wheeze softer. Her lashes fluttered closed briefly.

"She's stabilizing," Elena said. "Color's coming back."

Nico brushed his thumb over her knuckles and kissed her temple, lips lingering against her skin.

"You're okay, love," he whispered. "I've got you. You did it."

Bea gave a weak chuckle through a wheeze. "Not even a pirate war made me this tired."

"You just fought the hardest battle of your life," he whispered back, voice cracking. "And you still came out shining."

Bea blinked at him, color slowly returning to her cheeks. "I didn't scare you too bad... did I?"

"Terrified me," Nico said, and kissed her forehead again. "But I've been scared of losing you since the day I met you. And I'll always choose to stay scared... if it means I still get to keep you."

She smiled faintly. "Still dramatic."

"And still madly in love with you," he answered without hesitation.

The others remained quiet, respectfully watching from a distance. Even Matt had tears in his eyes.

In that quiet moment — mother, father, and newborn — the fight, the past, the old pirate life, all faded into the background.

Because nothing else mattered more than this family.

And every breath Bea took was the greatest treasure Nico had ever protected.