Chapter 24 - Adrian
"Adrian," Rhiannon whispered a little later, her voice so hoarse that it tugged at him. "Did you mean it when you said you love me?"
His heart soared at her question. "Are you kidding me?" he replied urgently, letting his feelings spill out. "I'm so fucking in love with you, Rhiannon. You're my everything."
Her expression changed, a hint of vulnerability flashing in her eyes, deepening their connection. "Will you still love me if I say I still want to work in the mafia?"
At his nod, she continued, her voice a whisper and her eyes clouding with tears. "Even if I'm pregnant?"
For a moment, confusion clouded his mind. Pregnant? The weight of her words sank in, and time seemed to freeze. Then, it hit him like a lightning bolt. The stomach bug, her cold shoulder, the way she'd seemed off lately—it all started to make sense now, the pieces clicking together in his mind.
"Wait," he said, his heart racing. "You mean…"
She nodded slightly.
Adrian's pulse quickened, a wave of pure joy washing over him, washing away the dread that had hung over them for too long. "We're having a baby?" he echoed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. His smile broke free, brightening the room. But dread quickly followed, "Rhi, fuck. I need to get the doctor."
They'd done no tests to make sure a child, his child, was still safe. "Adrian?" her voice broke as his mind raced.
"It's all going to be fine, Baby. I'm going to fetch the doctor right now," he promised, already heading out the door, his heart aching when her face crumpled.
***
Ten minutes later, Adrian returned with the doctor.
"Welcome back, Mrs. Nikolai," she greeted warmly, smiling at his wife. "I'm glad to see you awake. The bullet missed all your major organs; with some recovery, you should be on your feet soon."
Rhiannon nodded, relief washing over her, but then her eyes sharpened. "What about the baby?"
The doctor's expression shifted immediately; her warm smile disappeared, replaced by seriousness. "Well…" she began, and Adrian felt dread fill the room like a thick fog. "We need to do an ultrasound to check things out."
Adrian exchanged a worried glance with Rhiannon as the doctor left, leaving a tense silence hanging in the air. They waited, anxiety crackling as they anticipated news that could change everything.
Soon after, they were directed to the ultrasound room. Adrian held Rhiannon's hand tightly as they sat next to each other on the exam table. His anticipation gnawed at him, worry mixing with the joy of their potential future.
As the doctor started the ultrasound, Adrian's heart raced, each beat sounding louder than the last. He watched the screen anxiously, waiting for signs of their child, clinging to the tiny flicker of hope that would bind their lives together.
"See?" the doctor said a few moments later. "There's the heartbeat. You're in the early stages of pregnancy—just a few weeks along."
Adrian beamed with pride as the rhythmic pulsing flickered across the screen. They were going to be parents; their child was strong and resilient—just like Rhiannon.
Suddenly, he saw fear re-enter Rhiannon's eyes as she looked up at him. "Adrian, I… I'm so scared about being a parent… about bringing a child into a world like this." Her voice trembled, the weight of her worries hanging heavy.
"Rhiannon," he said, gently stroking her arm to ground her. "I get it, but we can face those fears together. You don't have to do this alone."
She paused, a mix of emotions flitting across her face. "I grew up in a family that didn't show love. I don't want our child to feel neglected or unworthy because of my past."
His heart ached for her. He knew her history; the coldness of her father's influence cast a long shadow over her, but here she was, standing at the edge of motherhood, ready to rewrite everything for their family. "You won't be like him, Rhiannon. You're not your father. You'll never let our child feel unloved or unwanted. You're going to be an amazing mom."
"But what if I do end up like him? What if, no matter how much I try to change it, I still end up being exactly like him?" she whispered, doubt shimmering in her eyes. "What if I become controlling and greedy? What if I hurt our baby like he hurt me?"
He shook his head, determination coloring his voice. "You won't. We're not defined by our past. We can build something better. We'll surround our child with love, support, and the strength of family. This time, it'll be different because it's us."
The doctor returned, interrupting their moment but not the connection between them. "The ultrasound went well. You're early enough in your pregnancy that there's plenty of time to consider your options," she said, her tone professional yet kind.
"Nobody's going anywhere, right?" Adrian pressed, glancing between Rhiannon and the doctor, needing to hear they would fight for this life together.
"Right," the doctor nodded reassuringly. "As long as you take care of yourself during recovery, everything looks promising. Just regular check-ups and some lifestyle changes, plus the support you both clearly have, will go a long way."
Rhiannon exhaled, a mix of relief and anxiety filling the room. "I just want to give our baby a safe and loving environment," she said softly, her gaze fixed on the screen where the heartbeat pulsed steadily. "They deserve to know they're cherished."
Adrian's heart swelled with pride as he looked at her, her determination igniting a fire within him. "And they will. We'll make sure of that, Rhiannon. Whatever challenges we face, our kid will be surrounded by love, and we've got what it takes to change our family's future."
A flicker of a smile broke through her uncertainty as she met his gaze, a wave of affection washing over him. In that moment, he felt more certain than ever about everything.
The doctor placed a hand on Rhiannon's shoulder, grounding them both again. "I want you two to take a moment to talk. I'll be back soon to answer any questions."
As the door closed, the room shifted back to an intimate space filled with the soft beeping of machines and their breathing. Adrian turned to Rhiannon, his heart racing. "So, what do you think?"
She leaned back against the pillows, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "I think this is a lot to take in," she admitted, her brow furrowing slightly. "But I also think… I want to embrace this. I want to build that life we've talked about."
"Then we'll do it together," he promised, feeling her determination anchor him. "I'm not going anywhere, and neither is our baby. This is just the beginning for us."
As they exchanged smiles filled with unspoken hope and love, Adrian felt some of the weight lift. They would face whatever came together, ready to create the family they both wanted.
The tension eased, replaced by a warmth that felt undeniable. Whatever storms lay ahead, they would navigate them hand in hand, heart to heart. With their child—this miracle they would nurture—they would embrace the light ahead with courage.
Rhiannon rested against the pillows, feeling a quiet determination rising within her. Adrian's words echoed in her mind, and for the first time since the chaos of the shooting, she felt a glimmer of hope light up her heart.
"How do you feel about becoming a dad?" she asked, meeting his gaze with curiosity and affection.
Adrian's face broke into a huge smile, making her heart swell. "Honestly? It's kind of terrifying," he admitted, laughter lacing his voice. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around you being pregnant, and now I have to worry about being a dad?"
Rhiannon chuckled softly, feeling lighter at his enthusiasm. "You'll be great at it."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," he replied, leaning in, his expression growing serious. "But when I think about it, I realize I really want this. I want to be there for you and our kid, to give them the love and support we both missed growing up."
He looked deep into her eyes, and she could see the passion in his commitment to creating a better future. "You deserve that, Rhiannon. You deserve everything good in the world. And so does our child."
Her heart swelled with warmth, wrapping her in a sweet glow. For the first time in a long while, sparks of hope ignited within her—a hope that whispered of love, family, and their chance to redefine their future.
"I want that too," she said softly, tightening her grip on his hand. "I want to be the mother I never had, and with you by my side, I can make that loving environment. I want to protect our kid from everything I went through."
Adrian's expression shifted, a mix of admiration and love flooding his eyes. "You're all heart, Rhiannon. I know you're going to be a great mom. We won't let our past control our future. You've got what it takes."
Just then, the doctor returned, a renewed energy radiating from her. "I have some good news," she announced, brightening the atmosphere. "We confirmed that you're definitely pregnant, and everything looks healthy. Since you're still in the early weeks, we can monitor both of you closely."
Relief washed over Rhiannon, a cleansing wave after the earlier worries. "Thank you," she murmured, gratitude pouring from her heart.
The doctor smiled warmly but shifted slightly, leaning in with a more serious tone. "However, we do need to discuss potential risks. Because of the gunshot, we need to keep a close watch on both your recovery and the pregnancy. It's crucial that you stay stress-free during this time."
Rhiannon nodded, absorbing the doctor's words as her determination hardened. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep our baby safe."
"And I'll be here every step of the way," Adrian added, resolute. "You're not alone in this."
As the doctor continued explaining the necessary precautions and monitoring that would be involved, Rhiannon felt empowerment coursing through her veins. They were a team now, bound by love and a shared commitment to the life they were bringing into the world.
After the doctor finished outlining the next steps, silence enveloped the room, and Adrian turned to Rhiannon, his expression sincere and filled with love. "I know things are going to be complicated—we have a lot on our plate—but I'm excited to face this with you. Together, we can make sure our baby grows up in a world full of love and security."
"I feel the same," she replied, a soft smile lighting up her face. "I'm ready to fight for us—our family."
His face lit up at her words, a rush of pride swelling in his chest. She was a fierce warrior, and now she would be fighting for a future richer than she had ever dreamed.
In that moment, they intertwined their fingers tightly, an unspoken promise standing strong between them.
"Adrian?" Rhiannon asked hesitantly, her expression turning serious. "What if we're not ready for this? What if I'm not ready to be a mom?"
"Then we'll learn together. You're not alone in this, remember?" He shook his head softly, determination threading through his voice. "We'll take it day by day. You'll see that you're stronger than you think, especially with me by your side."