~Chapter 25~
Idris pov:
(Three months later-October 10)
So far I haven't done anything too transitive.
I just stayed home, and most of the time I was talking to Maria or in my daughter's room arranging things.
Like now
I'm folding the dozens of clothes that my mother brought them yesterday.
A yellow dress, a pink one, and all the colors of pants and little T-shirts.
Yesterday I didn't feel like doing anything. I was also tired after having lunch with my parents and then I arranged the clothes in my and Cedric's dressing room.
I didn't know it would take 2 hours for just three closets and I'm still not done.
I stop folding for a second.
Just… to breathe.
And to look around.
The room is quiet.
Too quiet for how much it has changed in the last few days.
The walls are white.
Simple.
Clean.
But not completely empty.
Because one of them… is no longer white.
I look up at it.
Wallpaper.
With little stars.
And barely visible shapes, like scattered points of light.
Among them… pink spots.
Not exaggerating.
Just enough so it doesn't seem cold.
A small smile escapes my lips.
"Cedric said it was too much...
" I murmur softly. "But he chose it anyway.
"
I nod my head slightly.
Typical.
My gaze drifts further.
The bed.
Small.
Way too small compared to the rest of the room.
But perfect.
With plain, white linens and a blanket thrown over it.
It hasn't been used yet.
And yet.
.. it already feels "hers."
I run my hand over the edge of it as I pass it.
Lightly.
As if checking to see if it's real.
The closet is open.
Big.
Too big for someone who hasn't even been born yet.
And yet... full.
Small clothes.
Arranged.
Too many.
"He won't wear them all.
.." I murmur.
But I don't stop folding them.
Because I like them.
Because they calm me down.
In the corner of the room... Toys.
Too many toys.
Some still in boxes.
Others taken out, placed chaotically, as if someone has already played with them.
A small teddy bear catches my eye.
I take it in my hand.
I look at it.
"You're going to walk him all over the house"
I put him back.
Because I know he'll take him again.
And again.
I slowly return to the middle of the room.
With a yellow dress in my hand.
I look at her for a second.
Then around.
Everything is… ready.
Or at least it tries to be.
"It's too much.
.." I murmur softly.
But I don't stop.
Because it's not about how much it is.
It's about her.
I run my free hand over my stomach.
Automatically.
Reflex.
"You're not even here yet..." I whisper.
And yet… you're everywhere.
The camera.
The clothes.
This silence.
I take a deep breath.
And... I wait.
I wait for the final moment.
I wait to hold you in my arms and call your name.
I wait and I'll be patient with you when you take your first steps.
I wait when you call us around the house.
I wait. Everything.
Every moment. Second.
---
I stop in the kitchen doorway.
Cedric is there.
His back to me, focused on something on the stove.
T-shirt slightly raised on his back, hair a little tousled, sure movements…
as if this place has always belonged to him.
And, without thinking too much, I go straight to him.
I slip my arms around his waist and press my face against his back.
I squeeze him. Not hard. But enough for him to understand.
I need him.
Cedric doesn't stop right away.
He just tilts his head slightly, as if I'm already there.
"Mhm..." His voice is low. Calm.
"Are you done?"
"Yes..." he murmurs into his shirt.
He drops the utensil from his hand and turns his head slightly towards me.
"And now?"
I don't answer.
I just squeeze him a little tighter.
He laughs softly.
That short laugh he only gives when he understands without me explaining.
He turns completely towards me. He cups my face in his hands and kisses me. Slowly. Calmly. As if no one is rushing us.
When he pulls back, he presses his forehead to mine. “You came for attention.”
“Maybe…”
“You’re lying.”
I smile slightly.
He places a hand on my stomach. Automatically.
As if he does it without even realizing it.
He looks down for a second. Then back at me.
“I thought of something.”
I frown slightly.
“It soun dangerous.”
“It usually is.” He lightly runs his finger over my stomach.
Then he says, simply, “I want to give it a name.”
I stop.
Completely.
“Now?”
He nods.
“Now.”
I look at him carefully.
Seriously. He’s not kidding.
I take a slow breath. “Okay…”
He looks straight into my eyes as he says:
“Evelyn Loxley.”
Silence.
The air slowly escapes my chest. I repeat in my mind.
Evelyn.
I bite my lip lightly.
Then I nod.
“I like…”
His smile appears immediately.
Not a big one. But real.
“I knew it.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t know everything.”
“Yes.”
He lifts my chin slightly.
“Especially when it comes to you.”
I feel the heat rising in my chest. But I don’t get to say anything because he continues.
“And one more thing.”
I look at him suspiciously.
“That’s definitely the dangerous part.”
He laughs briefly.
Then, very calmly:
“You know… I told you I want lots of kids. Do you remember?”
I blink.
“What?”
“Lots.”
he repeats. “If possible… five.”
I open my mouth to say something.
“Or six.”
he adds.
“Cedric..”
I choke on my own spit.
"We don't have seven rooms for nothing, baby. "
I stare at him. Then I burst into a short laugh.
“Are you crazy.”
“A little.”
“A little?”
“Okay. A lot.”
I rest my forehead against his chest.
“Laughing a little more.
“Six kids…” I mutter. “I can’t even get out of bed without you now.”
He pats my back lightly.
Calm. Sure.
“Then I’ll be there.
”
I look up at him.
“For everyone.”
he continues.
“For every morning you can’t get up.”
I stop.
“For every step.”
He presses his forehead to mine again.
“For you.”
I move my hand over his, on his stomach.
“Evelyn…” I whisper softly.
“Do you like it?.. if not, then we can…” Cedric says but I stop him by placing my lips over his mouth.
I kiss him.
Calmly, but then I let him in my mouth.
He leans me against the kitchen island and pushes his tongue deeper into my thought.
"Hmm" I murmur between the small breaths that I barely manage to take.
"Cedric..." I murmur, I start to push him.
Cedric pulls away from me, his lips red and his eyes darker.
I look at him tiredly now.
"Horny bitch" I whisper and leave the kitchen. He laughs, and turns back to the stove.
My phone vibrates on the table just as I leave the kitchen.
I stop, pick it up and look at the screen.
Otis.
I raise my eyebrow and answer.
"…Hello?"
His voice comes right back, as loud as ever.
"I can't believe you're gone.
"
A small laugh escapes my lips.
"Hello to you too."
"No, seriously now," he continues, "we're in your pack and you're nowhere. "
I pause for a second.
“…Are you here?”
“Yes.”
Pause.
“And I’ll come see you.”
I roll my eyes, but smile.
“Of course you’re coming.”
“Send me the address.”
“I’ll give it to you now.
”
I hang up and quickly send him the location.
I stand there with my phone in my hand for a second…
then I go back into the kitchen.
Cedric doesn’t even look at me when I enter.
He stirs something in the pan, completely relaxed.
“Guests are coming.”
“I know.”
I pause.
“…You know?”
He lifts the corner of his mouth a little.
“I heard you.”
“Otis.”
“Mhm.”
“And Rowan.”
He pauses for a split second, then continues cooking.
“Perfect.”
I cross my arms.
“That’s it?
”
“Do you want me to panic?”
“Maybe.”
He laughs briefly.
“Thanks for letting me know.”
That’s it.
I nod my head slightly and leave the kitchen again.
After… 30 minutes.
Maybe 40.
I hear the car.
And then… the door.
I don’t even get to the living room when it opens and Otis walks right in, like it’s his house.
“Finally!”
I roll my eyes.
“I didn’t invite you with such enthusiasm.
”
Rowan follows him in, calmer, but with the same slight smile.
“We missed you.”
I look at him for a second.
“Me too. You have no idea how much I’m begging for attention right now”
Otis stops abruptly in front of me.
He looks down.
At his stomach.
"...Wow."
"Don't say that.
"
"No, seriously..." He leans in a little closer ".
..it's real."
"Otis."
Rowan pats him lightly on the arm.
"Stop looking at him like he's an experiment.
"
"It's not an experiment, it's. .. wow."
I laugh.
But before I say anything else…I notice.
It’s not just the two of them.
There’s someone else.
He’s standing a little further back.
Calm. Noticing everything.
I narrow my eyes slightly.
“And you’re…?”
Rowan smiles.
The kind of smile that says “I’ve been waiting for this moment.
”
He steps to the side a little.
“He’s Elian.”
The boy in the back takes a step forward.
His gaze is sure. Calm.
“Elian Synn.” Then he adds, simply “Rowan’s boyfriend. ”
Silence.
I look at Rowan.
Then at Elian.
Then back to Rowan.
"…Really? You're the boy who at Rowan Academy didn't know if you'd accept him!
?" I say ironically and for a few seconds Elian looks at me confused
Rowan shrugs, smiling.
"Really." he says quickly and it looks like he wants to jump into the fray now.
Otis sighs theatrically.
"He finally admitted it too.
"
"Shut up."
A laugh escapes me.
And at that exact moment…I feel Cedric's presence behind me.
I can't see him.
But I know he's there.
Calm.
Sure.
"We have guests.
" he says simply.
And, without thinking…
I move a little closer to him.
Automatically.
He stops next to me and puts a hand on my waist.
"What unexpected guests" he says and smiles looking at Otis and Rowan.
"Eat my ass, Loxley" Otis mutters, and starts to take off his shoes.
I look at Cedric for a moment and it seems he's looking at Elian, so I prepare to introduce him.
"Cedric, he's..." I don't get to say more because Cedric is talking over me.
"Elian Synn" he mentions and smiles.
He breaks away from me and goes to Elian, taking his hand and shaking it "I really didn't expect you to be together with Rowan Vale" Cedric says and secretly gives Rowan a nasty look.
My gaze quickly shifts between them.
The atmosphere…
becomes slightly tense.
Not bad.
But definitely not “relaxed.”
So I step in before anyone can say anything stupid.
“Okay..” I say and clap my hands lightly “…let the testosterone do the talking for you… let’s go to the living room.
”
Otis laughs.
“Finally someone responsible.”
“Don’t get used to it. ”
I turn to walk slowly, careful where I step.
My steps are slower now… but I feel them behind me, coming after me.
Cedric lags a split second behind.
Then he comes to my side.
Automatically.
His hand returns to my waist.
Gently.
Protector.
We reach the living room.
Otis throws himself first on the couch, as usual.
"God, I missed this."
"Why?
" asks Rowan. "Sit on the couch?"
"No.
Don't do anything."
A small laugh escapes me.
Rowan sits down more normally, and Elian stands for a second.
.. analyzing the space.
Then he sits down too. Calm.
Cedric stands next to me for a moment longer.
Then he leans lightly against the back of the couch.
A brief silence.
Otis breaks it first.
Of course.
"Okay." he looks between Cedric and Elian "How do you know each other?"
I cross my arms slightly, curious.
Elian is the one who answers.
His voice is calm. Controlled.
"Cedric's pack was mine a while back.
" Short pause. "Back then..." he continues "we had the same mentality.
"
Otis raises an eyebrow.
"Sounds dangerous.
"
"It was." he answers simply.
A small smile escapes me.
Elian rests his elbows on his knees, leaning forward slightly.
"And we were the same age." He glances at Cedric briefly.
"So we became..." short pause "training partners.
Today I was training him and tomorrow he was training me, Something like that"
Otis whistles softly.
"That explains why you don't like each other.
"
Cedric smiles slightly.
But it's not a completely relaxed smile.
"I didn't say I didn't like it.
"
Elian raises an eyebrow.
"Me neither. "
Silence.
I look between them.
"You're both lying."
Rowan laughs briefly.
"Finally someone telling the truth."
Otis nods.
"Yeah, the vibe is... 'we fought and we still want it'."
"Otis."
"What?"
I instinctively place a hand on my stomach.
“I don’t want drama in my house.”
Cedric immediately shifts his attention to me.
Completely.
“It won’t happen.”
he says simply.
And, for a second… I actually believe him.
Because his hand tightens slightly on my waist.
Like an answer.
Like a promise.
Rowan sits closer to his boyfriend and looks at us.
“So, when are you giving birth? What is it? Here or..?” He starts to list questions and I just stare at him until he stops.
“Ready?” I ask him and he rolls his eyes and nods.
"So, from the beginning. I might have the baby this week or early next week.
It's a girl, and Cedric and I decided to name her Evelyn.
And yes, I'm having the baby here. In this pack, at a hospital. I hope so."
There's a moment of silence after I finish speaking.
The kind of silence where everyone processes.
Otis is the first to react. Of course.
"Evelyn..." he repeats softly, then nods.
"Okay, that's... surprisingly cute."
I look at him with narrowed eyes.
"Surprising?"
"For you?
" he shrugs. "Yeah."
Rowan nudges him lightly with his elbow.
"Ignore him."
But he smiles.
And he looks at me.
More serious now.
“I like it.”
His gaze slides to my belly.
Softer.
“It’s… appropriate.”
I feel something calm inside me at this reaction.
I don’t know why.
But it matters.
Elian doesn’t say anything right away.
He just studies me for a second.
Then he nods once.
“It’s a strong name.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“Strong?”
“Yes.”
he says simply.
“He’s going to need it.”
I don’t know exactly what he means.
But… it doesn’t sound bad.
Cedric, behind me, moves his hand gently from my waist to my belly.
Reflex.
Protective.
“It’ll be okay.
” he says calmly.
Not to them.
To me.
And again… I believe him.
Otis sighs theatrically and makes himself more comfortable on the couch.
"So basically..." he looks at me ".
..in two weeks we'll have a mini-Idris screaming around the house?
"
"It's not mini-me." I say automatically.
Then I stop. I think for a second. "Okay…
maybe a little."
Rowan laughs.
"I hope he has Cedric's temper.
"
"I hope he doesn't." I mutter.
"Hey."
I turn my head slightly toward Cedric.
He smiles.
"My temper got you here."
I roll my eyes.
"Your temper got me pregnant when you didn't fuck me with a condom, you idiot.
"
Otis whistles softly.
"Domestic tension.
I like it."
"Get out."
"No."
Elian tilts his head a little, looking at us.
"You don't seem to need peace."
"I do.
"
I say immediately.
Then I correct myself.
"But not from them."
Rowan smiles slightly.
"Too late."
I tilt my head back a little, sighing.
But I smile.
For the first time in a long time.
.. It's not peace. It's not empty.
It's chaos.
It's noise.
It's... life.
And I like it. Something chaotic.
Rowan starts to comment about how Otis is sitting on the couch, and in less than two seconds it turns into a completely pointless argument.
"You're lying down like you're at home.
"
"Because I feel at home."
"It's not your house.
"
"Let me alone, dude.."
I put a hand to my temple.
"Please..."
Elian sighs softly and catches them both in his gaze.
He doesn't raise his voice.
He doesn't do anything dramatic.
Just...
"Shut up."
And somehow it works.
Otis throws his hands up in the air.
Rowan rolls his eyes.
Quiet.
I take a deep breath... but it doesn't last long.
Because suddenly...
I'm craving something.
Not a little.
Not "I'd like to eat something."
No.
Fixed.
Barbecue.
I blink a few times.
Then I stand up slowly.
"I want barbecue."
Silence.
Everyone looks at me.
"Now?" Otis asks.
“Yes.”
“Now?”
“Now.”
Rowan starts laughing.
“Oh my...it started”
Cedric doesn’t laugh.
He doesn’t even comment.
He immediately gets off the couch.
“What do you want?”
I think for a second.
Seriously.
“Beef...And...does the combination of cucumbers and mustard work...”
I say and look at Otis who makes a disgusted face.
Elian is already standing up.
“I’m coming with you.” he tells Cedric.
The two of them look at each other for a split second.
That kind of...competitive look.
Then Cedric nods.
“Come on.”
And they both walk outside.
I stay in the living room with Otis and Rowan.
“So…” Otis begins, looking at me “…random cravings?”
“It’s not random.”
“It’s very random.”
I roll my eyes and sit back down.
Rowan studies me closely.
Too closely.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I answer automatically.
But…I don’t know.
I feel something.
Not pain.
Not exactly.
Just…strange.
Like pressure.
I instinctively put my hand on my stomach.
Otis notices immediately.
“Hey..”
“I’m fine.” I say quickly.
Too quickly.
Rowan gets up a little from the couch.
“You don’t seem to.”
Take a deep breath.
And just then, It happens.
A wave.
Short.
But clear.
I stop.
My breath hitches a little.
"...Idris?
"
I don't answer right away.
I wait.
It passes.
I exhale slowly.
"Okay..." I mutter.Otis is no longer joking.
“That wasn’t ‘ok’.”
Rowan is already on his feet.
“Was it what I think it was…?”
I look up at him.
I’m not sure.
“…I don’t know.”
And just as I open my mouth to say something.
.Another wave.
Stronger.
I grab the edge of the couch.
My breathing gets heavier.
"Okay.
" Rowan says immediately. "Okay, no, this is real.
"
Otis is already getting up.
"I'm calling those two.
"
I don't have time to stop him.
Because I feel like bending over.
And all I can say, between breaths, is. .
"...Cedric."
His name comes out weaker than I want.
But enough.
Because in less than a second I hear the door suddenly open.
Fast footsteps. Heavy.
"What happened?
" his voice is different now. Not calm. Not relaxed.
It's alert.
Otis speaks over me. "I think.
.. I think he's having contractions. "
Cedric is next to me immediately. I don’t know when he got there. I didn’t see him coming.
But he’s here.
He leans in front of me, his hands on my knees, his gaze straight into my eyes. “Idris.”
I swallow hard.
“…I think… yes.”
Another wave.
This time I don’t try to ignore him. I let out a short sound through my teeth and lean forward a little.
Cedric reacts instantly. One hand on my back.
The other on my stomach.
“Breathe.” he says softly.
“With me.”
Inhale. Stagger. Exhale.
I try to keep up with him.
Rowan is already moving around the room.
“We have to go. Now.”
Otis is in the middle of the living room, completely lost for the first time.
“Okay, yeah, let’s go. Where’s… the bag?
Do you have a bag? You HAVE to have a bag.
”
“Otis.” It’s Elian who stops him.
Calm. Steady.
“Breathe too.”
Cedric doesn’t look at anyone.
Just at me.
“Can you walk?”
I nod slowly.
“Yes…”
I’m not sure. But I want to try.
He helps me up. His movements are slow.
Controlled.
Like I’m…fragile.
One step.
Then another.
Everything seems harder now.
“It’s okay.” he murmurs. More for me than for him.
We reach the door.
But before I leave…
I stop.
For a split second.
My gaze slides back to the living room.
At them. At that stupid chaos.
At the couch.
At the laughter from earlier.
And now.
..Everything is different.
Real.
“Idris?”
I blink and turn around.
“Yes.”
Cedric opens the door for me. “Come on.”
The air outside hits me immediately. Cold.
Clear.
I take a deep breath.
Another wave.
This time stronger.
I stop by the car and grab Cedric’s arm.
“Fuck…”
I can’t hide it anymore.
Cedric brings his forehead closer to mine.
“I know.” His voice is low. “I’m here. ”
I close my eyes. I breathe.
I feel his hand squeeze mine.
“We’ll get there.
”
I open my eyes and nod.
Elian is already opening the door.
Rowan is on the other side. Otis… still talking to himself.
“Okay, everything’s fine, everything’s fine, it’s not like she’s GIVING A BIRTH…
”
“OTIS.” Rowan yells at him
“I keep quiet..”
Cedric helps me up.
He climbs in next to me immediately. His hand doesn't leave my side.
Not for a second.
The engine starts.
The car drives off.
I move my hand over Cedric's, on his stomach.
"Evelyn, so early..." I whisper between breaths.
Another wave is coming.
I dig my fingers into his palm and scream.
He doesn't react.
He just moves closer.
"We're close."
And it seems I'm not waiting anymore.
She's coming.