Leo didn't sleep that night.
He lay on his back in his too-expensive apartment, staring at the ceiling, still hearing the whoosh of the monitor, still feeling Tiana's hand in his.
I didn't know who else to call. Her words replayed on a loop quiet, vulnerable, trusting.
He hadn't realized until today how much that trust mattered to him. How much she mattered to him.
It wasn't just the baby anymore.
It hadn't been for a while.
The next day, he showed up at her place with two bagels, one lemon-ginger tea, and a whole mess of emotions he wasn't great at naming.
Tiana answered the door in bum short and a sweatshirt, her hair in a top knot, her eyes wary but soft.
"You brought carbs," she said.
"Always," he replied, holding up the bag like a peace offering.
They sat on her couch, silent for a while, chewing. It was the most domestic thing they'd ever done.
And somehow it made his heart race more than anything else.
"I couldn't stop thinking about yesterday," Leo said finally, breaking the quiet.
"What might've happened."
Tiana's gaze dropped to her belly. "Me too."
He looked at her really looked at her. "Tiana, I need to say something, and I'm not expecting anything in return. I just… I need you to know."
She nodded slowly, sensing the weight in his voice.
"I'm falling for you," Leo said. "Not because you're having my baby. Not because I feel responsible. But because you're you."
Her breath hitched. He kept going. "You're stubborn and smart and funny and real.
You don't pretend to be fine when you're not, and you don't let people off the hook when they disappoint you. Including me."
Tiana stared at him, like the words were trying to catch up with her heart.
"I don't know how to do this perfectly," Leo added. "But I know I want to try. I want to be here not just for Nova, but for you. If you'll let me."
The silence that followed was thick with all the words she couldn't quite say.
"I'm scared," she whispered finally.
"I know," he said. "Me too."
She set her tea down and looked at him really looked. Like she was seeing him for the first time without all the baggage and fear in the way.
"I don't want to need you," she admitted.
"You don't have to," Leo said gently. "But if you want me, I'm here."
Tiana nodded, slowly.
And even though she didn't say yes, she didn't say no either.
And for now, that was enough.