A mellow trace of vanilla-scented paint lingered in the air, warm and soothing. It was a serene prelude to something beautiful beginning.
The faint hum of lullabies played from Earn's phone, threading through the gently chaotic room. She stood in the midst of it all, cradling a stuffed giraffe to her chest as if it were something precious and fragile. Behind her, Fahlada wrestled with the crib, muttering under her breath, a stubborn crease etched between her brows. Yet there was something deeply endearing in the way she refused to give up.
"Tsk. Since when did building a crib require more steps than surgery?"
Earn turned slightly, watching her wife with a fond smile, still cradling the toy.
"Because parenting is a puzzle. Consider this your first test."
Fahlada looked up, a playful scowl dancing on her face. "You're lucky you're pregnant."
Earn's eyes lit up with mischief. "I'm lucky because I have you."
Those words made Fahlada pause, taken aback. "I am lucky indeed," she whispered to herself. Setting the screwdriver aside, she crossed the room and wrapped her arms gently around her wife's waist. Earn was momentarily surprised by the sudden embrace, but an amused smile soon softened her lips.
Fahlada's hands settled on Earn's lower stomach, fingers spreading protectively.
"It still doesn't feel real," she murmured, her breath barely grazing Earn's ear, sending a feather-light tickle.
"It feels terrifyingly real every time I want to throw up." Earn said, her sarcastic smile saying it all.
Fahlada gave a faint laugh and pressed a kiss to her wife's shoulder, lingering as if to ground herself in the moment. 'If only time would stop right now,' she thought.
They held each other in the nursery's warm glow, imagining the tiny life soon to fill the space with joy, love, and a true sense of home.
"Sit down, babe," Fahlada said, "I don't want your mom arriving and finding you passed out in the nursery. I'd never hear the end of it."
Earn rolled her eyes but allowed herself to be guided toward the nearby armchair, flopping down with theatrical flair. "You're overreacting… but yeah, Mom's going to smother me."
"That's literally her job now," Fahlada replied with a teasing grin.
"Yup, that's my job forever," chimed the ever-so-familiar voice.
Both women turned, startled, and there stood Earn's mother, a knowing smile tugging at her lips as she took in the cozy, half-finished room.
"Ma!" Earn gasped, her eyes lighting up as she rushed forward, throwing her arms around her mother in a tight embrace.
Relief bloomed in Fahlada's chest as she watched the tender reunion. Her demanding schedule often left her worried about leaving Earn alone, but knowing someone who loved her wife just as fiercely was there eased her mind.
Fahlada stepped forward from behind to greet their wonderful visitor.
"Ma Jin, we didn't hear you come in. We could have helped with the bags."
Earn's mother chuckled, placing a gentle hand on Fahlada's arm.
"I didn't want to be a bother. Besides, seeing you two so loving… it was worth the quiet entrance."
The married couple exchanged a small, slightly embarrassed smile before Earn asked,
"Where's Pa?" She glanced past her mother, as if expecting her father to appear at any moment.
"He's outside unloading the car," her mother replied, flicking her eyes toward the nursery room. "Isn't it a little soon to start decorating? You do know the baby's still the size of a bean, right?"
"We just wanted everything to be perfect," Fahlada explained with a subtle smile, while Earn took her mom's hand and gently guided her into the room.
"That's right, which is why we're decorating early—while I still have the energy and before Fahlada gets buried in work," Earn added.
Her mom scanned the nursery, taking in the uneven pastel-yellow walls, scattered stuffed animals, and the half-built crib. She smiled, eyes misty.
"It's perfect already."
——-
That weekend, the lake house brimmed with warmth and excitement as the couple shared the news of Earn's pregnancy. Close friends and family filled the living room with laughter, stories, and gifts, each one a cheerful offering for the little life on the way.
Sitting on the sofa, Earn sipped her orange juice while Fahlada moved gracefully from guest to guest, her calm poise and gentle smile grounding the lively energy in the room.
Susi plopped down beside Earn, eyes gleaming.
"So? Pink or blue?"
Earn shook her head, laughing. "It's only been a few weeks, we're not there yet. Let me survive morning sickness first. We're actually thinking of waiting until the birth to find out."
Susi groaned, tossing her head back dramatically.
"Hey, I thought we were done with keeping secrets! You've got to check before the birth—it's not just important for you two, but for us too." She flashed a mischievous grin. "The moment you know, you'd better tell me. I've got shopping to do."
Ros leaned in with an exaggerated pout. "Please! It's your first baby, and we want to throw a baby shower. How are we supposed to pick a theme if we don't know?"
"Yep, I'm team pink, by the way," Bow added with a smirk.
Earn just smiled faintly. "Okay, this is my baby, so it doesn't matter. Boy or girl—"
"Or gay," Susi inserted, struggling to keep a straight face.
Earn rolled her eyes and continued, "Whatever the gender, Fahlada and I will cherish them."
Ingfa entered just in time to hear that. "Nope, whatever you say, it'll be the baby of our group, so I suggest you just give up. Team blue for the win!" she declared.
Ros and Bow shot her matching glares, ready to defend team pink. She fired one right back, unwilling to back down, before making her way over to Earn, pulling her into a warm hug, and handing her a neatly wrapped box.
"This is from Rati. She really wanted to come, but her fan meet abroad got extended."
Earn gave a small shake of her head. "She's always busy…" she said with a sly grin as she opened the gift. She froze when she saw the sexy red maternity dress, with a small note that read 'to keep things spicy', and quickly hid it before anyone could notice, hugging it close.
"Tell her thanks, and I'll message her later with some photos," Earn whispered to Ingfah with a playful laugh.
Just then, the front door opened again, this time revealing Wisanu and Tan arriving shoulder to shoulder. The room instantly erupted in playful squeals and knowing glances.
"Ohhh, they came together this time," Ros chimed in a sing-song voice.
"Finally admitting they're more than just carpool buddies?" Susi teased.
Tan raised an eyebrow as he approached them. "You two are worse than our patients."
Wisanu simply smiled and took the seat beside him, cool and unbothered.
Earn's eyes drifted to Tan's shirt, a navy tee with clean stitching and a snug, tailored fit. She couldn't help but picture how it would look on Fahlada.
"Nice top," Earn said, not thinking much of it.
"Thanks—" Tan began, but Wisanu cut in smoothly, "And here I thought I was being subtle."
For a heartbeat, the room went still, then burst into gasps and laughter.
"Wait—what?!" Ingfah squealed, clutching her chest as if she'd just heard the juiciest gossip of the year.
Tan turned beet red, swatting at Wisanu with a mortified laugh. "You were not supposed to say that out loud!"
"Too late," Bow chimed in with a grin. "The whole room heard it."
Ros snickered. "Don't worry, Doc Tan, we'll keep it between us."
Trying to escape the teasing, Tan shoved a gift into Earn's hands.
"Here. Just take the present before I regret coming," Tan grumbled.
Earn blinked, and a low giggle escaped her, clearly amused by his flustered gesture. She thanked him with a teasing glance, but before she could unwrap it, Susi swooped in like a hawk on a mission.
"Another gift for the baby doctor!" Susi declared, triumphantly holding up a tiny rattle shaped like a stethoscope, and another wave of laughter rippled through the room.
While everyone mingled and laughed, Fahlada stayed by the patio doors with a wine glass in hand, simply enjoying the view in front of her. The infectious smiles of her friends, along with her father chatting warmly with Earn's parents, created a comforting, delicate sense of balance that filled her.
As she continued to watch them, the chatter and laughter of the party began to blur, and she felt herself drifting away from its cheerfulness. Her gaze settled on Earn, radiant and glowing, one hand resting where new life had just begun to grow. A wistful smile tugged at her lips, her chest tightening with a mix of pride, awe, and a flicker of something she couldn't quite name yet.
Fear, maybe.
She was too focused on the moment to notice her mother stepping beside her and gently nudging her arm.
"Hey," Russamee said, a note of concern in her voice.
Fahlada turned, her features softening as she looked at her mother.
"Hey, Mom," she uttered faintly, pulling her into a gentle hug.
For a moment, she leaned into her mother's steady comfort, the one constant in a night full of swirling emotions.
Her mom studied her for a few seconds with a caring glance, then asked, "So, are you excited?"
"I am. I really am," Fahlada replied, too quickly.
Her mother gave her a look, and Fahlada knew she wasn't convinced.
The silence that followed stretched longer than it should have, as Fahlada was always hesitant to open up about the uneasiness she'd been feeling, but this was her mother, after all.
Despite the times when she hadn't fully accepted Earn, her mother had grown to love the woman she had chosen and, in time, had come to embrace their relationship. She knew her mother saw right through her and understood her. No matter the storms they'd faced, her mother would always be there, ready to listen to whatever she needed to say.
And when the words finally came, Fahlada's voice was unsteady, as if they had been waiting too long to be spoken.
"Honestly… I'm… I'm also scared, Mom. I'm not sure what I'm doing. I'm scared for Earn…, for the baby, for us… But we want this—I want it! So why do I feel like this? Is that normal?"
"Of course it's normal," her mother said gently, then she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her daughter's ear. "You're about to become a mother. That changes everything. Even the strongest feel the jitters."
"Sometimes I feel like I have to be strong all the time… but lately, I've been having these quiet moments where all I want to do is cry, and I don't even know why…" Fahlada confessed and took a slow sip of her wine to gather some strength.
When she spoke again, her voice softened to a whisper.
"Other times, I'm so happy that I wish I could freeze time, stay in that moment forever… because the second tomorrow comes, the sadness creeps back in, and the cycle starts all over again."
Her mother simply nodded, a silent gesture of understanding.
"You're going through the daddy blues. Or in your case, mommy blues. It's just the weight of wanting everything to be right, and that's okay."
"I don't want to fail Earn and our baby," Fahlada admitted, her voice cracking under the weight of her words. "What if I mess up? What if I'm not enough for them? What if—"
Renesmee reached out and gently cupped Fahlada's cheeks, stopping the spiral of what-ifs before it could go any further, and met her daughter's worried eyes.
"I remember when I was pregnant with you, I was so sensitive I started hating your father for no reason," she said, a low laugh colored her words.
"One day, I cried because he brought me the wrong noodles. Next, I panicked over whether I was fit to be a mother. And then… I was scared I might lose you at any moment." She let out a shaky breath, remembering it like it was yesterday, before continuing with a voice that was more composed.
"You may not be carrying the baby physically, but you're carrying Earn, and the baby emotionally. And trust me, that's just as heavy. Sometimes heavier."
Fahlada's eyes welled up. "But how do you know if you're doing enough?"
"You feel this deeply. You worry, you ache, you love," her mother replied, brushing her thumb across Fahlada's cheek. "That's how I know."
Renesmee rested a hand on her daughter's shoulder, speaking with the calm confidence of a mother who'd been there.
"You won't fail them. You already love them both. That's more than enough."
——-
Later that night, the house had quieted, with only the soft melody of lullabies drifting from the bedroom, wrapping around the married couple and filling the room with peace.
Earn lay in bed beside Fahlada, her head resting on her wife's shoulder, fingers absentmindedly tracing over her belly.
"Today felt like a dream," she said, breathless with joy.
Fahlada smiled softly, her hand reaching out to cover Earn's. "Maybe because it was," she replied, her eyes closing as she savored the memory. She could still hear the laughter and recall the happy moments they had shared throughout the day.
"But if it is, I don't ever want to wake up."
Earn giggled, a light sparkle in her eyes.
"You should wake up! How else would you meet our baby?"
Fahlada let out an amused laugh, her eyes crinkling as her mother's words echoed softly. She glanced at Earn's shining smile and felt a surge of determination. In that fleeting moment, she knew she would do anything to protect this happiness, to keep these dreamlike moments alive…and make them real.
"Oh, you're right. How silly of me."
She moved slowly, leaning down to place a gentle kiss on Earn's belly. Her voice lowered to a tender whisper as she said,
"I can't wait to meet you, little one."