Page 87 of Beautiful Agony

I feel Lacey tense slightly beside me. Dr. Chen quickly moves on.

"The next few weeks are crucial for development. The baby's organs are forming, bones starting to harden." She hands Lacey some tissues to clean off the ultrasound gel. "Do you have any questions?"

We both shake our heads, still processing everything we've just seen and heard.

"I'll leave you two alone for a moment," Dr. Chen says softly. She closes her notebook and heads for the door. "Take all the time you need."

The door clicks shut behind her. I turn to Lacey, who's still staring at the now-dark ultrasound screen, her hand resting protectively over her belly.

"Zvyozdochka," I whisper, pulling her close. "We're going to be parents."

She lets out a shaky breath against my chest. "Parents," she echoes, and I hear the wonder in her voice that matches exactly what I'm feeling.

I help Lacey down from the examination table, steadying her when she sways slightly. My hand lingers protectively over her belly, still amazed at the life growing within.

"We should prepare a nursery," I tell her softly. "A proper room for our child."

Her eyes light up at the suggestion. "Ourchild," she echoes, testing the words. "Where would you put it?"

"I have an idea." I take her hand, leading her through Pankration's winding corridors. The morning sun streams through tall windows, casting long shadows across marble floors that have seen too much darkness.

We pass several closed doors before reaching the southern wing. Here, sunlight floods the hallway through floor-to-ceiling windows. I push open a set of double doors, revealing a spacious room bathed in natural light.

"This one gets sun all day," I explain, watching Lacey's expression as she takes in the space. "The windows face south,and there's more than enough room to fit everything a baby needs."

Lacey walks to the center of the room, turning slowly. Dust motes dance in the golden beams around her. Her hand rests unconsciously on her belly as she moves to the windows, looking out over the grounds below.

"It's perfect," she breathes. "The light is beautiful in here."

I join her at the windows, wrapping my arms around her from behind. "We can paint it any color you want. Add a crib, changing table, rocking chair..."

"A rocking chair by this window would be nice," she says, leaning back against my chest. "For late night feedings."

I press a kiss to her temple, imagining her here with our child. The thought of new life filling these halls, of a baby's laughter echoing where there was once only pain, makes my heart swell.

"We could put a bookshelf here," Lacey says, gesturing to one wall. "Fill it with children's stories."

I nod, already picturing shelves lined with colorful spines. "And a soft rug for playing."

"Maybe some stuffed animals?" Her eyes sparkle with excitement. "Oh, and we'll need curtains. Something light and airy."

"Speaking of things we need," I say, pulling her closer. "We haven't discussed the most important piece yet."

She turns in my arms. "What's that?"

"A crib." I run my fingers through her hair, considering. "I want to build it myself."

"You know how to build furniture?"

"I can learn." The idea has been forming in my mind since we first discovered the pregnancy. "I want to create something with these hands for once, instead of just destroying."

Lacey catches my hand and brings it to rest on her belly. "But you already have created something." Her eyes meet mine, full of love and understanding. "Right here."

The simple gesture steals my breath. She's right—we've already created the most precious thing of all. I spread my fingers wider across her stomach, imagining our child growing beneath my palm.

I capture Lacey's lips in a gentle kiss, still overwhelmed by the enormity of what we've just seen. The warmth of her body against mine, knowing our child grows within her, stirs something primal inside me. My hand drifts lower, caressing the gentle curve of her hip.

She responds eagerly, pressing closer as her fingers trail down my chest. The soft sigh that escapes her lips sends heat coursing through my veins. Her hand finds me through my pants, and I can't help the groan that escapes me.

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