Can I feel the baby

Lucas returned home after dropping Rachel off, stepping inside with an easy gait. The house was quiet, sunlight pouring softly through the living room curtains. He expected to find Bella in the kitchen or maybe cleaning something. Instead, he found her curled on the couch, legs tucked under her, eyes fixed on her phone—laughing quietly.

He leaned against the doorway, arms folded, just watching her for a second. The sound of her laughter still did something strange to his chest. It was a sound he wanted to protect.

"What's so funny?" he asked, walking over.

Bella looked up at him, her eyes still gleaming from laughter. "I was watching Rachel's old baby videos."

Lucas raised a brow, intrigued, and sat beside her without needing an invitation. "Really! Show me."

She scooted closer, angling the phone toward him. On the screen, a tiny Rachel was babbling nonsense words with her hair sticking out in every direction like a dandelion puff. Then came a clip of her trying to crawl but going backward instead. Lucas let out a soft laugh, eyes locked on the screen. "She looked like a lost turtle."

"She was so tiny," Bella said fondly, leaning into him as another video played—Rachel sleeping with one sock on her hand and the other tossed across the bed. Lucas glanced at Bella's face more than the screen. She looked happy. Glowing, even.

A few minutes later, the videos shifted to some newborn clips—random, cute babies giggling, yawning, grabbing tiny fingers. There was a pause before Lucas asked quietly, "Can I feel the baby?"

Bella looked at him, slightly surprised at his request. But she nodded. She shifted so he could place his hand gently on her belly. There was a still moment—and then a faint, subtle movement beneath his palm. Lucas's eyes widened.

"Wait—did you feel that?" he asked, grinning. "That was real! The baby moved!"

Bella blinked in confusion. "Really? But it's too early for that."

Lucas leaned down excitedly, resting his ear against her bump like he was listening for a secret code. Then came a low rumble. His face lit up. "I heard something! The baby's making sounds—"

Bella tried to stifle a smile but failed. "Lucas… that was my stomach. I'm hungry."

Lucas blinked. Then pulled back slowly, narrowing his eyes in mock offense. "Seriously? So all this time it was you."

She burst into laughter, and he groaned, slumping against the couch. "Well, your stomach just stole our bonding moment."

Bella leaned her head on his shoulder, still giggling. "Don't worry. The baby will start moving soon. You'll get your moment."

Lucas muttered, "I'll be filing a complaint with your digestive system." Her fingers laced lightly with his. "You're cute when you're dramatic."

He looked at her, smile curling slowly at the corners of his lips. "You think I'm cute?"

She flushed a little and quickly changed the subject. "So… late breakfast?"

Lucas stood up, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt like a royal. "As the rejected bonding partner, I'll make the food."

She rolled her eyes fondly and followed him toward the kitchen.

The second breakfast was a quiet, content affair—simple scrambled eggs, toast, and freshly brewed coffee for Lucas while Bella opted for warm milk and fruit. Afterward, the calm of the house settled around them again, now that Rachel was off to school and the morning was free of chaos. Lucas took his laptop to the dining table, deep into reviewing a string of updates Mark had forwarded. Meanwhile, Bella sat across from him, her own laptop open, fingers tapping steadily against the keys.

At first, it was light. Peaceful. Only the soft sounds of typing filled the room. But gradually, Lucas noticed the pace of Bella's typing becoming more intense—quick, focused strokes that didn't pause for long. He glanced up from his screen. "What are you working on with that much determination?"

Bella didn't look up right away, her lips pressing together as she edited a line. "I'm making a resume," she said finally, voice calm but resolute. Lucas blinked. "A resume?"

She nodded, eyes still on the screen. Lucas closed his laptop slightly. "Why?"

Bella finally looked at him. "Because I want to apply for a job Lucas. I've been thinking about it since we got married. I took time to adjust and now… I want to be financially independent again."

Lucas straightened in his chair, studying her expression. "You're pregnant, Bella."

"And I'm not sick," she replied evenly. "I can still do things. I'm not applying for something physically demanding. Just something remote and manageable."

He paused, visibly choosing his words carefully. "You don't have to, you know. I can provide everything you and Rachel—and the baby—need. You shouldn't stress yourself out."

She sighed, closing her laptop. "Lucas, this isn't about money. I've worked since I was eighteen. I know you can take care of us, but it's not about that. It's about me. I don't want to lose who I am in all this."

Lucas rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not saying you should stop being you. I love how capable and determined you are. But it's okay to slow down. You're growing a child."

"I know," Bella said, her voice softening slightly. "But slowing down shouldn't mean giving up everything that made me feel… worthy. I want to contribute—not just be someone who's taken care of."

There was a long silence between them. Lucas finally leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You are worthy. You don't need to earn that through a job. I just don't want you to push yourself and regret it. If something happened—"

"Nothing will happen," she said gently. "Because I'll be careful. I'm not trying to prove anything to you. This is for me. So I don't forget how to stand on my own."

Lucas stared at her for a long moment. His expression was unreadable, caught somewhere between protective concern and reluctant understanding. He sighed quietly. "You know I'm just scared something might hurt you. That's all."

Bella nodded slowly, reaching across the table to touch his hand. "And I love that you care that much. I really do. But let me do this my way. Please."