Work Text:
“Aaaand…done,” she said, smiling as she stepped back from the wall. She laid her hands on her still-flat stomach, absently rubbing as she considered her work. “What do you think, Tikki? Think he’ll like it?”
There was no answer.
She giggled anyway, turning from the room to let the paint dry. She had left the window open, but it probably wasn’t good to be around those fumes any longer than necessary.
“You’re right,” she said, her hands still on her stomach. “Of course he will. He’s going to be so excited…”
She’d waited long enough. It was about time they let themselves hope again.
She wasn’t showing yet, but keeping the secret from her husband had been killing her. It had seemed like a good idea at first, what with the new threat to the city. She had known if she’d told Luka he would make her stop, insist on wielding the Ladybug himself, but protecting Paris had always been her responsibility first.
“You have new responsibilities now,” he would have said. “You have support. Let us – let me – help you.”
And he probably would have been right, but…she hadn’t been certain at first, and she hadn’t wanted to get him worried – to get his hopes up – until she was. And then once she’d known…well. The threat had been neutralized quick enough, but then he’d had to go on tour, and now…
She sat down at the kitchen counter, pulling her lukewarm mug of tea over. He’d be home any time now, and then she’d show him the nursery she had started decorating, and he’d know, and oh, he was going to be so excited…
She felt a fluttering in her stomach, and she knew it was crazy – surely it was too soon? – but she laid a hand over their little someone and smiled.
“I know, sweetie,” she said. “I’m excited, too.”
She heard a noise by the door – keys in the lock? – and looked up, her smile growing. Speak of the devil…
She put her tea down and rushed over to the front door, quickly unlocking it and throwing it wide.
“Welcome…oh,” she said, blinking as she stared into the nursery. She took a hesitant step in, her brow furrowing as she looked around. The crib was set up in the corner, the paint long-since dried (and replaced twice over, because she just couldn’t settle on a color that felt like both of them enough to suit their little someone), and the window was closed. She shook her head, laughing slightly. “All right, who closed the window? Xuppu, was it you? You know we need to air the room out.”
With the window open, she turned towards the rocking chair in the corner. She sighed and sat, her hands going back to her belly. Her feet were killing her today – she couldn’t wait for the baby to get here already.
“Good morning, beautiful,” Luka whispered by her ear, and she smiled as she felt him brush a kiss along her temple.
“About time,” she murmured. “I thought you…”
…but he was gone when she opened her eyes.
Her brow furrowed as she sat up, looking around.
“Lu…Luka?” she called, but he was nowhere to be seen. She was nowhere to be seen – the nursery had faded into swirling gray around her, the only clue it might have been there the rocking chair she sat in. “Luka! What…where are you? Luka!”
There was a door, just across the room. A faint outline that almost faded into the walls. She pushed herself up and rushed towards it, her hand gripping the handle and turning. It flung wide open, and she stumbled into their bedroom.
He was sitting on the bed, his guitar on his lap as he played an old, familiar tune. He looked up at her with a smile, and relief washed over her.
“Don’t scare me like that,” she said, shaking her head as she crossed over to the bed. She climbed in beside him and curled up against his side. He hummed, and then his lips brushed against her head as he sang something low and sweet to her. “You keep going away. You need to stop that.”
“…I’m not the one who left, beautiful,” he whispered. She blinked, and when she looked up he was gone. She flinched back, her brow furrowing as she looked around the room.
“Luka?” she called. “Luka! Enough – it’s not funny anymore!”
She heard a noise in the hall, and she scrambled out of bed to follow it.
Their flat felt…stale. Like she hadn’t cleaned it in far too long. She looked around, her stomach churning unpleasantly. She rubbed a hand over her belly, frowning.
“I know, sweetheart,” she said. “I don’t like it, either.”
She took a hesitant step into the living room, looking around for some sign of…anything. Their flat was never this quiet – even when Luka and her were both out, the kwamis were always zipping around. Where had everyone gone? Where…?
“Tikki?” she called, taking another step into the room. “Tikki, come on! This isn’t funny anymore!”
…soft music came from behind her, and she sighed as she turned and saw a soft light coming from the bedroom. She followed it, crawling back into the bed with Luka as he continued to play.
“It’s been such a weird day,” she sighed, resting her head against his hip.
“Sleep,” he said, bending to kiss her head. “I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
No, she thought, he wouldn’t be. Because he was on the road, wasn’t he? He was always on the road anymore…
“All right…” she sighed, laying back and closing her eyes. She just needed a nap. Just a little nap. She’d go see her parents when she woke up, and they’d remind her everything was just fine, and then Luka would come home and…
The bed was empty when she woke up. Her stomach was flat – but why wouldn’t it be? It was still early. She wasn’t showing yet. Still, she had a nursery to paint. Luka would be home any time now, and she was so excited to tell him her news…
“Come on, Tikki,” she sighed to the empty space beside her. She pushed herself up, smiling as her hand moved to her stomach. “We have work to do.”