Work Text:
Rayla is in their kitchen when he gets home.
This isn't unusual—often she'll heat the stove or put the water on to be ready for when he actually makes them dinner, if she gets back before him—though it is unusual for him to be half past six bells rather than just a quarter.
"Sorry I'm late," he apologizes, passing by their table to press a kiss to her cheek. She stands by her chair, hands folded. "Had to stop to pick up the mail. Aunt Amaya's last letter said Ez should be writing me soon, but who knows if that's true—" Then he sees the fidget of her fingers and haunch of her shoulders. He tosses the unopened letters on the table in front of him, his brow furrowing. "Hey. Is everything okay?"
He can see the exact moment she wants to say no, but also the exact moment she decides to tell him anyway. "Yes. I just... I went to the healers earlier—"
"What?" He's by her side in a flash, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together. His eyes scan her face, which is as familiar to him as his own at this point, probably more so. She doesn't look any paler than usual. Maybe—
Rayla's lips twitch, squeezing his fingers. "I'm fine," she reiterates. "Let me finish first before freaking out?"
Callum catches himself and smiles sheepishly. "Right. Sorry." He clears his throat. "Continue."
"I went to the healers after lunch, because I was having a hard time keeping it down. Thought maybe it was food poisoning from that weird dish Lujanne sent us? And the apothecary would have a quick fix for it. But it's not food poisoning, so I took a test they recommended, and it's... It's—" Rayla takes a slow breath. "I'm pregnant, Callum."
His whole body stops working for a moment. He must've misheard. "What?"
"I'm pregnant," she repeats. "Two months along, or so the test says."
Rayla. Pregnant. Of course they've talked about. Of course they've thought about it. But they—not till Aaravos is—it doesn't make sense. "But we said—"
"I know."
"And we used—"
"I know." Rayla's gaze flicks down to the side. "Not well enough, I guess."
There's too many thoughts and feelings struggling to get out, he isn't sure what to say or do first. "That's..."
Then he sees the way she's curled in slightly on herself, worrying her bottom lip, and that well—she's scared, maybe, that there's been a hiccup in their plan. Of what he'll think or say, maybe. The noise in his head clears.
Callum steps closer, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her to him. Their stomachs press together the way they have a thousand times before, but this time feels different, now that she's... He uses his other hand to cup her chin and lift her gaze back to his.
"It's going to be okay," he murmurs. Magic is runes, yes, but it's also speaking something into the air and willing it so, making it real just because you said it should be. Why can't this be the same? So what if Aaravos returns in little under a year. They'll have their baby, and they'll defeat him.
Rayla's bottom lip wobbles, even as she smiles. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." He gives her a soft, sweet kiss, feeling her relax into him even as he draws back again. "We'll figure it out together, okay?"
Her smile grows more sure, steady in his confidence, his companionship, his care; pride swells in his chest as she believes him, trusts him, and exhales. "Okay."