I close my eyes and try to respond but another one comes in.

Liam: Look up.

My eyes lift, and he stands before me. He drops his bags and the loud thump echoes in the terminal. I get on my feet and rush toward him. He’s here.

Liam’s arms open as I approach. I close the gap between us with a smile and wrap my arms around him. As soon as our bodies connect, I feel whole.

“Hi, sweetheart,” his deep voice grounds me, and I look into his blue eyes. His lips lower and he kisses me.

My mouth molds to his as his arms keep me flush against him. All the fear disappears like a puff of smoke, and I know I’ll survive no matter what. If I lose this baby, I know we’ll make it through. Liam won’t turn his back on me and seek out another. He’s the man who will hold me and love me regardless. We’re reunited and all is right in the world. There may be a lot of hell waiting for us, but we’re together. He’s alive and I’m in his arms.

He breaks the kiss and stares into my eyes. “I missed the shit out of you.”

I laugh, “I missed you too.” He pulls back a little as I bite my lip. He’s going to see, and I want to tell him before he does. “Liam, I have to tell you something,” I blurt out.

His face falls, “I didn’t make it in time . . .”

“No,” I stop him before he thinks he lost his mother. I practiced and rehearsed this all day, but now I’m choking on the words. I take his hand in mine and place it on my stomach. “I’m pregnant.”

He looks up with wide eyes, and his breath catches. “You’re . . . ?” he stumbles on the words. “We’re . . . ?”

I nod with unshed tears forming.

“A baby?”

I sigh while touching his cheek. “I’m pregnant with a baby. Your baby.”

He takes me into his arms again with such tenderness. “I wish I could say something, but you have no idea how I feel right now,” Liam says against my hair. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

His eyes return to my stomach as his hand rubs the small bump. “Lee, I didn’t think you could.”

“I didn’t either . . . apparently, you and I worked.” I don’t know how to explain it other than a miracle.

Liam smiles before he kisses my nose. “I love you so much. I love Aarabelle, and I’m going to love this baby just as much.”

Right there. Those words solidify everything. He not only included Aara, he said her first. Once again, he proves why he has my heart. He didn’t choose to love his own child any more or any differently. Liam is the man who will be a father to both my children, because to him, Aara is his as well.

“I want you to be happy, but I need to be honest,” I say and we sit. “I had a huge scare. You know some of what I went through to have Aarabelle, and the fact that I’ve carried this long is promising. I cramped pretty bad the other day and have been trying to stay off my feet . . .”

Liam cuts me off. “You’re not going with me then.”

“Stop. I got the clear from the doctor to go.”

“Natalie, you and the baby come first. I want you with me, more than you know, but I’m not going to argue.”

“You’re not going to boss me around either,” I snap.

Liam smiles at my small outburst. “I’m not?”

“No, you’re not.” I cross my arms.

He cups my face and his smirk only irritates me. “I’m so in love with you.”

Well, that doesn’t make me hate him. “You’re confusing me.”

“I’m loving you. And loving that my super sperm knocked you up.”

I roll my eyes and fight my smile. “You’ve been home five minutes and I’ve already cried, yelled, gotten mad, and smiled. You’re something else.”

“I’m yours,” he replies.

“And I’m yours.”

“Yeah, sweetheart. You sure are. Okay, so tell me what the doctor said,” he requests.

I go over all the rules, how far along I am, and more about the scare. His emotions play across his face like a movie. The one thing that remains clear is how happy he is and how much love he has for me. I’ve never seen a man look at me like he does. Liam sees through me and even with every flaw showing, he only loves me more. What we share is rare and precious, just like the child we’ve made.

He hoists the bag on his back with a grin. “Got it,” Liam puffs up. He stands with sheer determination across his face. Then, he bows down and lifts me into his arms.

“What are you doing?” I ask practically yelling.

“You said to stay off your feet. So, you’re staying off your feet.” He somehow manages to shrug while holding me.

“Liam!” I laugh but wrap my arms around his neck. “I could get used to this, but you know if we make it through this, I’ll just get bigger.”

“I’ll make sure I keep hitting the gym,” he smiles.

He walks with me to the car and frowns when he sees I brought my car.

“Oh, stop it. I hate driving your car.”

“When is our flight?” he asks opening the door.

“We should head to the airport now. I tried to space it in case you were late, but I think we should get there sooner than later,” I explain getting in my seat and he nods. “Why?”

“I wanted to see Aara if we had time.”

I don’t think he could be any more perfect. My heart swells, and I lean up as he fusses over me and grab his face. He looks at me with wonder and then I pull him close. Our lips touch and his hand threads in my hair. I’m whole again. No matter what happens from here, we’ll save each other. If I lose this baby, if his mother passes, if the world around us collapses, we’ll make it.

My mouth opens and Liam’s tongue clashes with mine. He licks and pushes me back into my seat. I let him take the lead as I hold his lips against mine. I want to kiss him forever, but we have to go. I push him back, but when his blue eyes hone in on me, I pull him to me again.

Liam smiles against my mouth and gives me a small peck. “You’re so cute when you want me.”

“I’ve missed your smart ass,” I laugh and he kisses me once more before closing the door.

We head to the airport and the sweet mood of reunion morphs into the fear of what we’re heading to. During the drive, I explain to Liam the information I have and he calls his father while we wait for the plane to board. Liam slips into his mask but keeps his hands on me in some way. His hands never leave my skin other than when he has no choice.

Early in the flight to Cincinnati, Liam and I talk briefly about what he’s missed with Aaron and Aarabelle.

“Are you going to tell me why no one could get in touch with you?” I ask. It’s been driving me insane, but I wasn’t sure whether to bring it up.

“It was a clusterfuck.” He looks away.

“Is that all I get?” I ask softly. There’s a line between significant other and SEAL. He and I have to establish it and this is one of those defining moments. It’s not a matter of trust and I know this. It’s a matter of protection.

Aaron wouldn’t tell me much other than it was no day at the beach. I knew that was his way of saying the discussion was over. Only once did he ever go in depth about a mission, and it was when they lost their three friends. He came home and lost it. I held him in my arms as he sobbed. That funeral was the most horrific day. All three caskets draped in our nation’s colors. The tears flowed relentlessly through the entire ceremony.