The bass pulsed through the club like a heartbeat, shaking the floor beneath Tiana's heels. Lights flashed overhead, painting her in waves of purple, blue, and red as she laughed, her curls bouncing around her face. Jasmine handed her another cocktail—something pink and strong—and shouted over the music.
"This is the last one, babe! You've got work tomorrow!"
Tiana raised the glass and smirked. "That's tomorrow's problem."
She wasn't usually like this—dancing until her calves ached, losing herself in the music, flirting with men whose names she didn't care to remember. But tonight was different. Her ex had just posted engagement photos with the girl he told her was his cousin, and the sting was still raw.
She wasn't heartbroken. Just… done.
That's when she saw him, Across the crowded room, he was leaning against the bar, all confidence and mystery. Dark eyes, chiseled jaw, and a smile that looked like it held secrets. Their eyes met. Held. One moment later, he was beside her. No cheesy pick-up lines, just that smile.
Hi i'm Leo," he said, low and smooth.
"Tiana," she replied. And that was it. The rest of the night unraveled like a dream. Laughing. Kissing. A cab ride to his condo. Whispers in the dark. No promises, no regrets.
By morning, he was gone. A note on the counter: Had to leave early. Last night was unforgettable. Take care, Tiana. No number. No last name. She tried to brush it off. told Jasmine it was a story for the books, a wild chapter in her otherwise careful life.But three weeks later, when the nausea wouldn't stop and the test turned positive, that chapter became the start of a whole new book.
Chapter Two; Two Pink Lines
Tiana sat on the closed toilet lid, elbows on her knees, head in her hands. The tiny white stick trembled between her fingers. She didn't need to look again. She already had—twice.
Two pink lines.
The kind of lines that change lives.
From the hallway, Jasmine's voice cut through the thick silence. "Tee? You okay in there? You've been quiet for, like, five minutes—and that's weird for you."
Tiana took a shaky breath and opened the door.
Jasmine's eyes dropped to the stick in Tiana's hand. Her expression morphed from confusion to shock, and then—just like that—she wrapped Tiana in a hug.
"Damn," Jasmine whispered. "Okay. Okay, we're breathing. Deep breaths. Do you want to scream or cry first?"
"I don't even know," Tiana said, her voice barely a whisper.
They collapsed onto the couch, the test now resting on the coffee table like it was some kind of alien artifact. Tiana stared at it, trying to make it make sense.
"I mean… it was one night," she said finally. "Just one night. How does this even happen?"
Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "You want the scientific breakdown or the sarcastic version?"
Tiana cracked a small smile. "I'll take the sarcastic."
"Well," Jasmine said, kicking her feet up. "When a girl meets a fine-ass stranger at a club, and tequila is involved, and neither of them is thinking long-term—"
"Okay, okay," Tiana cut in, laughing dryly. "I get it."
They were quiet for a beat.
"Do you even know his last name?" Jasmine asked carefully.
Tiana shook her head. "Just Leo. No number. No social media. Just… Leo."
Jasmine blew out a low whistle. "Girl, you really went full rom-com disaster."
Tiana leaned back and stared at the ceiling. "It doesn't feel real. I haven't even figured out my own life yet, Jazz. My job is a glorified internship.
My apartment is basically a shoebox with heat. I eat cereal for dinner most nights. How the hell am I supposed to raise a whole human?"
"You're not alone," Jasmine said, her tone fierce. "You've got me. Whatever you decide to do… I'm in.
"Tiana felt the burn of tears she didn't want to cry. "What if I want to keep it?"
Jasmine didn't hesitate. "Then we figure it out. Together."
The next morning, the sun rose over Chicago like any other day—but Tiana knew her world had changed. She wasn't just living for herself anymore.
Now the question was: who was Leo? And could she even find him… before the bump started showing?
Chapter Three; A Name Without a Face
Tiana had always been good at puzzles—jigsaw pieces, logic riddles, even the occasional office scavenger hunt. But this? This wasn't a game. It was a man. A name. A one-night mystery that left her pregnant and alone.
She sat at the small dining table in her apartment, laptop open, a mug of lukewarm tea untouched beside her. Jasmine leaned over her shoulder, scanning the screen as Tiana scrolled through photos tagged at Aurora Lounge, the upscale downtown club where she met Leo.
"So, we're stalking now?" Jasmine asked, biting into a slice of cold pizza.
"It's not stalking," Tiana muttered. "It's… intelligent investigative work."
Jasmine laughed. "Right. Because clicking through party girls' selfies from three weeks ago is exactly how Sherlock cracked cases."But Tiana didn't answer. Her eyes were locked on a photo.Two girls pouting in the foreground.
But in the blurry background, just off to the side, was him. Sharp jawline. That same grey jacket. And that smile—just enough to punch her in the stomach with memories.
"Wait—zoom in," Jasmine said, suddenly serious. "That's him, right?"
Tiana's heart skipped. "Yeah. That's Leo." She clicked through the profile, heart pounding. The girl who posted the photo had tagged a few people. One tag read: @nate__cal.
"I've seen that tag before," Jasmine said. "He's some local DJ or something. Think they're friends?"
Tiana was already typing into the search bar. Nate Callahan's page was private, but his bio read: "DJ / Events / Chi-native. Bookings: nate@…" And then the word that made her breath catch: #CallahanBrothers
Jasmine leaned back slowly. "So Leo might be Leo Callahan."
Tiana said nothing. Her thoughts were a hurricane now.Was that really his last name? Why hadn't he told her more?
Had he meant to disappear, or did he assume she'd never need to find him again?
She stared at the screen. She had a possible name now. Maybe a lead. Jasmine nudged her shoulder. "You sure you want to find him?"
Tiana hesitated. "I'm not sure of anything. But I think he deserves to know."
Jasmine nodded, her voice softer now. "Then let's find him. Together."
Later That Night
Tiana lay in bed, one hand resting lightly over her stomach.
The city buzzed faintly outside her window—honking, humming, living. And here she was, still and wide awake, already feeling like two people at once. A girl who didn't mean to fall into this. And a woman who was starting to believe that maybe—just maybe—this baby wasn't a mistake. She whispered into the quiet, unsure why. "Hey, little one… I don't know where this is going yet. But I promise—I'm gonna try. For both of us."
Chapter Four; The Architect
Tiana never thought she'd be loitering outside a downtown building lobby in a trench coat and sunglasses, looking like a nervous private investigator. But here she was.
Across the street stood Callahan & West Architecture, a sleek glass building with minimalist branding and sharp black accents. Nate Callahan's LinkedIn—thank you, Jasmine's LinkedIn Premium trial—listed him as a junior partner. And under "Team," there he was.
Leonardo Callahan. Lead Design Architect.
No mistaking it. It was him.
"I can't believe this is actually happening," she whispered, adjusting her sunglasses like they'd shield her from the truth.
Jasmine's voice crackled in her ear through an AirPod. "You got this, Tee. Just go in, ask for him, and tell him you're not here to sue him or sell him Girl Scout cookies."
Tiana snorted. "That's oddly specific."
"I've watched way too many rom-coms for this moment."
With a final deep breath, Tiana crossed the street and stepped into the lobby. The air inside smelled like lemon polish and designer cologne, and the receptionist greeted her with a practiced smile.
"Hi, welcome to Callahan & West. Do you have an appointment?"
Tiana swallowed. "Um… not exactly. I'm here to see Leonardo Callahan."
The receptionist paused, sizing her up with the same expression TSA agents use when you "randomly" get flagged.
"Is he expecting you?"
"No. But it's… personal."
A moment passed. Then the woman nodded and picked up the phone. Tiana's heart beat in her ears.
Minutes ticked by like hours. She was just about to bolt when the elevator dinged—and out he stepped.
Leo.
Dressed in a crisp navy blazer, dark jeans, and that same magnetic presence that turned her insides upside down the night they met. He was mid-sentence with someone else, laughing—until his eyes landed on her.
His smile faltered. Eyebrows lifted in quiet surprise.
He dismissed his colleague, then walked slowly toward her.
"Tiana," he said, stopping a foot away. "Wow. I didn't expect to see you again."
His voice was just as she remembered—smooth, low, unsettlingly calm.
"I didn't expect to need to see you again," she replied, voice steady but heart pounding.
He tilted his head. "Everything okay?"
Tiana hesitated. Then nodded once. "Can we talk somewhere private?"
Ten Minutes Later – A Rooftop Lounge Above the Office
They sat opposite each other, the city skyline stretching behind him like a painted canvas. The hum of traffic buzzed faintly below.
Leo leaned forward. "So… what's this about?"
Tiana met his gaze, trying not to flinch. "I'm pregnant."
Silence.
His face didn't shift right away. He blinked, sat back slowly, as if her words needed time to echo.
She continued. "It's been a little over eight weeks. It's yours."
He looked away, rubbing his jaw with one hand. "Damn."
Tiana braced herself—for denial, defensiveness, excuses. But when he spoke, his voice was quieter than before.
"You're sure?"
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."
Another pause. Then, "Okay."
Tiana blinked. "Okay?"
Leo exhaled and looked at her again. "Look, I'm shocked. I mean, it was one night. But… I'm not running from it."
She wasn't expecting that. No panic. No anger. Just… a man trying to absorb a life-altering truth.
"I don't want anything from you," she said quickly. "Not money. Not pity. I just thought you deserved to know."
"Well," Leo said, standing slowly, "I don't know what I'm supposed to feel yet, but I do want to be part of this. If you'll let me."
Her heart skipped. "You do?"
"I don't know what kind of dad I'd be. Mine wasn't great. But I'm not gonna vanish, Tiana."
And just like that, the mystery man from the club became something else—real. Tangled. Complicated.
And suddenly… not so alone.
Chapter Five;Rules and Boundaries
Tiana stood on the train platform, her hands deep in her coat pockets as the wind whipped through the station. The conversation with Leo played on repeat in her head, looping like a bad pop song.
"I want to be part of this… if you'll let me."
She hadn't expected him to say that. Hadn't expected him. Calm. Grounded. Surprisingly present. Part of her was relieved. The other part? Terrified.
Her phone buzzed. A text from Jasmine.
Jasmine: You alive? Or did he freak out and jump off the building?
Tiana: Alive. He was… normal. Maybe too normal.
Jasmine: Define "too normal."
Tiana: He wants to be involved.
Jasmine: Holy sh—. Okay. What now?
Tiana didn't know how to answer that.
Later That Day – Tiana's Apartment
"He actually offered to go to the next ultrasound with me," Tiana said, pacing the living room. Jasmine lay sprawled across the couch, sipping ginger ale like it was wine.
"That's… kind of amazing?" Jasmine replied. "You know how many girls wish their baby daddies would just text back?"
"I know," Tiana said. "But it's not that simple. I don't know him. I don't know if he's doing this because he wants to or because he thinks he has to."
"Do you want him involved?"
Tiana stopped pacing.
"That's the thing," she said softly. "I think I do. But only if we're honest with each other. And if we make rules.
"Rules?" Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "You're about to co-parent, not host a board meeting."
"I just… I need structure. Boundaries. I need to protect myself."
Jasmine nodded slowly. "Okay. So lay them out. What are your rules?"
The Next Day – Leo's Condo
Leo opened the door, and Tiana stepped in, her clipboard clutched to her chest like it was a shield. His condo was just like him—modern, minimalist, expensive. The city glowed through floor-to-ceiling windows, and somewhere in the background, jazz played softly.
"I brought snacks," he said, holding up a bag. "You know, prenatal-friendly. Or whatever the internet told me to buy."
Tiana blinked. "That's… thoughtful. And weirdly impressive."
"Thanks. I YouTubed a lot."
They sat across from each other at his kitchen island, snacks between them, a silence stretching awkwardly until Tiana cleared her throat and pulled out a piece of paper.
"I made a list."
"Of…?"
"Rules. Boundaries. Guidelines."
Leo leaned back. "Hit me."
Tiana unfolded it and read:
1. No assumptions. If you want to be involved, be honest about why.
2. No flirting. We're not a couple. We're co-parents.
3. Decisions about the baby are joint. No surprises.
4. Respect each other's space.
5. We support each other—but we don't owe each other anything beyond this baby.
She looked up. Leo was quiet. Then, he reached into a drawer, pulled out a pen, and added:
6. We communicate. Always. Even when it's uncomfortable.
Tiana stared at him.
"I can live with all of that," he said.
She nodded once. "Okay. Then we try this. As… partners."
Leo held out his hand across the table.
"Partners."
She shook it, his hand warm and steady in hers.
It wasn't a romance. It wasn't a fairy tale. But it was something.
A beginning.
Chapter Six; Echoes and Expectations
The cold of early November had crept into Chicago like an uninvited guest, biting through jackets and sneaking under doors. Tiana pulled her scarf tighter as she stepped into the warmth of her OB-GYN's office.
Leo was already there, sitting in the waiting area in a charcoal pea coat, legs crossed, flipping through a magazine he clearly wasn't reading. He looked up when she walked in.
"You made it," he said, standing.
"Of course I did. It's my baby," she said, smirking.
"Right," he replied, sheepish. "Bad phrasing. I meant… I'm glad you're here."
She nodded. "Me too."
They checked in and sat side by side. A few expectant mothers smiled at them knowingly, assuming they were just another glowing couple excited for the big moment.
If only they knew.
Tiana tried not to stare at the giant belly of the woman across from her, but it was hard to imagine she'd ever look like that. Her jeans were already feeling tighter, and she was living in oversized sweaters and peppermint tea.
"How are you feeling?" Leo asked, voice low.
"Exhausted. Nauseous. Bloated. Hungry. Annoyed. A full buffet of symptoms."
Leo chuckled. "Sounds like a thrill ride."
She gave him a side-eye. "Welcome to pregnancy."
They were called in moments later, and Tiana hesitated before stepping into the exam room. This felt big—real. She wasn't ready, but there was no pause button. No rewind.
Leo followed quietly, his presence oddly comforting.
The room was sterile and warm, with a faint lavender scent. The doctor, a kind woman named Dr. Harlow, greeted them with a professional but friendly tone.
"Are we ready to meet this little peanut?"
Tiana nodded, her pulse racing.
She lay back, lifted her shirt, and watched as the doctor squirted cold gel on her belly. Leo stood near her feet, watching with a mix of awe and uncertainty.
Then—there it was.
The heartbeat.
A fast, fluttering sound filled the room. It was wild and strong and alive.
Tiana stared at the screen as the image of a tiny being appeared—small but distinct. A flickering dot pulsed steadily in the center.
Leo exhaled. "That's… that's our kid?"
She looked up at him. His eyes were wide, his jaw slack, and for the first time since the club, he looked completely, utterly vulnerable.
"Yeah," Tiana whispered. "That's our baby."
For a long moment, neither of them said anything.
Later That Night
Tiana stood in her kitchen, a hand resting absently on her stomach as water boiled for tea. She couldn't stop thinking about the heartbeat.
It had made everything feel terrifying and beautiful and irreversible.
Her phone buzzed.
Leo: Hey. Just wanted to say… thank you. For letting me be there today.
Tiana: Of course. Thanks for showing up.
Leo: That sound… I don't think I'll ever forget it.
Tiana: Me neither.
She stared at the screen long after the message had delivered, unsure why her chest felt tight.
Maybe it was because the baby was real now. Or maybe it was because Leo didn't feel like a stranger anymore. And that—more than anything—was scarier than she expected.
CHAPTER Seven: Unexpected Bonding
Leo's apartment was nothing like Tiana's. It was too clean, too sharp—like it had been designed for a magazine spread, not a life. Concrete walls, industrial beams, and warm wood accents made it look expensive, curated. But there were no pictures on the walls. No mess. No softness.
Just like him. He dropped his keys in the bowl by the door and stood there for a moment, his coat still on, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city looked like it always did—cold, bright, and busy. But something inside him was shifting, like the world outside didn't match the one unraveling in his chest. He hadn't expected the ultrasound to hit him like that. That sound—the baby's heartbeat wasn't just real. It was his. And it scared the hell out of him.
Leo poured himself a whiskey he wouldn't drink and sank into the leather armchair by the window. His phone buzzed. A message from his father, the first in weeks.
Dad: Dinner Sunday? Or are you still pretending you don't exist?
Leo didn't respond. He hadn't seen his father in nearly a year, not since their last explosive fight—the one about legacy, about being a "Callahan," about how Leo was wasting his potential on boutique projects instead of taking over the firm.
His father didn't know about the baby. Not yet. Leo didn't want to give him something else to weaponize.
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Tiana's voice echoed in his mind: "This is my baby."
She'd said it without hesitation. Without bitterness. There was strength in her. Fierce, quiet, grounded strength. And he admired it—maybe even envied it. He wanted to be better. For the baby. For her.
But how do you build something you've never seen?
Leo reached for the sketchbook on the coffee table and flipped past pages of buildings and bridges, floor plans and rooftop gardens, until he found the blank one. His pencil hovered. Then he started to draw—not a structure, but a small figure. Crude, unsure. A baby, swaddled. Then a woman's hand holding it. And then a man's, hovering just close enough to matter. He stared at the image for a long time. He wasn't ready. But he was trying. And maybe, for now, that had to be enough.
Chapter Eight; ALMOST
The next morning, the city was still asleep when Tiana woke. A soft gray light seeped through her bedroom window, catching the dust in the air like it had something to say. She lay there for a while, one hand resting on her stomach, trying to decide whether the flutters she felt were real or imagined.
She hadn't dreamed about the baby, but she had dreamed about Leo.
They were on a beach. Not one she recognized—just sand and wind and the sound of waves. He was laughing, barefoot, holding a tiny pair of shoes in his hands. She was running toward him, but no matter how fast she moved, she never got closer. She woke up before she reached him.
By the time she made it to the kitchen, the kettle was already screaming. She hadn't even remembered turning it on.
She poured hot water over a tea bag and
stared out the window, watching a delivery truck double-park across the street. Normal life, still happening, like nothing had changed.
But everything had.
Her phone buzzed again. She glanced down, half-expecting Leo's name, but it wasn't him.
Mom? good morning.
Where you expecting your daddy to call you? Morning.
Call me when you're up. I had a dream about fish—so, obviously, someone's pregnant. She said.
Tiana rolled her eyes. Caribbean moms and their dream prophecies. She hadn't told her mother yet. She hadn't told anyone, really—not fully. Leo didn't count. He was in it, whether he wanted to be or not. After a sip of tea, she opened her messages. Still nothing from Leo.
She didn't know why she cared. He had shown up yesterday. He had stayed quiet when she needed quiet. He had held space for her—really held it. And that heartbeat… it had rearranged something in both of them. Still, she wasn't sure what came next. There was no rulebook for this. For co-parenting with someone you barely knew anymore. For letting someone back in when you weren't sure if they were staying.
Her phone buzzed again.
Leo: Morning. Hope you're okay. I can bring food later if you're up for it. She stared at the message, thumb hovering over the screen.
Tiana: Yeah. Okay. She hit send before she could change her mind.
Tiana spent the next hour pretending not to care.
She cleaned the kitchen even though it was already clean. Rearranged the spice rack alphabetically, then back by color. She caught herself checking the time more than once, annoyed at how much space Leo suddenly took up in her mind.
When the knock finally came, it was soft. No doorbell, no text. Just a knock like he belonged here.
She opened the door.
Leo stood there with a brown paper bag in one hand and a sheepish smile on his face. "Hope you're still into breakfast sandwiches from Millie's."
Tiana blinked. "You went to Millie's? That's not even close to here."
"Yeah, well… your cravings used to be predictable."
She raised an eyebrow. "Used to be?"
Leo shrugged. "I took a gamble."
She stepped aside, and he walked in like he remembered the layout—because he did. There was an ease in how he moved, but also caution, like he knew not to overstep.
They sat on opposite ends of the couch, the bag between them. She unwrapped her sandwich, the smell of melted cheddar and egg filling the space.
"Okay, this was a good call," she said, taking a bite.
"Thank you," he said, but there was something in his tone—like he wasn't just talking about the food.
Tiana leaned back, chewing slowly. "You didn't have to come."
"I know," he said. "But I wanted to."
There it was again. That space between them, stretched tight with all the things they weren't saying.
She looked over at him. "Yesterday felt… big."
"Yeah," he said quietly. "It did."
"I don't know what that means for us. I don't even know what this is." She gestured vaguely between them. "I don't want to get ahead of myself,
Leo."
"I'm not asking you to," he replied. "I'm just asking to show up. One day at a time."
Tiana looked at him, really looked at him. His hair was a little messy, like he'd rushed to get here. His eyes were tired but honest.
Maybe that was all she needed right now—someone who showed up, even messy.
She nodded slowly. "One day at a time."
He smiled, small and genuine. "So… does that mean I can stay for coffee?"
"Only if you're making it."
He stood, heading to the kitchen like he'd never left.
Tiana watched him go, her hand once again resting on her belly.
One day at a time. That, she could do.
Chapter Nine: Small Steps
Saturday morning found Leo at the grocery store, staring at a wall of tea boxes like they held the secrets of fatherhood. Peppermint. Ginger. Raspberry leaf?
He had no idea what pregnant people drank, but he remembered Tiana mentioning peppermint. So he grabbed two boxes. And crackers. And some kind of almond butter that cost ten dollars but looked like it belonged in her kitchen.
The cashier gave him a look as she scanned the items. "Someone's trying," she said with a smirk.
He forced a smile. "Yeah… trying."
Back home, he opened a fresh page in his sketchbook but couldn't bring himself to draw. Instead, he pulled out his laptop and Googled: how to support someone during pregnancy.
Articles flooded in. Most of them were about what not to say, what not to do, what not to assume.
He shut the laptop and rubbed his face with both hands.
He was overthinking it. Again. He grabbed his phone, thumb hovering over Tiana's name.
Leo: Want some groceries? I grabbed tea and weirdly expensive crackers.
A moment passed.
Tiana: Are the crackers gluten-free?
Leo: God, I hope not.
Tiana: Then yes.
He smiled. This wasn't a relationship. It wasn't even a friendship yet. But there was something forming—slow, unspoken, and real.
An hour later, he stood outside her door with a paper bag and more nerves than he'd had in years.
Tiana opened the door in leggings and a sweatshirt, her hair twisted up in a messy bun. She looked tired, but beautiful.
He held out the bag. "For the queen and her nausea."
She gave him a half-smile, stepping aside to let him in. "You're learning."
"Trying," he said.
They settled into a comfortable kind of quiet, her unpacking the bag, him hovering near the kitchen island.
"Did you always want to be an architect?" she asked suddenly.
He blinked. "Wow. Going deep."
She shrugged. "Just wondering what kind of man my kid's going to have to explain to their teacher during career day."
He let out a low chuckle. "Fair."
There was a pause before he answered. "No. I didn't always want it. It was… expected. My dad's firm. His name on every third building in this city. I was supposed to carry the legacy."
"And do you?"
He leaned on the counter. "I like building things. I don't like being told what to build."
Tiana nodded, thoughtful.
"You're good at showing up," she said after a moment. "You don't always know how, but… you try."
Leo looked at her. "That's the second time you've said 'try.' You know that, right?"
"Yeah. Because trying matters." He wasn't sure what it meant, or where they were going, but for the first time in a long time, he didn't feel like he was failing.
Just… learning.One step at a time.
Chapter Ten: The Conversation
Tiana stared at the phone screen like it might explode if she pressed Call.
Her thumb hovered, retreated, hovered again.
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon. Outside her window, a few golden leaves clung stubbornly to the trees. Inside, her apartment smelled like cinnamon and nerves. She had cleaned twice. Rearranged the bookshelf. Lit a candle. Nothing helped.
Finally, she tapped the screen.
The line rang. Once. Twice.
Then: "Tiana Simone, I know that's you."
Her mother's voice—sharp, familiar, and instantly disarming.
"Hi, Mama."
"You sound nervous. What did you do?"
Tiana almost laughed. Almost. "Nothing… illegal."
"That's not reassuring."
A pause.
"Mama," Tiana said quietly, "I need to tell you something."
There was a beat of silence.
"I'm pregnant."
Longer silence.
Then: "I knew it."
Of course she did. Tiana could practically see her mother standing in her tiny kitchen, arms crossed, head tilted, eyes closed like she'd won a silent bet with the ancestors.
"I had that dream about fish last week," her mother continued. "I told Aunt Claudine it meant somebody in this family was hiding a belly."
Tiana sat down on the couch, exhaling. "Well. You were right."
"Hmm." Just that.Hmm.
Tiana braced herself. Waited for disappointment, for scripture, for a lecture on how she was raised better. But none of it came. Not yet.
"Who's the father?" her mother finally asked.
Tiana hesitated. "It's… complicated."
"That's never good."
"I met him once. Just once. It wasn't planned. He's not a stranger anymore, though. He knows."
"Does he want to be involved?"
"Yes," she said. Then added, "I think."
Her mother sighed, and for a second she didn't sound disappointed—just tired. "Tiana, I didn't raise you to be reckless."
"I wasn't trying to be reckless," she replied, heat rising. "I was trying to forget how it felt to be left behind. To lose things that were supposed to last."
Her mother didn't answer right away.
Finally: "You think I don't know what that feels like?"
Tiana froze.
"I had you when I was barely twenty-three," her mother said. "No husband. Just a baby and a job I hated and my own mother saying, 'Well, you made your bed.' I raised you better because I wanted better. That doesn't mean I expected perfect."
Tiana blinked. "So… you're not mad?"
"Oh, I'm furious. But not because you're pregnant."
"Then what?"
"Because you didn't tell me sooner."
The words hit her like a soft punch.
"I'm still your mother," she added, quieter now. "Even when you mess up. Especially when you're scared."
Tiana felt tears rising, unexpected and hot.
"I'm scared, Mama."
"I know, baby. But you're not alone."
Tiana wiped her eyes. "You're going to be a grandmother."
"Don't remind me. My knees already know."
They both laughed—genuine, if a little wobbly.
And just like that, the silence between them started to thaw.
Chapter Eleven; Romantic Tension
The rain came down in sheets that night, drumming against Tiana's windows like an impatient reminder that winter was creeping closer. She was curled on her couch under a thick blanket, a bowl of mac and cheese in her lap and Love Jones-playing softly in the background.
She wasn't expecting anyone.
So when her buzzer buzzed, she nearly spilled her food.
"Who is it?" she asked through the intercom.
"It's me."
Of course it was.
She let Leo up without another word.
A minute later, he stepped in, damp around the collar, his jacket unzipped, and something uncertain in his eyes.
"Didn't think we had a meeting tonight," she said, half-joking.
He shrugged. "Didn't feel like being alone. Hope that's okay."
She nodded. "Always."
He didn't sit right away. Just hovered, glancing around like the space was new, even though he'd been here before. Then finally, he lowered himself onto the couch beside her, just close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
"What are we watching?"
"Classic. Nina and Darius."
Leo smirked. "Didn't strike you as the poetic love story type."
She arched a brow. "And what type do I seem like?"
"The fiercely independent, zero-BS, secretly soft kind."
She blinked. "Okay. That was accurate… and oddly charming."
They sat in silence after that, letting the film wash over them. At some point, her head tipped to the side and landed on his shoulder. He stiffened for a second. Then relaxed.
His arm wrapped around her without a word.
It felt… easy. Not forced. Not planned. Like muscle memory.
Halfway through the movie, the power flickered and went out completely.
"Of course," Tiana muttered.
"Hold on." Leo reached for his phone flashlight. "I'll be your lighthouse."
She laughed, and it echoed in the dark room.
"I forgot how nice this could feel," she whispered.
"What?"
"Not feeling alone."
He didn't answer right away. Then: "Me too."
She turned slightly, eyes adjusting to the glow of his phone. They were close now. Too close.
His eyes flicked to hers. Her lips.
She didn't move.
Neither did he.
But the tension between them shifted—tightened—like a thread pulled taut.
Tiana's breath caught.
Then Leo leaned in… and stopped.
Inches away.
A silent choice hanging in the air.
And then he pulled back, gently. Respectfully.
"Not yet," he said.
Tiana nodded, swallowing the emotion rising in her throat. "Not yet."
The moment passed, but something had changed.
Not love. Not quite. But something just as dangerous. Hope.
Chapter Twelve; And a Half: What Ifs and Walls
Tiana stood in front of her bathroom mirror, toothbrush idle in her hand, staring at her own reflection like it might offer answers.
She hadn't slept much. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Leo's face—just inches from hers. The way he leaned in. The way he didn't kiss her.
Not because he didn't want to. But because he was scared to want to.
She splashed cold water on her face, trying to erase the ache in her chest. This wasn't love—not yet. But it was something. And it was beginning to wrap around her ribs like vines, tight and impossible to ignore.
Her phone buzzed on the counter.
Jasmine: Okay I have a weird suggestion Go on ONE date No pressure, just dinner His name's Marcus. Works in nonprofit. Real cutie.
Tiana stared at the message. Then at herself. Then at the tiny swell of her belly.
Did she even have room in her life for something new? Was it unfair to try?
Or was it exactly what she needed—to remind herself she wasn't waiting for someone to choose her. She could choose herself, too.
Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.
Tiana: Okay. One date.
Her heart beat a little faster after she hit send. Not because she was excited. But because she already knew: If Leo ever decided to kiss her— That would be the last first kiss she ever wanted.
Chapter Thirteen: The Wrong Spark
Tiana stared at her reflection in the mirror and told herself she looked good.
Because she did. Her curls were glossy and loose around her shoulders. Her lipstick was a warm rust color that brought out the fire in her skin. The wrap dress clung in the right places and flowed over the rest—especially the small but unmistakable bump now beginning to make itself known.
She tilted her head and whispered to her reflection, "You're still you."
Even if she wasn't entirely sure that was true anymore.
Her date's name was Marcus. A friend of Jasmine's coworker. Tall, handsome, with easy charm and a job in nonprofit finance. He texted with proper grammar and actually asked questions instead of sending emojis and bad memes.
On paper, he was perfect.
In person, he was… fine.
Dinner was at a bistro near Logan Square. He complimented her hair, laughed at her jokes, and didn't flinch when she mentioned she was pregnant.
"I think that's incredibly brave," he said. "Being open about it."
She smiled politely, even though "brave" felt like the wrong word. It wasn't a battle cry. It was survival.
They talked about books, favorite travel destinations, Chicago winters, and whether candy corn deserved to exist (it didn't). He was easy to talk to. He was warm.
But as the night wore on, her mind wandered.
To Leo's crooked smirk. To the way he looked at the ultrasound screen like it held magic. To that almost-kiss on the couch.
And she hated that it meant something.
Marcus reached across the table toward the check, and instinctively, she pulled her phone out.
A text from Leo lit up her screen:
Leo: Did the baby like the mac & cheese leftovers? Just asking for science.
Her heart stuttered.
Marcus glanced at her phone. "Everything okay?"
Tiana looked up, startled. "Yeah. Just… a friend."
She forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
Later, walking back to her car alone, cold wind tugging at her coat, Tiana stopped on the sidewalk.
She wasn't ready. Not for someone new. Not when someone else still lingered in every quiet space inside her. She leaned against the door and looked up at the night sky.
Maybe this wasn't about finding the right guy.
Maybe it was about figuring out who she was now—before she decided who she wanted next to her.
Her phone buzzed again.
Leo: Also, name update: not saying it has to be Zeppelin, but... just think about it.
Tiana smiled despite herself.
Tiana: Not in this lifetime, Callahan.
Chapter Fourteen: The Glimpse
Leo didn't mean to see it.
He hadn't even planned to be there. He was supposed to be meeting a client at the coffee shop across from the bookstore, but they'd rescheduled last minute. So he figured—why not grab a cappuccino anyway?
That's when he saw her.
Tiana. Standing on the sidewalk under the café's string lights, laughing. Her coat was open just enough to show the bump, and she was talking to a tall guy with great posture and way-too-white sneakers. The guy leaned in slightly. Confident. Comfortable. Familiar.
Leo stood frozen on the other side of the street, coffee forgotten in his hand, steam rising into the cold air like smoke off a fuse.
The guy touched her elbow.
Leo's jaw clenched.
He wasn't close enough to hear what they were saying, but it didn't matter. The body language was clear—a date.
Tiana's smile faltered for a moment. She looked… tired. Guarded. But she was trying. For this guy. For whatever this was.
Leo turned away before he could see more. Before he could watch her say goodbye or lean in or god-forbid—He stuffed his hands in his pockets and started walking, fast.
His thoughts were a storm: She can date whoever she wants. You never said anything. You pulled away.But another voice—quieter and sharper—cut through the noise: You waited too long.
He ended up at the lake. Just stood there, watching the waves slap against the shore, the wind biting at his face. He didn't have the right to be jealous. But that didn't stop him from feeling it. Not because of some fantasy about being her boyfriend, or even being perfect. But because he wanted to be chosen. Because somewhere between the doctor's office and
the couch and the breathing exercises, he'd stopped thinking of this as a co-parenting arrangement and started thinking of it as them.
And now… she is moving on. Or trying to.
His phone buzzed.
Tiana: Hey, if you're free Friday, I have another appointment. Ultrasound check-in. 10:30.
Leo stared at the message. It was neutral. Friendly. Like nothing had changed.
He texted back.
Leo: I'll be there.
Then added:
Leo: Thanks for still letting me be part of this. Even if I'm not always great at showing it.
Her reply came quickly:
Tiana: You're showing up. That's more than most.
He sat down on a bench, the cold seeping through his jeans, and realized: Maybe she hadn't picked anyone yet.
But time was running out.
Chapter Fifteen: The Wake-Up Call
Tiana balanced a carton of pad thai on her belly while Jasmine dug through her pantry like she lived there—which, to be fair, she kind of did.
"Why do you even have quinoa in here?" Jasmine called from the kitchen. "You don't even like quinoa."
"I wanted to like it. That's different."
"You're a liar and a fraud," Jasmine said, walking back into the living room with a bag of popcorn and zero shame. "Also, I got your text. You went on a date with Marcus the Finance Guy and didn't tell me how it went? I'm offended."
Tiana groaned. "It was fine."
"Fine? As in 'maybe I'll see him again' fine, or 'I spent the whole time thinking about Leo's forearms' fine?"
Tiana shoved another bite of noodles into her mouth to stall.
Jasmine's eyes narrowed. "That's what I thought."
"It's not that simple," Tiana mumbled.
"It never is," Jasmine said, sitting cross-legged beside her. "But girl, come on. You're glowing when you talk about Leo. I've seen it. And I've seen him look at you like you're the last safe place in a burning world."
Tiana blinked hard. "He hasn't said anything. He hasn't… done anything."
Jasmine tilted her head. "Did he kiss you?"
"No. He almost did."
"But he didn't."
"Nope."
Jasmine popped a kernel in her mouth, chewed slowly, then said, "So what you're telling me is: a guy with commitment issues who's terrified of turning into his absentee dad didn't cross a line with the woman carrying his child? Sounds like growth to me."
Tiana stared. "That's a very generous interpretation."
"You're protecting your heart so hard, T," Jasmine said gently. "And I get it. You didn't choose this path, and it's terrifying and weird and hormonal. But don't punish Leo for not knowing how to be perfect right away."
Tiana opened her mouth, closed it again.
"You want my opinion?" Jasmine asked.
"Always."
"You're not scared he'll hurt you," she said softly. "You're scared this is real. That you might actually want it. That it might be good."
Tiana felt the words land like a quiet truth.
"And honestly?" Jasmine added, leaning back with a sigh. "You deserve good."
The silence that followed wasn't awkward. It was heavy in that healing kind of way.
Tiana looked down at her stomach and whispered, "What if I'm not ready for good yet?"
Jasmine leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Then let it take its time. But don't run from it just because it didn't arrive the way you pictured."
Chapter Sixteen: The Rush
It started with a cramp.
Not sharp, not excruciating—but low and steady and wrong.
Tiana sat up slowly from the couch, pressing a hand to her belly. The baby had been kicking all day. She'd even laughed earlier when a well-aimed jab knocked her tea off her stomach.
But now… nothing.
She stood, walked a few steps, then paused, willing herself to breathe through the rising panic.
Maybe it was just gas. Or stress. Or Braxton Hicks. She Googled it once—false alarms weren't uncommon.
But the absence of movement made her legs feel like paper.
She called her OB-GYN's office and was patched through to the on-call nurse.
After a few calm but direct questions, the nurse said, "You should come in, just to be safe."
Tiana hung up. Her hands were shaking.
Without even thinking, she called Leo.
"Hey," he answered on the second ring, voice warm with surprise. "Everything okay?"
She didn't mean to sound so small when she said it: "I'm scared."
He beat her to the hospital.
When she stepped into the waiting area, she saw him standing near the front desk, still in work clothes, coat half-zipped, eyes scanning every person who walked through the doors. The moment he spotted her, he was moving.
"Hey," he breathed, cupping her shoulders. "What happened?"
She swallowed. "The baby's not moving. Not like earlier."
Leo's expression changed—alarm flickering, but he didn't let it break him. "Okay. We're here. You're doing everything right. Let's just see what they say."
His calm steadied her more than the nurse's voice or her own inner mantras.
They were ushered into triage quickly. A nurse hooked her up to monitors. The whoosh of the fetal heart rate kicked in like music to both of them.
Leo let out a breath like he'd been holding it for years.
The nurse smiled. "Heart rate looks strong. Let's see if we can wake them up."
Tiana lay back, breathing slowly. A few seconds later—there. A soft jab. Then another. Her eyes filled with tears she didn't know she'd been holding back.
Leo leaned over, his hand finding hers.
"I didn't know how scared I could be until right now," he said, his voice low.
Tiana turned her head. "I didn't know who else to call."
Leo's gaze locked with hers. "I'm glad you called me."
They sat in silence, the monitor beeping steadily beside them. The moment stretched between them—thick with adrenaline and something else neither of them wanted to name yet.
"Still think Zeppelin's a terrible name?" Leo asked quietly, trying to lighten the mood.
She smiled through the tears. "One emergency doesn't earn you naming rights, Callahan."
"Worth a shot."
Later, as he walked her out to her car, the air cold and sharp, Tiana stopped by the door and turned to face him.
"Thank you," she said. "For showing up. For being here. For not freaking out."
Leo studied her like he wanted to say something more. Something big.
But he just nodded and whispered, "Always."
And for once, she believed it.
Chapter Seventeen: The Confession
Leo didn't sleep that night.
He lay on his back in his too-expensive apartment, staring at the ceiling, still hearing the whoosh of the monitor, still feeling Tiana's hand in his.
I didn't know who else to call. Her words replayed on a loop—quiet, vulnerable, trusting.
He hadn't realized until today how much that trust mattered to him. How much she mattered to him.
It wasn't just the baby anymore.
It hadn't been for a while.
The next day, he showed up at her place with two bagels, one lemon-ginger tea, and a whole mess of emotions he wasn't great at naming.
Tiana answered the door in bum short and a sweatshirt, her hair in a top knot, her eyes wary but soft.
"You brought carbs," she said.
"Always," he replied, holding up the bag like a peace offering.
They sat on her couch, silent for a while, chewing. It was the most domestic thing they'd ever done. And somehow it made his heart race more than anything else.
"I couldn't stop thinking about yesterday," Leo said finally, breaking the quiet. "What might've happened."
Tiana's gaze dropped to her belly. "Me too."
He looked at her—really looked at her. "Tiana, I need to say something, and I'm not expecting anything in return. I just… I need you to know."
She nodded slowly, sensing the weight in his voice.
"I'm falling for you," Leo said. "Not because you're having my baby. Not because I feel responsible. But because you're you."
Her breath hitched. He kept going. "You're stubborn and smart and funny and real. You don't pretend to be fine when you're not, and you don't let people off the hook when they disappoint you. Including me."
Tiana stared at him, like the words were trying to catch up with her heart.
"I don't know how to do this perfectly," Leo added. "But I know I want to try. I want to be here—not just for Nova, but for you. If you'll let me."
The silence that followed was thick with all the words she couldn't quite say.
"I'm scared," she whispered finally.
"I know," he said. "Me too."
She set her tea down and looked at him—really looked. Like she was seeing him for the first time without all the baggage and fear in the way.
"I don't want to need you," she admitted.
"You don't have to," Leo said gently. "But if you want me, I'm here."
Tiana nodded, slowly.
And even though she didn't say yes, she didn't say no either.
And for now, that was enough.
Chapter Eighteen: Labor & Love
It started with a backache.
Nothing unusual. Tiana had been dealing with aches and Braxton Hicks for weeks now. But this was different—lower, deeper, more rhythmic. Like something in her body had quietly flipped a switch.
She waited an hour. Then another.
When she started timing the cramps and realized they were coming every seven minutes, she called Jasmine.
Then she called Leo.
"I think it's time," she said, trying to sound calmer than she felt.
Leo was at her door twenty minutes later, hair still damp from the shower, face pale under the porch light. He looked at her like she might break—but also like she might fly.
The hospital was a blur of forms, IVs, and monitors. Jasmine held Tiana's hand through the early hours, cracking jokes, distracting her. But as the contractions deepened, Leo took over. He didn't flinch when she swore at him. Didn't pull away when she clutched his arm like a lifeline. Didn't try to fix it.
He just stayed. Steady. Quiet. Present.
At one point, when her water broke and the pain made her cry out, Leo brushed the hair from her face and whispered, "You've got this, T. You're doing amazing."
She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe this—this life they were building on accident and hope—could really be something strong.
The hours blurred. She lost track of time.
And then—
The nurses rushed in. The doctor gave instructions. The room got bright and loud and urgent.
It was time. The hospital was a blur of forms, IVs, and monitors. Jasmine held Tiana's hand through the early hours, cracking jokes, distracting her. But as the contractions deepened, Leo took over.
She screamed. Cried. Cursed.
Leo whispered, "Almost there."
She squeezed his hand so hard he'd find bruises later.
And then—
A cry.
A tiny, furious, alive cry.
Everything stopped.
They placed the baby—her baby—on her chest, and Tiana sobbed. All the fear and doubt and shame poured out of her in one raw, shaking breath.
Leo was crying too, one hand covering his mouth like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"She's… perfect," he whispered.
Tiana looked down at the wrinkled, red-faced little girl curled against her and felt something inside her settle.
"She's ours," she said.
Leo leaned in, brushing his fingers against Nova's tiny hand.
"Hi, baby girl," he said softly. "I'm your dad. And I've got no clue what I'm doing. But I promise I'll never stop trying."
Tiana looked up at him. Their eyes met. And this time, there was no fear between them. Just love. Raw. Real. Unscripted.
Chapter Nineteen: A New Kind of Family
The first night home was hell.
Nova screamed like the world had ended, Tiana couldn't figure out breastfeeding, and Leo knocked over an entire bottle warmer while trying to Google "how to swaddle a baby without crushing their soul."
By dawn, the apartment looked like a war zone and smelled like formula, tears, and desperation.
But Nova slept—finally—curled against Tiana's chest, her tiny breaths even and rhythmic.
Leo stood in the doorway of the nursery, rubbing his eyes. "She's quiet. That feels illegal."
Tiana didn't laugh. She just looked at him and whispered, "I have no idea what I'm doing."
He walked over, crouched beside the chair, and touched Nova's hand. "Me neither. But I think we're doing it anyway."
The days blurred after that.
They traded off night shifts. Leo set alarms for every feeding. He googled "how to burp a newborn" and learned how to do diaper changes one-handed. Tiana started calling him "The Diaper Whisperer."
When Nova wouldn't sleep, Leo would put on soft jazz and dance her around the living room in slow circles, whispering things like, You've got your mom's stubbornness. I already know it.
Tiana caught him once—shirtless, messy-haired, dark circles under his eyes—singing Sweet Child O' Mine in a whisper while Nova stared up at him like he hung the moon.
And something in her heart cracked open.
Two weeks in, they were on the couch. Nova was asleep, finally, in the bassinet.
The apartment was quiet, golden with late afternoon light.
Tiana leaned into Leo's shoulder, half-asleep herself.
"Do you miss your old life?" she asked suddenly.
Leo was quiet for a beat. "The version where I didn't know you or her?"
"Yeah."
He shook his head slowly. "Not even a little."
Tiana blinked, surprised by how much she needed to hear that.
"I miss sleep," he added, grinning.
She smiled back. "Sleep is overrated."
They sat like that, the silence between them full of something solid and warm.
Not just comfort. Not just survival. Something else.
Something that looked a lot like love—growing slowly, quietly, in the mess of everything else.
Chapter Twenty: One Year Later
The apartment smelled like vanilla cake and baby shampoo. Balloons were everywhere—mint green, peach, and soft gold, bouncing gently against the ceiling. A tiny banner stretched across the window: Happy 1st Birthday, Nova in glittery script.
Nova, now wobbling between steps and chaos, wore a little crown and a tutu. Her face was smeared with frosting. She looked absolutely pleased with herself.
Tiana stood near the kitchen island, laughing as Jasmine tried—and failed—to take a cute photo without getting a blurry blob of motion.
"She's got your energy," Jasmine said, snapping another shot.
"She's got Leo's stubbornness," Tiana replied.
As if summoned, Leo appeared beside them, holding two mugs of coffee and wearing a party hat Nova had insisted he wear.He handed one to Tiana, his fingers brushing hers. "So, our daughter is officially one. How do you feel?"
"Like I aged ten years and fell in love twice," she said without thinking.
He blinked. "Twice?"
Tiana met his eyes. "With her. And with you."
The words weren't dramatic. They weren't rehearsed. Just true.
Leo's expression softened. "Good. Because I'm still falling. Every day."
She leaned up and kissed him—soft and certain, right there in the middle of the party, with frosting and chaos and family all around them.
Later, after the guests were gone, Nova was asleep, and the living room was a mess of wrapping paper and toys, they curled up on the couch.
Tiana rested her head on Leo's chest. "Did you ever think one night would turn into all this? "No," he said honestly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But I'm really glad it did."They stayed like that, tangled up in quiet, in each other, in the beautiful, unpredictable life they were building—one night, one step, one heartbeat at a time.