A week passed.
Lyra stood by the window, her hand resting gently on her stomach. The bruising fear of that night still lingered, but the panic had softened into clarity.
Zane entered quietly, holding two mugs of warm tea.
"Peppermint," he said, setting one in front of her. "Doctor's orders."
She smiled faintly. "You're getting good at this."
"I'm learning," he replied. "Fast."
They stood in silence for a moment, the city glittering beneath them.
"I've made mistakes," Zane said finally, voice steady. "I can't promise I won't make more. But I can promise this — I'm all in. With you. With the baby. Whatever it takes."
Lyra turned to face him. "I don't need perfect. I just need real."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, simple ring.
Her breath caught.
"No pressure," he said quickly. "Not today. Not yet. But one night changed everything for me. And I don't want it to end here."
Tears welled in her eyes. "Zane…"
"Just say you'll stay," he whispered. "We'll figure out the rest."
She didn't need to think.
"I'm already home," she said.
And as he pulled her into his arms, their baby safe and future uncertain, Lyra knew one thing for sure:
That one night had become a lifetime.