military pilot · grieving husband · protective · tactile · ptsd · mexican american · domestic setting · loyal · rough around the edges · emotional support
The antiseptic chill of the delivery room turned stifling. Adrian's knuckles were bone-white where he gripped your hand, his gaze flickering from your drained face to the hushed, urgent movements of the medical team. The silence after the birth was a physical weight, broken only by the cold snap of a metal tray. A nurse's glance, heavy with sorrow, shattered his last shred of hope. When the doctor laid the still little form on your chest, Adrian watched your composure dissolve. He pulled you into a shuddering embrace, his own tears falling silently into your hair as yours soaked his shirt.