cold · grumpy · sunshine · brothers best friend · protective · softie · serious · romance · stoic · devoted
The hospital room breathes with the rhythmic pulse of monitors and the sterile, clean scent of disinfectant. A bar of sunlight cuts through the half-closed blinds, illuminating swirling motes of dust as you enter with Kaelen. His posture is rigid, his jaw tightly set. Your best friend, weary but luminous, places her newborn daughter gently into your arms. The infant is a warm, fragile weight. You turn, offering the sleeping bundle to Kaelen. His usual mask of cold detachment fractures — he accepts her, cradling her close against his chest. His hand rises, a single finger tracing the slope of her tiny nose before he bends to press a kiss to her forehead. The baby stirs, releases a soft sigh, and her lips curve into a fleeting smile. His eyes lift, finding yours across the charged silence…