Chapter 10

Alex stood in the middle of the penthouse living room, her hands on her hips as she surveyed the cluttered coffee table. A pile of Chan's hoodies sat draped over the back of the couch, empty water bottles littered the floor near the TV, and a fine layer of dust had settled over the bookshelf. It wasn't even that bad, but it was enough to make her itch to do something—anything—to feel useful.

She reached for the nearest hoodie, folding it with precision before hearing the all-too-familiar voice of Beth behind her.

"Alex, what do you think you're doing?" Beth's tone was full of exasperation as she emerged from the kitchen, her three-year-old daughter, Cassie, trailing behind her, clutching a stuffed bunny.

"Folding laundry," Alex replied defensively, rolling her eyes as she picked up another hoodie. "Not exactly heavy lifting."

Beth crossed her arms, shooting her a pointed look. "You're supposed to be resting. You know, feet up, relaxing, all that stuff Dr. Kim talked about?"

Alex sighed. "Beth, I can't just sit around doing nothing. I feel fine. And besides, it's not like picking up around here is going to hurt anything."

"That's exactly what someone who's not a doctor would say," Kendra chimed in from the couch, shifting uncomfortably as she adjusted a pillow behind her back. Being three months pregnant herself, she was just as prone to resting advice as Alex, though she seemed far more willing to take it. "Trust me, I get it, but you need to let your body do its thing. Implantation isn't a guarantee, Alex. Don't make it harder than it has to be."

Alex groaned, tossing the folded hoodie onto the couch. "I'm not running a marathon, I'm just cleaning up. Sitting around and waiting is driving me insane."

Cassie, having overheard just enough of the conversation to grasp that something was going on, toddled over and tugged on Alex's shirt. "Auntie Alex, are you sick?" Her big eyes peered up at her with concern.

Alex crouched down, ruffling the little girl's hair gently. "No, sweetheart, I'm just—" she shot Beth and Kendra a look "—taking a break."

Cassie considered this for a moment before nodding solemnly. "Mama says breaks are good."

Beth smirked. "Smart kid."

Alex sighed, defeated, and dropped onto the couch next to Kendra. "Fine. I'll sit. Happy?"

Beth grinned triumphantly and handed Cassie a coloring book, settling in beside Alex. "Ecstatic. Now, let me handle the mess. You're supposed to be focusing on, you know, growing a human."

Kendra shifted beside her, rubbing her own barely-there bump. "Believe me, the frustration doesn't go away. Mac barely lets me cook dinner these days, though with him being gone with the boys it's been nice to be a little independent."

"Not helping Kendra!" Beth called.

Alex huffed, sinking deeper into the couch cushions as she watched Beth start picking up the clutter around the penthouse with practiced efficiency. Cassie plopped onto the floor in front of the coffee table, flipping open her coloring book and beginning to hum a song under her breath.

"I'm just saying," Kendra continued, shooting Alex a knowing look. "I get the whole 'sitting still' thing being a nightmare. But trust me, once that test comes back positive, you'll be glad you took it easy."

Alex ran a hand through her hair, staring at the ceiling. "It's not even about sitting still. It's... I don't know. I feel like I should be doing something. Anything. I hate waiting."

Beth snorted from across the room as she gathered empty bottles into a trash bag. "Welcome to pregnancy. It's a whole lot of waiting and worrying. And trust me, you'll have plenty to do soon enough."

Alex gave her a skeptical look. "I'm not even officially pregnant yet."

Beth waved her off. "Details, details. We're just being proactive." She shot a glance at Cassie, who was now intensely focused on her coloring, sticking her tongue out in concentration. "Besides, having a little one running around takes a lot out of you. Enjoy the peace while you can."

Alex leaned over to rest her elbows on her knees, watching Cassie carefully fill in the lines of a bright pink bunny. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "I guess it won't be so bad... if they turn out like Cassie."

Beth laughed. "Oh, please. This one's an angel right now, but you should see her when it's nap time. You'd think I was trying to negotiate world peace."

Cassie, without looking up, chimed in, "Naps are boring."

Alex chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair again. "I hear you, kid."

Kendra shifted on the couch with a groan, resting a hand on her stomach. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually miss working. At least it kept my mind occupied instead of obsessing over every little thing."

Alex pointed at her. "Exactly! Thank you." She gestured around the penthouse. "Which is why I should be allowed to do something productive instead of just sitting here."

With that, Alex pushed herself off the couch and made a beeline for the kitchen. Beth groaned loudly in protest, dropping the trash bag she was holding and following her.

"Alex, no!"

Alex waved Beth off as she stepped into the kitchen, rolling up the sleeves of her oversized sweater. "I'm just making something to eat," she said, opening the fridge and peering inside. "You're acting like I'm trying to scale a mountain."

Beth appeared in the doorway, arms crossed and an exasperated look on her face. "Cooking counts as doing too much."

Alex grabbed a carton of eggs and a few vegetables, setting them on the counter. "Beth, I've been sitting for three days straight. If I don't do something productive, I'm going to lose my mind." She reached for a knife, only for Beth to dart forward and swat her hand away before it could reach the cutting board.

"No sharp objects!" Beth scolded, reaching to take the knife from her. Alex pulled back and pointed it at her.

"I will cut you, woman. You're two seconds away from me kicking you out."

Beth narrowed her eyes, placing her hands on her hips. "Oh, please. You wouldn't dare kick out the only person keeping you from making stupid decisions."

Alex raised an eyebrow, twirling the knife in her hand with mock menace. "Try me."

Kendra's voice floated from the living room. "Beth, just let her cook before she actually does cut you. We can supervise."

Beth groaned, muttering something under her breath about stubborn women, but she stepped back, watching Alex warily. "Fine."

As the night wore on and Beth and Kendra finally left, Alex found herself standing in the middle of the penthouse, the silence pressing down on her like a heavy weight. The lingering scent of the stir-fry she managed to cook under Beth's watchful eye clung to the air, and Cassie's forgotten coloring book still lay open on the coffee table, a half-finished rainbow bunny staring up at her.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair as she looked around the now-tidied space. It was almost too neat, too still. It made the absence of Chan feel even more glaring. She hated how big the place felt without him, how empty it was despite all the memories they had packed into its walls.

Dropping onto the couch, she grabbed one of Chan's hoodies from the pile Beth had tried to wrangle earlier. She tugged it over her head, the familiar scent of his cologne wrapping around her like a security blanket. Alex hugged her knees to her chest, staring at the blank television screen in front of her.

She should be happy—grateful even. The implantation had gone smoothly, and she had people around her who cared enough to fuss over her like she was made of glass. But that nagging voice in the back of her mind wouldn't quiet. What if it didn't work? What if she did too much and ruined everything? The thought sent a sharp pang through her chest, the anxiety coiling tightly around her ribs.

Leaning back into the cushions, she glanced at her phone resting on the coffee table. No new messages. She swiped it open anyway, scrolling through old ones from Chan, rereading the little check-ins and reminders to rest. His voice echoed in her head, reminding her to take it easy, to trust the process, to stop worrying so much. Easier said than done.

She knew he was doing his best, juggling the demands of their future with his career, but it didn't stop her from missing him—missing the comfort of having him next to her, grounding her when her thoughts got too loud.

With a groan, Alex stood and made her way to the bedroom. She paused in the doorway, eyes drifting to the unmade bed, the side Chan always occupied still neat and undisturbed. She climbed in, pulling the blanket up to her chin, staring at the ceiling in the dark.

The next morning, Alex woke to the sound of her phone buzzing on the nightstand. Groggy and reluctant to leave the warmth of her bed, she reached out blindly and squinted at the screen. A notification from a food delivery app blinked at her, followed by a message from Chan.

"Good morning, love. Thought you might be hungry. Check the door. ❤️"

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Sliding out of bed, she padded to the front door, unlocking it to find a neatly packed breakfast delivery sitting on the mat. Alongside it was a bouquet of fresh flowers—lilies and roses, wrapped in soft brown paper. A small note peeked out from between the blooms.

"Eat up. No skipping meals. I love you, and I'm proud of you."

—Chan.

Alex exhaled, pressing the note to her chest for a moment before picking up the food and flowers, closing the door behind her. The smell of warm croissants and fresh fruit filled the kitchen as she set everything down on the counter. She couldn't help but laugh to herself; he always found little ways to remind her he was thinking of her, even when he was thousands of miles away.

She grabbed a plate and began unboxing the breakfast, arranging the pastries and fruit with slow, deliberate movements. Sitting down at the dining table, she took a bite of the flaky croissant, chewing thoughtfully. It tasted good, but it wasn't quite the same as having him here.

Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Chan.

"You better be eating, or Beth's getting an update. Don't test me."

Alex rolled her eyes but snapped a quick picture of the half-eaten pastry and sent it back to him with a simple caption: "Happy now?"

The three little dots appeared almost immediately.

"For now. Call me later?"

She smiled softly, typing back: "Of course. Miss you."

His response was almost immediate. "Miss you more."

Alex leaned back in her chair, staring at the flowers across the table. They were bright, full of life—just like she hoped the tiny life inside her was, growing and holding on. She wanted so badly for this to work, for all the waiting and heartache to finally lead to something beautiful.

Before she could get too lost in her thoughts, the doorbell rang again. Beth. Of course. Alex sighed, standing up and opening the door to find Beth grinning, Cassie in tow, holding a stuffed bunny in one hand and a juice box in the other.

"Morning, sunshine," Beth said, peeking over Alex's shoulder. "Ooh, breakfast. Chan?"

Alex stepped aside to let them in. "Who else?"

Beth smirked, setting her bag down on the counter as Cassie ran straight to the couch, climbing up and settling in with her stuffed bunny. "I swear, that man has a sixth sense when it comes to you being stubborn. He probably knew you were trying to deep-clean the penthouse the second he left." She plucked a croissant from the box and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "At least he's got good taste in food."

Alex rolled her eyes, taking a seat at the table and stirring the yogurt parfait Chan had included. "I wasn't trying to deep-clean. I was just... tidying."

Beth shot her a look over the rim of her coffee cup. "Uh-huh. Tidying. Next thing we know, you'll be trying to rearrange the furniture."

"I wouldn't go that far," Alex mumbled, though the idea had crossed her mind in a fleeting moment of frustration the night before.

Before Alex could defend herself further, Kendra walked in, a smug smile on her face as she plopped a heavy tote bag onto the table. "Lucky for you," she said, pulling out a thick stack of magazines, "I came prepared."

Alex eyed the pile with suspicion. "What is all that?"

Kendra grinned and fanned out the glossy covers. "Wedding catalogs. If you're so desperate to do something productive, you might as well start planning your big day. Sitting down, of course."

Beth snorted as she flipped through one of the magazines, eyeing an elegant lace gown. "Kendra, you beautiful genius. This is perfect. She can pick out colors, flowers, dresses—without leaving the couch."

Alex blinked at the glossy wedding catalogs sprawled across the table, a slow smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You...are a wonderful woman," she said, reaching for the top magazine. "That actually sounds amazing."

Kendra beamed as she settled into the chair opposite Alex, propping her feet up with a sigh. "I figured. You can't go lifting furniture or cleaning the penthouse, but flipping through pages and picking out overpriced floral arrangements? Totally safe."

Beth, already flipping through a magazine featuring extravagant wedding venues, grinned. "Plus, it's fun. And hey, Chan should count himself lucky. Most brides spend months obsessing over this stuff, and you've barely thought about it."

Alex snorted, running her fingers over the glossy pages. "In my defense, we've been a little preoccupied with, you know, trying to have a baby."

Kendra waved a dismissive hand. "Details. This is the perfect way to multitask. Growing a baby and planning a wedding? Look at you, an overachiever."

Alex rolled her eyes but felt a flicker of excitement stir in her chest as she flipped through a section on wedding dresses. The pages were filled with elegant gowns—everything from sleek, minimalist designs to over-the-top princess ballgowns. She tried to imagine herself walking down an aisle, Chan waiting for her at the end of it. Just the thought sent a warm, fluttery feeling through her.

Beth leaned over to peek at the page. "Okay, you are not a ballgown person," she said, pointing at a particularly extravagant dress that looked like it belonged in a royal wedding. "You'd trip over all that fabric."

Alex laughed. "I was thinking the same thing. I can barely handle my own feet on a normal day."

Kendra flipped to another page and tapped on a sleek, lace-covered gown with a plunging back. "Now this screams you. Elegant but still a little edgy."

Alex studied it thoughtfully, tilting her head. "I kind of like that. I was thinking a little less lace. And we have to take into account..." she looked down and pointed at her belly. "...baby bump is gonna be a thing."

Beth nodded sagely, flipping through another catalog and pointing out a section dedicated to maternity-friendly wedding dresses. "Lucky for you, designers have caught on to the whole 'bride and bump' thing. Look at these—flowy but still chic." She held up an image of a gorgeous empire-waist gown that draped beautifully over a model's growing belly.

Alex's lips curled into a small smile as she traced the edge of the page. "I didn't think I'd ever be in a position to worry about that." Her voice softened, and for a brief moment, a flicker of her past crept in—the memories of dreams long thought lost.

Kendra reached over and squeezed Alex's hand. "And now you are. It's happening, Alex. And it's okay to enjoy it, you know."

Alex nodded, exhaling a deep breath. "Yeah. I guess it just feels... surreal."

Beth leaned back in her chair, grinning. "Well, that's what we're here for. To make sure you don't overthink everything to death and actually have fun with it." She flipped another page dramatically. "And if that means forcing you to obsess over table linens, then so be it."

Cassie, who had been contentedly coloring at the coffee table, suddenly perked up at the mention of wedding dresses. She scrambled up onto Alex's lap, pointing at a page with a big, poofy ballgown. "Auntie Alex, you should wear this one! It's like a princess dress!"

Alex chuckled, wrapping an arm around the little girl and kissing the top of her head. "I don't know, kiddo. That's a lot of dress."

Cassie pouted, holding up her bunny for support. "Bunny thinks it's pretty."

Kendra laughed. "Well, if Bunny thinks so, who are we to argue?"

Alex smiled, feeling the warmth of their presence wrap around her like a protective cocoon. "Okay, okay. We'll keep it in mind." She turned the page, her eyes catching a soft, flowy dress. "This one, though... this could work."

Kendra leaned over with a knowing smile, pointing at the elegant gown Alex had just fixated on. "Now that," she said, tapping the page lightly, "is very you." The dress in the catalog bore a striking resemblance to the one they had been discussing earlier—minimalist, yet breathtaking in its effortless sophistication. The silky fabric cascaded in delicate folds, the plunging neckline balanced by its long, billowy sleeves, and the open-back design gave it a touch of drama without being over the top.

Alex traced her fingers along the image, imagining herself in it. The way it would move, the way it would feel against her skin. "It's beautiful," she murmured, a small smile playing on her lips.

Beth, who had been scanning through an entirely different section—one filled with extravagant floral arrangements—glanced over and nodded approvingly. "It's got that whole effortless goddess vibe you love. And bonus—plenty of room for a baby bump if you end up needing it."

Alex groaned but couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "That's the hope."

"Have you two talked about dates yet?"

Alex nodded, flipping through the catalog absentmindedly. "Yeah, next summer. Before the next tour starts."

Kendra raised an eyebrow. "Sydney, right? You still set on that?"

Alex sighed, her fingers tracing the edge of the page. "Yeah, it's where Chan wants it. His family, the beach, everything he grew up with... it makes sense. But..." She hesitated, biting her lip. "If I'm pregnant, traveling that far might not be a great idea."

Beth, ever the pragmatist, leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Well, there's no harm in planning for both possibilities. A wedding in Sydney if everything works out, and a backup plan closer to home if it doesn't."

Alex glanced over at her, considering the idea. "I don't even know where to start with all of this. I mean, planning a wedding is one thing, but throwing pregnancy into the mix? It's a lot."

Kendra gave her a reassuring smile. "That's why you have us. We'll take it one step at a time. Right now, let's just focus on the fun stuff—dresses, colors, flowers. The logistics can come later."

Alex exhaled slowly, nodding. "You're right. One step at a time."

Cassie, sensing the shift in mood, climbed onto Alex's lap and pointed at another dress in the magazine. "This one is pretty too," she said, her tiny finger pressing on a gown with layers of soft tulle. "Like a fairy princess."

Alex smiled, hugging Cassie close. "Maybe not quite that poofy, but we'll see."

Beth reached over and flipped the page. "Okay, so minimalist and elegant. Maybe something with a beachy feel if you do end up in Sydney."

Alex's mind drifted, picturing the soft sand beneath her feet, the sound of waves crashing in the background, and Chan waiting at the end of the aisle, his eyes lighting up the way they always did when he saw her. It was a beautiful thought, one that filled her chest with warmth.

"Yeah," she said softly. "Something that feels like us."

Beth smiled, nudging Alex gently. "See? Now you're thinking like a bride-to-be. Planning mode engaged."

Alex laughed, flipping through a few more pages with renewed excitement. For the first time in a while, she allowed herself to feel the joy of it all—of planning a future with Chan, of imagining the possibilities ahead. It was a welcome distraction from the constant worry that had settled in her chest since the implantation.

Cassie yawned dramatically and leaned against Alex's side, her little body warm and comforting. "Are you done looking at dresses now, Auntie Alex?" she mumbled sleepily.

Alex pressed a kiss to the top of Cassie's head and smiled. "Almost, sweetheart. Just a little longer, okay?"

Beth stood, stretching with a satisfied sigh. "I'll take that as my cue to start some lunch. You two keep wedding dreaming, and I'll whip up something quick."

Kendra smirked, rubbing her belly. "Make it good, because baby and I are hungry."

As Beth disappeared into the kitchen, Alex leaned back against the couch, Cassie nestled against her. She glanced at Kendra, who was flipping through pages of beachside venues. "Thanks for this," Alex said softly. "I needed it."

Kendra reached over and squeezed her hand. "Anytime. You've got a lot to look forward to, Alex. Let yourself enjoy it."