Chapter 404 The Disappointment That Lingered

Both Bell and Ren were in good health, despite the reason for their presence in the hospital. Peter reassured Galen that though the severing of the bond to Roman had been a shock to her system, Bell was perfectly healthy.

And though Ren had arrived a little early, he was far enough along that there were no issues to be concerned about.

It was a terrible night filled with dread, but by the morning’s light, Galen’s family was restored and well.

One by one their friends and family came into the room to see with their own eyes that Bell and Ren were both doing fine.

Corrine had teared up at the sight of Bell holding Ren. Axel had congratulated the new parents, only staying long enough to kiss Bell’s head and smile at Ren before leaving to ensure that the cleanup and from the night’s events was well underway.

Corrine wanted to stay longer, but she also needed to see to the people of Winter. Many had been displaced by the fires and were in need of temporary housing while their homes were rebuilt or restored.

Caleb and Ashleigh stayed the longest. The four friends cooed over the baby and joked about who he looked more like.

When Galen needed to get his wounds checked again, Caleb offered to go with him. Leaving Bell and Ashleigh together with Ren.

Ashleigh sat in the chair beside Bell’s bed. Bell held Ren in her arms as she chatted about how precious he was.

“He’s an angel,” Ashleigh whispered, gently stroking Ren’s soft peach fuzz hair.

“He is,” Bell smiled weakly.

Ashleigh noticed the tired look in her eyes.

“Hey Bell,” she said. “I can take him, if you want.”

Bell smiled.

“That’d be great,” she said. “Holding my arms like this is a little tiring.”

Ashleigh was delighted. She stood up and carefully took Ren into her arms, surprised at how light he was.

“He’s so tiny,” she whispered, unconsciously bouncing her body as she held him.

“Mmhmm,” Bell smiled. “It’s always a shock to see how small they are.”

“You are so precious,” Ashleigh whispered to Ren. “A sweet little angel.”

Bell smiled. She had never imagined Ashleigh with a baby in her arms, or even around children. Renee and Bell had both been fond of the children at the school, but Ashleigh was always busy with training.

“I think you might be good with kids,” Bell said softly.

“Yea?” Ashleigh asked, not pulling her eyes away from Ren. “I never thought about it.”

Ren’s scrunched up little face filled Ashleigh with a particular joy she had never experienced before. It calmed her and kept a smile on her face.

He left out a tiny yawn that melted her heart, a small grin played on his face as he finished.

Ashleigh chuckled.

“Now that grin is all you, I can almost see the mischief–” she laughed lifting her eyes to Bell, pausing when she saw that her friend was sleeping soundly.

Ashleigh smiled and moved away from the bed toward the window. She rocked Ren in her arms whispering to him.

“Your mommy had a rough night,” she said. “She’s tired and needs her rest, so I will keep you company for a little while, ok?”

***

Caleb returned to the room to check-in. Galen was having the bandage on his leg replaced but felt uncomfortable not knowing how Bell and Ren were doing. It was going to take some time for Galen’s sense of danger to relax.

Caleb wondered which would come first, would Galen relax and accept that the danger had passed, or would Bell murder him for being unbearably overprotective?

He chuckled as he approached the door.

He glanced in the room, noting that Bell was sleeping comfortably, he looked around, his eyes landing on Ashleigh.

She stood beside the window with Ren in her arms, smiling as she looked down at him with playful whispers.

Caleb took in a slow breath; he smiled as he watched her.

Ashleigh rocked and shushed Ren, the smile on her face warming Caleb’s heart. Is this what she would look like with their own child in her arms?

The thought made him smile.

He entered the room, making his way to her quietly.

She felt his approach and turned to him, her smile adjusting to him. Caleb chuckled internally; had he noticed before that he had his own smile?

“What are you so happy about?” Ashleigh asked.

“You,” he said, moving to stand behind her, he put his hand on her waist and kissed her shoulder.

“What did I do?” Ashleigh laughed.

Ren cooed quietly and then let out another yawn. Ashleigh turned her attention back to him.

“Are you tired, little man?” she asked sweetly. She brought him gently to her shoulder, rocking him and making soft shushing sounds.

“You’re good at that,” Caleb whispered, watching her with a happy smile.

Ashleigh looked at him and furrowed her brows.

“What does that look mean?” she asked with a laugh.

“What look?” he asked.

“That smile,” she said. “It’s that cat with the canary look.”

Caleb laughed.

“Well,” he said, looking at her with all the love in his heart pouring out of him. “I was just thinking of what it will be like when it’s our child in your arms.”

Ashleigh’s eyes widened.

“That’s a… pretty far-off thought, isn’t it?” she said, moving toward the bassinet at the end of Bell’s bed.

“Of course, I’m not saying we need to start trying now,” he chuckled.

“Oh, good,” she replied with some relief as she lay Ren inside his bassinet, making sure the blanket was wrapped snuggly around him.

“But, perhaps, after the war is over, we can start planning,” Caleb said.

Ashleigh stood up straight, she chewed her lower lip and swallowed.

“After the war…” she whispered.

She licked her lips and turned to look at him.

“There will still be so much to do after the war,” she said. “We will need to pick up the pieces and find order again.”

Caleb looked carefully at her. His smile fell and he straightened up, taking a deep breath before he spoke.

“Ashleigh,” he said. “Do you not wish for us to have a family together?”

“I do!” she replied quickly. “I just…”

She lowered her eyes and took a breath.

“I just want to wait a while,” she said, looking back up at him. “A few years, at least…”

Caleb looked away and Ashleigh could feel his disappointment through their bond. She moved forward and took his hands in hers.

“Hey…” she whispered.

He looked up.

“I am just now starting to understand things about myself and who I need to be. I still haven’t even begun to be a Luna to Summer…. Right now, our responsibilities are huge.”

He swallowed.

“I love you, Caleb, I want a life together,” she said. “I want a family too, someday. But for now, for a while… let’s just be the cool aunt and uncle. We can spoil Ren rotten and drive Bell and Galen crazy.”

Caleb gave a gentle smile. But Ashleigh could still feel the disappointment that lingered between them.