The cold white light of the hospital bathed the corridor in sterile calm, but Sheng Long's heart was anything but.
He paced the waiting area like a caged beast, his boots echoing against the polished floors. His uniform jacket had long been abandoned in a chair, his silver dragon insignia glinting beneath harsh overhead lights. Every time a medic walked by, he turned with baited breath.
Still nothing.
He ran a hand through his hair. "Why did you faint, Xiao Lin?" he whispered under his breath. "What did I miss?"
Finally, a gentle voice broke the stillness. "Marshal Sheng Long?"
He spun. The physician, Mei Lan, stood before him, her expression unreadable—but not grave.
"He's stable," she said. "Resting now."
A weight fell from his shoulders. Sheng Long nearly collapsed into the nearest seat. "Thank the stars…"
"There's… something else," she continued. "Something we didn't expect." She hesitated, then added, "He hasn't been informed yet. I wanted to speak with you first."
Sheng Long stood straighter. "Tell me."
Mei Lan lowered her voice. "He's in the early stages of a rare ger pregnancy. That's why he's been sick. His body is already adapting to the energy needs of a forming child."
The world tilted slightly beneath Sheng Long's feet.
A child? Their child?
His mind raced—through the war, through the nights they'd spent tangled in sheets and whispers. That beautiful, awkward, perfect night beneath the covers before the last battle…
Sheng Long's throat tightened. "Is he… alright?"
"He will be," Mei Lan smiled. "His beast nucleus is stable. The child is reacting positively to his mental strength. He'll need rest—true rest—and emotional balance. No more battlefield dashes."
Sheng Long exhaled slowly and nodded. "May I see him?"
She stepped aside. "He's asking for you."
---
Inside the softly lit room, Xiao Lin lay beneath pale covers, a slight furrow between his brows even in sleep. The fox pendant rested just above his heart, glowing faintly with his inner energy.
Sheng Long entered quietly, sitting at the bedside and brushing a lock of hair from Xiao Lin's cheek. His fingers trembled as they lingered against soft skin.
"I thought I lost you," he murmured. "Again."
Xiao Lin stirred, blinking slowly until familiar golden eyes found Sheng Long's.
"You came," Xiao Lin whispered, voice hoarse.
"Of course I did."
They looked at each other for a long moment. Xiao Lin's hand crept over the blanket to find Sheng Long's.
"I heard… the baby?" he asked softly, as though still unsure if he was dreaming.
Sheng Long nodded, eyes misting. "Our child."
Xiao Lin's eyes widened in wonder, then filled with tears. "A piece of us…"
Sheng Long leaned down, forehead resting against Xiao Lin's. "We'll protect them. No matter what."
Silence fell between them—soft, sacred, and full of heartbeats not just their own.