Adrian was over the moon, but Eliana's fears crept in like shadows.
What kind of parents would they be? Could their love survive sleepless nights and diaper changes? Would the board see her as weak now? Would the world reduce her to just a mother?
One evening, as they folded tiny onesies in the living room, she finally asked him, "Are you scared?"
Adrian looked up, his eyes soft. "Terrified. But I'm more scared of not doing it with you."
He reached for her hand. "You ground me, Eliana. You're not just the woman I love. You're my compass."
She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she rested her head on his shoulder.
Later that week, they visited Adrian's mother.
"I always hoped you'd find someone who'd challenge you," his mother said, smiling at Eliana. "I just didn't know she'd be so beautiful."
Eliana flushed. "Thank you."
When they told her about the baby, the older woman's eyes filled with tears. "A grandchild," she whispered. "You've given me more than I dreamed."
That night, as Eliana lay in bed with Adrian's hand protectively over her growing bump, she finally allowed herself to believe—
They were becoming a family.
And family was worth every fear.