"What are you saying, Bobby?"

"I'm saying I don't want to wait."

****

Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the apartment windows, warming the living room in soft gold. The place was quiet for once—no alarms, no radios, no Buck shouting somewhere in the background.

Just calm.

And Kenna standing in the middle of the living room with a yoga mat.

Bobby paused in the kitchen doorway, a glass of water still in his hand.

He narrowed his eyes.

"...What are you doing?"

Kenna froze mid-stretch.

"Nothing."

He looked down at the mat.

Then back up at her.

"You rolled out a yoga mat."

"It's gentle yoga."

"You're bending sideways."

"It's a stretch."

"Kenna."

She huffed dramatically and straightened up, resting both hands on her hips—one of them sliding instinctively over her stomach.

"I am pregnant, Bobby. Not broken."

"I didn't say you were broken."

"You're acting like if I move slightly to the left the baby will fall out."

Bobby set the glass down slowly.

"That is not how biology works."

"Then let me stretch."

He walked further into the room, eyeing the mat suspiciously like it might attack her.

"What exactly are you planning to do?"

"Prenatal yoga."

"With who?"

"Me."

"With instructions from where?"

Kenna grabbed her phone and waved it at him.

"The internet."

Bobby blinked.

"The internet."

"Yes."

He looked at the phone like it had personally betrayed him.

"That's worse."

Kenna laughed.

"It's literally designed for pregnant women."

"You fainted three weeks ago."

"That was one time."

"You're still on modified activity."

"And yoga is modified activity!"

Bobby watched as she bent slightly to attempt the stretch again.

He moved immediately.

"Absolutely not."

Before she could even finish the motion, he stepped forward and gently caught her by the waist, straightening her back up again.

Kenna blinked at him.

"...Did you just intercept my yoga?"

"Yes."

"I hadn't even started."

"You were leaning."

"It's called stretching!"

Bobby crossed his arms.

"You can stretch sitting down."

"That's not yoga."

"That's safer."

Kenna stared at him for a moment.

Then burst out laughing.

"Oh my god, you're unbelievable."

He picked up the yoga mat and rolled it halfway closed.

"Bobby!"

"You're not twisting yourself into a pretzel."

"I wasn't twisting!"

"You were about to."

She folded her arms now, giving him a playful glare.

"You know pregnant women can exercise."

"Yes."

"And yoga is recommended."

"Yes."

"And the doctor said gentle movement is good."

"Yes."

"Then why are you confiscating my mat?"

Bobby finished rolling it up and leaned it against the wall like it had been permanently banned.

"Because you're going to do something ridiculous."

Kenna scoffed.

"I am very graceful."

"You once tripped over a traffic cone."

"That cone attacked me."

Bobby walked over and gently placed his hands on her hips.

"Sit."

"Bossy."

"Sit."

She sighed dramatically but let him guide her toward the couch.

"Fine. But if I lose all flexibility I'm blaming you."

"You're welcome to blame me."

Kenna sank into the cushions, looking up at him.

"You're ridiculous, you know that?"

"Probably."

She rested a hand over her stomach, smiling faintly.

"She's going to think you're overprotective."

Bobby's expression softened as he looked down at her stomach.

"Maybe."

Kenna tilted her head.

"Maybe?"

He crouched slightly in front of her, resting one hand gently over her belly.

"I waited a long time for this," he said quietly.

Her teasing expression softened immediately.

"I know."

His thumb brushed lightly over the fabric of her sweater.

"I'm allowed to be a little protective."

Kenna reached up and ran her fingers through his hair. "Yeah,You are.she said softly.

Then she smirked again. "But you're still giving me my yoga mat back tomorrow."

Bobby shook his head. "We'll negotiate."

She grinned. "Good luck."

From somewhere under her hand, the baby kicked. Kenna blinked. "Well."

Bobby looked up. "What?"

"She agrees with me."

He sighed. "I'm outnumbered already."

Kenna laughed, leaning forward to kiss him. "Welcome to fatherhood, Captain."

****

The apartment had settled into a peaceful evening quiet. The soft hum of the city drifted through the windows, and the warm glow of the kitchen light spilled into the living room where Kenna sat curled on the couch.

Bobby stood at the sink finishing the last of the dishes from dinner, sleeves pushed up and towel over his shoulder. It was a comfortable routine now—something steady and simple after the chaos their lives usually brought.

Kenna watched him.

Very deliberately.

Bobby felt it before he even turned around.

"...Why are you staring at me like that?"

Kenna blinked innocently. "Like what?"

"Like you're about to ask me something."

She smiled sweetly. "I might."

He dried his hands slowly, already suspicious.

"Kenna."

She patted the spot beside her on the couch. "Come sit with me."

"That doesn't make me less nervous."

"Bobby."

He sighed but walked over anyway, sitting beside her. The moment he did, she shifted closer, her shoulder brushing his and her hand resting gently on his arm.

Too gentle. Too calm. Dangerous.

"What do you want?" he asked.

Kenna tilted her head. "I can't just want to spend time with my fiancé?"

"You can."

"But...?"

"But you're planning something."

She laughed softly. "Okay, maybe a little."

"There it is."

She leaned back slightly, resting one hand over the gentle curve of her stomach. "I've been thinking."

"That usually leads to trouble."

She nudged him lightly. "Stop interrupting."

He held his hands up in surrender. "Alright. Go on."

Kenna took a small breath. "I want to start the nursery."

Bobby blinked. "The nursery?"

"Yes."

"Kenna..."

She leaned forward slightly, excitement already creeping into her voice. "I'm twenty-one weeks now," Kenna said as he paused. She wasn't wrong. "Halfway," she added.

That made him smile faintly. "Halfway."

She nodded. "And I know we don't need to do everything right away, but I just... want to start making space for her."

Her hand moved over her stomach again, gentle and protective. "For Grace."

Bobby watched her for a moment before answering. "You've been thinking about this for a while."

"Maybe."

"How long?"

"...Three days."

He chuckled softly. "Only three?"

"I showed remarkable restraint."

He leaned back against the couch, studying her expression. "What exactly are you planning to do?"

Kenna's eyes lit up immediately. "Okay so—I was thinking soft colours," she began, her hands already moving as she talked. "Nothing too bright, just calm. Maybe warm cream walls with light pink accents."

"Sounds reasonable."

"And a proper crib," she continued. "Not one of those weird modern ones that looks like a spaceship."

"I agree with that."

"And a chair," she added quickly. "A really comfortable one because I feel like I'm going to live in it."

"You probably will."

"And shelves," she said. "For books. And toys. And little things."

"Shelves?"

"Shelves are important."

Bobby laughed quietly. "I'm learning that."

Kenna grew quieter then, her excitement softening into something more thoughtful. "I just want it to feel real," she admitted.

"It is real."

"I know," she said softly. "But seeing a space for her... I think it'll make it feel even more real."

Bobby reached over, taking her hand gently. "We'll do it."

Her eyes lifted to his. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Her smile grew slowly. "Together?"

"Always."

Kenna leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Okay... but I'm choosing the colours."

"That worries me."

"It should."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. "When do you want to start?"

Kenna didn't hesitate. "Tomorrow."

Bobby sighed dramatically. "Of course."

She laughed softly. "You love me."

"I do."

"And you're going to help me build the cutest nursery in Los Angeles."

He looked down at her stomach where her hand rested.

"Our daughter deserves the cutest nursery in Los Angeles."

Kenna smiled softly.

"Grace is going to love it."

Bobby rested his hand gently over hers, feeling the warmth of her stomach beneath his palm.

For a moment they sat there quietly. Just imagining it. The room. Their daughter. Their future.

And somehow, for the first time in a long while, it felt peaceful.

****

Morning light filtered softly through the apartment curtains, spilling across the bedroom floor in pale gold. The city outside was only just waking up, but inside the apartment the quiet felt thick and comfortable.

Kenna was still half-buried in the blankets when Bobby stepped out of the bathroom, drying his hands on a towel. His hair was still slightly damp, and he was pulling on his watch as he moved toward the dresser.

She watched him through sleepy eyes.

"You're leaving already?"

Bobby glanced over, his expression softening immediately when he saw her awake.

"Shift starts soon."

Kenna stretched slightly under the covers, letting out a small groan as she shifted onto her side. One hand slid automatically to her stomach, the habit so natural now she barely noticed doing it.

Bobby walked over to the bed and sat down beside her.

"How are you feeling this morning?"

"Like your daughter used my organs as a trampoline all night."

He chuckled quietly at that.

"She's active."

"She's violent."

Bobby leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. Kenna smiled sleepily, but he could still see the tiredness in her face.

He brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek.

"Take it easy today."

Kenna immediately squinted at him.

"Define easy."

Bobby stood up, grabbing his jacket from the chair nearby.

"Kenna."

"I'm asking a legitimate question."

He turned back to her, already slipping into Captain mode.

"No lifting anything heavy."

Kenna raised an eyebrow.

"I'm pregnant, not fragile."

"No climbing on furniture."

She blinked.

"I wasn't planning to climb on furniture."

"No rearranging rooms."

"...I hate you."

"And absolutely no trying to build nursery shelves while I'm gone."

Kenna slowly sat up against the headboard, giving him a look.

"You know me too well."

He folded his arms.

"That's because I know you."

She rubbed her eyes, sighing dramatically. "You're ruining my productivity."

"I'm protecting my family."

That softened her instantly.

Kenna looked down at her stomach for a moment before glancing back at him. "I was just going to look at paint colours."

"That's acceptable."

"And maybe measure the room."

"That's also acceptable."

"And maybe move the dresser."

Bobby pointed at her. "No moving furniture."

She groaned loudly. "You're no fun."

He walked back to the bed, leaning down to kiss her again—this time slower. "You'll thank me later."

Kenna smirked. "I doubt that."

He lingered there a moment, his hand resting gently against her stomach. "Behave today."

Kenna looked up at him. "You're very bossy for someone leaving me alone all day."

"I'm trusting you."

"That seems risky."

He smiled faintly. "Text me if you need anything."

She reached up and caught his wrist before he could step away."Bobby."

"Yeah?"

Her voice softened. "Be careful today."

His expression shifted immediately, that familiar protective calm settling in.

"I will."

She squeezed his hand. "Promise."

"I promise."

He kissed her one more time before finally heading toward the door.

Kenna watched him leave, listening to the faint sound of the apartment door closing behind him. For a moment she stayed there, curled under the blankets in the quiet.

Then she looked down at her stomach and smiled slightly. "Well," she murmured softly. "Your dad says we're not allowed to move furniture."

The baby kicked faintly beneath her hand.

Kenna sighed. "Yeah... I know."

But her eyes had already drifted toward the hallway.

Toward the room that would soon become Grace's nursery.

****

The firehouse was already settling into its usual morning rhythm when Bobby walked in. The smell of fresh coffee filled the kitchen, the news murmured quietly from the TV, and the low hum of conversation carried through the room.

Bobby set his bag down near the lockers and began pulling on his station shirt, still shaking his head slightly to himself.

Hen noticed it immediately.

She leaned against the kitchen counter with her mug, watching him.

"That look means something happened."

Bobby glanced over while buttoning his shirt.

"What look?"

"The 'my life is chaos but I'm pretending it's normal' look."

Ellie walked in from the apparatus bay just in time to catch that sentence. She grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured herself some coffee before turning toward Bobby.

"Kenna again?"

Bobby exhaled softly.

"Kenna."

Hen lifted an eyebrow.

"What did she do this time?"

He finished buttoning his shirt and leaned back against the counter.

"Yesterday I walked into the living room and found her trying to do prenatal yoga."

Ellie's eyes lit up instantly.

"That sounds healthy."

Bobby folded his arms.

"She was halfway into some kind of twisting stretch."

Hen blinked.

"Twisting?"

"Yes."

Ellie tried to hide a smile.

"You stopped her, didn't you?"

Bobby gave her a flat look.

"Of course I stopped her."

Hen laughed immediately.

"Oh my God."

Ellie nearly choked on her coffee.

"You actually interrupted her yoga?"

"She had a mat rolled out and a video playing on her phone."

Hen was laughing properly now.

"That's completely normal."

"She was bending sideways."

Ellie leaned forward eagerly.

"So what did you say?"

Bobby rubbed the back of his neck.

"I told her she wasn't turning herself into a human pretzel."

Ellie burst out laughing.

"You did not."

"I did."

Hen wiped her eyes.

"That poor woman."

"She argued with me for five minutes."

Ellie grinned.

"And you still confiscated the mat."

"I relocated it."

"That's the same thing," Ellie said.

Bobby shook his head, though he was smiling slightly now.

"She called me bossy."

Hen took another sip of coffee.

"She's not wrong."

Bobby sighed.

"She also said the baby agreed with her."

Ellie laughed.

"Grace already backing her mom up."

At the name, Bobby's expression softened slightly.

"Apparently."

Hen studied him for a moment.

"You're going to be an incredibly overprotective father."

Bobby shrugged faintly.

"I'm okay with that."

Ellie leaned back in her chair, clearly amused.

"You know she's probably planning the nursery right now."

Bobby's eyes narrowed.

"She promised she wouldn't move furniture."

Hen and Ellie exchanged a look.

Then Hen said carefully, "Cap... that woman absolutely moved furniture the second you left."

Ellie nodded. "Without question."

Bobby sighed and ran a hand over his face. "I knew I shouldn't have left her alone."

Hen laughed. "You're in for a long eighteen years."

Ellie lifted her mug in a small toast. "To Grace Nash."

Bobby couldn't help smiling.

Because whether Kenna was following his instructions or not, their daughter was already surrounded by a whole firehouse full of people who loved her.

****

The kitchen at the 118 had settled into one of its calmer moments. Coffee mugs were scattered across the table, the morning news droned quietly in the background, and the team had drifted into their usual rhythm between calls.

Bobby stood at the counter finishing a cup of coffee when Buck appeared in the doorway holding something behind his back.

Not subtly.

Hen noticed first.

"Buck."

He froze.

"What?"

"What are you hiding?"

Buck tried to look innocent. It didn't work.

"Nothing."

Eddie leaned back in his chair.

"You're holding something behind your back like a five-year-old."

Buck sighed dramatically and stepped into the room.

"Fine."

Bobby turned slightly, eyebrow raised.

"What did you do?"

Buck walked over and placed something gently on the kitchen table.

It was a small stuffed bunny.

Soft pink.

Floppy ears.

A tiny embroidered nose.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Bobby looked down at it.

Then back at Buck.

"You bought a bunny."

Buck shrugged, suddenly looking a little less confident.

"Yeah."

Hen smiled softly.

"That's adorable."

Buck scratched the back of his neck.

"I saw it yesterday."

Eddie grinned.

"And you immediately thought 'Baby Nash.'"

"Obviously."

Buck nudged the bunny slightly toward Bobby.

"For Grace."

Bobby looked down at the small toy sitting on the table. His expression softened almost instantly, something warm and thoughtful settling in his eyes.

He reached down and picked it up carefully.

It was ridiculously soft.

Buck watched him, shifting his weight slightly.

"I know it's early," he said. "But I just... wanted her to have something."

Bobby ran his thumb lightly over the bunny's ear.

"Thank you."

Buck nodded once.

Then he spoke again, a little more serious this time.

"I can't wait to see you as a dad, Cap."

Bobby looked up.

Buck's usual joking tone was gone.

"You're going to be incredible," he continued. "Like... the best kind of dad."

Hen leaned back in her chair, smiling quietly.

Buck shrugged again, trying to brush off the moment.

"You've already been taking care of us idiots for years."

Eddie snorted.

"That's not wrong."

Buck grinned slightly.

"Grace is going to grow up with the best dad in the world."

The kitchen went quiet for a moment.

Bobby looked down at the pink bunny in his hands.

Then he set it gently on the table again.

His voice was softer when he spoke.

"I hope so."

Buck clapped him on the shoulder.

"Trust me."

He grinned.

"She's already the luckiest kid in Los Angeles."

****

The apartment was quiet in that slow, peaceful way that only happened when Bobby was on shift and the city outside hadn't quite reached its evening rush yet.

Kenna sat curled up on the couch with her laptop balanced carefully on her knees. A blanket was wrapped around her legs, and the coffee table in front of her was covered in the evidence of her current favourite activity.

Online shopping.

A few open boxes from earlier purchases sat nearby—tiny baby socks, a soft blanket she absolutely did not need but had bought anyway, and a set of nursery wall decals she was still deciding if Bobby would pretend to like.

Her hand rested absently over her stomach as she scrolled.

"Okay," she murmured to herself. "We are not buying anything else for you today."

The baby kicked lightly under her hand.

Kenna sighed.

"You already have more clothes than I do."

She reached over and grabbed her phone, opening another shopping tab before pausing.

Her eyes drifted toward one of the little baby outfits folded neatly beside her.

A soft pink sleeper.

Grace.

Her chest warmed a little.

Then another thought crossed her mind.

Bobby.

Kenna leaned back slightly against the couch cushions.

"He's been doing a lot for us, hasn't he?"

Another small kick answered her.

Kenna smiled faintly.

"Exactly."

Her fingers began moving again, but this time she wasn't looking at baby items.

She was looking for something else.

Something for Bobby.

She scrolled through a few pages before stopping suddenly.

"Oh."

Her eyes softened.

On the screen was a simple bracelet.

Brown leather.

Subtle.

Masculine.

But what caught her attention was the small engraved metal plate on the front.

It could be personalised.

Kenna stared at it for a moment, her heart squeezing slightly.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

Then she typed.

Dad

She leaned back again, imagining Bobby wearing it.

Her tough, steady, protective fiancé.

The man who had stopped her from turning into a "human pretzel" during yoga.

The man who checked on her ten times a day.

The man who already talked to their daughter like she could hear him.

Kenna felt a sudden wave of emotion rise in her chest.

"He's going to be such a good dad," she whispered softly.

She clicked add to cart before she could second guess herself.

But then she paused.

Her eyes drifted down to the engraving box again.

Maybe it needed something more.

Her fingers moved slowly as she typed again.

Dad — Grace's Hero

Kenna sat there quietly for a moment, staring at the words.

Then she smiled.

"Yeah," she murmured.

"That's perfect."

Another tiny kick pressed against her palm.

Kenna laughed softly.

"Don't worry, baby," she said gently.

"Your dad is going to cry when he sees this."

She completed the order and closed the laptop, resting both hands over her stomach again.

The apartment stayed quiet around her. But inside that quiet, her little family was already growing stronger every day.

****

The apartment was quiet when Bobby came home.

The evening light had softened into that warm golden haze that settled over the city just before sunset. The door clicked shut behind him, and he paused for a moment, exhaling slowly as he stepped inside.

Kenna was sitting on the couch with her laptop open, surrounded by the growing collection of small baby things that seemed to multiply around the apartment every day.

She looked up immediately when she heard the door.

"There you are."

Her smile softened the moment she saw his face.

Something was off.

Not bad.

Just... heavy.

She closed the laptop slowly and set it aside.

"How was your shift?"

Bobby didn't answer right away. He hung his jacket up by the door, ran a hand over the back of his neck, and walked into the living room like he was still sorting something out in his head.

Kenna watched him carefully.

"Bobby?"

He stopped in front of her.

For a moment, he just looked at her.

Then at her stomach.

Then back at her.

"I want to marry you."

Kenna blinked.

"...You what?"

His voice was steady, but there was urgency in it.

"I want to make you my wife."

She sat up a little straighter.

"Okay."

Then she tilted her head slightly.

"Why does that sound like you just ran here to say it?"

Bobby sat down beside her, leaning forward with his hands clasped together.

"Because I did."

Kenna's expression softened.

"What happened today?"

He was quiet for a moment before answering.

"We had a call earlier."

She waited.

"Severe MVC."

Kenna's heart sank a little.

"Was it bad?"

Bobby nodded slowly.

"A car was hit by a truck at an intersection. The impact... it was brutal."

Kenna reached for his hand instinctively.

"Were there survivors?"

"Just one."

His voice lowered slightly.

"The driver."

Kenna squeezed his hand gently.

"What about the passenger?"

Bobby looked down at the floor.

"It was his fiancée."

Kenna felt her chest tighten.

"Oh no..."

Bobby's jaw flexed slightly as he continued.

"They were on their way to meet their families," he said quietly. "They were getting married in two weeks."

The apartment went very still.

Kenna felt her fingers tighten around his.

"He kept asking if she was okay," Bobby continued. "Even after we pulled him from the car."

Kenna's eyes stung slightly.

"He didn't know."

Bobby shook his head slowly.

"He kept saying he hadn't finished writing his vows."

The words landed heavy between them.

Kenna swallowed hard.

Bobby looked at her again.

"That's when it hit me."

Her voice was softer now.

"What did?"

"That life doesn't wait."

He reached for her hand, holding it tightly now.

"I don't want to waste time."

Kenna's eyes searched his face.

"I already know I want to spend my life with you," he said. "I already know you're the woman I want beside me."

Her throat tightened slightly.

"And I already know I want our daughter to grow up knowing her parents chose each other completely."

Kenna blinked back the sudden wave of emotion rising in her chest.

"So you're proposing again?" she said softly.

Bobby's mouth curved slightly.

"Technically I already did that under a pile of rubble."

She laughed faintly through the emotion.

"That was a very stressful proposal."

"It still counts."

Kenna leaned forward slightly, resting her forehead against his.

"What are you saying, Bobby?"

His voice was gentle.

"I'm saying I don't want to wait."

Her breath caught.

"I want to marry you as soon as possible."

Kenna looked at him for a long moment.

Then she smiled.

A warm, emotional, slightly teary smile.

"Well," she said softly.

"That's convenient."

He blinked.

"Why?"

She leaned back slightly, resting her hands over her stomach.

"Because I've been thinking the same thing."

Bobby laughed quietly under his breath.

"You have?"

"Yes."

She squeezed his hand.

"I don't need a big wedding."

"I know."

"I just need you."

He leaned forward and kissed her slowly, deeply, like he had been holding that moment in all day.

When they finally pulled apart, Kenna rested her head against his shoulder.

"So," she murmured.

"When do you want to make me your wife?"

Bobby wrapped an arm around her, holding her close. "As soon as you'll say yes."

Kenna smiled. "I already did."

And in that quiet apartment, their future suddenly felt closer than ever.