Summary: In the aftermath, Max and Helen struggle to move on once and for all.

Friday, June 30th, 5:20 p.m., London

Today was a complete disaster! This morning's work agenda involved a board meeting to review the last quarter and to discuss next quarter's budget and projections. NHS executive Rodrick Cantleigh was in attendance, so when Helen's turn to present arrived, she was so nervous that she sweat through her blouse. Bloody useless deodorant! Thank the lord for blazers!

After Helen finished, Roderick spent five minutes critiquing and criticizing every bit of her presentation by urging her to reassess her expectations, repealing most of her new initiatives, and stripping away five percent of her budget to go to another clinic. It made her feel so much like a child being scolded that promptly following the meeting, Helen excused herself to the bathroom and immediately burst into tears.

Feeling defeated, Helen begins her walk home when the work day finally comes to a close. She has plans to numb out by watching some mindless TV while eating her favorite comfort food: Fish'n'Chips and salted caramel ice cream. Before she makes it two blocks, her phone rings. Mum! Bloody hell! Helen reluctantly answers the phone with a steady "Hello."

"Helen, dear. It's your mother."

"Yes, Mum, I know. I have caller ID," Helen snides, rolling her eyes.

"No need to get snippy at me!"

"I wasn't, Mum! I just… what do you need?"

"What? Can't a mother call her own daughter just for a chat?"

Helen heaves a dry laugh. "Most mothers, yes. You, on the other hand, always seem to have an ulterior motive."

"Well, if you must know, I was speaking to my friend, Terri, the other day. You remember her? The one from my dance circle."

Helen has met this particular friend of her mother multiple times, yet Serwa always tends to forget that fact. "Yes, Mum."

"Anyways, she told me that her son, Dominic, who's about your age, is moving back to London. With no wife or children of his own, he decided he wants to be closer to his family."

So that's what this is about! "Mum, I'm not really looking to date anyone at the moment. I'm still trying to relearn how to be content on my own." Although Helen knows she's just using that as an excuse. In reality, the thought of starting from scratch with someone new is utterly terrifying.

"I never said anything about dating!" Serwa jeers back.

"Yes, but we both know that's where this was going."

Serwa is silent for a moment, and Helen wonders just how mad her mother is. "You know, Helen, you're no spring chicken. Time is running out. What man will want to have a child with someone who's past their prime?"

The words hurt, but it's nothing Helen hasn't heard countless variations of before. With therapy, she's gotten better at handling them by setting and enforcing boundaries. "Mum, I would ask that you please refrain from meddling with or commenting on my dating life. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to change the subject or hang up."

"He's not coming back, dear," Serwa says with more insight than Helen expects. "I simply don't see why you can't be open to giving someone else a chance. After all, I was married by twenty-three."

It takes all of Helen's willpower to hold back a snarky comment about how her parents' marriage turned out. "I'm not discussing this with you any further. Goodbye, Mother." Helen hangs up and powers off her phone before Serwa tries to call again.

Why, why, why does her mother have to be like this?! It infuriates Helen to no end! No matter what she does or says, Serwa will never respect her life choices! Part of what she said was right though. Max isn't coming back.

Helen passes by Regent's Park, one of the many places she and Max explored during their first week here. One spot, in particular, holds a very special place in her heart. Helen trudges up the path until she reaches a familiar wooden gazebo, the one established in memory of Mr. George Twickham. Even though it's on her way home from work, she hasn't set foot in it since the breakup, but not much has changed. The only difference is that the banister she and Max cracked with their entangled bodies has been replaced. Almost reverently, Helen touches it and closes her eyes, allowing herself to vividly recall the events of that afternoon two Decembers ago. She can still feel Max's tongue licking every inch of her skin! She can feel the wood give way as Max vigorously thrusts into her against it. She can feel her whole body trembling, caused by more than just the frigid rain. She can hear Max's groans of release as he fills her up!

All of a sudden, Helen feels weak, and she has to sit on one of the benches. On the verge of hyperventilating, she hunches over and puts her head in her hands. Helen doesn't even realize she's crying until a single wracking sob expels from her mouth as though she's been punched in the gut. Then the tears come in earnest, demanding to be felt.

Why doesn't he hate her?! It would be easier if Max hated her! The fact he still loves her too only makes the pain of their separation more excruciating! Helen doesn't think she'll ever truly get over Max; he was her one great love, one for the ages. There isn't a part of her that his light didn't leave changed for the better. Helen loved Muhammad with everything she had, but Max was it for her! If she can't have him, she'd rather die alone.

Helen sits hunched on the bench, arms wrapped around her stomach, for who knows how long. Then a tiny hand pats her on the arm. "Miss lady, are you okay? Why are you sad?"

Helen comes back to the present and looks down. A young girl with brown eyes and two blonde pigtails, maybe four or five years old, is staring up at her. Helen quickly wipes the tears from her face and sits up straight. "I'm alright." That's a lie. "Where's your mum, sweetheart?"

"We were playing in the park, but I raced here! I went so so fast!" The little girl scans Helen, still concerned about her well-being. "Can I sit with you?"

"Maise?!" a panicked female voice calls out. Right on cue, a brunette woman in her late thirties comes into view. "Maise? Oh, thank heavens!" The girl's mother rushes into the gazebo, grabbing her hand. "You can't run off on me like that! I'm sorry, is she bothering you?" the woman asks Helen.

"No, of course not."

"I wanted to make the pretty lady feel better, Mummy!"

An awkward silence fills the air as the woman notices that Helen appears distressed, clearly not knowing how to handle the situation. "I told you, it's time to leave. We've got to get home for supper. Say goodbye now."

Maise gives Helen a tight hug, her tiny arms not quite reaching all the way around. "Bye-bye!"

"Bye-bye, dear!"

"Maybe you can come play with me here tomorrow!" Maise calls out, waving as her mother drags her off.

Helen chuckles for what feels like the first time in over a year, enthralled by the innocence of children. Maise reminds Helen somewhat of Luna, not only in looks but in her compassionate nature as well, a mini Max. Oh, how she misses that little girl! There's so much Helen wants to know. What new things Luna is interested in? How much has she grown? Has she made any friends in Geneva yet? Does Luna ever ask about her?

When Helen eventually gathers the strength to make it back home, she self-sabotages by looking at pictures of Max and Luna on social media. If she can't see them in person, through a screen will have to suffice. But it doesn't do them justice. In hopes of feeling closer to her… no, Max's little girl, Helen goes into Luna's old room (now her office) and pulls out some of the children's drawings and crafts she keeps hidden in the closet. She sprawls them on the floor, touching and mentally absorbing each one, grieving the family she threw away.

Sunday, July 9th, 8:30 a.m., Geneva

It's a beautiful, warm, sunny day. Max and Luna have plans to go on an easy hike and then picnic by a lake.

Max likes to sleep in a bit on the weekends, a trait unfortunately not inherited by his daughter. To keep Luna occupied while he makes homemade waffles (yes, homemade and not frozen or from a boxed mix, a feat he's proud to have accomplished), Max lets her watch an episode of Bluey on the iPad.

Max is hypnotized by the steam rising out of the waffle iron, allowing him to zone out and get lost in his thoughts. If he and Helen had gotten back together, how would they have made things work with the distance? What would their slow weekend mornings look like if they eventually settled down in one place? Most of all, he wonders if they would have started a family of their own by now had she not left him at the altar last year. But then Helen still wouldn't have resolved her issues, so maybe it was for the best.

"Daddy, what's this doggy saying? He's talking funny words!"

Pulled out of his own head, Max removes the waffle from the iron and looks over Luna's shoulder at the iPad. "Oh! That dog is speaking French!"

"What's that?"

"That's a language they use in France. Well, a lot of people speak French here too because France is really close. Kinda like our country's next-door neighbor!"

"Do you know French?"

"No. I mean, I know a few words here and there." He should really learn more, considering it's the primary language in this region of Switzerland. "But I am fluent in Spanish," Max proudly declares. "Spain is France's next-door neighbor on the other side."

"Maybe I can learn Spanish one day like you, Daddy!"

"Yeah, that'd be really cool! There's a lot of different languages you could learn." Max ruffles Luna's hair, then returns to the kitchen to finish making breakfast. As Max pours more batter into the waffle iron, his phone dings, so he wipes his hands on his pants and checks it. Helen!

H: Max, can I give you a ring? I need to speak to you about something.

Max's heart is racing! Over the past three weeks, he's tried to keep Helen off his mind, but with little success. All the work he did to get over her went right out the window the moment they fell in bed together again. He still loves Helen, and it feels like his heart is being pulled miles away, longing to be near her! Max holds no ill will towards her, but he's not so sure contacting Helen is a good idea.

Once the last waffle is out of the iron, Max tops them with blueberries and syrup, then puts some sausage on the side. "Luna, breakfast!"

"Aww, but Daddy! One more episode? Pleeeeease?!"

"No, you can watch more later. Come on, I made waffles! They're your favorite!"

With that news, Luna drops the iPad on the couch and skips into the kitchen clapping her hands. "Waffles, waffles, waffles! Yaaayyy! Thanks, Daddy!"

"You're welcome, baby!" Max cuts up Luna's food before sitting down to eat his own.

Max's phone dings again.

H: It's really important

Max is even more curious now! He resolves to call Helen after breakfast and starts eating. The first few moments are relatively silent, both Max and Luna too famished to focus on anything other than eating. "Okay, slow down, kiddo! Can't have you choking now, can we?"

With syrup all over her face, Luna gulps down a few chugs of milk, then smacks her lips while gasping for air. "Daddy, did you know that caterpillars turn into butterflies?!" she excitedly asks.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah! I learned that at daycare!"

"Maybe we should look for some on our hike today!"

Luna resumes eating, albeit thankfully a little slower now. She ponders the episode of Bluey she watched before breakfast. Bluey made a friend named Jean Luc while camping, and although the two had a few days of fun despite the language barrier, they eventually had to part ways. Bluey's mum explained to her that sometimes, people come and go in life, but that it's the time spent together that made the relationship special. "Daddy, why did Mum go away?"

The question catches Max a little off-guard. Luna had asked him the same thing nearly a year ago, but Max was still such an emotional wreck that he didn't really have a good answer. Naturally, she's bound to still be curious. He tries to formulate an answer in a way that's appropriate for a 4-year-old. "Uh, well, Mum… she had to go and fix some things, grown-up things. You know how people go see a doctor when they're hurt? Some people go to a different kind of doctor when they're hurting in their thoughts and feelings. That's what Mum had to do, to figure out who she is, but she needed to do it alone."

"Am I ever gonna see her again?"

"I don't know, Lu. I don't think so." Max shouldn't make any false promises, but Luna looks so distraught that he wants to give her a little piece of comfort. "But she loves you very much."

Luna's lips pout and quiver, unable to control or hide the sadness bubbling out of her. "I miss Mum," she mumbles, slouching in her seat.

The profound impact Helen had on Luna is astonishing, considering the two ladies cohabitated for just over three months. "Me too, Lu. Me too." Sometimes, Max still doubts if he's enough for Luna. He's finally putting Luna first by being more present and focusing less on work, but he wonders if she needs a female role model in her life.

Being with Elizabeth was the first bit of fun Max had in a long time, a refreshing temporary distraction nonetheless, but they had a meaningful connection; she was there for him during one of the toughest times of his life. But Max now realizes that they were too similar. They had the same mindset regarding the hospital, which is why he left her in charge. But that means they didn't challenge each other enough.

Helen was a force to be reckoned with! She challenged Max and made him see things from a completely different perspective, and he encouraged her to feel again after numbing herself to the world. They complimented and balanced each other out, pushing each other to become better versions of themselves. She made him feel alive, selfless, terrified, yet confident and courageous, just by gazing into her eyes. They could say so much without the need for words! It's ironic, Max thinks, that he never felt that at the same level with Elizabeth, given they couldn't speak to communicate.

Lauren meant well (maybe she was projecting her own weakness regarding Leyla), but now that he's seen and been with Helen again, Max realizes that they couldn't have been more wrong: Helen isn't an allergy or addiction; he feels sick and downright wretched for even thinking that! She's the air he needs to breathe, the life-giving blood in his veins, food and water that nourishes and restores his soul. Losing her is like losing a vital part of himself. Max suspects he'd end up comparing any future relationship to what he and Helen had. With that mindset, he's probably destined to remain single for the rest of his life.

Max's phone rings, so he pulls it out of his pocket. His stomach drops when he sees Helen's name at the top. If she's calling him less than five minutes after sending two unanswered texts, it must be urgent. "Keep eating, but go slow, okay? Daddy's gotta take a phone call." Max kisses Luna's head, then steps onto the back patio and answers the phone. "Helen? Is everything okay?"

"Max?" Helen whimpers, her voice coming out tight and bubbly, accompanied by what sounds like sniffles and tears.

Max is getting the worst sense of déjà vu, thrown back to when Helen called him from London to break off their wedding plans, and it sends him into full-blown panic mode. His heart is palpitating, his palms are sweaty, and it feels like he can't breathe. "What's wrong?"

"I… I'm… I'm pregnant."

A rush of emotions floods Max's body: relief, shock, exhilaration, and worry. Helen wanted a baby long before he met her! It was one of the first real things she confided in him about herself. She'll want to keep it, right? Will she want to include him in raising it?

"Max, did you hear–?"

"Yeah, sorry, I heard you. My brain just sort of short-circuited there for a minute."

"It's yours, in case that wasn't clear."

"No, yeah, I got that," Max half chuckles. He tries to push all his thoughts to the side and focus on Helen. "How do you feel about it?"

Helen tearfully laughs into the phone. "Nervous, in utter disbelief, overwhelmed. But I'm completely thrilled! I never thought this would happen for me. At least, not without resorting to IVF." Even then, Helen doesn't think she would have ever followed through with it. After her first failed implantation four years ago, she realized that she didn't want to raise a child alone. The only person she'd ever want to have a baby with is Max.

"When did you find out?"

"Twenty minutes ago. For the past week and a half, I've had symptoms which I assumed were PMS. But my period was due last Monday, and it's never more than a day or two late! So I finally plucked up the nerve to take a test. I've been in a state ever since!" Helen blows her nose for the fifth time this morning!

The thought of Helen taking a pregnancy test alone fills Max with sorrow. Before the breakup, he always imagined he'd be waiting with Helen for the result. "So what do you want to do?" Max rubs his face, still trying to grapple with the news. Although it would be a lie to say he wasn't half-hoping for this, all too eager and willing last month when Helen practically begged him to climax inside her. Maybe she secretly wanted it too.

"I think it's no surprise that I'm keeping it. And you can be as involved as you'd like."

"Yeah, of course I want to be involved! I'd love that, Helen! I'm here for whatever you need!"

"Thank you, I appreciate that." Helen clears her throat, trying to get rid of the tightness brought on by her emotional state. "Do you have time to sit down to chat about how we'll go about it?"

"Oh, uh, no, actually. Luna and I are going on a hike soon." Even if he did have time right now, Max feels like this is a discussion that needs to happen face-to-face. "How about I come visit this weekend? Or you visit me, whatever's easier."

"Yes, that's probably wise. I'll fly to you. That way, you needn't worry about overnight childcare again."

"Okay." Max doesn't want to hang up, and based on Helen's silence, she must feel the same way. "I should go," he finally says. "I left Luna alone eating breakfast, and she's bound to get into something if I'm not supervising."

"Alright. I'll let you know when my flight details are set and we can sort out a time and place. In the meantime, we should gather our thoughts."

"Will do. And Helen? It's gonna be okay! You'll make the most incredible mother! I'm really happy for you!" Max feels weird congratulating Helen on the pregnancy. It's like he's one step removed from the situation, even formal. In another timeline, they'd both be celebrating together.

Helen holds back a quiet whimper that's a mixture between bittersweet and elated. "Thank you! Goodbye, Max."

"Bye." Max reluctantly hangs up the phone, blankly staring at it for a few seconds, then heads back inside.

"Daddy, look! My dolly got a boo-boo, so I gave her a band-aid!" Luna has one of her stuffed dolls and a toy doctor kit at the table with her. Except now they're all covered in syrup since Luna didn't wash her hands before breaking them out. That's what washing machines and paper towels are for, right?

"That's nice, Lu! Helping people when they're hurt or sick is so important! It makes the world a better place!" Max resumes eating and watches as Luna chatters away to her doll, making sure nothing else is injured. It finally hits Max: not only is he going to be a father again, but Luna is going to be a big sister! Since their family is so small, Max has always wanted to give her a sibling, to have that kind of built-in companionship he had before his sister died. When Helen left him, he thought that maybe it wasn't in the cards anymore, and he would've eventually grown content with the idea of Luna being an only child. But now it's finally happening! She's getting a sibling! Although Max worries if his children can realistically have a close relationship while living in different countries.

Saturday, July 15th, 5:05 p.m., Geneva

Helen's flight landed a few hours ago. The hotel she's staying at doesn't allow check-ins before 3 (15:00 their time), but that left her with just enough time for a shower and a quick nap. Growing a human is exhausting!

While nervously waiting in the hotel lobby, Helen double checks hers and Max's text conversations to make sure she gave him the right time and location. He's never been the most punctual person, but their now-even-more-complicated relationship and the pregnancy are sending her brain spiraling. Is he coming? No, of course he's coming! Don't be absurd, Helen! Maybe he got lost. To ease her mind, Helen scrolls through some of Max's photos on Facebook. Upon moving to Geneva a few months ago, he posted a few selfies of himself and Luna exploring their new city. Helen aches with longing for them, for what could've been, and what could still be. Maybe it's not too late.

Helen's thoughts are put to rest by Max walking in through the revolving doors, bringing her a sense of calm. It's been almost a month since she's seen him, so he hasn't changed that much. But he looks healthy, he looks good! The Switzerland summer sun has given Max's skin a warm tint. Living here definitely agrees with him!

Max is wearing light-wash blue jeans, gray athletic shoes, and a black short-sleeved v-neck shirt that hugs his chest and biceps just right! But it's Max's tender smile and the way his eyes light up when he sees her that makes Helen blush. She rises to meet him as he approaches.

"Hey," Max says in a low, quiet tone, momentarily robbed of breath while looking Helen up and down. Half of her braided hair is pulled into a top knot. A large tan purse is hanging from one shoulder. And she's wearing a light pink cap-sleeved silk blouse tucked into a flowy white maxi skirt with floral print. It gives Helen a soft, maternal look, and Max swears she's already glowing!

"Hi." Helen unsuccessfully tries to repress a bashful smile, but what does it matter? Both of them know they still love each other. Her heart goes into overdrive when Max leans in for a timid hug and kisses her temple. How the hell are they going to do this without their emotions getting in the way?!

"You… you wanna eat first or…?" Max begins, rubbing his forehead, an indication he's just as flustered as Helen is.

"I'm not hungry quite yet. Still a bit early on London time. How about we go for a stroll?"

Max nods and leads Helen toward the exit. "Follow me. There's a nice park a little up the road."

Helen's hotel is on La Rade Lake, just a little north of where the boat marina is. She and Max walk along the lake in the direction of the park, both awkwardly quiet. Both of them keep their limbs to themselves, Max's hands in his pockets, Helen's arms crossed and tucked against her waist. They're both nervous, neither wanting to be the first person to break the ice. It feels like the walk back to Helen's apartment when she returned from London right before she and Max finally got together: silent, yet communicating so much!

A minute in, a biker whizzes by closely on their left shouting "Attention!" Once the danger has passed, Helen clears her throat. "Max?"

"Yeah?" Max looks down and realizes he had protectively wrapped his arms around Helen on instinct as the bike passed, and his hands are still lingering on her waist. "Oh, heh, sorry," he mutters, pulling away, then ushers Helen to the right side of the path near the stone wall, putting himself between her and any more potential bikers.

They continue onward, and Max eventually caves by opening up the conversation. "So… how are you feeling? Symptom-wise?"

"I'm alright. Right now, I've got bloating and fatigue. Erm… tender breasts," Helen admits, peering at Max from the corner of her eyes. He's staring at the ground, but Helen swears his face twitches as if he's trying to push away an inappropriate mental image. "I had minor cramping and a backache two weeks ago, most likely due to implantation. No nausea yet. That tends to begin around six or seven weeks, so it's probably right around the corner."

"How far along do you think you are now?"

"Well, obviously, it's been four weeks since you and I had… since we saw each other last. But due dates are calculated from the start of a woman's last menstrual cycle, so medically speaking, I'll be six weeks on Monday." Helen still can't believe this is really happening! "I took a blood test at work too, just to be certain. That was positive as well."

"Do you have a doctor's appointment set up yet?"

"Yes, I have one scheduled the Sunday before my eight-week mark." The past six days have been a busy whirlwind of research and planning. Helen's grateful she's a naturally organized person. Although until that little pink plus sign appeared, the motivation to keep her tidiness in check ebbed and flowed, depending on her emotional state.

The pit of Max's stomach is tangled in knots. He messed up so much when it came to Georgia's pregnancy with Luna. He can't make that mistake again! "Can I come?"

Helen softens at the question. "Sure! I mean, of course, considering you can fly out there again so soon. But what about Luna? I don't think she should come to the first one." In case something's wrong, Helen refrains from verbalizing. Plus she and Luna haven't even been properly reintroduced, nor does Helen suspect Max has told his daughter she's getting a sibling yet.

"I don't know, I'll figure something out." They enter the park adorned with trees and tulips. But what really catches Max's eyes are the multitudes of families with children. They all look so happy! Max knows he can't put this off any longer. "Helen, I hope you know, I really wanna be there to support you. I wanna be there for our baby."

"I want that too." Growing up without a father is part of the reason Helen realized she didn't want to raise a child on her own.

"But I don't wanna keep traveling back and forth between here and London. What if something goes wrong and I can't get there in time? What if I miss the birth? And I don't want to visit every so often only to see how fast the baby's grown while I've been gone."

Helen's heart races as she realizes where Max is going with this!

"So," Max nervously huffs, pausing their walk and turning to face Helen. "I've made the decision t—"

"Stop."

Max tilts his head and squints his eyes. "Stop? Wha—? Why?"

"You were about to say you're moving back to London for me, right?"

"Well, I was trying to."

"No. I can't let you do that. You've only just got settled. It wouldn't be fair to you or Luna."

"Fair? No, Helen! What's not fair is one of us having to hop on a plane any time I want to see my own kid! I'm gonna miss out on so many moments! FaceTime won't cut it!" Max knows from experience all too well, having missed Luna's first word, sentence, and steps while she was staying with her grandparents during the initial twelve months of the pandemic. "I need to be there! And Luna deserves to have a close relationship with her sibling!"

"Max, please, you misunderstand!" Helen places a hand on Max's chest, breathless as they break through the touch barrier again. "You've already moved for me once. And now, it's my turn to do the same for you."

The news is enough to shock Max into temporary silence.

"I've waited for this baby for so long," Helen says, moving her hand to her lower abdomen. "But in order to become the best mother I can be, my career has to come second."

"But… the clinic?"

"Isn't working. It's never worked. I tried and tried, but my fixes are just too new and American to fit into their old-fashioned, rigid system." Helen waits for another reaction from Max, but he's still too stunned to speak. "I'll find a job and get a place here. I could use a fresh start, and this is the perfect opportunity."

"Helen, I don't know what to say," Max slightly shakes his head, astounded. He would move to London again if he had to, but he never really found his footing there the last time. "Thank you!"

"This child will know their father and sister. We can make co-parenting work somehow."

The word "co-parenting" is the catalyst Max needs, finally mustering up the courage to confess the other topic plaguing his mind. "Helen, that's nice and all. But if we're gonna do this, I can't do it halfway."

Is he saying what I think he saying? "What d'you mean?"

To best articulate his point, Max goes back to where these feelings began. "Part of why I wouldn't let you help me with Luna when she was a baby was my guilt about what I felt for you while Georgia was still alive. But another part of me couldn't bear to see you love on her and do things for her that a mother would when I wasn't ready for you. Our friendship was already walking a razor-thin line, and that would have blurred lines even further. So I can't raise this baby with you without being with you too." He takes both of Helen's petite hands in his, staring deep into her eyes. "I want to give 'us' another try."

Helen tries to guard her heart. Surely, it's too good to be true! "Max, a two-parent household isn't required for our child to feel loved. You don't have to say that out of obligation."

"I'm not! Helen, I tried moving on because I didn't think you'd want me to mourn our relationship forever. That wouldn't be healthy. But," Max can't even say her name, "she wasn't you. You're irreplaceable! I've never loved anybody as much as you. And the truth is, I don't think I'm gonna feel that way with anyone else ever again."

He loves her more than anyone? Even more than… Georgia? Helen feels both ashamed and giddy at the implication. "But… last month… you said… you didn't want…" she squeaks, throat tight with emotion.

"I know. I was afraid to put Luna and myself in a position to be hurt again. I'm sorry. It just took me a minute to realize how badly I regret letting you go. Once I did, I told myself that the universe would tell us if we were meant to be together. And, well," Max inches toward Helen, so close he can feel her rapid breath against his face, and touches her stomach, "I couldn't have asked for a better, clearer sign!"

Helen places her hand on top of Max's, squeezing it tight!

"I want a family and a future with you. But I'm done pushing these big decisions without really listening to how you feel. I want this," he emphasizes, almost in a whisper. "I want us. What do you want?"

When Max convinced Helen to fly back to New York for an intimate short-notice wedding last year, her heart said yes, but she had this nagging feeling in her gut that said maybe it was a terrible mistake. This time, her head, heart, and gut are all saying the same thing. Helen grabs Max's face and pulls him in for a forceful kiss, clinging to him like she's afraid he'll disappear. Max is almost thrown back, surprised by her ferocity, but quickly responds with just as much enthusiasm, passion, and urgency, wanting to make up for fourteen months of missed kisses.

Desperate for air, Max and Helen finally pull away and rest their foreheads together, breathing in their new reality as they whisper a synchronized "I love you."

Max throws his hands in the air and whoops loudly. "We're having a baby! This beautiful, amazing woman is pregnant with my child!"

"Okay, sir! Stop making a spectacle of yourself!" Helen pulls his arms down, embarrassed by the awkward glances and scattered claps from onlookers. But in all honesty, Helen thinks Max's excitement is endearing! Tugging on his hands, she walks backward with a playful, seductive glint in her eyes. "Let's go back to the hotel."

Max's mouth breaks into a hopeful grin. "You mean…? We don't have to. I know you're not feeling a hundred percent great."

"I'm well enough." She needs to be with him before their window of opportunity closes and the nausea inevitably hits. Plus she returns to London tomorrow afternoon. There are still a lot of logistics to figure out regarding her move, but Helen doesn't want to think about that right now. First glancing around to make sure nobody else can hear, Helen hovers her mouth by Max's ear and whispers, "Make love to me."

Heat shoots through Max's body, restraining a groan as his eyes roll to the back of his head. "God, woman! You have no idea what you do to me!"

Helen kisses down Max's neck, sucking on sensitive skin where it meets his shoulder while lightly scratching the base of his scalp. "Oh, I assure you, I know exactly what I'm doing!"

They return to the hotel and reach the elevators, then Helen presses the "up" button. While impatiently watching the electronic number descend, Max interlocks their fingers and squeezes Helen's hand, sending a thrilling rush throughout her body! When the elevator opens, a few people flood out before Helen pulls Max inside and presses the button for her floor. The door shuts, and it takes a few seconds until Helen realizes that they're finally alone. She peers over at Max, and he's (not at all subtly) doing the same. They exchange a heated gaze that seems to say "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" In the blink of an eye, Helen is in Max's arms again, lips locked, pressing him up against the wall like horny teenagers! She feels alive, wild, and spontaneous, reminiscent of her younger self. Helen's happier than she's been in over a year!

An intrusive memory of making out with Elizabeth all over the New Amsterdam halls pops into Max's brain, but he's determined to reclaim and overwrite it with this moment instead. Max lets himself get completely lost in Helen, breathing her in with all his senses! She smells and tastes just as sweet! Her body is as warm and soft as he remembers! And she still makes his heart beat so wildly, he can hear it pounding in his ears!

"Ahem!"

Max and Helen disentangle themselves to realize the door has opened to their floor, and an elderly couple is waiting outside, stunned.

"Sorry, excuse us," Helen says in a rush as she and Max brush past.

"Isn't that sweet!" the old woman says to her husband in a refined British accent. "Remember what it was like to be young and in love?"

When they reach their destination, Helen fumbles through her purse to find her room key, nervous excitement coursing through her veins. Eventually, she locates it and opens the door, leading Max inside. He looks around, admiring how bright and open it is. The main room appears to be a sitting area with a gray couch, coffee table, and TV. To the left is a doorway which he assumes leads to the bathroom and bedroom. On the far wall is a large sliding glass door that opens onto a balcony with a view of the lake.

After hanging up her purse, Helen notices Max's wandering eyes. "Do you want a tour?"

Max snorts a laugh at her reference to their first time together. "Again, no!" He crosses the room and links his hands behind the small of Helen's back, simply holding her, wanting to stretch out the moment.

Helen wraps her arms around Max's neck, threading her hands through his hair. Max is staring at her, eyes heavy, reverent, and boring into her soul, and it sends butterflies throughout Helen's stomach. She doesn't think anyone's ever looked at her like Max does.

"Helen, I… thank you… for giving me another chance."

After what she did last year, Helen thought she was the one who didn't deserve a second chance. Max had every right to hate her. Yet here they are… "That goes both ways." Helen closes the distance, kissing Max deep and slow as she drags him into the next room.

Within minutes, Max and Helen are tangled up in bed. They pace themselves, savoring the process of rediscovering each other's bodies. After a very thorough warm-up, Max pulls Helen flush against his skin as she kneels in his lap, letting her control depth and speed in case of any pregnancy-related discomfort. But she needs to be as close to Max as possible! Helen sinks all the way down, arms around Max's neck, chest to chest, no space between them. Alternating between intense eye contact and kissing every body part within reach, they rock into each other with a steady rhythm, fitting together perfectly! The connection Max and Helen share has always been inexplicably powerful, but it feels stronger now, magnetic, even supernatural, now that she's carrying his baby.

The way Max and Helen made love last month was like a sudden burst of flames: passionate, bright and beautiful, but over too quickly and both parties getting burnt in the process. Now, it's like the embers that remain after a raging fire: gentle, slow, radiant, and warming each other through. If they treat their rekindled romance with the same care and compassion, as long as they continue feeding the embers, it can last forever. This time, Max and Helen are determined to love each other right.

Notes: These first three chapters came to me super easily. I've got a rough idea of what I want to include for the rest, but let me know if you have any specific requests. I won't do the whole pregnancy journey, as I'm doing one in Ease Away My Doubts, and I don't want any repeats.

The part of this chapter when Helen is remembering "wet clothes gazebo day," I included that whole scene in my other fic, "Every Inch." That's a story about Max and Helen's first week exploring London together. So check it out if you haven't yet!