The air was heavy, suffocating, as Y/N stood by the door, his expression unlike anything Octavia had ever seen before. Cold. Distant. Hurt.

Y/N: (voice shaking, but firm) "I can't do this anymore, Octavia."

Her heart dropped. The room around her blurred, but Y/N remained crystal clear—his stiff posture, his clenched fists, the raw frustration in his eyes.

Octavia: (stammering, reaching for him) "W-What? Y/N, what are you talking about?"

Y/N: (pulls away, shaking his head) "You! Your attitude, your bitterness, the way you push people away and expect them to just deal with it. I've tried, gods, I've tried, but I can't keep being the one holding everything together while you tear it all down."

His words hit like daggers, sharp and relentless.

Y/N: (voice rising, something he rarely ever did) "You never stop to think about how your words hurt, how you shut people out when you should be letting them in! You take things out on me, and I just take it, because I love you. But love isn't supposed to feel like this!"

Octavia's breath hitched, her vision swimming. This wasn't real. This couldn't be real.

Octavia: (desperate, reaching out again) "Please, Y/N, don't do this! I—I can be better, I just—"

Y/N: (turning away, gripping the door handle tightly) "Maybe you should've thought about that sooner."

And then, he was gone.

Octavia screamed.

———

She shot up in bed, gasping for air, her body shaking violently. Her hands clutched at the blankets, desperate for something—anything—to ground her. Then she felt it.

A soft, familiar warmth pressed against her side.

She turned, her breath catching.

There he was. Her Y/N. Her sweet, awkward, shy, lovable Y/N, curled up against her like a koala, arms clinging onto her like she was his lifeline. His face was peaceful, lips slightly parted, breath slow and steady. He mumbled something in his sleep, nuzzling closer as if afraid she might disappear.

Tears pricked at her eyes. It was just a dream. A horrible, awful dream.

Octavia sniffled quietly, her fingers brushing through Y/N's hair.

He only hummed sleepily in response, tightening his grip on her waist.

Octavia exhaled shakily, pressing a kiss to his forehead, silently promising herself that she'd never let that nightmare become reality.

Octavia sighed softly, still shaken from the nightmare, but as she held Y/N closer, she found comfort in his warmth. She pressed a tender kiss to his head, her fingers gently stroking his back.

Then, a small wail pierced the quiet of the room.

Orion.

The tiny infant stirred in his crib, his cries starting off soft before growing louder, demanding attention.

Octavia took a deep breath, still shaken, but she forced herself to focus as Orion's cries echoed through the quiet house. She gently untangled herself from Y/N's hold, but as soon as she moved, he stirred.

Y/N: (sleepy, groggy) V-Via...?

His voice was soft, laced with exhaustion and concern. He blinked up at her, rubbing his eyes.

Octavia: (whispering, brushing his cheek lightly) It's okay, love. Orion just woke up. Go back to sleep.

But Y/N, being who he was, wouldn't just go back to sleep. Even half-asleep, he was already trying to sit up, rubbing at his eyes as he mumbled something about helping.

Y/N: (yawning) I can—mmh—I can help... 's my son too...

Octavia couldn't help the small, fond smile that tugged at her lips. Even in his exhausted, half-conscious state, he wanted to be there. She leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

Octavia: (gently) I've got him, sweetheart. Rest.

Y/N hesitated, his brows furrowing slightly, but another yawn overtook him, and he finally gave in, laying back down. He mumbled something about making sure Orion wasn't having a bad dream, before he snuggled back into the blankets.

Octavia's heart ached—in the best way.

Still a little shaken from her nightmare, she slipped out of the room and made her way to Orion's nursery. The moment she stepped inside, she saw him—her little bundle of feathers and fluff, tiny fists clenched, face scrunched up as he wailed from his crib.

Octavia: (softly, picking him up and rocking him) Shhh, shhh... It's okay, baby bird. Mommy's here...

Orion hiccuped, his cries slowing as he nestled against her. Octavia ran a soothing hand down his back, feeling his tiny body tremble as he calmed.

Orion's thoughts: Why was I alone? I don't like being alone. Where's warm? I like warm. Mommy warm... Mommy safe...

Octavia held him a little closer, pressing a kiss to his soft little head.

Octavia: (whispering, still shaken but finding comfort in him) I love you, Orion... so much.

Orion let out a sleepy little coo, his tiny fingers gripping onto her shirt as if he didn't want her to go anywhere.

Orion's thoughts: Safe... Safe with Mommy...

Octavia sat in the rocking chair, gently swaying with him, listening to his breathing even out. And as her fear from the nightmare finally faded, she found peace in the soft warmth of her son in her arms, knowing that no matter what, she would always have this.

Octavia gently rocked Orion in her arms, the rhythmic creaking of the rocking chair filling the quiet room. His tiny fingers remained curled in her shirt, his breathing still uneven but slowly calming. She traced soft circles on his back, pressing a light kiss to his feathery little head before whispering,

Octavia: (softly) "It's okay, baby bird... Mommy's got you."

She took a deep breath and began to hum, her voice barely above a whisper at first before she softly sang,

"Hush, my little star so bright,
Close your eyes and sleep tonight,
Moonlight's here to watch you dream,
Safe within my arms serene..."

Orion let out a tiny sigh, his eyelids fluttering, his tiny body going slack against her. Octavia smiled, feeling the last of her own anxiety fade as she continued the lullaby.

"Drift upon the silver sea,
Where the stars will dance for thee,
No more fears, no need to cry,
Mommy's here, I'm by your side..."

She swayed gently with the chair, her voice growing softer as Orion's breathing evened out completely. His tiny wings twitched, and a soft little noise left him—content, safe.

Octavia exhaled, finally allowing herself to relax. The fear from her nightmare had faded, replaced with warmth, love, and the soft, rhythmic rise and fall of Orion's chest.

She rested her cheek against his head, the exhaustion of the day catching up to her. Her eyes fluttered closed, and before she realized it, sleep pulled her under, still rocking gently with her baby in her arms.

Y/N stood in the doorway, his heart melting at the sight before him. Octavia, curled up in the rocking chair, held Orion securely against her chest, both of them lost in peaceful slumber. The soft glow of the nightlight bathed them in a warm, golden hue, making the moment even more perfect.

Smiling to himself, Y/N quietly pulled out his phone and snapped a picture. The soft click of the camera made Octavia stir slightly, her face scrunching up as she groggily opened one eye.

Octavia: (mumbling, half-asleep) Delete it...

Y/N grinned, stepping closer as she weakly swatted at his phone with one hand while still holding Orion with the other.

Y/N: No thank you.

Octavia: (groaning, still too sleepy to put up a real fight) I will steal your phone... and throw it into Hell's deepest pit...

She made another lazy grab, but Y/N chuckled, easily dodging her sluggish attempt. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

Octavia let out a half-hearted grumble, too tired to argue, before resting her head back against the chair. Orion let out a tiny coo in his sleep, snuggling further into her.

Y/N simply stood there for a moment, watching them with a warmth in his chest that he couldn't put into words. This was his family.