The obstetrician agreed to the change without hesitation once Sterling explained the security concerns, arranging privileges at a second hospital across the city within hours, and Ivy found herself, thirty eight weeks pregnant and exhausted from days of accumulated fear, packing an overnight bag for a delivery location that had been, until that morning, entirely unplanned.

"I hate this," she admitted, folding a small, carefully chosen outfit for their daughter's first day home, hands not quite steady. "I wanted this part to just be joyful. Simple. Not another crisis to manage."

"I know." Sterling wrapped his arms around her from behind, steady and grounding despite his own visible tension. "I...