Chapter 11: HOME
496 Words
CHAPTER 11: HOME
The war was over.
No more lawyers. No more board meetings.
No more headlines.
Mrs. Carter and Sophia were in Europe.
Victoria was in prison.
And Ethan was finally... still.
He was on the floor of the nursery.
Screws everywhere. Instruction manual upside down.
A half-built crib in front of him.
"Mr. Carter," Ava said from the doorway.
8 months pregnant. Barefoot. Yellow dress.
"Do you need help?"
"I need a miracle," Ethan groaned. "This thing hates me."
Ava laughed and sat on the floor beside him.
She picked up a screwdriver. "Here. This piece goes here."
For 2 hours they built it together.
No staff. No assistants. Just them.
"Are you scared?" Ethan asked quietly.
"About being a mom?" Ava shook her head.
"About us? No. We already survived the worst."
Ethan leaned his forehead on her belly.
"Hey baby girl. It’s daddy. I promise I’ll try."
Ava smiled and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Just home," she whispered.
---
THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED
Ethan took 6 months off from Home & Co.
First vacation he ever took without his phone.
He learnt 3 things:
1. He can’t cook. He burnt water.
2. He can do laundry. But everything turns pink.
3. He loves being home.
Ava started "Ava's House" from their living room.
A charity for women starting over.
No cameras. No PR team. Just real help.
They got groceries together.
They fought over what show to watch.
They fell asleep on the couch every night.
The house had a garden now.
And a swing.
And peace.
---
3AM. HOSPITAL.
"My water broke," Ava said. Calm.
Ethan jumped up. "NOW?! I’M NOT READY!"
Ava squeezed his hand. "Breathe. Drive."
Hospital lights. Nurses. Chaos.
Ethan held her hand the whole time. Crying.
"Push, Ava! You’re doing amazing!"
One last push.
A cry. Small and angry and perfect.
"It’s a girl," the doctor said. "8 pounds 2 ounces."
Ethan cut the cord. His hands were shaking.
They placed her on Ava’s chest.
Baby Ava Carter.
Pink. Wrinkled. Perfect.
"Hey," Ethan whispered. "Hey little one. I’m your daddy."
Ava cried. "She has your eyes."
"She has your heart," Ethan said.
They didn’t sleep that night.
They just watched her.
No contract. No secrets. No war.
Just the three of them.
---
1 YEAR LATER
The house was a mess.
Toys on the floor. Cereal on the couch.
Baby Ava running around screaming "DADA! MAMA!"
Ethan worked from home 3 days a week now.
Ava’s foundation was helping 200 women.
On Sundays they had pancakes. Burnt ones.
On Fridays they danced in the kitchen.
On nights like this, they sat on the porch.
The sky was orange. Quiet.
"No more contracts," Ethan said.
"No more running," Ava said.
"No more them," Ethan added.
Ava leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Just us," she whispered.
Ethan kissed her hair. "Just home."
And that was it.
No drama. No war.
Just love.
Just peace.
Just home.
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