"I want to try again," she whispered suddenly during dinner with Fahlada.
Fahlada froze, her fork suspended midair. She blinked twice, as if to say, 'Come again?'
The question lingered between them, pulling her back to the start of the evening, to the moment they first stepped into the restaurant.
After they ordered, Earn began sharing her day in her light, melodic voice. She told Fahlada about the café, about Rati bickering with Ingfah and Susi, painting the scene with such vivid detail that Fahlada couldn't help but smile.
There was something different about Earn; her laughter rang brighter, her smile softened, almost as though a weight had finally lifted. Fahlada had wanted to talk about her long meeting, the conversation with her parents, and the exhausting surgery, but none of that seemed important anymore.
All she wanted was to listen to her wife.
Then Earn mentioned, almost in passing, that she had stopped by the network with Susi to meet the new boy toy. She added quickly that she hadn't stayed long, as she didn't want to run into anyone else, her words careful, almost rehearsed. As she spoke, a flicker of sadness passed over her face, so brief it might have been missed by anyone else, but not by her wife.
'She probably missed being there, acting was her passion after all,' Fahlada thought, a pang of empathy tugging at her chest as Earn fell silent.
Fahlada was just about to lift the mood with a small surprise she had been keeping tucked away, something she hoped would draw a genuine smile from Earn—when, in perfect, unintended synchrony, they both blurted out:
"There's something I want to say."
They laughed, the tension between them softening for a moment, and Fahlada gestured gently with a small smile. "You first."
Back in the present, Earn could feel Fahlada watching her, but she kept her eyes on her plate, pushing food around without really tasting it. She noticed her wife's gaze and tried to draw comfort from it, hoping that Fahlada was starting to understand.
However, Fahlada seemed dumbfounded and took a moment to collect herself before speaking.
"Sorry… what do you mean?" Her voice was low, laced with disbelief and concern.
"You know what I mean, I don't want to repeat myself," Earn replied, looking up at her wife with a teasing smirk.
Fahlada gently put down her fork and asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Earn said honestly and leaned back slightly, her eyes never leaving Fahlada's.
"So, your turn. What do you want to say?"
Fahlada exhaled deeply, her mind racing with a hundred unspoken questions.
"Ah… I don't know what to say. Will you be able to handle it?" Her voice faltered, heavy with worry, not just about her packed schedule, but about Earn's fragile body. The physical toll of another pregnancy would take, and the emotional storm it could bring. Sleepless nights, the fear of loss, the ache she'd seen consume her wife before… it all flashed before her eyes.
"I don't mean that," Earn said, letting out a little laugh.
"You wanted to say something earlier, right? But to answer your question… Yes, I can and will handle it."
Earn paused for a moment, letting the words settle, then her voice grew firmer.
"And this is not just a whim. I've been thinking about it… and I know what I want. I want to be a mother to our baby, my love."
Fahlada let out a long breath and fixed her gaze on her wife's light brown eyes, holding her stare for a few seconds.
It had been a while since she had seen that fire in Earn's eyes, the same confidence that had drawn her in from the very beginning.
'Who was she to stand in the way of her wife's happiness?' Fahlada thought, a warmth spreading through her chest as she realized how much she wanted to protect that spark, and to be a part of it forever.
So she reached across the table and knelt beside Earn, taking her hand as if making a vow. From her pocket, she pulled out a small velvet box, the surprise she had planned earlier.
Earn froze, her hand tightening around Fahlada's, eyes wide as if the world had slowed around them.
Fahlada opened the box, revealing a delicate ring strung on a fine chain, something that could be worn as a ring or a necklace. The band was slender white gold with a tiny diamond at its center, simple, yet timeless.
Inside, engraved in small letters, were the words 'Always with you'.
Fahlada's words came out as a trembling whisper, meant only for Earn.
"This is what I wanted to tell you earlier. It's not just a gift, it's a promise. No matter how hard this gets, no matter how many trials come, I'll be here. With you."
She placed the velvet box in Earn's hand, her gaze unwavering, still on one knee before her wife.
"If you're ready, then so am I."
Earn pressed the ring against her chest, her lips parting as a few tears slipped down. She pulled Fahlada into her arms, her voice breaking as she whispered, 'Yes…'
For the first time in so long, a genuine, wide grin lit up her face. Earn kissed her wife passionately, their hearts finally finding the same rhythm again, as if all the distance and doubt between them had dissolved, like clouds scattering to reveal a clear, golden sky.
A hush fell across the nearby tables, followed by a ripple of applause from the diners, who were moved by what they believed was a proposal.
Fahlada held her lovely wife Earn close, smiling through her tears.
"Let's make it happen."