What have I done?

Lucas stormed in at three a.m., still fuming, lost it before she could even speak. Fuck.

“Bulldog, park the car, will you?”

“On it, boss. Oh, and congrats.”

He froze, turning sharply. “For what?”

“The baby. Bella saw the doc today. Send you a text. She’s over the moon…”

He sprinted upstairs, the room empty, her phone tossed on the bed. Checked the bathroom, nobody. “What the hell did I do?” He roared, hurling shit at the wall until his dad grabbed his arms. “Enough, son!”

Damon walked in, and Lucas went at him, fists flying until the anger burned out. He collapsed on the floor. “You did this again,” he spat, pointing at him. “You…”

Damon hung his head. “I pushed her…”

“And you snapped pics knowing I’d lose it?” He lunged at her, and she shrieked, ducking behind Helena.

“She’s pregnant, you idiot! That’s what she was trying to tell me, and you ruined it all.” He pulled out his gun. “Now you’re dead.” His dad yanked his arm up as the gun fired.

“You were going to kill me, brother?”

“I’ll kill you eventually,” Lucas growled, hitting him again. “I took it out on her…” He turned to Giana. “This isn’t over.” He stormed outside, shouting names.

“Cover the streets. Bulldog, you’re with me.”

By the morning, he was exhausted. Anger and rage were still boiling in his heart, this time at his family. They couldn’t let him be happy. He instructed Bulldog to leave, got into the driver's seat, and departed, not returning to the mansion.  

A year and two months passed…

He never stopped searching for her. A year and two months had turned him cold, hollow, and he’d cut himself off from everyone. He scanned the plaza through the scope, quiet, almost empty. A mother crouched with a baby watching the pigeons eat. When she turned, his breath caught. He blinked hard, looked again. Bella. He bolted downstairs, but she was gone. Checked every side street, every corner, until he spotted her. She was humming softly to the boy in her arms, his son. He caught up, reached out, and tapped her shoulder. She turned.

Her smile was warm, her hair longer, lighter. “Hi, can I help you?” holding the baby close.

“Bella, it’s me. Lucas.”

She frowned. “I’m sorry… do I know you?”

“I’m your husband. Remember?”

She took a step back, clutching the baby tighter. “Please, don’t hurt him.”

“I’m not here to hurt you,” he said, his chest aching at the fear in her eyes. “Can we sit? I can explain. Here…” He pulled out his phone. “Look at these pictures.”

She hesitated, then stepped closer, glancing at the screen. Her face went pale. “Is this some kind of joke?”

"Hey, no, I’m not here to cause trouble. Can I just walk with you for a bit? I’ll explain everything, Bella."

"Who is Bella?" brows furrowed.

"You’re Bella, forcing a laugh. "And him, what’s his name?"

"Max," she replied, kissing the boy’s cheek. "He loves pigeons"

Lucas felt his chest tighten. He wanted to pull them both into his arms and never let go.

They walked to an apartment, and she knocked on the door. An older man answered, his eyes widening when he saw Lucas.

"Thomas, this man says he’s, my husband. He wants to explain."

"Come in," Thomas said gruffly. "Sit. Natalie, she goes by Natalie now go make some coffee."

Once Natalie left, Thomas turned to Lucas, his expression hard. "You’ve got some nerve showing up here. She was beaten half to death and pregnant when I hit her with my car. She hit her head, lost her memory. But you sure did a number on her."

"I can explain," Lucas said, laying out the story.

Bella returned with coffee, smiling softly at him.

"She’s got another child at home," Lucas said, pulling up pictures on his phone. "You haven’t seen him in a year"

She stared at the screen, tears welling up. "I’m such a bad mother."

"Don’t say that" Thomas said gently, shooting Lucas a glare. "It’s not your fault."

“What do you want to do, kid? This is your husband, and there’s another child at home. At least you’ve found your family.”

Lucas glanced at her. “You’re a doctor, by the way.”

They stared at him.

“Thomas, I’ll pack some things,” Bella said slowly, “but I’m not sure if I’ll stay.”

“She feels it,” Thomas muttered, shooting Lucas a dark look. “That’s danger. If you touch a hair on her head, I’ll kill you.”

Lucas thought, Great. This guy’s threatening to kill an assassin. Just what I needed, another enemy.

Bella handed Max to Lucas, who cradled him carefully, inhaling the faint scent of his baby boy.

“If I don’t hear from you tomorrow, I’m sending a search party,” Thomas called after them as they walked out.

Bella studied Lucas. He was tall, with black hair tied back in a ponytail and a beard she wasn’t completely sold on. His eyes were sad, but he managed to smile.

“I don’t have a car seat,” she said hesitantly. “And I don’t have enough money. I’ll sit in the back with Max.”

Lucas cursed under his breath as he closed the car door. He drove out of the city, the dirt road kicking up dust behind them. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he caught her terrified expression.

“I like quiet places,” he explained. “The city’s too loud.”

He pulled up to his house, not too big, not too small. Decent. He called an agency immediately, requesting a maid and a nanny. When he turned, Bella was perched on the edge of the couch, looking like she was ready to bolt.

“Bella,” said quietly, “I haven’t been back to the mansion since… everything happened.” I will tell you the truth, eventually he thought, just got you back.

May I hold him, Lucas asked her

She hesitated, then handed it to him. Bella though he was very good with him.

Our other baby?

That’s not our baby; you had my brother’s baby.

I cheated on you.

He told her the story. She cried. I’m so, sorry I did that to you, wanted to hug her but broke the awkwardness. I have no groceries, I ordered some food, and baby food, anything else the maid can get it. They’re coming soon.

Bella, he took her small hand. We will get your memories back, okay?

She smiled. You do understand that I don’t remember you’re my husband.

Of course, you can sleep alone if you prefer, I wouldn’t…

Thank you. She got up and he got up too. Picked up her baby. Where is the bedroom?

He pointed as he followed her. Good night.

Wait, I ordered food, please eat something.

Thank you I’m not hungry, then closed the door and locked it. Her instinct never lied.

Bella lay on the bed, wanting to remember something, anything. Then she fell asleep. He unlocked the door, and stepped in. He watched them sleep. The baby stirred, he picked him up and took him into the kitchen. Lucas found them, that’s all that matters now.