Sophia

SOPHIA

I hummed to myself as I fished the batch of cupcakes out of the oven, their aroma making my stomach rumble with hunger.

It'd been months since that fateful day in this very kitchen when Makar first taught me how to make cupcakes in that perfect way of his, our bodies brushing up against each other while we tried to fight the magnetic attraction between us.

The memory made me smile as I dumped the tray of cupcakes out onto the counter, a few of them rolling away from me.

They were all warm to the touch and perfectly cooked, just the way I was taught. A sense of pride filled me—Makar said he'd be home late today, giving me the perfect opportunity to surprise him with some sweet treats.

Normally, he liked to make them himself, but ever since the Conii thing had gotten out of control, he barely had time anymore to enjoy his hobbies, let alone indulge himself long enough to stand around and bake.

Which was precisely why I was going to do it for him.

Reaching up to my neck, I traced along the scar that had been left over from Makar's claiming bite, a zing of pleasure rushing up my spine remembering that night as well.

I felt awful that my mate had been pulled in what seemed to be a thousand different directions lately.

Heading over to the refrigeration unit, I pulled it open and grabbed my bowl of frosting that I had ready to go for hours now. I didn't know what it was about me lately that had me craving sweets, but it'd gotten to the point where sometimes I found myself up late at night digging through whatever the staff down here has made in order to try and satisfy my craving.

Honestly, maybe these cupcakes were more or less for me, too.

Snickering to myself, I hip-checked the door closed before walking back across the kitchen and over to the counter where my cupcakes lay. Makar wouldn't be home for a little while longer, which gave me plenty of time to get these suckers cooled and frosted before he made his way back over here.

Peeling off the covering keeping the frosting fresh, I gave in and dipped my finger into it, getting a nice big glob and popping it into my mouth. The sweet sugary taste had me practically bending over the counter and moaning.

Damn, that was fucking good.

Right as I popped my finger out of my mouth, my stomach suddenly turned and a wave of nausea hit me.

Groaning again, I abandoned the frosting and cupcakes and quickly headed back to our quarters. For about a week now, I'd experienced these intense waves of nausea that seem to come from out of nowhere at times.

There was never any rhyme or reason to them and most of the time it passed in an hour or less. Though, I had noticed that lately it seemed to be triggered by food or things that smelled like food.

Which was unfortunate considering all the horrible cravings.

As I got back into our room, another wave hit me and I quickly headed to the bathroom before sinking to my knees in front of the toilet to dry heave.

I was finally able to slowly peel myself up off the ground and look at my reflection in the mirror over the wash basin. I didn't look horrible but I was definitely paler than usual.

Could I have gotten some kind of sickness from going outside of the sector the other day?

It seemed unlikely. This weird nausea only hit me at certain times. Almost reminding me of a?—

"No fucking way," I mumbled.

Almost like a pregnancy.

"Oh fuck," I told myself, then went to go find my percomm.

I scrolled for what felt like forever before I finally got down to the miscellaneous section under toiletries and tapped on the ‘pregnancy scan' option. The panel lit up with my request, letting me know that a test would be sent to my location shortly.

Anxiously, I ran my hands through my hair. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing Makar was gone for a bit.

Pacing around the bedroom did nothing to calm my nerves but when there was finally a knock on the door, I already raced over to it before the person on the other side even finished the second one.

Slapping my hand on the panel, I opened the door with a sudden ‘whoosh' that had my hair blowing back away from my face.

One of the guards from the Fallen Star blinked at me on the other side of the doorway, their dark eyes wide at my sudden appearance.

"Your package, miss," they told me, slowly handing me the wrapped bundle.

"Thanks," I squeaked before letting the door shut. I breathed out slowly and took the wrapped package back to the bathroom.

A tiny prick to my finger, and the black disc started to work.

I looked away from it. I didn't want to get my hopes up one way or another, mostly because I knew if I hoped for it to turn positive, I was going to be massively disappointed when it wasn't.

It wasn't like Makar and I had actively tried or anything, but that didn't mean I didn't want a family eventually with him.

Sure, could it be said that it may be a little too soon? Maybe, but having a family with Makar seemed like something out of a dream.

After what felt like ten whole minutes, I finally got the courage to lean over the sink's counter and peer down at the disc.

My hands shook as I grabbed it and held it up in the light.

Positive.

"Holy fuck," I laughed out loud, disbelief coloring my voice.

No way.

But there it was in big bold lettering: POSITIVE.

Before I knew it, I jumped up and down like a maniac, trying to hold back a hysterical scream.

Shit, how am I going to tell him? It has to be special.

Suddenly, I remembered the cupcakes downstairs.

Smiling, I tucked the disc into my pocket and headed back down.

Grinning to myself, I got so lost in decorating—and filling—the cupcakes that I didn't even notice Makar heading into the kitchen until he wrapped his arms around me from behind and pulled me back into his hard chest.

"What's all this?"

I squeezed the frosting bag so hard in my hand that it exploded all over the counter.

"Oops."

He chuckled and pressed a kiss to the side of my head. Letting his arms slip away from me, he grabbed the bag in my hands and tossed it into the recycler. I held my hands up for him as he came back around with a wet cloth, cleaning the mess from me and drying my hands off.

"You just get back?" I asked him, wrapping my arms around him.

"I did. I smelled what you were making as I walked by. What got you in the mood to bake?"

"Oh, no reason," I said slyly, very carefully pulling the test out of my pocket and placing it behind me on the counter.

"I missed you." He smiled at me, cupping my face with both of his hands.

It absolutely melted me inside.

Stars, I loved him so much.

"Want a cupcake?" I offered.

"I would love one. Later, though." He backed me up against the counter, kissing down my neck until he ran his tongue over my scar.

At this rate, I was never going to be able to share my good news.

"Makar, wait." I pushed at his chest. "Hold on."

He blinked at me in surprise. "Something wrong?"

I had to laugh. "No, nothing like that. Have a cupcake."

His brows pulled together. "...Why so pushy?"

I rolled my eyes and nudged him in the chest. "Have. A. Cupcake."

Shaking his head, he moved me back around until I was away from the counter, giving him enough room to look over at the decorated mess I made.

He picked up the one closest to him, lifting it and peeling back the paper wrapping before biting into it.

"Oh, you filled these?"

"Mhmm." I grin.

He tilted his head to examine the inside of it. "Why blue?"

I grabbed another one. "This one is filled with pink."

He eyed it carefully. "...Why?"

Oh shit. Why did I ever think that the human traditional colors for babies would mean a thing to him?

Never mind.

Maybe this wasn't the time to try something cute.

Instead, I just handed him the black disc.

He lifted it up to look it over curiously, flipping it finally to the right side where the small screen marked my positive result.

"...Sophia?"

My teeth gnawed at the inside of my cheek, waiting for his reaction.

It took all of five seconds for the cupcake to fall from his hand and for him to turn around and look at me with wide eyes. "Is… is this…?"

It was funny seeing a great assassin like Makar rendered speechless. "Yup."

He choked out a laugh before scooping me up into his arms and squeezing me tight into his chest. "You're pregnant?! When did you find out?"

I laugh. "Like an hour ago. Good timing on getting home, by the way."

He buried his face into my neck. "Pregnant… you're pregnant."

My legs hooked around his waist, keeping me secure to him as he rocked us both back and forth gently, swaying while his lips pressed kiss after kiss over my skin.

"We're going to be parents."

I hummed at him. "As long as you're up for it."

He pulled back to look me in the eyes. "With you? A thousand yeses."

My fingers splayed through his soft hair, pushing it back from his face. "I want to hear those words every single day for the rest of my life."

He smiled, softly this time. "And I will tell you to my dying breath."

Because we can't let Makar and Sophia have all the fun…

Cupcakes :

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 ⒈／⒉ teaspoons baking powder

? teaspoon salt

1 ⒈／⒉ cups room temperature unsalted butter

1 ⒈／⒉ cups white sugar

4 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 ⒈／⒋ cups milk

Buttercream:

⒈／⒉ cup room temperature unsalted butter

2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

1 ⒈／⒉ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk

3 drops food coloring, or as needed (Useful if you have something to announce…)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two 12-cup muffin tins.

Make the cupcakes:

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla, beating well after each addition. Mix in flour mixture alternately with milk until smooth. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 23 minutes.

Remove from the oven and cool in the tins for 5 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.

While the cupcakes are cooling, make the buttercream:

Cream butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth and fluffy.

Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until fully incorporated.

Beat in vanilla extract.

Add milk and beat for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.

Add food coloring, if using, and beat for thirty seconds until smooth or until desired color is reached.

Use immediately or store buttercream in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

Spread buttercream onto cooled cupcakes.

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