𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙩 & 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚| 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙭 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

The next morning began quietly, with the soft hum of the city filtering through the apartment walls. Y/N stretched in bed, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach. It wasn't showing yet, but the weight of the life growing inside her was something she carried with her every day.
She turned her head toward the sound of movement in the kitchen. Boothill was already up, his familiar silhouette outlined against the morning light streaming through the windows. She watched him for a moment, the sight filling her with a strange mixture of comfort and longing.
Sliding out of bed, Y/N padded into the kitchen, her bare feet silent on the cool floor. Boothill glanced over his shoulder, his face lighting up with a grin when he saw her.
"Morning," he said, holding up a steaming mug. "Coffee's ready."
Y/N took the mug from him, savoring the warmth against her hands. "Thanks," she murmured, taking a small sip. The rich, bitter taste was a welcome anchor to start the day.
Boothill leaned against the counter, his arms crossed as he studied her. "You sleep okay?"
She nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Better than I have in a while. I think... I'm starting to feel more at ease here. With everything."
Boothill's expression softened, and he nodded. "Good. You deserve that."
They stood in companionable silence for a moment, the quiet hum of the refrigerator and the occasional clink of the coffee pot filling the space between them. Then Boothill cleared his throat, his tone shifting slightly.
"I've been thinking," he said. "About the future. About what we're going to do when the baby comes."
Y/N's heart skipped a beat. The future had always felt like a distant, nebulous thing—something to worry about later. But hearing Boothill bring it up made it feel real, immediate.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice cautious.
He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "I mean... this isn't just about us anymore. We've got to figure out where we're going to live, how we're going to take care of the baby. What kind of life we want to build."
Y/N stared into her coffee, the weight of his words settling over her. "I don't know," she admitted. "I've been so focused on just getting through each day that I haven't let myself think that far ahead."
Boothill stepped closer, his voice gentle. "That's okay. We don't have to have all the answers right now. But maybe it's time we start thinking about it. Together."
The word "together" sent a rush of warmth through her. She looked up at him, meeting his steady gaze. "What do you think we should do?"
He smiled faintly, a rare softness in his expression. "I think we should find somewhere quieter. Away from all this." He gestured toward the window, where the city's skyline loomed in the distance. "Somewhere safe, where we can actually build a life. A home."
Y/N considered his words, the idea of leaving the city both terrifying and exhilarating. She had spent so much of her life running, always moving, never staying in one place for too long. The thought of settling down felt almost foreign. But with Boothill by her side, it didn't seem so impossible.
"Do you really think we could do that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I do," he said firmly. "It won't be easy, but nothing worth having ever is. And I'll be with you every step of the way."
Y/N nodded slowly, a small spark of hope igniting in her chest. "Okay," she said. "Let's do it. Let's start planning for a real future."
Boothill's grin widened, and for a moment, the weight of the world felt a little lighter.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of conversation and tentative plans. They talked about the kind of place they wanted to find—somewhere with open spaces, maybe near the coast or in the mountains. Somewhere they could raise their child away from the chaos and danger that had defined their lives for so long.
As the afternoon turned to evening, Boothill pulled out an old map, spreading it across the coffee table. They sat side by side on the floor, their heads bent close together as they traced potential routes and marked promising locations.
"I like this area," Boothill said, pointing to a small town near a river. "It's far enough from the city to be quiet, but not so remote that we'd be completely cut off."
Y/N nodded, studying the map. "It looks nice. And... peaceful."
They continued talking late into the night, their plans slowly taking shape. It wasn't perfect, and there were still so many unknowns, but for the first time in a long time, Y/N felt a sense of purpose.
As they finally folded the map and set it aside, Boothill leaned back against the couch, his expression thoughtful.
"We're really doing this, huh?" he said, a hint of awe in his voice.
Y/N smiled, her heart swelling with a mix of excitement and nerves. "Yeah. We are."
Boothill reached for her hand, his grip warm and reassuring. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together. That's all that matters."
Y/N squeezed his hand, her resolve strengthening. The road ahead might be uncertain, but with Boothill by her side, she knew they could handle anything.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to believe in the possibility of a better tomorrow.