The bookstore was quiet, with only the soft hum of a distant fan filling the air. Draven and Seren sat together in the small back office, separated from the main store by a flimsy curtain. Seren's grandparents had taken Olivier to get some ice cream, giving them a moment alone. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words and emotions.
Draven broke the silence first, his voice soft but determined. "I need to know everything, Seren," he said, his eyes searching Seren's face. "About Olivier, about... how this happened. I don't understand how you could have given birth."
Seren took a deep breath, knowing this conversation was inevitable. He looked down at his hands, which were trembling slightly, and began to speak. "When I was sixteen, I found out that I have something called persistent Müllerian duct syndrome," he explained quietly. "It means that I was born with a womb, even though I'm male. My parents knew, but they never told me until the doctors discovered it by accident after I had some health issues."
Draven's expression was one of shock and concern. "And you never told me," he murmured, more to himself than to Seren. "Why?"
"Because I didn't want you to see me differently," Seren admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I was scared. And then, after we... after we slept together on that business trip, I found out I was pregnant. I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't know how to tell anyone."
Draven leaned back in his chair, processing the information. "So all this time, you were raising our son alone?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion. "You never thought to reach out, to ask for help?"
Seren shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "I didn't want to drag you into something you didn't sign up for," he said, his voice breaking. "I thought... I thought it would be easier for you if you didn't know."
Draven's heart ached at the pain in Seren's voice, at the loneliness and fear that had driven him to keep such a monumental secret. "But you didn't have to do it alone," he said softly, reaching out to take Seren's hand in his. "I would have been there, every step of the way. You and Olivier are the most important people in my life, and I hate that you felt like you had to go through all of this without me."
Seren looked up at Draven, his vision blurred by tears. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I was scared. I didn't want to lose you, but I also didn't want to hold you back. You've always been so driven, so successful... I didn't want to be the reason you couldn't do what you wanted."
Draven shook his head, squeezing Seren's hand gently. "You never would have held me back," he said firmly. "If anything, you make me want to be better, to do better. For you, and for Olivier."
Seren's tears spilled over, a mix of relief and regret washing over him. "I just... I didn't know what to do," he confessed. "Everything happened so fast, and I felt like I was drowning. I thought maybe, if I stayed away, it would be easier for both of us."
Draven pulled Seren into a tight embrace, holding him close as he let out a shaky breath. "You don't have to do this alone anymore," he murmured into Seren's hair. "I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere."
They stayed like that for a long moment, wrapped up in each other, the weight of the past slowly lifting as they held on to the hope of a new future. Finally, Draven pulled back slightly, looking into Seren's eyes with a serious expression.
"Marry me, Seren," he said, his voice steady and filled with conviction. "Let me help raise our son. Let me be there for you, in every way that matters. I want to build a life with you and Olivier, together."
Seren's breath hitched at Draven's words, his heart racing in his chest. "Marry you?" he repeated, almost unable to believe what he was hearing.
Draven nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes," he said. "I know it's sudden, but I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I love you, Seren. I've loved you since the moment I first saw you, and I don't want to waste any more time. I want to be with you, to be a father to Olivier, and to make this work. So please, marry me."
Seren felt a rush of emotions—fear, hope, love, and everything in between. He had spent so long convincing himself that this kind of happiness wasn't meant for him, that he didn't deserve it. But now, looking into Draven's eyes, he felt a spark of something he hadn't felt in years: a belief that maybe, just maybe, he could have a second chance at happiness.
With a trembling smile, Seren nodded, tears streaming down his face. "Yes," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "Yes, I'll marry you."
Draven's face broke into a wide grin, and he pulled Seren into another tight embrace, his heart soaring with joy. "Thank you," he murmured, pressing a kiss to Seren's forehead. "Thank you for giving me this chance."
As they held each other, the promise of a new beginning blossomed between them, filled with hope, love, and the certainty that, no matter what came next, they would face it together.