Swipe Right
Copyright© 2026 by Sci-FiTy1972
Chapter 67: The First Breath
The med bay was hushed in the way rooms become when everyone present understands that noise would feel disrespectful.
The med bed did most of the work—lattice supporting, sensing, responding—but it did not remove pain entirely. That was never its purpose. Life announced itself through effort. Through cost.
Dana’s grip tightened around Ace’s hand as another wave passed through her.
“I swear,” she said through clenched teeth, “if you ever tell this story wrong—”
Ace nodded rapidly. “I won’t. I’ll get it wrong quietly.”
She laughed once, breathless, then focused again.
Renee stood at the foot of the bed, tablet in hand, eyes steady. She didn’t rush. She didn’t need to. The bed’s readouts were clean. Stress levels elevated but manageable. The lattice compensated where it could and stepped back where it shouldn’t intrude.
“This part,” Renee said gently, “is still yours.”
Dana nodded.
Ace swallowed.
He’d flown into combat zones without flinching. He’d taken G-forces that made his vision narrow to a tunnel and laughed afterward like it was a joke.
This?
This terrified him.
Not because something might go wrong—but because something was about to go right in a way he couldn’t undo.
Another contraction came. Dana bore down. The med bed adjusted subtly, supportive without stealing the moment.
Then—
A sound.
Small. Sharp. Insistent.
The room froze.
Ace didn’t breathe.
Renee smiled.
“Congratulations,” she said softly. “You have a daughter.”
Dana laughed and cried at the same time, exhaustion and joy tangling together. Ace stared at the tiny, furious bundle the med bed carefully presented, his hands hovering uselessly until Renee gently guided them.
“She’s warm,” he whispered, stunned.
“She should be,” Renee replied. “She’s alive.”
Ace looked down at the child in his arms and felt the universe narrow to one perfect, terrifying point.
“I didn’t plan this,” he said suddenly, voice cracking. “Not like this. I mean—we did, but not—”
Dana raised an eyebrow weakly. “Ace.”
He dropped to one knee beside the med bed without thinking, still holding their daughter like gravity had personally assigned him this task.
“Marry me,” he blurted. “Not because we should, but because I don’t ever want to imagine a version of the universe where I don’t choose you every day.”
Dana stared at him.
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