My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

After watching Amanda finally drift off to sleep, Lucius quietly got out of bed and headed to his study. The day had started off like any other-an early class and then a few hours free-but in the end, they hadn't gone back to campus.

He had a lot on his mind. It was obvious that neither of them had planned for a baby, but now it was happening, and they couldn't just ignore it.

After several minutes of reflecting on what steps to take, he gathered his courage and decided to call the one man who could very well shape his future.

If he called now, he was sure to catch him-there was a ten-hour time difference.

He grabbed his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found Anthony Moriarty. Lucius stared at the name for several long moments, then finally hit "Call." As the line started ringing, a cold sweat ran down his back.

He figured he knew Moriarty well enough to imagine the worst-case scenario. Still,

he was sure of what he needed to do, with or without the man's approval.

"Moriarty..."

"Anthony?" Lucius said, his nervousness obvious.

"Yes. What do you need? Don't you sleep? Don't you have homework or something?" the man immediately bombarded him with questions.

"Well... yeah, but I figured if I called at this time, I might catch you free."

"Alright, then. What is it?" Moriarty asked, reviewing some documents as he ate breakfast.

"I think I'd like to speak to you in person..." Lucius said, second-guessing himself.

"You do realize I'd have to bring you back here to do that, right?"

"I know! But it's urgent and really important..." Lucius replied, getting more nervous by the second.

"What do you want, Lucius? Just say it already-stop beating around the bush."

kind of a personal

are my concern too, but I'm not about to send a private jet so you can come cry on my shoulder. Speak up!" the man snapped,

do this over the phone, but I get it-you're not sending a jet, so I'll just say

my patience," Moriarty growled, just as his wife and daughter walked out to

about Amanda and

you need? What's

We haven't confirmed it 100%, but there's a

enough already! Just tell me what the hell's going

finally blurted out, bracing for an epic

silence settled between them. Moriarty leaned back in his chair and

to do?"

surprise. That... was not the reaction he

"Sorry... what?"

your plan? I assume you've talked about it and you know

but I was really worried

why should I butt into something that isn't directly my business assume

to force your

serious, but

just wanted to tell you myself. Honestly, I didn't know how you'd take it..." Lucius said, finally starting

a kid anymore, and Amanda even less. A child is a big responsibility. So...

going to keep studying and raise

this?" he said, glancing at his wife who now had wide eyes and a grin

to

figure it out. A baby isn't exactly easy to

"

it's time for you to step up and start doing what it takes to

your

do you mean by