Duke's security detail followed closely behind him as he headed up the elevator. He was looking for answers, and after being avoided for so long, he was going to get them. He was well aware of the attention on him as he walked towards the office, and when the woman saw him approaching, her eyes widened.

"Don't even bother stopping me," he said, walking past her and straight into the office.

"Duke?" Scott asked, confused.

"Where is he Scott and don't bother lying to me?" Duke asked, sitting in the chair opposite the man.

"He's at the lake house, but you don't want to interrupt him. Besides, he's coming back later today," Scott informed.

"It's been three weeks since the biggest announcement of his career and he decided to lay low? Is he dense?" Duke asked.

"Look, I'm not at liberty to say anything. You know how he is, so you'll talk to him and pick this battle with him when he comes back. Just know that his reasoning is valid," Scott defended.

Duke frowned. "What's going on Scott? Is he in trouble?"

"On the contrary; when we last spoke, he sounded happier than I've heard him in a long time. I can't tell you why because it isn't my place, but being who you are, he'll tell you in time. Just don't rush or judge him. You know he'd never put himself in a position he couldn't get out of," Scott replied.

And he could only hope that he was right about his best friend.

Astrid watched him, smiling to herself. He looked the most relaxed she'd ever seen him, and seeing him like that offered her some shelter from the thoughts that were really daunting her- thoughts of how they would make things work.

He'd told her to trust him, and trust him she would.

Instead she watched him as he drove. His tribal tattoo was visible on his arm since he was wearing a t-shirt, and she enjoyed watching his arm flex every time he steered the car. She took his free hand and kissed every one of his fingers.

He smiled, briefly looking over at her. "What was that for?"

"Nothing specific, but mostly for being you," she said sweetly.

"I feel like you're setting me up for something," he joked.

She laughed. "It's nothing like that. I'm just really happy and relaxed, and I haven't felt like this in a shamefully long time. In fact, I think the word I'm looking for is giddy."

"Adorable is what you are," he said, pinching her thigh.

She squealed, giggling, and it made him smile to see her like that. They'd spent the remainder of their time at the lake house just being together. They got to know each other on the surface level, exploring things such as their likes, dislikes, dreams and fears.

They didn't care that they'd basically disappeared from their lives.

He made love to her like he'd never made love to any other woman. He loved worshipping her body, and she couldn't get over him and what he does to her. He'd also managed to bring out her sexual side, serving to confirm his thoughts about having found his match.

She could keep up with him and pleasure him better than any woman before her ever did.

He was shocked to learn that she could cook and that she loved baking. She admitted that Raymond had banned her from doing both, so he'd gone out and bought a whole lot of food, just so that she could cook and bake for them.

They even got around to talking about their child. While they were both on the same page with regards to being together, they both understood that their future was an unpredictable one, so they stuck to talking about their child, their life together, in a perfect world where their problems didn't exist.

Thor could only see a woman who hadn't been allowed to be herself in the longest time, and she could see a man who had sheltered his true self from the world for the longest time.

He knew that there was something she was hiding, but he understood that he couldn't rush her into letting him into that part of her life since he wasn't ready to do the same. He understood that they needed to get to know each other and grow with each other first before getting to that point.

But he'd come close to telling her.

There was just something about Astrid, especially her true self, that made him feel like he could tell her anything. The only thing truly stopping him was fear that she'd view him differently, but he found that that was the only thing stopping him.

He was falling, and he was falling fast.

His only consolation was knowing that they were on the same page. His past has granted him the ability to read people well, and he knew that she wasn't lying about how she felt about him. It was true in everything she did and said.

She was falling just as fast and just as hard.

She'd find herself getting up and finding him asleep beside her. She'd lean on her elbow and just watch him. He has many scars, both physical and emotional, and she couldn't wait for the day he'd finally tell her about them.

But she was sure of one thing- he was her truest chance at happiness.

It was no secret that life had dealt her some of the worst situations, but for the first time in her life, she was optimistic about the future. While Raymond's place in it worried her, she found peace in Thor.

While she didn't know much about the father of her child, she knew that his past was a dark one, but the kind of dark that makes a person stronger than most would expect. It wasn't just his physical appearance that she had faith in, but in the way he carried himself.

She knew without a doubt that Thor was a bigger man in all aspects than her husband could ever hope to be.

In their time away, she'd also started showing, majorly. She'd gained weight out of nowhere, resulting in her wearing his clothes for most of the time. It was as though she needed to spend time away with Thor for their baby to make an appearance. He loved seeing her stomach, if having her walk around in just her bra was any indication.

Despite the whole situation being new to them both, once they admitted that they wanted to be together, Thor's overprotectiveness grew. He would take care of her after she threw up in the mornings, and he'd attend to her every need during the day and night.

She couldn't remember a time when anyone paid her this much attention.

"What are you so lost in thought about?" he asked when he realized that she'd drifted off.

She turned to face him, smiling a little. "The truth?"

He nodded. "Always."

"I'm thinking about how safe I feel with you. I remember you saying that you could handle yourself, but only now do I truly believe it. There's something about you that just screams power," she admitted.

He frowned, unsure of whether or not to tell her, but he did anyway. "I was in the army before going special forces. I quit that two years ago to start a private security company."

She was stunned. "When did you join?"

"I was recruited at an early age for an undercover CIA project. That's where I was first trained before being taken to the army when I was eighteen. I joined special forces three years later."

"The scars..." she trailed off in a whisper.

"Are mostly from that part of my life," he finished off.

"I have so many questions, but I don't want to ask them now," she said.

"Why not?" he asked curiously.

"Because it's a heavy conversation for another time. I want to enjoy my company with you before we get back to reality," she replied.

He reached out and held her hand. "We will find a way to make this work."

"I know we will. Where are we going by the way?" she remembered to ask.

"We're on our way to the doctor," he informed.

"The doctor? I thought we were going home," she said, confused.

"We're on our way there. We just happen to be going to the doctor first. Since we've established that Raymond lied to you, I'm guessing your gynaecologist is someone he has on his payroll, so I called Margot to ask her for a gynaecologist we could go to. I didn't mention why I needed the information, so she's undoubtedly curious, but I need to know that the two of you are ok before we go back," he explained.

She couldn't help the butterflies that swarmed her stomach at his words.

"Margot? You mean Margot Specter? How do you know her and Duke by the way?" she asked.

"I met her through him, and I met him back when I first joined the army. He adopted me as his little brother then. I've always known that he was destined for greatness, but I asked he and Margot to keep me out of the press, no matter how much they love me. I only allowed it on my birthday because I figured I could do this one thing for them after everything they've done for me," he replied.

"So, your big brother just so happens to be someone who actually stands to become the president of the country, your best friend is one of the most talked about businessmen and bachelors, and you're the top architect and twentieth richest man in the country," she stated.

"Does any of it bother you?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I couldn't care less for it, especially your wealth. I don't want you to think that's why I want to be with you."

"The thought never crossed my mind. If anything, I already knew that you wanted nothing to do with it, but it does make me curious about something," he commented.

"You want to know if I'm ok with you spending money on me," she said knowingly.

He nodded. "I don't ever want you to compare me to Raymond, however, I can't help that I have money just like he does. It's obviously a hell of a lot more, but that's not the point. I'm a complicated person, but I also like nice things, and I want to spend money on you and our child, but I don't want you to see it as me buying your affection," he explained.

"You want to be with me Thor, and I see it in your eyes. I would never mistake you spending money on me as you buying my affection; not that you need to anyway. I'm fine with it because I know that with you it's coming from a genuine place," she smiled.

He brought her hand up to kiss it. "I promise not to go overboard."

"Now I didn't say that. You're not the only person who likes nice things you know," she teased, making him laugh.

They spent the rest of their trip to the doctor's office with her singing along to the songs on the radio. He wasn't all that surprised to find out that she can sing. She just looks like someone who can, and her voice was melodic to him.

They arrived at the doctor's office and headed inside to find it relatively empty. There were only a few people there and she'd questioned why they were at a gynaecologist's office outside town, until he reminded her that they couldn't be seen together, especially in San Diego.

She filled out the forms that she needed to before the receptionist told them that they could sit in the waiting area until they were called. They sat next to each other, holding hands while she leaned on him.

"Thor," she called after a while.

"Hmm?" he replied.

"I'm nervous," she confessed.

He scowled, looking down at her. "Why?"

"Now that we know that Raymond paid off my gynaecologist, I can't help but wonder if he paid off all my doctors. For all I know, I know nothing about my body," she explained.

"Do you want to get a full body check-up?" he asked.

"I know I can't have one today, but now that we're here, can we see what I can get tested and what not? It haunts me not knowing what's going on with me because I married a deranged man," she said, frowning.

He kissed her forehead. "Let's first find out if you and our baby are ok and then we'll ask the doctor about everything else."

She smiled before kissing him. "Thank you."

Her name was called soon after and the two of them got up and headed where they were directed. They arrived to be met by a woman in her forties who smiled at them upon entry. They only knew that her name was Doctor Rayna.

"Hi guys. My name is Doctor Rayna Graham. I believe this is your first time here?" she asked Astrid.

Astrid nodded before briefly telling the woman why. "That's why I need a new doctor."

"I'm sorry to find out about what your ex-husband did to you, and you have my confidentiality as you are protected by the doctor patient confidentiality clause. I'm more than happy to not only be your gynaecologist, but to also recommend you on where to go from here for your other queries," Dr Graham said.

"Thank you," Thor was the one to reply.

"You're the father of the baby, right?" she asked him, to which he nodded.

"Alright, that's great. I take it this is your first appointment?" Dr Graham asked Astrid.

"Yes, it is. I only did a home test," Astrid confirmed.

"That's fine. Let's get you prepped for an ultrasound and see just what we're dealing with," Dr Graham said.

She led the couple over to the bed and asked Astrid to lay down and lift her top. Astrid was more than grateful for the warm gel that was spread across her stomach, while Thor held her hand.

Dr Graham clicked some buttons on the ultrasound machine before placing the transducer probe on Astrid's stomach. For a while, silence descended on the room as Dr Graham moved the probe around. When she narrowed her eyes at the screen, Thor noticed.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Are any of you multiples or do you have a history of multiples in your families?" Dr Graham asked.

"My mom was a triplet," Astrid replied.

"My father is a twin. Why do you ask?" Thor asked.

"Well, it would seem their genetics caught up with you both. You're eleven weeks pregnant and you're having multiples, triplets to be exact."

She watched them carefully as they took in her words. It was very rare that she found herself not being able to read her patients' faces, but she found that she couldn't read the couple's expressions. They both had their poker faces on.

What they didn't know was that they were thinking the same thing. The thought of having triplets both terrified and excited them, and they each had their own reasons for why that was- reasons that they hadn't communicated to each other.

Astrid had always dreamed of having a big family. After the drama she had with hers, when she left, she promised herself that she would have a big family of her own; one that she wouldn't abandon and one that she hoped wouldn't leave her.

Thor wanted a big family simply because of how small his already was. When his parents divorced, his mother took him and Kylie and they moved to a whole new city away from any of his family members. He never understood the isolation, but he promised himself that he would one day have a big family to make up for the one he lost.

What terrified them both was the way forward. For whatever reason, the weight of the situation they were in seemed less serious with one baby in the picture. Being told that they were having triplets had them both realizing that they needed an actual plan.

And fast.

"Are you guys ok? Do you need me to step out for a while?" Dr Graham asked them. They nodded.

"Alright. Let me get the scans for you while you clean up. You can join me that side when you're ready," she told them before leaving the room.

"Triplets," Thor said, testing the word out as Astrid wiped the gel off of her stomach.

"I don't know whether to panic or not," she admitted.

He smiled a little. "Is it a bad thing that I'm excited?"

"You are?" she asked, surprised.

"I mean yeah. I've achieved basically everything I wanted to except having a wife and kids. I've always wanted a big family, and I guess you can't get any more of a head start than triplets," he joked.

She laughed. "I guess not, but our situation isn't the most ideal one. We need help Thor. There's no way I'm going to be able to hide a pregnancy, let alone a multiples one."

"I know, but I'd be lying if I said that I knew what to do," he admitted.

"We might need to recruit the people in our lives to help us," she pointed out.

He sighed. "We'll see. Let's first get done here and we'll talk on the way home."

"You're not much of a forward planner, are you?" she teased.

He shrugged. "I'm a live in the now with what you know kind of guy."

She got up and kissed him. "It's cute."

She laughed at the look on his face before walking back out to Dr Graham.

"How are we feeling?" Dr Graham asked them.

"We didn't expect it, but we definitely welcome it," Astrid replied. Thor sat beside her, his hand wrapped around hers.

"How long will she be pregnant for?" he asked.

"Most women carrying triplets give birth around thirty-five weeks, and then the babies are kept here until they're strong enough to go home. We'll be able to determine the due date further down the line, but multiples pregnancies can be tricky," Dr Graham replied.

"So, what's the way forward from here?" Astrid asked.

"Well, your check-ups are going to have to be more frequent because of the multiples situation, so I first need to establish if you want to change doctors. Perhaps you'd like to be closer to your doctor?" Dr Graham offered.

"We don't mind the drive doc. Their safety comes first, and I'd rather Raymond not know about this," Thor told her.

She nodded. "Fair enough. There's also the fact that I don't have any of your medical records. Now, given the story that you've told me, I assume that trying to get your records will raise flags with Raymond, which is something we do not want. So, as I said before, I'm going to offer you some recommendations. I'll even speak to some of my colleagues to get them to move you up in their schedules. I'll take your blood for the bloodwork myself. I just need to have you checked so that I can understand if you're healthy and if there's anything that could hamper your pregnancy. We want you and the little ones to be fine at the end of this, so naturally, you'll be one of my high priority patients."

"We couldn't thank you enough Dr Graham. I'm willing to do anything that is needed of me," Astrid said.

"And I'm willing to pay for it all," Thor added, making the women laugh.

"Ok. Let me just find out who can squeeze you in today and then we'll finish up here," Dr Graham said before leaving them alone once more.

"Can we really do this?" she asked him lowly.

"Together we can. I don't know the first thing about being a father, but I know that I want to be one, and I couldn't have asked for anyone better to be the mother of my kids," he assured, caressing her cheek.

"Careful now. You're going soft on me," she teased.

He chuckled. "I haven't told you everything about me, but I also don't want to shut you out. Not only are we having kids together, but I want to be with you, remember?"

"I know. I'm just so afraid of this failing. I don't want to put myself or our children in danger. I feel like hiding," she admitted.

"You sound like you want to disappear for your whole pregnancy," he joked. When he was met with silence, his eyes widened.

"You want to hide for your whole pregnancy?" he asked.

"According to Dr Graham's predictions, I have about six months left. You told me yourself that Raymond would never find me if I'm with you. You run a private security company. I'm pretty sure you can hide me for six months," she said seriously.

He scowled. "Are you hearing yourself? You want to disappear from your life for seven months and then come back like nothing happened?"

"We can come up with a story as time goes by," she replied.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Even if I went along with this, how do you then expect me to hand you back to that asshole just after you give birth to our children?"

"Look, I don't have all the answers right now. I'm just saying that this is an option to consider," she said before Dr Graham returned.

Thor was distracted by what she'd proposed, so much so that he was no longer paying attention to Dr Graham. Astrid noticed, so she paid attention for the both of them. After taking her blood, Dr Graham notified her that four of her colleagues were free to see her, so she wrote down everything they needed before bidding them farewell.

"Talk to me," Astrid pleaded as they headed to the cardiology department.

"I'm trying to wrap my mind around what you're saying and trying to see if it could actually work," he responded.

"You're considering it?" she asked, surprised.

"Maybe. I'm not comfortable with you going back to him, but you going back to him while you're pregnant certainly isn't an option, so really, your idea doesn't sound that farfetched," he explained.

"There's no one I trust more than you with our safety Thor, so I know that you'll figure this out," she said.

"Your belief in me is overwhelming," he mumbled as they reached the receptionist station at their destination.

They stayed at the hospital for three more hours as she got tested and scanned for different things by the different doctors. By the time they left, she was tired and she wanted nothing more than to get to his apartment and sleep.

"I need to pass by the office and collect some documents and projects so that I can work from the apartment. We'll pick up some food from here so that you can just eat and sleep," he told her.

"Ok," she said softly, falling asleep already.

He reached the building and parked the car, noticing Scott's car in the parking lot since it was the only one there. It was eight in the evening, so he could only imagine that his best friend was having a late night.

He left the car and went around to recline the seat for Astrid. She sighed contently and he kissed her forehead, before closing the door and heading into the building. The security guards he passed by greeted him as he made his way up to the office.

The last person he expected to find was waiting for him in his office. "You got someone pregnant?"