Apocalyptic World: Surviving with my husband and my cute little babies

The moment they stepped into the room, a refreshing coolness surrounded them.

The temperature inside was noticeably lower than in the living room, offering a welcome contrast to the heavy heat outside.

As Elena made her way to the bed, the only sound was the steady hum of the cooling devices, working diligently to maintain the comfortable air.

Well, Ethan had made sure earlier that everything was arranged for his wife's comfort—from the soft bedding to the perfectly adjusted room temperature.

Seeing everything was already in place, she eased herself onto the bed with a contented sigh.

Her growing belly left her feeling exhausted, as the energy required to support the baby drained her core more easily these days.

Aware of this mysterious fatigue, Ethan insisted on assisting her and remained by her side ever since.

Once she was comfortable, he sat softly on the edge of the bed with a storybook in hand, ready to begin their quiet nightly ritual of prenatal stories to the baby.

"What should I read to the baby tonight?" he asked softly, retrieving short stories from his [Inventory].

"Hmm... should we go read with the princess and the frog?" she offered, her voice sleepy but warm.

Ethan paused, unsure.

They had been reading fairy tales almost every night—stories of princesses, magical creatures, and happily-ever-afters.

While Ethan didn't mind indulging their unborn daughter with such gentle whimsy, a small part of him began to crave something different.

Lately, he found himself wondering if these sweet stories were enough.

In his heart, he wanted the baby to grow up aware of the harsh truths, not just the gentle dreams.

He yearned for tales of bravery, of heroes who faced darkness head-on, even if it meant including a touch of violence.

But Elena, already sensing his change of thought, shook her head slightly.

"Those stories can be so bloody sometimes. What if the baby develops a strange fascination with fighting? I don't want them to become a manic madman," she said with a faint pout.

Ethan chuckled softly, placing his warm hands over her belly.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to read too many bloody stories. Just enough adventure to keep things interesting. Right, baby?"

As if understanding his words, the baby gave a small kick in response—gentle, but unmistakable.

Elena blinked, a little surprised.

'That's... agreement, isn't it?' she murmured, half-amused.

With a quiet laugh, she gave in and nodded, letting Ethan continue.

Soon, his deep, calming voice filled the room, steady and smooth as he read aloud the story.

To her surprise, the baby didn't move much at all—not like the usual flurry of kicks she felt during tales of princesses or fairylands.

This time, the little one stayed calm, as if genuinely listening.

Elena found it both amusing and strange.

A small thought crept into her mind—what if the baby preferred this kind of story?

What if… There was more than one baby inside her belly, and they were all boys—eager for battles, quests, and adventures.

She turned slightly to glance at Ethan's soft, doting expression as he read, so gentle and absorbed in the moment.

She knew how much he hoped for a baby girl.

She did, too. A daughter who resembled him—a little cold beauty with his serious eyes—would be adorable.

Still, no matter what the outcome was, she knew one thing for sure: they would love their child, whether boy or girl, with all their hearts.

As Ethan continued reading, Elena slowly drifted off into sleep, her breathing calm and even.

The baby, still and quiet, seemed just as entranced by the story as if enjoying this quiet time with their father.

Looking at his wife peacefully asleep, Ethan paused for a moment and leaned in, gently kissing her forehead.

"Goodnight, wife," he whispered softly.

But just as he pulled away, a sudden kick from her belly made him sigh.

The baby was not pleased with the pause in the story.

"Alright, alright, stop kicking your mom," he muttered, shifting his weight slightly and glancing at Elena, who remained sound asleep.

"I'll finish the story, okay?"

There was a hint of exasperation in his voice.

He couldn't help but feel a little helpless—his unborn child was already acting out, demanding attention even now.

And it was Elena who had to bear the brunt of it, her body already tired and drained.

Still, Ethan continued reading, his voice low but animated.

When he finally closed the book, thinking the story was enough for the night, he moved to lie beside his wife.

But another kick came—firm and stubborn.

"No more," he murmured firmly, frowning just a little. "It's late now. Dad needs rest too, just like your mom."

He placed a gentle hand on her belly, rubbing small soothing circles in hopes of calming the little one.

"Let's sleep, alright?"

Miraculously, the kicking stopped.

Ethan exhaled in relief, easing down beside Elena.

He wrapped his arms around her with care, letting his body sink into the warmth of their shared bed.

In the quiet of the night, while the world outside battled disaster and heat, their small bubble of peace remained untouched—for now.

Ethan held her a little tighter, grateful for this moment of stillness, and drifted off to sleep with a quiet smile.

****

While things were calm on Elena's side, the atmosphere over at the Abbott's unit was growing tense.

Five Abbott representatives had arrived, seeking information from Brother Elias regarding the woman the heavens had warned them about.

According to the heavenly visions, this woman would bring destruction upon their world, and now their task was to eliminate her before it was too late.

"Brother Elias," one of the representatives began, his tone steady but sharp, "have you received any clues about the woman mentioned in the vision? It seems the heavens have led us here."

Brother Elias gave a faint, almost amused smile.

"Ah, not sure about that. The heavens haven't shared any vision with me. Are you certain about the content of the message?"

"Never been wrong," the representative replied firmly, conviction in his voice.

"Oh, is that so?" Elias asked, his voice cool, laced with subtle doubt.

The Abbott representatives exchanged uncertain glances.

There was something in Elias's demeanor—calm, yet probing—that unsettled them.

It was as if he were deliberately withholding cooperation.