MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat - Chapter 514

Chapter 514: Chapter 514: Her Voice, His Home
The steady hum of the engines filled the cabin. Damon leaned back in his seat, watching Svetlana sleep next to him, her hand resting on her stomach.

He glanced at his phone sitting idle on the table. It hit him then

He hadn’t called his mother.

For a second, he just stared at the screen. Then he picked it up and unlocked it, scrolling to Aoife’s name. He pressed call without thinking about it too much.

It rang twice before she answered.

“Damon,” her voice came through soft, a little surprised, but warm as always.

“Hey, Mom,” he said. His voice softened more than he expected.

There was a pause. Then she asked, “How’s the trip going?”

Her tone was light, casual, but he could tell she wanted to hear more than that.

“It’s good,” he replied. “We’re flying back now. We had some… unexpected stuff, but it’s been good.”

He heard her shift on the other end, maybe settling into her chair. “Unexpected, huh? What kind?”

Damon exhaled through his nose, glancing again at Svetlana. “I proposed.”

The line went quiet for a second. Then Aoife’s voice came back, bright and full of emotion. “You did?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I did.”

There was a short laugh. “About time.”

He smiled to himself.

“She’s a good woman,” his mother said. “I always liked her. You’re lucky.”

“I know,” he replied.

Another pause, then Aoife’s voice came again, lighter this time. “Well… when are you two going to give me grandchildren?”

Damon froze for a half second. It was casual. Just a passing comment.

But it landed differently this time.

He swallowed. “Sooner than you think,” he said.

She laughed again. “That’s what they all say.”

Damon didn’t say anything right away. He could hear the happiness in her voice, and for a second, he just let himself listen to it.

When they finally ended the call, he sat there for a moment longer, the phone still in his hand.

He was starting a family.

And as much as it scared him, hearing his mother’s voice reminded him why it mattered.

As Damon ended the call, he set the phone down on the small table beside him and exhaled slowly. His eyes shifted back to Svetlana as she stirred in her seat, adjusting herself against the cushions.

She blinked slowly, still half asleep. Damon moved closer, instinctively.

He reached for the water bottle resting near her and opened it, holding it out.

“Here,” he said quietly. “Drink some.”

Svetlana took it without a word, her fingers brushing lightly against his. She sipped, then leaned her head back, offering a faint smile.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

A soft chime sounded overhead, followed by the pilot’s voice through the speaker. “Mr. Cross, Ms. Steele. We’ll be landing shortly. Please remain seated.”

Damon gave a nod, even though the man couldn’t see him, and clicked her seatbelt into place before settling back into his own.

They both sat in silence as the plane descended, the soft hum growing louder as they dropped through the clouds. The smoothness of the ride gave way to the faintest tremble when the wheels met the tarmac.

And just like that, they were home.

They stepped off the plane, the warmth of the morning sun hitting them as they crossed the tarmac. It felt good to be back, even if they both knew their world had changed while they were away.

After clearing through the usual formalities, the first place they went was a small café not far from the airport. A quiet spot. One they’d stopped at a few times before, where no one bothered them and the coffee was always good.

They sat at a corner table by the window. Damon ordered them breakfast while Svetlana rested her head against her hand, still shaking off the travel fatigue.

The food came quick, scrambled eggs, toast, some fruit, and coffee. Simple, but exactly what they needed.

As they ate, they talked about little things at first. The flight. How quiet it had been. How good it felt to stretch their legs again. But after a while, Damon set his fork down and wiped his hands on the napkin.

“I’ve been thinking about something,” he said.

Svetlana glanced up at him, her eyes soft but curious.

He leaned back a little, looking out the window briefly before turning back to her.

“Buying some land. A place outside the city,” he said. “Not too far from everything, but quiet. Space to breathe.”

Svetlana’s lips curved into a warm smile. She stared at him for a moment, then tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes.

“And you said you weren’t ready?”

Damon chuckled under his breath and shook his head.

“Hey,” he corrected, “I didn’t say I wasn’t ready. I said I was scared.”

Her smile deepened, and she reached across the table, taking his hand in hers.

“And now?” she asked.

He gave her hand a squeeze.

“Now I’m both.”

But he smiled as he said it.

And so did she.

Damon stretched his hands out slowly and placed them gently over hers. His thumb brushed along the back of her hand, his gaze steady, searching her face with quiet focus.

“You know,” he said, his voice low but clear, “so much has happened. You fainting… the pregnancy… the proposal… I haven’t really had the chance to ask about you. How do you feel?”

Svetlana smiled at him, soft and genuine, but there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes.

“I don’t know,” she admitted after a moment. Her fingers tightened around his, holding them like something solid she could ground herself with. “I’m nervous.”

She took a breath, slow and steady, then went on.

“But I can’t wait.”

Her eyes softened as she looked at him, a quiet confidence behind them now.

“I didn’t think I’d have something like this… a life like this. You know?”

There was a brief pause, like she was sorting through the words, but then she gave a small shake of her head. “But here I am. And I’m happy. Scared sometimes, but happy.”

Damon nodded slowly, giving her hand a squeeze.

“I get it,” he said.

And he did.

He understood that feeling better than most.