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The bedroom door was locked, but the handle rattled anyway, a frantic shaking that signaled the end of their five-minute peace.
Inside, Ada and Leon were lying in their bed, cuddled up under the heavy duvet, drifting comfortably in that hazy, serene limbo of being half-asleep. Only a few minutes ago, they were sharing a single, lukewarm cup of peppermint tea, letting the warmth of the morning slowly wash over them. For a brief moment, they just looked at each other. Leon noticed the faint crinkles of exhaustion around Ada's eyes, and she brushed her fingers over the stubborn strand of his hair, coaxing it into place.
Before the kids, this Saturday morning would have looked entirely different. There would have been late-morning sunlight sifting through the curtains, tangled limbs under a cool, silk blanket, and the indulgence of intimacy that stretched into the late afternoon.
However, the birth of their two daughters, Sophie and Diana, had rewritten the rules of their universe.
Now, romance was a fleeting currency they rarely had the time to exchange. Intimacy wasn't a grand, sweeping gesture; it was stealing a desperate, heated embrace in the hallway or in the laundry room while the kids were playing outside, or a quick, tired squeeze of Ada's bum across the kitchen island. They were a solid team that navigated through the whirlwind of snacks, scraped knees, and bedtime stories with ease. But somewhere in the beautiful chaos of parenthood, they had lost the quiet space just for the two of them.
"I could look after them," Helena had suggested at her garden party a month ago.
They had been sitting on her patio, surrounded by the distinct chatter of the neighbours and the lingering scent of grilled food, while the children chased butterflies across the lawn. Helena, looking at her goddaughters in the yard and then at Leon by the grill with compassion, had reached out and clasped Ada's wrist across the garden table.
"You two could really use a break," Helena reaffirmed. "Let me take the girls for a week. You and Leon go find a nice little cabin in the woods. Turn off your phones, and remember what it's like to talk to each other without someone screaming or crying."
Ada and Leon had practically jumped at the offer, instantly picturing a rare, relaxing week of lazy mornings, peaceful dinners, and ...
As of now, that dream vacation was hanging by a single thread.
"Mama! Papa! Open the door!" Sophie's voice screamed through the door, accompanied by a hefty thud that sounded suspiciously like a familiar plastic toy hitting the drywall. Ada sighed, a wry smile breaking through her tired expression as she looked at Leon.
"Stay here. I'll handle it," he said before he kissed her forehead and stood up, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness.
He unlocked the bedroom door and stepped into the hallway, his bare foot immediately finding a stray Lego brick. Wincing, he hopped on one foot, grabbed his half-buttoned shirt from the Z chair, and glanced down at two big, hazel eyes staring at him with anticipation. It was seven-year-old Sophie with a plate of what seemed to be 'food'. Leon hypothesised.
"I didn't do it! I wanted to put the strawberry jam on!" five-year-old Diana chimed in from the right corner, shouting over a shrill, repetitive wail of a toy siren while blissfully waving a plastic dinosaur in the air. The hallway had become a total war zone - two furious kids, littered toys and clothes on the floor, and the source of the argument sat in the middle: a plate of badly burnt toast smeared unevenly with jelly that was now dripping all over the flooring.
Leon stood between the two troublemakers, holding a neon pink ski jacket in one hand and a doll in the other that were scattered on the floorboard, feeling the precious seconds of his morning tick away.
"Hey girls, let's tone the volume down, okay? Mama is still sleeping," Leon warned, trying to inject authority into his voice while frantically scanning the room. His eyes didn't find a solution to the jam crisis. Instead, they landed on the digital clock on the wall.
7:38 AM.
The blinking numbers triggered a sudden wave of confusion that temporarily overrode his panic. He looked at the clock, then at the bright morning light filling the hall, and finally down at his daughters, who were fully awake, already dressed haphazardly, and buzzing with fervor.
"Why are you two even awake right now?" Leon asked, his hands dropping to his sides.
Sophie's defiant stance softened, her bottom lip turning into a small pout. "Because we wanted to make you a surprise breakfast before you leave, since we won't see you for a whole week!"
Leon's heart melted instantaneously, the frustration draining out of him. They had woken up early just to say a proper goodbye before he drove them over to Helena's house.
"But then Diana ruined it!" Sophie complained, her irritation surging once more, and she pointed an accusing finger at her younger sister. "We were making the toast, and she started crashing her stupid dinosaur right into the plate!"
"Mr. Dino wanted to help!" Diana protested loudly, lifting her T-Rex into the air. "He was helping spread the marmalade!"
Before Leon could address the logistics of prehistoric catering, Ada ventured out of the bedroom, her short, black hair a wild, electric cloud. She froze, taking in the charcoal-colored toast, the jam-smeared floor, and Leon standing paralyzed with a random winter gear.
The moment she appeared, both girls abandoned their argument entirely.
"Mama!" Sophie and Diana squealed in unison, swiftly sprinting to their mother like two ducklings.
They collided with Ada, clinging to her legs and wrapping their small arms tightly around her waist. Diana practically tried to climb up her hip, burying her jam-smudged face into Ada's shirt, while Sophie hugged her from the side, refusing to let go. Ada stumbled half a step, overwhelmed by the utter force of their hug. A breathless laugh escaped her as she instinctively wrapped her arms around them.
"What is going on out here?" Ada asked softly as she finally knelt so they met her gaze while the girls continued to cling tightly to her neck.
Leon dropped the jacket and doll back onto the cluttered floor, looking at the three of them before resting a hand on Ada's shoulder. "Our daughters tried to surprise us with breakfast before we leave," he explained with a hint of delight and exhaustion in his voice. "But the toast got a little too crispy, and then a full-scale war broke out over who got to spread the strawberry jam."
Ada looked from the plates to the reddish puddle on the planked surface, a shared knowing look passing between her and Leon. She gently untangled the girls from her neck but kept her hands resting warmly on their shoulders.
"Hey," Ada said, her voice tender but firm as she looked at both of them. Look at me, girls. It was a beautiful idea, and Papa and I love you so much for wanting to do something nice for us. But we don't fight in this house, especially when someone is trying to help."
Sophie looked down at her mismatched socks, her stubbornness beginning to waver. Diana clung tighter to her mom's arm, her doe eyes turning shiny.
"Soph," Ada nudged gently. "What do you need to say to your sister?"
Sophie sighed, her shoulders dropping as she turned to Diana. "I'm sorry I yelled at you, Diana. I just wanted the breakfast to be perfect for Mama and Papa."
Ada turned her gaze to her youngest. "And Dee?"
At the question, Diana's lower lip began to tremble uncontrollably. She dropped her T-Rex onto the floor, and a giant tear rolled down her cheek, quickly followed by a blaring sob as she broke down completely.
"I'm sorry, Sophie!" Diana cried, throwing herself forward and burying her face into her sister's shoulder. "I'm sorry I ruined the surprise! I just wanted to help you, and I- I was really happy to spend time with you together!"
Sophie's anger disappeared in a flash at the sight of her little sister crying. Her stern expression fell away and was replaced by an instinct to comfort Diana. She immediately wrapped her arms around her sister, squeezing her tight and smoothing down her dark hair.
"It's okay, Dee. Don't cry," Sophie whispered, rocking her sister back and forth. "It's okay. You didn't ruin it. Mr. Dino was just hungry."
Diana sniffled, clinging to Sophie's sweater, her crying slowly subsiding into small hiccups as she felt the comfort of the hug. Ada and Leon's eyes met over their daughters' heads in a hushed exchange, the stress of the morning forgotten in the comfort of their bond.
Leon cleared his throat, deliberately breaking the rousing silence with a dramatic, exaggerated sniff. He reached out and picked up a piece of the severely mangled toast from the plate, inspecting it with the precision of a Michelin-star chef.
"Well… " Leon murmured, taking a small, incredibly brave bite that crunched loudly enough to echo through the hallway. He chewed thoughtfully, wincing only slightly as the burnt flavor hit his tongue. "You know, the toast actually doesn't taste that bad. It's got a really nice… deep, smoky flavor to it. Very gourmet."
Seeing right through his lies, Sophie furrowed her brows. "Papa, you liar!"
Diana, however, stopped sniffling immediately. Her curious eyes lit up, brimming with delight. "See, Soph? Papa likes the dinosaur toast! Eat it all, Papa!"
Ada burst out laughing, burying her face in her hands as Leon tried - and failed - to swallow the dry, blackened crust with a straight face.
By the time three hours had passed, the hallway was clear of the marmalade puddle, the charcoal toast had been, unbeknownst to Diana, tossed into the trash, and the girls' bags for the week were securely packed.
Leon kept his hands steady on the leather-wrapped steering wheel as they rolled down the open road. Beside him, Ada was completely focused on the navigation screen on the dashboard, her fingers occasionally tapping the glass as she pulled up the route to the secluded forest, cross-checking the travel time. In the backseat, the atmosphere was entirely transformed - the tearful apologies had been replaced by the lulling scratch of crayons on paper and singing gibberish to the radio.
Leon checked his rearview mirror, catching the reflection of his daughter's faces under the midday sun. A sudden rush of bittersweet emotion swept through him. In less than an hour, they would be dropping them off, and for the first time in years, the house and their lives would be completely silent for seven whole days. He was desperate for the rest, but looking at his daughters, he knew he was going to miss the noise.
"So, girls," Leon announced, his voice warm enough to draw two pairs of eyes up from their coloring book and silence their cheerful babble. "Are you two excited to spend the week with Aunt Helena again?"
Sophie looked up, her eyes lighting up instantly. "Yes! She promised on the phone that we could bake real cookies with sprinkles, and she said I can stay up late to watch a movie!"
"Ohoh, don't tell Mama about the late movie," he interjected, throwing a brisk teasing glance toward the passenger seat.
Ada finally looked up from the navigation screen, smirking as she rolled her eyes amusingly. "I heard that. And for the record, Helena already texted me the bedtime schedule. I see everything."
"I'm gonna build a giant fort!" Diana cheered from her car seat, completely oblivious to the bedtime debate. "A fort for the dinosaurs! And Nena said she has a big box of dress-up clothes!"
"Wow, you two sound incredibly excited," Ada remarked as she watched her youngest daughter wave her toy in the air. She tilted her head, eyes softening. "Won't you miss us at all?"
Their oldest daughter paused her purple crayon, looking up with an unblinking stare. “Of course we’ll miss you, Mommy. But a whole week means a lot of cookies.”
"I'll miss you a little bit," Diana murmured, holding her toy up to the window to watch the trees pass by. "But dinosaurs don't like cottages anyway. They like princess dresses!"
Leon chuckled lowly, catching Ada’s eye for a brief, warm second before glancing up at the mirror again.
“Well, just to make sure you don’t forget about us completely while you’re eating treats,” Leon said, a reassuring smile on his face, “Papa has a surprise for when you get back.”
Sophie squinted in the rearview mirror, her curiosity piqued. "What surprise?"
“My work schedule’s changing after this holiday,” Leon announced proudly, flashing a quick, triumphant grin toward the back seat. “Which means no more leaving before the sun is up. From now on, I get to drop you off right at the elementary school gates, and then Dee and Mr. Dino get a personal chauffeur straight to kindergarten every single morning.”
Sophie shook her head. "No thank you. Cindy's dad already picks me up every morning. His new truck is super big and cool!"
Ada choked back a laugh, instantly turning to Leon with a gleeful smirk. "Ouch. You heard that, right?"
"A truck?!" Leon's smile faltered, a look of genuine, offended heartbreak washing over his face as he glanced from his wife back to his daughter. "Soph, we have a Porsche."
Sophie didn't even look up from her coloring book, totally unfazed. "I don't even know what a Porsh-aa is."
Leon adjusted his grip on the wheel to defend himself. "It's a really cool car too! Made me more than two hundred grand poorer!"
"Well, it's not as big as the truck. And Cindy's dad's car makes really cool rumbling noises."
"Unbelievable," Leon muttered, shaking his head in mock defeat. "Traded for a monster car."
Diana stopped waving Mr. Dino quickly. Her face brightened with unbridled excitement as she leaned forward against her harness. "I like Papa's car! It goes veeeryyy fast like a rocket ship!"
Leon's dramatic frown softened, replaced by a satisfied grin as he caught her beaming face in the mirror. "Thank you, Dee. At least one of my daughters appreciates innovative engineering."
The amusement was wiped clean from Ada's face in a split second. Her smile vanished as she slowly turned her head away from the dashboard to fix her husband with a sharp glare. "Wait a minute. Have you been driving fast while the kids are in the car?"
Leon's posture went completely rigid. He kept his eyes locked dead ahead on the road, clearing his throat as his face flushed. "It was a one-time thing, hon! We were late for the pediatrician's appointment, and I didn't want us to lose our slot."
"A one-time thing?!" Ada repeated, her voice dripping with skepticism as she crossed her arms. "Leon, it’s a doctor’s office. It's not a high-risk mission where you have to race against the clock. If we're late, they just make us sit in the waiting room with the sticky blocks for an extra ten minutes.”
"I was maintaining a safe, efficient speed," Leon mumbled, keeping his eyes firmly locked on the asphalt ahead, completely aware that any defensive move would only prolong the lecture. "And the girls enjoyed the rocket ship simulation."
"The girls are five and seven," Ada countered, though a small twitch at the corner of her mouth threatened to break her stern facade. "They also think that you control the traffic lights with your mind, and by the way, you’re doing a terrible job. Your premium chauffeur license is officially on probation, mister."
"Yes, ma'am," Leon sighed, though he couldn't help but flash a quick, mischievous wink at Diana in the mirror.
Thankfully for Leon, the interrogation was cut short as he turned the steering wheel and guided the low-slung car down a familiar, tree-lined suburban street. He slowed down as they approached a charming house with a beautifully manicured lawn and blooming blue hydrangeas.
"Look! There's Auntie Helena!" Sophie squeaked, dropping her purple crayon onto her lap.
Standing at the edge of the driveway was Helena, hands casually in her jeans pockets. The moment she spotted the familiar car pulling up, her face lit up, and she began waving both arms enthusiastically in the air, a welcoming smile stretching across her face. Leon parked the car smoothly at the edge of the driveway, the engine cutting out with a soft, final hum.
Almost instantly, the heavy car doors clicked open, and the tranquil bubble of the car ride popped into a flurry of lively babbles and movements.
Helena walked over, her face cheerful as she opened the rear door. "There are my favorite girls! Come on out. The cookies are already waiting in the kitchen!"
"Cookies!" Diana squealed, immediately unbuckling her harness and essentially launching herself into her mom's waiting arms as Ada leaned into the backseat to lift her out.
Leon walked around to the rear, popping the back trunk to unload the girls' heavily packed bags. He slung the bright pink straps over his shoulders, watching the chaos unfold on the driveway. Planted by the passenger door, Ada held a giggling Diana high on her hip, wrapping a supportive arm around her waist. The five-year-old clung tightly to Ada's neck with her small arms, burying her face into her shoulder for one last hug, while Sophie remained firmly velcroed to her left leg. Sensing the shift from wild excitement to the actual moment of goodbye, Ada pressed a warm kiss into Diana’s plump cheek.
"Alright, my little T-Rex," Ada whispered affectionately, gently sliding Diana down her hip until her sneakers touched the pavement. Diana didn't move far, immediately leaning back against Ada's side and grabbing a handful of her mom's trench coat. As soon as her hands were free, Ada knelt on the driveway, pulling Sophie into a full embrace. She squeezed her tight, burying her face into her daughter's hair.
"I’ll miss you, sweetie," Ada murmured gently. Sophie hugged her back and planted a loud, sticky kiss right onto her mom's cheek.
"I'll miss you, Mommy," she whispered before leaning back to proudly present her crayon masterpiece to Helena.
"Look, Auntie!" Sophie shouted, waving the paper enthusiastically. "Look at my secret club drawing! Boys aren't allowed!"
"Oh wow, that looks highly confidential, Sophie," Helena laughed, stepping closer to inspect the drawing while gently squeezing Diana's hand. "We will have to tape that right onto the refrigerator so Mr. Dino can't steal the secrets."
With both girls finally standing on the ground, Leon walked over, setting the heavy bags down on the pavement. He dropped to his knees, opened his arms wide, and pulled both of his daughters into a massive, final group hug.
He held them firmly, kissing the tops of their heads; his heart ached with abiding tenderness. "You two be good for Auntie Helena, okay? No catfights. No spilled food. And no dinosaur stampedes in the house," he added, narrowing his eyes in a pointed warning directed straight at his youngest.
"We promise, Papa!" they screamed simultaneously.
With a final round of blowing kisses, Helena took the girls' hands and began leading them up the front steps, Sophie and Diana already chattering away about the giant living room fort they're going to build.
Ada and Leon stood by the open car doors, watching until the front door finally clicked shut. A silence descended over the driveway, broken only by the delicate swaying of the suburban trees. At last, the week of uninterrupted break stretched before them - assuming Leon could survive the rest of the driveway under Ada's watchful eye.
The uneven grit crunched beneath the tires as the car finally rolled to a stop after four hours of driving. Raindrops still glistened on the windshield, and the damp air carried the scent of wet earth. The sun hung low in the sky, flooding the scene with a golden lambency that seemed to perfectly mirror the foreign, idyllic silence.
Through the windshield, the isolated cabin stood nestled among a lush layer of towering pines and oaks, their dark woods catching the soft patches of sunlight drooling through the intertwined branches. There were no building blocks littering the porch, no blaring toy sirens echoing through the trees, and no little hands waiting to smudge the glass. Just the subtle rustle of the wind through the forest.
For a long moment, neither of them moved. They just sat in the plush leather seats, letting the absolute stillness wash over them. Leon turned his head, his blue eyes finding Ada across the center console. A slow, relaxed smile spread across her face as she looked back at him. Without a word, Leon reached across, his fingers sliding into hers. He gently caressed her hand, the touch lingering with endearment.
"I've been waiting for this," Leon said, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
Ada’s smile widened, relief shining in her eyes as she squeezed his hand back. "Me too."
She let out a soft sigh, looking down at their joined hands before glancing back out the window toward the vastness of flora. A persisting concern tinged her speech. "Do you think they'll be okay?"
Her husband let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "Are you kidding? They’ll probably be completely spoiled by Helena again. They're going to come back with five different toys and a whole new wardrobe from the mall."
Ada laughed, the last bit of tension leaving her shoulders. "You're right. She's going to completely ruin our bedtime routine."
"Probably," he smiled, his thumb gently tracing the back of her hand. "But that's a problem for next week."
Leon let go only to open his door, bringing a biting wave of chilly air. Ada grabbed the grocery bags from the backseat, meeting him at the back of the car as he wrenched the trunk lid upward. Together, they walked up the narrow wooden path toward the cabin. Ada balanced the groceries in her arms, while Leon hauled their luggage behind her, effortlessly gliding them across the wooden deck of the porch.
As Ada pushed open the front door, the cozy scent of sweet yellowed pages, woodsmoke, and lavender greeted them. She set the grocery bags down on the rustic kitchen island and looked around. Large panorama windows framed the deep green of the pine trees outside. No TV in sight. Only a towering library stood packed with old books with worn leather spines lined the wall. The cabin was perfect - exactly what they needed.
Leon set the suitcases down in the living room, stepped up behind his wife, and wrapped his arms around her stomach. He rested his chin on her head as they stood together, looking out the window into the greenery.
"Even the wind is whispering," he murmured against her ear. "I think we found a crack in the world."
Ada leaned back against his chest with a deep sigh, placing her hands over his. "I can't even remember the last time it was this quiet."
She turned slightly in his embrace, looking up at him with a delicate smile. Reaching up, she patted his forearm lightly. Leon smiled down at her, his hands resting comfortably on her waist. "Are you perhaps already hungry?"
"Starving," Ada admitted, a gentle laugh in her tone as she looked over at the paper bags on the counter. "The drive definitely worked up an appetite."
"Tell you what," Leon suggested, kissing her forehead. "Why don't you go sit down and rest? Unwind a bit, and I'll take care of dinner for us tonight."
Looking up at him, a gratified but slightly worried expression flickered in her eyes. "Are you sure?" she asked softly. "You drove more than five hours without a single stop."
Leon smirked, tightening his embrace just a fraction as he looked into her eyes. “I feel energized just by looking at you,” he said smoothly.
A gentle blush warmed Ada’s cheeks, a familiar flutter returning that had been buried under the pandemonium of the last few years. She relented with a soft laugh, squeezing his big arm one last time before heading over to the leather couch to read a book. Leon turned to the kitchen island, pulling the fresh ingredients from the grocery bags with a satisfied hum.
Half an hour later, Ada nestled into the quiet of the bedroom, unzipping their luggage and carefully setting their clothes into the old, wooden drawers. She took her time, smoothing out her blouses and placing Leon’s shirts alongside them in the neat, organized space.
Once the suitcases were put away, she walked back into the living area, kneeling before the rustic stone fireplace. She carefully arranged a few dry logs over the kindling and struck a match. The flame caught quickly, casting a warm, honeyed tint across the room as the dry wood began to crackle softly, filling the cabin with a comforting heat.
Across the room, the steady, muted thud of a knife hitting the cutting board flooded the kitchen. Leon worked with an unhurried ease, prepping a simple meal of fresh pasta tossed with onion, garlic, cherry tomatoes, and olive oil. He moved around the kitchen island, quietly humming a tune from the radio in the background.
Ada stood up from the hearth, wiping her hands on her jeans, and walked over to the kitchen island. She leaned against the polished countertop, watching him slice the last of the tomatoes before her eyes drifted to the bottles they had unpacked.
"Should I take out the expensive wine?" Ada asked with a glint in her eyes as she gestured toward the bottle of red they had saved for a special occasion.
Leon looked up from the sink, a slow smile spreading across his face as he wiped his hands on a kitchen towel. "Absolutely. If tonight isn't the perfect excuse to finally open it, I don't know what is."
"I like the way you think," Ada laughed softly, reaching into the bag to retrieve the vintage Cabernet Sauvignon and walking over to the wooden dining table.
"Well, that's why you married me," Leon gave a sly grin, leaning back against the edge of the counter with his arms crossed as Ada rolled her eyes and set the bottle down.
While Leon finished up at the stove, she took over the setting of the table. She laid out the ceramic plates, arranged the polished silverware, and then carefully cut the foil on the wine bottle. With a smooth twist of the corkscrew, the bottle opened with a satisfying pop. Ada leaned over the table, pouring the dry wine into their two long-stemmed glasses, the rich, tawny red liquid catching the flickering light of the growing flame.
Leon turned off the burner, plated the fresh pasta, and brought the steaming dishes over to the table. He slid into the seat across from her as Ada admired her husband’s culinary art. She picked up her glass and held it out across the table. Leon mirrored her movement, their glasses meeting with a soft, melodic clink.
"To us," Ada said gaily, her smile reaching her eyes.
"To us," Leon echoed in contentment. "And to an entire week of absolutely doing nothing."
.
.
.
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The heat of the water had turned the bathroom air into a thick, rose-scented mist.
They shared the deep, clawfoot bathtub, nestled close together amidst mountains of white bubbles. Ada leaned her back against Leon’s lean chest, his big arms loosely wrapped around her waist. The only sound was the occasional, soft splash of water whenever they shifted, and the distant, comforting crackle of the fireplace from the living room.
Ada mindfully traced a trail through the foam on her skin, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "I found something in our suitcase earlier, when I was putting away our clothes," she murmured into the hush.
Leon rested his chin on her bare shoulder, his breath mellow against her wet skin. "Yeah? What did you find?"
"A letter from Sophie, and Diana's favorite plushie," she said in a tender tone. "Sophie wrote on it in her messy, crooked handwriting: Have a good vacation, Mama and Papa. But Diana must have secretly smuggled her teddy bear in at the last second so we wouldn't feel lonely without them."
He chuckled lightly, a deep, vibrating rumble against her back. "That sounds exactly like them. We try to escape the chaos for a week, and they send a guard to watch over us anyway." He paused, his smile softening. “Though wait - doesn’t she need Mr. Bear Bob to sleep? How is she going to manage the week without it?”
Ada pressed a hand to her chest as a sorrowful exhale escaped her. "She packed it anyway, knowing we might miss her more," she whispered with a gentle ache in her tone. "God, they're growing up too fast."
“I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for the day they’ll leave us for college,” Leon let out a sigh, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.
The smile on Ada's face turned into something quieter, almost fragile. She leaned her head back against his shoulder and stared at the steaming water. For a long moment, she didn't say anything, letting the silence stretch until she finally took a deep breath, opening up in a way she rarely did.
"You know..." she began weakly, her voice barely louder than a whisper in the foggy room. "Before we met... I never really thought I would get to have a family of my own. For the longest time, I figured that kind of life only existed in wishful thinking, or something that happened to other people. But never to me."
Leon didn't interrupt, but his arms tightened slightly around her, pulling her just a fraction closer against his broad chest.
"With everything that happened to us... all the hardships we faced, and that long, awful distance between us," Ada continued, her voice trembling slightly. "Even when I was hesitant, pushing you away because I truly believed I wasn't meant to be loved. I just didn't think I was worth it. But you... you never gave up."
A small, welling tear traced down her cheek and slipped unnoticed into the warm bathwater. "You still managed to have absolute faith in me. You looked at me and saw someone who was worth loving, even when I couldn't see it myself. And now I'm sitting here with you in this cabin, with two silly, wonderful daughters. And honestly, Leon... I'm still so scared sometimes. I have this terrifying fear that I'm going to wake up tomorrow morning, open my eyes, and realize that everything we built, all of this, was just a dream."
Leon fell quiet for a moment, letting her words settle in the warm room. Then, he unclasped his arms from her waist, reached up, and gently turned her head so she had to look at him. He used his thumb to wipe away the wet trail of her tears, his touch incredibly soothing.
"Look at me, Ada," Leon whispered to her. His blue eyes brimmed with devotion. "The hardships, the distance, the times you tried to protect yourself by pushing me away - none of that matters anymore. I had faith because I knew exactly who you were from the moment I met you. You have always been worth it. Every single second of fighting for you was worth it."
He leaned in, pressing his forehead gently against hers, his palms framing her face. "This isn't a dream. You aren't going to wake up and find it gone. I am right here. The girls are safe with Helena. And we built this beautiful life together. It's real, Ada. It's all yours."
Ada stared into his eyes, the burden of her fear finally melting away under his steady gaze. A breathless, watery laugh escaped her lips, her hands rising to rest over his wrists.
"Thank you for seeing me for who I am, Leon," she whispered, her words laced with love and newfound certainty. "And thank you for never letting me wake up from this."
Without waiting for another answer, she leaned forward, closing the small distance between them and pulling him into a deep, lingering kiss. The warmth of the water faded into the background, completely forgotten as his arms enveloped her dearly, holding her securely against his frame in the perfect stillness of the night.
The electric hum of a toothbrush drifted softly from the bathroom, muffled by the door being pulled mostly shut. With the white foam still dusting Leon’s chin and the brush still whirring, a random thought popped into his head. He spat, quickly rinsed his mouth, and wiped his face with a small towel.
"Should we bring something for the girls on the way back? I heard there’s a souvenir shop somewhere on the highway," he called out through the gap in the door.
In the adjacent bedroom, Ada sat in front of the vanity, massaging a drop of serum over her skin. Her damp hair was swept back, the dark tufts cooling against the nape of her neck. A coy smile touched her lips at the sound of his voice.
"Leon, we've been here for less than six hours, and you're already trying to buy them gifts," she called out, her smile still in place.
The bathroom door clicked softly as Leon pushed it open. He stepped out, dressed only in his plaid pajama pants, the words suddenly dying in his throat. For a second, his breath caught, his widened gaze stalling entirely on her silhouette in the muted light.
Ada sat perched on a small vanity chair, wearing a delicate, sheer negligee bathed in the amber glow of the antique lamp on the nightstand. The thin fabric fell gently from her collarbones in soft, liquid folds, draping over her breasts and curves like water before pooling softly on the floor around her. She caught his reflection in the mirror, noticing his sudden silence and the stunned look on his face. A delicate blush rose to her cheeks.
Leon took a deliberate inhale, finally finding his footing, though his eyes never left hers. An appreciative smile broke through his initial shock. "I was... but I think I just completely forgot what I was talking about."
She chuckled, tilting her head as she capped her bottle of serum and turned around to face him. "Smooth. But let's survive the first night before we start planning the journey home."
Shaking his head, an impish smirk slowly spreading across Leon's face as he watched her approach him with deliberate, almost whisper-like steps.
"You know, Ada," Leon murmured, dripping with desire. "If I had known you were packing that nightgown, I would have driven those five hours a whole lot faster. Forget the safe, efficient speed -I would have turned the highway into a racetrack."
Ada rolled her eyes, but the now prominent flush on her cheeks gave away her delight as she stood only inches away from Leon. She reached up, playfully swatting his bare shoulder before resting her hand against his muscled torso. "Oh, stop it. I’ve had this in the back of the closet for months, just waiting for a night where I didn't have to worry about a toddler using it as a giant napkin."
"Well, the wait was definitely worth it," Leon smiled, his fingers gently tracing the line of her jaw, his thumb brushing against her lower lip. "You look absolutely breathtaking. It's actually a little unfair."
An amused breath escaped her, the sound velvety and intimate in the silent bedroom. She reached up to catch his hand, lacing her fingers with his. "Flattery will get you everywhere, hon,” she whispered before Leon cupped her face and pulled her to his lips, his mouth closing over hers as her palms came to rest on the broad contours of his lean frame.
The kiss was filled with familiar warmth and silent yearning.
When Leon finally pulled back, it was only by inches, resting his forehead gently against hers. Their breaths mingled in the narrow space between them, shallow and uneven. He felt the slight quiver in her hand that mirrored the frantic thud of his heart against his ribs in the dim room shared only with the distant oak leaves stirring outside.
Before the quiet could settle any further, a wicked spark flared in his eyes. With a sudden heave, he effortlessly scooped her right up into his arms, throwing her over his shoulder before she could protest. Ada let out a startled, intoxicated laugh, her hands instinctively resting against his back as the flimsy fabric fluttered around him. Striding across the room, he laid her back gently onto the center of the plush, cold bed, and followed her down to finish what they started.
Leon leaned over, propping himself up on one elbow to just look down at her. In the delicate shadows of the bedroom, he traced the contours of her face before tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He lingered there, simply studying her with intense admiration, a faint smile breaking across his lips.
Ada blinked up at him, a questioning look in her scintillating eyes. "What?" she whispered
Leon's smile softened even further, his thumb brushing over her cheekbone. "Just... thank you, from me too," he murmured, "… for choosing to love me every single day."
Her fond gaze melted, succumbing fully to the intensity of his eyes. She reached up, sliding her hand around the nape of his neck. "Always," she whispered back, pulling him down to her to relish another kiss. Leon’s mouth met hers in a soft, lazy press that dissolved into a warm exchange against her lips.
Sighing sharply against his mouth a second later, Ada dug her fingers into the bare skin of his shoulder as the tenderness completely unraveled.
Soon enough, a ragged sound broke from Leon as the kiss shifted, turning eager, messy, and suddenly ravenous. Like a spark catching fire, the patience vanished. His mouth parted hers with a desperate urgency, hands sliding up to grip her velvety hips, pulling her flush against him as if he couldn't get close enough fast enough.
Leon’s lips began to drift down, tracing a steady, lingering path along her jaw, her neck, and the curve of her collarbone. A rough sigh pressed against her skin, followed by the scorching friction of his mouth shifting to the swell of her breast.
His breath fanned hot against her sensitive nipple as he latched onto it fervently, feeling it harden through the damp fabric of her now translucent negligé. Ada moaned excitedly under his touch, feeling him suck and nibble on the tight bud while his large hand cupped the curve of her breast, kneading it firmly before his thumb brushed over her delicious peak.
With an impatient tug, she pulled down her dress straps, meeting Leon’s hands as he eagerly pushed the dress off her shoulders. Now, Ada was lying entirely naked beneath him, her dark eyes locked onto his with the vulnerability and trust only he got to see. Only him, and no one else in this world.
Looking down at her, the sheer weight of it hit him. For the longest time, he saw past her walls; she truly loved him, trusting him with a raw sincerity she never showed anyone else.
"Ada," he whispered through his blurry vision.
Her silent focus shifted, her fingertips tracing his cheek to catch the stray tear before it could fall. "Talk to me," she urged gently, her eyes searching his.
Instead of answering, Leon simply shook his head, unable to find the words. He leaned down, burying his face in the crook of her neck as his shoulders trembled softly. He held her firmly, pressing his forehead against her skin just to feel the grounding warmth of her body beneath him. Ada didn't push for an explanation. She just wrapped her arms around him, resting her hands against his spine, letting him find his solace in her.
When he finally pulled back to look at her, his eyes were still bright with unshed tears, but his gaze was entirely steady.
"I love you," he breathed, the words carrying the depth of their years spent together.
The confession still hung in the air as he leaned in and kissed her again - not with urgency, but with a consuming devotion that left no room for doubt. Ada melted into the kiss, her hands sliding up to cup the back of his neck, holding him just as tightly. When their lips finally parted, she didn't look away. Instead, she anchored him there, tracing the line of his jaw while their panting slowly synced.
"Leon…" she murmured, barely a whisper against his lips. "Let’s have another child."
Leon went entirely still at his wife's request. He blinked down at her, completely blindsided by the sudden deviation. "You want more?" he asked, his voice a mix of shock and budding disbelief.
Ada didn't hesitate. "I do," she whispered, her gaze locking onto his with absolute certainty and determination.
The admission jolted through his entire frame. They had never set a number, never planned the future out loud. Yet, the lack of prevention between them had always been an unspoken agreement. They just lived in that middle ground between caution and hope.
A fierce sound broke from his throat, and the stunned stillness completely unraveled. With a sharp shift of weight, she hooked her hand behind his shoulder and rolled him onto his back, straddling him before he could recover. His hands flew to grip her hips, molding her body to his.
Ada let out a soft, melodic laugh that vibrated pleasantly against his chest. "How about a boy?" she teased, her fingertips lightly exploring his pectorals. "One who looks exactly like you."
Leon's stunned expression relaxed into a tender smile. He caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "I’d rather he has your looks," he retorted softly.
Ada smirked, eyes gleaming with familiar mischief. "…And your brain?"
Leon chuckled, guiding her down until she collapsed gently against his taut chest. "No. Your beauty, and your brain."
She laughed again, a happy, gasping sound that could melt a glazier. "We’ll see," she whispered.
Leon caught her lips again, slower this time, a smoldering heat growing between them. When Ada pulled back, straightening up slightly to look down at him, a sly grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Good thing we have all week to conceive," he said in a low, timber tone. His rough hands drifted down to the tender dip of her waist, urging her body forward in a slow, grinding drag that anchored her right where he wanted her.
Without a word, she settled just inches above his face, her lips parted in a moan as he reeled her moist entrance down to meet his mouth.
At the sudden contact of his tepid tongue, Ada shuddered, arching into the lapping movement as Leon’s pace deepened gradually. Even as he flicked and sucked her swollen clit, she kept moving, her fingertips digging into the dark rosewood headboard for support.
Ada panted strenously while her glossy and hazed brown eyes were fixed on Leon’s dipping head underneath her, his face between her thighs, gripping her pale hamstrings with his veiny and thick arms.
"Le-on," she cried out; her hips rocking violently against his warm mouth as she felt his tongue move faster between her wet folds.
Leon tried to ignore his aching cock that was throbbing and pressing hard against his pajama pants, and leaking with pre-cum. Instead, he clutched Ada’s trembling legs tighter and focused on increasing the pace of his flattened tongue and the pressure of his nose against her swollen and chafed clit.
The sound of the headboard ramming against the wall was overpowered by Ada’s amplifying moans that reverberated like a beautiful orchestra in Leon’s ears. A fevered, unbridled sound she’d never dare make at home with the kids' rooms just right next door - and it only made him want to push her further.
"Oh ffuck-" she whined out while squeezing her eyes shut, and clumsily clenching her thighs around him. In response, Leon nibbled and sucked on her clit with such intensity that had her immediately seeing stars for a moment before he let go of her one leg to slide a finger into her puffy and wet cunt.
"Ahh L-Leon wait-," Ada gasped out a cry as she rose up to her knees with a struggle to brace for another sensation, her heart and mind too overwhelmed already.
Feeling devoid of her warm, moist folds, Leon groaned in protest, already longing to pull her close again. His blue, lust-filled eyes shifted from Ada’s twitching cunt to her breathtakingly flushed face - her half-hooded eyes looked down at him while she exhaled heavy, uneven breaths out of her swollen, crimson lips that he had greedily claimed a while ago.
With a glazed expression, she hunched forward over her hands, letting her supple breasts fall in front of Leon’s face. His hand instinctively rose to anchor her by the waist, while his other hand reached up to trace circles over her stiff nipple.
"You alright?" Leon muttered low through ragged gasps, his thumb gently caressing Ada’s bare midsection until her heaving chest slowly began to steady.
"Give me a second, handsome," Ada rasped as she reared back from her hands, her spine straightening to force herself to gaze down at his worried eyes parsing her demeanour.
Ada’s lips slowly curved into a smile as she took in his rugged, sculptured features - prominent nose, cleft chin, and plumped lips coated in a mix of his saliva and her glistening slick that was seeping out of her fluttering and flushed pussy.
The sight of him between her thighs had her heart beating faster, and she felt him underneath her slightly writhe, stifling his own arousal to please her first. Ada tilted her upper body backward as her hand braced flat beside Leon to steady herself while the other one reached for Leon’s bulge. His cock instantly twitched harder under her touch.
"Ada-" Leon choked out, feeling her warm and soft hand glide through his pants and underwear before pulling his large and veiny shaft out, his pre-cum trickling down from his mauve-coloured tip.
Leon moaned as Ada gently grazed her index finger on his sheen slit and slid that same digit into her mouth. She sucked on it, tasting the addictive heat of him before spitting onto her palm. Gathering his spilled cum along with her own saliva, she slicked it evenly down his lengthy cock.
As Ada’s firm grip moved in a steady rhythm along his spasming shaft, Leon kept his mouth pressed to her, licking, tasting, and introducing his fingers inside her slick depths until a familiar, shattering ecstasy tore a scream from her throat. She trembled under his touch, riding out the peak as he faithfully stayed with her, tending to her until the last shiver faded.
Still trapped in the milking pressure of her hand and the sight of her raw reaction, Leon shattered too, a guttural roar tearing from his throat.
"Fuck, Ada. You’re so beautiful."
The evidence of their heat was everywhere: his lips were slick and glossy, and the wetness trailed all the way down his neck, glistening right over his little mole as he gently rolled her onto her back.
Ada pulled him close into a deep, lingering kiss, a satisfied smile brushing his lips. Shifting her weight, Leon slid his hand to the dip of her waist to tuck a pillow beneath her before he hastily removed his pants and boxers.
A soft sigh escaped her as his fingers stroked her plush inner thighs, parting them to a wider, helpless position. Drunk and dazed at the heavenly sight of her, he dragged his crooked shaft across her drenched folds and throbbing entrance, leisurely and teasingly gathering as much moisture as he could.
"Leon haaa… Leon, please," Ada pleaded with him through her moans as he slid his tip up and down her pulsating nub. The exquisite friction had her bucking her hips upward, her soaked opening aching and desperate for him to fill her.
"Shit- how am I supposed to say no to that?" Leon groaned, a proud, crooked smirk pulling at his lips.
At her words, Leon languidly pushed his veiny cock halfway inside her, immediately feeling her hot, inner wall stretch and wrap around his shaft. Both moaned and trembled at the sudden, intense pleasure.
"F-fuck, Ada," Leon breathed, his tone raspy and strained, holding her waist firmly as he started to thrust torturously slow.
With every deep, plodding stroke, the friction built until she coiled her legs around him, demanding a more rapid pace. "Faster," she urged him on, her half-hooded gaze clouded with desire and lust. "I want at least one son, Leon."
A short, coarse laugh rattled in Leon’s chest, completely powerless to the tight squeeze of her inner muscles around him.
"Eager are we?" he grinned, abruptly driving even deeper inside her with a force that knocked the breath straight from her lungs and made her vision swim.
Ada fisted the damp sheets and pillows in her hands as Leon’s pace progressively increased. His eyes darkened with lust, watching her supple breasts bounce to the rhythm of his relentless, heavy thrusts. Each movement left her gasping his name into the quiet room, completely undone by the friction of his cock lusciously scraping her hot flesh.
"What if it’s not a boy?" Leon panted, his hand resting warm against her lower belly, applying firm pressure over the shape of him inside her. "Are you going to make me keep trying until we get it right?"
Ada cried out as he drove himself further, arching her hips to meet his frantic, maddening pace.
"D-don’t be ridiculous-," Ada scoffed, feeling another orgasm build to her pulsating core. "This one’s going to be a boy."
Leon let out a rough, breathless laugh, the sound vibrating against her skin.
"God- you’re stubborn," he murmured, the friction of his hips stuttering just enough to spike the delicious ache in her depth.
Ada wrapped her arms tightly around his damp neck, pulling him down so she could chase every inch of him. "Becau- aahh - I mean it."
The raw determination in her voice, paired with the frantic clenching of her internal walls, was all it took to completely shatter his restraint. Leon buried himself deeper, abandoning any lingering control as his heavy, punishing strokes turned even more erratic and desperate.
"F-fuck, Ada, I’m close-!" he breathed against her skin, his hips hammering against hers as she met him thrust for thrust.
He could feel her tightening around him, building toward another peak, and the terrifying, beautiful realization that she was going to drag him right over the edge with her made a visceral groan tear straight from his chest.
She drew him down into a greedy kiss, her fingers digging into his back. "Don’t hold back, baby," she whispered against his lips, before her eyes flashed with that assertive, demanding heat as she pulled back just a fraction.
"Come inside me, Leon."
Completely flushed and teetering right on the edge of her own matching peak, she urged him forward with one last, desperate squeeze of her hips.
That ardent plea was all it took. Leon completely came undone, burying his face in the crook of her neck as a harsh, ragged groan broke from his chest. He gripped her waist with a firm, possessive hold, his hips driving into her in a frantic, unhinged rhythm as he lost every last shred of control under her enveloping, milking grasp.
"Ada-" he growled, a broken rasp against her skin as he flooded her with his hot, thick release.
Ada cried out, gasping his name as her own climax shattered over her like a tidal wave. She melted around him, clinging desperately to his shoulders, her body shaking as he kept thrusting slow and deep into her filled womb, riding out every remaining shiver of his climax until it finally subsided.
Resting his weight on his forearms, he let out a long, jagged breath; his chest, beaded with sweat, rising and falling against hers. When he eventually shifted to pull out, his devouring gaze locked onto hers, intense with pride and admiration as he took in the warm, ropey traces of what they'd shared spilling slowly from her.
Leon's lips curved into a sly, frisky grin as he watched Ada prop herself up on one elbow, her fingers already sliding down his happy trail, wrapping tightly around his glistening base.
"You're insatiable," he murmured delectably. His body reacted in an instant, hardening against the friction and heat of her touch.
Ada breathed out a short laugh of triumph, stroking him deliberately as she looked right back up at him, cheeks flushed but completely unfazed. "Try me."
Ada and Leon spent the rest of the week lounging on the sofa, reading on the porch and taking long, quiet walks through the forest trail. But whenever the rain forced them indoors - which seemed to be almost every day - the silence didn't last long, finding them tangled up together wherever they happened to fall, whether that was the bed, the dining table, the kitchen counter, or the warm water of the tub.
Their short vacation had faded in a blur, and all too soon, it was time to pick up Sophie and Diana. When Ada pulled up to Helena’s curb, the front door swung open almost immediately. The moment they spotted the car, the girls broke into a clumsy run, rushing down the steps.
"Mama!" they chorused, dashing right up to Ada to tackle her legs with their puny frames.
Ada immediately dropped to her knees, laughing as she scooped them both in her arms. "Oh, how I've missed you both," she murmured, pressing brief kisses into their face and hair, breathing in their familiar scent before standing back up with a bright smile.
Helena followed a step behind, carrying the girls' bags over her shoulder. She leaned casually against the doorway with an amused grin as she looked out at Ada standing alone by the walkway.
"Did you forget Leon at the cabin?" she asked jokingly.
Ada let out a fond little huff and nodded toward the parked car. "No, he’s out cold."
"Mama, look what we bought from-" Diana cut in, tugging hard on her mom's skirt, but Ada gently pressed a hand to her shoulder. "Just a second, sweetie, let Mommy talk."
Following her gaze, Helena caught sight of Leon knocked out in the passenger seat and chuckled. “Let me guess - the getaway turned out to be a little more exhausting than planned?”
A quick flush stained Ada's cheek, but she maintained her smile, keeping her voice carefully neutral. "We just... walked a lot. Explored the trails."
Helena gave an interested nod, but as she looked closer at Ada, taking in her glowing, relaxed expression and then glancing back out toward the slumped silhouette of Leon asleep in the front seat, her blithe demeanor shifted. Her eyebrows arched slightly as a startling realization dawned on her.
She looked back at Ada, a roguishly amused flash in her eyes. "You guys are insane," she concluded, shaking her head in mock disbelief. "Like rabbits."
Ada cleared her throat, swiftly dodging the teasing with a dismissive wave of her hand. She opened her mouth to retort, but the brief pause was all the girls needed. They burst out at the same time, their voices talking over each other, completely bubbling over with excitement.
"Mama! Mama, guess what? Auntie Helena took us to the park, and we fed the big ducks, and I got a sparkly new coloring book!" Sophie chattered rapidly, pulling a brand-new book out of her bag to proudly flaunt in her mom's face.
Diana, on the other hand, bounced on her heels, tugging frantically at Ada’s sleeve. "And me! And me, Mama! I got a new teddy bear that glows in the dark, and we made giant pancake towers for breakfast!"
Ada let out a helpless laugh, kneeling down to look between them as they chattered a million miles an hour. "Slow down, my little chatterbirds, one at a time!"
Helena observed their little reunion, her smile tender as she stepped out onto the walkway. "They were absolute angels, Ada. Truly. Though I might have spoiled them just a teensy bit."
"Only a little bit?" Ada teased back, flashing her friend a grateful look before turning her attention back to her excited daughters.
Helena shrugged, leading the way to the back of the car to drop the luggage, while Ada followed. A short distance ahead, the girls had already scrambled toward the backseat doors, entirely absorbed in their own little world.
"I think it's safe to say they survived the week without you," she joked, holding Ada’s gaze as they shut the car trunk.
"Clearly," Ada chuckled. She glanced over toward the girls, who were now making their new toys wave at each other and bicker in high-pitched, silly voices while they waited to be let in.
She turned back to her friend. "Thank you so much for taking them, Helena," she uttered gently. "I really appreciate it."
"Are you kidding? I love having my little nieces around," Helena replied, drawing Ada into a warm hug. "Honestly, I missed them."
Ada patted her back lovingly before stepping back to unlock the vehicle, leaving Helena to walk over and crouch down to meet the girls' height.
"Guys... can I have one last hug before you go?" Helena asked with a slightly dejected tone as she opened her arms wide. Without missing a beat, both girls threw their arms around her at the same time.
"Thank you, Auntie! Let’s play again soon!" Sophie beamed.
Diana planted a messy kiss on her cheek, parroting her older sister with a bright grin. “Thank you, Nena! Let's play again soon!”
Helena chuckled bittersweetly, hugging them both back tightly before standing up and giving them one final wave.
Ada settled the girls into the backseat, swiftly pulling their straps across. Before they could get too loud, Ada pressed a finger to her lips, nodding toward the front seat.
"Shh, easy, guys. Papa is sleeping," she whispered in caution.
Stepping back, she closed the door with a quiet click. Inside the car, the sisters immediately pressed their hands flat against the glass, shouting a muffled "Bye-bye!" while Diana kicked her feet gleefully against her seat.
Ada walked around to the driver's side, slipped behind the wheel, and offered Helena one last parting wave. She watched as her friend tucked her hands into her pockets and headed back toward the porch. With a short exhale, Ada turned her key in the ignition before glancing over at the passenger side to take in Leon's slumped, heavily snoring form.
In the backseat, Sophie peered through the gap between the seats, tilting her head with a frown. "Mama... what’s wrong with Papa? Why is he sleeping so hard?"
Right beside her, Diana chimed in with a worried little pout, “Is he sick?” She clutched her well-loved T-Rex tight for a second, then bravely held it out toward the front seat. “We can give him Mr. Dino if it makes him feel better.”
Ada looked back at them, her expression softening at their concern for their father. “No, sweetheart, he’s not sick. He’s just been working very hard, cooking all our meals and taking care of me.” She turned back around, a faint sigh escaping her as she eased into reverse.
"So, how about you two help me cook a nice meal for him when we get home? And, if you’re extra good and silent in the car on the way back, I might just have some special gifts waiting for you."
Sophie’s eyes lit up. She immediately grabbed her favorite purple crayon and a scrap of paper from her bag, scribbling furiously before holding it up over the seat for Ada to see. Scrawled across the page in wobbly letters was:
"OKAY, MOMMY!"
Catching sight of it in the rearview mirror, Ada grinned wide. She kept her voice low so as not to disturb her husband. “I see that! Deal,” she whispered, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
While Ada’s attention was fully occupied with Sophie, Diana glanced down at her lap. She picked up her trusty dinosaur toy, gave it a thoughtful little pat, and then looked over at her brand-new glowing teddy bear. She squeezed the plushie, testing its fluffiness, and decided the dinosaur was too hard for a proper nap. Papa definitely needed the softer option.
Taking advantage of the moment, Diana leaned forward and secretly pushed the teddy bear through the gap between the seats. It slid across the console and landed softly right in Leon's lap on the passenger side. But before Ada could intervene, a light rustle came from the front seat.
Leon shifted, his eyes fluttering open as he blinked sleepily against the daylight. His voice came out thick and gravelly with fatigue. "Are... are the kids already in the car?"
His gaze wandered in a hazy daze around the interior before finally drifting down. He blinked at the teddy sitting in his lap, a slow, tender smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Without another question, he held the plush toy close, resting his cheek against its cozy fur as he leaned his head back against the car window.
Reaching over, Ada carefully brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, her thumb softly caressing his warm cheek. "They’re right here, hon," she murmured gently. "Don't worry about a thing"
From the backseat, Diana peeked through the gap again, whispering proudly, “For you, Papa. It's extra soft.”
Leon's lips curled into a broader smile, his eyes remaining closed as he murmured a quiet thank you. He gave the bear a little squeeze against his cheek and mumbled sleepily, "Mmm... I was just dreaming... of a blue sailboat out on the water... and there was a massive, silver carp leaping right out of the waves..."
Ada gently rested her hand over his fingers, her voice dropping into a hushed tone. "That sounds like a wonderful dream, hon."
Letting out a blissful hum against the plush bear, Leon's breathing instantly deepened as he drifted back off. With a light shift of weight, Sophie leaned forward between the front seats and piped in.
"And when we get home, Papa, we can make you strawberry jam toast. We promise we won't burn it this time."
Ada's lips twitched as she shook her head in amusement, shifting into drive to head down the street.
Glancing at her sleeping husband, his earlier promise echoed in her mind. He was right. This wasn't a fragile dream she was bound to wake up from. The lively chatter of her daughters, the steady whirr of the engine, and the comforting warmth of her family in the car - it was all undoubtedly, bewitchingly real.