Winter break was over.
Celeste's bags were packed neatly by the door. Her suitcase stood upright like a quiet soldier, and her jacket was already zipped up.
It was time.
Time to return to school.
Time for Ash and Rowan to go back to work.
Time to leave the cozy chaos of the province behind.
Outside the house, the car engine purred as Rowan loaded the last bag into the trunk.
They were all standing outside now—Celeste, Rowan, their dad, and their mom who had her arms crossed, watching like it was just another regular send-off.
Their mom sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Alright. You two know the drill. Don't skip breakfast. Eat before you head to school or work—especially you, Celeste."
"Yes, Ma," Rowan replied, slipping his hands into his pockets, his voice low but respectful.
Celeste gave a cheeky grin. "Well, if this big bro actually cooked for me in the morning, I might eat."
"I have work," Rowan deadpanned. "I don't think I can manage that and keep you fed."
Their dad chuckled, shaking his head.
"You should cook for her sometimes, Rowan. On weekends, maybe. And you—" he looked at Celeste pointedly "—should learn to cook. You can't just keep waiting for someone to do it for you."
"Correct," Rowan added with a sly glance at her. "Don't starve yourself just because I'm not there to cook."
Celeste rolled her eyes, but she smiled.
Well… someone already cooks for me anyway.
She smirked to herself.
"Anyway," Rowan said as he checked his watch, "we better go. Traffic's going to be nasty."
Rowan walked around the front of the car and opened the driver's door.
Their mom waved her hand lazily.
"Yeah, yeah. Drive safe. Text when you arrive. Don't kill each other."
Celeste grinned and gave her mom a quick hug before heading to the car.
"Love you."
"Love you both. Go before your dad starts giving another lecture."
Their dad just raised a brow and waved.
"I heard that."
The engine roared to life as they pulled out of the driveway, both waving out the windows while their parents stood waving back—calm, practiced, like they'd done this a dozen times before.
_________
Meanwhile…
Ash stepped out of the car—May's husband had dropped him off at the bus station. The sky was still a little gray, and his duffel bag hung heavy on his shoulder.
Beside him stood Lana, her husband, Rina, and May's husband. His mom and May had stayed home with the kids—his mom got carsick easily, and May didn't want to risk her toddlers breaking the house while unsupervised.
Rina looked around the terminal and stretched.
"You really should buy a car, Ash. That way you could visit even when it's not the holidays."
Ash chuckled, adjusting his bag.
"Yeah, maybe next time."
"Next time, he says," Lana snorted. "Add a girlfriend to that list, please."
Ash forced a neutral face, but his ears betrayed him—they were pink.
Rina grinned.
"Girlfriend? Please. I think it's a boyfriend."
Ash nearly choked.
"H-Hey! Don't just make stuff up!"
May's husband laughed behind his hand.
"They've been teasing ash about that since yesterday."
Lana's husband raised a brow and patted Ash's back.
"Leave the kid alone. Whoever he's into, they've got him smiling like a fool lately."
Ash's ears turned redder. "I'm not smiling like a fool."
"You were literally humming in the kitchen this morning," Rina shot back.
"I was just in a good mood!"
"Exactly," Lana smirked. "A love mood."
Ash groaned, turned around before his face caught fire, and walked toward the bus with his head low. But before climbing in, he turned and gave them a quick wave.
"Tell Ma I'll text her when I arrive!"
"Don't forget!" Lana yelled.
"And send us photos of the boyfriend!" Rina added.
Ash didn't reply—just waved again and quickly stepped onto the bus before they could say anything worse.
He found a seat by the window, set his bag down, and exhaled.
As the engine started and the bus pulled away from the station, Ash looked out the window—at Rina waving like a maniac, at Lana pretending to take a photo of him, at the two husbands laughing behind them like this was all completely normal.
And for some reason, it made him smile.
He leaned back in his seat, the warmth in his chest settling in quietly.
They were chaotic. Loud. Relentless.
But they were 'home'.
And right now, that was enough to make him feel lucky. Really lucky.
Now...
Back to reality.
Back to work.
Back to her.
______