Soft winter light filtered through the curtains.
The bedroom was warm despite the snow falling outside, the pale glow from the morning sky mixing with the soft golden lights still left on from the night before.
Everything was quiet.
Peaceful.
Leah stirred slowly beneath the blankets.
For a moment, she stayed still, half asleep, her cheek resting against something warm and solid beneath her.
Izana.
Her eyes opened properly then.
She realised she was lying across his chest, one of his arms loosely around her waist beneath the blankets.
Leah lifted her head slightly.
Izana was still asleep.
That alone surprised her.
Usually, he woke before sunrise now.
Usually, the second Zarek made even the smallest noise through the monitor, Izana was already awake and halfway to the nursery before anyone else could move.
But now—
he was still asleep.
His breathing slow.
Steady.
Dark hair slightly messy against the pillow.
Leah's expression softened immediately.
He was exhausted.
Even if he never admitted it.
Between work, sleepless nights, meetings, and constantly checking on Zarek, Izana barely rested anymore.
And somehow he still acted like none of it affected him.
Leah smiled faintly to herself before leaning up slightly.
Then she pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.
Izana stirred almost instantly.
One quiet breath left him before his arm suddenly tightened around her waist.
Leah laughed softly.
"…You're awake."
Izana didn't answer.
Instead, both his arms wrapped around her fully, pulling her closer against his chest.
"Iz—."
Without warning, he rolled over.
Leah gave a surprised laugh as he pinned her gently beneath him against the mattress.
His face disappeared against her cheek immediately.
Then—
kiss.
Another.
Then another against her neck.
Leah burst into laughter.
"Iz— stop—."
He ignored her completely.
More kisses.
Slow at first.
Then deliberately annoying.
Leah tried pushing at his shoulder while laughing helplessly.
"You're impossible—."
Izana finally spoke, voice still rough with sleep.
"…You woke me."
"With one kiss!"
"…Yes."
"That's not my fault."
Izana pressed another kiss beneath her jaw.
Leah squealed quietly when he started tickling her with the kisses now, deliberately brushing against the sensitive skin near her neck.
"Iz!"
His expression stayed completely calm despite the fact he was actively attacking her.
"…What?"
"You know what!"
Another kiss.
Leah laughed harder, trying to shove him away.
"You're heavy!"
"…You complain a lot."
"And you're crushing me!"
Izana finally lifted his head slightly, looking down at her.
There was something unfairly soft about him like this in the morning.
Sleepy.
Relaxed.
Warm.
Leah smiled despite herself.
Then—
a cry sounded through the nursery next door.
Both of them paused instantly.
Zarek was awake.
Izana's attention shifted immediately toward the nursery wall.
Another small cry followed.
Leah laughed softly under him.
"…Duty calls."
Izana looked back down at her for one more second.
Then leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against her lips.
Gentle.
Brief.
"…Stay there," he murmured quietly.
Leah smiled.
"…No."
Izana stood from the bed anyway before walking toward the nursery door.
Leah followed behind him a few seconds later, wrapping one of Izana's shirts around herself before entering the nursery.
Warm morning light spilled softly across the room.
The Christmas decorations Clara and Leah had added the night before glowed faintly near the shelves.
And in the crib—
Zarek was crying unhappily, tiny hands clutching the blanket beneath him.
The second Izana reached the crib, the crying weakened slightly.
"…Hey."
His voice softened immediately.
Completely different from how he spoke to anyone else.
He carefully lifted Zarek into his arms, one hand supporting the back of his head automatically while the other rubbed gently along his back.
"…You're alright."
Zarek whimpered softly against his chest.
Izana adjusted him closer.
Then quietly shushed him.
"…I'm here."
Leah leaned lightly against the nursery doorway for a moment just watching them.
It still amazed her sometimes.
How naturally this came to him now.
How instinctive it had become.
Zarek's crying slowly faded into soft little noises against Izana's shoulder.
Leah finally walked closer.
Her fingers gently stroked through Zarek's blonde hair.
Immediately calmer.
"…Good morning, baby."
Zarek blinked sleepily toward her.
Izana looked at Leah for a moment before carefully transferring Zarek into her arms.
"…He's hungry."
Leah smiled softly.
"…I noticed."
Izana hovered nearby anyway while Leah sat down carefully in the armchair near the crib.
Zarek settled quickly once Leah started feeding him.
The nursery became quiet again.
Soft.
Peaceful.
Izana crouched slightly beside the chair, resting one arm against Leah's knee while watching Zarek carefully.
Leah smiled down at him.
"…You're staring."
"…Yes."
"You act like he'll disappear."
Izana's expression remained calm.
"…No."
Leah raised an eyebrow.
"…Then why are you watching him like that?"
Izana looked down at Zarek again.
"…Because he's mine."
Leah's entire expression softened immediately.
She reached down and brushed her fingers lightly through Izana's hair.
"…You're soft on Christmas."
"…No."
"You literally attacked me with kisses five minutes ago."
Izana ignored that.
Leah laughed quietly.
After feeding him, Izana changed Zarek himself.
Like always.
Careful.
Precise.
And, like always, Zarek refused to let go of the teddy bear with the red ribbon around its neck.
Izana sighed quietly while trying to adjust his clothes around it.
"…You don't need to hold it right now."
Zarek tightened his grip immediately.
Leah smiled from nearby.
"…I think that means no."
Izana looked at the teddy bear flatly.
"…You're causing problems."
Zarek blinked at him innocently.
Then smiled.
Izana stared another second before giving up.
"…Fine."
Leah laughed softly again.
A little while later, the three of them finally headed downstairs.
Leah carried Zarek against her chest now, bundled warmly in a soft blanket while his teddy bear rested securely in his arms.
The sound of voices drifted from the living room before they even entered.
Clara.
Elias.
And Dante.
When Leah stepped into the room first, Clara looked up immediately.
Then smiled when she noticed Zarek.
"…There's the favourite member of this family."
Dante looked toward the staircase next.
Then immediately froze.
"…Izana."
Izana walked into the room behind Leah, still looking half asleep.
Dante stared at him.
"…You look relaxed."
"…I was asleep."
"That's even more concerning somehow."
Clara grinned immediately.
"…You missed him being affectionate."
Izana sat down on the sofa beside Leah.
"…You talk too much."
"I'm family. I'm allowed."
Elias folded his newspaper calmly.
"…Unfortunately true."
Leah smiled softly while settling beside Izana with Zarek still in her arms.
The Christmas tree lights glowed warmly nearby.
Snow continued falling quietly outside.
And for once—
everything felt peaceful.