Night had already settled over the mansion by the time the gates opened for Izana's car.
The estate was quiet.
Most of the lights downstairs had been dimmed, leaving only soft golden lamps glowing through the long hallways and tall windows.
Rain from earlier still clung to the stone outside, making the gardens shine dark beneath the moonlight.
The second the car stopped, Izana opened the door before the driver could say anything.
He stepped out immediately.
Still wearing his black coat.
Dark gloves still on.
Travel exhaustion clinging to him after the long flight.
But he didn't stop walking.
One of the staff near the entrance straightened immediately.
"…Sir—."
"Medical corridor."
That was all Izana said.
Cold.
Immediate.
The staff moved aside instantly.
The driver followed a few steps behind him through the entrance hall, watching the way Izana barely acknowledged anything around him.
Usually he was composed after flights.
Untouchable.
Tonight he looked focused in a different way.
Like everything inside him had narrowed down to one thing only.
The marble floors echoed beneath his shoes as he walked through the mansion.
Faster than usual.
Staff lowered their heads as he passed.
Nobody tried speaking.
Because everyone already knew.
Word had spread hours ago that Zarek was sick.
And now their boss had abandoned an international deal to come home.
The medical corridor sat quieter than the rest of the mansion.
Dim lights glowed softly overhead.
The distant sound of a monitor beeped faintly somewhere further inside.
Izana's steps slowed slightly the closer he got to the room.
Then finally—
he stopped outside the door.
Just for a second.
His hand rested against the handle.
And for the first time since Leah called him—
hesitation.
Not fear.
Never fear.
But preparation.
Then he opened the door.
Leah looked up immediately.
She had been sitting beside the crib-bed the entire time, one hand resting beside Zarek beneath the blanket.
Tiredness covered her face completely now.
Her hair slightly messy.
Eyes heavy from hours of worry and no sleep.
But the second she saw Izana—
relief washed over her expression instantly.
"…Iz."
He crossed the room immediately.
Straight to her.
Not the crib.
Her.
One hand moved behind her head while the other wrapped around her waist, pulling her against his chest firmly.
Leah melted into him instantly.
Like she had been holding herself together until now.
Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
Izana held her tightly.
His hand resting protectively against the back of her head.
Leah's fingers curled lightly into the front of his coat.
"…You actually came," she whispered softly.
Izana's eyes closed briefly against her hair.
"…Of course I did."
Leah exhaled shakily.
And only then did Izana finally pull back slightly.
"…How is he."
Leah looked toward the crib immediately.
"The fever came down a little."
Her voice stayed quiet.
"He cried for a while earlier… but he's been sleeping mostly."
Izana turned then.
And finally looked properly at Zarek.
The sight hit him immediately.
Too small.
Too pale beneath the soft lighting.
Tiny body curled beneath the blanket while medical wires monitored him quietly beside the bed.
His cheeks were still flushed from fever.
Breathing uneven in sleep.
And suddenly something painful tightened hard in Izana's chest.
A feeling sharp enough it almost felt physical.
Because this was his son.
And he looked fragile.
Izana moved toward the crib slowly.
Quieter now.
Careful.
Like he was afraid even his footsteps might disturb him.
Leah watched him closely.
Because she knew him well enough to notice the small things.
The tighter set of his jaw.
The way his hand lingered slightly before touching Zarek.
The silence.
Izana rested his fingers gently against Zarek's forehead.
Still warm.
Not burning anymore.
But warm enough.
His expression darkened slightly.
"…Did he eat?"
Leah nodded.
"A little."
"The coughing?"
"Less now."
"…Did he cry long?"
Leah looked at him softly then.
Because she understood immediately.
He was asking questions because he hadn't been here.
Because he felt helpless.
"He's okay," she whispered gently.
"The doctor said it's just flu."
Izana's eyes stayed on Zarek.
"…I know."
But knowing didn't make this easier.
Zarek stirred slightly beneath his hand then.
A small sound leaving him.
Weak.
Sleepy.
Izana immediately leaned closer.
"…Hey."
Zarek's brows furrowed faintly.
Then slowly—
his eyes opened slightly.
Heavy with sleep and fever.
But the second he heard Izana's voice—
he turned weakly toward him.
A tiny sound left him again.
Almost a whine.
And Izana's entire expression softened instantly.
"…I'm here."
His voice dropped low and quiet.
Warm in a way almost nobody else ever heard.
Zarek's tiny hand lifted weakly from the blanket.
Reaching.
Izana carefully took it immediately.
"…There you are."
Leah watched the interaction silently.
Her chest aching softly at the sight.
Even sick—
Zarek knew him instantly.
A nurse entered quietly then, checking the monitor briefly before looking at Izana.
"You can hold him if you'd like."
Izana looked at her once.
Then immediately moved.
Carefully.
One hand slid beneath Zarek's head while the other supported his small body gently against his chest.
Slow.
Protective.
Like he was handling something unbearably precious.
Zarek whimpered softly at first from being moved.
Then settled the second he heard Izana's heartbeat beneath the coat.
Tiny fingers curled weakly into the front of his shirt.
And his breathing eased slightly.
Izana sat down carefully beside the bed with Zarek against his chest.
One hand supporting the back of his head automatically.
His thumb rubbed lightly against Zarek's back beneath the blanket.
"…You scared your mother," he murmured quietly.
Leah let out a tired laugh from beside him.
"…Only me?"
Izana pressed a soft kiss against Zarek's warm head.
"…No."
Silence settled softly around them afterward.
Not uncomfortable.
Just tired.
Leah eventually moved closer and leaned lightly against Izana's shoulder.
And for the first time since afternoon—
everything felt calmer.
The three of them together again.
Zarek made a sleepy sound against Izana's chest.
Still warm.
Still sick.
But calmer now.
Safer.
Leah looked down at him softly.
"…He missed you."
Izana's hand adjusted the blanket more securely around Zarek before he pressed another gentle kiss against his hair.
"…I missed him too."
Hours passed quietly after that.
The mansion grew even quieter as the night deepened.
At some point the doctor returned briefly to check Zarek again.
"He's improving," he said quietly after checking his temperature.
"The fever is lower."
Leah visibly relaxed again at the words.
The doctor glanced between both of them afterward.
"You should both get some rest."
Izana didn't even look up.
"…No."
The doctor paused slightly.
"You've both had a long day."
Izana's hand remained lightly against Zarek's back.
"He stays monitored tonight."
"Yes, but—."
"I'm staying."
Final.
The doctor exchanged one look with Leah.
Leah only gave a small helpless smile.
Because she already knew arguing would do absolutely nothing.
Eventually the doctor left again.
The room returned to silence.
Soft monitor beeping.
Quiet breathing.
And Izana sitting motionless in the chair with Zarek asleep against his chest.
One large hand covering almost the entirety of Zarek's back protectively.
Like if he held him close enough—
nothing bad could happen to him anymore.