Soft morning light spilled slowly across the bedroom.
Golden.
Quiet.
The entire mansion was still asleep.
No footsteps in the hallways yet.
No voices downstairs.
Only silence and the faint sound of winter wind brushing against the windows.
In the middle of the enormous bed, Leah slept curled against Izana's chest beneath the blankets.
One of Izana's arms rested around her waist automatically even in sleep, holding her close like second nature now.
Everything was peaceful.
Until—
A tiny yawn echoed somewhere down the hallway.
In another room, Zarek blinked sleepily awake.
Two years old now.
Messy pale blonde hair sticking in every direction from sleep.
Still small enough that the oversized blanket nearly swallowed him whole.
He sat there for a moment blinking slowly at the morning light.
Then immediately reached for his teddy bear.
The same one Izana had bought him over two years ago.
His lion plush followed right after.
Because obviously he needed both.
Zarek tucked the teddy bear under one arm and the lion under the other before carefully climbing toward the edge of the bed.
Very carefully.
For approximately two seconds.
Then his blanket tangled around his legs.
He almost fell face first onto the floor.
A tiny offended sound left him.
"…Mm."
But after a moment of struggling and kicking at the blanket dramatically—
he escaped.
Victory.
Bare little feet hit the floor softly.
Still half asleep, Zarek rubbed one eye with the arm holding the lion plush and slowly walked toward the bedroom door.
The mansion hallway outside looked enormous around him.
Too quiet.
Too big.
But Zarek already knew exactly where he was going.
Slow sleepy footsteps padded across the floor while both plushies dragged slightly beneath his arms.
Every now and then he stopped just to yawn again.
Eventually he reached Leah and Izana's bedroom.
The door was closed.
Zarek stared at the handle.
Then reached upward.
Too short.
He stretched higher.
Still too short.
Another tiny frustrated noise.
He tried jumping slightly this time.
Missed completely.
The teddy bear almost fell.
Zarek immediately grabbed it again protectively.
"…No."
After another long determined stare at the handle, he finally pressed both plushies against his chest and used both hands instead.
Tiny fingers barely hooked around the handle.
He pulled with all his body weight.
Nothing.
A pause.
Then—
click.
The door opened suddenly.
Zarek stumbled backward dramatically before catching himself.
Silence again.
Then tiny victorious breathing.
He stepped inside carefully.
The room was warm.
Soft winter sunlight filtered through the curtains.
And on the bed—
Leah and Izana were still asleep.
Leah rested against Izana's chest beneath the blankets while Izana's arm remained wrapped securely around her.
Zarek stared at them sleepily for a moment.
Then immediately decided this was correct.
He walked toward the bed.
Dropped the lion plush first.
Then the teddy bear.
Then began climbing.
Poorly.
Tiny knees pushed into blankets while he struggled upward with maximum determination and absolutely no coordination.
Eventually he managed to crawl onto the mattress.
Unfortunately this included stepping directly onto Izana.
Izana woke instantly.
Eyes opening immediately.
One hand already moving automatically toward Zarek before he was fully awake.
"…What's wrong?"
His voice was rough from sleep.
Low.
Protective instinct immediately awake before his brain fully caught up.
Zarek crawled directly between them.
"…Move."
Izana blinked slowly.
Still half asleep.
"…You woke us up to tell me to move."
"Yes."
Zarek shoved himself deeper between them beneath the blankets while dragging both plushies with him.
Leah stirred slightly from the movement and voices beside her.
Meanwhile Izana finally realised nothing was actually wrong.
Zarek had simply decided he belonged there.
Again.
Izana exhaled softly through his nose.
"…It's early."
Zarek ignored that completely.
He shoved the lion plush directly into Izana's chest.
"Hold."
Izana took it automatically without argument.
Because apparently this was his life now.
Leah woke properly a few seconds later.
Her eyes opened slowly before immediately landing on tiny sleepy Zarek curled between them beneath the blankets.
A soft smile appeared instantly.
"…Well good morning."
Zarek looked at her seriously.
"No sleepy."
Leah looked at the clock beside the bed.
"…It's six in the morning."
"Mm."
Apparently not important information.
Leah laughed quietly.
Zarek immediately climbed closer to her then stopped suddenly.
Tiny sleepy eyes narrowed.
"…Too far."
Leah blinked.
"…What?"
Zarek pushed weakly at Izana's arm.
"Closer."
Silence.
Then Leah immediately started laughing harder while Izana stared at his son in complete disbelief.
"…I'm being ordered around by someone who can't open doors properly."
"Open door myself."
"Barely."
Zarek ignored the insult entirely and grabbed Leah's hand before placing it against Izana's chest himself.
Satisfied.
"There."
Leah was still laughing softly against the pillow now.
Meanwhile Izana looked deeply unimpressed despite the fact that one of his hands had already automatically adjusted the blanket higher around Zarek.
Years later and the habit never left.
Zarek yawned hugely then collapsed dramatically against Izana's side again.
Still clutching the teddy bear.
Lion plush trapped between all three of them now.
Leah brushed soft fingers through Zarek's messy hair.
"He's gotten so big."
Izana looked down at him quietly.
Zarek looked almost identical to him now.
Same red eyes.
Even the same serious sleepy expression.
Just significantly smaller.
"…Poor him," Izana muttered.
Leah smiled immediately.
"He looks exactly like you."
"…Again. Poor him. But he has your hair"
That earned another laugh from her.
Zarek blinked slowly between them.
Then suddenly reached up and touched Izana's face sleepily.
"…Da-da."
Izana's entire expression softened instantly.
"…What?"
"Warm."
Leah watched the interaction quietly.
Still unbelievable sometimes.
Two years ago Izana barely slept because he kept checking if Zarek was breathing.
Now this tiny child climbed into their bed every morning like he owned the mansion.
And somehow—
Izana allowed absolutely all of it.
Zarek curled closer against Izana's chest again.
Within minutes his eyes were already slipping closed.
Still holding both plushies tightly.
Izana looked down at him for a moment before pressing a soft kiss against the top of his messy hair automatically.
Zarek made a tiny happy sound without opening his eyes.
Leah smiled softly at the sight.
"…You're smiling."
Izana looked up immediately.
"…No."
"You are."
"…Incorrect."
Leah moved slightly closer against his side.
"You love this."
Izana glanced down at Zarek asleep against him.
Tiny hands holding the teddy bear.
Lion plush squashed beneath Izana's arm.
Warm beneath the blankets between them.
His son.
After a long pause—
"…Maybe."
Leah's smile softened completely.
Outside, the winter sunrise slowly filled the room brighter and brighter.
But none of them moved from the bed.
Not yet.