Evaline:
Morning sunlight spilled across the living room floor in soft golden ribbons, filtering through the massive glass wall that overlooked the front garden. The rain had washed everything clean overnight... the trees glead fresh and vibrant, the world looking almost newly born.
And right in the center of that warmth, on the thick green rug spread across the floor, lay my entire universe.
Lioren.
I sat cross-legged a few feet away, my chin resting on my palm as I watched him with what I was certain was an embarrassingly lovesick expression. He had rolled from his back to his side monts ago, tiny fingers clutching at the rug fibers as if they personally offended him.
Now he shifted again.
Slowly.
Determined.
He rolled onto his belly with visible effort, letting out a tiny grunt of frustration before lifting his head. His golden-green eyes... so bright, so alert... locked onto the plushie lion lying just slightly out of his reach.
He stretched his arm toward it, but missed.
Then sothing new happened.
He pushed his tiny palms against the rug and started rocking his hips back and forth in the most adorable, uncoordinated attempt at forward movent I had ever seen.
I gasped.
"Oh my goddess," I breathed, barely holding back laughter. "He’s trying to crawl."
River, Kieran, and Oscar were scattered around the living room - Oscar leaning casually against the glass wall with a mug in hand, Kieran sitting beside on the rug, and River sitting on one of the couches, his phone tucked away for once.
"He’s definitely plotting sothing," River said dryly.
Kieran chuckled softly beside . "Look at that determination."
Lioren rocked again. And again.
His little legs kicked in the air, missing any real coordination, but the intent was there.
I couldn’t stop smiling.
"I think he’s going to start crawling soon," I announced proudly. "Just a few more days, or weeks maybe."
Lioren let out an indignant little squeal when the plushie still refused to magically co to him.
I laughed... but the laughter faltered.
The warmth inside my chest dimd, replaced by sothing heavier.
Because as much as I adored witnessing this mont, a thought crept in, sharp and unwelco.
How many of these monts had I already missed?
Kieran’s hand ca to rest gently on my shoulder.
"What’s wrong?" he asked quietly.
I didn’t try to brush it off. I didn’t smile and pretend everything was fine.
"I hate that I have already missed so much," I admitted softly.
The room went still.
River turned fully toward . Oscar set his mug down without a sound.
"I missed his first real laugh," I continued, staring at Lioren as he resud his determined rocking. "I missed when he first rolled over without help. I missed when he began sitting without any support. And now... I’ll probably miss when he actually crawls."
My throat tightened.
"And when he takes his first step. And when he says his first word."
Kieran’s thumb rubbed slow circles against my shoulder.
"I feel like I’m constantly running between worlds," I whispered. "Work. Responsibilities. The council. The academy. And he’s growing every single day. I can’t slow it down. I can’t pause it."
The guilt was sharp.
"I’m going to miss more," I said. "And I hate that."
Oscar moved first.
He walked over and crouched in front of , one knee pressing into the rug as he looked up at with steady, unwavering eyes.
"You are not missing his life," he said firmly.
I blinked at him.
"You are building it."
That made my breath catch.
River joined us, lowering himself to sit on Lioren’s other side while still facing . "Do you think he’ll grow up rembering which exact mont you were physically present for?" he asked gently.
I frowned slightly.
"He’ll rember how loved he felt," River continued. "How safe. How secure."
Kieran leaned closer to press a kiss against my temple. "And trust ," he murmured, "our boy feels his mom’s love every single second of his life."
Oscar nodded. "You rearrange your entire schedule just to spend mornings with him."
"You stayed up half the night last Saturday because he wouldn’t sleep," River added.
"You read to him even when he doesn’t understand the words yet," Kieran said with a small smile.
"And you look at him," Oscar finished softly, "like he hung the moon."
I swallowed hard.
"I’m still going to miss things," I whispered.
River reached out and gently brushed his knuckles against my cheek. "Then we’ll record them."
Oscar smirked slightly. "Or we’ll delay teaching him anything new until you are ho."
That pulled a reluctant laugh from .
Kieran squeezed my hand. "You are not alone in this, love. You don’t have to carry motherhood like it’s a punishnt."
My eyes stung.
"I just want to be there for everything."
"And you will be," Oscar said firmly. "Not for every single second... but for the important ones."
River leaned closer, voice quieter now. "And for the ones you miss? We’ll make new ones."
Lioren chose that exact mont to let out a triumphant squeal as he accidentally scooted forward half an inch.
All four of us turned to him instantly.
And I laughed through the lingering tears.
Maybe I couldn’t freeze ti.
But I could treasure it.
And I wasn’t alone in doing so.
---
Breakfast passed in a blur of warmth and chaos.
Lioren demanded attention between every bite, Oscar stole pieces off my plate when he thought I wasn’t looking, and River pretended not to smile when Kieran teased him about nearly burning him by spilling my tea on him.
It felt... normal.
Comforting.
By the ti I stood to leave for headquarters, my chest felt lighter than it had the entire week.
I kissed Lioren’s chubby cheek, inhaling his baby scent like it could sustain through the entire day.
"Be good," I whispered, even though he only responded by grabbing my hair.
Oscar laughed softly and untangled him from .
I hugged Kieran. Then Oscar. And headed toward River who waited by the front door.
When I finally stepped outside and slid into the passenger seat beside him, I felt... content.
I had woken early. Spent hours playing with my son. Surrounded by my mates.
It was the kind of morning I had been craving since the holidays ended.
As the car pulled away from the mansion, I turned my face toward the window.
The world outside looked washed and renewed. Rain had poured all night and only stopped a couple of hours ago. The trees were impossibly green, leaves still dripping with lingering droplets. The sky remained blanketed in thick gray clouds, and the mountain air that slipped in through the slightly open window was crisp enough to make shiver.
I considered closing it.
But I liked the chill.
It felt grounding.
I was so lost in the rhythm of the passing scenery that I didn’t notice River shifting beside .
Not until a hand suddenly grabbed mine.
Before I could react, I was pulled sideways - lifted effortlessly and deposited onto his lap.
A small scream almost tore from my throat.
I barely managed to slap a hand over my mouth in ti.
My eyes widened as I stared at him. "River!"
He didn’t look even remotely apologetic.
"We are in the car," I hissed.
He only raised a brow lazily.
"And?"
"The driver," I whispered urgently.
As if on cue, the partition between the front and back seats slid upward.
The driver’s silhouette disappeared from view, leaving us in complete privacy.
I blinked.
River smirked.
"Problem solved."
I stared at him for another second.
Then sighed.
There was truly no arguing with him.
Not that I wanted to.
I relaxed against him, letting my body settle comfortably into his lap as his arms wrapped securely around my waist. His warmth seeped into instantly, familiar and intoxicating.
"You are impossible," I muttered.
"And yet," he murmured near my ear, "you are exactly where you want to be."
I didn’t deny it.
Because I wasn’t the type to complain about being in his arms.
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