Alina pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.
Alia blinked, then let out a warm chuckle that filled the room. "Extra aunt," she repeated fondly. "I like that."
Sable nodded, relieved that his confusion had been acknowledged. "Okay," he said seriously. "Then she is Extra Aunt Lyla."
Dante finally spoke, his voice low but amused. "Lucien is older than him," he added. "He’s probably showing his good manners right now."
Sable made a tiny pout. "He always does that," he muttered. Then he looked back at Alia, studying her face again. "Lucien is very smart," he said proudly. "He knows many things. He tells what to pack and when to sleep."
"That sounds helpful," Alia said, smiling at him.
"Yes," Sable agreed solemnly. "But sotis he acts like Dad."
Dante raised a brow. "Is that a complaint?"
Sable thought about it, then shook his head. "No," he said honestly. "Dad is good. Just... serious."
That made Alina laugh softly, her heart swelling as she watched this tiny boy explain his whole world with such sincerity.
Alia held Sable a little closer, her voice gentle again. "Then we should invite Lucien here too, shouldn’t we?"
Sable’s eyes lit up imdiately, the little gloom that had clung to him monts ago vanishing as if it had never existed. "Yes!" he said, excitent bubbling back so quickly it almost startled everyone. "Then Mom, Dad, brother, Sister Geo, and Extra Aunt can all be in one room." The idea delighted him so much that he smiled to himself, clearly imagining it, a whole room filled with people who felt like his now.
With a tiny huff of effort, he carefully climbed down from the bed, his movents slow and polite, as if afraid he might do sothing wrong. Alia reluctantly loosened her hold, her arms lingering a second longer than necessary before letting him go. It was obvious she had grown attached far too quickly.
She looked up at Dante, her expression soft, almost fond, and said honestly, "Your baby is so cute." There was no hesitation in her voice, only warmth.
Dante nodded, a slight smile touching his lips, subtle but unmistakable. "He is."
anwhile, Sable didn’t waste even a second. He trotted out with quick little steps and spotted Georgia first, his excitent spilling over. "Sister Geo," he called, tugging lightly at her sleeve, his eyes shining, "Mom and Dad are in Mom’s mom’s room, and let’s call Lucien and Extra Aunt too." The words tumbled out in a rush, as if he feared the mont might disappear if he spoke too slowly.
Georgia, who had been leaning against the wall talking to soone special on her phone, paused imdiately. "Okay, okay, bye," she said quickly, ending the call without hesitation. The mont she turned, she scooped Sable up into her arms and planted a playful kiss on his soft cheeks, making him squeak in surprise.
"Extra aunt?" she repeated, laughing, her eyes bright with amusent. "Who is this extra aunt, hmm?"
Sable ducked his head shyly, fingers curling into her shoulder as he answered in a small but proud voice, "Aunt Lyla."
Georgia burst into laughter. "Extra aunt it is, then!" she said, already moving. She took off down the hallway with Sable held securely in her arms, her steps light and quick. Sable laughed too, the sound clear and happy, wrapping his arms around her neck gently, trusting her completely.
Sable felt so happy that his chest felt light, like sothing warm was floating inside him. From Georgia’s arms, the world looked bigger, softer, and much more interesting. As they moved closer, he spotted Lucien and Aunt Lyla near the little garden space by the window. Georgia slowed, letting him see properly, and Sable hugged her neck quietly, his eyes wide with curiosity.
Aunt Lyla was showing Lucien the flowers she had planted, her fingers gently brushing the soil as she spoke with calm patience. "This flower needs soft soil," she explained, tapping the edge of the pot. "If the soil is too hard, the roots can’t breathe properly, and the plant won’t grow well."
Lucien listened seriously, his small face focused, eyes following her hand. He nodded once, then leaned a little closer. "So the soil is like a bed," he said thoughtfully. "If the bed is uncomfortable, the plant can’t rest."
Aunt Lyla smiled, clearly impressed. "That’s a very good way to think about it," she said warmly. "Yes, the soil is like a ho for the roots. It needs water, air, and care."
Lucien glanced at the leaves, then at the pot. "And sunlight," he added quietly. "Plants need sunlight every day, just like children need to go outside."
"That’s right," Aunt Lyla replied, pleased. "You’re very observant."
All this while, Sable stayed silent, watching from Georgia’s arms with round, attentive eyes. He didn’t interrupt. He simply listened, absorbing every word, his gaze moving between the soil, the flowers, and Lucien’s serious expression.
Then, unable to contain himself any longer, Sable lifted his head and called out in his soft but excited voice, "Lucien! Extra Aunt!"
Both Lucien and Aunt Lyla turned at once. Lucien’s face brightened when he saw Sable, and Aunt Lyla’s eyes softened imdiately.
"Sable," Lucien said, straightening.
"There you are," Aunt Lyla added kindly, her voice warm even as she blinked in mild surprise. Extra aunt, she thought, the word echoing unexpectedly yet sweetly in her mind, and the corner of her lips lifted despite herself.
Sable squird a little in Georgia’s arms, suddenly aware of all the eyes on him. His fingers curled into the fabric at her shoulder, and he leaned closer, lowering his voice the way children do when sothing feels important but fragile. His gaze flicked between Lucien and Aunt Lyla.
"Mom’s mom..." he began, hesitating, brows knitting as he searched for the right words. "...she’s calling Lucien."
The sentence ca out softly, carefully, like he was afraid it might break if he said it too fast. There was a shy pride tucked into his tone too, as if being the ssenger of sothing this big truly mattered.
Lucien straightened imdiately when he heard it.
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