~Aaron's POV
"Why do you both look so serious?" I asked, holding out the bags. "I brought you pizza, snacks, drinks…everything that's safe for you. You know, something fun."
Jasmine spoke first, her small voice hesitant. "Mom is in a bad mood," she said simply, looking down at her hands.
Hanith's brow furrowed, and he looked at me with a frown. "Was it… you who made her look that way?" He asked quietly, his words careful, almost afraid.
I felt a pang in my chest, the weight of their innocence hitting me hard. I shook my head quickly. "No, no, it wasn't me," I said firmly, my voice gentle but insistent. "I promise you, it wasn't me. Mom's just tired, okay? She's just… she has a lot on her mind, but she's not mad at you, and she's not mad at me either."
They exchanged a look, still unsure, and I reached out to ruffle Jasmine's hair lightly. "We're going to eat, okay? Let's enjoy this a little, just us, and make things fun for a bit."
