Izana didn't move for a moment.
Just stood in the corridor.
Holding Zarek.
Looking down at him like everything had narrowed into something small and irreversible.
"…Do you want to see her?"
His voice was low.
Not directed at anyone else.
Zarek shifted faintly in the blanket.
A soft sound followed.
A coo.
Izana blinked once.
Then—
a faint smile appeared.
"…Yeah."
He adjusted his grip.
Careful.
Precise.
Then turned.
And walked.
The corridor felt quieter on the way back.
Not because anything had changed.
Because he had.
Zarek stayed mostly still in his arms.
Small movements under the blanket.
Izana's eyes never left him.
Every step measured.
Every turn controlled.
The world outside felt secondary.
The door to the bedroom came into view.
He stopped.
Just once.
Hand tightening slightly around Zarek.
Then opened it slowly.
Inside, the room had settled.
Not chaotic anymore.
Just tired.
Lived in.
Elias sat in an armchair near the bed.
Dante stood nearby, arms crossed loosely.
Both quiet.
Observing.
Leah was awake.
Leaning back into the pillows.
Exhausted.
But present.
A nurse stood beside her, checking her quietly.
All movement paused when Izana entered.
Leah turned her head first.
The moment she saw Zarek—
her expression softened immediately.
Izana stepped inside carefully.
Closed the door behind him with his foot.
Slow.
Controlled.
He didn't speak yet.
Just walked forward.
Dante's gaze followed him.
Elias looked at Zarek for a long moment, calm and steady.
Leah's eyes stayed on him.
Izana reached the side of the bed.
Then sat down beside her.
Still holding Zarek.
Leah exhaled softly.
"…You brought him."
Izana glanced at her.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…He wanted to come."
Leah gave a faint tired smile.
"…Did he now?"
Izana didn't respond.
Just adjusted Zarek slightly in his arms.
Leah shifted slightly toward him.
"…I didn't think you'd leave him alone."
Izana's eyes flicked to her.
"…I didn't."
That made her pause.
Then she smiled a little more.
"…You brought him like a priority delivery."
Izana looked at her.
"…He is."
Leah let out a soft breath.
"…Of course he is."
The nurse checked her again gently.
"…Everything is stable. Just rest and take your time."
Elias nodded once.
Dante stayed quiet, watching.
Izana didn't move from the bed.
Leah turned her head slightly toward Zarek.
"…Can I?"
Izana hesitated only briefly.
Then carefully—
he shifted Zarek toward her.
Slow.
Measured.
"…Hold him properly."
Leah glanced at him.
"…I just gave birth."
"…Still."
A faint smile tugged at her lips.
"…You're impossible."
Izana didn't respond.
Just placed Zarek into her arms.
Leah adjusted him instinctively.
Careful.
Natural.
Like she already knew what to do.
Then she looked down at him.
Soft.
Quiet.
"…Hi."
Zarek shifted slightly.
Then—
he opened his eyes.
The room changed instantly.
Silence dropped over everything.
Leah froze slightly.
"…Oh."
Izana didn't move.
Just watched.
Zarek's eyes were open now.
Clear.
Bright.
Red.
Leah blinked once.
Slow.
Then looked up slightly.
"…Iz…"
His gaze didn't leave Zarek.
Something shifted in his expression.
Small.
Almost invisible.
But real.
A breath left him.
Not spoken.
Just released.
A tear followed.
Quiet.
Uncontrolled.
Leah saw it immediately.
Her expression softened further.
Without a word, she shifted closer.
Gently guided his head down.
Onto her shoulder.
Izana didn't resist.
Elias noticed first.
Then Dante.
Neither spoke.
The nurse quietly stepped back.
Elias stood slowly.
"…We'll give you space."
Dante followed without comment.
The door closed softly behind them.
Silence returned.
Leah stayed still.
Her hand moved slowly.
Wiped the tear from Izana's face with her thumb.
"…You're crying."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"…He opened his eyes."
Leah gave a faint smile.
"…That's what made you emotional?"
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…Red."
Leah looked down at Zarek again.
"…Like you."
Izana didn't answer.
Just stayed where he was.
Leah exhaled slowly.
Tired.
But calmer now.
"…He's very quiet."
"…Not always."
That earned a faint breath of amusement from her.
"…You're already defending him."
Izana didn't deny it.
Just looked at Zarek again.
Leah shifted slightly.
"…Do you want to hold him again?"
Izana nodded once.
Careful again.
He took Zarek back.
Leah watched every movement.
"…You're very careful."
"…Yes."
"…More than necessary."
"…No."
That got a soft exhale from her.
Almost a laugh.
Izana spoke again.
Low.
"…Do you want him?"
Leah blinked slightly.
"…What?"
"…Properly."
She stared at him.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Yes."
Izana placed Zarek back into her arms.
Even slower this time.
Leah held him close.
Just looking at him.
Soft.
Still.
Zarek moved slightly.
Then—
his tiny hand slipped out from the blanket.
Reaching.
Fumbling.
It found something.
Izana's fingers.
He grabbed them.
Lightly.
Not strong.
Just instinct.
Izana froze.
Completely.
Leah noticed immediately.
Her gaze softened.
"…He likes you."
Izana didn't move.
Just stared at the tiny hand holding his.
Long.
Still.
Leah shifted closer slightly.
"…Iz."
No response.
She gently reached for his hand.
Wiped his thumb over her own fingers, grounding him.
"…It's okay."
His eyes didn't leave Zarek.
"…He's holding me."
Leah nodded softly.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…And you're not letting go."
Izana didn't answer.
Just stayed still.
Zarek made a small sound.
Leah smiled faintly.
"…He's very persistent already."
That got the smallest shift in Izana's expression.
"…Like you."
Leah raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…Excuse me?"
"…Persistent."
That earned a tired laugh from her.
"…That's not a compliment."
"…It is."
Leah shook her head slightly.
Still smiling.
"…You're impossible."
Izana didn't respond.
Just kept watching Zarek.
Leah leaned back slightly into the pillows again.
Careful.
Exhausted.
But content.
"…He has your eyes."
Izana's gaze sharpened slightly.
Then softened again.
"…Yes."
Leah tilted her head.
"…That's going to be interesting."
"…Why?"
She smiled faintly.
"…Because now there are two of you."
That made silence stretch for a moment.
Then Izana spoke quietly.
"…He is not me."
Leah looked at him.
Soft.
"…No."
A pause.
Then—
"…But he's part of you."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
Just looked down at Zarek again.
The small hand still holding his fingers.
Finally—
"…Yes."
Leah exhaled slowly.
Tired.
But warm now.
"…I think I like him."
Izana glanced at her.
"…You think."
She smiled faintly.
"…I haven't decided fully yet."
That got a quiet breath from him.
Almost amusement.
Leah shifted slightly.
Careful not to disturb Zarek.
"…You're going to be unbearable about this, aren't you."
Izana didn't answer.
Just adjusted his hand slightly so Zarek could hold him more comfortably.
Leah noticed.
"…Yeah. You already are."
Silence settled again.
Not heavy.
Not empty.
Just full.
Zarek held onto Izana's finger.
Leah held onto Zarek.
Izana didn't move away.
And for the first time—
nothing in the room felt like it needed fixing.